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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on Friday said Darul Uloom Haqqania agreed to implement reforms in return for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government's budget allocation of Rs300 million for the religious seminary.
The seminary is located in Nowshera district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and currently run by Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Sami chief Maulana Samiul Haq. It has faced several controversies in the past as its students Abdullah alias Saddam Nadir alias Qari Ismail, Rasheed alias Turabi and Faiz Muhammad have been accused of involvement in the murder of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. The seminary is also said to be the alma mater of many prominent Afghan Taliban leaders.
"Musharraf received billions from the west for madressah reform and even Maulana Samiul Haq was approached but he rejected the grant, now they are ready for reforms as they trust PTI's government," Imran Khan told journalists during a press conference in Islamabad.
Imran added that progressive reforms are being implemented to better integrate seminary students in to the mainstream, and said those opposing such moves know “little of Pakistani society.”
"Are millions of students studying in these seminaries terrorists?"
The PTI chief further added he has asked the KP government to conduct a press conference to better explain the grant.
Related: Imran defends KP govt's Rs300m grant for Darul Uloom Haqqania
When asked if he will visit PM when he returns to Pakistan, as the PM visited him when he fell from the container, the PTI chief stated he has sent flowers to the PM and would have visited him "if he were treated in a Pakistani hospital."
Petition for PM's disqualification
Imran Khan announced that his party has filed a reference with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) seeking Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s disqualification for not declaring his actual assets to the commission.
The petition was filed by the party leader Dr Yasmeen Rashid.
"Nawaz Sharif has been breaking Pakistan's laws since his term began, but no one has taken action against them, we are trying to make him obey the law," said Imran Khan while announcing the development.
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) had earlier announced their decision to file petitions against the disqualification of PM and his family members in ECP.
Related: PPP mulls departure from parliamentary committee, advises opposition to follow suit
PPP leader Latif Khosa told the media on Thursday that he, on his party's behalf, will file an ineligibility petition in ECP against five members of the Sharif family as the declarations they had filed in the commission were not based on truth.
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Jun 24, 2016 08:36pm
I support PTI, but do not support funding killers if indeed they are. Nawaz Shrif and his team must go, mostly all corrupt with few exceptions like Ch. Nisar.
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Jun 24, 2016 08:46pm
Well there should be indiscriminate funding for all educational institutions so that all the students can avail the opportunities available and are not used for vested interests by terrorists. Blaming the seminary students to be terrorists is wrong as we have seen the students belonging to reputed institutions being linked with IS and terrorist organization. It is a good move to implement madrassah reforms but all seminaries should be included and the Federal govt. should lead. The federal govt. seems to be uninterested in KPK, Sindh and Balochistan's problems as if Punjab is the only province since it won there. When u are in the govt you treat all the people without discrimination and it is unfortunate that we have leadership which has such a mindset. If they want to govern they will have to change this mindset as a leader never keeps a grudge and treats everyone fairly.
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Jun 24, 2016 08:52pm
Instead of improving the standard of education we are funding the alma mater of Taliban.So much for "New Pakistan".
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Jun 24, 2016 09:05pm
Sloganeer, wasting public money all the time.
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Jun 24, 2016 09:07pm
What an excuse to throw away tax payer money.
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Jun 24, 2016 09:08pm
KPK PTI government specializes in throwing away public money as it has no capacity to undertake any worthwhile projects.
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Jun 24, 2016 09:10pm
I am amazed at the shameful defending of this funding from some PTI supporters. What is wrong is wrong. Allocating this massive funding by the Provincial government is shameful to say the least.
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Jun 24, 2016 09:20pm
Imran Khan is a great failure in politics.
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Jun 24, 2016 09:23pm
Amazing decision..... Havent they already secured a large funding in the name of Mederssa reforms in the past and there is evidence what was done with the money? There is still a utter state of confusion among the policy makers?
Will Mr Khan take up the responsibility to brief us how Mederssa would be reformed?
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Jun 24, 2016 09:24pm
This is pay off ! Sami ul Haque is the founder of Taliban . Why wasting money on private institutions and not to spend money on public schools ? Khan Sahib has always soft cornerin his hear for Taliban who are anti Pakistan and have killed thousands of civilians and Pakistani soldeirs !
