Faisalabad: 

Ref.No.PMTA/25-31/22-KPR                                                  Dated: August 23, 2022

To                                                                                                                 

Mr. Rana Tanveer Hussain

Federal Minister of Education

Govt. of Pakistan

Pak Secretariat

Islamabad

 Subject:          REQUEST TO PUBLISH THE TEXTBOOKS OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION TO GUARANTEE FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND BELIEF

 Honourable Sir,

Greetings and peace from Pakistan Minorities Teachers’ Association (PMTA).

Sir, Pakistan Minorities Teachers’ Association is making efforts for equal citizenship, equal rights and equal opportunities for all the citizens of Pakistan without any discrimination since 2004. PMTA has firm belief on peaceful coexistence, social harmony, freedom of religion & belief, tolerance, human dignity, human rights and inclusive society through educational reforms playing her contribution for peaceful society through curriculum, textbooks and educational environment. There have been positive improvements in the curriculum and textbooks and it is expected that these improvements will promote peaceful coexistence

Sir, PMTA wants to draw your kind attention on the role of National Curriculum Council Secretariat, Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training which is trying her utmost for the quality and need based education. PMTA has supported NCC for the development of the curriculum and textbooks of “Religious Education” for the religious minority students. The manuscript for most of the textbooks for grades 1-5 is ready. It was expected that the textbooks would be distributed to the minority students of their respective religions during the session 2022-2023 but unfortunately NCC has failed to perform her constitutional and legal responsibility to publish these textbooks.

NCC Secretariat is violating Article 4, Article 19, Article 20, Article 22, Article 25, Article 33 and Article 36 of the Constitution of Pakistan 1973, June 19, 2014 Verdict of Supreme Court of Pakistan regarding protection of minorities rights, National Action Plan, Article 26 (2 & 3) of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 2 (2) and Article 14 (1) of International Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 18 (2 & 4) of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 5 (2) of Declaration On The Elimination Of All Forms Of Intolerance And Of Discrimination Based On Religion Or Belief and UNESCO.

Sir, PMTA requests you to take appropriate and immediate steps for the publication of “Religious Education” textbooks to ensure freedom of religion and belief of religious minority students that constitution of Pakistan 1973 and International Covenants and Conventions have safeguarded and avoid further loss of the students. 

With best regards.

PROF. ANJUM JAMES PAUL

           CHAIRMAN

Copy to:

1.    Mr. Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of Pakistan, Prime Minister’s Secretariat, Isb.

2.    Mr. Arif Alvi, President of Pakistan, President’s House, Islamabad

3.    Mr. Justice Umar Ata Bandial, Chief Justice Supreme Court of Pakistan, Isb.

4.    Mr. Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada, Federal Minister for Human Rights, GOP, Islamabad

5.    Dr. Shoaib Suddle, Chairman One Man Commission, Islamabad

6.    Mr. Chela Ram, Chairman National Commission for Minorities, Islamabad

7.    Dr. Mariam Chughtai, Director National Curriculum