This appeal has been filed in the public interest seeking direction to the Government/ respondents to take all possible steps to enable the Muslims, individually and collectively , to order their lives in accordance with the fundamental principles and basic concepts of Islam and to enforce the Punjab Compulsory Teaching of the Holy Quran Act, 2018 (Act XVII of 2018) whereby they may be enabled to understand the meaning of life according to the Holy Quran and Sunnah.
2. The Secretary School Education Depa rtment Government of the Punjab, after consulting the Advocate General, Punjab, wants to make a statement. Let his statement be recorded.
Statement of Dr . Sohail Shahzad, Secretary School Education Department. i) That the provisions of the Punjab Compulsory Teaching of the Holy Quran Act, 2018 shall be enforced in letter and spirit and implemented in all educational institutions from the next academic year . ii) That a notification shall be issued that from the next academic year no private or public school shall prescribe or suggest any kind of book or reading material without getting its approval from the Government or its authorized officer/department/ organization and in case of its violation all kind of legal actions shall be taken.
3. The Chairman, Punjab Curriculum & Textbook Board, in the presence of Advocate General, Punjab, also wants to make a statement. Let his statement be also recorded.
Statement of Lt. Gen (Retd) Muhammad Akram Khan, Chairman PCTB. i) That the Punjab Curriculum & Textbook Board shall take all steps before the commencement of next academic year to ensure that every book that is to be taught in any school does not contain any offensive material about the teaching of Holy Quran & Sunna, Islamic Idology and pious personalities of Islam. ii) That before the start of next academic year steps shall also be taken to remove all incorrect material or derogatory remarks, or misleading information with respect to ideology , important features, culture, history and heroes of Pakistan and Islam from every book that is to be taught in any school. iii) That it shall be ensured that during the next academic year no book to be taught in any school contains indecent material.
4. All the learned counsel for the parties feel satisfied and jointly submit that this appeal be disposed of in the terms of above recorded statements.
5. Order accordingly .
6. The Secretary School Education Depa rtment, Government of the Punjab and the Chairman, Punjab Curriculum & Textbook Board before the commence ment of next academic year shall submit compliance report before us through the Addl. Registrar (Judicial) of this Court.