Islamic schools in Pakistan decided to defy an order by President Pervez Musharraf to expel foreign students before the end of the year.
President Musharraf said all foreign students learning at Islamic schools, or madrassas, should leave the country by the end of 2005 or face expulsion.
The Ittehad Tanzeemat Madaris (madrassas' union), which represents about 12,000 of the Islamic schools, said that the government order was a violation of human rights.
"The decision to expel foreign students is unlawful, unconstitutional, unethical and un-Islamic," Hanif Jallundhari, a central leader of the Ittehad Tanzeemat Madaris.
"It is against the dignity and interests of Pakistan.
"It is anti-knowledge, it is in violation of basic human rights and it is against the United Nations charter."
Jallundhari noted that some 60 percent of the foreign students had already left Pakistan since July, but that those who have valid travel documents would not be expelled.
He said that the union had asked to meet President Musharraf but so far had not received a response from the government.
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