ACCORDING to Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar, 90pc of madressahs are not involved in promoting militancy and terrorism in the country ( Dec 22).
No one knows the exact number of madressahs in Pakistan as most of them have bluntly refused to get registered and open their books for financial audit.
Moreove, the recovery of young tribal girls from an unknown madressah in Karachi shows the government has no idea how far the network of unregistered madressahs has spread. Next comes the other question: how come the minister is sure that only 10pc madressahs are involved in terrorism? Even if this figure is accurate, it means we are talking of thousands of madressahs (out of estimated 20,000 madreassahs) involved in terrorist activities.
I think it`s time we stopped fooling ourselves. This cancer of terrorism in thename of religion will not go away with statements and press conferences, unless there is a genuine political will and courage to calla spade a spade.
Who is not aware that a number of madressahs openly side with sectarian outfits, praise the Taliban for fighting for the cause of religion, and provide fodder for terrorism in the form of volunteers and comrades, indulge in spewing hate speeches against other religions and sects. A mindset that fails to even mention the Taliban at the hour-long press conference by declaring -`not every Talib is a terrorist` can`t lead this war on so-called jihadists.
