Taliban linked Pakistani seminary to get Rs 277m fund

Pakistani seminary Darul Uloom Jamia Haqqania will be granted furthermore funds of Rs 277 million to bring its madrassas to the mainstream.

The decision taken by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government raises the sum of funds granted to the "Father of the Taliban" Maulana Samiul Haq led seminary to Rs 577 million, The News International reported.

The provincial government in its budget had last year allocated Rs 300 million to the Islamic seminary, with PTI chief Imran Khan saying Maulana Samiul Haq had assured him of bringing reforms in the syllabus and system of the seminary in return to this grant.

According to Department of Auqaf sources, a summary of Rs 277 million funds for the seminary has been forwarded to Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak.

The funds, being perceived as a political stunt to get the Maulana's support ahead of the Senate elections this year, would be dispersed after the Chief Minister's approval.

The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami (JUI-S) led by Maulana Samiul Haq is an ally of the provincial government.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Higher Education Minister Mushtaq Ghani did not confirm the release of more funds.

However, the minister said the provincial government aimed at helping other seminaries through the aid to Haqqania madrassah so that students after completing studies have both formal and religious education.

Maulana Samiul Haq had close ties to Taliban founder Mullah Mohammed Omar and is currently the chancellor of the Deobandi Islamic seminary, which is the alma mater of many prominent Taliban leaders.