'Rewriting Pakistan Studies': Maryam Nawaz accused of republishing books to add her pictures

Television show host and anchor Junaid Saleem has alleged on his YouTube channel, Insaf Digital, that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has ordered the addition of one extra chapter in the Pakistan Studies textbook for grade 10, featuring photographs of herself and her mother, Kulsoom Nawaz.

“Maryam Nawaz has taken a great initiative by adding another chapter in the government-approved Pakistan Studies textbook for grade 10, along with her picture,” stated the anchor in his recent video on January 17.

Saleem also raised a concern that any change in syllabus or curriculum, including the addition of a chapter, renders the previous textbook editions useless for hundreds of thousands of students.

“New editions of that book would be published in massive numbers, and previous books wouldn’t be acceptable anymore. In fact, it isn’t uncommon for three or four students to use one book amid financial constraints. And whenever any change is made in a book, it presents an extreme difficulty for financially challenged students,” alleged Junaid Saleem.

Saleem asserted that the Minister has introduced a new chapter to include the pictures of her and her mother.

The topic is reportedly titled ‘Women’s Role in the Country’s Progress,’ and to “balance out” the inclusion of the deceased Kulsoom Nawaz’s picture, the picture of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto’s mother, Nusrat Bhutto, has also been added.

According to the television host, the chapter narrates details about Kulsoom Nawaz’s “struggles and bravery for the democracy of Pakistan.”

Junaid Saleem questioned, “If they want to teach students about those who struggled for democracy, then why wasn’t Dr. Yasim Rashid mentioned? Do you not think that the students would ask you that question? Even 5th-grade students ask you about the stolen election, but these are grade 10 students.”

Social media users reacted angrily to the development, with one user writing: “Don’t worry, the kids will close that chapter with a stapler/glue. Even children are not so stupid anymore.”

Another user wrote: “There is a limit to ignorance, this woman is mentally ill, she wanted to become a model and actress so that she could make a name for herself, she flopped due to lack of talent and now she keeps doing such stupid things.”

One wrote: “There are only currency notes left where Maryam Bibi's image cannot be seen. Then when we say that the Sindh Chief Minister and the PPP are better parties than the PML-N, everyone gets angry. Even the PPP did not do this, while the women of this party have made sacrifices for democracy.”

This image is generated with AI.