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ISLAMABAD: During Friday's session of the Senate, Minister of State for Interior Baligur Rehman informed the House that Middle Eastern countries namely Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Iran and the United Arab Emirates were giving aid to religious seminaries in three provinces.
The information was compiled on the basis of a report sent by provincial Inspector Generals (IGs). However, Rehman said he would not support or defend the statements made by the IGP on the matter.
According to the report presented before the Senate, 23 religious seminaries in the country are receiving foreign assistance. Out of the 23 seminaries, five belong to the Shia sect and are located in Balochistan.
Other seminaries are based in KP, Sindh and Balochistan and are part of the Sunni sect. No information was given with regards to the province of Punjab. However reports have said that the seminaries in Punjab are not receiving any assistance.
Following a demand made by Senator Sughra Imam, Acting Chairman of the Senate Sabir Ali Baloch referred the question to Senate Privileges Committee with directives that IG of Punjab police may be summoned before the committee to explain his position on foreign assistance being received by religious seminaries in Punjab.
The federal minister told the Upper House of Parliament that according to the anti-money laundering law, financial transaction of religious seminaries and Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) would be monitored.
The minister further told the House that some NGOs are receiving assistance from the United States, Netherlands and Australia.
Earlier, the opposition also walked out from the proceedings of the House over the absence of Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar and Minister of State for Interior.
Later, on directives issued by the chair, Rehman showed up at the house and responded to the questions relating to the Interior Ministry.
The Senate has been adjourned to meet again on Monday at 4 pm.
JUI-F chief warns govt against stopping foreign funding
Meanwhile, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Fazal (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has warned the government against stopping foreign assistance from being received by Pakistan's religious seminaries.
"The government cannot stop this and if the buildings of seminaries are occupied, we would continue to teach under the shadow of trees," he told the media after chairing a parliamentary committee meeting on Kashmir.
He said the government was taking this action to please the United States which he alleged was creating disturbance within the country.
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Comments (94) Closed
Jan 30, 2015 05:06pm
Our own Muslim brother countries are spreading extremism in Pakistan that is leading to deaths and we blame India and USA for it due to Establishment's deliberate propaganda. Therefore we should be cautious with the propaganda against US and India.
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Jan 30, 2015 05:34pm
@Siraj Ahmed let us wait and see if these seminaries are responsible for extremism.
26 out of 20,000 is little to nothing.
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Jan 30, 2015 05:42pm
They want to make you like them which Pakistan is not. Pakistan is not a arab states. But Pakistani people has false impression and they want align themselves like them. Like dressing sense , customs everything .Till Pakistani people doesn't realise that we are Indian subcontinent people .And we have unique culture which is based on tolerance ,secularism and democracy. Till then Pakistan will never get rid of from violence. And these GUlf nations who themselves doesn't any brains will take Pakistan for a ride. Even India is also getting funds from these ME countries and we able to see how Muslims is changing.
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Jan 30, 2015 05:44pm
IG punjab reporting about other provinces?. Is he more informed than others? Why is his report silent about his own jurisdiction area?
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Jan 30, 2015 05:47pm
Using Iran name along with the other dictator states, so call call muslim brothers is unfair. All the arab states are have been pumping money for their distorted version of Islam and militancy in all over the world. Pakistan was blessed by Zia evil to give his Arab partners in crime a blank check to turn our beautiful country into dark ages. It seems we are almost their and the conclusion of this miserable saga is going to take in Sharif brothers hands. Pakistan is not too far to be called Al-Bakistan and our new king will be Nawaz Shareef.
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Jan 30, 2015 05:49pm
A very balance report.Iran is one of biggest name in fund giving to seminaries in Pakistan to damage our country.
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Jan 30, 2015 06:00pm
Ho appropriate that Punjab information was not divulged. I guess there are no seminaries in Punjab. Or they must be self-funded. Or the Raiwind mafia must be funding them indirectly.
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Jan 30, 2015 06:00pm
Let us stop this funding forthwith and tell them to fund such seminaries in their own countries or if they are so fond of it then send all the students to the countries which is funding them so that they can reap what they are sowing.
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Jan 30, 2015 06:01pm
@Siraj Ahmed
I myself studied at a foreign funded seminary and I went on to become a doctor. Never were we taught any 'extremism' etc.
