ISLAMABAD Aug 22: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) has proposed a debate on response to criticism levelled by the US State Department against the educational syllabus in Pakistan.

An adjournment motion was submitted by the six-party grouping in the National Assembly on Monday.

The motion — signed by Liaquat Baloch, Farid Paracha, Dr Attaur Rahman, Advocate Usman, Samia Raheel Qazi and Shahida Akhtar — said “the remarks of the US State Department spokesman” were “flagrant interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs” and were thus unbearable.

It says, “Pakistan, being a sovereign state, had the right to set its own priorities and the Holy Quran and Sunnah were fundamental source in any decision of such kind.

“In Islam, no lesson of hatred is taught through any syllabus book which is also proved by the fact that all the minorities are living peacefully and enjoying full rights as citizens.”

The motion urged the government of Pakistan to take immediate and serious notice of the said statement and asked it to formulate its national policy independently and not take dictation from external forces on its internal affairs.

It criticized the US official’s statement that Pakistani authorities were “making efforts to introduce changes in its syllabus on American advice” and said this was “a source of serious concern for the entire nation”.

Following promulgation of the ‘madaris’ ordinance and the banning of newspapers and journals that promote the national and religious identity of the country, the US official’s statement was an eye-opener and full of meaning for the nation, it added.