KARACHI, July 25: The Wifaqul Madaris al-Arabia Pakistan on Monday condemned the federal interior ministry for ordering expulsion of foreign students studying at seminaries in Pakistan, saying the move was contrary to President Pervez Musharraf's assurance that no such student would be made to return home without completing his education.

“President Musharraf had on February 25 assured us that foreign students will be allowed to complete their education and their visas would be extended for the purpose.

However, the interior ministry has issued order for their expulsion,” Chief Administrator of the institution Maulana Mohammad Hanif Jallandhri told a news conference at Jamia Binoria.

Dr Abdul Razzaq Iskandar, Maulana Adil Khan, Qari Mohammad Usman, Qari Mohammad Iqbal, Maulana Imdadullah, Maulana Saifullah Rabbani and several other ulema were also present on the occasion.

Maulana Jallandhri deplored that the ministry would not only play delaying tactics in the issuance of visa to the students, but would also deny extension in visa when required, ultimately forcing the students to leave the country . He also accused various agencies of harassing the students seeking visa extension.

“The attitude of local police and agencies personnel towards the foreign students enrolled at Jamia Binoria and Madres-sah Ibn-i-Abbas (Gulistan-i-

Jauhar) is highly condemnable. We believe that through these tactics, Federal Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah is trying to create an atmosphere of confrontation between the government and Madressahs,” he said.

Maulana Jallandhri maintained that if the deportation orders had been issued with the president’s consent, it was a violation of the agreement between the seminaries and the president, and if not, the president should immediately sack the secretary.

“The president will be known for his habit of breaking promises if he has endorsed the deportation order,” he said, demanding immediate withdrawal of the order.

Maulana Jallandhri said that a meeting of the Ittehad Tanzeemat Madaris-i-Deenia would be convened soon to discuss the situation and decide a further course of action. He said that the foreign students who had not yet completed their education would not be handed over to the authorities.

He also deplored withdrawal of security provided to the Jamia Binoria.—PPI