KARACHI, May 14: Head of the Binnoria University International, Site, Mufti Mohammad Naeem has rejected the perception that religious seminaries were responsible for sectarianism in the country, citing the role of anti-Islam forces which, he believed, were out to create and foment sectarian and ethnic disharmony.

Talking to a group of journalists here on Sunday, he said those who were holding the seminaries responsible for sectarianism had no evidence or ground to prove this. “Where are the institutions that preach sectarianism… where are the students being imparted the education of sectarianism… which part of the Dars-i-Nizami syllabus can be described as literature to foment sectarianism?” he challenged.He said that the elements bent upon labeling madressahs as schools of sectarianism were, in fact, speaking the language of the West and had no basis. “Would they like to produce any decree issued by any Islamic institution in favour of sectarianism?” he asked.

The BUI chief also contested the claim that madressahs were suffering from inertia, and pointed out that all necessary modifications were made to match the syllabus of madressahs with the modern day education.

Mufti Mohammad Naeem said that seminaries and ulema were not averse to the registration of madressahs, and maintained that it could only be possible when all five federal boards were taken into confidence.