Publish a translation of the koran without the original arabic text, go to jail

Urdu translation of Holy Qur’aan

without Arabic text confiscated

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Religious Affairs Ejazul Haq on Thursday informed the National Assembly that the government has ordered confiscation of the copies of Urdu translation of the Holy Qur’aan published without Arabic text.

Speaking on an adjournment motion moved by various members of the National Assembly, he said under the 1973 Act of Publication of Holy Qur’aan, it is prohibited to publish the Qur’aan without its Arabic text.

He said the copies had been printed by a publishing house in Canada and were being distributed free among the public in Pakistan. "We have contacted the Interior Ministry, Home Departments of all the provinces and Customs to confiscate all copies of the Urdu translation," he said.

Ejazul Haq said an employee of PTCL, Noorul Ameen, had translated the original text with his own additions, which are marked with parenthesis. "We have gone through the translation and the additions that he has made tantamount to misleading the reader," he added. He said the Surahs and Paras have not been indicated in the translation. Ejazul Haq said the ministry had formed a committee to probe the matter.

Earlier, members of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal Asadullah Bhutto, Farid Ahmed Paracha and others moved the adjournment motion urging the government to immediately stop distribution of copies of this translation. "Publication of translation without its Arabic text is against Sharia," Farid Paracha said.

Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali said the Constitution of Pakistan also provided that translation of the Holy Qur’aan should be with its Arabic text. The speaker reserved his ruling on the motion.