Pakistan's top officials meet religio-political leader over madrassa law protest threat

Pakistan's Religio-political party Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) has once again become the focus of intense political negotiations as its leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman threatens to lead protests into Islamabad. The crisis centers on President Asif Ali Zardari's delay in signing a crucial law governing religious schools (madrassas), known as the Society Registration Amendment Act 2024.

During a public gathering in Sukkur on November 28, Rehman announced that if President Zardari fails to sign the law by December 8, his party will march to Islamabad in protest.

Following the announcement, top government officials, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the President's son and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah, and Senator Faisal Vawda, rushed to meet the influential cleric at his residence. However, Rehman reportedly stood firm in his stance and refused to alter his position.

According to sources close to the JUI, Bilawal expressed surprise over the delay in signing the bill and promised to discuss the matter with his father, President Zardari.

Meanwhile, Sanaullah held a lengthy meeting with Rehman to discuss the bill in detail before briefing the Prime Minister on the situation.

Prime Minister Sharif contacted Rehman by telephone to address his concerns about the bill, assuring him that all reservations would be addressed. However, sources indicate that Rehman continues to insist on the December 8 deadline.

JUI's position 'increasingly difficult to defend'

Sources close to JUI chief Rehman have informed Nuktathat the party is facing intense pressure from religious scholars to get the bill approved.

The scholars question their role in the current system, arguing that if their opinions carry no weight, there is little reason for their participation in the Madrassa registration process.

According to these sources, Rehman acknowledges that JUI's position on this issue is becoming increasingly difficult to defend, as the party faces mounting criticism from both internal and external quarters.

These sources indicate he has sent a clear and unequivocal message to key government stakeholders: only the approval of the bill in its current form is acceptable. He has rejected both the possibility of a joint parliamentary session and the President's stated reasons for delay.

The JUI chief will announce his next course of action in Peshawar on December 8.

JUI leader seconds chief's demands

JUI Secretary General Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri has also issued a statement reiterating the party's December 8 deadline to the government regarding the religious schools bill.

"The government must approve this bill. If not approved by December 8, we will march to Islamabad," he declared. "As religious leaders, we do not wish to protest in Islamabad. [But] the approval and subsequent halting of the bill appears malicious and seems designed to provoke religious groups into marching to the capital."

He noted that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has promised to discuss the matter with his father to secure the bill's passage. Rehman has emphasized that if the bill remains unsigned by December 8, they will proceed to Islamabad.

Haideri stressed that this is not just a matter for JUI and the Federation of Islamic Schools, but concerns all Islamic educational organizations.

According to sources close to JUI, the party plans to first organize religious school conventions across Pakistan's four provinces before making the final call for protesters to march on Islamabad.