LAHORE: The Lahore High Court was assured on Thursday that the provisions of the Punjab Compulsory Teaching of Holy Quran Act 2018 would be enforced in letter and spirit in all educational institutions from the next academic year.

The undertaking was given by Secretary of School Education Department Dr Sohail Shehzad before a two-judge bench seized with an appeal seeking a direction for the government to take all possible steps to enable the Muslims, individually and collectively, to order their lives in accordance with the fundamental principles and concepts of Islam.

The secretary also told the court that a notification shall be issued that from the next academic year no private or public school shall prescribe or suggest any kind of book or reading material without getting its approval from the government.

Punjab Curriculum & Textbook Board (PCTB) Chairman retired Lt Gen Akram Khan also stated before the bench that steps shall be taken before the commencement of next academic year to ensure that every book in any school did not contain any offensive material about the teaching of the Holy Quran & Sunnah, Islamic ideology and pious personalities of Islam.

He said steps will also be taken to remove all indecent and incorrect material or derogatory remarks, or misleading information with respect to ideology, history and heroes of Pakistan and Islam from every book that was to be taught in any school.

The lawyers of the parties expressed satisfaction over the statements of the government functionaries.

The bench comprising Justice Shahid Waheed and Justice Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal directed the respondents to submit a compliance report before the commencement of the next academic year.

Published in Dawn, December 25th, 2020