7 research outputs found
Muslim Militant’s Mindset and Quranic Verses: A Comparison of Narratives from Pakistan
No full textSyed Wasif Azim was a visiting scholar in the Jackson School.Since last decade, the world has been facing Muslim militancy as the most tough challenge and threat. Activities of global Muslim militant groups like Al Qaeda and Taliban have engulfed a large number of human lives have cost dollars in billions. The militants as a base, cite different verses of the holy Quran related to dominancy of Islam over all religions, Islam as the only acceptable religion to God, Killing Polytheists and people of the books a religious obligation and thus making an Islamic state. It is argued in this study that they (militant) are not alone in basing their militant activities on divine obligations. Some very prominent, well learned Muslim scholars (of which Maulana Shabeer Ahmad Usmani and Maulana Syed Mawdudi are the focus of this study) are also projecting and promoting the same concept and ideology. The study highlights how these scholars interpret these specific verses of the Holy Quran and how their concepts and explanations are countered by scholars like Ameen Ihsan Islahi and Javed Ahmad Ghamidi. Upon comparing both the groups’ interpretations, the study found that these verses which are the base of Muslim Militants agenda mean something very different from militant’s narrative. This profound counter narrative can remove the base provided to militants and can serve as a soft tool to handle them ideologically, and thus reducing any further militancy in the name of Islam and Quran
Pak-India Trade Relations: From Rivalry to Friendship
No full textThis paper was presented in an International Conference, “Socio
Economic and Cultural Relations between Pakistan and India” University
of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan (25th-27th November, 2016)Syed Wasif Azim was a visiting scholar in the Jackson School.Pakistan and India are two neighboring countries, whose inhabitants share a long history and have many commonalities, but relations between both the countries have been strained by different activities and issues since birth of the two. Like other
relations the Trade relations between Pakistan and India have never been good and productive since last six decades. This has
hampered the economy of Pakistan and India, and has contributed a lot to the increasing level of poverty in both the
countries. Using the lens of commercial peace theory, this study explores that Trade relations between Pakistan and India need a
revival to combat the economic problems of the people on both sides of the border. Also it argues that trade, in spite of its
economic benefits will contribute to peace between the countries and the region. It explains that there is a long list of issues
contributing to this situation, needing focus to achieve the target of peaceful trade relations. This study focuses only three
important of these i.e. Chabahar Port Project verses Gawadar Port, Most Favored Nation status (MFN) issue and Regional
Politics involved in this regard. Furthermore this paper will give a list of suggestions important for improving the present status
of Pak-India trade relations. It subsequently argues that both the countries shall enhance bilateral trade to foster peace in the
region, as is advocated by commercial peace theory
Retracted: Healthcare providers knowledge, attitude and behaviour towards breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in Malaysia – a mini systematic review
No full textThis article previously published in Volume 15 Issue 10 of this journal in September 2016 has been retracted in line with the guidelines from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE, http://publicationethics.org/resources/guidelines)Retracted: Azeem E, Gillani WS, Poh V, Sulaiman SAS. RETRACTED: Healthcare providers’ knowledge, attitude and behaviour towards breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in Malaysia – a mini systematic review. Trop J Pharm Res 2016; 15(9):2041-2045 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/tjpr.v15i9.32From the EditorOur attention was drawn to the earlier publication of similar data by the authors and some others in Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention (doi 10.7314/APJCP.2015.16.13.5233) under the title, “Knowledge, Attitude and Behavior of Healthcare Providers towards Breast Cancer in Malaysia: a Systematic Review” which was confirmed. The corresponding author, Syed Wasif Gillani was contacted but failed to respond to communication in this respect.25 November 2018Keywords: Healthcare provider, Breast cancer, Knowledge, Attitude, Behavior, Systematic review, Malaysi
Swat Conflict in Retrospect: Violence and Jarga among the Swat Pukhtuns in Pakistan
