“National Education Policy 2009” comments of PMTA published in the Pakistan Christian Post on September 11, 2009

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Lahore: September 11, 2009. (PCP report) Professor Anjum James Paul, Chairman, Pakistan Minorities Teachers’ Association (PMTA) flays Education Policy 2009
approved by the Prime Minister and his cabinet on September 9, 2009. It is so shameful that Mr. Clement Shahbaz Bhatti , Federal Minister of Minorities’ Affairs did not courage to raise his voice or protested while this biased and discriminatory education policy was being approved as a representative of minorities. This policy is a clear cut sign of social, educational and religious assassination of minorities. The oppressed and suppressed students of minorities will be forcibly taught Islamic teachings in the social and physical sciences as well. There are 57.47 % teachings of Islam only in the subject of Urdu language which is a compulsory subject from grade I-XII .These textbooks have been published by Punjab Textbook Board Lahore. Ministry of Education, government of Pakistan is playing the role cleric as it preaches Islam to all the students whether one is Muslim or not.PMTA declares this education policy ‘Islamic Education Policy’ as chapter four of this policy is on “Islamic Education”. This education policy violates article 22 (1) of the Constitution which describes “No person attending any educational institution shall be required to receive religious instruction, or take part in any religious ceremony, or attend religious worship, if such instruction, ceremony or worship relates to a religion other than his own” .This policy even violates article 25 (1) of the Constitution of Pakistan 1973 which describes” All citizens are equal before law and are entitled to equal protection of law.” This policy even violates Article 1 and 26 of UDHR, Article 18, 26 and 27 of ICCPR, Article 2 and 14 of ICRC and the UNESCO recommendations. This policy violates the speech of the Father of the Nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah that he presented in the First Constituent Assembly of Pakistan on August 11,1947 “You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place or worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed that has nothing to do with the business of the State………Now I think we should keep that in front of us as our ideal and you will find that in course of time Hindus would cease to be Hindus and Muslims would cease to be Muslims, not in the religious sense, because that is the personal faith of each individual, but in the political sense as citizens of the State. “PMTA has been struggling for a valued based, unbiased and non-discriminatory curriculum and education policy when it started working , wrote letter to Mr. Pervez Mushraff, the then President of Pakistan No. pmta/115/6 on May 02, 2006 on the subject: “Representation of educationists from the religious minorities in the curriculum committee constituted to revise syllabus 2006” Copies of this letter were mailed to ,Prime Minister of Pakistan, Federal Minister of Education, State Minister of Minorities Affairs, Federal Secretary of Education, and Members of the Parliament (Minorities) of Pakistan. The last letter was mailed to Federal Minister for Education, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad, No.16-pmta/09, dated March 06, 2009 on the subject “Reservations on National Education Policy 2009.” Copies of this letter were mailed to the President of Pakistan, Prime Minister of Pakistan, Federal Minister for Human Rights, Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs and Federal Secretary Education. PMTA received twelve letters from different corners of the government of Pakistan. In a letter No.F 3-17/2007-IE on September 19, 2007 informing PMTA that the curriculum for Islmaiyat compulsory (for Muslim students) and Ethics for non-Muslim students have been approved and notified. It further says that there are no biases in future books. I conclude my words with this sentence that in the presence of chapter four of the education policy on “Islamic Education”. How can one justify that this is not a biased and discriminatory education policy that gives priority to the teachings of a single majority religion while Pakistan is a multi religious country?

"National Education Policy 2009 and Minorities" concerns of PMTA published in the Pakistan Christian Post on September 04, 2009

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By: Professor Anjum James Paul

