Title: Pak drafting
law on madrassas regulation
Author: Mubashir Zaidi
Publication: The Hindustan
Times
Date: February 2, 2000
Pakistan's military government
is currently working on a draft law to regulate and monitor the workings
of madrassas, religious institutions as well as to keep tabs on sources
of their funding and educational operations, Pakistan Observer reported
today.
Quoting sources in the
Ministry of Law, the paper said that the ministry is in the final stages
of vetting a law, which will put effective check on the activities of religious
parties and groups.
The paper said that chief
executive General Pervez Musharraf held two lengthy meetings with provincial
governors and one very significant meeting with US Secretary of State Karl
Inderfurth along with Chief of US Department of International Terrorism
in this regard. "The decision to make strong laws to check military activities
of religious institutions has also come in the wake of growing pressure
on Pakistan to not to allow its soil to be used for proxy wars," the paper
reported.
The paper said that there
is a growing pressure on Pakistan from the international community to strictly
check the Jehadi groups operating in the country after the Indian plane
hijacking episode and intensification of freedom movement in Kashmir.
The major function of
the proposed board will be to monitor sources of funds of institutions,
particularly from international donors, to impose ban on military training,
and keeping of weapons at the premises of these institutions, and control
spread of religious confrontation and sectarianism through these institutions.
The government has established
a regulatory board to register all the existing madrassas to check their
activities. "They will also be required to furnish a statement containing
following particulars, (a description of religious institution, (b) the
number of students registered at the institution whether on full time or
part time basis, (c) particulars about teachers and their salaries, (d)
brief description about the courses being taught at the institutions, (e)
any other training whether physical or technical being given at the institution,
(f) final qualification granted by the said institution, (g) sources of
income of the institution, (h) amount of funding, if any, from government,
(i) estimate of expenses annually incurred, (j) property belonging to the
institution, (k) main sponsors of the institution, (l) affiliation with
any University, Jamia etc and (m) and any other particular which may be
prescribed," the paper said quoting various sections of the legislation.
The Board will have power
to suspend or cancel certificate of any institution if there is a contravention
of any of the provisions of the law.
Contravention of the
provisions of the law will be punishable with imprisonment and fine or
both. The past PPP government of Benazir Bhutto tried to curtail the activities
of religious institutions by forming a Regulatory Board for Religious Institutions,
but before the law could be legislated in the National Assembly, Ms Bhutto's
government was dismissed.
The paper said that the
government was facing resentment from various religious parties over the
proposed law. "The government has confirmed that military authorities have
held a number of consultations with key religious leaders over the proposed
law. Ironically, no leader is ready to divulge source of income or agree
to a proper audit of their accounts. The only redeeming factor is that
all religious parties agree that Madrassas must not become hub of terrorists
or source of cross border terrorism."
