Lahore High Court (LHC) here on Thursday directed representative of a NGO Bargad to appear before the court on November 7 in a petition seeking action against the NGO accusing it of making objectionable books mandatory at girl schools of Gujranwala. The LHC on previous hearing had summoned co-ordinator of the NGO who got circulated the books in schools but she did not turn up before the court on Thursday.
A representative of the NGO Khurram Shehazad appeared before the court on Thursday and apprised to the court that the co-ordinator has gone Balochistan. He prayed to the court to allow her more time to appear before the court. The court allowing further time adjourned the proceedings till next date of hearing. On last hearing Executive District Officers (EDO), Gujranwala Ghazanfar Ali Sani had submitted that it was true that the books were circulated in the schools during his tenure but MoU in this regard was signed during his predecessor EDO Chaudhry Riaz. Riaz appearing before the court had submitted that during his tenure the MoU was signed according to which the NGO had to initiate a programme at the schools based on life skills.
The petitioner Muhammad Tanzeem Arif submitted that former DCO Gujranwala after signing an MoU with Bargad had made mandatory the objectionable book - Ba Akhtiar Larkian, Badla Hua Samaaj from grade 6 to 8 at all governments schools in Gujranala. He said the book had objectionable material which allegedly supposed to tell the girls about the use of contraceptives and ways to have friendship with boys. He said in a Muslim society, no sex education can be imparted and the government officials by signing the MoU with the NGO had committed misconduct and are liable to be punished.