LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly’s Standing Committee on Auqaf has unanimously approved the Punjab Holy Quran (Printing and Recording) Amendment Bill 2026, proposing a comprehensive legal mechanism to prevent desecration, distortion and unauthorised alteration of the Holy Quran, besides regulating the handling of objectionable material on physical and digital platforms.
The bill was approved at a meeting chaired by Farooq Khan Maneka. According to Rana Muhammad Arshad, Chief Whip in Punjab Assembly said the proposed amendments aimed to error-free printing, publication and recording of the Holy Quran and establish a proper mechanism for dealing with cases involving its desecration or distortion.
According to the bill, a comprehensive procedure has been proposed for dealing with any desecration, distortion, alteration, contamination or insult involving any part of the Holy Quran. It also provides for preserving evidence of damaged or deteriorated copies of the Holy Quran and their respectful disposal.
Under the proposed legislation, an investigating police officer will be authorised to immediately take into custody any objectionable written material, symbol, image or other content. The seized material must subsequently be presented before the relevant magistrate.
On the magistrate’s directions, evidence will be preserved through the Punjab Forensic Science Authority or another forensic laboratory designated by the government. After the forensic evidence has been secured, the original material will be handed over to the Punjab Quran Board. Its safe custody, restoration, cleaning or disposal will be carried out according to a prescribed procedure in consultation with the Quran Board, the bill states.
The proposed amendments also provide a mechanism for taking legal action where objectionable writings, symbols, tattoos, paintings or images are displayed on the body of any person or living being. In such cases, photographic and video evidence will have to be preserved before removing the objectionable material. The concerned individual will also be given an opportunity to present their position, while its removal will require an order from the magistrate.
The committee also approved proposals to refer cases involving illegal content on social media and digital platforms to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) or other relevant authorities for necessary action. The proposed provisions empower the concerned authorities to remove or block such content or restrict access to it.
Another amendment provides for restructuring the special cell of the Punjab Quran Board by including government members nominated by the Chief Minister alongside non-government members. The non-government members will serve at the discretion of the chief minister.
The bill emphasises the need for legislation to address the risk of religious unrest and law and order disturbances arising from derogatory content against the Holy Quran and sacred personalities on social media. It also seeks to establish a mechanism under which forensic investigations will help preserve evidence of objectionable material for subsequent legal proceedings.
The bill will now be presented before the Punjab Assembly for approval, while its final assent will be given by the Governor of Punjab.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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