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Jan 30, 2015 06:03pm
While funding of seminaries by Iran and Saudi must stop, it does not mean that USA and India's hands are clean too. Interference of all countries in Pakistan must stop.
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Jan 30, 2015 06:07pm
@Siraj Ahmed what made you think that funding madrassas spread terrorism and extremism. I am not denying that all madrassas are OK but I am saying that madrassas are as important as school or even more important. Only Muslims can understand this!
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Jan 30, 2015 06:10pm
Gone are the days when the Madrassah used to be a center of learning. Now, it has become a training den for future terrorists and criminals. Among the districts of Karachi, the Central District has the highest number of madrassahs, and also a correspondingly highest Crime Rate. According to one estimate, almost $5 billion have been recently pumped into the madrassahs of Pakistan. Pakistanis have a simple choice - keep the madrassahs or keep their country.
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Jan 30, 2015 06:19pm
Why not name Saudi Arabia? They also protect, support and fund dictators like Nawaz sharif who then do corruption and share the reward with Saudi royal family.
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Jan 30, 2015 06:21pm
Very convenient that the statistics for Punjab have not been released. Is anyone going to believe that only 23 Seminaries are receiving funds when thousands of Madarasas and Mosques are being funded from foreign sources ? Duplicity even in such a small matter ???
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Jan 30, 2015 06:23pm
@Siraj Ahmed Now how they react political leaders who always blame Inida
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Jan 30, 2015 06:25pm
Really! How's this a revelation and a moment of surprise to anyone? And where are the names of those countries? The worst offender is the so called friend the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I have a firm believe on what goes around, comes around! Just wait for the time when these bigots reap the fruits of their own sowing!
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Jan 30, 2015 06:36pm
Middle east countries should spend this fund for quality education of their people. They are knowingly funding extremists to weaken our country. It only earns hate. They better leave us alone. One day, Insha Allah, they will reap what they are sowing.
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Jan 30, 2015 06:53pm
Now with oil prices plunging the money may dry up - a blessing in disguise - but radical mullahdom will not see it that way and things in Pak may get worse before they get better. Maybe two generations before any civility is seen in Pakistani soceity at large.
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Jan 30, 2015 06:55pm
Punjab needs to answer many questions
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Jan 30, 2015 07:01pm
Pakistan should outlaw any foreign funding in the name regions. Foreign funding is one of the factor to promotes extremism
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Jan 30, 2015 07:02pm
What a useless waste of time and money for the tax payer. All foreign funds should be funneled through a government body. Monitoring this will be useless exercise.
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Jan 30, 2015 07:10pm
So what will did the senate do after knowing this? Answer is nothing. Senate and NA have become absolutely useless in Pakistan. They don't care about normal people as long as the "DEMOCRACY" is safe.
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Jan 30, 2015 07:17pm
@Siraj Ahmed Muslim brother countries? You may think so but not many Arabs see Pakistani Muslims as brothers or even as equals. Just ask Pakistani immigrants in Saudi on how they're treated, and ask those in non-Muslim countries like the U.K., the U.S. or Canada. Religious isn't a sufficient qualification for brotherhood.
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Jan 30, 2015 07:29pm
Senate need to told about this!!
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Jan 30, 2015 07:36pm
Pakistan was created for the Muslims, so that they may flourish as a people and society, harvesting the contribution of all its citizens for the greater benefit of Pakistan, as envisioned by its founding leaders.
Our beloved Pakistan has the capacity and capability to be a South Korea in ten years, if we the people, decide to want to take it to that level.
May Allah bless Pakistan and guide it to the right path.
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Jan 30, 2015 07:58pm
" No information was given with regards to the province of Punjab. However reports have said that the seminaries in Punjab are not receiving any assistance."
Are they funded by the PML N Government?
Guys you need to wake up and smell the roses.
Maybe you all are dead and Morally corrupt to do anything to save Pakistan from these animals.
If this continues how do you think you can call yourself a Muslim country where no one's life is safe?
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Jan 30, 2015 08:01pm
Poor Pakistan eat and breath on donations, nothing wrong on receiving donation, but the question is how the donation is been used. The donation should be used to educate the children and their better.
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Jan 30, 2015 08:10pm
@Siraj Ahmed
India and USA are not exactly innocent.
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Jan 30, 2015 08:15pm
Religion is not enough force to keep people together, Pakistani people have more in common with people of India in terms of language, culture, and history. We like Indian music, movies, food etc. They like our actors, singers and our TV dramas. People in middle east are our coreligionists but they do not treat us as equal human beings.
