Societies Registration Amendment Act, 2024 mandates madrassa registration and audits
President Zardari delays signing bill, citing sectarianism fears, FATF concerns, and foreign funding risks
Tensions are mounting between the Pakistani government and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) – a religio-political opposition party – as its leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman threatened a march on Islamabad over the delay in signing the Societies Registration Amendment Act 2024, a bill aimed at reforming madrassa registration.
The bill awaits President Asif Ali Zardari’s signature after being passed by both the National Assembly and Senate on October 21.
Addressing the Bab-ul-Islam conference in Sukkur on Wednesday, Fazlur Rehman issued an ultimatum, warning of consequences if the bill is not enacted by December 8.
“The madrassas will rise from every corner of the country and turn towards Islamabad. When this world turns towards Islamabad, no power will be able to block our way,” he remarked.
Fazlur Rehman accused the government of betrayal, alleging it backtracked on commitments to support madrassa reforms after securing his party’s backing for the 26th Constitutional Amendment. He linked the delay to ‘external pressures’ and raised concerns about the government’s credibility.
“We do not create a ruckus on every issue. Our protest and our questions are strong and based on valid arguments,” he said.
Bill’s key provisions
The Societies Registration Amendment Act, 2024 seeks to streamline the registration process for madrassas and ensure compliance with national laws. Key provisions include:
- Mandatory registration: All madrassas must register within six months, while newly established madrassas have one year to comply.
- Audits: Madrassas are required to conduct regular financial audits and submit reports to relevant authorities.
- Curriculum oversight: Prohibits teaching materials promoting militancy, sectarianism, or religious hatred but allows comparative religious studies and general education.
- Simplification: Madrassas with multiple branches only need to register once.
The act recognizes madrassas’ role in Pakistani society, highlighting their importance in preserving Islamic teachings.
President’s concerns
According to sources, President Zardari’s hesitation stems from concerns over potential sectarianism, international backlash, and unregulated foreign funding. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), International Monetary Fund (IMF), and European Union are reportedly pressuring Pakistan to ensure tighter controls.
Pakistan Peoples Party leader Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari greets Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman at his residence ahead of a key meeting over constitutional amendments, on October 19, 2024.
PPP Media Cell
The president also questioned whether the proposed reforms conflict with existing laws and educational disciplines like fine arts. Critics argue that these objections were thoroughly debated during the legislative process.
Political fallout
JUI-F leaders have voiced frustration over the delay, accusing the government of undermining constitutional integrity. Senator Kamran Murtaza alleged, “The president deliberately delayed signing the bill, betraying Maulana Fazlur Rehman after passing the 26th Amendment.”
JUI-F National Assembly Member Shahida Akhtar Ali called the delay “a clear violation of the Constitution” and attributed it to external pressures.
Fazlur Rehman, during today’s speech, reiterated his rejection of the February 2024 general elections, labelling the assemblies as illegitimate and accusing the establishment of manipulating the electoral process. “These assemblies are not representatives of the people. Until fair elections are held, we will not remain silent,” he said.
Planned protest
The JUI-F has announced a large-scale “Israel Murdabad” conference in Peshawar on December 8 to condemn Israeli aggression and support Palestinians. Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidari, JUI-F Secretary General, said the event would send a strong message against oppression and highlight solidarity with Palestine.
“If the government fails to act on madrassa reforms, anti-Israel slogans will be directed at them during the conference,” Fazlur Rehman warned.
As the December 8 deadline looms, the government faces mounting pressure to address the demands while navigating international obligations and domestic unrestBilawal meets Fazl
Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, son of President Zardari, accompanied by a delegation, visited the residence of Maulana Fazlur Rehman today.
During the meeting, the two leaders discussed key political issues, including the delay in President Zardari’s signing of the Societies Registration Amendment Act 2024.
Bilawal meets Fazlur Rehman at his residence in Islamabad on December 4, 2024.Nukta
The meeting was attended by several prominent figures from both parties, including JUI-F’s Senator Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidari, Senator Kamran Murtaza, Haji Ghulam Ali, Maulana Lutfur Rehman, and Maulana Asad Mehmood, as well as PPP leaders Raja Pervez Ashraf and Qamar Zaman Kaira.
The dialogue focused on addressing the political deadlock and fostering cooperation between the two parties.
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