Unity in diversity: Speakers call for removal of biased lessons from syllabi

Demand the inclusion of lessons on interfaith harmony instead.

PESHAWAR: Speakers from different religious backgrounds have demanded the federal and provincial governments remove lessons that are biased against any religion from all school syllabi.

The speakers expressed their views at a seminar titled ‘Religious Freedom and Human Rights’ organised by the South Asian Partnership of Pakistan (SAPP) at Diocesan Centre, Peshawar on Thursday.



“Lessons encouraging interfaith harmony and mutual understanding should be included,” said Arshad Haroon of Strengthening Participatory Organisation. “While those encouraging hatred and disunity should be removed from the curriculum.”

Haroon emphasised their forefathers had been born on this soil and had rendered all kinds of sacrifices for the creation of Pakistan. “We should not forget our identity,” said Haroon. “If we disown our past, we are only going to create further confusion amongst our coming generations.”

He demanded the government secure the rights of all religious minorities for peaceful coexistence in the country.

The participants complained the government usually ignores capable individuals and selects representatives of religious minorities based on personal affiliations - a move that causes further alienation.

“This is one reason why they (the government) fail to resolve our problems and erase prejudices against us,” claimed All Pakistan Hindu Rights Movement Chairman Haroon Sarbdyal.

Sarbdyal called for the retrieval of property belonging to Hindus in order to construct hospitals and educational institutes where non-Muslims could be given employment and education so their youth would stop feeling a sense of deprivation.

“All religions, if followed in true spirit, give complete freedom to other religious and social groups to enjoy their rights,” observed Pastor Shahzad.

Participants discussed how both the Shariah and the Constitution of Pakistan enshrined and ensured religious freedom and human rights. But successive governments had deprived them of their rights, said the adherents of various faiths.

Sikander Zaman and Fida Hussain also gave a briefing about SAPP and all the work done by the organisation to secure the freedom of expression and rights for non-Muslims.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 7^th, 2014.