ISLAMABAD, Dec 1: President Gen Pervez Musharraf on Thursday promulgated Societies Registration (second amendment) Ordinance-2005 making it mandatory for every madressah (religious seminary) in the federal capital to carry out audit of its accounts, prepare annual educational activity report.

It also prohibits seminaries from promoting militancy, sectarianism and religious hatred, a document issued by the law ministry said.

The president amended the Societies Registration Act-1860 exercising his powers under clause (1) of Article 89 of the Constitution.

The document said the ordinance, called “Societies Registration (second amendment) Ordinance-2005”, will come into force with immediate effect in the Islamabad Capital Territory.

The ordinance would be applicable to religious institutions meant primarily for religious education, Jamia, Darul Uloom, school, college or university or called by any other name, set up for the purpose of imparting religious education with boarding and lodging facilities.

The ordinance directs all madressahs to submit annual report of its educational activities to the registrar of societies.

Similarly, it has become mandatory for every religious institution to carry out audit of its accounts by an auditor and submit a copy of its audit report to the registrar of the societies.

The ordinance said no madressah would teach or publish any literature which promotes militancy and spread sectarianism and religious hatred.

Under the ordinance madressahs existing before its commencement, if not already registered, should get themselves registered till December 31, 2005.

Similarly, madressahs which are established after commencement of the ordinance should get themselves registered within one year of their establishment.

Online adds: Rejecting the installation of close circuit TV cameras in mosques and Imambargahs, Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal and Jamaat-e-Ahl-e-Sunnah on Thursday vowed to put up a strong resistance to this government move.

They also gave a countrywide protest call for Friday against what they called the unjustified arrests of Ulema.

The Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao on Wednesday announced that to ensure safety of mosques and imambargahs the cameras would be installed.

Addressing a crowded press conference, MNA Mian Aslam, Maulana Qazi Abdul Rasheed, Maulana Nazir Farooqi, Maulana Ayaz Abbasi, Maulana Zahoor Alvi on Thursday rejected the proposal.

They also termed the arrest of Ulema all over the country as unjustified. They said the arrest of Qari Sohail Abbasi from Bhara Kahu (Islamabad) was based on false case. Qari Sohail Abbasi was arrested for burning a motorcycle.

They said the registration of false cases against Ulema the government was trying to sabotage the peace of the federal capital.

Mian Aslam said that by arresting Ulema right from the premises of the mosque was a wrong step. He said the ulema held 15 meetings with local administration as well as high ups of the police and even they thought that the case against Qazi Sohail Abbasi was wrong. The government, he said, should stop registering fake cases against Ulema and stop raiding mosques.

Qazi Abdul Rasheed said police from three stations raided the mosque and policemen wearing their boots entered the holy place. “This is desecration of mosque and we condemn it.”

He said some hidden elements were trying to create rifts between government and Ulema, making it clear that Ulema have always tried to maintain peace in the country.

Maulana Nazir Farooqi speaking on the occasion said they would stage a protest rally at Bhara Kahu on Sunday (December 4) in front of the mosque from where police arrested Qari Sohail Abbasi. They also urged upon Ulema to pass resolution to condemn this act after Jummah prayers.