Monday, August 8 2005 21:38 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Pakistan has launched a campaign to register madrasas or religious seminaries across the country and the process will be completed by December this year, officials said today (Aug 8, 2005).

Police in Islamabad have been given forms, which will collect details about heads and students in the madaris, they said.

Policemen will collect necessary information and will return the forms to police chief by tomorrow (Aug 9, 2005). The forms will later be sent to the Interior Ministry.

The process will be completed by December, they said.

Last month, Musharraf, in a televised address to the nation, had ordered registration of all madaris by December. He had also asked some 1,400 foreign students in religious schools to leave the country even if they had valid visas.

However, there is no word here yet as to when foreign students would be asked to leave.

The forms also seek information about land of madaris, occupation of land, no-objection certificate from the Government, sect, names and addresses of organizers, teachers and students, nationality of the students and date of foundation.

Secretary of alliance of religious schools "Ittehad-e-Tanzeemat-e-Madaris" Hanif Jhalandhry has asked the Government to approach it if it needs information about the seminaries.