Haroon Janjua

ISLAMABAD - Various political parties have opposed the recent move by the Khyber Pakhtunkhawa (KP) government’s allocation of Rs 300 million for the Darul Uloom Haqqania seminary in the current provincial budget.

Politicians from all mainstream political parties have blasted this action from the KP government saying that such move could be a threat to the country’s fight against terrorism.

“The Taliban are killing our children, and the KP government is providing aid to its well-wisher solely from the government funds,” said ANP Senator Shahi Syed. The seminary is one of the world’s largest Islamic learning centres, founded in 1947 and got prominence in 1980s. Currently, it is headed by Maulana Sami ul Haq and advocates imposing of Sharia Laws in the entire country.

“Never a provincial government had allocated such big amount to a single seminary. It is a clear opposition to the implementation of National Action Plan committed to root out terrorism.” Said Senator Zahid Khan of ANP.

He maintained that, “Minorities budget has been cut down by the KP government and has been given to the radical institution which is breeding terrorism. Imran Khan is also clearing his political field for the future to keep his campaign without any security threats”.

“The KP government is answerable and they should make it clear that why such a hefty amount is being allocated to a seminary,” ANP Senator Sitara Ayaz told The Nation.

Muhammad Amir Rana, an Islamabad-based security expert, says the provincial government’s move is beyond understanding in bringing seminary to mainstream level through financing. “Only money won’t help the government to serve the purpose,” he remarked. While on the other side, PTI Chairman Imran Khan said that the move was taken to help lower income seminary students in rejoining the society.