President Asif Ali Zardari has vetoed a bill mandating the registration of madrasahs (religious schools), expressing concerns about potential negative consequences for Pakistan’s international standing and internal stability.

In a statement outlining his objections, the President argued that the bill’s implementation could provoke international criticism and negatively impact Pakistan’s ratings with organizations like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

The President highlighted a potential conflict of interest arising from the registration process, suggesting it could lead to unintended consequences. He cited the Madrasah Education Board Ordinance 2001 and the Islamabad Capital Territory Trust Act 2020, arguing that the proposed legislation is redundant given the existence of these pre-existing acts.

Zardari further pointed out inconsistencies within the bill’s definition of “madrasah,” and a lack of clarity regarding the bill’s geographical applicability, noting that the Societies Registration Act 1860, already in effect in Islamabad, is not explicitly superseded by the new legislation.

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He also raised concerns that registering madrasahs as societies under the 1860 Act could facilitate their use for purposes beyond education, potentially leading to misuse.

The President also voiced concerns that the mandatory registration could exacerbate sectarian tensions and jeopardize public order by allowing multiple madrasahs to operate under a single registered society. He emphasized that the 1860 Act’s preamble makes no mention of madrasahs, creating a contradiction with the new bill’s inclusion of religious education.