KARACHI, Sept 3: The ministry of religious affairs hopes to make headway in talks with representatives of the Tanzimul Madaris amid a persistent standoff between various federations of madressahs on the issue of madressahs’ registration.

Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Muhammad Ijaz-ul-Haq on Saturday said some problems were delaying the process, but the registration process would be completed as soon as the differences were settled.

Talking to newsmen after presiding over a meeting with the Haj-Umrah Operators’ Association of Pakistan (HUOAP), he reiterated the government’s commitment to register all religious schools in Pakistan by Dec 31, 2005.

He also said: “Action will be taken against seminaries spreading hate material, sectarianism and terrorism,” adding that the government would show zero tolerance to those found involved.

He said issues with the Ahle Sunnat Madaris representatives were settled in a recent meeting, adding that a complete compromise with other seminaries would hopefully be achieved in a month.

The Wafaq-ul-Madaris, a conglomerate of religious seminaries that is building pressure on government to withdraw its decision to register madressahs and expel foreign students, is yet to be taken into confidence.

The minister said it (Wafaq-ul-Madaris) had raised some questions and his ministry would send letters in two days to answer the same.

He indicated the process was not complicated or lengthy saying, “Madressahs are registered with their respective own governing bodies (wafaqs).”

Earlier, he assured the HUOAP of the government’s complete support in making the Haj/Umrah process transparent and comfortable.

Many private companies were restrained from operating in the upcoming Haj season due to complaints received by pilgrims last year, he added.

Mr Ijaz said the process to arrange Haj/Umrah-related facilities was being transferred to the private sector.

Two monitoring cells would operate, each in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, to ensure that private operators were discharging their responsibilities properly.

He said 314 private companies would facilitate 60,000 pilgrims in Haj.

He added that 90,000 Pakistanis would perform Haj this year after balloting of 140,000 applications received so far. Devotees belonging to the South Waziristan were also accommodated in the present Haj policy.—PPI