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Jun 24, 2016 09:25pm
Great visionary leader Imran Khan makes great decisions.
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Jun 24, 2016 09:26pm
They will continue to do reforms for ever and ask money for ever. Nice one
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Jun 24, 2016 09:30pm
PMLN is saying that these are the Benazir's killers. I want to ask the PMLN Govt that what they have done about it. Why legal action has not been taken againt these seminaries. Imran Khan is right. They are the kids that belong to this country and they deserve to be treated with mutual respect. There are bad people in every party. So much killing and kidnapping is happening in Karachi, Where is the provincial govt. PTI is better than the empty promises of PMLN. PTI also need to focus more in KPK so that the commom masses could benefit from the polilcies.
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Jun 24, 2016 09:40pm
Funding can control what they produce... good move... keep control if you cannot close them...
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Jun 24, 2016 09:43pm
Reform Madrassas .. thats a good idea.. cut outside funding and give local money in return for reforms and control. This could have been done with Lal Masjid. Its slow and long term solution.
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Jun 24, 2016 09:51pm
well said Imran khan
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Jun 24, 2016 10:02pm
I think that the question is, really, why just the Haqqania madrassa? I think this amount could easily have helped out at least 30-40 madrassas, if funds were equitably divided between them. Further, at what cost has this money been given to this institution, with such a dubious repute? Has money been diverted from other education projects? What about minorities in KPK, will Christian, Hindu and Sikh schools be getting additional educational funds too? The PTI govt should think about these points.
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Jun 24, 2016 10:11pm
Naya KPK. What a bright politician politician they have!
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Jun 24, 2016 10:18pm
For that much money KPK government should've taken over the madrassa. PTI and KPK need to really explain to the tax payers what reforms are going to be implemented by the madrassa, by when and how will the progress be verified.
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Jun 24, 2016 10:33pm
This the matter we want... in pakistan history ever seen such good step for giving budget to madrassas which is really islam and pakistan wants....best step by Imaran Khan... we should not ignore the peaceful madrassas...
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Jun 24, 2016 10:35pm
It is step in right direction. Madrassa , govt schools , pvt schools must have one syllabus up to 10 th class . Then madrassa can continue its specilization with some science or arts subjects. While govt and pvt school including oxford uni must have one syllabus.
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Jun 24, 2016 10:55pm
Great leader
Hope KP become a beacon of hope for the country
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Jun 24, 2016 10:55pm
Great. And only sincere and great leaders can take 'politically unpopular' decisions.
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Jun 24, 2016 10:57pm
We have to bring them to mainstream, a very good step towards a long term strategy.
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Jun 24, 2016 10:59pm
In the past madrassa were not given attention so they move in their own direction. With govt attention their literature staff funding and even faculty can be governed. Then madrassa will produce peaceful students not terrorists.
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Jun 24, 2016 11:04pm
Pakistan has failed to put on right track. Either to adopt Turkey style Islam which is limited to individual lives or Iran/KSA style Islamic governments. We are in middle.
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Jun 24, 2016 11:09pm
Madrassa get their money from anywhere. I think you can ask for your own money in Madrassa. You cannot ask for foreign money received from Qatar, Kuwait, Iran & Saudia Arabia.
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Jun 24, 2016 11:16pm
Imran Khan is so naive...
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Jun 24, 2016 11:21pm
Dirty politics by PTI.Trying to fund Haqania (JUI-S) against JUI-F, their political opponent in kpk.
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Jun 24, 2016 11:35pm
If such a well known radicalizing seminary trusts you then that casts a doubt on your credibility.
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Jun 24, 2016 11:44pm
He is just pleasing those people to not to bother him
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Jun 24, 2016 11:47pm
Very often money brings all the difference. Instead of using so much money to kill Taliban, we should be spending on infrastructure, schools, maderassas and creating jobs so they get busy making their living rather getting paid to get killed in terrorist activities.
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Jun 24, 2016 11:54pm
@Pragmatic Pakistani they're also improving the standard of education in KP, in fact faster than anyone other province. get yourself updated about it.
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Jun 24, 2016 11:55pm
@Awan SO what do you want in Mudarrash reforms?
