UNIVERSITY OF THE PUNJAB
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De-Radicalization through Education Reforms: Comparative Analysis of Closed-Book and Open Book Examination Regime
No full textThe education system in Pakistan, especially its closed-book examination regime, is the legacy of the British Raj dating back to 1857. The examination style of the University of London was introduced in the subcontinent for native students at the high school level to promote English and with an incentive of preference in government jobs. Since the creation of Pakistan, the closed-book examination system, instead of evolving with the changing requirements, got further strengthened where it was also introduced in the higher education in the country. A closed-book examination system promotes rote learning and memorization among the students to fetch good grades. The entire purpose of education becomes questionable when student's efficacy and intellect are assessed in the light of marks attained. The GAP culture of educational institutions is detrimental to the students and society alike. Education in itself has shrunk to passing the exams for promotion to the next level or attaining jobs rather than developing the personalities and transforming the youth into thinking minds and effective, contributing members of the society. Education in Pakistan is merely a test of memory where those with good memory skills who can reproduce the textbooks as verbatim attain good marks and are considered educated and knowledgeable, and failures are discarded from the society. Closed-book examinations are at a tangent to critical, reflective, and creative thinking skills. The analytical abilities of the students of this exam regimeare at its lowest ebb. In order to address the menace of extremism, violence,increasing intolerance, and exclusivity in the society, there is a need to find analternate in the shape of an open-book examination regime that will promotecritical, reflective, and problem-solving skills among the youth. Open-book exams assess the true analytical skills of the students, and since this type of examination can only be attempted by students with conceptual clarity and enhanced understanding instead of parroting and rote learning
An Analytical Study of Criminal Justice System of Pakistan (with special reference to the Province of Punjab)
No full textThe criminal justice system that Pakistan adopted in 1947 was tailor-made bythe British colonial rulers that fits their needs and suits their colonial designs.The Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 and other laws creating offences and fixingpunishments (substantive criminal law), the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898and other adjective laws including the law of evidence are classical examplesof the British legacy. The march of civilization has loaded society with multiplecomplexities. Twenty-first century society is markedly by different from nineteenth century society. Technology, information explosion, rapid socioeconomic cum-scientific changes have made the social and cultural norms at once multi-layered. This has rendered P.P.C. and Cr.P.C. inadequate,occasionally outdated and in many cases redundant. The change becameimperative. President General Zia got promulgated Qisas and Diyat andHadood Laws in 1979 and the Qanun-e-Shahadat Order in1984. This was ahalf-hearted effort. The inadequacies of P.P.C. and Cr.P.C. are more than tomeet the procedural practices of day to day need. Though the Code of Criminal Procedure,1898, is the principal criminal procedural law of Pakistan yet we find some provisions relating to criminal safeguards provided to the accused in our Constitution of 1973 in the form of different articles such as right to life and liberty (Article 9), safeguard as to arrest and detention (Art. 10), protection against retrospective punishment (Art. 12), protection against double jeopardy and self-incrimination (Art. 13). Now after the 18th Amendment, a new Art. 10-A has been inserted to ensure fair trial. In spite of all that some radical changes are required for the overhauling of the existing criminal justice system of Pakistan. The purpose of this paper is to point out the main lacunas or shortcomings of our criminal justice system and provide viable recommendations to the legal fraternity so that necessary steps may be taken for its improvement
The Genesis of the Turkish Model
No full textThe term Turkish model first appeared in the news media during the post coldwar days when the newly independent Muslim Turk Central Asian Republicssought to carve a new identity for themselves in a new era. Later the termbecame popular during the Arab Spring when the revolting Arabs saw theirprosperous Muslim neighbor as an inspiring example for their future direction.The Western world also endorsed the Turkish model as a viable Muslim democracy for the transforming Middle East. The current paper digs deep into history to trace the roots of the idea of the Turkish model examining the developments in the late Ottoman period when Turks’ response to Western modernity set a unique example in the Muslim world. At the same time it created tension between traditional and modern, profound and superficial, authority and freedom ; the conflicts which follow Turkey up to this day and which continue to define the shape of the Turkish Model
Framing of Women in Politics: A case of Pakistani Elections 2013
No full textThis paper is a content analysis of four major dailies and two political talkshows on the two leading TV news channels of Pakistan during the 2013Elections. The study examines whether women in politics were portrayedmarginally or as active agents in the political process. The paper examines ifwomen were framed by stereotypes and whether they were taken seriously orsimply as sensational tokens. Whether during the election campaign they wereencouraged to come into politics and for voting? Findings show that thecoverage given to women was minimal, and they were not represente aspoliticians with vision and contributors in political decision making. However,female politicians did not suffer from the cultural stereotype treatment in thenews items. In the comparative analysis between Urdu and English dailies,English dailies coverage on women political participation was greater andmore positive than Urdu dailies
An overview of South Asian Security Physiognomies in the Context of Regional Power Balance Strategies