Three out of twelve letters of the Federal and Provincial governments of Pakistan are lying before me. I shall try to put some light only on these three letters. One can guess how the governments in Pakistan have been discriminating and playing fouls with the innocent minorities of Pakistan. Representatives of minorities in the assemblies are equally guilty who have never raised these issues of the minorities in true sense otherwise there may not be cry in the wilderness. Incidents of persecution that have taken place in Shanti Nagar, Sangla Hill, Bahminiwala, Korian and Gojra have reminded us the history of migration at the time of partition of India when there were looting and killings. But what has happened recently in Gojra is the worst one when the evil doers’ martyred six Christian men, women and children powerful explosive chemical and one with firing. This has all happened due to the due the discriminatory educational policies as there are topics on intolerance, disrespect of the minority religions of Pakistan and promoting a particular ideology of a religion. It is so sorry to say that even the topics on “national integrity” in the textbooks are biased and it seems very clearly as if they are the topics on “ Islamic integrity “. The textbooks are not based on values and the result is before us in the shape of extremism and terrorism. There is still time that the government must review her education policy 2009 which is very much biased and discriminatory against the minorities. We can simply say that this is an Islamic Education Policy as chapter 4 is on “Islamic Education”. NEP has failed to formulate a national education policy. PMTA has already brought reservations in the kind notice of the Ministry of Education, Government of Pakistan on March, 06, 2009, Letter No.16-pmta/09 but no heed has been paid to the voice of the voiceless minorities. 
PMTA received a letter from the Ministry of Education, GOP No.F 3-17/2007-IE on September 19, 2007 informing that the curriculum for Islmaiyat compulsory (for Muslim students) and Ethics for non-Muslim students have been approved and notified. It further says that there are no biases in future books.
In another reply to PMTA No.F 3-17/2008-IE on March 12, 2009, it was said that there are general guidelines for textbook writers in National Curriculum documents of Ethics III-XII 2007 (page 22-23), Pakistan Studies IX-X 2006 (page 19-21), History VI-VIII 2006(page 39-41) and Social Studies IV-V 2007 (page 56) etc, regarding adoption of unbiased and non-controversial material for minorities, sects and gender etc.
It further says, “So far as the role of minorities in the creation of Pakistan is concerned, it is included in National Curriculum of Pakistan Studies (IX-X) 2006 (page 13) and History (VI-VIII) 2006 (pages 29-30) for example.
It further says, “I am further directed to inform you that representatives of minorities were taken on the Curriculum Development Committee for Ethics (III-XII). A list of curriculum developers (Ethics III-XII 2007) is enclosed.
In another letter No. SO(S-VII) 1-9/2007, dated December 17, 2008 by the government of the Punjab, School Education Department, there are comments of Director (C.W), Punjab Textbook Board, Lahore in which it is said that the national Ethics Curricula 2006 for grades III-XII for non-Muslim students will be implemented under a phased programme.
Year 2010-11 Classes I, VI, IX and XI
Year 2011-12 Classes II, VII, X and XII
Year 2012-13 Classes V & VIII
PMTA has strong reservation using the word ‘non-Muslim’ as this is the openly violation of the Constitution of Pakistan, Article 36 where word ‘minorities’ has been used. We request the Chief Justice of Pakistan to take serious notice of this word and order all the institutions of the Federal and Provincial governments to use the word ‘minorities’ where necessary. This is a constitutional matter.
Punjab Textbook Board must keep in mind that curriculum has been developed in the subject of Ethics from grade III-XII but unfortunately phased programme to write books for class III and IV has not been mentioned while books for class I and II will not be prepared as curricula has not been developed for these classes. Punjab Examination Commission (PEC) conducts examination for class V and VIII while Boards of Intermediate and Secondary Education for class IX-XII. There is utmost need that textbooks must be written for these classes on prior basis. Syllabus of Ethics is not mentioned in the educational calendar which is discrimination with the students of minorities. Takveen Anjum of class V was one of the oppressed students to whom syllabus was not provided even though she requested the Ministry of Education and the Chief Minister of Punjab in the examination 2009. On failure of receiving syllabus, she protested and remained absent in the said paper but PEC awarded her 61 marks in the subject of Islamiyat. Later on she protested that why marks have been awarded to her though she was absent.
NEP 2009 is a component of contradictions in general and especially for minorities. PMTA wrote a letter to the the then President of Pakistan, No. pmta/115/6,dated May 02, 2006, on the subject “Representation of educationists from the religious minorities in the curriculum committee constituted to revise syllabus 2006” and copies were mailed to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Federal Minister of Education, Government of Pakistan, State Minister of Minorities Affairs, Government of Pakistan, Federal Secretary of Education, Government of Pakistan and Members of the Parliament (Minorities) of Pakistan. Islamabad. We were really happy that representatives were taken on though only for the subject of Ethics to develop curricula but very much disappointed when I was called on by Mr. Chiragh Din Arif, Director (Curriculum Wing) Punjab Textbook Board Lahore on November 13, 2008. I came to know that there were Muslims who were writing on the topics in the subject of Ethics. I requested the honourable Director and presented reservations of the minorities that these are very sensitive books and students of minorities have to study them. So, these textbooks must be written by the educationists and experts of minorities. If textbooks were not to be written by the minorities’ educationists then why were they taken on in the Curriculum Development Committee for Ethics? Can a Muslim writer dare to write the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ according to the Christian faith? No, certainly not. How can he go against the teachings of his religion regarding such topics? Pakistani textbooks are mostly written with a biased, fundamentalist, discriminatory and sentimental approach against the religions and traditions of minorities. How can we blame other nations like India that there are biases in the textbooks when there is the worst situation in Pakistani textbooks? 
It is mentioned in the national document of guidelines for textbooks writers that the material must be unbiased and non-controversial. But it is sorry to say that there is nothing mentioned about the minorities, sects and gender etc. The Ministry of Education must direct special guidelines in this regard. But it is impossible in the presence of biased topics like Two Nation Theory and Objectives Resolution which are biased against the minorities. There is open violation of article 22 (1) of the Constitution which says. “No person attending any educational institution shall be required to receive religious instruction, or take part in any religious ceremony, or attend religious worship, if such instruction, ceremony or worship relates to a religion other than his own”. Is this not the violation of the Constitution that students of minorities are forcibly taught a theology of a particular religion which is different to their belief? PMTA published a White Paper on Education in Pakistan In September 2007 .This is a document to debate religious bias, general standard of textbooks and education policies in Pakistan. There is research on 52 textbooks in the subjects of Civics, English, Ethics, Islamic Studies, Pakistan Studies, Social Studies and Urdu from grade I-XII. Only in the subject of Urdu language from class I-XII, 235 chapters and poems out of 409 consist of Islamic teachings through various means in 12 textbooks. So the ratio of preaching Islam by various means through Islamic teachings, personalities, poetry and terms is 57.45%. Not only this but these textbooks are filled with the bias against Christians, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs, Zoroasters and their civilizations as well. Minorities’ students will continue suffering as they will not only study the same particular ideology in the subject of Ethics but humanities and science subjects as well in future. They will be taught Arabic too in the textbooks of Urdu and English as well. Two Nation Theory and Objectives Resolution are much biased against the minorities of Pakistan. It is utmost need to abolish the topics of hatred from the textbooks as they have been totally failed to promote national unity and integrity. I would like to draw your attention on the following articles of the constitution.
Article 2 of the Constitution describes “Islam is the state religion.”
Article 31 and 40 of the Constitution of Pakistan 1973 are in chapter 2. Title of this chapter is “Fundamental Rights and Principles of Policy” . Again Pakistani education policy has been formulated keeping in mind this chapter biased chapter of the Constitution.
Article 31. Islamic way of life
(1) Steps shall be taken to enable the Muslims of Pakistan, individually and collectively, to order their lives in accordance with the fundamental principles and basic concepts of Islam and to provide facilities whereby they may be enabled to understand the meaning of life according to the Holy Quran and Sunnah. 
(2) The state shall endeavour, as respects the Muslims of Pakistan, :

(a) to make the teaching of the Holy Quran and Islamiat compulsory, to encourage and facilitate the learning of Arabic language and to secure correct and exact printing and publishing of the Holy Quran; 
(b) to promote unity and the observance of the Islamic moral standards; and 
(c) to secure the proper organisation of zakat, [ushr,] auqaf and mosques”
Article .40. Strengthening bonds with Muslim world and promoting international peace. 
The State shall endeavour to preserve and strengthen fraternal relations among Muslim countries based on Islamic unity, support the common interests of the peoples of Asia, Africa and Latin America, promote international peace and security, foster goodwill and friendly relations among all nations and encourage the settlement of international disputes by peaceful means. 
There is discrimination with the students of minorities as Muslim students who learn the holy Quran by heart have many privileges for example, they can take the class VIII examination bypassing class VI and VII. They get 20 extra discriminatory marks if they want to get admission in higher classes. They have full tuition fees concession if they get admission in any public educational institution. On the other hand students of minorities are deprived of such privileges and are failed to continue their studies due to the 20 extra discriminatory marks which are a great hindrance to continue their study for higher level.
Due to the Principles of Policy of the Constitution there is discrimination with the students of minorities in the textbooks and educational institutions. They are forced to attend the assembly where ideology of a particular faith is promoted. Sense of segregation is developed in them. Their role in the creation and construction of Pakistan is not admitted in the textbooks which creates distance between them and the students of majority faith. This is openly the violation of Article 25 (1) which describes, “.All citizens are equal before law and are entitled to equal protection of law.”
Ministry of Education, government of the Punjab issued a discriminatory order about the minorities’ educator who are to be recruited to attend one month compulsory training in the subjects of Science, Mathematics, English, Urdu, Computer, PT and Qirat (recitation of the holy Quran). As soon as PMTA came to know, a letter was written to the education ministry No.29-pmta/09, dated July 10, 2009 on the subject, “Qirat and Minorities’ educators.” Same one published in the national press. Ms. Zubeida Mustafa in her column “Gojra and education” drew the attention on this issue as well. PMTA received a letter by the Ministry of Education Notification No. SO (TRG) 2-24/2008 on August 12, 2009, exempting the minorities’ educators to get training in the subject of Qirat.
We have to bring Pakistan out of the dangers of terrorism and extremism. It is the education which can only bring changes in the mindsets of the innocent students of our country. Education Policy is the key to make Pakistan a paradise or hell. Formers dictators have been playing with department education too for the fulfillment of their nefarious designs. We as Pakistanis have to play our role in a constructive way. Teachings of the father of the nation must be adopted as blue print which he presented before the First Constituent Assembly of Pakistan on August 11, 1947 burying the Two Nation Theory after gaining a nation called Pakistani. He said, “You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place or worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed that has nothing to do with the business of the State………Now I think we should keep that in front of us as our ideal and you will find that in course of time Hindus would cease to be Hindus and Muslims would cease to be Muslims, not in the religious sense, because that is the personal faith of each individual, but in the political sense as citizens of the State.

