 The Ittehad-e-Tanzimat-e-Madaris-e-Dinya (ITMD), which is a representative organisation for religious seminaries, has warned the government against its anti-madrassa campaign, saying it may lead to a clash between the government and seminaries.
| "And you wouldn't want to see that. Remember, us seminaries have more troops and heavier armament than the Pak army..." |
âITMD wonât allow the government to continue its anti-madrassa campaign on British pressure or on pressure by any other western country,â Qari Hanif Jullandhry told Daily Times on Monday. âThis campaign will result in a clash between the government and seminaries,â he added.
| Sounds an awful lot like a threat to me... |
âITMD wonât compromise on the sovereignty of seminaries and nobody will be allowed to raid them,â he said.
| "Hain't nobuddy tells us what to do!" |
The government must prove to the nation it has evidence against any seminary involved in terrorism, but mounting a campaign against seminaries on foreign pressure to defame them (seminaries) would be disallowed, he added. ITMD knew how to defend seminaries, which were providing religious education to the youth of Pakistan, he said,
| "Try tellin' people we're involved with terrorism and you'll have boomers goin' off all over the place!" |
adding, âIt is very clear that if the government has evidence against any seminary, it should give it to us and ITMD will take action against it or them.â He condemned the recent raids on seminaries in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, saying such action would further increase the rift between the government and seminaries. |
Pakistan has assured the United States administration that it will set up an inter-madrassa board within a couple of months to bring seminaries into the education mainstream.