Madrassas in Pakistan are the primary mode of education for a significant portion of the country’s children, with an estimated 30,000 institutions in operation. These institutions, or madaris, provide free education, Islamic instruction, and basic sustenance, alleviating the financial burden on families unable to support their children. However, the reliance on madrassas is symptomatic of deeper societal issues, including inadequate family planning, poverty, and a widespread lack of access to contemporary education.
Societal reverence for religious leaders often leads to an unquestioning acceptance of madrassa education, even among affluent families. This enables individuals in administrative and teaching roles within madrassas to evade accountability for offenses that span from psychological and sexual abuse to, in some cases, acts resulting in death.
Issues in Pakistan
While madrassas are perceived as institutions fostering religious education, piety, and moral integrity, there is substantial evidence indicating that they may also facilitate systemic abuse and neglect. This evidence remains largely undocumented, appearing only sporadically in news reports—an unfortunate consequence of the longstanding, unquestioned reverence for religious figures. The prevailing belief that children housed in these institutions are under the guardianship of morally upright individuals often prevents scrutiny of the conditions within these establishments. This deference to religious authority fosters a culture of impunity for acts of mistreatment and abuse, a situation further exacerbated by the community’s complicit silence or, in some cases, the coercion of victims into silence under the misguided belief that it will preserve their izzat—their dignity.
Madrassas in Pakistan are currently registered under the Societies Registration Act of 1860. However, no independent statute governs their operations or stipulates minimum standards for housing, food, sanitation, and overall student welfare. This legislative gap allows for living conditions that frequently fail to meet basic human rights standards.
Sexual Abuse and Violence in Madrassas
Madrassas, by their very nature as residential educational institutions, place children in an environment where they are vulnerable to exploitation. Reports of sexual abuse and other forms of mistreatment within these institutions are widespread but remain largely unaddressed due to societal stigma and an unwillingness to hold religious figures accountable.
Even then, it remains a widely known yet unspoken issue, as significant stigma surrounds holding religious leaders accountable for sexual violence and pedophilia. Despite numerous reports of such crimes, prosecutions remain exceedingly rare. According to UNICEF’s desk review, the Minister of State for Religious Affairs reported that while 500 cases were registered in 2004 and 2,000 more the previous year, not a single case resulted in a successful conviction.
Dawn further reports that religious teachers are the most frequent perpetrators of sexual violence in Pakistan. The lack of formal reporting, driven by systemic reluctance—particularly among law enforcement officers who are themselves products of the same flawed system—results in most cases being exposed through journalism rather than official channels. This leads to significant discrepancies in reported incidents. The unchecked power of religious leaders, reinforced by institutional support and the absence of legal accountability for sexual abuse victims, creates an environment where such abuses can occur with impunity.
Physical Abuse in Religious Seminaries
Beyond sexual abuse, corporal punishment is a prevalent issue in madrassas, reflecting a broader acceptance of physical discipline in South Asia. Madrassas, often regarded as institutions for moral and religious correction, frequently employ severe disciplinary measures that can cause lasting harm and sometimes even result in fatalities. A longstanding belief that punishment inflicted by religious figures can “prevent the afflicted body part from burning in hellfire” is another reason such actions often go unchallenged.
Many parents hold the conviction that this form of discipline benefits their children in this life and the hereafter. Beyond religious devotion, this mindset has become deeply rooted in the more troubling aspects of not only Pakistani but broader South Asian culture. Alarmingly, it has even made its way into Western contexts, where reports of physical abuse in religious schools continue to surface.
A study of 3,582 children aged 6–14 years from government and religious schools across eight districts documented cases of children being permanently injured or beaten to death by their instructors. The lack of accountability and systematic student protection allows such practices to persist without consequence, a view further supported by the UNICEF desk review on Violence Against Children In Education Settings In South Asia, the only comprehensive review available, dating back to 2016. Law enforcement authorities are often reluctant to register complaints against religious leaders, and legal action is rare due to the power and influence these individuals hold within Pakistani society.
Living Standards in Madrassas in Pakistan
Madrassas in Pakistan often operate on limited financial resources intended to cover essentials such as food, lodging, utilities, and instructors’ salaries. However, in the context of systemic corruption, a considerable portion of these funds is frequently misappropriated. As a result, students are left in severely inadequate conditions.