"Biased Pakistani Textbooks and Minorities" research paper of Prof. Anjum James Paul published in Pakistan Christian Post on September 16, 2009

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By: Professor Anjum Paul
Chairman, Pakistan Minorities Teachers’ Association

The Founder of Pakistan the Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in his presidential address to the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan on August 11, 1947 said, “You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place or worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed that has nothing to do with the business of the State………Now I think we should keep that in front of us as our ideal and you will find that in course of time Hindus would cease to be Hindus and Muslims would cease to be Muslims, not in the religious sense, because that is the personal faith of each individual, but in the political sense as citizens of the State. “
King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia in his address to the participants of the Interfaith Conference organized by the United Nations Organization in New York on November 12, 2008 said,” We should step forward to make relations. Existence of all religions will have to admit because it is necessary for peace in the world. We should respect the religion of everyone. All religions give the lesson of peace.”
Mr. Asif Ali Zardari, President of Pakistan in his address to the participants of the Interfaith Conference on November 13, 2008 said, “To maintain global harmony, politics and policies based on hatred will have to be changed.” 
The Quaid -i- Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah who was much concerned about the education of Pakistani nation. In his message to the first Educational Conference in November 1947 he said, “If we are to make real, speedy and substantial progress, we must bring our educational policy and programme on the lines suited to the genius of our people, consonant with our history and culture having regard to the modern conditions and vast developments that have taken place all over the world. The future of our state will and must accordingly depend upon the type of education we give to our children, and the way in which we bring them up as future citizens of Pakistan. We should try, by sound education, to instill into them up the high sense of honour, integrity, responsibility and selfless service to the nation. There is an immediate and urgent need for giving scientific and technical education to our people in order to build up our future economic life and to see that our people take the science, commerce, trade and particularly well planned industries. We should not forget that we have to compete with the world which is moving very fast in this direction.”
If we deeply evaluate the past 62 years of Pakistan, I am sorry to say that we have violated the above mentioned ideology of the founder of Pakistan. There cannot be change in the attitudes until there is formulation of education policy according to the national needs. Politics and education is still on the Ad hoc basis in Pakistan. Negative impacts of politics have affected education field as well. Our education field has failed to create national integrity and social harmony. Our education policies have produced extremists, warriors and suicide bombers instead of intellectuals and scientists. This is all the result of the biased education policies .Teachings on hatred, bias, sectarianism; religious intolerance and extremism have been placed in the textbooks. We can practically observe that the students become intolerant, extremists, prejudiced and biased against humanity in general after reading these textbooks.
There is promotion of a particular ideology and on the other hand bias against other faiths in the Pakistani textbooks. A full detail is in the White Paper prepared by Pakistan Minorities Teachers’ Association 2007. This is a document to debate religious bias, general standard of textbooks and education policies in Pakistan. There is research on 52 textbooks in the subjects of Civics, English, Ethics, Islamic Studies, Pakistan Studies, Social Studies and Urdu from class I-XII. Only in the subject of Urdu language from class I-XII, 235 chapters and poems out 409 consist of a particular ideology through various means in 12 textbooks. So the ratio of preaching a particular through is 57.45%. 
There is a bird’s eye view of the dignity of Islam and Muslim while bias against the other religions than that of Islam under the following headings.
Preaching of Islam through textbooks
Dignity of Muslims 
Bias against the other faiths in general
Bias against Christians
Bias against Jews
Bias against Hindus
Bias against Sikhs
Bias against Zoroasters
Bias against other civilizations
Misunderstanding of terms
Wrong information

PREACHING OF ISLAM THROUGH TEXTBOOKS
“Why did the old lady become a Muslim? Ref. English Step 6,Edition Ist ,Impression 10th ,Code No XLV/AL Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 2, Line 14
“We, as Muslims should follow the noble example of the tolerance of our Holy Prophet (Peace be upon Him).” Ref. English 8,Date of printing January 2006, Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 21, Line 9
“Which is the best book to read and teach?” Note: The answer of this question is the ‘Holy Quran.’ Ref. English 10, Edition Ist, Impression 7th, Code No XLV/AL Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 4, Line 6.
“Write a letter to any of your non-Muslim friend, conveying the message of Islam.” Ref. Islamic Studies 7,Edition Ist ,Impression 23rd,Code No XLV/AL Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 21, Line 14
“You know that Islam is our religion.” Ref. Social Studies 4,Edition Ist , Code No XLV/AL Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 108, Line 2
“Hindus in Sindh were converting to Islam by their own will to see the good behaviour of Muslims.” Ref. Social Studies 5, Edition 2nd, Impression 13th, Code No XLV/AL Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 118, Line 17
“Students! Discuss the importance of Islam in the presence of teacher in the class.” Ref. Social Studies 6, Edition Ist ,Impression 9th,Code No XLV/AL Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 82, Line 22
”Organize two teams in the class, each team asking questions about our dear Prophet (PBUH).”Ref. Urdu 2, Date of printing January 2005, Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 4, Line 15
“Allah has addressed the Muslims, men of Allah! Be brothers among yourselves. We all Muslims are brothers of one another.” Ref. Urdu 2,Date of printing January 2005, Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 32, Line 7
“Start your every morning reciting the Holy Quran and receive uncountable virtues.” Ref. Urdu 3,Edition Ist ,Impression 23rd,Code No XLV/AL Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 69, Line 11
“2. Write any of your favourite naat (poem written in praise of Prophet Muhammad) in your note book taken from any book or magazine.” Ref. Urdu 4,Edition 3rd ,Impression 21, Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 22, Line 15
“As a Muslim it is an obligation of us all to act upon the life of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).Try to adopt the morals of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Our worldly and hereafter success lies only in it.” Ref. Urdu 8,Edition Ist ,Impression 23rd,Code No XLIV/AL Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 7, Line 6
“Write two paragraphs the way Muslims spread Islam.” Ref. Urdu 8,Edition Ist ,Impression 23rd,Code No XLIV/AL Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 125, Line 14
“We the Muslims have been made the successor of the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).Now it is our responsibility to introduce the whole world about his sacred personality and kindness.” Ref. Urdu 8,Edition Ist ,Impression 23rd,Code No XLIV/AL Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 215, Line 12
“We should not take any such step for which we shall have to be shameful before God and his messenger Muhammad (PBUH).” Ref. Urdu 10,Edition 2nd ,Impression 3rd,Code No XLV/AD Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 10, Line 8

DIGNITY OF MUSLIMS 
“Before the advent of Islam not to punish the dishonest and powerful but to punish fragile was common but after the advent of Islam justice was glorified.” Ref. Pakistan Studies 9,Edition 5th ,Impression 5th, Code XLIV/AD, Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 13, Line 4
“How did the Muslim women show their bravery when they were prisoners of war by the Christians?” Ref. Urdu 5,Edition Experimental ,Impression Ist, Code No XLV/AL, Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 70, Line 14
Once a battle was on its peak. Christians and Muslims were busy in showing their bravery. An arrow hit the mare of the Christian commander and that died.” Ref. Urdu 6,Edition 2nd ,Impression 3rd, Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 34, Line 19
“Sultan got back mosques from the occupation of the Christians and gave to Muslims.” Ref. Urdu 6,Edition 2nd,Impression 3rd,Date of printing, February 2005, Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 35, Line 19
“He was a great conqueror of Crusades. He conquered Jerusalem.” Ref. Urdu 6,Edition 2nd ,Impression 3rd, Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 36, Line 3

