PESHAWAR, July 17: Amir Jamaat-i-Islami Qazi Hussain Ahmad has criticized the role of western media, saying that it was distorting the image of religious institutions across the world.

Speaking at a function here at Al-Markaz-i-Islami, the Jamaat’s provincial secretariat, on Wednesday he rejected the proposed Madaris Ordinance and asserted that the government was interfering in the internal affairs of Madaris at the behest of the US and other western countries.

Coming down heavily on western media, the JI chief said that print and electronic media were projecting madaris as hotbed of terrorism.

“The international media should make a difference between terrorists and scholars and should not equate terrorist centres with the learning institutions,” he maintained. In seminaries, he said, people learnt about Islam, humanity, peace, brotherhood and respect for others.

He said the JI had rejected ban on religious organisations and seminaries and would oppose the proposed Madaris Ordinance.

He alleged that some Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) were receiving funds from abroad to promote western culture in the society and damage joint family system and social structure. Instead of banning religious educational institutions, he said, the government should take action against the foreign-funded NGOs.

Qazi Hussain Ahmad said the US had planned to prolong its stay in the region in the name of war on terrorism. He said the US forces had killed large number of civilians, including women and children, in Afghanistan to accomplish its objectives.

He cautioned that after the downfall of Soviet Union, the US had planned to destroy Pakistan’s nuclear programme and military power to implement its agenda.