The religious education sector in Pakistan has increasingly become under national and international doubt for the extremist ideologies they promote. Some term the Madaris as incubators of violent extremism and swamps of terrorist while others call them fortresses of Islam. Surprisingly, the state has no control over the working of Madaris and most of these institutions vow to challenge attempts by the state to bring them in the mainstream and introduce regulatory laws.

So what is the truth? “Pakistan’s Islamic School – A State within the State” is an attempt to separate myth from reality and bring out the true picture regarding the working of Madaris in Pakistan.

“Pakistan’s Islamic School – A State within the State” provides an inside story of the Madaris in Pakistan and touches on the topics such as the genesis, growth over the years, students strength, sources of funding, role in afghan war against Soviet Union, role in sectarian warfare in Pakistan, curriculum and what is taught beyond that, attempts to reform and the way forward. A special focus is also laid on the Lal Masjid incident in Islamabad in 2007, while immensely contributed towards tarnishing the image of Madaris