ISLAMABAD, July 22: Pakistan People’s Party Chairperson Benazir Bhutto on Friday said the London bombings by the bombers, who had visited Pakistan prior to the events of 7/7, required Islamabad to take action to demonstrate its commitment to fighting terrorism. In this context, she said in a statement, the PPP welcomed the military regime’s announcement that it would register all madressahs and schools by December this year and establish a special cell to carry out the task.

She noted that many madressahs were carrying out solely religious functions. However, some had been set up to fight the occupation of Afghanistan in the eighties. She said these political madressahs were brainwashing young men into becoming robots in a deadly move of terror.

The former prime minister said such a move, if implemented in letter and spirit, would be welcomed by all those who were concerned about Pakistan’s image abroad as well as the stability and wellbeing of the country itself.

She said the PPP had noted General Musharraf’s pledge not to allow the banned organizations to operate under a new name.

She said in the wake of London bombings and the revelations that some suicide bombers had visited Pakistani madressahs before carrying out the attacks, it was important that the madressah education was closely watched and also reformed.

She said the line taken by some elements of the regime that the London bombings were the UK government’s problem was unacceptable. Too many terrorists had ended up with some link to Pakistan, which meant that Islamabad must be seen to be taking the issue with seriousness to allay international concerns, she said.

Ms Bhutto said Islam was a religion of peace and harmony and it was important that our madressahs were reformed so that the education imparted in these schools truly reflected the humane and peaceful traditions of Islam and Islamic teachings.