ISLAMABAD: According to sources in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, after the President’s House returned the draft to the government, the government is considering calling a joint session of both the houses of Parliament next week to review the bill for the registration of religious educational institutions (madrasas). is doing
According to the sources, the meeting of the National Assembly is likely to be convened by December 10, while a joint meeting of both the houses of the Parliament may be held next week. The purpose of the joint session is to pass several bills including the Societies Registration (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
This bill was passed separately by the Senate and the National Assembly during the passage of the 26th Constitutional Amendment. Sources say that President Asif Ali Zardari returned the bill raising some objections, including that education is a provincial subject.
The Presidency has remained silent on the return of the bill, sources in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs confirmed the receipt of the bill. Against this backdrop, the only option to legalize the bill is to get it passed by a joint session of both Houses of Parliament. Sources said that a final decision is expected this week.
According to the sources, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, in a meeting with Chairman People’s Party Bilawal Bhutto on Wednesday, expressed serious concerns over the President’s non-signing of the bill. Fazal made any future cooperation conditional on the passage of the Madrasah Registration Bill.