A new section titled “Registration of Deeni Madaris” has been added to the Societies Registration Act 1860. This law was initially introduced during the British rule. The promulgation of Presidential Ordinance with immediate effect relates to dealing with maddrassas situated within the federal capital territories, while all the four provinces Balochistan, Punjab, Sindh and NWFP have already issued a similar ordinance. Under the new law registration of madaras has been made mandatory, which is a welcome step being eulogized by all quarters inside and outside the country.
Madaris are not supposed to teach extremism or spread militancy but to preach peach and provide pleasant healthy environment besides learning Deeni knowledge. The institution of madrassa became a focal point of discussion after the 9/11 incident. Madrassas were being considered as breeding place of extremism and were dubbed as “terror factories”. They called it as breeding grounds for violence and places to learn militancy. The blame of WTC bombings was put on the Taliban who had been learning Islamic education from madarassas. Every one knows that the Taliban were the creation of USA whose force was erected to stop the advancement of the invading Soviet troops. It was the US that gave Kalashnikovs in their hands and provided instigating jihad material. Special textbooks in Darri and Pushto languages were published at the University of Nebraska-Omaha press with a heavy USAID grant.
But today these jihadis are being dubbed as . The blame of terrorist and violent activities, happening in any corner of the globe put on madaris.
Why our past governments did not registered the madaris and why they did not make any law applicable. These questions come in mind when we look at present government’s step to register madaris. It may be redundancy of past government or their ignorant of the madaris importance. At independence there were 245, or even fewer, madrassas in Pakistan. The number of madrassas increased during General Zia ul Haq’s rule (1977-1988) and Soviet invasion of Afghanistan because end of the war countless refugee came from Afghanistan to Pakistan which were settled in Madaris and refugee camps in Pakistan where they get jihad training and weapons by the government and as well as by the USA. They were also getting the support by super-power which was in favor of madaris sponsorship. But on the other hand at that time madaris can not be registered because of security problem. If government started the registrations then how refugee problem can be solve and internal instability could generate.
Although in post September 11, there are circumstances that have been created and international pressure on the other hand which demanded the regulation of madris. At this intricate instant government started registration of madras.
This registration will be beneficial for madaris because they will get government grant and this will help them to come in mainstream of national life. As Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao said that it is right of the government to register madaris and registration is also in the interest of religious seminaries. Madaris should come into national mainstream and government will help them in the registration process.
Then world will not be able to blame as fanatics and terrorists because government will check their activities. It will be in a position to tell the world that these madaris are not involved in terrorist and brutal activities. Madaris students are also keen in learning other knowledge and skills along with Deeni education but centuries ago developed courses taught in madrisas which are irrelevant to the contemporary time. Even the law course does not include modern jurisprudence on which Pakistan judicial system is based. By up-date their curriculum they will not become only aalam and mozan but also skillful men and will not become burden on the country. As President General Musharraf reiterated that: “government was not opposed to religious madaris and their registration is aimed at integrating them into national mainstream so that madaris students could seek modern education and get the jobs at top posts. Ulema, Maulvi and prayer leaders should not only come from madaris but the seminaries should also produce professors, engineers and other professional.”
It is reality that history repeats itself as after the freedom war of 1857, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan started the movement named as “Ali Gurh Movement” to teach the Muslim modern way of life to the competence of the World. Similar movement is ongoing by the present government as “Enlightened Moderation” which brought the Muslim’s as moderate and progressive Umma and Nation. Under this movement many Ali Gurh School, Colleges and Universities were opened and students of these institution were became leader, good organizers, and intellectuals. I would like to suggest the comrades of madaris that they should think in reality and take bold resolution. As in April 2002, Dr. Mahmood Ahmed Ghazi, the Minister of Religious Affairs, put the figure at 10,000, with 1.7 million students. That’s thinkable because who will be the responsible for their future, if this major part of population became unemployed as they will not be able to get jobs in market.
