Faisalabad: December 19, 2016. (PCP) Prominent Pakistani Scholar and Researcher Professor Anjum James Paul who also heads Pakistan Minorities Teachers Association PMTA writes a letter to Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan on need to address the humiliation of rights of religious minorities in Pakistan. Renowned Scholar Anjum James Paul have very valuable research to modify syllabus of textbooks for Pakistani schools to make it more relevant to ideology of Pakistan laid down by founder of Pakistan Mohammad Ali Jinnah. The recommendations of Professor Anjum Paul are not fully implemented by government of Pakistan but his struggle is getting momentum as different departments of education and administration is responding to his research. Professor Anjum James Paul knocks door of Supreme Court of Pakistan SCP in this letter to intervene and issue orders to protect religious minorities in Pakistan. Ref.No.PMTA/98-102/16-KPR Dated: December 19, 2016 To Chief Justice Supreme Court of Pakistan Islamabad Subject: NEED TO ADDRESS THE HUMILIATION OF RIGHTS OF THE RELIGIOUS MINORITIES IN PAKISTAN Honourable Sir, Greetings and peace from Pakistan Minorities Teachers’ Association (PMTA) PMTA would like to draw your kind attention on the subject cited above. Pakistani religious minorities were expecting some relief after the June 19, 2014 verdict of the Supreme Court of Pakistan regarding the protection of minorities and launching of National Action Plan 2014 but unfortunately religious minorities are still being persecuted in their own motherland on the basis of religion. Perhaps the main reason is this that there has been the total negation of the ideology of the Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan that he presented in his presidential address to the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan on August 11, 1947 saying, “We are starting in the days when there is no discrimination, no distinction between one community and another, no discrimination between one caste or creed and another. We are starting with this fundamental principle that we are all citizens and equal citizens of one State.” “The first duty of a government is to maintain law and order, so that the life, property and religious beliefs of its subjects are fully protected by the State.” “You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed – that has nothing to do with the business of the State.” “Now, I think we should keep that in front of us as our ideal and you will find that in course of time Hindus would cease to be Hindus and Muslims would cease to be Muslims, not in the religious sense, because that is the personal faith of each individual, but in the political sense as citizens of the State.” “If you change your past and work together in a spirit that everyone of you, no matter to what community he belongs, no matter what relations he had with you in the past, no matter what is his color, caste or creed, is first, second and last a citizen of this State with equal rights, privileges and obligations, there will be no end to the progress you will make.” Sir, Pakistani religious minorities face challenges after the demise of the Quaid-e-Azam. They are considered inferior and treated as second class citizens just on the basis of religion. There is denial to their political, religious, educational and economic rights etc. Minority seats have not been increased in the National Assembly and provincial assemblies except Muslim seats. Minority parliamentarians do not have their religious identity as they take oath as Muslims. Religious minorities are being forcibly converted to Islam through textbooks, social injustice, and economic injustice and even then it is claimed that there is religious freedom and protection of minorities in Pakistan. Minority Rights legislation is opposed just to deny the minority rights. There are abductions, forced conversions and forced marriages of Christian, Hindu and Kalash minor girls and married women. The stolen girls and women are not returned. They are victims of biased and discriminatory laws. In the Minority Rights Commission, minorities are in minority. The chairperson of the commission is from majority. It is very strange that when there is no respect of minority religions and human rights then what is the purpose for the ministries of Interfaith Harmony and Human Rights? There is so much violation of minority rights but even then human rights awards are being distributed for political gains which raise many questions on the transparency of such awards. Minority religions are not safe because article 19 of the constitution protects only Islam. That’s why, there is openly degradation of minority religions. Sir, There is violation of article 22 (1) of the Constitution of Pakistan 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.” There is even violation of 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.” Pakistan Minorities Teachers’ Association has prepared 18 research based documents on the textbooks of Pakistan during the period of 2007-2016 in 12 various subjects from grade 1 to grade 12, identifying the violation of Article 20, Article 22 (1) Article 25 and Article 36 of the constitution of Pakistan. The research has proved that the students from religious minorities are forcibly converted to Islam through the textbooks and educational environment as they get admission in school. They are forcibly taught Islamic beliefs and practices and to lead their lives according to article 31 of the