ISLAMABAD, Dec 13: Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Friday said Islamabad had 30 unregistered Madressahs, but the claim was disputed by their educational board, terming red-tape as main hurdle to their registration.

In a written reply to the question by Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, the interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said that around 605 students were studying in these 30 unregistered Madressahs.

The NA was also informed that out of these Madressahs, 27 belongs to Deobandi sect, two to Barelvi sect and one is managed by the Ahle Hadith.

Incidentally, most of these Madressahs are affiliated with mosques that have been established on encroached land, the interior minister told the House.

The Madressahs are registered with the Auqaf Department of Islamabad Administration. Their curriculum is provided by Waqaful Madaris.

Regarding high number of unregistered Madressahs in Islamabad, the Chief Commissioner Islamabad said that those fulfilling the requirements get registered, and added many seminaries do not have proper land lease or rental documents.

“We do not allow registration of Madressahs that are established at encroached land,” chief commissioner Jawed Paul said.

The ICT has also conducted a survey which shows that there are around 35 mosques built at green belts adjoining the main roads.

However, regarding the establishment of mosques and Madressahs at government land and greenbelts, the chief commissioner said that they were ready to assist the Capital Development Authority (CDA) in reclaiming the land.

The CDA, however, maintains that government will take a policy decision in this regard.

The spokesman of the CDA, Asim Khichi, was a bit diplomatic in this regard and said: “Actions are being taken as per law.”

Meanwhile, the spokesman of Waqaful Madaris Al Arabia, the educational board for the Deobandi sect, has blamed the CDA and the bureaucracy of being corrupt and incompetent.

“There is no unregistered Madressah as we have complete record,” said Maulana Abdul Qudus, the spokesman for the board.

However, he added that if there was any unregistered seminary in the government papers that is because of corruption and mismanagement in the departments.

“They want us to pay bribe so many clergymen decided not to pursue their case,” Maulana added.

The minister informed the lower house that five madaris, out of these 30 and belong to the Deobandi school of thought, have applied for registration at the Auqaf department, of Islamabad Administration.