Cabinet to approve summary of Urdu as official language, SC told

ISLAMABAD: The government informed the Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday that summary regarding declaring Urdu as official language will be approved during the next meeting of the federal cabinet as significant progress has been made for the enforcement of Article 251 of the Constitution.
Article 251 of the Constitution specifically relates to national language which, says that “The National language of Pakistan is Urdu, and arrangements shall be made for its being used for official and other purposes within fifteen years from the commencing day”.
It further reads that subject to clause (1), the English language may be used for official purposes until arrangements are made for its replacement by Urdu. It further elaborates that without prejudice to the status of the national language, a provincial assembly may by law prescribe measures for the teaching, promotion and use of a provincial language in addition to the national language.
A two-member bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Jawwad S Khawaja, was hearing the constitutional petition of Kokab Iqbal for declaring Urdu as official language of Pakistan.In pursuance of the court’s earlier order, Azam Khan, Secretary Ministry of Information and Broadcasting informed the Supreme Court that they have sent the summary to Secretary Cabinet Division for approval after giving recommendations for the enforcement of Article 251 of the Constitution.
He further submitted that significant progress has been made for enforcement of Article 251 of the Constitution however, he informed that as the lower house of the Parliament (National Assembly) is currently engaged with the post budget session, the Cabinet may take some time for approving the said summary.
He sought some time in this regard but assured the court that hopefully the Cabinet will approve the summary in its next meeting. He requested the SC to take up the matter after the National Assembly concludes the Budget session.
The court after hearing to the Secretary Information observed that in view the reasons told by the Secretary, his request is fair and deferred the matter until July 02. The court in its order observed that the three provincial governments, except Punjab, have made significant progress for promotion of regional languages. On the last date of hearing it had taken notice that the provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had enacted legislation while the province of Sindh has already made a law in this regard in 1972.
The court further observed that the province of Punjab has so far neither made any legislation nor introduced reforms that could ensure promotion of regional languages of the province.Earlier, Assistant Advocate General Punjab filed a report which the court termed unsatisfactory. He then sought some time at which the court directed him to submit a comprehensive report before the next date of hearing.
During the course of hearing Justice Jawad S Khwaja observed that Urdu as well as regional languages are our heritage which must be respected in all forms. Justice Mushir Alam, another member of the bench remarked that Urdu is the bouquet of languages at which Justice Jawad S Khwaja observed that his brother has used a very beautiful word for it.
On last hearing on June 5, the court had given last chance to the federal government for finalising strategy to declare Urdu as the official language as enshrined in Article 251 of the Constitution and sought comprehensive report before June 11.
The court on the request of Deputy Attorney General gave the federal government last chance to finalise strategy for declaring Urdu as the official language while except the province of Punjab it termed the reports of the other three provinces on the matter satisfactory.
Deputy Attorney General informed the court that prime minister is going to announce the policy on the matter in a week hence he pleaded the court to grant him one week’s time. The court after accepting the request of the Deputy Attorney General directed him to submit a comprehensive report before June 11, 2015.