Ban on 100 textbooks in Pakistan's Punjab, accusation of blasphemy

New delhi date. 26 July 2020, Sunday

The government of Pakistan's Punjab province has banned 100 textbooks from being taught in schools in a major decision. According to the Punjab government, these books were used to teach blasphemous and disturbing lessons.

According to Rai Manzoor Nasir, executive director of the Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board (PCTB), there are some books that have misrepresented the birth dates of Pakistan's founder 'Qaede Azam' Mohammad Ali Jinnah and national shire Alam Mohammad Iqbal. Apart from that, some books have also given false information about 'Two Nation Theory'.

According to Rai Manzoor Nasir, there are more than 100 books with disturbing content. It also includes companies like Oxford, Cambridge, Link International Pakistan, Paragon Books whose books are taught in schools.

This is why these books have been banned in view of the recommendations of the committee. According to Nasir, the banned books also contained anti-Pakistan content. The PCTB had recently directed to remove these books from the market immediately.

According to Nasir, the government will not tolerate any catastrophic teaching of Pakistani children. Over the next six months, the contents of other books will also be studied in detail.

Last month, the Punjab government passed a resolution in the legislature banning two books by British-American author Leslie Hazelton. The government alleges that the books contained blasphemy.