ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday signed the Seminary Registration Act into law settling the issue of registration for religious schools across the south Asian country.
National Assembly (Lower House of the Parliament) spokesperson said the Societies Registration Act 2024, makes it a law. The development comes as part of the government’s efforts to regulate and formalise the registration of seminaries.
Under the new law, religious seminaries will now be required to register under the Societies Registration Act.
The spokesperson confirmed that the matter was resolved through mutual understanding, adding that the implementation of the law takes place with consensus.
Last week, the government agreed to all demands presented by Ittehad Tanzeemat Madaaris Deenia (ITMD) regarding the bill.
According to reports, assurances have been given that the registration of Seminaries will be carried out under the Societies Act, addressing a key concern of the organisation.
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In line with the proposed amendments under the 26th Constitutional Amendment, a notification is likely to be issued soon, formalising the agreement.
The registration of seminaries was made mandatory in 2005 under an amendment to the Societies Act 1860. However, after the attack on the Army Public School in 2014, there was intense pressure to regularise seminaries under the interior ministry.
After three years of consultations, the five seminary boards agreed to place seminaries under the administrative control of the Federal Education Department.
Since 2019, ten new boards have been formed. The Societies Registration (Amendment) Bill 2024, was approved by both houses of parliament alongside the 26th amendment. However, it was not signed by President Asif Ali Zardari, who returned the bill to the National Assembly in late October due to “several technical flaws”.
