Ulema unanimous over Madaris registration: Vakil
By Asim Hussain

ISLAMABAD—The amended ordinance regarding registration of religious seminaries was promulgated after consultations with Ulema and various sectarian groups, Secretary Religious Affairs, Vakil Ahmad Khan said.
A large number of Ulema and religious groups were unanimous on the amended law because there was no objectionable material in it, he told APP in response to a number of queries by some Ulema in section of the press.
He said Section 21 was included through amendment in the Societies Registration Act 1860 as it had no provision to register religious madaris.
About provision of details of support and assistance to the madaris to register, he said it was not true perception.
“The registration forms are very simple and brief and has nothing to do with the donors”, he added.
Vakil Ahmed Khan said there was no proposal to carry out audit of the deeni madaris by the government.
Explaining the point, he said every deeni maddarassah wouldmaintain accounts of its actual expenses and receipts and annually submit its audit report to the Registrar.
The deeni maddrassah would cause to be carried out audit of its accounts by an Auditor, he added.
About the section of declaration in the forms, he said the government reposed complete faith and confidence in Ulema and religious scholars and this section was not more than a formality.
The forms of identity card, passport and income tax alsohave declarations and people have no objection over them, he added.
Vakil Ahmed Khan said a sub-section regarding teaching or publishing any literature to promote militancy or spread sectarianism was being misinterpreted.
He said there was a need to differentiate between “militancy and Jehad”, adding no one was against the teachings about Jehad.
Responding to a question, he said the distribution of registration forms has already been started from August 23 and would be completed by the end of this year.