KARACHI, Aug 11: Federal Minister for religious affairs Ejazul Haque has stated that allegations of terrorism against religious seminaries are wrong as seminaries are engaged in imparting religious education.
Referring to the recent tragedy at the Jamia Binnoria, the minister said that seminaries were themselves targets of terrorism. The minister expressed these views while talking to a group of journalists during his visit to the Jamia Binnoria on Wednesday.
Later, a spokesman of the Jamia, Maulana Saifullah Rabbani told Dawn that the minister offered condolences with the management of Jamia over the loss of precious lives and injury to innocent people in the bomb blasts.
When asked what measures were being contemplated to check recurrence of terrorism incidents Mr Ejazul Haque said he was the minister of religious affairs and law and order comes under the domain of the ministry of interior which was responsible to control the situation.
The minister lauded the role of the Jamia for controlling the sentiments of the students and people and not reacting in a manner which could result in law and order problem.
Earlier drawing his attention the management said that seminaries were being defamed uncalled for. The management also expressed dissatisfaction over the pace of investigation as so far neither any accused was arrested nor the direction of the involved people was determined.
The management also took notice of the attitude of Sindh Governor and Chief Minister who so far had failed to contact and offer condolences with the management. Referring to the compensation amount announced by the government for the victims, the management expressed its dissatisfaction.
Elaborating its point of view they pointed out that the government had paid five lakh rupees each as compensation to the relatives of the victims of the tragedy in Quetta while one million rupees was announced as compensation to the dependants of the driver of designated Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in addition to offer of permanent employment to his children and allowances for life to his widow.
The minister assured the management that he would take up the matter of compensation amount and security of the seminaries with the President and Prime Minister, Maulana Rabbani said. Referring to rumours about protest call on Friday, the Maulana stated that the Jamia management had not given any call for protest.
