The Punjabi has been banned within and outside the campus by a group of Pakistan’s private schools, owned by former Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri, after terming it a “foul language”, drawing flak from millions of people.

The Beaconhouse School System (BSS) recently issued a notification to parents, declaring Punjabi a ‘foul language’ for the children as well as parents.

The fifth point of the notification reads, that, “Foul language (taunts, abuses, Punjabi and hate speech) is not allowed within and outside the school premises, in the morning, during school hours.”

The notice explains the definition of ‘foul language’ as “Foul language includes taunts, abuses, Punjabi and the hate speech”.

A number of parents, prominent Punjabi language activists and literary organizations have demanded the school administration to immediately withdraw the notification and tender apology to those in the country having Punjabi as their mother language.

Prof Saeed Bhutta of Punjab University’s Oriental College said that, “The Punjabi language has an age-old history from Baba Farid to Khwaja Farid. The school administration’s step is a disgrace and ignorance of a certain class towards Punjabi heritage.”

“The 1973 Constitution allows the federating units to impart formal primary learning in the mother tongue,” Bhutta said.

Punjabi scholar and columnist Mushtaq Soofi said he had seen the notification on social media and found it “disgraceful to millions of Punjabis who are living in Pakistan and Indian Punjab and also the Punjabi diaspora living across the globe.”

Nandini