LAHORE: Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board (PTCB) informed the Lahore High Court on Monday that a chapter on Fundamental Rights has been incorporated into Pakistan Studies textbooks for grade 9 to 11.
The said chapter is already enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan 1973 as chapter 1, "Fundamental Rights". The Board's reply to Lahore High Court came after a contempt petition was filed seeking action against the authorities for not implementing the 2015 court order.
Back in January 2019, Lahore High Court had issued a contempt notice to the PCTB Chief. The petitioner represented by Advocate Sheraz Zaka was of the view that:
“In 2015, Justice Ayesha A Malik had directed the PCTB chairman to hear the petitioner and other stakeholders and consider the issue of including fundamental rights’ chapter in the textbooks of primary and secondary school education. After the lapse of three and a half years, the order has not been complied with. The demand aims to create awareness of the new generation about their rights. However, no effort has so far been made despite the court order.”
After the report was submitted by the PCTB to the Lahore High Court on Monday, the board asked the honourable court to dispose of the petition as the said chapter had already been included in the Pakistan Studies Textbooks.
In light of the board's reply, the petitioner's counsel expressed satisfaction and Justice Ayesha A Malik disposed of the petition.
Throughout the case proceedings, petitioner's counsel had argued that the lessons on fundamental rights were of immense importance, particularly for primary and secondary education.
According to the 1973 constitution, fundamental rights include the right to life, right to a fair trial, safeguards, etc.
After the court proceedings were public, various social rights activists took to Twitter expressing their satisfaction over the textbook board's report.
https://twitter.com/yazdanifauzia/status/1143388127815503872
The said chapter is already enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan 1973 as chapter 1, "Fundamental Rights". The Board's reply to Lahore High Court came after a contempt petition was filed seeking action against the authorities for not implementing the 2015 court order.
Back in January 2019, Lahore High Court had issued a contempt notice to the PCTB Chief. The petitioner represented by Advocate Sheraz Zaka was of the view that:
“In 2015, Justice Ayesha A Malik had directed the PCTB chairman to hear the petitioner and other stakeholders and consider the issue of including fundamental rights’ chapter in the textbooks of primary and secondary school education. After the lapse of three and a half years, the order has not been complied with. The demand aims to create awareness of the new generation about their rights. However, no effort has so far been made despite the court order.”
After the report was submitted by the PCTB to the Lahore High Court on Monday, the board asked the honourable court to dispose of the petition as the said chapter had already been included in the Pakistan Studies Textbooks.
In light of the board's reply, the petitioner's counsel expressed satisfaction and Justice Ayesha A Malik disposed of the petition.
Throughout the case proceedings, petitioner's counsel had argued that the lessons on fundamental rights were of immense importance, particularly for primary and secondary education.
According to the 1973 constitution, fundamental rights include the right to life, right to a fair trial, safeguards, etc.
After the court proceedings were public, various social rights activists took to Twitter expressing their satisfaction over the textbook board's report.
https://twitter.com/yazdanifauzia/status/1143388127815503872