August 6, 2005	Saturday	Jumadi-us-Sani 29, 1426

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ISLAMABAD, Aug 5: Rabta Committee Tanzeem-ul-Madaris (RCTM), a central body of seminaries of Ahl-i-Sunnat Waljamaat, on Friday assured the government of its cooperation in repatriation of foreign students studying in its Madressahs.

The committee’s delegation headed by its chairman Syed Noorul Haq Qadri gave the assurance to federal Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Sherpao in a meeting with him in his office, a spokesman for the ministry said.

The delegation assured the minister of full cooperation by RCTM in the government’s drive to register religious seminaries.

The committee chief expressed readiness for registration, audit and provision of other information about seminaries to the government.

He appreciated the government for starting education of modern sciences in Madressahs and said it would be of great help to students.

Speaking on the occasion, the interior minister said the government had not initiated any move against Madressahs. This statement of interior minister, however, appears contrary to his previous statements. The minister and other government quarters had announced that the crackdown was against the seminaries involved in extremism, publishing and keeping hate material, protecting terrorists and misuse of loudspeakers.

“We have not initiated any move against Madressahs. The government is working against the elements and institutions which are involved in spreading hatred in the society”, the interior minister said.

Mr Sherpao said printing, publishing and spreading of hate material would be checked and the persons involved would be brought to the booked. “Misuse of loudspeaker will also be dealt with harshly”, he added.

The minister assured the delegation that the government wanted to register seminaries to have accurate data which will also be helpful for their managements.

He said the government wanted to dispel negative impression about seminaries as it knew that very few people were involved in spreading extremism. “We will not allow such elements to operate at any cost”, he added. Mr Sherpao thanked the delegation for the visit and its offer of co-operation against extremism.

“We have to work together for uprooting sectarianism and extremism and government is committed to achieve this target with the help of positive elements”, he said and added that Islam was a religion of love and peace and has no room for extremism.

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