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Jun 25, 2016 12:00am
The only thing that i've seen reforming is the PTI itself. They promised us the world and now all they have come down to is either reaction-ism.
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Jun 25, 2016 12:06am
KHAN The GRAET!!
Great visionary leader Imran Khan makes great decisions.
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Jun 25, 2016 12:16am
Really? What specific reforms? Care to break it down? How will this 300M be spent?
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Jun 25, 2016 12:29am
Instead of funding a seminary, how would have opened up many more public school and colleges and attracted kids over there. Sami may have trust in PTI government but we don't of even 1% trust in mullas
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Jun 25, 2016 12:40am
If you agree to change (reform) for money, it's evident you don't believe in the change. Only a naive person will believe that the money will show results.
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Jun 25, 2016 12:43am
This money should have been allocated to regular schools so they could provide LUNCH to the kids in school and provide them with books,uniform and other facilities. Also, parents who send their kids to regular school (instead of madrassah) should be given some insensive. Thats what they did in one of the Indian state. If parents sent their DAUGHTERS to school, they were given monthly stipend . Majority of their female population is educated now.
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Jun 25, 2016 12:46am
What is the reason poor people send their kids to madrassa instead of regular schools? because kids are given free food and there is no expense to send your kids to madrassa. Provide these facilities to kids in regular schools and parents will start sending their kids to regular schools.
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Jun 25, 2016 12:48am
apparently a good step, but they should talk more about how the funds will be invested and about measures to ensure that funds are utilized for reforms only, and not for anti-state actions, such as buying weapons and ammo. That I think, even under surveillance, will be tricky to do.
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Jun 25, 2016 12:55am
this dar ul uloom will stick it bad to PTI and IMRAN KHAAN
just wait it is coming soon enough
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Jun 25, 2016 12:57am
Could he elaborate on reforms please .
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Jun 25, 2016 12:59am
@The End is Near is your statement sarcastic? If yes, I am with you.
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Jun 25, 2016 01:04am
Cat is out of the bag now...
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Jun 25, 2016 01:10am
People commenting against this funding. How many times have you ever visited a madressah or its research wings Darul iftah. The quality of research of these institutions is far better than research done by some our esteemed universities like IBA and Lums. I have reviewed papers from both the streams
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Jun 25, 2016 01:19am
If there was any politician I trusted, it was Imran Khan. Yes, it was. No more any more.
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Jun 25, 2016 01:22am
@Sarwar, USA. Reform madrasahs is a valid objective. Why just limit to just one madrassah?
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Jun 25, 2016 01:32am
Darul Aloom has agreed to reform and it is just like many other pledges that our leaders & organisations make without delivering on their pledge. It is premature to allocate any money to any seminary not knowing what may be outcome. History tells us how easily money can be squandered in Pakistan covering all traps.
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Jun 25, 2016 01:40am
No doubts about IK,s resolve for Madrassa reforms but allocation of Rs300 million for the religious seminary can,t be justified because of 1. It provides sufficient justification for other Madaris to ask for similar allocation in the Budget. 2. It will strengthen undemocratic forces in the country which believe in grabbing power through undemocratic means.
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Jun 25, 2016 01:46am
IK is right on this.
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Jun 25, 2016 01:51am
what imran khan said is 100% correct..
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Jun 25, 2016 02:00am
Good move, these kids need proper guidelines for religious education as well as modern one. They are part of our society. Don't mix them up with Taliban here and there. By reform they will be under provincial government and the funds will be part of educational grants.
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Jun 25, 2016 02:53am
I am very disappointed with Imran on this matter. You can't change these enemies of Islam & Pakistan. Please help build schools for poor kids.
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Jun 25, 2016 02:54am
If the Rs 300M grant would allow the madrassah to produce individuals who could benefit our society and Pakistan like scientists, engineers, doctors, etc., then it would make sense. But if this money will be used simply to benefit existing teachers and students, but the curriculum remains the same then it makes no sense.
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Jun 25, 2016 03:16am
In what capacity is this man related to the welfare of Madrasa?
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Jun 25, 2016 03:48am
I supported IK since day one and thought he might do something that might bring a change but to my utter disappointment he has taken some other path which does not concern the common mans life.
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Jun 25, 2016 04:09am
If I were you, I would not have given them even a smiling glance.
