ISLAMABAD: The announcement by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government that it is to grant R227 million ($2.05 million) to Darul Uloom Haqqania – a religious seminary oft found amid controversies and many of whose graduates joined the ranks of the Taliban – has sparked criticism from various political quarters in the country.
The seminary, one of the biggest in the KP province, is run by renowned cleric-turned-religious-politico-leader Maulana Samiul Haq, who is known to have had some influence on Afghan Taliban leaders as many of them had been his students in the past.
The recent grant by KP government, announced this week, comes as a second tranche to R300 million earlier given to the seminary in June 2016.
The Provincial Minister for Religious Affairs, Habib ur Rehman, told Arab News that the “additional amount is being provided for the construction of a new block at Darul Uloom Haqqania for students.
“The earlier grant was also for building infrastructure at the seminary,” he added.
Darul Uloom Haqqania is situated in Akora Khattak, a town near Peshawar.
Critics of the move, including many political leaders, accuse the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led provincial government in KP of using public funds for political mileage.
Analyst Qammar Cheema told Arab News: “Imran Khan (the PTI chairman) is collaborating with the right-wing force of Maulana Samiul Haq, and funding his seminary, to gain support of the right-wing voters of KP.”
Yousaf Shah, spokesman for Maulana Samiul Haq, told Arab News that the provincial government is providing funds to construct “a multistory academic block.”
He rejected the criticism and added: “This should not be seen as politically motivated funding.”
Maulan Samiul Haq’s religious-politico party Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Sami (JUI-S) and the PTI have already agreed to form an electoral alliance for the forthcoming general elections in November this year.
The revival of religious political parties’ alliance under the banner of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) can be a major challenge for the PTI in KP in the forthcoming polls, says Cheema.
“Politics create strange bedfellows as left and right have never drawn hard constructions in Pakistan and they work for their interests,” he said.
“MMA can create trouble for PTI in the coming elections so by cozying up to Maulana Sami Ul Haq, the PTI wants to create a divide among religious parties.”
The seminary, one of the biggest in the KP province, is run by renowned cleric-turned-religious-politico-leader Maulana Samiul Haq, who is known to have had some influence on Afghan Taliban leaders as many of them had been his students in the past.
The recent grant by KP government, announced this week, comes as a second tranche to R300 million earlier given to the seminary in June 2016.
The Provincial Minister for Religious Affairs, Habib ur Rehman, told Arab News that the “additional amount is being provided for the construction of a new block at Darul Uloom Haqqania for students.
“The earlier grant was also for building infrastructure at the seminary,” he added.
Darul Uloom Haqqania is situated in Akora Khattak, a town near Peshawar.
Critics of the move, including many political leaders, accuse the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led provincial government in KP of using public funds for political mileage.
Analyst Qammar Cheema told Arab News: “Imran Khan (the PTI chairman) is collaborating with the right-wing force of Maulana Samiul Haq, and funding his seminary, to gain support of the right-wing voters of KP.”
Yousaf Shah, spokesman for Maulana Samiul Haq, told Arab News that the provincial government is providing funds to construct “a multistory academic block.”
He rejected the criticism and added: “This should not be seen as politically motivated funding.”
Maulan Samiul Haq’s religious-politico party Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Sami (JUI-S) and the PTI have already agreed to form an electoral alliance for the forthcoming general elections in November this year.
The revival of religious political parties’ alliance under the banner of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) can be a major challenge for the PTI in KP in the forthcoming polls, says Cheema.
“Politics create strange bedfellows as left and right have never drawn hard constructions in Pakistan and they work for their interests,” he said.
“MMA can create trouble for PTI in the coming elections so by cozying up to Maulana Sami Ul Haq, the PTI wants to create a divide among religious parties.”
