Opposition demands: ‘Make minority heroes part of curriculums’

MPA states people all faiths must be given equal rights


Our Correspondent November 02, 2017
PHOTO: EXPRESS

LAHORE: A woman legislator from the opposition benches demanded the provincial government include topics related to prominent minority figures who had contributed to Pakistan.

The demand was made by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) legislator Nabila Hakim Ali Khan on Wednesday through a resolution she submitted in the Punjab Assembly. She demanded that the topics be included in the matriculation curriculum

Nabila contended that there was a great history of people and prominent figures from minorities who not only served Pakistan, but also laid down their lives for the country. She said the minorities represented a mere 3% of the total 200 million population of the country. The MPA said these people did not even care for their lives and always played a pivotal role in the country’s progress and prosperity.

The plight of minorities in India

“The House demands that the government ensure the inclusion of some topics related to those prominent figures of the minorities, who served Pakistan, in the matric curriculum,” she said.

She also demanded that the government play its role and meet the demands of minorities in Punjab.



Talking to The Express Tribune, PTI legislator Nabila said minorities should be given the same rights as all the other citizens of the country.

She was of the view that Islam was clear about the rights of minorities. She added that member of minorities always cited the first speech of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah after the creation of Pakistan. In it, the founder of the nation declared that all minorities would be given equal rights as they were equal citizens of the country.

The MPA pointed out that a voice had been raised on the floor of the house several times on previous occasions.

She added that was one of the main reasons she submitted a resolution demanding that the government include the contributions figures such as Sir Ganga Ram, Ghulab Devi and others to be included in matriculation curriculum.

Political mainstream: Social activists bemoan lack of minority representation

From time to time, different resolutions were presented in the Punjab Assembly.

Recently in August, the treasury demanded an increase in the number of minority seats in both the provincial and national assemblies. The demand was put forward by PML-N legislator Hina Pervez Butt through a resolution submitted in the Punjab Assembly.

She had contended that the quota of minorities should not only be increased in both assemblies, but also in government services.

She stated that minorities played a vital role in the creation of Pakistan and their services could not be forgotten at any cost.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2nd, 2017.

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