Muneeb seeks listing of extremist madaris with evidence

ISLAMABAD—Mufti Muneebur Rehman, the Tanzeemul Madaris ahle-Sunnat, on Thursday asked the government to release listing of Islamic seminaries involved in fanning religious bigotry and militancy.
Talking to Online news agency, Mufti Muneeb said the government must refrain from charging seminaries with religious fanaticism and militancy. “If government can prove certain madressahs are involved in sectarian and militant activities, we will not oppose any action against them. But doing so without offering an evidence will be unjust and unacceptable”, he said.
He denied madressahs received foreign aid, saying overseas Pakistanis offer money to them as Zakat, donations. “What’s objectionable in doing so, tell me.” He said madressahs were not opposed to ongoing registration exercise, however the government must issue a separate circular to ... to satisfy ulema.
He said Tanzeemul Madaris would neither allow any group or party to use the Madaris registration for its political mileage nor would it initiate a campaign for the protection of seminaries since it had no political agenda to follow. He said though the Societies Registration (Amendment ) Ordinance 2005 is brief and simple, some of its points require explanation to avoid future confusion. He said Tanzeem would sort out the conflict with government through dialogue.
He said seminaries did not produce militants and rather promoted ideological message of Jehad in line with Islamic tenets. He said, “We think the Ordinance must not apply to Jehad teaching at madaris.” He said each institution must be bound to offer its financial matters for audit and he had no objection to this idea.
He praised the government for de-linking seminaries and their tanzeemaat with secret agencies and interior and education ministries, saying it was heartening to know religious affairs ministry would take care of seminaries in future. He said, “The government has assured us that it would not mess about Tanzeemul Madaris syllabus.” “And we’ve promised English, Mathematics, General Science and Social Sciences would be taught at madressahs up to Matric level. The Textbook Boards would publish the textbooks.”
Mufti Muneeb asked the president to reconsider his decision to deport foreigners studying at Islamic seminaries in Pakistan.—Online