Pak Authorities Seize Textbook Copies With Malala’s Picture As Important Personalities

Malala Picture In Textbooks: The authorities of the Pakistani government seized the textbooks which had Malala's picture in the list of important personalities in its Punjab province. According to reports, the authorities have expressed their unhappiness on Malala's controversial views on Islam.

Malala Yousufszai who is the youngest Nobel Prize laureate turned 24 on Monday. She is known for human rights advocacy, especially the education of women and children. Malala has spoken for women rights in her native Swat Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northwest Pakistan. The Pakhtunkhwa province is where the local Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan had at the time banned education for girls.

On Monday, Pakistan’s private schools’ association launched a documentary on Malala. In this documentary, Malala's views on Islam, marriage and her 'pursuit of the Western agenda' was expressed.

After the release of this documentary, the Punjab Curriculum and Textbook Board (PCTB) confiscated the social studies book for grade seven published by the Oxford University Press (OUP) on the same day. Their reason for taking such a step was their disagreement over the printing of Malala's picture alongside that of military officer Maj Aziz Bhatti.

In June 2021, a Muslim cleric from Pakistan was arrested for threatening Malala Yousufszai. He has been charged under the Anti-terror law of the country. The FIR quoted him saying, "When Malala comes to Pakistan, I will be the first to attempt a suicide attack on her."

Malala was the co-recipient of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize at the age of 17. Malala shared the prize with Kailash Satyarthi, a children’s rights activist from India. In an interview with a magazine, Malala expressed her views on marriage and wrote, "I still don’t understand why people have to get married. If you want to have a person in your life, why do you have to sign marriage papers, why can’t it just be a partnership?" Her interview was criticised heavily by Pakistani public figures.