Faisalabad: August 5, 2016. (PCP) Professor Anjum James Paul Chairman of Pakistan Minorities Teachers Association PMTA has appealed to State Minister for Education and Professional Training Mr. Baligh-ur-Rehman to address discriminatory attitude towards Non-Muslim students on basis of religion in a letter. Professor Paul said that Book of General Knowledge 1, Edition 2015, Chapter 14 NBF and Textbook of History of Grade 6, Edition 2015, Page 47 NBF are examples of forced conversion and unprotected non-Muslims are presented from the National Book Foundation as Federal Textbook Board Islamabad published in 2015. PMTA Chairman said “PMTA is requesting for several years through correspondence and presenting research based documents on the textbooks of Pakistan to resolve the genuine fundamental and constitutional rights of non-Muslim students who are facing discrimination and persecution through education policy, curriculum and textbooks. The lives and beliefs of non-Muslims students are always under threat due to three reasons; Professor Anjum pointed out that textbooks are only designed for Muslim students keeping their religious beliefs and identity that’s why there is Islamization of national education policy, curriculum and textbooks. Islamic beliefs and teachings are present in the subjects of social sciences, pure sciences and languages besides the subject of Islamic Education (compulsory) in the textbooks. So, the textbooks are a constant threat to the beliefs and religious freedom of non-Muslim students. He wrote to State Education Minister of Government of Pakistan that there is hatred, intolerance and extremism against non-Muslims, non-Islamic religions, non-Islamic civilizations and non-Islamic cultures in the textbooks. There are arrangements only for the religious education of Muslim students and for this purpose subject of Islamic Education (compulsory) and teachers are available. Here are full contents of letter of Professor Anjum James Paul; Mr. Baligh ur Rehman State Minister for Education & Professional Training Govt. of Pakistan Islamabad Honourable Sir, Greetings and peace from Pakistan Minorities Teachers’ Association (PMTA) PMTA would like to draw your kind attention on the subject cited above. Examples of forced conversion and unprotected non-Muslims are presented from the National Book Foundation as Federal Textbook Board Islamabad published in 2015. (General Knowledge 1, Edition 2015, Chapter 14 NBF) (Textbook of Hist ory grade 6, Edition 2015, page, 47 NBF) PMTA is requesting for several years through correspondence and presenting research based documents on the textbooks of Pakistan to resolve the genuine fundamental and constitutional rights of non-Muslim students who are facing discrimination and persecution through education policy, curriculum and textbooks. The lives and beliefs of non-Muslims students are always under threat due to three reasons; 1. The textbooks are only designed for Muslim students keeping their religious beliefs and identity that’s why there is Islamization of national education policy, curriculum and textbooks. Islamic beliefs and teachings are present in the subjects of social sciences, pure sciences and languages besides the subject of Islamic Education (compulsory) in the textbooks. So, the textbooks are a constant threat to the beliefs and religious freedom of non-Muslim students. 2. There is hatred, intolerance and extremism against non-Muslims, non-Islamic religions, non-Islamic civilizations and non-Islamic cultures in the textbooks. 3. There are arrangements only for the religious education of Muslim students and for this purpose subject of Islamic Education (compulsory) and teachers are available. Pakistani textbooks have zero space for non-Muslims because they ignore; i. Quaid-e- Azam’s Ideology of equal citizenship ii. Article 20 (a), Article 22 (1), Article 25 (1), Article 28, Article 33, Article 36 and Article 37 of the Constitution of Pakistan 1973 iii. Section 153, Section 295 A, Section 297 and Section 298 of Pakistan Penal Code iv. National Action Plan 2014 v. June 19, 2014 Verdict of Supreme Court of Pakistan regarding protection of minorities rights vi. Article 2.1, Article 18 and Article 26 (2 & 3) of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights vii. Article 2, Article 14, Article 20, Article 29 and Article 30 of International Convention on the Rights of the Child viii. Article 18 (2 & 4) Article 26 and Article 27 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ix. Article 1 to 8 of Declaration On The Elimination Of All Forms Of Intolerance And Of Discrimination Based On Religion Or Belief x. Article 1, Article 2 and Article 4 of Declaration on the Right of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious or Linguistic Minorities xi. Article 1, Article 2 and Article 5 of UNESCO Convention Against Discrimination In Education. Sir, PMTA requests you to kindly provide space to the non-Muslim minority students without any discrimination and religious persecution and if government is unable to protect the minority rights then PMTA humbly requests you to ban non-Muslim students to receive education. In this way, they will be at least able to remain safe in their beliefs. They will also be able not to read such literature that will undermine them. With best regards. PROF. ANJUM JAMES PAUL CHAIRMAN Copy to: 1. Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, Chief Justice Supreme Court of Pakistan, Islamabad 2. Mr. Mamnoon Hussain, President of Pakistan, President’s House, Islamabad 3. Mr. Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan, Prime Minister’s Secretariat, Islamabad 4. Mr. Kamran Michael, Federal Minister for Human Rights, Islamabad 5. Mr. Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, Federal Minister for Interfaith Harmony, Islamabad