BIAS AGAINST THE OTHER FAITHS IN GENERAL
“Followers of other religions are often busy in garrulous manners on their festivals. They do not express their relation or devotion with Allah. On the contrary, on one hand these two festivals of Islam provide an opportunity of entertainment and joy to Muslims and on the other hand they become a source to meet one another and to help the needy. Besides this they are a source to have a strong contact and relationship with Allah. That is why Muslims specially arrange for prayer on the day of festival.” Ref. Islamic Studies 5,Edition 5th ,Impression 5th, Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 18, Line 4
“How do the followers of common religions celebrate their festivals?” Ref. Islamic Studies 5,Edition 5th ,Impression 5th, Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 20, Line 3
“Allah sent Prophets for the followers of the previous religions. And there was revelation of His Books on many of them. But the teachings of those Prophets and the Books revealed on them are not safe in original form.” Ref. Islamic Studies 10,Edition 2nd ,Impression 14th,Code No XLV/AL Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 96, Line 12
“Some previous Books of revelation consist of such discourses which are not only against reality but in many Books there are very much indecent and immoral discourses. (It is evident that these are fake discourses which have been added by someone himself).” Ref. Islamic Studies 11,Edition 2nd ,Impression 16th,Code No XLIV/AL Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 29, Line 18
“Before the advent of Islam not to punish the dishonest and powerful but to punish the fragile was common but after the advent of Islam justice was glorified.” Ref. Pakistan Studies 9,Edition 5th ,Impression 5th, Code XLIV/AD, Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 13, Line 4
“Various non-Muslim nations in the world have been against Muslims and have often been cooperating to harm Muslims.” Ref. Social Studies 8,Date of printing ,January 2006 ,Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 126, Line 12
“And now, no other religion is popular in the eyes of Allah. Whole humanity is destitute to follow the path of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and the teachings of the Holy Quran for the welfare of religious and worldly affairs.” Ref. Urdu 4,Edition 3rd ,Impression 21st,Date of printing January 2005, Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 60, Line 15
“Every person must abstain drugs but especially the Muslims.” Ref. Urdu 8,Edition Ist ,Impression 23rd,Code No XLIV/AL Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 128, Line 18

BIAS AGAINST CHRISTIANS

“They (Muslims) were forced to become Christians.” Ref. Civics 12,Edition 2005 ,Impression 12, Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 1, Line 19
“Christian preachers openly attacked their (Muslims) religion. Priests entered their religious conventions and started preaching Christianity”. Ref. Civics 12,Edition 2005 ,Impression 12, Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 2, Line 1
“So to stop the attacks of the Christian missionaries. Sir Syed saved many children becoming Christians by establishing orphan houses. Sir Syed had seen that time when orphans had been sent to Christian institutions at the time of famine in 1837.” Ref. Civics 12,Edition 2005 ,Impression 12, Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 12, Line 17
“Ummad-ud-Din was martyred by the conspiracy of Christians.” Ref. Social Studies 7, Edition Ist, Impression 34, Code No. XLV/AL, Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 17, Line 6
“On the contrary when 90 years ago Prince Gaudphrey conquered Jerusalem, there was so much execution that the horses of the victorious army slipped from the blood of the Muslims.” Ref. Urdu 6,Edition 2nd ,Impression 3rd, Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 35, Line 12
“Christians changed the shape of Al Aqsa and other mosques after occupation. Christians have always harmed the Muslims. They even executed them.” Ref. Urdu 6,Edition 2nd,Impression 3rd,Date of printing, February 2005, Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 35, Line 19
“Friends, highness is not of colour or race. In the Middle Ages. London and Paris were unknown places. There was filth. People who took bath were lashed by the order of the priests that they have become Muslims and have started taking bath on every Friday.” Ref. Urdu 8, Edition Ist. Impression 23rd, Code No. XLIV/AL, Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 181, Line 18 BIAS BIAS AGAINST JEWS
“In a battle Hazrat Ali sat on the chest of a Jew after falling him on the ground. He wanted to behead him off. Jew spat on his face. He at once released the Jew. The Jew asked the reason of his deliverance surprisingly. He said that a Muslim fights for Allah but not for personal revenge. By spitting on my face you tried to create personal revenge in my heart. That is why I released you. Hearing this Jew became a Muslim” Ref. My Book Urdu 3, Edition Ist, Impression 4th, Code No. XLV/AL, Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 71, Line 9
“In 1949 Jews tried to set on fire the Al Aqsa mosque in the occupied Bait-ul- maqdas (Jerusalem).” Ref. Urdu 6,Edition 2nd,Impression 3rd,Date of printing, February 2005, Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 109, Line 15

BIAS AGAINST HINDUS

“Many good girls are deprived of getting married. We have adopted this un- Islamic ritual from Hindus.” Fundamental Civics (For non-Muslim students) Intermediate level, First Impression December 1984, Publisher: Amin Book Depot, Urdu Bazaar, Lahore Page 38, Line 1
“Pakistan came into existence on the very same day when the first Hindu was converted to Islam.” Ref. Pakistan Studies 9-10,Edition 5th ,Impression 5th,Code No XLIV/AD, Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 7, Line 10
“Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi belonged to the Deoband sect. According to him Hindus were the worst enemies of Muslims.” Ref. Pakistan Studies 9-10,Edition 5th ,Impression 5th,Code No XLIV/AD, Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 19, Line 8
“According to him (Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi) Hindus can never be sympathetic and well wishers of Muslims whether there may be the Day of Judgment. They are more enemies of Muslims and Islam than that of English.” Ref. Urdu 8,Edition Ist ,Impression 23rd,Code No XLIV/AL Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 152, Line 19
“He knew that the Hindus try to merry ‘Kali Mata’ (Black Mother) flowing the blood of innocent people of other religions. They consider all untouchables except themselves.” Ref. Urdu 8,Edition Ist ,Impression 23rd,Code No XLIV/AL Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 221, Line 13

BIAS AGAINST SIKHS

“Sikhs empowered in Punjab and destroyed the peace of Punjab.” Ref. Pakistan Studies 9,Edition 5th ,Impression 5th, Code XLIV/AD, Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 10, Line 8
“Sikhs flourished their influence on weakening the government of Punjab and started looting the big cities of Punjab………At last Sikh ruler Ranjeet Singh established his government in Punjab. Sikhs were cruel with Hindus and Muslims. Sikhs destroyed the worship places, various tombs and particularly the educational institutions of Muslims.” Ref. Social Studies 4,Edition Ist ,Code No XLIV/AL Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 82, Line 11
“Sikhs and the rulers of the Sikh states of Punjab helped British through weapons, army and money.” Ref. Social Studies 4,Edition Ist ,Code No XLIV/AL Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 83, Line 11
“Ranjeet Singh’s regime was a cruel one for the Muslims and Hindus, Describe in detail.” Ref. Social Studies 4,Edition Ist ,Code No XLIV/AL Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 87, Line 9
“In this regard for the achievement of religious freedom in 1826 he started the movement of religious jihad against Sikhs.” Ref. Urdu 12,Edition 5th ,Impression Ist, Date of printing ,August 2006,Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 8, Line 14

BIAS AGAINST ZOARSHTERS

“This was the day……..when temples of the worshippers were extinguished.” Ref. Urdu 8, Edition Ist, Impression 23rd, Code No XLIV/AL Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 213, Line 12

BIAS AGAINST OTHER CIVILIZATIONS

“English people sent the precious books of Islamic religious institutions to England. English people destroyed the religious institutions of Muslims. They did not want flourishing of Islam.” Ref. Social Studies 6,Edition Ist ,Impression 9th,Code No XLV/AL Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 75, Line 11
“Being fed of religion, Western mind has excluded religion from its system many centuries ago.” Ref. Urdu 9, Edition Ist ,Impression 7th,Code No XLIV/AL Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 50, Line 13
“After that, attacked on another British and slaughtered him too.” Ref. Urdu 9, Edition Ist ,Impression 7th,Code No XLIV/AL Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 73, Line 15
“Westerners are expert in spoiling the names of Muslims. They remember Abu- Al -Qasim Zahravi by the names of Abulcasis, Albucasis and Alzaharawius.” Ref. Urdu 11,Experimental Edition Ist ,Impression 5th,Code No XLIV/AL Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 24, Line 17

