ISLAMABAD (Staff Report) – Former president and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari has expressed concern over the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s allocation of Rs 300 million to Darul Uloom Haqqania, a hardline seminary with alleged militant connections.
“Haqqania seminary is known for its links with the militant Taliban,” Zardari said in a statement. “This is nothing but legitimization of militancy and the Taliban that will undermine the nation’s resolve to fight militants to the finish.”
The former president alleged that the head of the Darul Uloom Haqqania is an acknowledged sympathizer and an undeclared spokesperson of the Taliban.
On the other hand, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary Information Naeemul Haque said that Zardari’s concerns regarding Darul Uloom Haqqania were based on a misunderstanding.
The spokesperson said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government was making efforts to make seminaries a part of the national stream. He added that Benazir Bhutto had paid visit to Darul Uloom Haqqania and also provided financial support to it as well.
