The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl would go to any length if the government does not enact the Societies Registration (Amendment) Bill, party senator Kamran Murtaza has said.

“We are waiting for December 17 when Maulana Taqi Usmani has called a meeting in Islamabad,” he said while appearing on Spotlight with Munizae Jahangir which was aired on Aaj News on Tuesday.

The Societies Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2024, is legislation stemming from an agreement between the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl and the government in support of the 26th Constitutional Amendment. It extends the provisions of the Societies Registration Act of 1860 and introduces regulations for the registration of ‘Deeni Madaris’ through the relevant deputy commissioner’s office.

Under the new bill, seminaries with multiple campuses would require only a single registration. Each institution is mandated to provide an annual report detailing its educational activities to the registrar.

Furthermore, every madrasah is required to have its financial accounts audited and to submit the audit report to the registrar as well. The bill also prohibits seminaries from teaching or disseminating materials that endorse militancy, sectarianism, or religious hatred.

“We will decide on the government proposal and make a political decision afterwards. If they accept the government proposal, then Fazl and the other members will examine it; if not, a political decision will be made. We can go to any lengths [if the government does not agree],” Murtaza said.

The JUI-F senator explained that the 26th Constitutional Amendment had “two more limbs”, including the Societies Registration (Amendment) Bill and Waqf Imlak in Islamabad. It was a government bill, approved by the cabinet and then tabled in the House, he said and added that lawmakers from the ruling coalition also voted for the bill.

“Any objection is not done piecemeal,” he said while reacting to President Asif Ali Zardari’s objection to the bill. Murtaza stated that there was an objection to some full stops or commas, which was removed.

PML-N leader Qamarul Islam, who was also on the show, said that societies are registered under the industries ministry and they have nothing to do with education.

Also, read this

Religious scholars demand preservation of madressah registration system

JUI-F rejects government’s draft bill on religious schools

PML-N head Nawaz directs PM Shehbaz to resolve Fazl’s concerns on seminary bill

“Most educational institutions are registered under this act with industries ministry to the extent of that ownership of society and for no profit. But then the same educational institution is again registered with the Education Department to the extent of no profit system,” he said.

“Madressah is an educational institute. It has to be registered with the Education Department,” the PML-N leader added.

When the law was made, he said that it was different. “If any educational institution says that I am registered with that [industries ministry], but will not register with education…”