MISUNDERSTANDING OF TERMS

“Negation of Theocracy. There is no place of theocracy in an Islamic state.” Ref. Civics 11,.Edition Ist ,Impression Ist, Date of impression January 2006, Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 69, Line 17 Note: Where there religion is declared a state religion is called a theocratic state. Most of the Muslim states have declared Islam as the state religion

WRONG INFORMATION

“In Hebrew Jacob’s name is Israel that stands for Man of Allah.” Ref. Ethics 11-12, Edition Ist, Month & Year of Publishing July 1999, Publisher: Sindh Textbook Board, Jam Shoroo, Page 54, Line 1 Note: The meaning of Israel is ‘Selected Prince.’
“Hindus laid the foundation of Congress.” Ref. Social Studies 6, Edition Ist, Impression 9th, Code No XLV/AL Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 94, Line 18
Note Mr. A. O. Hume laid the foundation of Indian National Congress in 1885 who was a British.
“In the beginning the Quaid- i- Azam joined the Congress Party. Muslim political party Muslim League had not yet established.” Ref. Social Studies 7, Edition Ist, Impression 34, Code No XLV/AL Publisher, Punjab Textbooks Board, Lahore, Page 29, Line 1
Note: Muslim League was established in 1906 while Quaid- i- Azam joined it after 7 years in 1913.
 Pakistan Minorities Teachers’ Association (PMTA) flays the biased Education Policy 2009 approved on September 09, 2009 as chapter will on “Islamic teachings” supports the bias against the other religions which will definitely promote hatred, bias, discrimination and persecution against the minorities as this policy is not based on human values. Incidents like Shanti Nagar, Sangla Hill, Bagminiwala, Korian, Gojra and Jeteke will take place where innocent people of minorities will be beaten up, forced to convert, burnt and their houses will be looted and burnt to ashes with powerful explosive chemicals. In the end faith of the minorities is hurt by desecration and burning their Holy Books and places of worships especially churches.

“Pakistani non-Muslims want textbooks revised” report published in UCAN on November 14, 2011

http://philippines.ucanews.com

CATHOLICS urging education reform have hailed last week’s US commission report on religious intolerance in schools.

“We totally agree with the findings of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom. Our surveys have also pointed the prejudices and biased in textbooks; a major factor in prevalent wave of terrorism,” said Anjum James Paul, chairman of the Pakistan Minorities Teachers’ Association PMTA based in Samundri, Faisalabad diocese.

The study states that text books in Pakistani schools foster prejudice and intolerance of Hindus and other religious minorities, while most teachers view non-Muslims as “enemies of Islam.”

Researchers this year visited 37 public schools and 19 madrassas (Islamic seminaries) to interview pupils and teachers.

The PMTA has been struggling for the rights of non Muslims students for seven years and has sent numerous recommendations to government officials for a balanced syllabus.

Paul referred to “maximum emphasis on Islamic way of life” in compulsory subjects taught from first to tenth grade. “There is disinformation, disrespect and propagation against religions other than Islam in the textbooks of Pakistan,” he added.

“Church officials criticize new education policy” report published in UCAN on October 5, 2009

www.ucanews.com

Catholic Church leaders have expressed concern over the country’s new education policy, which they say imposes Islamic studies as a compulsory subject on minority students.
The Catholic bishops´ National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP) has demanded the government make provision for non-Muslim students to receive religious lessons in their own faith in lieu of Islamiat, which comprises courses on Islamic belief and practice.
Archbishop Lawrence John Saldanha of Lahore, the commission´s chairman, and Peter Jacob, its executive secretary, expressed their concern in a press release.
“If government thinks public education is not possible without a compulsory subject of Islamic Studies and Arabic, then we are forced to demand religious education for Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Parsis, etc. in their respective religions,” it said.
They issued the statement on Sept. 25, two weeks after the government announced the National Education Policy 2009. Continuing the existing policy, the new guidelines maintain Islamic studies as a compulsory subject.
“Non-Muslim children” have the option of taking ethics and moral studies instead from third grade onwards, whereas the old policy allowed this only in grades nine and 10. But this ignores a fundamental objection that the provision means nothing in practice.
Catholic educators have long maintained the textbooks used for these alternative studies are written with “a biased mindset” by Muslim writers who do not make allowances for the teachings of religions other than Islam. They thus claim Muslim teachers cannot teach ethics effectively to children from religious-minority communities.
In practice, many Christian students have chosen Islamic studies anyway. Either they want to keep their Christian identity from being known to all or they claim teachers inflate grades for Islamiat students while marking those who choose ethics harshly.
The NCJP statement raised several of these points:
“The subject of Ethics proposed in the policy is hardly a choice as an alternative for non-Muslim students. Taking this option involves several difficulties including: non-availability of text books [some are still being written] and a syllabus that has chapters on different religions, yet only presents the Islamic point of view. Moreover non-Muslim students risk their grades and isolation from the rest of the class.”
Christians have criticized the current syllabus for praising only Islamic personalities while presenting followers of other religions as infidels and depicting Christianity negatively. The commission statement regretted that no proper evaluation of the syllabus was conducted before extending it.
It also alluded to the longstanding objection that textbooks quote excessively from the Qur´an, even science texts. It raised the particular concern that minority students´ unfamiliarity with these texts could leave them open to accusations by people exploiting the country´s blasphemy laws.
According to Anjum James Paul, chairman of the Pakistan Minorities Teachers’ Association, more than half the subject matter in textbooks for the compulsory study of Urdu, the national language, is based on Islamic teachings.
“The oppressed and suppressed minority students will be forcibly taught Islamic teachings in social and physical sciences subjects as well,” the Catholic educator wrote in an open letter to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani.
The minority association´s letter criticized the new policy as an “Islamic Education Policy.”
The NCJP statement demanded a review of the proposed policy and action by the Supreme Court against infringement on the freedom of religion guaranteed in Pakistan´s Constitution, which “bars any religious education other than the student’s own.”
The Catholic Church has been calling for the exclusion of religious education from the school syllabus, saying this should be the responsibility of the family and community religious institutions. “We were forced to use the option of religious education as the government doesn’t seem to want to give up compulsory Islamic education,” NCJP secretary Jacob told UCA News.
Church schools teach catechism to Christian students through grade 8, since schools set their own annual exams up to that point. A government education board sets exams from grade 9 onwards and offers exams only in Islamiat or ethics, not catechism.
According to the Catholic commission, Pakistan has about 1 million non-Muslim students. The Catholic Church runs 534 schools, 53 hostels, 8 colleges, 7 technical institutes and 8 catechetical centers, according to 2008 statistics.

