KOHAT: The patron of Wafaqu1 Madaris, Kohat division, Maulana Mujahideen has demanded withdrawal of the proposed seminaries act presented jointly by PTI and JI in the provincial assembly.

In a statement issued here on Wednesday, he thanked the government for lifting ban on the construction of new seminaries which was imposed for confirming the registrations and searching of existing ones for collecting bio-data of students.

It may be recalled that work on seminaries in Kohat, Hangu, Orakzai, Kurram Agencies, Darra Adamkhel and Thall had been halted by the commissioner, Kohat division unilaterally a few years ago.

Maulana Mujahideen said seminaries which provided free education, accommodation and food to millions of students were being targeted at the behest of western powers.

He stated that former military ruler retired Gen Pervez Musharraf had introduced 21st amendment with the consent of Ittehadul Tanzeemul Madaris in the 1860 Act and got passed it through all the four assemblies.

It devolved criteria of registration of all science and arts councils, societies, NGOs etc.

He termed it a blow to the independence of seminaries because huge powers were vested with the registrar who could accept or reject registration without assigning any reason.

Expressing his disappointment over the support of JI to the act, the Maulana said according to the proposed act if any member of the board was found guilty of any crime all its members would be held responsible.

Likewise, the right to election of members or caretakers and devising manifesto had also been snatched from the members.

He recalled that some time back the speaker of the provincial assembly Asad Qaiser, religious minister Haji Habibur Rehman and minister Inayatullah had met with the provincial chief of Wafaqu1 Madaris, Maulana Hussain Ahmed, but so f ar nothing in concrete had come out of it.

He alleged that the intelligence agencies had made it complicated for the government to agree on a single formula for the seminaries for once and all.