Pakistan people living abroad are more in friends with people of Indian origin rather than people from middle east, as their interaction is not biased by politics and religion it is an interaction between two human beings with common heritage--- my 2 cents opinion.
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Jan 30, 2015 08:19pm
this is first time senator knew about this? senate was not knowing about this before?
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Jan 30, 2015 08:19pm
@Siraj Ahmed
Why do you think India has so many consulates in Afghanistan?
Why do you think US doesn't consider Afghanistan Taliban bad?
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Jan 30, 2015 08:20pm
Let them fund, no problem. Monitor these funds and don't allow any Madressah to run on sectarian basis.
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Jan 30, 2015 08:41pm
Funding from external sources without proper accountability will create more terrorists and increase terrorism in Pakistan. Government seems to have no clue. Illegal funding has already created uncounted number of terrorists. The education must be modernized along with some religion fundamentals. Pakistan doesn't require thousands of Mullas as they always create tension. Many are moving with illegal guns freely. Funding must reach to an official who will be responsible for distribution and public accounts audit.
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Jan 30, 2015 08:48pm
The title is "ME countries providing funds to religious seminaries, Senate told"...
Yes we all know it for décades... what next???
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Jan 30, 2015 08:49pm
This is Muslim brotherhood? When Muslims kill thousand of other communities, no voices are raised from Islamic world or people come out to justify this heinous acts, but when even a single Muslim is killed by another community, whole Muslim community will go against them. When Muslims kill other Muslims how should be the reaction? Muslims need to learn respect other communities and be more liberal and tolerant. Until this happens this blood games will never stop...
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Jan 30, 2015 08:55pm
@Indian A sensible comment from an Indian after a long long time... Thanks
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Jan 30, 2015 08:58pm
Good, let them fund, but transferred these Madrasahs into regular schools headed by Govt appointed qualified teachers.
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Jan 30, 2015 09:01pm
@Siraj Ahmed glad that all pakistanis are not anti-India..
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Jan 30, 2015 09:05pm
Pak is fertile land and has its own culture and is different compared to Arabs from desert
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Jan 30, 2015 09:11pm
@Shuaib Bhat All you need is 1 person from 1 seminary to plant a bomb to kill hundreds. Saying '26 out of 20000 is little to nothing' is not wise.
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Jan 30, 2015 09:12pm
If the funding of madrassahs is stopped and the children have to study under trees, maybe the clerics will start believing that all schools should be off-limits of the terrorists.
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Jan 30, 2015 09:31pm
@Khan.. Well.. This is a sensible piece after a long time...
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Jan 30, 2015 09:47pm
Must stop funding.
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Jan 30, 2015 09:49pm
Lots of poverty in Pakistan, this funding help poor children who can't afford good food, shelter and other luxury of life. By stopping funding to seminaries a big vacuum will be generated between rich and poor.
Yes instead of stopping funding to seminaries from foreign countries a clear directive should be given that these funds should be allocated in modern and more productive activity in the institution.
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Jan 30, 2015 10:08pm
@Siraj Ahmed dear do you know how may innocent people were killed by usa & india in the name of war on terror , national interest, national integrity and so on.
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Jan 30, 2015 10:17pm
@Indian
Yes. As Leo Tolstoy has written in his letter(to Gandhiji) , sub-continent
s major two neighbours are divided in the same manner kingdoms and princely states were divided when East India company set its foot 200 years ago. If we stand united no foreign country will dominate either of us. 20 million people get enslaved by a few thousands of Englishmen. We are to blame ourselves for the division.
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Jan 30, 2015 10:20pm
Let the money come through official channels and then draw some requirements for these madrassahs. Attach these madrassahs to some technical schools.
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Jan 30, 2015 10:27pm
This funding from ME countries should be immediately stopped if we want to live as a society. This money is destroying our basic social fabric. Money is supporting the mind of Pak mullahs who spread hatred in society.
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Jan 30, 2015 10:30pm
Maulamn Fazal ur Rehman... has warned against stopping funding. You know where the problem lies and where to hit. Stop funding NOW!!!