"Minorities and education" report published in the Asia News on September 14, 2009

http://new.asianews.it

Minorities and education: equal rights for all students guaranteed by the constitution
by: Sarah John
A Christian scholar says that it is necessary to develop curricula that promote tolerance and human rights in order to fight violence and extremism. As it stands the current school system favours Muslims, providing them with advantages and privileges. School textbooks nurture a “sense of segregation” among minorities.
Lahore (AsiaNews) – In a long article published in the Pakistan Christian Post Anjum James Paul wrote that real change can come to Pakistan only through education. For the university lecturer and founder of the Pakistan Minorities Teachers’ Association (PMTA), the spiral of terrorism and extremism can be brought to an end by preparing students as early as possible in their life and explaining to them the values of tolerance and respect for human rights. As an expert with a great deal of knowledge of Pakistan’s school system he took a look at the 2009 National Education policy, pointing out its flaws and violations of minority rights.
As a scholar Anjum James Paul believes that a “constructive” attitude is needed, inspired by the “teachings of the Father of the Nation”, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, who presented his views to the first Constituent Assembly of Pakistan on 11 August 1947, and for whom freedom of worship was an essential feature of the country, stressing that the “the business of the State” was something distinct from “religion or caste or creed”.
Despite such lofty words minorities have been discriminated by successive governments, Paul said. But his criticism does not spare minority leaders, “who have never raised the issue of discriminatory policies.”
Text books and schools force minority students “to attend classes where one religion in particular, Islam, is promoted”, which tends to nurture a “sense of segregation”.
The role played by minorities “in the birth and building of Pakistan” is not included in any textbooks, and this creates a certain “distance between minority and majority students”. Although books should not cause controversies, it is “sad to see that minorities are not even mentioned.” Yet he is still hopeful that the Education Ministry will do something and adopt “special guidelines in the matter.”
Another case of discrimination between Muslim and non-Muslim students concerns the Qur‘an. Those who learn sections of the Holy Qur‘an by heart can jump to the 8th class examination, bypassing classes 6 and the 7, getting additional marks that are helpful in getting into higher classes. “Minority students are denied such privileges and it is harder for them to get a higher education,” he said.
By recognising that “Islam shall be the State religion of Pakistan” (Art. 2), the constitution strengthens the cooperation among Muslim nations on the basis of Islamic unity and promotes Islamic values, history, and teachings, but it does so to the disadvantage of those who profess a different religious creed.
Finally, some of examples Anjum James Paul cites are in “open violation” of Article 25 of the constitution which says that “All citizens are equal before law and are entitled to equal protection of law.”

 

“Minorities International Conference’ to be held in Pakistan in December 2009” report published in the ASSIST News Service (ANS)on Sunday, October 4, 2009

http://www.assistnews.net

‘Minorities International Conference’ to be held in Pakistan in December 2009
By Dan Wooding and Sheraz Khurram Khan
Special to ASSIST News Service 
LAHORE, PAKISTAN (ANS) -- The International Minorities Alliance (IMA) is holding a two day “International Minorities Conference” from December 12-13. 2009, in the Pakistani eastern city of Lahore at Loyola Hall, 28 Waris Road, Lahore, ANS has learnt.
Delegates from USA, UK, Germany and Italy are expected attend the conference. 
Mr. Nazir Qaisar, chairman of the IMA told ANS that the conference would cover “a range of minority-related issues.” 
Themes will include “Pakistani Minorities and International Laws,” “Political situation of Pakistan and Minorities,” “Minorities in Overseas Pakistan,” and “Pakistani Minorities and Women in the clutches of discriminatory laws,” as well as “Pakistani Education and Minorities.” 
Professor Anjum James Paul will present a paper on the theme of “Pakistani Education and Minorities.” 
Mr. Qaisar said that he regretted that the events of the last 62 years in Pakistan with reference to religious minorities have been “very discouraging.” 
He said: “Unfortunately the minorities have not been given full political and civil rights in Pakistan and there are a number of basic issues and fundamental concerns that still need to be addressed. Pakistani minorities have been reduced to the level of second rate citizens.” 
Mr. Qaisar alleged that “selective criteria, social biases and prejudiced ideologies” had made the existence of the minority communities “miserable.” 
He accentuated the need for a just, democratic, plural and tolerant society. 
He said the IMA was going to host a two day conference “to discuss and deliberate the future of minorities in Pakistan.” 
“We are expecting a whole galaxy, of political leaders ,social workers, human rights activists, prominent members of minorities and especially Christians leaders from around the world to attend the Lahore conference,” said the noted Christian poet. 
ANS has learnt that Salman Taseer, governor of the Pakistani province of Punjab would inaugurate the two day conference, whereas Asma Jehangir, a prominent human rights activist and founding member of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, would preside the conference on December 12. 
Dr. Peter G. David, a delegate from London, will preside the second session of the conference on December 12 whereas Dr. Farooq Sattar, Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, would be chief guests. 
Poets from across Pakistan would read their poems on the evening of December 13. 
Editor’s note: Mr. Nazir Qaisar is recipient of Pakistan’s highest literary award “Adamji.” He has also received other awards including “National and Culture Award,” “Presidential Award” and “Masood Khadarposh Award” in recognition of his services for promoting the Punjabi language. 
Mr. Qaisar has authored 14 books in Urdu and Punjabi languages. One of his books is part of curriculum in Indian universities of Chandigarh and Guru Nanak Dev Amrastar. Pakistan’s Allama Iqbal of the Open University has recently introduced optional thesis in M.Phil on Mr. Nazir Qaisar.

“Pakistan National Education Policy 2009 condemned " interview of Professor Anjum James Paul, Chairman & Founder of Pakistan Minorities Teachers' Association for ASSIST News Service on September 14, 2009

http://www.assistnews.net

By Dan Wooding and Sheraz Khurram Khan
Special to ASSIST News Service 
ISLAMABAD,PAKISTAN (ANS)

Pakistan National Education Policy 2009 condemned
PMTA terms Education Policy 2009 as ‘Islamic Education Policy’ 

Professor Anjum James Paul, the Chairman of Pakistan Minorities Teachers’ Association (PMTA), has termed Pakistan’s National Education Policy 2009 as “Islamic Education Policy.”
“In the presence of chapter four of the Education Policy 2009 on ‘Islamic Education,’ how can one justify that this is not a biased and discriminatory education policy that gives priority to the teachings of a single majority religion while Pakistan is a multi-religious country,” said the professor.
He said that syllabi are not based on democratic values and are discriminatory to non-Muslims.
Responding to a question he said the non-Muslim students have been given an option to study the subject of Ethics from Grade 3 to Grade 12.
Earlier, the subject of Islamiyat (Islamic Studies) was taught in all Pakistani schools. It was compulsory for all children up to grade 8 and from grade 9 Non-Muslim students could opt out by choosing Civics.
Professor Anjum alleged that the text books of Ethics have been written by Muslim authors from an Islamic perspective.
Elaborating on it he said that Ethics text book for class 3 does not name as to who was the eldest son of Abraham. “It merely states the eldest son of Abraham. This will definitely create confusion in the young non-Muslim students because according to Islam it is Ishmael whereas according to Christian teachings it is Isaac,” he stated.
The Ethics text book for Class 5, he said, has a chapter on Semitic Religions including Judaism and Christianity. How could a Muslim writer write on Christianity and Judaism?, he questioned.
Under the heading of “Religious Festivals” in the Ethics text book for Class 6 he said students are supposed to read about Eid-ul-Fitar (Muslim religious festival that follows Muslim holy month of Ramadan).
The professor pointed out that the students of Ethics are also supposed to read about Islam and prominent Muslim personalities like Imam Ghazali.
He alleged that the teachers, most of whom are Muslims, recognize the candidate to be a non-Muslim and hence they mark them down in the Ethics examination.
Anjum alleged that depiction of Christianity at higher-level classes is negative. He said that it was important that teachers and educational materials promote correct attitudes in young minds such as inter-religious harmony, tolerance, sensitivity to others, empathy and avoidance of prejudice and bias.
He went on to say that there are 57.47% teachings of Islam only in the subject of Urdu language which is a compulsory subject from grade I-XII.
Professor Anjum alleged that the Ministry of Education, government of Pakistan is “playing the role of a cleric as it preaches Islam to all the students whether one is Muslim or not”.
“PMTA declares this education policy ‘Islamic Education Policy’ as chapter four of this policy is on ‘Islamic Education,’” said Anjum.
This education policy, he alleged, violates article 22 (1) of the Constitution which describes “No person attending any educational institution shall be required to receive religious instruction, or take part in any religious ceremony, or attend religious worship, if such instruction, ceremony or worship relates to a religion other than his own.”
He added that the policy is in contravention of article 25 (1) of the 1973 Constitution of Pakistan 1 which describes “All citizens are equal before law and are entitled to equal protection of law.”
The professor further confided to ANS that the policy flouts Article 1 and 26 of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 18, 26 and 27 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 2 and 14 of International Committee of Red Cross and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s recommendations.
Professor Anjum said he also wrote a letter to Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani to apprise him of minorities’ reservation on the Education Policy.
Pakistan should withdraw from these covenants and declarations if it cannot ensure minorities' human rights, he demanded.

