Leaders urged to refrain from using religion for politics

Participants deliberated on the need to design curriculum based on tolerance, inclusion and diversity

LAHORE:

The participants of a seminar organised by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) called upon the government and politicians to refrain from using religion for political gains.

The participants welcomed a recent statement by PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto and other leaders who emphasised that “religion is not a card to be abused in politics”.

CSJ executive director Peter Jacob stated, “If we, as a society, succeed in stopping the abuse of religion, Pakistan will enter a new era of democratic development.”

Noting that the curriculum and textbooks are replete with religious content, impacting the overall learning objectives, the speakers at the seminar observed that the given content may increase the pervasive discrimination and intolerance with regard to race, gender, religion and sect.

The participants deliberated on the need to design curriculum based on the principles of tolerance, inclusion and diversity outlined by the Qauid-i-Azam.

It was highlighted that based on detailed analyses of the revised curriculum, it is evident that content of the textbooks is designed to appease certain religious sections of the society and promotes monolithic view.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 31^st, 2022.