New Delhi: The Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board (PCTB) confiscated Class 7 Social Studies textbooks for printing a photograph of activist and world’s youngest Nobel laureate Malala Yousufzai alongside other prominent personalities of the country.
The textbook, published by Oxford University Press (OUP), featured images of Pakistan founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah, national poet Allama Iqbal, social reformer Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, former PM Liaqat Ali Khan, and legendary philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi among others.
The police and officials from the Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board have been conducting raids on shops across the city to confiscate copies of the book. They seized the entire stock of the book from the office of the Oxford University Press Monday and also pointed out in a letter to OUP that the book had not been issued a no-objection certificate (NOC).
A day later, the All Pakistan Private Schools Federation (APPSF), a body representing over 2,00,000 schools, launched a documentary, “I am not Malala”, to “educate the APPSF teachers and over 20 million students across Pakistan about Malala’s controversial views on marriage”.
Attacking Malala for “promotion of Western values” among the people of Pakistan, the association’s president, Kashif Mirza, said Malala had “categorically rejected the institution of marriage and suggested that ‘partnership’ is better than getting married”.
In June, British Vogue magazine quoted Malala as saying: “I still don’t understand why people have to get married. If you want to have a person in your life, why do you have to sign marriage papers, why can’t it just be a partnership?”
Following the confiscation of the textbooks earlier this week, Geo News channel hosted a debate Tuesday, asking its panelists: “Kya Malala Pakistani bachchon kay liye hero hai?”
Kya @Malala Pakistani bachon kay liye hero hai? @ShahzadIqbalGEO nay jawab dia pic.twitter.com/uYDcUQ9OF8
— GeoReportCard (@GeoReportCard) July 13, 2021
Geo News anchor Shahzad Iqbal said, “Not only for Pakistani kids but Malala is a superhero in the whole world. Shame on those who are confiscating these copies. She bravely stood against the Taliban. Why should we not tell the stories of her bravery to our children.”
He added: “An organisation called Malala Fund is building and funding schools in Pakistan. It is unfortunate that we can’t even name these schools as it may become the next target.”
Many on Twitter applauded him for his response. Reema Omer, Legal Advisor, South Asia, International Commission of Jurists, wrote: “Brilliant response by @ShahzadIqbalGEO to all those who undermine Malala’s achievements and trivialise, mischaracterise the terrorist attack against her by calling it an “accident”.
Brilliant response by @ShahzadIqbalGEO to all those who undermine Malala’s achievements and trivialise, mischaracterise the terrorist attack against her by calling it an “accident” https://t.co/8unJ4eI7CX
— Reema Omer (@reema_omer) July 13, 2021
Taliban releases Khost Provincial Assembly member Zuhra Jalal & her family
The Taliban released Zuhra Jalal, a member of Khost Provincial Assembly, Wednesday.
Jalal was abducted Tuesday along with her daughter and three sons in Logar province when they were on their way to Kabul.
Her son Ayoub Jalal reportedly spoke to Radio Azadi and told them that following the mediation by tribal elders of their province, the Taliban first released five of his siblings and later his mother.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that the group had captured the provincial council member and others accompanying her but did not comment on the reason for the abduction.
Also read: Pakistan wants Islamic body that said man can ‘lightly beat’ wife to vet domestic abuse bill
Pakistan’s ‘shameful defeat’
Pakistan Tuesday lost its third ODI against England by three wickets. The “shameful defeat” sparked a row on Twitter over the merit and selection criteria for players. Meanwhile, many applauded the “heroic game” by Babar Azam.
Congrats @babarazam258 another ???? #pakvseng Now aim for 300 plus.
— Aalia Rasheed (@aaliaaaliya) July 13, 2021
Sports journalist and anchor Mirza Iqbal Baig wrote: “Embarrassing and shameful defeat, 3-0 white wash at the hands of an inexperienced team which was announced two days before the series.” In another post, he wrote, “Drop catches, poor bowling, ordinary captaincy and mis fielding has cost Pakistan the match. If you can’t defend 331 then ???? #ENGvPAK (sic).”
Embarrassing and shameful defeat, 3-0 white wash at the hands of an inexperienced team which was announced two days before the series #ENGvPAK
— Mirza Iqbal Baig (@mirzaiqbal80) July 13, 2021
Drop catches, poor bowling, ordinary captaincy and mis fielding has cost Pakistan the match. If you can’t defend 331 then ????#ENGvPAK
— Mirza Iqbal Baig (@mirzaiqbal80) July 13, 2021
Another user wrote, “Congratulations England!!! Pakistan played like a C, D, X, Y, Z team. England played like true superstar!! County players are winning from us. My story is yet to come and stay tuned for it. It is important for the future of Pakistan cricket and mismanagement”
Congratulations England!!! Pakistan played like a C, D, X, Y, Z team. England played like true superstar!! County players are winning from us. My story is yet to come and stay tuned for it. It is important for the future of Pakistan cricket and mismanagement. #ENGvPAK
— Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) July 13, 2021
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