The Hindu : Pak. ordinance to regulate 'madrassas'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 21, 2002

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Pak. ordinance to regulate 'madrassas'

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD June 20. Acting on his promise made on January 12 to curb religious fundamentalism and sectarianism, the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, has promulgated an ordinance to regulate the functioning of `madrassas' (religious schools) in the country.

The ordinance announced on Wednesday makes it obligatory for religious schools to register themselves with a new board proposed for regulation of the functioning of such schools. Those who refuse to fall in line will no longer get any kind of assistance from the federal or provincial governments.

According to estimates there are more than 6,000 religious institutions in Pakistan, with a total number of students estimated at more than 600,000. An estimated 15,000 foreign students, mostly from the Arab world, are supposed to be studying in these schools. The Pakistan Minister for Information and Media Development, Nisar Memon, was candid in his admission about the objective of the latest ordinance. "One of the objectives of introducing this regulatory mechanism is to control those religious schools which had supported militancy''.

Anyone who wilfully contravenes the provisions of the ordinance will attract closure of the `madrassas' or a fine, or both. "The details of fine are being worked out,'' he said.

The ordinance cleared at a Cabinet meeting, presided over by Gen. Musharraf, stipulates that religious schools would also facilitate teaching of science, mathematics, English and Urdu, providing an opportunity to the students to enrol in the professional educational institutions if they so wished.

There are several provisions to check foreign funding of the schools.

Some of the prominent Islamic countries are suspected to be funding some of these to promote their version of Islam. Every registered `madrassa', according to the ordinance, will maintain accounts and submit an annual report to the respective education board.

A registered `madrassa' will not receive any grant, donation or aid from any foreign sources or allow admission to foreign students or make appointment of teachers without valid visa and no objection certificate from the Interior Ministry.

The Pakistan Government might expel a number of foreign students now studying at religious schools across Pakistan worried that their presence could fuel possible militant activities.

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