President Asif Zardari signs Societies Registration Amendment Act 2024

President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday signed the madrassa registration bill into law, bringing an end to the weeks-long friction between the government and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F).

This development follows the issuance of a gazette notification by the National Assembly Secretariat, confirming that seminaries will now be registered under the Societies Act.

In addition to the new law, the president also issued an ordinance regarding amendments to the Societies Registration Act 2024. According to this ordinance, which applies only within Islamabad’s jurisdiction, madrassas have the option to register either with the Ministry of Education or the Ministry of Industries.

This resolution came after the federal cabinet approved amendments to the Societies Registration Act 1860 on Friday. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had earlier met with JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman, where the prime minister reportedly accepted all the demands of the Ittehad Tanzeemat-e-Madaris Deenia (ITMD) regarding the bill.

The madrassa registration bill, which had already been passed by both houses of parliament, had become a point of contention between the JUI-F and the government. The law’s enactment was a part of an agreement between the government and the religio-political party for supporting the 26th Amendment.

President Zardari had previously returned the bill, citing legal objections. However, the bill has now been enacted into law, altering the registration process for madrassas and directing them to affiliate with the Ministry of Industries instead of the Ministry of Education.