The debate over the Societies Registration (Amendment) Act 2024 concluded on Sunday when President Asif Ali Zardari officially signed it into law.
The law, which addresses the regulation of madressahs (religious seminaries), had been controversial, particularly regarding the registration process. Under the new law, madressahs must be registered through the deputy commissioner’s office, a procedure that mirrors the system in place before 2019.
On December 20, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, leader of the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), expressed frustration over the government’s delays in passing the bill. He claimed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had instructed the law ministry to promptly implement the law in line with constitutional requirements.
Just two days earlier, both the government and the JUI-F appeared open to discussions in the National Assembly to resolve the dispute over the proposed legislation. Earlier in the month, President Zardari had warned lawmakers to consider Pakistan’s international obligations before modifying the procedures for registering religious seminaries.
The legislation, often referred to as the madrassah registration bill, was sent back to President Zardari with objections after being passed by parliament during the passage of the 26th Amendment.
A notification signed by President Zardari, a copy of which was obtained by Dawn.com, stated: “The Prime Minister’s advice at para 6 of the summary is approved. The Societies Registration (Amendment) Ordinance, 2024, is signed and promulgated.”
According to a gazette issued by National Assembly Secretariat Tahir Hussain, which was also shared with Dawn.com, madressahs established before the Act must register within six months of its enforcement. Madressahs founded after the Act’s commencement will be required to register within one year.
The gazette further states that madressahs are required to submit an annual report on their educational activities to the Registrar, as well as an audit report on their finances by a certified auditor. It also stipulates that madressahs must not teach or publish any material that promotes militancy, sectarianism, or religious hatred.
Additionally, the gazette mandates that madressahs must incorporate basic modern subjects into their curriculum according to a phased plan, depending on their resources. However, no madrassah will be required to register under any other existing law.
In a separate statement, JUI-F spokesperson Aslam Ghauri congratulated the country on the successful resolution of the issue, stating that the party’s efforts had been fruitful. He emphasized that his party would continue to defend religious seminaries, calling them the “fortress of Islam” and the protectors of the country’s “ideological geography.”
Ghauri stressed the importance of unity among religious scholars to safeguard religious institutions, vowing that the party would resist any efforts to undermine madressah autonomy. “We will not compromise on the independence of the seminaries,” he declared.