Pakistan president to issue ordinance to give ‘legal cover’ to over 18,000 madrassas

President Asif Ali Zardari is set to issue a presidential ordinance on madrassa registration, a move aimed at providing legal protection to thousands of religious institutions across Pakistan.

The decision comes after extensive consultations between the federal government, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), and other key stakeholders.

Why the ordinance was necessary

The need for the ordinance arose due to long-standing concerns over the registration and legal status of religious seminaries, known as madrassas, which play a vital role in religious education in Pakistan.

While 18,600 madrassas are already registered under the Directorate General of Religious Education (DGRE), there was ambiguity about their compliance with the Societies Registration Amendment Act.

Stakeholders argued that a clear, unified legal framework was necessary to address gaps and ensure madrassas operate within the law without unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles.

The bill required all madrassas to register. However, the issuance of the ordinance implies that all madrassas are already considered registered. This shift eliminates the need for redundant registration processes and provides immediate legal cover to the seminaries, streamlining their integration under the new legal framework.

The ordinance was finalized after a series of meetings held on Friday. JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss concerns surrounding the registration of madrassas under the Societies Registration Amendment Act.

Following their discussion, the prime minister directed Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar to prepare a comprehensive solution, which led to the decision to issue a presidential ordinance.

PM Shehbaz, accompanied by senior officials, later held a meeting with President Zardari to present the proposal. Sources told Nukta that the two leaders reached a consensus on the need for an ordinance to address the issue, with all parties agreeing on its terms.

Key provisions of ordinance

Under the ordinance, the Directorate General of Religious Education (DGRE) will be formally established as the oversight body for madrassa registration.

The 18,600 madrassas already registered under the DGRE—representing 10 federations—will be considered legally registered and will not require additional documentation under the Societies Registration Amendment Act.

For new institutions, the ordinance provides a streamlined process for registration under both the DGRE and the Societies Registration Act 2024. The ordinance will also ensure legal protection for madrassas, addressing longstanding concerns raised by stakeholders about compliance and governance.

"The goal is to provide legal cover to the DGRE-registered madrassas while making the registration process transparent and efficient," a source familiar with the matter said.

The Ministry of Law and the Attorney General's office are finalizing the draft of the ordinance, which will be issued after the notification of the Societies Registration Act 2024.

Meanwhile, the JUI-F has confirmed its support for the ordinance. "We have no objections to the proposed presidential ordinance," a JUI-F representative said.