KARACHI, Jan 18: The French Vice Consul General in Karachi, Didier Drevet, on Wednesday said his country had never imposed any kind of restrictions on its students for travelling to any country including Pakistan for the acquisition of religious education and that it would continue in facilitating its students in this regard.

Talking to the Administrator of Jamia Binoria, SITE Karachi, Maulana Ghulam Rasool, during his visit to the seminary, he said France was a democratic country and its citizens were free to get religious education anywhere in the world.

He maintained that the French government only wanted its citizens to fulfil all legal and travel requirements of the country where they went and added that his consulate cooperated with all local religious madressahs where French students were enrolled and getting religious education.

He expressed sorrow and grief over the loss of hundreds of lives in Mina, Saudi Arabia during a stampede while performing Hajj.

Mr Drevet also hinted that the newly appointed French consul general in Karachi would also visit Jamia Binoria.

Earlier, the French vice consul general visited various departments of Jamia Binoria and met students from various countries enrolled there for acquisition of religious education.

The Administrator of Jamia Binoria, Maulana Ghulam Rasool, informed the visiting guest that Jamia Binoria was an international institute where students from 29 countries including the United States of America, Canada, Britain, France, African states, Russian Federation and Central Asian Republics were getting religious education.

He said religious seminaries including Jamia Binoria imparted religious as well as modern education only to seek the pleasure of Allah. He said that in addition to religious courses, students were also imparted knowledge of information technology and various languages.

Thanking the French government and people for their cooperation, he said the media and government representatives of France had visited the Jamia Binoria on a number of occasions and they were quite satisfied with its role for the promotion of religious education.

“The French Consulate in Karachi has always facilitated students and Jamia Binoria and we are quite satisfied with the policies of the French government regarding education,” he added.

Maulana Ghulam criticized the Pakistani government for defaming religious seminaries and dispelled the impression that local seminaries or foreign religious students were involved in any kind of political or extremist activities.

“The government has launched a media war against religious seminaries but if this continues, widespread protests would be initiated all over the country,” he warned.

He said the second national convention of religious seminaries would be held on Jan 26 in Karachi to discuss the situation.

He also thanked the French vice consul general for visiting the institution and extending cooperation to its administration. — PPI