JUI's Fazlur Rehman warns of protest in capital over madrasah bill

Peshawar: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Friday warned that the party was mulling a protest in Islamabad if the Madrassah Registration Bill was not passed.

Battering the federal government, he called the regime an "illegitimate" and "forcefully imposed" administration, rather than a lawful and constitutional one.

Talking to the media in Peshawar on Friday, he warned a protest in the federal capital if the Madrasah Registration Bill is not passed. However, he stated that the party's full position would be announced on Sunday during a gathering in Peshawar.

He said that the party was also in touch with the madrasah federation and other allied religious organisations. 

The JUI chief explained that discussions regarding the madrasah bill, as part of the 26th Constitutional Amendment, had taken place before with key political figures, including former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari. 

He confirmed that talks had been held with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership. He noted that the government had initiated contact with his party, and dialogue was ongoing.

Rehman said that if the government reneged on its commitments, it would cause a loss of confidence in the political process.