ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) - Members of the Muttahida Madaris Council and the National Peace Committee met officials of the Punjab government to discuss the registration and legislation of religious seminaries and ways to strengthen government cooperation with madaris, said Tahir Mahmood Ashrafi.
Ashrafi said the issues of registration and bank accounts for all seminaries in Islamabad had been resolved, adding that significant progress had been made in coordination between the government and religious institutions. He appreciated the Punjab government for initiating the seminary registration process.
He said facilities and coordination between seminaries and government institutions would improve further in the future. Rejecting concerns that the government intended to shut down or take control of seminaries, he said no such action was planned and all stakeholders would work together to protect their independence and autonomy.
Ashrafi said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his associates had helped resolve the issue concerning seminaries. He also credited Field Marshal Asim Munir with playing a significant role in resolving the 26-year-old issue and facilitating the opening of bank accounts for religious seminaries.
He assured seminaries that they would face no difficulties during registration and said any problems arising in the process would be addressed.
He said representatives of 11 out of 15 seminary boards attended the meeting. He also thanked Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for her role in arranging the National Peace Committee meeting and addressing matters relating to seminary registration and bank accounts.