Country’s one-third madrassas now under radar

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MADRASSA STATS

Registered seminaries

6,503

Unregistered seminaries

2,920

Geo-tagged seminaries

3,662

A review meeting held at the Chief Minister (CM) House with Sindh CM Syed Qaim Ali Shah in the chair was told on Wednesday that under the National Action Plan (NAP), geo-tagging of 3,662 madrassas has been completed in Sindh, of which 2,122 are in Karachi and 1,548 in Hyderabad. “This would help us to see exact location of seminaries,” the meeting was told.

It was further apprised that this information gathering process is currently in progress and would be completed soon.

Sindh Home Secretary Mukhtiar Ahmed Soomro told the meeting that out of 9,590 seminaries, 6,503 have been registered and 2,920 are yet to be registered. In the unregistered seminaries, 517,695 students are enrolled, he added.

Sindh Inspector General (IG) Ghulam Hyder Jamali told the chief minister that 167 seminaries were sealed under different allegations while search was carried out in 21 seminaries in Karachi, Hyderabad and Badin over suspicion of illegal activities.

“In few seminaries, hate material was recovered against which cases have been registered accordingly.”

The chief minister thanked the ‘ulema’ of different schools of thought for their cooperation in getting their seminaries registered.

“All the concerned religious scholars should be taken on board while registering their seminaries or searching the suspicious ones,” Qaim directed the provincial IG and home secretary.

Talking about the registration and repatriation of Afghan refugees, the home secretary said that 92,646 Afghan nationals are registered in Sindh.

“Around 650 families and 3,021 individuals were voluntary repatriated by Ministry of SAFRON since 2015,” said Soomro, adding that 35,278 Afghans were repatriated from Sindh till August 2015. He said that 720 cases were registered against illegal Afghan nationals while 2,100 illegal Afghan nationals were arrested, 1,309 nominated, 953 under judicial custody, 356 bailed out and 222 illegal Afghan repatriated by Jails IG.

Soomro said that out of 458 condemned prisoners, 18 have been executed.

“Their 395 appeals are pending in Sindh High Court and one in Federal Shariat Court, 53 in Supreme Court, five mercy petitions are pending with the president while Sindh High Court has stayed four black warrants.”

Giving details of armed militia, the home secretary said 61 banned religious organisations have been identified. “Around 1,155 terrorists/criminals have been killed, including 164 leaders of Al-Qaeda and TTP and 130 of Lyari gang war, between September, 2013 and September, 2015,” he said, adding that 63,055 terrorists/criminals were arrested, including 879 terrorists of Al-Qaeda and TTP and 67 of Lyari Gang war.

Talking about disposal of accused handed over by Rangers in heinous offences during operation till August 31, 2015, IG Jamali said that 495 have been arrested of which challan were presented against 489 while six are under investigation, two have been convicted and four acquitted. He added that 462 are currently in jails and 21 have been bailed out.

The IG also briefed the chief minister about the latest weapons and ammunition provided by army chief General Raheel Sharif to the Sindh Police and also said that the army chief has further assured to equip each and every police station with latest equipment and gadgets.

The chief minister said that it was due the personal interest of General Sharif that the operation against terrorists has produced tangible results. “It would be nice of him if he takes necessary measures to equip our police stations with modern equipments,” said Jamali.

After presiding over the review meeting, the chief minister left for Islamabad to attend the NAP meeting to be presided by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.