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Jun 25, 2016 04:14am
@Sajid Hilal pointing fingers at other governments doesn't make this one look any better btw. Killing might be happening in Karachi but it continues in Peshawar too, and unlike KP not a single govt. has allocated a large sum of money for a seminary without any clear plan, but just promises. And what do you mean by 'Punjab' keeps on accusing. the seminary has turned out 4 brilliant terrorist leaders, and who knows how many others.
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Jun 25, 2016 04:25am
At least these seminaries students will not run outside Pakistan as do the conventional universities students do a phenomenon which we call brain drain. Good to invest on them.
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Jun 25, 2016 04:44am
Good move by IK. Keep continue. We see you PM one day.
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Jun 25, 2016 04:52am
And you Sir believe that they will reform?
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Jun 25, 2016 05:01am
This whole argument is so insane. Kids who go to these madrassas are our kids. We abandoned them before, it is time to bring them back into the mainstream.
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Jun 25, 2016 05:23am
You cannot reform a snake. The militants see this as a blessing from God, a sign that they are on the right path.
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Jun 25, 2016 06:48am
If there are terrorists in all or any particular madrassah why not take action. We have to understand: Not all students are terrorists and that the reforms will be possible only through engagement. Lets close this gap of non-communication.
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Jun 25, 2016 07:01am
@Pragmatic Pakistani .....while in india....
Bombay HC judge offers to pay school fees of cancer victim’s son
HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times, Mumbai| Updated: Jun 25, 2016 01:42 IST
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Jun 25, 2016 08:17am
@Faizan I agree with you. If PTI wants to reform then it should all Madaras in NWFP and the funding should be equal and all the students in KPK should be taught same subjects if they want funding so these kids are employable and have some skills. IK need to walk the same line he has advocated in the past...in my view we have enough madaras already we should shut all of them and teach Arabic and Islamic studies as subjects in all schools or better yet get rid of religious education and like other develop societies let children learn religion at home and in the mosque.
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Jun 25, 2016 08:21am
Why madarsa it should be Govt school in the first place. 70 years still we are depending on Madarsa for education?
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Jun 25, 2016 08:28am
Rs. 300 million is very less for this great cause. Only Imran Sahab can take Pakistan to the new height.
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Jun 25, 2016 09:07am
Are they the ones who would reform??
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Jun 25, 2016 09:25am
Please make the agreement public, because the money belongs to the people so the people should know what is the exact agreement.
Why no funding for the madrassas of other sects?
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Jun 25, 2016 09:26am
@Pakman Agreed!!!!!!
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Jun 25, 2016 09:26am
@Faizan True!!!!!
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Jun 25, 2016 11:47am
Excellent and visionary step taken. Well done pti. Reforming madrassa is the need of the day.
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Jun 25, 2016 11:48am
@Dervaish Khan yes, they will stay home and wreak havoc.
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Jun 25, 2016 12:10pm
@Faizan This government is treating Punjab equally well. Please come over and visit Punjab - not certain areas of Lahore.
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Jun 25, 2016 12:11pm
@Shaukat Ali Khan Please visit Khyber or get briefed from some Khyber resident.
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Jun 25, 2016 12:14pm
@Kunal current commonly understood meanings of politics (lies, loot, power grab,...) are not correct. Except in Chankia.
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Jun 25, 2016 12:16pm
@RiaZ Ahmed please read the article and listen to the clip included. then comment.
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Jun 25, 2016 12:18pm
@noob that is why you are not.
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Jun 25, 2016 12:25pm
@Logical Atheist these reforms/changes cost. if one wants to do it at faster pace then need to share the burden too.
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Jun 25, 2016 12:27pm
@Syed Anjum Ali That is your assumption. please listen to the clip carefully.
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Jun 25, 2016 02:19pm
Why are people so sort sighted. Does everything has to be short cuts in Pakistan.
One of the most important thing is to bring in these mederssas in to line with main stream education and that will take time.
It's good for children to have religious education but to have these students to find jobs and be part of the society they need knowledge in science, Mathes, IT, etc.
Our prophet ( PBUH) said for knowledge travel the world if you have to.
