Govt makes clerics agree on madrassa reform

• Nisar says clerics and religious scholars have agreed to include Math, Pak Studies and English in syllabus
• Says FATA reforms only after cconsultation with stakeholders

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Friday told the National Assembly that an agreement has been reached between the government and clerics on the registration of madrassas (seminaries) in the country.

He said as a result of the agreement, the registration of madrassas will become a reality. He said madrassas have also agreed to teach modern education like Math, Pakistan Studies and English at the institutions.

Nisar also said that FATA reforms will be carried out in consultations with all stakeholders.

Winding up discussion on the performance of Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control, in the National Assembly, the minister said that FATA members and opposition parties will also be taken into confidence in this regard. He said that the implementation of National Action Plan and performance of Interior Ministry are two separate things. He reiterated that coordination to implement NAP is the responsibility of the Interior Ministry.

Nisar said that efforts were made during the last two and a half years to formulate different new policies. He said under new ECL policy 10,000 names have been struck off from the list. He said International NGOs are being brought under the law and their working is being made transparent. He said in the next two months the process of registration of INGOs afresh will be completed.

He said under a policy, Pakistan has refused to receive deportees from different countries without verification, including from Greece, Bulgaria and Austria. He said that letters are being written to different countries, including European countries to not to see every Pakistani with doubtful eyes in the prevailing terrorism related situation. He said Pakistanis are playing an important role in development of different countries.

The interior minister said that 8,000 arms licenses have been declared bogus under a new policy. Licenses that are not verified by December 31 will be cancelled. He pointed out that 90 million SIMs were blocked under SIMs verification process.

He said that the two days discussions on the performance of his ministry has helped him figure out how he can improve it.

Nisar said that after the failure of dialogue, operation Zarb-e-Azb had been launched against terrorists with the consensus of military and civilian leadership. He said operation Zarb-e-Azb is continuing successfully and it will be taken to its logical end. He said alongside armed forces, police, provincial governments, intelligence agencies and Ministry of Interior are playing important role in the success of operation Zarb-e-Azb. He said civilians roles cannot be undermined in this regard.

He told the House that 12,000 intelligence based operations have been conducted since the launch of operation Zarb-e-Azb and most of these operations were conducted by the police. He said it is for the first time that sixty-one proscribed organisations have been put on record. He said a strategy is being implemented to identify financers of terrorists.

He said moneychanger Altaf Khanani’s case has been reviewed and the government is moving High Court in this regard. He said 15 executive NADRA centres in big cities and 73 regional passport offices are set up at district level across the country. He assured the House that NADRA centre will be established in Sherani District of Balochistan till June next year.

The minister said NACTA will be made active this year and the joint Intelligence Directorate will be made functional during the next two months.

He said Rs 48 billion will be allocated for FC and Rangers when they will assume responsibilities in FATA after the withdrawal of the armed forces.

Earlier, taking part in the discussion, Ayesha Syed appreciated the Nisar for beginning a good tradition by presenting his ministry’s performance report in the House. She said there is a need for increased coordination among different intelligence agencies to fight terrorism and establish peace in the country.

Shaikh Rashid Ahmad said that law and order in Karachi is a sensitive issue. He stressed the need for resolving the issue of giving powers to Rangers amicably. He said China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is the best opportunity for development in the country.

Shah G Gul Afridi suggested formation of joint security force of Pakistan and Afghanistan for border management. He urged Ministry of States and Frontier Regions to take steps for early rehabilitation of Temporarily Displaced Persons.

Iftikharuddin said that other ministries should also present their performance report before the House for discussion. He said mobile units for issuance of CNICs should be sent in Chitral to facilitate the people. He demanded that a NADRA centre be opened in Garam Chashma and Mastung in addition to mobile units. He said that tourism is a source of livelihood in the area and added that steps should be taken to facilitate the tourism.

Talal Chaudhary said that Pakistan is the first among developing countries where there is an online system to issue passports and CNICs. He said rules and regulations were fixed for putting any name on the ECL, which was previously used for blackmailing. He appreciated the ministry for handling PTI’s sit-ins in a good manner.