Common issues include poor infrastructure, lack of access to clean drinking water, insufficient nutrition, and unhygienic living environments. These conditions not only endanger students’ physical health but also constitute a violation of fundamental human rights. The situation is further aggravated by the absence of effective regulatory oversight, with no enforceable standards to ensure even the most basic level of care.
There is a notable lack of documented data concerning the living conditions within Pakistani madrassas. However, a study conducted in Bangladesh reveals a strong correlation between substandard living conditions, overcrowding, and the prevalence of scabies outbreaks within madrassa communities. Given the cultural and structural similarities between the two countries, it is reasonable to infer that similar issues are likely present in Pakistan as well, despite the scarcity of data available.
Madrassas are primarily sustained through philanthropic contributions—sadaqah, zakat, and donations from foreign sources. Yet, despite the consistent inflow of charitable funds, corruption among religious authorities often leads to significant misappropriation, and occasionally, the Pakistani Government cannot find the channel where the money is being funded. As a result, little to no resources are directed toward improving the students’ living standards or overall welfare.
Media outlets, including Dunya News, have reported on occasional government crackdowns on these institutions. Additional reports from other sources further corroborate the widespread nature of the problem through the concept of “ghost madrassas”—institutions that exist only to funnel money away.
Legal Framework
The primary legislative instrument for the registration of madrassas is the Societies Registration (Amendment) Act 2024, enacted in December 2024. While the Act mandates the registration of all “deeni” madrassas and requires the inclusion of contemporary subjects within their curricula, it does not impose specific regulations concerning the welfare and living conditions of students residing within these institutions. The requirement for an audit report—conducted by an auditor chosen by the madrassa itself—further undermines transparency and accountability.
Pakistan has no comprehensive legal framework governing boarding schools under which madrassas may be classified. The Punjab Private Educational Institutions (Promotion and Regulation) Ordinance, 1984, fails to address the regulation of residential educational institutions. Similarly, the Punjab Education Institutions (Reconstitution) Act 2021 references elite boarding schools such as Aitchison College, Lawrence College, and Sadiq Public School, but does not establish mandatory student accommodation or welfare standards. These institutions, primarily focused on contemporary education, are distinct from madrassas, yet both remain unregulated regarding student welfare.
The absence of specific regulations governing madrassas means that legal recourse for abuses and negligence within these institutions is limited to general provisions under the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and, where applicable, the Punjab Destitute and Neglected Children Act, 2004. However, since no explicit legal standard exists for acceptable living conditions in madrassas, enforcement of child welfare laws remains inconsistent. Under the PPC, negligence is mentioned only twice, and neither instance provides a direct mechanism for holding madrassa administrators accountable for the harm caused by inadequate living conditions. In cases of fatalities resulting from neglect, legal action may be pursued under the PPC, but where harm does not result in death, legal remedies are significantly constrained.
The persistent lack of funding reaching madrassas further perpetuates the crisis, as individuals with access to these funds often divert them for personal gain. This corruption, coupled with the disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds of most madrassa students, creates a system rife with exploitation and virtually no accountability. The primary victims of this negligence and abuse are children.
A significant share of responsibility lies with the government, which has made minimal efforts to address the deep-rooted issues within madrassas and among religious leadership. This inaction is, in part, driven by a fear of political backlash and accusations of promoting a “Western agenda” aimed at corrupting youth and eroding their religious and cultural identity. As a result, critical reform is avoided, and systemic neglect continues.
The fundamental issue is the absence of legal recourse and legislative and regulatory standards governing madrassas. While courts may, in certain cases, hold madrassa administrators liable for harm caused by inadequate food, water, and other essential provisions, the absence of statutory requirements renders enforcement inconsistent. Comprehensive legislation establishing clear standards for madrassas, including regulatory oversight, welfare provisions, and mechanisms for accountability, is imperative to address the systemic issues affecting children in these institutions.
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Monisa Jilani is an undergraduate law student at the University of London, with a strong academic interest in medical and human rights law. She aims to focus on the intersection of legal reform and child protection, and actively engages in research on systemic issues within educational and legal institutions.