PESHAWAR: The poets and writers in Mardan staged a protest demonstration against Textbook Board Peshawar for calling eminent figure Malik Kalu Khan a thief and robber in the English book of Class-IX.
The writers and poets gathered in front of Mardan Press Club and chanted slogans against the Textbook Board. They said Malik Kalu Khan took part in war against the Mughals for safeguarding the Pakhtuns territory and also met success in many conflicts.
They said the 9th Class English textbook contains a chapter about Mughal emperor Akbar in which Kalu Khan has been mentioned as a thief and robber. They demanded the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to take action against the Textbook Board to remove the controversial chapter and include a chapter in praise of Kalu Khan.
Sahil Yousafzai, president of a local literary society, told that it was a matter of great concern that a Pakhtun hero was presented in negative light in the textbooks.
“Our major demand is to remove the controversial chapter and include a chapter highlighting the velour and bravery of Kalu Khan Baba in the textbooks,” he said.