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Jan 30, 2015 10:43pm
@Indian I have never seen a Pakistani wearing a traditional Arab dress. Where have you got this information from
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Jan 30, 2015 10:51pm
'Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Fazal (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has warned the government against stopping foreign assistance from being received by Pakistan's religious seminaries.'
who likes the supply pipeline to go dry? Now we know how these ulema's get rich. They are also on the pay role of somebody.
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Jan 30, 2015 10:51pm
Money coming from any place is welcome ....isn't it sir?
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Jan 30, 2015 10:52pm
You mean our senators have to told. They as much responsible as MULLAHS. One seminary teaching hatred is way too many.
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Jan 30, 2015 10:53pm
@fayaz ahmed How many sir ...can u enlighten us please
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Jan 30, 2015 11:00pm
Not all seminaries are involved in terrorism but those that are should be closed down with immediate effect.
In my opinion forigen funding of these institutes are suspect anyway. They are breeding grounds for suicide killers and anti state activity.
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Jan 30, 2015 11:02pm
@Hakim .Tehreek e nifaz e fiqha jafaria was the first sectarian organisation formed in Pakistan after success of revolution in Iran before that there was absolute sectarian harmony in Pakistan.
When Iran started exporting it's revolution in other Muslim countries the other stakeholders jumped in to counter this move.Sipah e shaba was formed in Pakistan and shia sunni conflict started which until now is there .
So u can not rule out Iran ' s active involvement in promoting this monster here.
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Jan 30, 2015 11:13pm
@Siraj Ahmed - I agree with your statement regarding our so-called brother countries spreading hatred in Pakistan. However, India is and has been active in Baluchistan and KPK for a while and you cannot deny it.
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Jan 30, 2015 11:17pm
@Riaz How having consulates relates to terrorism. Also having too many consulates should be Afghanistan problem, how it is hurting Pakistan.
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Jan 30, 2015 11:17pm
Fazlur Rehman said, "He said the government was taking this action to please the United States which he alleged was creating disturbance within the country."
Now, this is the definition of a munafiq or a hypocrite and there probably no bigger hypocrite than Fzal. He wastes no time in bashing the US, even if when he gets an upset stomach. However, I can guarantee that if he gets a US visa in the morning, he will fly out before the end of the same day.
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Jan 30, 2015 11:18pm
All funding should distributed through government. Direct funding should be stopped.
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Jan 30, 2015 11:23pm
@Siraj Ahmed Thats overly simplistic. All these Arab countries are the US's lap dogs, They cant even lift a finger without US's nod. Who are you talking for?
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Jan 30, 2015 11:26pm
The mullahs need the money to build schools and become important in their communities. Why wouldn't they want the money (aka apply for a grant)?
The rich donors feel good about themselves. Their road to paradise is paved with gold.
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Jan 30, 2015 11:34pm
what about Moulana Abdul Aziz from where he is getting funds, does he belongs KPK, Balochistan or Sindh
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Jan 30, 2015 11:44pm
Maybe it's about time, we get names of the people or institutions sending funds. We also want information such as how much was sent to what madrassah and who received the money. What was the channel used to send the money. Was it hard earned money or oil money? If possible, we need to interview the funders. This is really easy information to gather. I think we are in the right direction. Good job, Pakistan!
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Jan 30, 2015 11:44pm
Ever increasing and competitve financing for religious education has obvious agenda.
It has been increasing secretarion and divisive forces and enriching contractors of seminaries/madaressas.See latest disaster at mosque in Sindh,namazees butchered.
Need to contol financing as well as content/qualitty of education imparted.
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Jan 30, 2015 11:47pm
We all know that. The question is what is the Government going to do about it? You want the answer - NOTHING.
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Jan 31, 2015 12:20am
ME countries? Who in particular? Oooooooooops I shouldn't be asking that type of a question.
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Jan 31, 2015 12:27am
From an outside perspective, it is painfully obvious that the many contradicting versions of Islam is what is destroying your country. Dismiss my perspective if you like, but you will only be perpetuating this viscous cycle of extremism.
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Jan 31, 2015 12:31am
Everyone knows about funding, tell us your action.
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Jan 31, 2015 12:45am
@Siraj Ahmed I am in complete a accord with you.........
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Jan 31, 2015 12:53am
Seminaries aren't contributing into well-being, economic, labour and other aspects of our society then why they are in thousands and what they produce!