Imran Khan a poltation who is doing politics in a country were most of the people are still in the mid 20th century
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Jun 25, 2016 04:57pm
How far reform will go it cannot become a morden style institution. Will this institution teach science and social subjects.
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Jun 25, 2016 04:57pm
This is a well established institution and investment from witin pakistan is needed to reform and mederanise it and develop this into a university or research institution. Where ideas can be evolved to tackle the social issues we are facing present day in pakistan. We need research and positive debate amongst relegious scholor and non relegious scholor and ordinary people. At the end of day bulk of people are ordinary people.
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Jun 25, 2016 07:00pm
soo even the "righteous" blackmail
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Jun 25, 2016 07:30pm
Despite my dislike for Imran's policies in general, I totally agree with him on this.
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Jun 25, 2016 07:33pm
@Kunal Where is the failure? This is the right way to bring these seminaries into the mainstream. When you fund them, they will do what you say. If they don't obey you, cut off the funding and make sure no outside funding gets to them either.
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Jun 25, 2016 07:34pm
Terrorism to finish in pk is a far fetched dream now ?with 3oomillions bribes.
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Jun 25, 2016 08:06pm
Dialogue and reform with the terrorists and improving the people those seminaries are able to influence by education is the only way to go. Trying to wipe out a seminary with millions of followers is not only going to cost a lot of money and lives but is also most likely impossible. Isn't this the same as what the army has done in Balochistan? America tried to wipe out the Taliban, but failed and then started peace talks, although Afghanistan will probably never be stable unless America realises the need to fund and properly implement education reform on an emergency basis.
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Jun 26, 2016 03:49am
@prada LUMS. IBA and Darul-Alum what a great comparison my friend? Any translations of the madrassa scholarly papers ? A website etc; would help...
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Jun 26, 2016 11:37am
@ Sajid Hilal - well said... Seminaries are a reality, they are providing education to hundreds and thousands of young kids, reforming them is the right thing to do...
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Jun 26, 2016 12:17pm
A good move of the PTI Government. Well done. Educate them to earn their breads besides getting religious education.
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Jun 26, 2016 02:55pm
If Haqannia was certified killer of Mis Bhutto, why PPP and NS govt failed to action and abolish. Before this group kill a third party, let us reform and correct. IK is taking new look chance.
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Jun 26, 2016 03:53pm
PTI just lost my support.
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Jun 26, 2016 06:58pm
Really commendable move of imran Khan sb. I know very well that how miserable conditions facing by these seminaries students with respect to food cloths and accomodation. Resultantly hatred feeling against general society evolved in small segments of seminary students. Hence some of them went into wrong hands.
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Jun 26, 2016 07:00pm
An equitable way should have been to have the KPK entity declare the curriculum that all registered Madrasas should be following. And for Madrasas who don't sign up, run a campaign to let the locals know, repeatedly, the issues with each non-registered school. This should affect the supply of students and encourage compliance. Even if this won't work in all situations, this would be money well spent rather than pay ransom of 300m
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Jun 26, 2016 07:10pm
What kind of reforms Messers Darul Uloom Haqqania would bring that would cost them millions? From a common man's mind, all they have to do is to switch their syllabus from jihadism to peace and tolerance for the people who are different.
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Jun 26, 2016 10:33pm
IK scares me every time he talks about "one syllabus" for all without specifying what that "one syllabus" is. The only way Pakistan has any chance of progressing is to move towards adopting English as the medium for all schools and even madrassahs. Because the source of science and technology cannot be found in Pakistan, but needs to be acquired through foreign collaborations. And the medium for that is vastly English.
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Jun 27, 2016 06:51am
Excellent move. Bringing these religious seminaries under control and supervision with modern day subjects. Students more likely to get jobs and less likely to join foreign funded extremists.
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Jun 27, 2016 11:21am
A million dollar question will Madrassah Haqqania shun all its terrorist and extremist activities after getting such a huge amount of money ?
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Jun 27, 2016 11:56am
How many new schools could have been built in that money?
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Jun 27, 2016 01:13pm
Madrassa reform should be a topic of national debate. Subjects such as math, science, english language, social studies should all be introduced with the help of effective legislation.
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Jun 27, 2016 07:33pm
Khattak has struck a deal with Sami that UUIS will not field iys candidates against him but this should not be at tax payer's money.
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