| Submit your comments on this article |
| Afghanistan/South Asia |
| Perv asks clerics to isolate seminaries harbouring terrorists |
| 2004-09-07 |
| President General Pervez Musharraf said on Tuesday that the majority of madrassas (Islamic seminaries) in Pakistan were moderate and asked them to help curb extremism by isolating the minority of madrassas harbouring terrorists, reports APP. The president, talking to a delegation from a group of madrassas called Wafaq ul Madaris, also called for teaching modern science disciplines to madrassa students so that they could benefit from equal economic opportunities in mainstream national life. He said madrassas that taught moderation, tolerance and enlightenment but those that sheltered extremists and gave rise to hatred must be isolated from the mainstream of religious institutions and prevented from tarnishing the image of Islam and Pakistan. President Musharraf said madrassas imparting true teachings of Islam should come out and openly condemn those promoting extremism. He said the government had granted autonomy to madrassas but expected them to adopt modern disciplines so that pupils graduating from these institutions could make a respectable living for themselves as professionals in fields like medicine, banking and engineering. He asked clerics and religious scholars to project the true image of Islam, but reaffirmed the government's resolve against terrorism and said "there should be no doubt that we condemn terrorism and are against all forms of the menace." Mohammad Imran adds: According to ITMD Coordination Secretary Qari Hanif Jalandhary, President Pervez Musharaf assured the madrassa leaders at the meeting that he would bar law enforcement and intelligence agencies from raiding religious schools. During the meeting (which Jalandhary said was the first and a congenial one between the president and the ITMD leadership that lasted almost four hours) the president also said that he was unhappy that madrassas were raided by security agencies, Jalahdhary said. Mr Jalandhary also quoted the president as saying the government would form a National Curriculum Committee including ITMD leaders and educationists to revamp curricula into a combination of religious and modern education. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 President General Pervez Musharraf said on Tuesday that the majority of madrassas.. I wonder, would Musharraf be willing to BET on that? |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2004-09-07 11:30:25 PM |