Summary No such policy announced by Government of Punjab, says the official Twitter account of Punjab govt
LAHORE: (Web Desk) - Government of the Punjab s official Twitter account has on Tuesday denied the reports regarding Punjab Higher Eductaion Minister Raza Ali Gillani s announcment that women wearing Hijab will get extra five marks.
In a tweet, Government of the Punjab termed the news absolutely WRONG news . "No such policy announced by Government of the Punjab", the tweet said.
This is absolutely WRONG news ... No such policy announced by Government of the Punjab ... https://t.co/a0fnrwg9Db
— Govt Of The Punjab (@GovtOfPunjab) March 14, 2017
5% marks for Hijab students is absolutely WRONG news... Academic excellence only based on MERIT.. It s clear policy of the Govt of Punjab.
— Govt Of The Punjab (@GovtOfPunjab) March 14, 2017
Earlier, it had been reported that the minister had claimed the women wearing Hijab at colleges would be given extra five marks. The statement was criticised heavily by PPP leader Aseefa Bhutto Zardari and many others on Twitter.
Although the reports have now been denied, an earlier handout released by Directorate General of Public Relations, Punjab said that Hijab would be made compulsory in the colleges of Punjab and an advantage of 5% would be granted to such students in case their attendace remains below 65%.
Photo of the handout tweeted by Hasan Zaidi.
Punjab government later released another handout denying the reports and clarifying that no decision has been made to make Hijab compulsory in colleges. The handout said four things categorically:
- No decision has been made to make Hijab compulsory in educational institutions.
- The report regarding compulsion of Hijab in Punjab s educational institutions is incorrect.
- No policy regarding making Hijab compulsory in Punjab.
- It was never said that 5% extra marks would be given to the students wearing Hijab.
Photo of the handout tweeted by Usman Zahid
Also read: Aseefa unmoved over Punjab govt s Hijab initiative
Quoting Dunya News’s tweet of the same news, Aseefa asked what the boys will do in such a scenario. She also asked what the students from minorities do about it. “Why does wearing a Hijab impact grades/marks?” was her question.
.... and what will the boys do? What will students of a different religion do? Why does wearing a Hijab impact grades/marks ?! https://t.co/kgxlPveRpG
— Aseefa B Zardari (@AseefaBZ) March 14, 2017
Also read: Extra five marks for wearing hijab in Punjab s govt institutions
Punjab Higher Education Minister, Syed Raza Ali Gillani has announced on Tuesday that government institutions would allot five marks to each of the hijab-wearing female students in bid to promote the practice.
The provincial government has introduced its policy today to promote hijab-culture in Punjab.
Moreover, all teachers in government’s institutions are now required to narrate a Hadith before they begin their lecture.
