Tariq Saeed Peshawar
Claiming that the Societies Registration (Amendment) Bill 2024, which deals with the registration of seminaries, has become an act of parliament after the president returned it twice, the JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman asked the government to notify the bill at the earlier.
Lambasting the government and the “Institutions” for what he said their non-serious attitude, JUI supremo said they were making open mockery of the constitution for their vested interests. “If a bill is not given assent within 10 days, doesn’t it automatically become an act; we believe that the act has been enacted and a notification in this regard should be issued without further delay”. Maulana Fazal questioned while addressing a press conference in D I Khan, his home constituency, on Thursday.
He also vowed to move court against the government if the ruling set up showed it’s unwillingness to pass the ball, asking why the ruling parties did not object to the bill when it was tabled in the parliament.
It may be recalled that the disputed madrassa bill has already been passed by both houses of parliament with the JUI supremo saying its enactment was part of an agreement between the government and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam for supporting the 26th Amendment. The Maulana said, “The agreement arrived at between the government and the JUI-F clearly states that bank accounts of all madrassas should be opened; tell us, has the account of any seminary of the Wafaqul Madaris opened?”
Maulana Fazal asked whether the president can return a bill twice with objections, maintaining that the Acting Senate Chairman returned the bill to the president after signing on the first objection and the now bill is deemed as law. JUI chief also referred to the former President of Pakistan Arif Alvi refusing to sign a bill and the government still notified it after completion of 10 days.
“We know very well on whose instructions attempts are being made to bulldoze the seminaries bill. The government and its handlers are doing so to appease their masters, the IMF, FATF and the America”. Maulana reiterated.
He rapped the government and the “institutions” for their “non-serious attitude” towards significant issues of the country. “In fact they are ridiculing the Constitution, the law as well as my Party which is not tolerable any longer”. Fazal warned.
The draft was chalked out by the Ministry of Law which the JUI-F accepted despite reservation. I wonder what scope of objection President Zardari has to this legislation,” Fazal said.
