Qaseem Shah, News Desk:
QUETTA: A heated debate erupted in the Balochistan Assembly on Tuesday after lawmakers from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) walked out of the session, accusing the provincial government of targeting madrassas and religious students across Balochistan.
The assembly session, chaired by the Speaker Captain (Retd.) Abdul Khaliq Achakzai, witnessed strong criticism from opposition benches over recent actions taken against some religious seminaries in the province.
Opposition Leader Younis Aziz Zehri alleged that students of madrassas were being harassed while mosques and seminaries in several areas had been shut down. He said the government’s actions had created fear and uncertainty among religious communities.
Calling the measures “unjustified,” Zehri urged the provincial government to immediately stop what he described as pressure on religious institutions. Soon after his speech, JUI-F lawmakers staged a walkout from the assembly in protest.
Responding to the allegations, Provincial Minister Mir Ziaullah Lango rejected claims that the government was acting against madrassas. He said religious seminaries and scholars were respected by the provincial administration and clarified that no policy existed to target religious institutions.
Lango told the house that authorities had acted after receiving reports that some foreign nationals were illegally residing and studying in a number of seminaries. However, he assured lawmakers that the government did not intend to seal madrassas or harass students.
“We respect religious institutions and will ensure their sanctity is fully protected,” the minister said during the session.
The issue continued to spark debate as opposition lawmakers questioned why educational institutions such as universities and colleges were not closed when suspects linked to terrorism had previously been arrested from those campuses.
Members from the treasury benches assured the assembly that no discrimination would be carried out against any madrassa in Balochistan.
Speaker said Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti was expected to hold talks with JUI-F leadership soon, expressing hope that the matter would be resolved through dialogue.
