12 April 2004	Monday	21 Safar 1425

KARACHI, April 11: Disregarding the order of Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali about material relating to Islamic teachings in curricula , the provincial textbook boards have published books excluding contents concerning martyrdom, jihad, national heroes and finality of prophethood, alleges Islami Jamiat Talaba in a report compiled by its education and research wing.

The report blames that an attempt has been made in the books recently published by Sindh Textbook Board (STB) to belie the ideology of Pakistan and chapters containing material about Islamic teachings and the lives of Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and his companions have been expunged.

In place of these topics, material on music has been added to the books while religion is told as a part of culture, says the report. In the Social Studies book of Class VIII, the report adds, the ideology of Pakistan has been termed a creation of Hindu racist organizations. In the same book, it states, the word "demolition" has been used for "martyrdom" of Babri Mosque.

The report discloses that chapters about Ghazva-i-Badar and Ghazva-i-Mota have been obliterated from the Urdu book of Class- VII. The words of jihad and mujahideen have been changed in the chapter about Lal Hussain Shaheed. The word 'martyrdom' of Holy Prophet's companions has been replaced by murder, the IJT- compiled report states.

In Social Studies book of Class-VI, the chapter about Muhammad Bin Qasim's attack on Sindh has been revised and it has been attempted to show Raja Dahir as innocent, says the report and adds that the leniency of Hajjaj Bin Yousuf towards the Raja has been ignored.

The report reveals that the chapter about Muslim rulers and movements of Shah Waliullah and Syed Ahmad Shaheed have been expunged while the description of star in the Pakistani flag as symbolizing five components of Islam has also been excluded. In the same book, the sentence "There is no concept of racism in Muslims. They don't hate anyone and this quality of Muslims have impressed Hindus of lower races to a great extent" in chapter on "Socialization between Muslims and Hindus" has been erased, the report exposes.

A chapter "Civic life in Pakistan" that explained democracy, democratic government, freedom of expression, social justice, welfare state, government's responsibilities regarding health and education, law, independence and importance of social organizations in nations' life has been obliterated from the book.

In the new book of Social Studies for Class-III, the chapter about Hazrat Khadija, Ayesha and Fatima, and Fatima Jinnah has been replaced by a chapter on Bilqees Edhi. The sixth chapter of the same book invites the new generation towards music and singing while Gilgit Agency has been shown separate from Kashmir in the second chapter. The picture of Quaid-i-Azam in Sherwani has been replaced by a picture of the Quaid in an English suit in the new book, discloses the report.

The Islami Jamiat Talaba has demanded that the government keeping in view the aforementioned facts should dismiss all education ministers, register a case of revolt against them and the books published by the STB be impounded in order to save the future of the country. - PPI