KARACHI, Dec 26: The Jamat-i-Islami, Karachi on Monday held a large demonstration at Banaras Chowk to protest against the changes in the education curricula and the planned deletion of the procedure of Namaz from textbooks besides the government’s refusal to decrease POL products’ prices.

A large number of people carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans against Federal Education Minister Lt-Gen Javed Ashraf Qazi, President Musharraf and other government functionaries.

Adressing the protestors, JI Karachi Amir Dr Merajul Huda Siddiqui said that the pro-US education minister, who was an “enemy of Islamic teachings and Namaz” was unacceptable to Pakistanis and he should immediately step down.

He criticized the government for its anti-Islam steps including the establishment of the Aga Khan University Examination Board (AKUEB), military operation in Balochistan and Waziristan, construction of Kalabagh Dam and vowed to continue struggle till the formation of a pro-Islamic government in the country.

Dr Siddiqui said that deletion of the procedure of Namaz on US directives was a clear attack on Islam in Pakistan, which was not even done by the worst enemies of Islam in pro-US Islamic states.

“Army and its generals are now openly following US agenda and trying to deprive the nation of Islamic teachings, importance of creation of Pakistan and are promoting Western civilization in the country” he alleged.

He said that under a well-planned conspiracy, chapters on all Islamic personalities had been expelled from the textbooks, inclusion of poem on George W. Bush and addition of topics on Western heroes were being included in the education curricula.

Terming these steps as an open attack on Islamic traditions, Islamic values and civilization, he vowed to continue protest for their protection.

Dr Siddiqui alleged that “local agents” of the US and other Western states were trying to secularize the education curricula and the whole country but all their efforts would remain fruitless as students were Islam-loving citizens of Pakistan.—PPI