KARACHI, April 26: Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan has promulgated an ordinance to amend the Societies Registration Act, 1860, regarding registration of Madressahs, in its application to the province of Sindh.

The ordinance will be called the Societies Registration (Sindh Amendment) Ordinance, 2007 and come into force at once and shall be deemed to have taken effect on and from December 27, 2006.

In the Societies Registration act, 1860, after Section 20, the following new section shall be added.

“21. Registration of Deeni Madaris (1) All Deeni Madaris by whatsoever name called shall not operate without getting themselves registered as under.

(i) The Deeni Madaris existing before the commencement of the Societies Registration (Sindh Amendment) Ordinance, 2005 shall get themselves registered under this Act up to December 31, 2005;

(ii) The Deeni Madaris which are established after the commencement of the Societies Registration (Second Sindh Amendment) Ordinance, 2005, shall get themselves registered within one year of their establishment.

Explanation: One Madressah having more than one campus shall need only one registration.

(2) Every Deeni Madressah shall submit annual report of its educational activities to the registrar.

(3) Every Deeni Maddressah shall cause to be carried out audit of its accounts by an auditor and submit a copy of its audit report to the registrar.

(4) No Deeni Maddressah shall teach or publish any literature which promotes militancy or spreads sectarianism or religious hatred.

Provided that nothing contained herein shall bar the comparative study of various religions or schools of thought or the study of any other subject covered by the Holy Quran, Sunnah or the Islamic jurisprudence.

Explanation: In this section ‘Deeni Maddressah’ means an institution primarily for religious education and includes Jamia, Dar ul Uloom, school, college or university, or called by any other name, set up for the purpose of primarily imparting religious education and providing boarding and lodging facilities.—APP