KARACHI, July 27: Federal Religious Affairs Minister Muhammad Ijazul Haq said on Tuesday that Pakistan has yet to decided whether to send its troops to Iraq or not.

Talking to newsmen after the concluding session of a two-day national seminar on educational curricula at the University of Karachi, the minister said that still there was no change in the country's policy of sending no troops to Iraq.

However, he said: "At any stage, under the UN umbrella, if Pakistan was required to send troops, the nation would be taken into confidence first," adding that no decision would be taken against the aspirations of the nation, Parliament and those of other Muslim countries.

To another question, the minister said that there was no truth in the reports that a ban was expected to be imposed on the Jamaat-i-Islami or any other political or religious party.

"At no government level, including the federal cabinet, any matter pertaining to imposition of a ban on any party has been discussed, and it was all speculations aimed at damaging the prevailing political stability in the country," he observed.

He said that the date for submission of Haj forms had been extended till Aug 10, while the government would also be granting permission to the children accompanying their parents for performing Haj this year.

He said the government was working on activation of Madressah Board established at the federal level, and a meeting of the body had been convened in the first week of August.

"In the meantime, we are also looking for a suitable person to head the board, which would be entrusted with the job to register the madressahs in the country," he added, saying the government was also considering authorizing the board to conduct examination of madressah students.

He said the government was also examining the possibilities of establishing separate examination board for madressah students or linking these institutions with federal education board or provincial examination boards for conduct of examination and award of certificates and degrees to the students.

To a question, he said that he was in favour of action against the NGOs tarnishing Pakistan's image while claiming to be working for human rights and social reforms in the country.

To a question pertaining to action against those responsible for mistakes in the textbooks, Mr Haq said that many people were sacked from the Punjab Textbook Board and other organizations in this connection, adds APP.

He said that the mistakes had been deleted from the books and in future a strict action would be taken for any lapses, adding that a monitoring committee was also being set up for the purpose.

To another question, he said that in the Friday sermons there should not be anything to fan sectarian feelings and these should be about religion, tolerance and 'enlightened moderation.'

Meanwhile, Mr Haq visited the Faizan-i-Madina madressah and mosque near the Old Sabzi Mandi. Madressah head Maulana Yaqoob Athar apprised the minister of the role of the institution in imparting religious education, besides the problems being faced by the madressah.

Mr Haq said that he would discuss the same with the concerned quarters, and assured the Maulan that the genuine problems would be resolved. The minister also visited the computer centre of the madressah, besides its main secretariat.