THERE are about 35,000 madressahs in Pakistan but no record of registration is available. The very word “madressahs” bring to one’s mind a place where students get religious education. A very sacred concept indeed. In today’s world, this word is not taken positively. Specially after the Afghan war (1979-1989), unfortunately, madressahs are termed a place where extremist minds grow and terrorists get training. In fact, the madressahs are blamed for the growing religious intolerance and sectarian strife in Pakistan.

Not all but many madressahs are promoting sectarian hatred and violence because some ulema running these madressahs and teaching the young minds are not well-educated and qualified. They transfer their knowledge as they learnt from their elders. It is wrong to quarrel over religious rites. I have seen religious leaders even fighting on the manner and way of offering prayers. The government has decided to register all madressahs as a measure to control extremism and terrorism in society. It is a positive step. It is also suggested that the degrees and qualification of all teachers in madressahs be checked.

The government seems to have the will to implement the National Action Plan to wipe the scourge of terrorism from society. All madressahs and ulema should fully cooperate with the government, keeping all differences aside.

Rumaisa Ali

Lahore

Published in Dawn, November 27th, 2015