ISLAMABAD, Aug 3: West is trying to pollute the minds of our children by promoting subjects that are taboo in our culture in the private schools.

MNA Bushra Rehman of PML-Q made this charge in the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Capital Administration and Development (CAD) which met on Friday to discuss development projects of the Capital Development Authority (CDA).

The discussion started with the chairman of the committee, Jamshaid Ahmad Dasti of PPP, noticing that CDA chairman was absent from the meeting and warning the officer that warrants would be issued for his arrest if he did not appear at the next meeting.

“We are here to resolve public issues and department heads have to be present for that,” the chairman said, suggesting that CDA should be handed over to the Ministry of CAD.

Things however lighted up when Joint Secretary CAD Prof Rafique Tahir informed the committee that the British O level system has been introduced in two government schools in Islamabad.

That provided the opportunity to Ms Bushra Rehman to lash out at the O and A level education systems favoured by the elite and status-seeking middle class in the city for their children.

“The West has been enforcing its curriculum through these systems,” she said.

She said that several mothers found some stories taught in Urdu and English literature to O and A level students objectionable.

“After I raised the issue of such stories, such as (Saadat Hasan) Manto’s short story Khol Do and others, in the parliament, the British Council contacted me and assured the same would be taken out of the courses,” she added.

She said “when Zubaida Jalal was education minister (in Pervez Musharraf era), Quranic verses relating to jihad were taken out of the textbooks on the instructions of the West.”

“O and A level education is promoting Western culture in the country,” she asserted.

Perhaps to stem the slide, committee member Ms Seema Mohiuddin Jameeli said Arabic should be taught from primary level.

Secretary CAD Israr Rauf said the CAD had taken up the issue but regretted that it did not have powers to take action.