PESHAWAR: The Jamaat-i-Islami has warned it will quit the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-led ruling coalition in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa if the government does not seek the consent of the relevant seminary boards before amending the law on the societies` registration.

The warning comes few days before the government will announce its last budget.

The government has planned to bring amendments to the Societies Registration Act, 1860, under which NGOs, seminaries and other bodies are registered.

J1 provincial chief Mushtaq Ahmad Khan told a news conference here on Monday that his party rejected the proposed Societies Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2017, as it was meant to curtail the freedom of seminaries in the province.

`If the proposed law is tabled in the provincial assembly without taking ulema of the relevant boards on board, then it will be the last day of the JIin the coalition government, Mr Mushtaq said adding that the rulers were dancing to the tune of the western powers.

The JI leader said the party won`t accept the bill if it was passed by the assembly in the current form.

He said the coalition of seminary boards had agreed with the then interior minister in 2010 on a mechanism to introduce curriculum, audit, bank accounts and introduction of modern subjects in seminaries.

Mr Mushtaq alleged that the federal government didn`t follow the agreement.

`In the bill to be introduced in the assembly, the provincial government has planned to curtail educational activities in and admission of students to seminaries in the name of registration and audit,` he said.

The JI leader said the provincial government didn`t bother to take the ulema board comprising representatives of all religious school of thoughts before drafting the amendments.

He said instead of bringing real reforms, the PTI government was following the enemy`s agenda of closing down religious educational institutions in the country.

`The Jamaat will oppose the bill in the assembly if it is tabled in the present shape and will even quit the government as there will be no justification for it to stay in power,` he said.

Mr Mushtaq said there would be no justification for the JI to stay in the coalition.

He said the JI would continue the struggle to safeguard freedom and sanctity of seminaries and other religious institutions and would send the government packing for it.

The JI leader warned that the party was not against the mainstreaming of seminaries and demanded financial incentives for them.