Some inhabitants are trying to mis-propagate the masses about this registration. Even our politicians are not united. They also are mis-guiding the people about government policies. Criticism is necessary for improvement not for destruction. Our politics is based on Criticism per criticism” rather criticism for perfection and accomplishment. They should criticize but not those policies which are accommodating for country’s development and in improvement of its image. They are telling the people that government registering the madris because of London episode. It’s not accurate because government was trying to register them for last years. The first law “Voluntary Registration and Regulation Ordinance” was passed in 2002 but according to a study only one tenth madris agreed to be registered. The government is not against madris even also financial assistance to them for modernizing textbooks, including introducing other subjects in the curricula, and initiating computers education was a mere Rs 1.55 per student in 2001-02.
Finally I would like to suggest the government that it should clear its reasons to register the madris as it will be beneficial both for government as well as for madaris because people have doubt that the government will misuse this act in near future or may be close them. The Madaris comrades should realize the demands of the time and also should notice of world pressure. My last point is demanding the attention of country’s great Politicians who are mis-propagating the public. They should not do like that but should show their consideration and sympathy for country. They should amalgamate as “amalgamation is strength”. At this killing moment when world want to hunt us not create internal instability. It also will affect country’s image abroad because Pakistan-baiters out side the country already accused that government have lack of will to tackle the madrassas.

The greater Middle East project
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury

Last year US President George W. Bush launched his Greater Middle East Project. The contours of the project includes the large area from North Africa to the Persian Gulf, that is the region which has nearly the half of the world’s proven reserve of gas and oil. The project has moved forward haltingly. The US is used to thinking big. That must be the explanation for the adjective ‘Greater’. As a first step to this goal, Iraq was invaded and pulverized. President Saddam Hussein of Iraq was overthrown and for more than a year now its hapless people are subject to barbarity of the worst kind. They have to live the ignominious existence of an occupied people and are subject to suicide bombings by their own people, where the largest number of victims are the Iraqis. There is no sign of an end to this cycle of violence. The US is continuing its effort to shore up the regime in Iraq, put in place by her bayonets, and nobody will claim legitimacy for this regime.
The US military while valiantly trying to pacify the situation in Iraq, has been trying to solidify the regime of their other puppet Hamid Karzai in Afghanistan. In a country where literacy is among the lowest of the world, the attempt to set up representative institutions, can by no means be an easy job. Fortunately for the US, the world has conveniently forgotten Afghanistan, as it did for centuries. Afghanistan came on the US radar because the previous regime led by Taleban leader Molla Omar gave shelter to Osama Bin Laden, mastermind of the now famous 9/11. As usual in order to justify her attack on Afghanistan, the US imported into Afghanistan ‘democracy’ with very uneven result.
The US since the creation of Israel on Palestinian land has given total protection to this Jewish state although the emergence of Israel has given rise to untold upheavals in the region. The US because of her complete support of Israel, would like to see it at the centre of her new Greater Middle East Project. She is the only state which is reported to possess nuclear weapons, although the US has been threatening Iran against the possession of nuclear weapons. It must be on the suggestion of the US that Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon has withdrawn more than 8000 Israelis from Gaza, where they had built settlements nearly four decades ago. It must be admitted that this was an act of courage by the hawk. Now in order to prove that Sharon really means business he has to dismantle much larger settlements, where reside 200,000 Jews, from the verdant West Bank. These are territories that Israel annexed following the six-day war in 1967. From the way the events are moving the Israeli authorities seem determined to consolidate the state and the entire operation is unilateral with the affected party, Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas, more an onlooker than a participant.
In the Greater Middle East Project, Turkey has a special role. To begin with, Turkey has a special relationship with the US since the Second World War in 1945. The Soviet threats of the late forties forced Turkey to establish very close links with the US, who alone had the power and resources to offer support and assistance. This situation has continued till today after five decades. Turkey has very important military links with the US and has US military bases on her soil. Some strains have appeared lately since the invasion of Iraq by the US. Of all her Arab neighbours Turkey has special friendship with Iraq. On her invasion plans of Iraq the US had counted completely on Turkey’s cooperation and support since the invasion plans were drawn up by sending troops through Turkey into the north of Iraq. The invasion plan fell flat as it had to be redirected through the south via Basra. Turkey has taken no part in the sending of troops into Iraq causing profound unhappiness in the Pentagon.
