Govt consults religious bodies on seminaries registration

The Punjab government on Tuesday held consultations with delegations of Jamaat Ahle Hadith Pakistan and Jamia Ashrafia as part of its ongoing efforts to streamline the registration of religious seminaries (madaris) across the province.

The meetings were held at the Home Department and chaired by Provincial Health Minister and Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Law and Order Khawaja Salman Rafique.
Home Secretary Dr Ahmad Javed Qazi, Special Secretary Fazal Rehman, Additional Secretary Abdul Rauf, and senior officials from the Special Branch, Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) and other relevant departments were also in attendance.

The Jamaat Ahle Hadith Pakistan delegation was led by its cheif, Hafiz Abdul Ghaffar Rupdi, and included senior religious scholars and organisational office-bearers from Lahore and other regions.

A separate delegation from Jamia Ashrafia Pakistan was led by Hafiz Asad Ubaid and Abdul Rauf Farooqi, along with representatives of various religious institutions and organisations.
Discussions during the meetings focused on the madrassa registration mechanism, addressing concerns of different schools of thought and ensuring a transparent, simple and facilitative process.

Khawaja Salman Rafique said the Punjab government had made the registration process “extremely simple” after extensive consultations with religious scholars.

He acknowledged the role of madaris in imparting both religious and contemporary education and said the government would continue engagement with scholars of all sects to build consensus and mutual trust. He also stressed that religious leaders play a vital role in social reform and the promotion of peace and harmony.

Home Secretary Dr Ahmad Javed Qazi said the registration framework was being finalised through mutual consultation with representatives of various schools of thought and would be implemented in a coordinated and transparent manner under the supervision of the Home Department. He further informed participants that, on the instructions of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the disbursement of stipends for mosque imams would begin in January 2026. The initiative aims to recognise the services of religious leaders and strengthen their role in promoting harmony and lawful conduct in society.

Religious scholars welcomed the government’s engagement and expressed support for the measures taken by the provincial government to improve law and order in Punjab. They emphasised that cooperation between the government and religious institutions was essential for maintaining peace, particularly with regard to mosques, madaris and interfaith harmony.

Punjab authorities said consultations with other religious organisations would continue in the coming days as part of a broader strategy to regulate madaris, promote transparency and prevent misuse, while fully respecting religious autonomy.