Punjab Auqaf panel clears Quran printing and recording amendment bill

A standing committee of the Punjab Assembly on Auqaf has approved the Punjab Holy Quran Printing and Recording Amendment Bill 2026, which sets out how officials are to seize, examine and dispose of objectionable material and how printing and recording of the scripture is to be kept free of errors.

The committee, chaired by Farooq Khan Maneka, passed the bill unanimously, Express News reported. Rana Muhammad Arshad said the amendments were intended to make the printing, publishing and recording of the Quran free of mistakes.

The draft lays down a procedure for action over desecration, distortion, alteration, contamination or insult of any part of the Quran.

Under its text, an investigating police officer would be empowered to take objectionable writing, marks, images or other material into custody immediately and must produce it before the relevant magistrate. On the magistrate's orders, evidence is to be preserved by the Punjab Forensic Science Authority or a forensic laboratory designated by the government. The original material is then handed to the Punjab Quran Board, and its secure custody, restoration, cleaning or disposal is to follow a prescribed procedure in consultation with the board.

The committee also approved provisions dealing with objectionable writing, marks, tattoos, paintings or images on a person's body or that of a living being. Photographs and video must be recorded as evidence before anything is removed, the person concerned must be given a chance to state their position, and removal is to be carried out on a magistrate's order.

For social media and digital platforms, the bill would allow a case to be sent to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority or another relevant body, with powers to take down, block or disable access to unlawful content.

The committee approved adding government members nominated by the chief minister to the Quran Board's special cell alongside its non-official members. According to the text, the non-official members would serve at the chief minister's discretion.

The draft cites concern that insulting material about the Quran and holy figures on social media could cause religious unrest and disorder, and describes legislation as necessary. It proposes a system of preserving evidence of objectionable material through forensic investigation before legal action is taken.

The bill must be passed by the provincial assembly and then sent to the Governor of Punjab for final approval.