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Jan 31, 2015 12:59am
@Waheed Khan "Pakistani people have more in common with people of India "
Even after decades of Pakistani establishment's attempt to take Pakistan away from India, someone like you is making this statement.
This means that thousands of years of bond is very strong - no one can take it away. Sooner they realize it, better India and Pakistan are off.
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Jan 31, 2015 01:33am
Let us face the fact. Rise of extremism is directly related to Madrsa products. Please stop all foreign funding to ALL sects (both Shia and Sunni)......we will not mind to see Maulana Fazlur Rehman teaching under the shadow of trees.
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Jan 31, 2015 01:53am
@Shuaib Bhat We still have to wait? For how long?
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Jan 31, 2015 02:18am
State of emergency should be declared in Pakistan plain and simple. Fazlur Rehman should get with the program otherwise face charges. All monies coming in for funding madrassas should be monitored and verified with complete back ground checks. NO EXCEPTIONS!
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Jan 31, 2015 02:30am
Did they really have to be told this now? where have they been all these years?
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Jan 31, 2015 03:30am
This report is insufficient as these are not just 23 seminaries. There are more than two hundred seminaries opened in Sindh and higher numbers in other provinces in last five years and and majority of them belongs to Deobandi school of thought (> 98 %) and they all receive funding from middle eastern countries. Sindh is the land of sufis and here attacking shias means huge change in basic mentality of residents, this is all happened because of failed govt who is unable to watch what is happening under their noses. Same happened in Punjab, Balochistan and KPK etc earlier.
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Jan 31, 2015 03:52am
@Siraj Ahmed
You have spoken the truth which the Pakistani society don't want to accept. One of the main reason is the misleading and twisting of the truth by the religious leader and the like minded people in the establishment.
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Jan 31, 2015 03:52am
@Indian good analysis. I am a Pakistani. We must fight it. It is no ones religion.
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Jan 31, 2015 04:31am
I agree with JUI leader Fazal not to interfere with funding from SA, Qatar, Kuwait and Iran to Madrassas in Pakistan. More funding to schools/Madrassas should be encouraged from other prospective donors even from America. Curriculum in these Madarasses should be improved on modern lines to meet the global demands of 21st century. Instead of monitoring funding, staff/ faculty and student leaders of these madrassases should be monitored.
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Jan 31, 2015 05:13am
@kks If Madarssahs are important then go to Middle-Eastern countries and see if there are any Madarssahs.
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Jan 31, 2015 05:34am
If any senator have some guts, they should take action against ME countries instead of just taking, otherwise just shut up , you know you're also puppet for ME countries.
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Jan 31, 2015 05:39am
Middle East Countries are bitter poison to Pakistan, must be stopped but who will stop them, not Sharif Brothers. Only one person can do that and that is Imran Khan.
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Jan 31, 2015 05:41am
Maulana Fazal is worried that his share could be in trouble.
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Jan 31, 2015 05:46am
And we still call them brotherly countries.
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Jan 31, 2015 06:06am
Pak religious seminaries gets funds from ME countries.
Students from these religious seminaries join Pak based terrorist organizations and do terror attacks to kill innocent pak people.
Then Pak govt. sees strong Indian hand behind these attacks and that's too without any proof; just because India has 4 or 5 consulates in Afghanistan. What a logic !?!?
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Jan 31, 2015 06:48am
"seminaries in Punjab are not receiving any assistance." Lolz.......
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Jan 31, 2015 07:00am
@Shuaib Bhat Seriously?
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Jan 31, 2015 07:01am
@Indian Well said!
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Jan 31, 2015 07:08am
@Hakim I agree, Iran is only being mentioned to deflect some of the criticism. it's like saying, "there is enough blame to around". We all know who is responsible.
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Jan 31, 2015 07:16am
@Ayesha Enough of these conspiracy theories! Step up Bakistanis and recognize that we have met the enemy and it is our "friends" from the Middle East.
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Jan 31, 2015 07:18am
@Arshad A seminary for doctors. Why dint anyone else think of it?! We could turn all our mullahs in doctors.
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Jan 31, 2015 07:22am
@Shuaib Bhat even one seminary can create 100s of brain washed terrorists if not monitored. any seminary in Pakistan is our business and no foreign country should be allowed to fund it directly. Give the money to govt and we can decide how to give out that money and monitor it.
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Jan 31, 2015 07:40am
Wow! This is a new discovery. Who do you think are paying for the arabization?
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