Schools observe I am not Malala Day
I APPSF censures Nobel Prize winner for her alleged beliefs against Islam, Pakistan I Urges President, PM to ban ‘I am Malala’
Islamabad - When the world has been showering Malala Yousafzai with awards including Nobel Peace Prize for campaigning for girls’ education, private schools observed ‘I am not Malala Day’ on Monday, vowing to continue ban on her book for having anti-Islamic and anti-Pakistan beliefs.
‘I am not Malala Day’ was observed in private schools all over Pakistan. Seminars and walks were held against the controversial book of Malala ‘I am Malala.’
Mirza Kashif Ali, president of All Pakistan Private Schools Federation (APPSF), told media persons at a press briefing along with other office-bearers of the federation.
The federation decided that in future ‘I am not Malala Day’ shall be observed in private schools of Pakistan on annual basis on November 10, and ban on Malala’s book would remain stand without any change in all private schools of the country, he announced.
The APPSF also demanded of President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to ban the book ‘I am Malala” all over Pakistan due to its highly controversial contents against Islam, Quranic verses, Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAWW), ideology of Islam, Pakistan Ideology, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Pakistan Army, and Pakistan history. The APPSF represents over 20 private schools across Pakistan. However, Private School Association Islamabad, which mostly represents elite schools in the federal capital, distanced itself from the issue and was not part of the press conference.
“In her book, Malala has referred to ‘Satanic verses’ - the book of Indian origin British novelist Salman Rushdi - as freedom of expression, and did not show enough respect for Islam, and also did mention word ‘God’ instead of using ‘Allah,’ Holy Prophet Muhammad’s (SAWW) name without (SAWW) or (PBUH) and a lot of other such controversial issues,” said Kashif Mirza.
Now it is also clear that Malala has nexus with Salman Rushdi and Tasleema Nasreen – a Bangladeshi writer - and also has alignment with their ideological club. “We severely condemn the chapter of the book in which Salman Rushdie’s book has been mentioned as freedom of expression by Malala while referring to her father’s views,” he added. This book is written at the behest of Western forces that have used Malala for their ulterior motives and it is clear that Malala is playing in the hands of the West, he alleged.
“Malala indirectly criticised the Quranic injections on the issue of women witness. In her book she promoted provincialism and sectarianism. What was the need to talk on sensitive issues regarding our religious beliefs and at whose behest Malala has written all this? We would try to educate our children regarding all this.”
Mirza pointed out that APPSF went on strike when Malala was attacked by Taliban and the entire staff and students of private schools expressed solidarity with her but anti-Islamic and anti-Pakistani propaganda would not be tolerated.
“We run private schools in which more than 50% enrolment is of girls and an equal percentage of teachers is also female and we are striving for women empowerment and stand by the movements and drive to give the denied rights to women. But that doesn’t mean that we will allow our children to toe Malala’s line with severe attacks on our basic beliefs.”
The APPSF president vowed that there were almost 700,000 teachers teaching millions of students in private schools of Pakistan and the federation had directed all of them to update the children not to follow Malala. “We can well understand why the book has been written by Christina Lamb and what the West wants to portray through this book. We would never want that our children follow Malala; does not matter how many high awards she wins and the gates of White House and Buckingham Palace remain open for her twenty-four hours,” he remarked.
“Besides praying, we should also try to rescue Malala from the hidden international forces which are using her for their ulterior motives. If we fail to ban her book, it would be great injustice to the children and nation of Pakistan and hidden international forces which are using Malala for their personal objectives would be strengthened,” he said
“We cannot allow such martial in our libraries to be read by our youth. We cannot allow such a person having anti-Islamic beliefs to be idealised by the youth.”
Said Malik Abrar Hussain, senior vice president of APPSF, said, “The federation is planning to write a book to counter such controversies named ‘I am not Malala’ that will be available to all private school children.”