The madressah registration bill has become an Act after 10 days passed following President Asif Ali Zardari’s objection to the legislation, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said on Thursday.
“The bill has already become an Act, and if there are no signatures for 10 days, does it not automatically convert into an act?” he said at a press conference in Dera Ismail Khan.
Last week, President Asif Ali Zardari returned the bill to the federal government while raising objections. The JUI-F has warned the government of protest in Islamabad if their demands were not accepted. Fazl told his supporters on Sunday that his party was waiting for December 17 when the party leaders would meet Mufti Taqi Usmani to deliberate on the matter.
The Societies Registration (Amendment) Act, 2024 extends the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and includes provisions for the registration of ‘Deeni Madaris’ under the relevant deputy commissioner office.
The bill specifies that a madressah with more than one campus needs only one registration, and every madressah must submit an annual report of its educational activities to the registrar. Moreover, each madressah must have its accounts audited by an auditor and submit the audit report to the registrar.
Fazl asked whether the president could send objections on an Act twice. He noted that after the objections were raised, the acting Senate chairman signed the bill and sent it back to the President’s Office. “If the bill is not signed within 10 days, does not it become an Act?”
He claimed that the Societies Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2024 “is now an Act” and pointed out that when former President Arif Alvi did not sign it, a notification was still issued.
The JUI-F chief explained that the Senate passed the bill before being presented in the National Assembly. He criticised the “unnecessary complications” surrounding the issue, questioning why the signing of the bill has been delayed despite the constitutional amendments being finalised.
Conversations had taken place with President Asif Zardari and PPP Chairman Bilawal and there was consensus during talks with PML-N President Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, he said and noted that both the PML-N and the PPP were involved from the government’s side.
Fazl pointed out that amendments were made to the religious schools bill, which they accepted. He criticised the “confusion” surrounding the issue, stating that even “well-informed individuals were perplexed” about the situation.
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He clarified that their grievances were not with any specific madressah or organisation of religious scholars but were directed solely at the President’s office and the president himself.
Fazl questioned why Zardari did not sign the bill and what the necessity of his objections was. He added that his party would approach the court regarding the issue if needed so.
On the communication between the PTI and the government, he stated: “While it is a good thing, there is no real government; it feels more like a joke. Everyone is aware of the prevailing conditions there as armed individuals are present in rural areas,” Fazl said.
