UNIVERSITY OF THE PUNJAB
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Spinning Peace Negotiations: Pakistan-Taliban Peace Deals in the International Media
No full textThe international politics is to a great extent defined and shaped by conflictsor war events in different parts of the world. These include escalations ofviolence, human causalities and hurdles in peace negotiations. It is imperativeto analyze the conflict event itself as well as how the conflict event is defined/framed by someone with sufficient power and legitimacy to make such anevent an issue to be seen as a crisis. The term ‘spin’ generally refers to the“highly professional selling of the political message that involves maximummanagement and manipulation of the media” (Grattan 1998, p. 34). Mediaplays a significant role in developing perceptions about conflicts and peacenegotiations and those perceptions affect the entire process and the outcome.Therefore, there is a need to make an in-depth analysis of media reportingconflict and peace negotiations. This study aims to explore internationalmedia’s coverage and role towards Pakistan-Taliban peace deals after 9/11i.e. 2006 to 2014. Three international newspapers; daily Telegraph, New YorkTimes, and Gulf Daily News of UK, US, and Middle East respectively, areselected for this study
Dynamics of India’s Contemporary Domestic Security Challenges
No full textIndia’s immense diversity is unique with its pluralism based on myriad ethnic communities, cultures, religious identities and tribes. Since independence, the country failed to produce one single dominant nation’s concept because identities have not yet forged a common national outlook and its ethnic, religious, and cultural identities remains strong and quite distinctive. Moreover, the Indian federal structure seems to be failed to accommodate the expectations of diverse communities and socio-political cultures. Consequently, the federation is asymmetric with the separatist movements in many parts of the country specifically violent movements in Kashmir, Nagaland, Assam, Manipur and Mezoland which have severely challenged the country’s sovereignty. Furthermore, the insurgencies in Northeast of India and violent movements of Naxalites and Maoist have also challenged India’s territorial integrity. In the same manner the Dalits (Harijan) and minorities (Christians and Muslims), are the victims of superior Hindu caste and Hindu chauvinism. Hence it is perceived that India has lost sight of vital constitutional spirit of secularism and federalism. Further, the worst internal security situation lies on India’s unfair, unbalanced and discriminatory policies with the communities and especially with its judicial system. Nonetheless, it has proved that various socio-economic and political imperatives are not fulfilled by the ruling elites or society. Thus, ethno religiousideological fault lines, which exist in India, have to be managed with a sense of fairness and transparent federal policies and there is no need to use forces to suppress people. In this context, India requires peaceful and development manual at the national level in order to stabilize all section of society. Without a coordinate approach, the domestic security threats will lead the country to the worst situation
The Recent Electoral Reforms in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA): An Appraisal
No full textThis research study explores electoral reforms in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan introduced by the last PPP-P government in August 2011. The initiative of the government to formally allow political activities in FATA by extending the Political Parties Act 2002 to these areas is a mega political move to accommodate tribal population in the national mainstream. The formal commencement of political activities in FATA was a longcherished demand of the tribal people for which they were waiting for a long period. The previous electoral processes and voting behaviour in FATA benefited a limited number oftribal elites. Those elites such as Maliks and lungi holders were the main political beneficiaries who monopolized politics prioritizing their selfish interests. However, the recent electoral reforms are basically a paradigm shift in the political system of those areas and that is the main focus of the present study. It also critically evaluates how the political parties incorporated the FATA related issues in their respective political manifestos and electoral slogans during the2013 general elections which was the first party-based electoral move in FATA after the political reforms in those areas. The study contains a comprehensive account of the pre-polls political activities, terrorism and its impact on the overall electoral process and outcome of the 2013 general elections in FATA. This discourse is, however, aimed at an analysis based on perceptions about the social and political paradigm shifts in FATA especially and approaches of the federal government of Pakistan directed towards the concerned situation in the tribal localities of Pakistan generally
Reporting Sectarian Incidents: Examining the escalatory and de-escalatory discourses in the Pakistan News Media
No full textThis study investigates the role of news media on reporting the sectarian conflict in Pakistan. The available scholarship suggests that media is a double-edge sword which can become an important tool to promote religious harmony and ease tension between the warring groups and at the same time it can escalate tension by exaggerating events and becoming mouthpiece of war-mongers. The researcher borrows key notions from peace journalism scholarship and applies it at a national setting. The quantitative and qualitative analyses reveal that the news media showed responsibility, exercised restraint and prioritized popular perspective while reporting on sectarian tension in the country. The study supports the key assertion in peace journalism that conflict escalation can be averted if journalists are sensitized about the consequences of irresponsible reporting especially in nascent democracies like Pakistan
Psychoeducation and Burden of Caregivers Dealing with Psychiatric Patients
Full text linkPsychoeducation is an evidence-based practice where mental health professionals provide information to patients and their families. The aim was to provide psychoeducation to the caregivers regarding the illness of the patient, which may reduce the caregiving burden and increase the caregiver's knowledge regarding the patient’s illness. The study was conducted by a cross-sectional research design. Therefore, caregivers visiting the psychiatric outpatient department were recruited for the current study. A purposive sampling design was used to recruit caregivers. These caregivers were family members of the patient and have been looking after the patient for at least three months. A total of 500 participants were chosen including Men (n=146) and Women (n=354). The participants were accessed twice at pre and post-psychoeducation levels. It was revealed that there was a significant increase in knowledge of the caregivers and a decrease in the burden of the caregivers after the psychoeducation intervention. The study concludes that psychoeducation should be part of routine practice of all health care professionals in Pakistan. This education will reduce burden of the caregivers they are dealing with.  
