Profit FAZL REITERATES PLEDGE TO LIBERATE SEMINARIES FROM ‘THEIR’ INFLUENCE In partnership with
Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 152 I 8 Pages I Lahore Edition
Sunday, 8 December, 2024 I 05 Jumada Al-Akhirah, 1446
J
g
SEMINARIES BEING PUSHED TOWARD RADICALISM, g SAYS BUREAUCRACY AND ESTABLISHMENT CAN USE AS MANY BUT WE EXERCISING PATIENCE: JUI-F CHIEF SYMPATHETIC WORDS AS THEY WISH, ‘WE HAVE NO TRUST IN THEM’ PESHAWAR
STAFF REPORT
AMIAT Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Saturday said that their seminaries are being pushed toward radicalism and extremism, but they are exercising patience. “You are pushing my seminary toward radicalism and extremism, but we remain patient. We are not producing terrorists; this is a war, and we are fighting for religious survival. You have declared war against us, and now we face each other. We are steadfast, and we know that until the Day of Judgment, we have to fight for Islam because we aim for paradise,” Maulana Fazlur Rehman declared while speaking at an event in Peshawar. “The bureaucracy and establishment can use as many sympathetic words as they wish, but we have no trust in them,” he stated. The JUI-F chief highlighted that there are two major threats: one of annexation and the other of apostasy, asserting that religious seminaries play a pivotal role in countering these threats by teaching Hadith and guiding the Muslim community. “Currently, all religious seminaries are under pressure to be forced into submission.
I even oppose the division between religious and worldly education—knowledge is knowledge, whether it is religious or worldly.” He reiterated his distrust in the bureaucracy and establishment, saying, “No matter how sweet their words may be, we will not trust them. They have destroyed the religious seminaries, and we will liberate them from this influence. We demand registration, but they don’t cooperate. We ask to open our bank accounts and operate within the state
system, but they refuse to facilitate us.” Referring to the political dynamics, Fazlur Rehman said, “Before the elections, the PDM government was formed. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was part of it, and Shehbaz Sharif was the prime minister. After extensive discussions, it was agreed that seminaries would have the autonomy to register with whomever they wished. We demonstrated responsibility at that time as well. A draft was prepared under the 1860
Salik says Madrassah Registration Bill delayed due to ‘legal complexities’ ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, Chaudhry Salik Hussain, has acknowledged the longstanding need for the registration of Madrassah, but cited legal complexities as the reason for delays in finalising the Madrassah Registration Bill. In a statement issued by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Hussain emphasised that the registration of Madrassah had been a requirement for many years, with consultations having taken place with religious scholars, political leaders, and Madrassa administrations across various periods. “The government, respecting Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s demands, passed the bill through Parliament,
GHQ attack case’: Non bailable arrest warrants issued for CM Gandapur, other PTI leaders RAWALPINDI
STAFF REPORT
The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Rawalpindi on Saturday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and other PTI leaders in the General Headquarters (GHQ) attack case of May 9 violent protests. ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah presided over the proceedings and ordered the Rawalpindi city police officer (CPO) to produce all the suspects before the court on December 10. The court issued arrest warrants for PTI lawmakers and leaders, including KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Kanwal Shauzab, Maj (r) Tahir Sadiq, Makhdoom Zain Qureshi, Shibli Faraz, Sheheryar Afridi, Azeemullah, Zohaib Ali Afridi, Taimur Masood, Fahad Masood, Rashid Hafeez and Umar Tanvir Butt are among the accused in this case. Earlier Dec 5, the development came two days after jailed PTI founder Imran Khan along with dozens of other PTI workers were indicted in the GHQ attack case related to May 9 violent protests. A total of 100 people, including former interior minister Sheikh Rashid, were indicted in the GHQ attack case — which was registered at RA Bazar Police Station. However, Imran among other indicted leaders denied charges against them. Over 143 individuals, including Khan, were named as accused in the case, while 23, including Zulfi Bukhari, Shahbaz Gill and Murad Saeed, were listed as fugitives.
