ISLAMABAD, March 30: Education Minister Zobaida Jalal on Tuesday rejected the impression that any chapter or verses regarding "Jihad" or "Shahadat" (martyrdom) had been deleted from textbooks.

She, however, said her ministry would delete from textbooks any objectionable material, if found, intended to fan sectarian hatred. The minister was speaking at a national seminar on Preventive Education against HIV/AIDS, organized by the education ministry in collaboration with Unesco.

Brushing aside the impression that verses regarding Jihad had been deleted from syllabus, Ms Jalal said these verses had been shifted from intermediate to matriculation level courses.

She maintained that her ministry was the defender of the ideological boundaries of the country and would take all measures to uphold the Islamic identity of the nation. Bringing modifications in the textbooks through up-to-date changes is the sole discretion of the provinces, but they can only modify the textbooks by following a strict policy guideline framed by the federal ministry of education, she said.

Reports have also been sought from the provinces on the issue to inform the public and the parliamentarians about the actual situation, she said. The minister also appealed to the religious quarters to logically look into the matter. She said Pakistan, being a Islamic country, could not afford to keep the students and the young generation in the dark about the basics of the religion.

She termed Jihad an integral part of the syllabus and said removing related verses would be tantamount to deleting verses regarding Nimaz (prayers) from the syllabus.

The minister said some politico-religious elements, through misinterpretation of the term Jihad, were trying to create an issue. She urged the media to take the matter logically and inform the masses about the factual position.

She said the education policy had envisaged the introduction of HIV/AIDS education in the curriculum. The education ministry is endeavouring to create awareness about the emerging trends like population, environment, human Rights etc., through relevant curriculum modification.

The minister also distributed certificates among the participants of the seminar. Meanwhile, talking to the Indian journalists at SAF games, the education minister said the syllabus being taught in Pakistan was minorities-friendly, and minorities enjoyed equal rights in the educational institutions.