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ISLAMABAD: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) on Tuesday demanded that foreign funding to religious seminaries should be stopped.
Speaking during a session of the Senate, MQM senator Nasreen Jalil said that Jamiat UIema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman should take the lead in offering details of foreign funding to his religious seminaries.
She further said that one of the organisers of the Lal Masjid protests in Islamabad Jibran Nasir was receiving threats after registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Lal Masjid cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz.
Explore: Lal Masjid protest activist receives threatening phone call
Earlier on Monday, human rights activist Nasir, who has been leading the protest against Maulana Abdul Aziz, received a threatening call allegedly from Jamaatul Ahrar spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan who asked Nasir to end the protests, or "be ready for consequences".
Read more: Lal Masjid protest: FIR registered against Maulana Aziz
On Sunday, an FIR was lodged against Maulana Aziz on charges of threatening MQM chief Altaf Hussain over terrorism, provocation and cyber crime.
Take a look: MQM gets FIR registered against Maulana Aziz
It was the second FIR against the Lal Masjid cleric in a span of two days, the earlier one being filed by civil society activists in Islamabad.
The case against the cleric had been lodged by Advocate Arif Khan. The complainant had submitted as proof the video message as well as the written document in which Maulana Aziz had threatened Altaf Hussain, who had urged the government to demolish Lal Masjid.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (40) Closed
Dec 23, 2014 04:17pm
Foreign funding to NGOs should also be stopped.
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Dec 23, 2014 04:27pm
A bold statement..
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Dec 23, 2014 04:29pm
Instead of stopping the funding, these funds should be audited.
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Dec 23, 2014 04:47pm
This should have been done yesterday.
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Dec 23, 2014 04:47pm
That's right. All foriegn funding to all religious seminaries, and religious based groups and parties, must be stopped. They are working for the ideologies of their foreign sponsors. They are definitely not working in the interests of Pakistan.
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Dec 23, 2014 04:49pm
bravo MQM.... bold stance...
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Dec 23, 2014 05:13pm
The only good proposal from MQM. As suggested by Ahmar Ansari, NGOs also need to be put into the same basket.
All should be audited.
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Dec 23, 2014 05:27pm
Good step. it should be done. But who will check altaf hussain,s funds?
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Dec 23, 2014 05:31pm
a valid point
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Dec 23, 2014 05:36pm
This must need to happen if Pakistan wants to get itself rid off terrorism and extremism. Every Madrassas needs to be reformed and monitors. All foreign funds needs to stop. Specially from Saudis.
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Dec 23, 2014 05:53pm
Time to tighten noose on madrassahs. Whether it is funding or curriculum, a thorough evaluation is needed. If needed those with suspicious credentials should be closed. Start from Lal Masjid.
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Dec 23, 2014 05:56pm
I want to start an NGO to provide water treatment plants in villages. I need to know if NGOs will be discouraged then I should not raise money?
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Dec 23, 2014 06:06pm
Bravo to MQM for their bold stance against terrorism
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Dec 23, 2014 06:17pm
It is common belief that whoever gives you money will give you dictation as well,why do these foreign countries run institutions here why dont they run it in their own countries ? if they are so determined let us all suggest that these madrassahas be shifted to their soil along with the teachers and students and they can do whatever they want.STOP foreign funding forthwith of madrssas and NGO's.
I would like to know how the interior minister came up with the 90% figure based on what ? or was it just pressure from Jaati Umraa as the sponsors have started arriving there ???
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Dec 23, 2014 06:41pm
Yes and so on to NGOs too. But Mr senator are you or your party is ready to take the guardianship of countless and ample students who are studying in these seminaries. If the foreign fund is misused than who is culprit? So either to stop foreign funding or a strict monitoring on these seminaries and NGOs?
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Dec 23, 2014 06:42pm
Strongly agreed.
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Dec 23, 2014 06:47pm
It is surprising that saying the most obvious is considered daring and bold. This is the level of fear that foriegn funding has instilled into the local population
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Dec 23, 2014 06:51pm
It should have stopped long time back. We should learn to stand on our own two feet as a nation and should stop the luxurious life style especially enjoyed by our leaders whether civilians or army
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Dec 23, 2014 07:01pm
Fazal is corrupt
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Dec 23, 2014 07:08pm
MQM should be trialed in court for treason and this statement is an instance. If Non-Islamic Academic institutions are allowed to literally beg for foreign funds then why can't Madrassas do that, Maddrassa is an Islamic Academic Institution.
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Dec 23, 2014 07:09pm
@Erik Auditing is the correct way to go, a wise statement
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Dec 23, 2014 07:34pm
@EmEn ; Who are the foreigners who fund religious seminaries who seem to cause Pakistanis a lot of troubles? please name them!
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Dec 23, 2014 07:52pm
Why Hafiz saeed and Maulvi Abdul Aziz not arrested so far. Who protects them.
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Dec 23, 2014 07:55pm
For once I agree with MQM and appeal to all Pakistanis to stop giving charity and zakat to madrissas
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Dec 23, 2014 07:56pm
The Govt. should obtain all details of foreign funding & uses. It should be made public ; public have a right to know which foreign organization ( country ) is influencing our youth & in what manner.
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Dec 23, 2014 08:01pm
@Erik I AGREE WITH YOU.
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Dec 23, 2014 08:02pm
Bravo! Thank you MQM for your clear and brave stance on terrorism!
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Dec 23, 2014 08:05pm
As far Foreign Funding is concerned, Government should provide a system to seminaries,ngos and all other non profit organization so that their audit is less cumbersome. Accountability of every dept. , every institution should be transparent whether it is a charitable organization or military institution. peace
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Dec 23, 2014 08:14pm
These seminaries should teach Urdu and English, Maths and Science, World Religions (not just Islam). The standard demanded should be equal to best in Asia - Japan and Korea.
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Dec 23, 2014 08:24pm
Why is such strong reaction to terrorism only coming from MQM? Where are other parties?
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Dec 23, 2014 08:28pm
Which funding? Is that Saudi $1.5 billion funding finance minister Ishaq Dar forgot to count? Whatever happened to that money? Any debit accounting entry Mr Dar against this credit?
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Dec 23, 2014 08:29pm
Funding from every source should be blocked to all seminaries.
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Dec 23, 2014 08:48pm
Why are we so afraid to name countries who are funding these seminaries? Certainly US and West is not funding them.
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Dec 23, 2014 09:02pm
Totally agreed! if the foreign countries are real sympathizers of this country, they should spend that money to provide basic social services to masses who are in dire need instead of spreading their ideologies, which is coming to bite them back anyway.
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Dec 23, 2014 09:13pm
Now thats the point
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Dec 23, 2014 09:30pm
Even the local funding should be a crime with life imprisonment.Otherwise the foreigners will use local channels.All contributors must declare the tax they have paid.
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Dec 23, 2014 09:45pm
It is strange that the government has failed to bring reforms in the seminaries set up despite these seminaries are institutions to produce extremist mullahs for decades and who knows not that number of these Madarsas were opened to counter Russian.s in Afghanistan. The Russian war has finished and we are no ready to fight for someone else so we should learn from our past.
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Dec 23, 2014 10:14pm
India should follow this as well...
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Dec 23, 2014 10:19pm
Great statement but then we need to tell the Saudi government to stop funding these people. Will you stand up against Saudi Arabia? No. Never!
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Dec 23, 2014 10:25pm
Altaf is the Man...bravo and salute..
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