There are three main communities in Iraq. The majority Shias in the south, the Kurds in the north and the Sunnis in the middle. Saddam Hussein ruled Iraq with an iron fist, keeping the Shias at bay and terrorising the Kurds. Thus an unwritten understanding existed between Saddam and Turkish authorities, who periodically sent their forces against Kurds in the north of Iraq, who continued hit and run tactics against Turkish forces. After nearly 30,000 Turkish soldiers dead and fifteen years of bloody uprising by the PKK guerillas, Turkey has tamed them and put behind bars the leader of the PKK Abdullah Ocalan.
In the US invasion of Iraq the Kurds have played the most important role and they invited the US forces into Iraq. The US has rewarded the Kurds by making the Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani the President of new Iraq. The PKK appears to be rearing its head again and skirmishes have taken place in the Turkish south-east and the PKK. For two years Turkey has been pressing the US authorities to move against the PKK, who have their stronghold in northern Iraq. Alternatively Turkey has been asking the US to allow Turkish forces to cross into northern Iraq to flush out the PKK like they did during the time of Saddam Hussein. The US does not appear to buy the suggestion. Currently US General James Jones, Head of US command of Europe, is visiting Turkey. Press reports suggest that Turkey is unable to make any headway on the PKK question. The overall situation in the Greater Middle East region does not appear to hold out any bright prospect for the grandiose plan of President George W. Bush.

Pakistan on road to progress
Kashmala Khan

The people of Pakistan have reasons to be proud of the state’s achievements after 58 years of its creation. All those prophets of gloom and doom who had predicted catastrophic scenarios for Pakistan in the eighties and the nineties stand discredited. Pakistan, today, is a rejuvenated and resurgent state which is well on its way towards redeeming its place in the comity of nations as a modern democratic policy and a flag bearer of enlightened and moderate Islam. With a growing economy, inexpensive work force and positive economic outlook, Pakistan today offers an attractive business climate. The present government is determined to make use of Pakistan’s important geo-strategic location at the center of Central Asia, South Asia and the Gulf region. The construction of Gwadar deep sea port and development projects in Balochistan province will serve as a gateway for trade between these regions and for the western parts of China.
Pakistan today is a fast-rising economy with buoyant growth in both agricultural and industrial sectors. Pakistan stands for promoting inter-regional and intra-regional trade. Pakistan is following a strategic Vision East Asia policy, which encompasses strong linkages with countries of the region, both at the bilateral and multilateral levels. Moreover, Pakistan has established closer economic ties with ASEAN members and wants to have free trade agreement with them. Pakistan is safe and secure for foreign investment. The negative travel advisories about Pakistan are incorrect and aimed to create negative impression, while in reality Pakistan offers safe environment for foreign investment. Government of Pakistan while addressing the menace of extremism in its strategic dimension has identified political disputes, illiteracy and poverty as the causes breeding militancy and terrorism. In this context, President Musharraf has stated, “the West must make efforts for just resolution of disputes affecting the Muslims. Failure is no more an option for the world. The lingering disputes like Palestine and Kashmir should be resolved; the newly elected Pope could play his role in promoting inter-faith harmony in the world amid theories of clash of civilizations, but called for practical action for settlement of political disputes and establishment of durable peace worldwide”. Pakistan is a vastly moderate society where there is no place for extremists.
Pakistan has taken off economically, with both agricultural and industrial sectors set to sustain higher growth. The Government is committed to raise the quality of education at primary, secondary and higher levels to equip the younger generation with skills and qualifications required for propelling the country on the path of high growth. It is projecting soft face of Pakistan through promotion of sports, culture and tourism. The construction of heritage museum in Islamabad, a monument in Shakarparian, Bab-e-Pakistan in Lahore, the National Academy of Performing Arts in Karachi will be helpful in projecting Pakistani culture. Pakistan is marching ahead under the leadership of President General Pervez Musharraf and deserves credit for strengthening democracy, introducing local government system and rapid economic development. It is now responsibility of all Pakistanis to join the Government in path of progress and cooperate in eliminating extremism from Pakistani society. Let us pray that Allah give us more strength and endow us with more progress and prosperity so that Jinnah’s dream of justice, equal rights and opportunities could be materialized.