No full textViolent conflicts have perpetual and perennial impacts on societies. Culture and ethnic identities of the people are no exception. This study reflects the impacts of conflict and violence on culture, specifically a single cultural code known as Jarga. Methodologically, the study is based on an ethnographic fieldwork, comprised of 45 open-ended and in-depth interviews, five Focus Group Discussions and personal observation in Swat. Through the conflict in Swat and Pukhtun cultural code of Jarga, it contends that the conflict and violence in Swat has multiple and significant impacts for Jarga. Jarga on higher level, like the Swat Qaumi Jarga (Swat National Jarga) has been more active since the conflict started in 2007, while Jarga on lower (village) level has lost its practice in many areas of Swat. Militants and Pakistani state have been often involved in forming, using, and manipulating Jargas in Swat amidst the conflict. Moreover, the conflict has repercussions for Tanzeems (local organizations) and committees, which were sharing work and place with Jarga in Swat. The state institutions have introduced Village Defence Committees which have bypassed all the existing committees and organizations mainly due to their enhanced powers. These processes have added to ‘defaming’ the cultural ideals, which is socially an unacceptable and detrimental development for Pukhtun society. It has been concluded that conflict and violence impact the markers and codes of cultural and ethnic distinctiveness
Cyber hegemony and information warfare: A case of Russia
No full textThe world has shifted to a digital landscape in the recent decade with both its perks and underlying threats. Russia, throughout history has experimented with its information along with cyber channels and have been able to generate fruitful results that are manifested in the contemporary era. Russian expertise towards merging cyber domain into its military capabilities is praiseworthy to the point that its Western adversaries, despite the fact being economically and technologically advanced compared to Russia, have not been able to effectively counter Russian aggression. This research examines the essentiality of cyber security as a mere software or cyber command can create instability and drastic consequences requiring millions for clean-up by examining Russian cyber-attacks on Estonia, Georgia, Ukraine, US and Western Europe and concludes that the first steps towards Cyber and Information Warfare have been made, it is now to be made sure this does not escalate into a Cyber Arms Race. The research recommends that cyber security should be treated as an international issue with rules established for cyber governance and databases identifying cyber criminals and the software used by them or can be used by them and requires cooperation rather than competition amongst states particularly global superpowers
General Elections 2013: A Case Study of Low Turnout of Women Voters in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
No full textThe Constitution of 1973 offers direct elections under adult franchise in Pakistan. However, it is unfortunate that in every election of Pakistan, the ratio of female voters’ turnout remained low. This research is an attempt to discuss the potential causes of low female voters\u27 turnout in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The study is based on quantitative data survey from six randomly selected districts from sub-geographical areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province in Pakistan including the districts of Lakki Marwat (Far South), Karak (South), Charsadda (Centre), Mardan (Centre), Lower Dir (North) and Chitral (Far North).The study utilizes Chi-square test for statistical inferences of dependent and independent variables. The research argues that the factors responsible for low turnout of women in these districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa can be categorized as administrative, cultural, political, and religious. The primary concern of respondents’ administrative obstacles were followed by cultural barrier and then by religious factors. Moreover, gender, the locality (district) and education of respondents cannot be ignored as they are key parameters as well
Conflict and Violence in Swat: Impacts an Pakistani’s National Identity among Swat Pukhtuns
No full textThis study proposes that the recent decade long conflict and violence in Swat, aPakhtun populated region, has complex and multi-dimensional implications for two connected processes: Pakhtun sense of belonging to Pakistan (Pakistaniyat of Pakhtuns) and the process of National integration in Pakistan. It asks two questions, what are the consequences of the ongoing conflict for Pakhtun‟s sense of belonging to Pakistani nation? And What are the repercussions of the conflict for Pakistani State and its national integration process? The „perceived‟ role of Pakistani state in the conflict, the religious dimension of this conflict (Islam), and involvement of Pakistani state military are three areas discussed by this article as affecting Pakhtun‟s imagination of Pakistan, Pakistani state and the subsequent process of national integration in Pakistan. The study is qualitative ethnographic in nature, based on an extensive ethnographic field work in Swat from December 2016 to March 2017, which was conducted for PHD research. It comprises of open ended interviews and discussions with almost 80 people from diverse socio-economic and political status along with observation in some cases
