LAHORE: The Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC) has forwarded its recommendations to the government on seminary data form and steps for promotion of interfaith harmony.

In its recommendations forwarded to the Committee for Madrassa Reforms on Thursday, the PUC said the affairs of the religious schools should be supervised by a single department and the education ministry should preferably be the overseer as these institutions deal with education.

It stressed the need for arrangements of extracurricular activities for students of seminaries besides liaison with their administrations at the union council level for improvement of the institutions.

The council also prepared a code of conduct for promotion of harmony between various sects and religions and demanded the government give it a legal status.

During preparations of the recommendations, the Tahaffuz Madaris Deenia and Wafaqul Masajid Pakistan expressed concern at the madrassa data form and demanded that it be made simple with deletion of “irrelevant” and repeated questions.

PUC central chairman Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi and secretary-general Sahibzada Tahir Qasmi demanded the ministries of interior and religious affairs should frame a policy on madrassa affairs and religious harmony after consulting political and religious leaders. They demanded the government review their concerns also.

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2015

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