President Zardari returns Madrasah Registration Bill over legal objections

Citing legal objections, President Asif Ali Zardari has returned the madrasa registration bill to the Prime Minister’s Office. the bill, which was meant to regulate and register religious madrassas (madrasas), has faced significant hurdles in the legislative review process. Sources revealed that the President expressed reservations over the bill’s legality, particularly over its lack of clarity.. Jurisdiction to register madrasas The bill was introduced by the government, after assurances from Maulana Fazlur Rehman, a key ally. The new bill does not specify that it will repeal these existing regulations. According to sources, all provinces will have to pass the bill in their respective assemblies for it to take effect. As a result, even if President Zardari were to sign the bill, its provincial nature would render it largely ineffective without provincial approval.The passage of the bill was seen as a political compromise to meet the demands of religious factions. However, the president’s legal objections indicate that further parliamentary procedures are necessary before the bill becomes law. Earlier on Wednesday, Bilawal Bhutto met the head of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) in Islamabad. Along with the delegation of the People’s Party, he reached Rehman’s residence for a detailed discussion.