Maulana Fazlur Rehman, leader of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), stated that his party would not accept amendments to the Madrassa Registration Bill, now an act.
In a National Assembly session on Tuesday, he claimed reintroducing the bill as if it were not an act would violate the constitution.
“The madrassa bill has become law after resolving presidential objections and corrections from the NA speaker,” Rehman explained during his speech, noting that only the Gazette notification was pending.
He cited a precedent where a bill automatically became law after ten days without the president’s signature, emphasizing that the president cannot halt it after this period.
Rehman criticized the government’s approach to registering religious schools. He noted that madrassas have adhered to the law and constitution for the past 24 years and rejected the idea of dividing seminaries into “religious” and “modern” categories. He highlighted that students from madrasahs have excelled in national exams.
Meanwhile, Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar argued that no legislation is complete without the President’s signature. Speaking in the National Assembly, he referenced the 1973 Constitution and mentioned that the 26th amendment and the bill had passed both houses of parliament.
“The President either approves the bill within ten days or returns it to the Majlis-e-Shura,” Tarar stated, highlighting the constitutional procedure. He assured the government is committed to supporting provinces in maintaining law and order.
Despite approval from both houses, the bill is in limbo following the president’s return with eight objections. The Ittehad-e-Tanzeemat-e-Madaris demanded the immediate issuance of a Gazette notification for the bill. After a meeting in Islamabad, Rehman, Mufti Taqi Usmani and Mufti Munib-ur-Rehman, affirmed at a press conference that the madrassa bill, approved by Parliament, was uncontroversial.
