Faisalabad: February 8, 2016 (PCP) In a letter to Mr. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan Ref. No. PMTA/04/16-KPR, dated February 8, 2016 Professor Anjum James Paul, Chairman Pakistan Minorities Teachers’ Association (PMTA) has welcomed the inclusion of changes in the curriculum and protection of minorities in the National Action Plan 2014. The content of the letter is below. To Mr. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Prime Minister of Pakistan Prime Minister’s Secretariat Islamabad Subject: - NATIONAL ACTION PLAN AND CHANGES IN CURRICULUM & PROTECTION OF MINORITIES Honourable Sir, Greetings and peace from Pakistan Minorities Teachers’ Association (PMTA) PMTA would like to draw your kind attention on the subject cited above. Pakistan Minorities Teachers’ Association welcomes the inclusion of changes in curriculum and protection of minorities in the agenda of National Action Plan (NAP) by the government of Pakistan on February 5, 2016.Though it is a little late but more important is the proper implementation on these two points of the NAP agenda. Pakistani non-Muslims have reservations on these points for decades but Pakistani governments have been violating their genuine fundamental and constitutional rights. Pakistani non-Muslims have always been loyal to their motherland. They have always played their constructive role for the protection and progress of Pakistan. Sir, Pakistani non-Muslims desire to be protected under the following Articles of the Constitution of Pakistan 1973. Article 20 (a) that guarantees, “Every citizen shall have the right to profess, practice and propagate his religion.” Article 22 (1) that guarantees, “No person attending any educational institution shall be required to receive religious instruction, or take part in any religious ceremony, or attend religious worship, if such instruction, ceremony or worship relates to a religion other than his own.” Article 25 (1) that guarantees, “All citizens are equal before law and are entitled to equal protection of law.” Article 36 that guarantees, “The State shall safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of minorities, including their due representation in the Federal and Provincial services.” Sir, present curriculum, textbooks and educational environment violate Article 20 (a), Article 22 (1), Article 25 (1) and Article 36 of the Constitution of Pakistan against the non-Muslim students. There is only negation of the beliefs and customs of the non-Muslim students in the educational environment. Violation of Article 22 (1) is a constant threat for the beliefs and lives of those students and teachers who are forced to study and teach the beliefs and customs of that religion which they do not follow. PMTA has already presented 12 research based documents on the textbooks of Pakistan and a documentary, “Pakistani Textbooks A Question Mark For Non-Muslims” in your good office. Sir, PMTA presents the following recommendations for the changing curriculum. 1. Curriculum must be scientific based, value based and need based. 2. All sorts of biased material against the beliefs and customs of any religion and culture must be avoided in the curriculum to promote social harmony, justice, equality; acceptance, human rights and peaceful coexistence. 3. There must be proper implementation of Article 22 (1). Besides this beliefs and customs of any religion must be restricted only in the subject of ‘Religion” of that particular religion to avoid forced preaching and forced conversion. 4. It is needed to avoid all sorts of discrimination in the classroom on the basis of religion. There must be the subject of ‘Religion’ and teacher for each and every non-Muslim student according to his/her beliefs and customs as well, as it is in the case of Muslim students who study the subject of Islamic Education and government has arranged for the textbooks and teachers as well. The subject of Ethics for non-Muslim students is unconstitutional and violates their fundamental rights. 5. There must be proper implementation of NAP agenda regarding changes in curriculum, bearing in mind the protection of non-Muslim minorities. 6. Pakistani non-Muslim educationists and educational institutions have played tremendous role for Pakistan so non-Muslim educationists must not be ignored while making changes in the curriculum. With best regards PROF. ANJUM JAMES PAUL CHAIRMAN