ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Madrasahs in Pakistan [untill: 2005] 4- Reforms Since 2000: Action Against The Status Quo Reforming madrasahs is a major cause for concern in the 21st century. The new developments at international level, especially the events of 11th September 2001, increased the importance of madrasah reforms not only for Pakistan but for the whole world.

The Government of Pakistan and countries in the West, particularly America, are now eagerly seeking to enforce changes in the madrasah system in the belief that non-reformed madrasahs are rapidly emerging as major training grounds for terrorists. In addition, many Muslims, including the ulema, are also at the forefront of demand for change in madrasah system. The different actors in this complex game have widely differing understandings of reforms, each reflecting their own particular agenda.

This chapter is aimed at analysing different ways in which reforms in madrasahs in Pakistan are imagined and advocated by different actors, especially the state and its agencies. This chapter also looks into the detailed efforts for this purpose undertaken by the government and the efforts of NGOs with the collaboration of madrasahs since 2000.

The expansionist designs of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan towards the end of 20th century worried neighbouring countries especially Pakistan because of the increasing trend of Talibanization at border areas (FATA) and in the N.W.F.P (=Khyber Pakhtunkhwa). Rising extremism and militancy remained a constant threat to successive governments during the last decade of the 20th century.

The military government which came into power as a result of a bloodless revolution on October 12, 1999 faced the same challenge in an increasing way. Therefore, the government wanted to remove the general perception of the international community that madrasahs were breeding terrorism. In addition, the government wanted an effective control over the religious movements which it considered were drawing support from madrasahs .

The government also wanted to bring the madrasahs into the mainstream education system by changes in the existing curriculum of din-i-madaris. Agenda of Reforms and the Musharraf Regime The government policy towards reforms dates from August 2001, prior to the 11th September terrorist attacks on the USA. The president’s wide-ranging and widely reported speech of January 12th, 2002 underlined the need to curb the influence of religious institutions.