“Bias in textbooks is the root cause of religious intolerance” in Pakistan” interview of Professor Anjum James Paul,Chairman & Founder of Pakistan Minorities Teachers' Association for ASSIST News Service (ANS) on Monday, April 30, 2007

http://www.assistnews.net/

“Bias in textbooks is the root cause of religious intolerance” in Pakistan
By Sheraz Khurram Khan
Special Correspondent for ASSIST News Service in Pakistan 

FAISALABAD, PAKISTAN (ANS) -- Stating that presence of bias in the curriculum as the root cause of religious intolerance in Pakistan, the Chairman of Pakistan Minorities Teachers’ Association (PMTA) has called for elimination of alleged pejorative material from the text books. 
Professor Anjum James Paul 
The PMTA Chairman, Professor Anjum James Paul, made this statement while talking to ANS by phone on Thursday, April 27. 
Paul told ANS that the PMTA was established last year. When asked what made him launch struggle for the rights of minority students and teachers, he said that the experiencing of problems on religious grounds during his student, as well as professional life, prompted him to take this initiative.
Elaborating on the problems, he said he faced a real tough time in 1996 when he taught at the Gojra Government College. He said that the then Principal of the college would discriminate against him on religious grounds. 
He revealed that he needed a bodyguard for his own safety. “I had to request a gunman from home department,” he said. In the wake of US invasion of Afghanistan he said the students of Government College in Faisalabad boycotted his classes. 
“The line on the dais [from which he spoke] read, ‘Non-Muslim teachers should not teach,” Professor Anjum Paul confided in ANS. 
Disclosing yet another difficult phase in his teaching career a couple of years ago, he said he translated a column from English to Urdu written by Professor Rafiullah Shah in which he quoted Imam Abu Hanifa as saying that the practice of renting out houses in Muslim holy city of Makkah Mukarama in Saudi Arabia as well as the concept of Monarchism were un-Islamic. He said the professor also quoted Imam Abu Hanifa as saying that Family Planning was not forbidden in Islam. 
“When I made mention of Professor Rafiullah’s article in one of my lectures to Bachelor of Arts Students they protested and refused to attend my class. This kept me from going to college for a week,” he said. 
Pointing to the “New Scheme of Studies” by the Curriculum Wing of the Pakistan Ministry of Education, Paul said the subject of Arabic was now offered as an optional subject which, he said, was compulsory for all the students earlier. 
He said the PMTA had conveyed its reservations on Education Policy/Curriculum reform by writing a letter to Arif Majeed, the Joint Educational Advisor Government of Pakistan on Feb 26, 2007. ANS obtained the copy of the letter that criticized government for giving the option of additional 20 marks on memorizing the Quran, the Muslim holy book. In the letter PMTA also called for appointment of teachers from religious minorities to teach the subject of Ethics, which under the new Scheme of Studies has been termed as a compulsory subject for non-Muslim students whereas Islamiyat (Islamic Studies) is a compulsory subject for Muslim students. 
“A non-Muslim cannot teach Islamiyat (Islamic Studies) in the education sector but them why has government launched a policy to recruit teachers from the minorities at the school, college and university level before the implementation of this policy,” the letter questioned. 
“Minority students have to appear in Islamiyat due to the unavailability of books and teachers. Secondly they fear that if they appear in the subject of Ethics then there will be discrimination with them by the examiners,” it said. 
The PMTA Chief told this correspondent that he wanted Pakistan to emerge as a progressive and moderate country in line with the vision of founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. 
Referring to the speech of Jinnah in the first constituent assembly of Pakistan on August 11, 1947, Professor Anjum called for teaching of values including equality, love, tolerance, acceptance and harmony in the educational institutions. 
He said they believed in “Religion for all or none.” Anjum said every Pakistani student should have the option of studying his respective religion in the academic grooves. He maintained the absence of the same is the contravention of UN Convention on the Rights of the Child signed by Pakistan in 1990. 
Religious education according to one’s respective faith is a Right under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child signed by Pakistan (1990), he pointed out. The PMTA brought this grave matter to the notice of Ministry of Education but it did not turn its hair to make provision for offering religious education to students belonging to religious minorities, he informed. 
“The students from religious minorities communities are forced to study Islam; values of Islam and Islamic heroes. There is disgracing and degradation of the teachings and values of other religions through propagation mainly in the subjects of social sciences and especially in Urdu and Social/Pakistan Studies,” he said. 
“PMTA was expecting a ray of hope but is disappointed to learn that Ministry of education has done nothing but to disappoint religious minorities through this New Scheme of Studies. It is as biased as the previous Education Policies against religious minorities of Pakistan,” he maintained. 
Pakistan will violate UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Constitution of Pakistan 1973 by implementing such a discriminatory policy, he warned. 
“Meri Kitab (My Book) is taught in grade 1. Its first 6 chapters out of 18 are totally based on the teachings of Islam. Kindly keep in mind that this is not the book on Islamic Studies. What impression these Text Book Boards are leaving in the innocent minds and souls of these students of minorities? Four other books are of Civics and Pakistan Studies Grade 11 and 12 .These books have also been updated in general along with recommendations to remove prejudicial matter. 
“PMTA is sorry to say that Pakistani Text Book Boards are playing role of cleric in preaching Islam without caring or respecting other religions. Shall someone allow one’s son or daughter to go to educational institution just to learn hatred, prejudice and discrimination for being minority? There are not lessons on harmony, peace, tolerance, human rights and humanity in the curriculum in general. The ultimate result is before us as we see intolerance in the over all society. We harvest what we grow. It is the curriculum that lay the foundation of a nation .Ministry of education is responsible for the construction or destruction of the minds of the people. A new world is possible if possible steps are taken by the curriculum wing to change the fate of the nation. Serial Name of book Grade Edition Updated Pages Total pages of book 1. Meri Kitab (My Book 1 Jan.2005 21 02 40 2. Civics 12 Jun.2005 521 39 293 3. Civics 11 Jan.2006 202 14 279 4. Pakistan Studies 12 Feb.2006 276 31 257 5. Civics 12 Experimental 2006 301 24 118, said the letter the PMTA wrote to Ministry of Education. 
Professor Anjum cited various excerpts from the Islamic Studies textbooks to substantiate the element of religious bias in them. 
He told ANS that in class 7 Islamic Studies text book line 12 of page number 29 said: “Write a letter to your non-Muslim friend and convey him message of Islam.” He went on to say that the question no 5 of the Exercise says: “Name the unfortunate rulers who remained deprived of blessings of Islam?” 
Citing chapter 2 of Islamic Studies book for class 5. entitled as Imaniyat aur Abadat (Faith and Prayers), he said in the section entitled “Eidain” (religious festivals) of the same chapter page 18 line number 4 says: “Generally the other nations remain engaged in rubbish business during their festivals. (In their religions) there is no expression of relationship with God or His worship. Contrary to these two religious festivals of Islam on the one hand provides opportunity to Muslims for recreation and happiness while on the other hand they provide an occasion for fellowship, help and care of the needy. 
