ISLAMABAD: The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) on Tuesday constituted a sub-committee which will look into the government’s proposal to include teachings of Quran in schools syllabus.

The council’s meeting was chaired by its chairman Maulana Mohammad Khan Sheerani.

The Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training had sent a set of books which contain Quran verses with translation to the CII for vetting. The ministry had proposed to teach these books in schools up to class tenth.

However, the members noted that the set of books did not contain 484 verses which discussed ‘jehad’ whereas some members even noted that all the relevant teachers in the schools were not well versed in reciting the Quran, exposing the children to learn Quran with wrong accent.

The books have been prepared by an NGO ‘Ilm Foundation’ and it was being taught in several private schools.

Meanwhile, member of the CII Maulana Zahid Qasmi even said that the government should approach the council for preparing the books on Quran teachings rather than seeking NGOs help.

The three-day council meeting is expected to discuss the proposed set of books on Wednesday and Thursday along with two other laws – one formulated by the CII itself titled the Protection of Women Model Bill and a draft bill against capital punishments to children.

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2016