Islamabad reverses decision on bill that reduces control over religious seminaries
- The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) party has introduced a bill to amend the registration process for religious seminaries in Pakistan.
- The ruling coalition government is currently in debate over this bill, expressing concerns about reducing oversight by the Ministry of Education.
- The outcome of this legislative decision could significantly influence the control and transparency of religious education in Pakistan.
In Pakistan, a political standoff has emerged over a proposed bill concerning the registration and oversight of religious seminaries. The bill, initiated by the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) party, aims to amend the colonial-era Societies Registration Act of 1860 to restore the authority for registering seminaries to district deputy commissioners, thereby diminishing the Ministry of Education's control over these institutions. This proposal has come to light amid ongoing concerns about seminaries' contributions to extremism and their role in national security. The controversy traces back to October 2023, when the bill was introduced. The ruling coalition government, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, originally showed interest in passing the amendment. However, government officials have since raised objections about the implications of reducing oversight over religious education facilities. Chaudhry Salik Hussain, the Minister for Religious Affairs, emphasized the need for the registration of seminaries to remain under the Ministry of Education's jurisdiction to ensure that education-related issues are adequately addressed. The backdrop for this legislative debate includes international pressure from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) regarding the monitoring and financial transparency of religious seminaries in Pakistan. The FATF's demands have pushed the Pakistani government to reform its laws surrounding religious education to avoid being blacklisted due to terrorism financing concerns. This has led to previous attempts to reclassify seminaries as educational institutions, a move which many religious seminaries opposed by continuing their operations under existing laws. As the situation stands, the proposed legislation from the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) appears to be a part of a broader political bargaining strategy. Rehman, a prominent actor in the ruling coalition, warns that failing to act on the bill risks inciting extremism and civil unrest among those dissatisfied with the government's reluctance to guarantee religious freedoms. This political tussle reflects a significant challenge for the Sharif government, as it navigates internal pressures, security concerns, and the need for educational reforms amid a politically fractured landscape.