The matter of registering religious seminaries was settled with understanding and dialogue.
According to details, President Asif Ali Zardari signed the Societies Registration (Amendment) Act 2024, following the advice of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
According to details, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq issued the official Gazette notification on Sunday. President Zardari had signed the Societies Registration (Amendment) Ordinance, following Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's recommendation. This ordinance allowed religious seminaries to register with both the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Industry and Production.
The president signed the amendment act on December 27, 2024, which would regulate the registration of religious seminaries under the new law. Additionally, the president approved the ordinance on December 29, 2024.
The presidential ordinance brought amendments to Sections 5, 6, and 7 of the act, making it immediately enforceable.
Earlier, the amendment bill to the Societies Registration Act had been passed before the 26th Constitutional Amendment under a deal with the Jamaat-e-Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F). However, the bill had been returned with objections from the presidency, triggering a strong reaction from JUI-F's leader, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who issued an ultimatum for a march to Islamabad.
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In response, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and PML-N leaders held meetings with Maulana Fazlur Rehman to address his concerns. A few days ago, Maulana Fazlur Rehman met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and it was reported that the dispute was resolved, which was ultimately the case.
– Key Provisions of the Societies Registration Act 2024 –
1. Religious seminaries established before the act must complete registration within six months.
2. New seminaries must register within a year of establishment.
3. Seminaries with multiple campuses will need only one registration.
4. Every seminary will submit an annual activity report to the registrar.
5. Every seminary must audit its accounts and submit the audit report to the registrar.
6. No seminary will promote extremist or sectarian content.
– JUI-F's Reaction –
The JUI-F celebrated the notification of the new Act and congratulated the nation, its workers, and the coordinating body of religious seminaries. JUI-F spokesperson Aslam Ghauri expressed gratitude to Allah for the success and said, “Our efforts have borne fruit.”
Aslam Ghauri emphasized that religious seminaries were the fortresses of Islam and protectors of Pakistan’s ideological geography. He stated that the JUI-F would continue to defend these institutions and would not compromise on their autonomy.
– Fazlur Rehman’s Statement –
In a special statement, JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman congratulated all religious groups in Pakistan, particularly the coordination bodies and the leaders of the seminaries. He thanked Mufti Taqi Usmani for his guidance at every step and acknowledged Kamran Murtaza’s invaluable role in providing legal support.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman declared that the successful passage of the bill into law represented a victory for parliamentary supremacy. “Everyone involved in this achievement deserves congratulations,” he concluded.
