Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazl) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Monday maintained his party will not tolerate any government interference in the operations of madrassas.
Addressing a gathering organized to condemn Israeli aggression against Palestinians, he said madrassas must remain autonomous. “We will give two or three weeks’ time for the government to mend its ways and stop [trying to] impose its decision regarding madrassas otherwise we will react,” he warned, stressing the JUIF was trying to make the government understand the matter logically but would resort to “force” if necessary.
He said “people in uniform” and “intelligence agencies” should not threaten him over the madrassa legislation thinking such tactics would scare him. “We are demonstrating patience. Don’t compel us to march toward Islamabad,” he added.
He alleged a “conspiracy” was underway to divide ulema, and warned the government against it. He also demanded the government apprise the JUIF of any agreements it might have with international bodies regarding madrassa regulation.
In his address, Rehman said all Pakistanis had equal rights under law, whether or not they wore uniforms. “Neither have you (establishment) played any role in the creation of Pakistan nor you played any role for the survival of Pakistan,” he said. “You are facilitating the destruction of Pakistan,” he added.
The JUIF chief said madrassas of all schools of thoughts would deliberate upon a potential march on Islamabad on Dec. 15 or Dec. 16 and chalk out an appropriate strategy. “Prior to the passage of this bill from both the Houses of Parliament, the draft of the bill was approved by PMLN, PPP and PTI in separate meetings with the leadership of JUIF,” he said, questioning the “sudden” reluctance to grant assent to the Societies Registration (Amendment) Act, 2024.
Blaming the establishment for the delay in enacting the legislation, he said the JUIF was “betrayed” by the government on the issue. He pledged to continue his struggle for strengthening madrassas, vowing to “cross any limit” for this goal.
A day earlier, addressing a gathering in Peshawar, the JUIF chief had similarly threatened to initiate a long march on Islamabad if the government did not approve the pending madrassa legislation. He also said that the amended law called for madrassas to be affiliated with, but not subservient to, the Education Ministry to retain their “independence.”
In his address on Monday, the JUIF chief said his party stood with Palestinian brethren in their difficult time and would continue fighting for their rights. He slammed the “so-called champions of human rights” in the West who were either ignoring or complicit in the genocide of innocent Palestinians.