constitution of Pakistan through the subjects of languages, social sciences and basic sciences. There are baseless and negative propagation against the non-Islamic religions, non-Muslims, non-Muslim personalities, non-Islamic cultures and non-Islamic civilizations. Due to this, the beliefs and lives of non-Muslims are always under threat. Besides this, only religious minority students have been deprived of their religious education while there are arrangements of teachers and textbooks for the Muslim students. Religious minority students have to mostly opt the subject of Islamic Education which is the violation of their fundamental right. There are biases and persecution with the Pakistani religious minorities because Pakistani textbooks promote hatred, intolerance and extremism against non-Muslims, non-Islamic religions, non-Islamic civilizations and non-Islamic cultures in the textbooks. (General Knowledge 1, Edition 2015, Chapter14 National Book Foundation Islamabad) Some examples are presented from the research of Pakistan Minorities Teachers’ Association on the textbooks of Punjab Curriculum And Textbook Board (PCTB) Lahore published in 2016. There has been translation of references into English from Urdu. Kalimah Tayyibah (General Knowledge 1, Edition 2016, page 11 PCTB) (General Knowledge 1, Edition 2016, page 11 PCTB) Guidelines for parents and teachers; Memorize Ta’awwuz, Tasmiyah and Kalimah Tayyibah to the children. Make them understand the translation. Also tell that before doing any work Tasmiyah must be recited. (General Knowledge 1, Edition 2016, page 12 PCTB) Tell Kalimah Tayyibah with its translation. (Note) After recitation of Kalimah Tayyibah one becomes Muslim. So, Non-Muslim innocent child of 4 or 5 years of age who does not know even about his/her own religion is forcibly converted to Islam. We, as Muslims should follow the noble example of the tolerance of our Rasool . (English 8, Edition 2016, page 2 PCTB) (Urdu 8, Edition 2016, page 104 PCTB) Mr. Makhdoom: “Dear children! We are Muslims, that’s why we tell you the qualities of an ideal Muslim student. Eid-ul-Azha is celebrated on 10th Zil-Hajjah, the last Islamic month. We celebrate Eid-ul-Azha in the memory of Hazrat Ibrahim and Hazrat Ismail . (English 7, Edition 2016, page 29 PCTB) (Urdu 6, Edition 2016, page 4 PCTB) Arrange a ceremony of recitation of Quran in the class and ask all the students to recite any Sura or a few verses of the Holy Quran turn by turn. (Urdu 9, Edition 2016, page 102 PCTB) 4- Explain the verses in the light of Quran and Hadith. (Urdu 9, Edition 2016, page 106 PCTB) 2- Write your favorite naat in your copy and show it to your teacher. Note: Naat is a poem written in honour of Prophet Muhammad (Textbook of History 6, page 47, Second Print: 2015, National Book Foundation) Some examples are presented from the research of Pakistan Minorities Teachers’ Association on the textbooks of Punjab Curriculum And Textbook Board (PCTB) Lahore published in 2016. There has been translation of references into English from Urdu. Translation: Worshippers offered huge wealth of rubbies so that the idols of Somnath might not be broken but Sultan replied “I am breaker of idols and not the seller of idols”. (History 6, page 34, Edition 2016) Translation: Christian missionaries opened a front against Muslims. (History 8, page 17) Translation: Because of the poor governance of the Mughals, Sikhs looted the masses of Punjab and also caused severe loss to the lives, properties and religion of Muslims. (History 7, page 92) Translation: While going to India, the Hindus destroyed the official record. It caused enormous difficulties in office work. (Pakistan Studies 9, page 94) Translation: He was the first Muslim ruler who defeated the European Christians and conquered Bait-ul-Muqadas. In this way Muslims again occupied Bait-ul-Muqadas after 90 years. (Islamic Education 7, page 93) Translation: Muslims have always adopted the policy of tolerance but when infidelity wants to dominate then a Muslim stands to confront infidelity. (Urdu 10, Page 22) Sir, it is requested you to kindly take immediate measures for the protection of the religious minorities of Pakistan. With best regards. PROF. ANJUM JAMES PAUL CHAIRMAN Copy to: 1. President of Pakistan, President’s House Islamabad 2. Prime Minister of Pakistan, Prime Minister’s Secretariat, Islamabad 3. Federal Minister for Human Rights, Govt. of Pakistan, Islamabad 4. Federal Minister for Interfaith Harmony, Govt. of Pakistan, Islamabad (Note) Following documents attached herewith 1. In Search of Equal Rights in Pakistan, August 2016 2. Anti-Social Pakistani Textbooks and Non-Muslims (A case study of textbooks in the subjects of Urdu language, Islamic Studies, Social Studies, History and Pakistan Studies published in 2016 by Punjab Curriculum And Textbook Board Lahore) June 2016 3. Forced Conversion of Religion of Non-Muslims Through Pakistani Textbooks (A case study of textbooks in the subjects of English language, Biology and Physics published in 2016 by Punjab Curriculum And Textbook Board Lahore) June 2016 4. Forced Conversion of Religion of Non-Muslims Through Pakistani Textbooks (A case study of textbooks in the subjects of Urdu and Arabic languages published in 2016 by Punjab Curriculum And Textbook Board Lahore) June 2016 5. Forced Conversion of Religion of Non-Muslims Through Pakistani Textbooks (A case study of textbooks in the subjects of Social Sciences published in 2016 by Punjab Curriculum And Textbook Board Lahore) June 2016