2020 PLP 523 (CLC)

SHUJAAT ALI KHAN, J.

Through this single order I intend to decide this petition (W.P. No.177738/20I8) as well as connected petition (W.P. No.12133/2019) and contempt petition (Crl. Org. No.194529/2018) having commonality of law and facts inasmuch as in this petition the petitioner has sought implementation of letter bearing No.SO(IBM)5-1/2018(P-I), dated 23rd April, 2019, issued by the Stction Officer (IBM), Government of the Punjab, Auqaf and Religious Affairs Department, Lahore whereas in the connected petition the petitioner has voiced his grievance against the use of word () for Allah Almighty in urdu translation of Holy Qur'an by Shah Rafi ud Din Mohadas Dahhalwi, by different publishers of Holy Qur'an and inaction on the part of the public functionaries regarding correction of the same. Likewise, the contempt petition has been filed by the petitioner grousing against willful non-compliance of the orders of this Court as some publishers of Holy Qur'an are still selling the copies of Holy Qur'an with wrong translation.

2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submit that though the petitioner, on number of occasions, has apprised the respondents about use of non-suitable words for Allah Almighty as well as Holy Prophet, Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) in urdu translation of Holy Qur'an but no action has yet been taken. To fortify his contention, learned counsel for the petitioner has produced certain copies of Holy Qur'an wherein derogatory language has been used with the name of Allah Almighty as well as Holy Prophet, Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).

3. When confronted with the contention urged by learned counsel for the petitioner, the Chairman Qur'an Board, present before the Court, states that though duty of the Qur'an Board was to ensue error-free publishing of Arabic text of the Holy Qur'an but when sensitized about the issue he took up the matter with the publishers, as a result, not only necessary steps have been taken for eradication of such blunders in future publication of Holy Qur'an and its translation but also hundreds of copies of Holy Qur'an with such derogatory language were retrieved back from the publishers and the same were corrected by replacing the concerned pages. Adds that the Qur'an Board, in its communication, dated 31.10.2018, addressed to all the publishers of Holy Qur'an, has inter alia directed to replace the word () with the word () occurring in urdu translation of Holy Qur'an by Shah Rafi ud Din Mohadas Dahhalwi. Further adds that being Chairman of the Qur'an Board he is ever ready to redress any issue to be raised by any member of the public in respect of error-free publication of Holy Qur'an.

4. The learned Additional Advocate General submits that vide Notification No.F.3(8)/2015-EP-I, dated 25.07.2019, a committee has been constituted by the Federal Government to develop a consensus regarding translation of Holy Qur'an to be taught in schools as per requirements of Compulsory Teaching of Holy Qur'an Act, 2017, thus, it is in the fitness of things that the petitioner be aslced to agitate the issue before the said committee.

5. Mr. Ishtiaq A. Khan, Additional Attorney General, present on Court's call, has presented a brief encompassing the steps taken by the Federal Government in respect of error-free publication of Holy Qur'an along with its exact literal meanings. Adds that the Federal Government is also seeking guidance from the judgment of this Court reported as Muhammad Hassan Muawiyah v. Inspector General of Police and others (PLD 2019 Lah. 448) and steps are being taken in line with the guidelines finalized' by this Court. To exemplify the said fact, he has referred to the move of the Federal Government to Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) regarding error-free publication of Holy Qur'an both on paper as well as e-publication of Holy Qur'an on internet like as Google Play Store, App Store and Windows Store etc. Further adds that anybody with genuine complaint regarding publication of Holy Qur'an as well as its translation would be welcomed by the Federal Government.

6. In view of the above, these petitions are disposed of with the observation that the Provincial as well as Federal Government shall ensure error-free publication of Holy Qur'an as well as its e-publication on internet along with its authentic translation. In this regard, role of the Provincial Qur'an Board and the committee constituted under the Compulsory Teaching of Holy Qur'an Act, 2017 is pivotal. It is clarified that any person, including the petitioner, possessing any copy of Holy Qur'an with error in its Arabic text or its translation shall approach the Chairman, Provincial Qur'an Board or the committee constituted by the Federal Government to ensure error-free publication of Holy Qur'an and its translation. In the event of such move, concrete steps shall be taken by the Provincial as well as Federal Government to ensure rectification of such errors of Arabic Text or translation, in existing copies of Holy Qur'an, on paper and internet, as well as in future publication of Holy Qur'an. MWW/B-15/L Order accordingly.