GILGIT:
The Gilgit-Baltistan chapter of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamat (ASWJ) issued a strong warning to the government on Tuesday against changing the existing curriculum, saying it would trigger unending protests in the country.
The reaction came after the process of changing the curriculum entered its final stage, as claimed by the ASWJ.
“We demand immediate withdrawal of the decision being made to change the existing curriculum,” said ASWJ leaders Abdullah Haidary, Attaullah Saqib and Himayatullah, while addressing a news conference in Gilgit.
The reaction came days after Interior Minister Rehman Malik announced in Gilgit that a notification regarding changes in curriculum would be issued soon. Malik was in Gilgit to end protests resumed by Shia leaders in the wake of the Kohistan bus tragedy that left 16 people dead last month.
“We condemn the Kohistan massacre but that doesn’t mean the government should make unilateral decisions against us under the garb of the tragedy,” they warned.
“If the changes in the curriculum on the demands of a particular sect are made, we will be forced to launch countrywide protests against it,” said Saqib, one of the ASWJ leaders in Gilgit.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 14th, 2012.
COMMENTS (10)
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@ALi Tanoli:
Why isn't ASWJ's (whom you support) claims of G-B as a Sunni state considered a conspiracy? Face it, your conspiracy or bogeyman threat is prejudiced delusion and serves to justify the bigotry oppression on a group demanding autonomy or rights, in favour of your own hegemony and hypocrisy. Explain the misrepresentation in the local provincial government with discriminatory Deoband lawmakers with links to terrorists marginalizing the locals with a different religious background, changing the demographics by favouring settlers of their same religious background. Read you ask? I repeat this link for those who possess some unbiased critical thinking and analysis:
http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/publication/faultlines/volume20/Article4.htm
There shouldn't be no go areas anywhere, unless you're confusing Sunnis with extremist anti-Shia ASWJ, the Pak Klu Klux Klan, then they should be barred. The Shia residents are deliberately provoked and targeted by their intolerant and violent members.
They requested the praise or mention of controversial figures removed from the texts, not 'tabarra' (criticism/condemnation). But apparently even THAT is not tolerated. Are you seriously this clueless and ignorant on Shia/Sunni contention? Your strawman argument of Tabarra, is a rare act, and simply a flimsy excuse for twisted minds that fantasize this in perpetual loop, just to enforce their prejudiced notions and hate against an entire group. Shia Islam does not share Sunni Islam's view of divine Sahabas all being in happy agreement, based on historical facts and evidences, no matter how much you dislike or deny it or claim otherwise.
Regardless, like most rational folks, I can get past the Islamic differences easily, but I cannot cool down when betrayed by bigoted fellow citizens who support terrorist organizations which justifies un-Islamic criminal sectarian massacres of innocents, or targeting against minorities like me in their hate narrative just because I don't share your revisionist ideological version.
I've clearly have thought and decided a lot more clearly than you have. I suggest you reconsider your sympathies and support towards extremist bigots and their terrorist links.
@Ali Tanoli Dear I wish you could have explored the positive aspects of development things that have been carried out in those mountainous areas. I wish you could analyse and measure the change in their lives. The arguments are always proved weaker when passed to defend a specific perception and mindset and so are the comparisons, as in your case you mentioned Gurdaspur and pathan kot etc. I guess difference of opinion should not be taken as hatred and after 18th amendment the legislation and curriculum has become the domain of provinces and the representatives can exercise it as per the constitution. I guess making and developing new dimensions and choices in curricula should not be taken as threat as it would not be a sign of imposition but a matter of choice. The tragedy is that the education has been taken as a weapon to control the masses by the corrupt elite in the areas of strategic importance.
@bigsaf i know the area and its a great conipracy by khoja agha khani to make this a ismaeli agha khani state the way qadianis try to do in before 1947 in the area of gurdhaspur, pathan kot, and jammu please read the history or visit there there are some places in Gilgit where sunnis muslim are not allowed to go or enter what is this and what u gonna say about that and can we make it same way in Hazara no go area for Shias ??? and another thing is if we are muslims then why shia peoples does tabrah against the great sahab of prophet Muhammad (pbuh) can u ever asked your self those peoples lived together they never had any proplems Ali (R.A) did not disaproved Sadiq E Akber(R.A) or Umer(R.A) EVER THING OF IT PLEASE SID DOWN AND WITH COOL MIND THING ABOUT IT AND DECIDE IT.
fully agree with well-wisher, wel said
@ Shahid Khan
Agree with you brother. Religion and state should be separate. Pakistan should be declared a secular state so that no sect can impose its ideology on the other.
Religion should be a personal matter,taught by parents at home.There is no need for deeniyat or islamiat to be forced onto children at school.All it does is create more resentment and controversy amongst the people.Children don't need to be fed religious ideology in school.
Why does the GB govt. want to change the syllabus of the school books.This will only create more hatred and sectarian violence.