KARACHI, Aug 22: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Ammal Secretary General, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, rejected the contention that madressahs (religious schools) had any link with Al Qaeda Network.

Speaking at a certificate distribution ceremony at Jamia Masjid Madani, Gulistan-i-Jauhar, on Saturday, he said that these madressahs were the place to promote peace and brotherhood.

He said: "Ulema (religious scholars) are not against anyone, but are concerned with the issues damaging Muslim cause in the world." MNA Maulana Asadullah Bhutto, Dr Khalid Mehmood Soomro, Maulana Omer Sadiq also spoke on the occasion.

Later, Maulana Fazlur Rehman while addressing a seminar on "Hasba Act" stated that the Hasba Act was according to the teachings of Islam and the NWFP government wanted to provide people with justice at their doorsteps.

The seminar was organized by the Mufti Mehmood Academy Pakistan in the memory of Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai at a local hotel on Sunday. Fazlur Rahman claimed that many revolutionary steps had been taken by the NWFP government for promotion of education in the province.

He said that a separate university and a separate medical college for women had also been established in the province.

He said that the NWFP government provided books and uniforms free of cost to all primary school students. Last year, textbooks worth Rs250 million were distributed free of cost among students, he said adding that this year too the government has planned to distribute books costing Rs350 million among students.

Talking about jail reforms, he said that the jail uniform and iron chains had been finished. Besides, separate rooms were being constructed where the prisoners could keep their spouse for three days every third month. Attached bath, kitchen and other necessary facilities would be provided in these rooms, he added.

The secretary general said that MMA government was making laws against three simultaneous divorce calls at a time and handing over a woman as compensation (Hadya) against murder.

He welcomed some of the suggestions given by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Shoaib Bokhari and said that the suggestions from people belonging to different walks of life would be welcomed.

"We want to make the Hasba Act as mutually agreed upon act," he added. Also present on the occasion, the Naib Ameer of Jamaat-i-Islami, Prof Ghafoor Ahmed, observed that the country was facing many challenges this time and it was the responsibility of all political parties to play their due role in this regard.

Maulana Ghulamur Rehman said that the Hasba Act would not disturb the present legislative system and the appointment of "Mohtasib" would not be a parallel system. He clarified many sections of Hasba Act.

Sindh Minister for Planning and Development Syed Shoaib Bokhari could not attend the programme but he sent some suggestions regarding Hasba Act. Qari Sher Afzal, Dr Sulman Shahjehan Puri, Mehmood Sham, Atiq Mir, Dr Salahuddin Sani and Muhammad Farooq Qureshi also spoke at the seminar. -APP/PPI