July 29, 2006	Saturday	Rajab 2, 1427

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LAHORE, July 28: Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan has written a letter to the federal education minister in which he has pointed out that the textbooks of Akhlaqiat (Class-IX) published by the Punjab and Sindh textbook boards do not carry any chapter regarding prophet Jesus Christ (AS).

Referring to the textbooks, Mr Ahsan has stated that the tables of contents of the textbooks show that there were chapters on prophet Moses, saint Ghulam Sidharath Buddha, Zoroaster, Hindu god Shri Krishanjee and Guru Nanak, besides the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). But there is no chapter on prophet Jesus Christ (AS).

He asks Federal Education Minister Javed Ashraf Qazi whether the omission is deliberate and if it is so, who is responsible for it? He also states that the textbook published by the Punjab Textbook Board carries the message of the Punjab chief minister while the second book carries preface by Prof Muhammad Qasim Mazher of the Sindh education ministry.

In his letter, the MNA also points to the plight of minorities in Pakistan. Despite rhetoric by the government, he contends the status of minorities in Pakistan has deteriorated at a faster pace since the so-called ‘Islamisation’ by Gen Ziaul Haq.

“We keep accusing our neighbour India of mistreating its minorities but India still has 180 million Muslims just to take one minority community alone. They comprise about 15 per cent of the total population of India. Other minorities add up to much more,” he states.

Mr Ahsan also asks where our minorities stand today. Referring to a recent speech of Gen Pervez Musharraf in which he had pointed out that Pakistan had 98 per cent Muslims, he says the statistics show that we have driven our minorities away. At partition, he says, Pakistan had a vibrant 18 per cent to 20 per cent minority population.

He asserts, “Christians are an important minority in Pakistan. Their number has reduced since the Zia era. They have been persecuted and prosecuted. The entire families and mohallahs have fled and found refuge abroad. But Christianity is a great faith and the Christian community of Pakistan has produced great sons like Chief Justice A.R. Cornelius and Squadron Leader Cecil Chaudhry to the service of this country.