Following presidential assent, the madrassa registration matter was settled.

According to specifics, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recommendation was followed when President Asif Ali Zardari approved the Societies Registration Amendment Act 2024.

Details show that Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, the speaker of the National Assembly, published the formal Gazette notice on Sunday. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had recommended the Societies Registration Amendment Ordinance, which President Zardari had signed. Religious seminaries were able to register with the Ministry of Industry and Production as well as the Ministry of Education thanks to this decree.

The amending act, which would govern religious seminary registration under the new law, was signed by the president on December 27, 2024. Furthermore, on December 29, 2024, the ordinance was authorized by the president.

Sections 5, 6, and 7 of the act were amended by the presidential ordinance, which made it instantly enforceable.

Prior to the 26th Constitutional modification, the Societies Registration Act modification bill was approved in cooperation with Jamaat-e-Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F). Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the leader of JUI-F, was incensed and gave an ultimatum for a march to Islamabad when the bill was returned with the presidency’s objections.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s issues were addressed in discussions with PML-N leaders and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. When Maulana Fazlur Rehman met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif a few days ago, it was said that the disagreement had been settled, which turned out to be the case.

Important Aspects of the 2024 Societies Registration Act

1. Religious seminaries that were founded prior to the act have six months to finish the registration process.
2. Within a year of their founding, new seminaries are required to register.
3. Only one registration will be required for seminars with several sites.
4. The registrar will receive an annual activity report from each seminary.
5. All seminaries are required to audit their books and turn in the audit report to the registrar.
6. No seminary will promote extremist or sectarian content.

JUI-F’s Response:

The JUI-F celebrated the notification of the new Act and congratulated the nation, its workers, and the coordinating body of religious seminaries. JUI-F spokesperson Aslam Ghauri expressed gratitude to Allah for the success and said, “Our efforts have borne fruit.”

Religious seminaries, according to Aslam Ghauri, are the strongholds of Islam and the guardians of Pakistan’s ideological landscape. “The JUI-F will not compromise on the autonomy of these institutions and will continue to defend them,” he said.

Fazlur Rehman’s Declaration

JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman congratulated all Pakistani religious groups in a special statement, especially the seminary leaders and coordination bodies. He recognized Kamran Murtaza’s crucial contribution to legal support and complimented Mufti Taqi Usmani for his leadership at every turn.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman declared that the successful passage of the bill into law represented a victory for parliamentary supremacy. “Congratulations to everyone who contributed to this accomplishment,” he said in closing.