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Pakistani Protests

Left-wing ruling Awami National Party (ANP) in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhuwa (KP) province, which borders neighboring Afghanistan, is under fire for exclusion of Quranic verses about Jihad from syllabus of Islamic studies for secondary schools across the province as religious parties and teachers’ associations have taken to street against the move.

“ The ANP government through this shameful act, wants to appease the United States and the West”, Professor Zahir Shah, the provincial head of Tanzeem-e-Asateza (TeA), the country’s one of the largest teachers’ associations, told Islam Online.

Rallies and protest demonstrations are being held across the province, including Peshawar, the provincial capital, Swat, Dir, Malakund, Mardan, Noshehra, Abbotabad, Mansehra, and other cities and towns, which were attended by a large number of teachers, students, and common citizens.

Not only the pro-religious parties’ teachers associations like TeA, but other teachers associations too are protesting over the ANP government’s move.

Students and common citizens in respective towns also joined hands with teachers and participated in rallies and demonstrations.

The biggest rally was taken out in scenic valley of Dir, which touches war-hacked Afghanistan, where thousands of teachers, students and citizens marched through the city roads. Chanting slogans against the move, the protests warned that if the decision was not withdrawn within next few days, they would adopt dire measures, including the wheel-jam strike.

However, the otherwise vibrant and active electronic media, which highlights smaller social issues with much emphasis, hardly covered a few rallies against omission of Quranic verses.

“ The provincial government, which has miserably failed to govern the province, now wants to show to the West and the US that it can serve their interests better than any other party, therefore it must be supported by them (US and West) for the next stint” Professor Shah charged.

Dr Shah observed that in the name of modification of curriculum, the ANP government has omitted Quranic verses and Hadiths (sayings of Prophet Mohammad, be peace upon him) from the syllabus of Islamic studies for grade 9 and 10, which is totally unacceptable.

Skindar Khan, the provincial president of All Pakistan Teachers Association (APTA) agrees.

“ Jihad is an inseparable part of Islamic teachings”, Khan observed while addressing a protest rally against the government’s move in Peshawar.

“ The ANP government is toeing a foreign agenda by omitting the Quranic verses about Jihad from the curriculum”, he maintained.

“ We have given a 15-day deadline to the provincial government. If the omitted verses and Hadiths are not made part of the curriculum, a country-wide campaign will be launched against this move”, he maintained.

The KP government, however, denies the elimination of Quranic verses from curriculum.

“ The government is modifying the educational curriculum in order to make it internationally viable. However, there are no changes whatsoever in the curriculum of Islamic studies”, a provincial government spokesman said in press release issued to the media in response to protest demonstrations and rallies in the province.

The spokesman regrets that the religious and political parties are using the curriculum issue for their political interests.

“ There should be no political scoring on this issue after this clarification”, the spokesman opined saying that the ANP government cannot compromise on Quran and Hadith.

” The provincial government has made changes in curriculum of other subjects in order to make them compatible, but there is no change in Islamic studies syllabus”, he contended.

But, the clarification does not satisfy the protesting teachers.

“ This is a lie. Not only the Quranic verses, but lessons about Jihad and historical events have also been removed from the curriculum”, Dr Shah, the TeA president asserted.

“ The government is hoodwinking the nation by issuing such misleading statements. If there is no omission of (Quranic) verses and Hadiths from the syllabus, then why would teachers take to streets and waste their and their students’ time”, he asked.

In the old book of Islamic studies or grade 9, DR Shah said, there were verses on Jihad from Surah Anfa’al, Surah Ahzaab, and Surah Mumtanah. But these verses have been replaced by other verses, which are on other topics but not Jihad, in the newly-introduced book.

Moreover, he said, there were 25 Hadiths in old book of Islamic studies, but in the new book, there is not even a single Hadith quoted.

Similarly, he said, in English syllabus introduced in 2006 for grade 9, the first lesson was “the Voice of God”, the second lesson was “Holy Prophet (be peace upon Him), and the third lesson was “ Hazrat Omer (R.A)”.

But in new English book, which has been compiled, but has not been released in the market, the first lesson is “The Giant”, the second lesson is “ Helen Keller”, and the third lesson is “The Great Quaid (Mohammad Ali Jinnah”.



“ They have halted the release of English book for fearing further reaction from masses and teachers”, Dr Shah observed.

“ I have the copies of both books with me. How can I trust the clarification of provincial government’s spokesman?”, he asked.

Dr Shah apprehends that there could be omission of Quran and Hadith related chapters from other books as well.

“ These are only two books, which have been publicized. You never know about other books, which are being compiled by the education department”, he maintained.

Therefore, Dr Shah said, he has constituted a committee to look into other books, which are in process of compilation.

“ The government’s move is spreading hatred and rage among the masses, and if the decision is not taken back immediately, the government will solely be responsible for any consequence”, he warned.

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