LAHORE, April 12: The Lahore High Court on Thursday stayed publication of class-IX Islamiat book according to old syllabus and sought a reply from the Punjab Textbook Board by May 11.

Justice Umar Ata Bandial issued the order on the petition of a local publisher challenging an order of the chief minister through which publication of Islamiat books under new syllabus were stopped.

Representing the petitioner, Advocate Farooq Amjad Mir argued that the new books were published after exhaustive deliberations of Islamic scholars and the textbook board. He said millions of rupees were also paid to the Punjab government under the head of royalty, however, the board on the directions of the chief minister ordered publication of books as per old syllabus.

The counsel said the impugned act caused a huge financial loss not only to the Punjab government but also to the publisher (petitioner). He prayed that the act of the government be set aside for being illegal.

Justice Bandial after hearing the arguments at length issued an interim stay order and sought reply from the PTB.