Fazlur Rehman and his Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) party have long been associated with Pakistan’s religious seminaries, but questions remain about the transparency of donations, student contributions and the financial records of institutions operating under the party’s or its leaders’ supervision.
How much money do these seminaries collect annually through donations, religious offerings, zakat and domestic or overseas contributions? How much is spent on education, accommodation, food and other expenses? And are independently audited financial statements available for public scrutiny?
These questions gained renewed attention following a November 2019 investigative report published by The News under the headline Where Is the Money Coming From? The report examined the financing of JUI-F’s Azadi March and cited party sources discussing the funds collected and the event’s expenditure.
According to the report, a party leader claimed that approximately Rs1.1 billion had been raised for the march, while estimates attributed to organisers put expenditure at around Rs500 million over three weeks. JUI-F finance secretary Shamsur Rehman Shamsi also discussed contributions collected from party workers and local councils.
These figures were attributed to party figures and sources and should not be treated as independently audited financial findings. Nevertheless, they raise legitimate questions about the documentation of political fundraising, expenditure and the availability of financial records.
Student Donations Raise Further Questions
The same report cited JUI-F sources claiming that approximately Rs20 million had been collected through around 10,000 students studying at seminaries affiliated with Wifaq-ul-Madaris Al-Arabia Pakistan.
The report also attributed to a student an account of an appeal for a Rs100 contribution per student towards Khatm-e-Nabuwwat conferences.
However, 10,000 contributions of Rs100 each would amount to Rs1 million, not Rs20 million. The available account does not fully explain this discrepancy, making the underlying collection records, receipts and expenditure statements important for verification.
If donations were collected for religious conferences or other specified purposes, transparent documentation would help establish how much was received, who collected it and how the money was spent.
The central question is straightforward: were these contributions properly recorded and audited, and are the relevant records available for independent verification?
How Many Seminaries Are Involved, and What Are Their Finances?
A comprehensive, verifiable picture of the number of seminaries associated with Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s political or organisational network, their enrolment and their finances would help clarify the scale of the institutions involved.
However, seminaries affiliated with Wifaq-ul-Madaris Al-Arabia Pakistan cannot automatically be described as Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s personal property or as institutions directly managed by him. Ownership, administration and financial responsibility must be established separately for each institution.
The relevant questions concern the institutions actually operating under his supervision or organisational influence: how many are there, how many students do they enrol, and how much funding do they receive annually?
A transparent financial record would ideally distinguish donations, zakat, religious offerings and domestic or overseas contributions, while detailing expenditure on education, accommodation, food, staff salaries and other operational costs.
Making such information available would help address legitimate questions without treating religious education or charitable donations themselves as evidence of wrongdoing.
NAB’s 26-Question Questionnaire Sought Financial Details
In December 2020, several media outlets, including ARY News, reported that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had sent Maulana Fazlur Rehman a questionnaire containing 26 questions.
According to those reports, the questions covered his assets and sources of income, 64 kanals of land in Dera Ismail Khan, agricultural land registered in his son’s name, bank accounts, election expenses and information concerning the registration, accounts and income of seminaries reportedly operating under his supervision.
The questionnaire was also reported to have sought details about domestic and overseas bank accounts associated with the party and its sources of funding.
Later reports in December said the questionnaire had been returned through the post. However, the reporting cited here does not establish the final outcome of the matter, including whether all requested information was subsequently provided, whether a reference was filed or whether the inquiry was closed.
The issuance of a questionnaire is not proof of corruption or financial misconduct. Any conclusion must be based on verified evidence and the documented outcome of the relevant proceedings.
Political Funding and Seminary Donations Must Be Examined Separately
The financing of a political party and the finances of religious seminaries are separate matters, even where individuals or organisational networks overlap.
Donations received by a seminary cannot automatically be classified as party income, nor can the possibility of overseas contributions be treated as proof of unlawful funding. Any connection between charitable donations and political expenditure would need to be established through financial records and other verifiable evidence.
Nevertheless, the reported figures make transparency an important issue for public discussion.
Was a complete account prepared for the Azadi March’s reported fundraising and expenditure? What records substantiate the reported student collections? Were the relevant seminaries’ accounts independently audited? Are their financial statements and bank records properly maintained? And what was the eventual outcome of the questions reportedly raised by NAB in 2020?
These questions can be answered through documentary evidence rather than political claims or speculation.
Public Demand for Financial Transparency
Maulana Fazlur Rehman and JUI-F face legitimate questions about the reported fundraising figures and the availability of verifiable financial records relating to their political activities and the institutions directly under their administration.
If audited accounts and supporting documents exist, making them available would help clarify the figures and address public concerns. Where audits have not been conducted, an explanation of the applicable financial oversight arrangements would help establish the position.
