ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has returned the Madrasah Registration Bill to the Prime Minister’s Office, citing legal objections. The bill, which aimed to regulate and register religious schools (madrasahs), has faced significant hurdles in the legal review process.

Sources reveal that the president raised concerns over the bill’s legal validity, particularly its lack of clarity regarding the jurisdiction of madrasah registration. The bill had been pushed through by the government, following assurances made to Maulana Fazlur Rehman, a key ally.

The registration of madrasahs falls under the provincial education ministries, and there are already two existing laws governing madrasah registration in Islamabad. The new bill does not specify that it would supersede these existing regulations.

As a result, President Zardari has sent the bill back without signing it, and despite the wishes of Bilawal Bhutto, it remains unsigned. The bill, which focuses on regulating madrasah accounts and registration, is viewed as a provincial issue.

According to sources, all provinces must pass the bill in their respective assemblies for it to have any practical effect. As a result, even if President Zardari had signed the bill, its provincial nature would have rendered it largely ineffective without provincial approval.

The bill’s approval was seen as a political compromise to satisfy the demands of religious factions. However, the president’s legal objections indicate that further parliamentary procedures are necessary before the bill can become law.

Published in The Daily National Courier, December, 05 2024

Like Business on Facebook, follow @DailyNCourier on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.