• Seminaries declared a ‘red line’, with warning of protest movement after May 2 deadline
• Govt moves to strengthen madressah registration process, says around 300 unregistered seminaries identified

QUETTA: Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) Balochistan Emir Senator Maulana Abdul Wasay has announced a boycott of the Bugti-led coalition government’s functions, official meetings, and visits to the Chief Minister’s House, alleging that the provincial government has launched operations against madressas (seminaries) across the province and sealed many of them.

Speaking at a press conference on Fri­day, along with Senator Kamran Murtaza and other party leaders, he said that the decision to socially boycott the government was taken in response to actions against seminaries. He said the law under which these actions are being carried out has neither been approved by parliament nor by the provincial assembly.

He declared that seminaries are the party’s “red line” and warned that those taking action against them have “dug their own grave.” He rejected the government’s law against seminaries and said that if operations are not stopped and an apology is not issued by May 2, the party will convene a meeting of the Provincial Majlis-i-Shura and announce a movement against the government.

Maulana Wasay said that the JUI-F supported the 26th Constitutional Amendment on the condition that seminaries would be registered under the Societies Act, adding that an additional clause was later included allowing seminaries to register with the Education Department if they wished.

He alleged that universities have become hubs of drugs, while seminaries produce people who run the country and are now being targeted.

Senator Kamran Murtaza, speaking on the occasion, said that seminaries in Balochistan are being issued notices and sealed. He added that the US Deputy Chief of Mission had also told JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman during a meeting that actions against seminaries were not an American demand and that the government and establishment were unnecessarily creating pressure.

Madressah registration

Meanwhile, the Balochistan government has decided to make the madressah registration process more organised and effective in view of reports regarding foreign funding and the presence of foreign individuals in some unregistered seminaries in the province.

Officials said that, according to available data, around 300 seminaries in Balochistan have been identified as operating without legal registration. In some of these institutions, reports of suspicious activities have also been received, which are currently under investigation by the relevant authorities.

Sources said that religious leaders — particularly the leadership of JUI-F — will be taken into confidence.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026