“Non-Muslim students should have the facility to study their religion. Subjects like Ethics and Civics should not be slapped on them,” the PTMA chief remarked. 
Professor Anjum said the Muslim students get a cutting edge over minority students by getting additional 20 marks by memorizing Quran, Muslim holy book. Asked if his association sought the award of the 20 marks for non-Muslim students by passing some religion based test the PMTA chief said he was opposed to this practice in principle. 
Professor Anjum Paul said he was going to send recommendations to the Ministry of Education as well as to President of Pakistan General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. 
The PMTA Chief told ANS he wrote a letter to Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf wherein several demands were made. ANS obtained the copy of the letter, which called for representation of educationists from the Minorities in the Curriculum Revising Committee 2006 that has recently been constituted. Role of educationists and educational institutions of the Minorities is before all. 
“We humbly request you to find a soft corner for the educationists in the Committee so that there may be better recommendations for the success of your revolutionary reforms in the education sector,” it said 
The letter called for the substitute subjects for the students belonging to Minorities instead of Nazra, Arabic and Islamic Studies which are compulsory for all the students up to grade viii belonging to any religion. 
It also made the demand for recruitment of teachers belonging to Minorities to teach the subject of Ethics. 
“PMTA also requests to introduce the subject of Ethics in a pure sense where there are the teachings of the religions that exist in Pakistan so that the students may also know their religions from grade 1 as Islamic Studies and Arabic are compulsory subjects from grade 1,” said the letter. 
It said that religion should be taught only in the subject of ‘Religion’ otherwise there is discrimination of students belonging to Minorities on the basis of religion. 
“Students are innocents and sometimes they are misled from their religion. It is therefore requested to pay special attention in the subjects of Urdu and Social Sciences where there is too much preaching of Islam”, it said. 
“PMTA requests to write correct information in the text books instead of disinformation and misinformation .If it is necessary to write about the teachings and cultures of the Minorities in the text books, then educationists from the Minorities must be consulted. 
“PMTA requests to use the word ‘Minorities’ instead of ‘Non-Muslim’ which is used mostly in the text books. This is discrimination of Religious Minorities of Pakistan. ‘Non-Muslim’ is not a religion in any sense. The term ‘Minorities’ has been used in the Objectives Resolution and in the Constitution of Pakistan 1973”
“PMTA requests to replace the biased material against the Minorities in the text books. And to add chapters on interfaith harmony to promote national integrity. PMTA requests to review some of the messages by the highest authorities in the text books and to encourage all the students in the messages instead of paying special attention to Muslim students only. Text book are to be read by all Pakistani students belonging to any religion, race or caste”, it maintained.
“PMTA requests to present the true picture of the Minorities and the national heroes who have been ignored intentionally especially in the era of General Muhammad Zia-ul-haq. Role of Minorities has been totally ignored in the text books that causes disharmony in the society .Thus it is very important to present the role of Minorities in the Pakistan Movement and their services in the different fields as the role of Muslims has been presented in the text books. Minorities have played vital role for Pakistan and it is on the record” 
“PMTA requests to use the word ’Masihi’ instead of ‘Esai’ in the text books if it is necessary to write because Christian use the word ‘Masih’ after their name not ‘Esai,’” said the letter. 
PMTA for Substitute Syllabus for Minorities’ Students 
The PMTA Chief told ANS he wrote a letter to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shaukat Aziz and Federal Minister for Education, Ashraf Javed Qazi ,on June 14, 2006 in which he raised questions including 1. Why Islamic Studies, Arabic and Nazra are compulsory subjects for the minorities’ students from the Prep class instead of teaching their own religions? If it is so then why not Hebrew, Hindi, Persian and Punjabi for the students belonging to minorities? 2. Is this not discrimination and violation of human rights that a student from the majority religion studies ones’ own religion and minorities’ students have to study Islam to which one does not belong? 3. Why all students are taught Islam in Social Sciences such as in the subjects of Urdu and Social Studies in the text books. In which students belonging to minorities have to negate the teachings of their own religions? 4. What do you say about the first 6 chapters out of 18 of grade 1, subject Urdu, edition January 2005 which express all about Islam and Muslims but have to study by all the students? Copy attached herewith. 5. Why there are not substitute subjects for the minorities’ students against Islamic Studies, Arabic and Nazra and in this regard have the educationists from the minorities been ever consulted? 6. Why the subject of Ethics is optional in the grade 9th and 10th while Islamic Studies compulsory to the post graduate level for Muslim Students? 7. Why Ethics and not religious studies prepared by the educationists from the minorities? 8. Is national integrity and social harmony possible when that is not created in the minds of the students who are the future and pillars of the nation? 
Call for Treatment of Civics as a compulsory Subject 
The PMTA chief told ANS he wrote a letter to the Minister of Education Punjab, Mian Imran Masood, on September 29, 2006 in which he demanded that the subject of Civics be offered as a compulsory subject at the intermediate level. 
ANS obtained the copy of the letter in which Anjum Paul wrote: 
“… I have come to know by the authorities of the Board of Intermediate & Secondary Education Faisalabad that in the Scheme of Studies there is the subject of Civics as a compulsory subject for the minorities’ students. But I am sorry to say that the students are kept ignored deliberately about this subject and ultimately they have to appear in the subject of Islamic Studies which is a compulsory subject for Muslim students but is applied even to the Minorities’ students”. 
“In this regard I want to draw your kind attention towards a case of Govt. College Samundri, Dist. Faisalabad where a Christian Student Mr. Haroon Masih wanted to replace Islamic Studies during the session of 2006.Now he is studying Civics instead of Islamic Studies. Pakistan Minorities’ Teachers Association (PMTA) requests you to issue an order to all the Boards of Intermediate & Secondary Education of Punjab to issue circulations to all the heads of the Colleges and Higher Secondary Schools to change the subject of all the Minorities students to Civics as a compulsory subject who are studying in those respective institutions until arrangements are formulated of Religious Studies of their religions.” 
“Secondly, to write the subject of Civics in the compulsory subjects on the admission form so that Minorities’ students may choose the subject of Civics. Thirdly, to write the name of other religions in the column of the religion on the admission form and all the other documents, as there is written Muslim and Non-Muslim. Non-Muslim is not a religion in any sense as he/she may be a Christian/Hindu/Sikh/Buddhist/Parsi or belonging to any other religion. it has been observed that the Minorities students are mentally tortured with this word. Fourthly, to make possible arrangements for the availability of books of Civics so that students prepare this subject well in time. PMTA is hopeful that prompt action shall be taken in this regard so that the entire Minorities’ students who appear regular or private in the annual examination 2007 will appear in the subject of Civics as a compulsory subject”