Right-Wing Politics in Pakistan: The Urgent Need for Madrasa Registration

In Pakistan, the right-wing has always been a problem in the policy-making process. The state sometimes needs a rational approach that suits its national interest better, but right-wing and religious parties oppose such development, which hurts the country’s progress in the long run. It has been a history of Pakistan that any policy, law, or amendment that has come against the interests of the right political wing, they have resisted, such as the transgender protection bill, women's rights bill, the change in the educational syllabus, or any measure from state authorities that can eradicate or control the growing gun culture extremism and radicalization.

Historical Context and Modern Reforms in Pakistan:

The registration of madrasas is not a recent problem. Religious seminary registration has gained national and international support as a logical need since 9/11 and the establishment of the National Action Plan (NAP). Madrasas have been registered since Britain's colonial era under the Societies Registration Act of 1860. Maulana Fazal ur Rehman has often and variously called for madrasas to be placed under the ministries of the interior and education. The government changed this law to accommodate his requests. But in the hurry to approve the law, procedural issues were overlooked. When the President returned the bill with legal problems, he appropriately pointed out technical flaws.

All of the reservations raised are legitimate and manageable. However, Maulana Fazal ur Rehman hopes to use this to further his political career. Numerous legal changes and improved cooperation with the provinces, who are now crucial players in education following the 18th Amendment, could solve the issue. The amendment and registration process will bind the madrasas to specific rules and regulations, whether they are from the Ministry of Information, the Ministry of Education, or the Ministry of the Interior. This will make them liable, enable them to receive government grants and incentives, and guarantee that their students are receiving a modern curriculum. Furthermore, the rights of teachers and students will be safeguarded by future legislation and the education ministry.

Right-Wing Resistance in Pakistan's Madrasa Registration:

In the current prospect, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazal ur Rehman has opposed the religious seminaries (madrasas) registration process Ministry of Education, which again marks the hindering of the right wing in the policy-making process. Every era has its requirements, and this age requires the development of religious education in a possible modern way. In today’s scientific era, there is a need for expertise in interdisciplinary approaches along with religion, because in today’s era, argument depends less on faith and belief but rather demands scientific and rational inquiry.

There are around three million students enrolled in madrasas in Pakistan. Such figures cannot be ignored in policymaking. The state has to ensure that such students are not victimized due to the interests of right-wing groups like JUI-F. Rather, they have to be encouraged towards education and further life prospects.

Ten religious boards have successfully engaged with the education department to register 18,600 madrasas without any issues thus far. There is an ideal frame of opportunity here for integrating madrasa teachings with mainstream education. It is essential to ensure that all registered madrasas provide their students with the resources they need to study madrasas alongside their regular courses. This dual methodology is taken in such a way that students are equipped to face diversified challenges and avail themselves of opportunities in the contemporary landscape without losing their culture and religious beliefs.

But what is happening now, again the matter of interest is that the registration of madrasas will reduce the influence of Maulana Fazl ur Rahman because he uses the students of the madrasas for political purposes, and with the registration the madrasa will come to the entire national sphere, and a syllabus will be prepared for them according to the modern challenges, which is a threat to the hierarchy created by Maulana Fazl ur Rehman and right-wing restorationist ideologues.

Maulana Fazal ur Rehman has adopted a political position opposing the Madrasa registration bill. It is mostly related to impacts for grassroots influence since it would reduce his influence over links from madrasas. Maulana Fazal ur Rehman is also concerned that auditing and accounting, as implied by the registration, may result in fiscal imbalances and reduce his influence over funding sources. By opposing the proposed legislation, Maulana Fazal ur Rehman tries to keep political power while escaping scrutiny. However, this resistance demonstrates a confluence of political motivation and education reforms, in which commercial and political agendas frequently appear to eclipse the wider purpose of increasing educational quality and accountability.

In 2018, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) added Pakistan to its grey list due to shortcomings in its anti-terrorist funding procedures. Pakistan must keep encouraging adherence even if it is taken off the gray list in 2022. Since madrasa registration offers financial transparency and accountability, it is required for the FATF evaluation, which is scheduled for next year. Well-designed registration procedures might protect students' future academic career possibilities, reduce unfavorable perceptions of madrasas, and assist in mainstreaming them into the national educational system. Pakistan may suffer significant economic and political repercussions if unregistered madrasas create a setback in the upcoming FATF evaluation.

Registration of madrasas will allow the state to have stronger and more effective control over gun culture, which is required to remove extremism and radicalism from society. With this registration, the syllabus will be updated with the modern upcoming requirements, and the students will get interdisciplinary education, including religious and contemporary subjects. This method will also help promote critical thinking and reduce the impact of extremist ideologies. Further, through government control, madrasas will operate transparently within the norms already set in place, leading to a safer and more progressive society. This approach is all-inclusive in developing peace and stability within the region.

Conclusion:

The political right has consistently attacked progressive policy-making mechanisms. Nonetheless, now is the time to modify the current quo, as future generations will be less willing to follow the conventional madrasa-based approach. Failure to adopt these changes will have serious repercussions for Pakistani society, perhaps impacting social and educational growth.

It is critical to continue with current education reforms, ensuring that madrasas are integrated into the national framework to make society more welcoming and progressive. This could be the ideal opportunity to connect traditional and modern schooling.