PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Wednesday sought to mend fences with the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazl) after the opposition party hinted at launching a mass agitation if the government continued to delay the enactment of the Societies Registration (Amendment) Act, 2024.
Both the National Assembly and the Senate approved the pending legislation, dubbed the madrassa registration bill, in October alongside the 26th constitutional amendment. Government support for the legislation was part of the JUIF’s demands in exchange for its support of the 26th Constitutional Amendment.
Under the bill, madrassas with more than one campus would only require a single registration. All madrassas are also required to submit an annual report of their educational activities to the registrar and have their accounts audited by an auditor. The bill further states that no madrassa should teach or publish literature that promotes militancy, sectarianism, or religious hatred. It also allows new madrassas up to a year to register with relevant authorities.
Nearly two months since it was passed by Parliament, however, the bill has yet to be enacted due to a delay in presidential assent. Taking umbrage, the JUIF earlier this week hinted it could stage a sit-in at Islamabad if the bill did not become law. Seeking to prevent another mass protest movement, the PPP chairman visited JUIF chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman at the latter’s residence, where they met for roughly two hours.
Speaking with media after the meeting, senior JUIF members claimed Bhutto-Zardari had assured them that President Zardari would sign the bill soon. They alleged that “some powers” were opposing the bill, adding they should be informed of any hurdles. JUIF Senator Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri questioned if the president could object to it and not sign it if Parliament had approved it.
However, mere hours after the meeting, sources within the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that the president had returned the bill after pointing out some legal concerns. Reportedly, the president has questioned the jurisdiction of madrassa registration, noting it falls under provincial education ministries, while two laws are already governing madrassa registration in Islamabad. He noted the new bill does not specify that it would supersede these existing regulations.