Punjab confiscates grade 7 social studies book for printing Pakistani activist Malala’s photo

Tariq Butt, Correspondent

The Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board (PCTB) has confiscated the social studies book for grade 7 published by the Oxford University Press (OUP) for printing the photo of Nobel Peace Prize winner and Pakistani activist Malala Yousufzai alongside that of 1965 war hero Major Aziz Bhatti Shaheed in the list of important personalities.

Photos of some important personalities had been published on page 33 of the book that included Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, national poet Allama Iqbal, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Liaqat Ali Khan, legendary philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi, Begum Raana Liaquat Ali Khan, Nishan-e-Haider recipient Maj Aziz Bhatti Shaheed and activist Malala Yousufzai.

Already circulated in various educational institutes, officials said the PCTB, police and other agencies were conducting raids on shops across the city even at the time the report was filed to confiscate copies of the book for publishing Malala’s picture besides that of Aziz Bhatti. A team of officials first conducted a raid on the OUP office in Mini Market, Gulberg Lahore, and confiscated the entire stock of the book.

They also handed over a letter to the press, stating that the book had not been issued a No-Objection Certificate (NOC).

One of the publishers said that the book had been submitted to the PCTB for a review and to seek an NOC in 2019. The board, after reviewing its contents, did not approve it for publishing.

"The Oxford University Press has published the book despite not being issued the NOC,” he said. He said the PCTB officials, police and other agencies had visited his shop, inquired about the book and read out the orders about confiscation of the book.

A PCTB spokesman said the book was confiscated for being published without an NOC.