According to the bill, it is expedient to provide for making compulsory teaching of the Holy Quran to Muslim students in all educational institutions in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and in all the public sector educational institutions owned and controlled by the federal government in and out the country. The bill will make teaching of entire Naazrah Quran in classes/grades I to V and translation of the entire Holy Quran in classes/grades VI to XII compulsory to the Muslim students of all educational institutions, both in public and private sectors in ICT, Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and also in the institutions owned and controlled by the federal government wherever they may be.
According to the objectives of the bill, it will make the divine message understood; ensure the repose of society, peace and tranquillity; promote the supreme human values of truth, honesty, integrity, character building, tolerance, understanding others' point of view and way of life. It will lead towards spreading goodness and suspiciousness and towards ending chaos and uncertainty.
This bill will also help the state discharge its constitutional responsibility. Article 31(2) of the Constitution also requires that the "State shall endeavour to make the teachings of the Holy Quran and Islamiyat compulsory." Speaking on the bill, Baligh-ur-Rehman said, "it is not only our religious but also constitutional duty to make teachings of the Holy Quran and Islamiyat compulsory."
He said it is a consensus document and expressed the confidence that other provinces will also follow suit. He said that this bill will be applicable to all the educational institutions including those of the federal government and private institutions in the ICT. The members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), MQM, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and others also appreciated the government on the passage of the bill.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017