The SSC of the Generalised Jahangir’s Graph Jm,k and its Algebraic Characterizations
No full textIn this article, we present important combinatorial and algebraicproperties of spanning simplicial complex (SSC) of the generalised Jahangir’sgraph Jm,k. We describe the relation to find f−vectors associatedto Δs(Jm,k) and determine the Hilbert series for the SR-ring KΔs(Jm,k).In the end, we present the associated primes of the facet ideal IF(Δs(Jm,k))and the Cohen-Macaulay characterization of the SR-ring of Δs(Jm,k).AMS (MOS) Subject Classification Codes: Primary 13-P10, Secondary 13-F20, 13-C14, 13-H10.Corresponding Author: Agha KashifKey Words: Simplicial Complexes, f-vectors, Spanning Trees, Face Ring, Hilbert Series, CohenMacaulay
Caring Teachers Ignite Learning: Case Study of a Private School in Karachi
Full text linkThe purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of the stakeholders of a private school in Karachi - Pakistan regarding the attributes of teachers who care for the learning of students. The study was qualitative in nature and embraced case study research methodology. The sample was selected using the purposive sampling technique to collect data from the sixteen stakeholders, meeting the pre-defined criteria of sample selection. Data was collected through interviews using a semi-structured interview guide, field observation and document analysis. Interview data was tape recorded and transcribed whereas data from document analysis and field observation was recorded in the diary. All the data was coded and analyzed using constructionist thematic analysis method. Data triangulation resulted into three themes namely virtuous of teachers, rapport building and content competency. The findings of the study state that various stakeholders have their own perspectives of characteristics of caring teachers depending on their roles, responsibilities, needs and interests. However, the caring attribute of teachers fall between the two dimensions of ethics of care, namely, engrossment and motivational displacement influencing the learning of students. This study offers suggestive evidence for making continuous effort to incorporate the ethics of care as an integral part of Pakistani schools as a positive means to improve the learning process and outcome
Seasonal variation of AM fungal colonization in Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) plants suffering from Ratta Roag (Red rot) disease
Full text linkIn a survey conducted to assess the AM infections of sugarcane plants suffering from Ratta Roag (Red Rot), from various sugarcane-fields in and around District Jhang four categories of plants for disease incidence were identified as healthy, partially diseased, diseased, and severely diseased. A significant change in pattern of AM infection was recorded. Percentage frequencies of arbuscules, vesicles, intra-matricular mycelium and external spores exhibited a gradual increase from initial to final stages of the studies. Various AM structures showed a significant variation with the passage of time in the extent of infection. The diseased plants showed a significant difference in AM infection as compared to normal plants
Concept and Conception of Civil Society in Western and Islamic Traditions: A Comparative Analysis of Secular and Islamic Faith-based Civil Society Practitioners in Pakistan and Bangladesh
No full textThe present paper attempts to explore diversity of the concept of civil society inthe Western (secular) and Islamic (faith-based) traditions. This paper reviews and discusses the major ideas, which have informed historical and contemporary debates about civil society in the West and in the world of Islam. The present paper is part of first author’s PhD research project, “The Role of Civil-Society Organisations in Poverty Alleviation: A Comparative Study of Faith-Based and Secular Local, National and Global Organisations in Pakistan and Bangladesh”. The study is based on a combination of secondary sources and qualitative, face-to-face interviews with the representatives of secular and faith-based civic-society organisations in Pakistan and Bangladesh. The concept of civil society is embedded in diverse socio-political traditions of the Western and Islamic world. In Western and Islamic traditions there is diversity in the understanding of the concept of civil society; it has a variety of envisioned functions or roles, and alternative requirements for a wellfunctioning civil society. Both the Islamic and Western civil society ideas and practices promote the ‘good or well-being’ of people. However, Islamic faithbased civil society practitioners view well-being in terms of religious obligations with more focus upon spiritual happiness and salvation after death; while Western civil society traditions rest on enlightenment and modern intellectual traditions and individualism
Media Representation of Women, Children and Minority Rights: Pakistani Public Response
No full textThis paper focuses on the media impact on the discourse of women, childrenand minority rights within the context of Pakistan while also studying the difference in response generated by Males and females consumers with asample of 455 adults taken from different private and public institutes ofPakistan. Correlational research design was employed for this research anddata was collected through indigenous questionnaire. Pearson Product Moment Correlation was used to find out the relationship between the study variables. Moreover, Multiple Hierarchical regression analysis was conducted to study whether the promotion of women, children and minority rights was predicted by Media. Also moderating effect of gender was studied by conducted a SEM using path analysis through AMOS. The findings of the study revealed that awareness about women, children and minority rights was significantly predicted by mass media, controlling for the effects of demographic variables. Moreover, the results of the moderation analysis revealed the significant interaction effect of gender and media with minority. The findings highlighted that Pakistani media effectively performs its responsibilities by better providing factual information for citizens and empowerment for the disenfranchised among other roles. So, that the media consumers in Pakistan have to platforms that enable various segments of society to voice their political concerns and demands