Pakistan blocks aid to 115 Islamic schools

Pakistan has blocked financial aid to 115 Islamic schools because of their alleged involvement in terrorism, militancy and sectarian violence, a senior cleric said today.

‘‘The government will not release funds to those 115 madrassas whose students or heads have been linked to militancy,’’ said Mufti Abdul Qavi, a member of the Pakistan Madrassa Education Board.

‘‘How can we provide funds to those who are involved in militancy?’’ he said.

"Over the next three years, the government will release £170m (€265.5m) to about 8,000 Islamic schools, but those on the blacklist ‘‘will not get even a single penny,’’ Qavi said in Islamabad.