Islamabad:
The High Court of Islamabad (IHC) reserved its verdict on a petition deposited by a seminar student who was prohibited to take an examination due to his short beard.
Judge Mohin Akhtar Kayani, while hearing the case on Friday, questioned the legal position of Wafaqul Madaris al-Arabia and pointed out that children were the future of Pakistan and could not be refused a religious education or secular.
“In what law Wafaqul Madaris al-Arabia does it attribute diplomas?” He asked.
The petitioner said that he had successfully completed Jamia Islamia’s first level exam, but was denied authorization to take the following level examination due to misinterpretation of examination regulations concerning the Beard length.
The main lawyer Kamran Murtaza, the deputy prosecutor and officials of the Ministry of Education appeared before the court.
The bench asked whether students holding Wafaqul Madaris al-Arabia diplomas receive the same facilities as those from other educational establishments.
“The fundamental question is: What will be the legal status of a diploma awarded by Wafaqul Madaris al-Arabia?” Asked judge Kayani.
The judge also questioned himself with regard to the right that Wafaqul Madaris al-Arabia has recorded other institutions under his authority. Referring to the decisions of the Supreme Court on the regulation of law and medical schools, he noted that no institution can now admit more than 100 students in law programs.
Addressing the deputy prosecutor general, judge Kayani observed: “You regularly regulate the seminars, but you do not clarify how the education system will work.”
Managers of the Ministry of Education informed the court that the process of registering seminars across the country was underway.
After hearing the arguments on both sides, the court reserved its decision on the student’s petition.