fulfilling its commitment. However, due to certain legal issues, it will take some more time before the Madrassah Registration Bill is fully legalised,” Hussain said. He reassured that the intention was not to reverse the entire process of Madrassah registration. “Madrassahs are educational institutions, and they fall under the Ministry of Education,” he added. Hussain explained that the registration process had faced significant legal challenges and a lengthy procedure, but after years of effort, a streamlined system had been put in place under the Directorate General of Religious Education and the Ministry of Education. “Under this system, 18,000 Madrassah are already registered,” he noted. STAFF REPORT
Societies Act, with an added clause. This draft was not prepared by us but by the government, and there was consensus on it. The bill passed the assembly but was blocked afterward. We now seek legislation on this consensus draft as part of the 26th Amendment, and we want it to become an act.” He further mentioned the PPP’s role in negotiations, stating, “Even now, the PPP is in government. We held a month of negotiations during which I was engaged. After five hours of discussions, the bill was passed. The next day, five more hours of negotiations were held with Nawaz Sharif, and consensus was achieved. The bill was first presented in the Senate. The 26th Amendment bill comprised 56 clauses, to which we added five points of our own. The bill was passed, but now objections are being raised by the Presidency. At a meeting in Lahore, both the President and Bilawal Bhutto were present. Raising objections now is inappropriate.” JUI-F’s “Death to Israel” conference set for Peshawar The JUI-F’s “Death to Israel” conference will be held tomorrow in Peshawar, as the deadlock between the government and JUIF over the seminaries bill persists. Maulana Fazlur Rehman is expected to announce a
Ready to engage in talks with JUI-F chief on Madrassah Bill: Kh Asif ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Saturday expressed willingness to engage in discussions with Maulana Fazlur Rehman to discuss and resolve concerns about the Madrassa Bill. “JUI-F is like my brother, and we can sit down anytime to discuss concerns about the Madrassa Bill”, the defence minister stated during in a recent exclusive interview with a private tv channel. “This’s not any political crisis and we will be able to address the concerns surrounding the madrassa bill,” the defence minister claimed. “Maulana is like a brother, and we can sit down at any time to discuss the Madrassa Bill. Any concerns
Six soldiers martyred, 22 terrorists neutralised in KP IBOs: ISPR RAWALPINDI
will be heard, he said. The alleged refusal of President Asif Ali Zardari to sign a bill related to registration of seminaries has created another political crisis with the JUI-F threatening to march on Islamabad “to protect the freedom of madaris”. Despite Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s assurance, the President returned the bill to the PM’s office, which led to JUI-F fuming as they seemed to be running out of patience. On Friday, Maulana told Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in categorical terms that his party would not compromise on the freedom of seminaries. STAFF REPORT
Justice Shah rubbishes reports on resignation as speculations ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Six soldiers embraced martyrdom and 22 terrorists were neutralised in three intelligence-based operations conducted in three districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the military’s media wing said on Saturday. The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), in a statement issued here, said the engagements took place on Friday and Saturday. It said security forces foiled a terrorist attempt to attack a security post in Thall district and killed three Khwarij terrorists. “However, during the intense fire exchange, six brave sons of soil, having fought gallantly, paid the ultimate sacrifice and embraced martyrdom,” the ISPR said. The martyred soldier include: Sepoy Nizamuddin, Naib Subedar Muhammad Khaliq, Havaldar Jadid Ali and Lance Naiks Shaheedur Rehman, Sifatullah and Wilayat Hussain. In Tank district, it said an intelligence-based operation (IBO) was conducted by security forces in the Gul Imam area, during
march toward Islamabad tomorrow. According to JUI-F spokesperson Aslam Ghori, party chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman will deliver a special address at the conference. Preparations have been completed, and workers from across the province are expected to attend. The conference will serve as a show of solidarity with Palestinian brothers through massive public participation. The spokesperson stated, “We will record our protest against the atrocities in Palestine during the conference. Additionally, a future plan of action will be outlined against the government’s bad faith regarding the religious seminaries act. This illegitimate and fake government continues its deceit and betrayal. The option of announcing a march toward Islamabad may also be declared during the conference.” The conference will also feature speeches by JUI’s central secretary-general Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, Muhammad Aslam Ghori, Maulana Amjad Khan, Maulana Asad Mehmood, Engineer Zia-urRehman, Maulana Ata-ur-Rehman, Maulana Abdul Wasay, Maulana Abdul Qayyum Halijvi, Rashid Soomro, Maulana Ata-ul-Haq Darwish, Agha Mehmood Shah, and Hafiz Naseer Ahrar.
STAFF REPORT
which nine terrorists were “sent to hell” while six others were injured. In another operation in North Waziristan district, ten terrorists were “successfully neutralised”, the ISPR said. It added that sanitisation operations were being conducted to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area. “Security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve,” the ISPR said. The president and the prime
minister issued separate statements praising the security forces for the operations while paying tribute to the martyred soldiers. President Asif Ali Zardari paid tribute to security forces for killing the 22 terrorists and lauded their bravery during IBOs. “Killing 22 terrorists in different operations is a great achievement of the security forces,” the president said in a statement issued by the Presidency. “The operations of the security forces will continue until the complete elimination of the terrorists.”
Senior puisne judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah on Saturday rejected reports on his resignation from the apex court as mere speculations, vowing to continue working for betterment. “Reports about my resignation from the top court are just speculations. I will not flee and will continue the job that I can do,” Justice Mansoor Ali Shah stated while speaking an event here on Saturday. In his keynote speech at an event on child justice at Federal Judicial Academy in Islamabad, the SC judge said the judiciary was cognizant of the rights of children and acknowledged that they, too, had the right to express themselves. He said it was unfortunate that when a juvenile appeared in the court, judges did not listen to him or her. “We will have to listen to children,” he said categorically. From now onwards, Justice Mansoor went on to say, judges must listen to children’s point of view as well. Justice Mansoor stressed the importance of establishing children’s courts in Pakistan, emphasizing that cases involving children should be heard promptly, and the justice system needs to address what it is doing for children. Justice Mansoor said the judiciary recognizes the rights of children, noting that children are not only our future but also our present. Children are not merely the people of tomorrow; they are the individuals of today, he said and added “Children are a gift from Allah.”