No full textSouth Asia is very effervescent region in terms of its geopolitical and geo strategic uniqueness on the globe. India and Pakistan are two nuclear states in this region having conflicting and rocky relations. In the backdrop of the negative security externalities originating from US intervention in the region of South Asia, the hypothesis is that China is the only regional actor that has all the inducements and the capabilities to deal with the threats to the regional peace and stability. In South Asia, in terms of material physiognomies such as the regional delineation and its power polarity is blurred. By evaluating and investigating its security environment, this research study suggests how this dearth of clarity could be alleviated. India's role within the region is even more controversial. We found that in light of the regional disputes between India and Pakistan, China’s role is probably the most critical for the regional security and stability
UN Sanctions Against Iraq: From Ailment to Chronic
No full textSanctions are penalties or restrictions imposed by a state, group of states or an international organization on another state, usually involved in the act of international delinquency, to compel that state to amend its behaviour or to change its conduct or policies. At present, sanctions have become an important tool of coercion which the United Nations (UN) applies against states that are indulged in threatening of international law or peace and established international norms. However, these measures can have immense effects for the targeted state and its population as a whole. The UN sanctions imposed on Iraq from 1990 to 2003 are considered the most comprehensive and effectively enforced sanctions. This case is an example of the grave cost in human suffering that sanctions can exert on a country which turns into almost a breakdown in economic, social and political structures. Due to its effects on Iraqi populace, UN sanctions tool has earned huge criticism from many commentators, stakeholders and international elites. An account will be provided of the effects of thirteen years long UN sanctions on Iraq and causing factors. During this thirteen years period, a criminal silence on the part of Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), Arab League and international community has been observed. Russia and China, the permanent members of the Security Council (SC), were not more than spectators during the period for some dubious reasons. The UN, the most prestigious international organization, strengthened the perception that it was a porous body and played a second fiddle to the U.S. It cannot be rejected that UN has been mostly protecting the interests of powerful nations. Furthermore, efforts would be made to figure out some useful recommendations for the improvement of UN sanctions mechanism so that the sufferings of the sanctioned society could be reduced in future sanctions regimes
Globalization and its impact on Employment: Evidence from Pakistan
No full textThe core purpose of the analysis is to explore the influence of Globalization on Pakistan’s employment situation. The study is based on time series data covering the period from 1972 to 2010. The study has applied Johansen Cointegration technique to estimate the long run and short run relationship among variables. The results indicate that Globalization has positive and significant impact on employment generation. Further, it is found that health expenditure and national savings have positive influence on employment while population has negative and significance effect on employment. The study suggests that free trade is necessary for employment creation through specialization
An insight into the Philosophical Dynamics of Al-Qaeda
No full textAl-Qaeda, headed long by Osama bin Laden (OBL), has convincingly emerged as the most powerful and ideologically motivated organization with objectives to politically spread worldwide itself and its ideological stance in the post-cold war period. Though it was nurtured by the West through CIA and ISI, and fostered by Arab volunteers to stem out the Soviet military presence in Afghanistan, it later turned its guns towards the US and US-backed regimes in the Muslim countries on the pretext they were serving the cause of infidels who deservedelimination. The infiltration of Takfiri doctrine, once formulated by Ibn Taymiyya, during Mongol invasion of Mesopotamia, made the Salafism-inspired militant activists of AQ to indulge into and justify their terrorist activities against non-combatant civilians. An attempt has been made here to trace the roots and dynamics of the philosophical thought that gradually drove AQ to what it is now known as the most dreadful outfit, both for the West and the Muslim world
War on Terror Partnership: Problems and Prospects for Pakistan
No full textThe events of 9/11 led to substantial shifts in international relations (IR) especially regarding justifications for intervening militarily in the territory of another sovereign state. It also raised certain critical questions in the realm of international law as interestingly no laws existed or framed to govern the conduct of military intervention by one powerful country against non state actors on the territory of another sovereign state, even when that victim state is not directly sponsoring those actors. This war on terror has affected sociopolitical, security and economic conditions in Pakistan. The controversial issues like US drone strikes in tribal areas of Pakistan have led to breeding of more terrorists, thus creating a vicious cycle of suicide and terror attacks everywhere in Pakistan with multiple effects for the society and state. Furthermore, in the context of Pakistan US relations, the post 9/11 era introduced a major shift. This study attempts to explore and examine the underlying global and regional currents and ground realities of Pakistan US relations during this current phase as well as effects, problems and prospects of war on terror on Pakistan and the combined efforts of the stakeholders in finding a durable solution to Afghanistan problem, while also focusing on the key issues as well as prospective avenues of cooperation between the partners in future
Understanding Terrorism and the Ways to Root Out: Perceptions and Realities
No full textThe complex phenomenon of terrorism has emerged out as a constant threat for every country which is present on this planet. This paper is an attempt to describe how terrorism has emerged since the history upto its present form. The paper will also explain its different versions along with the reasons which lead to the formation of terrorist. It will conclude with the suggestions how to curb and root out terrorism for the survival of mankind