Kaalay Sheeshon Wali Gaariyan Aur Gora Qanoon
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Finished reading: A History of Freedom of Thought
Finished reading today (March 27), A History of Freedom of Thought, by J. B. Bury, M.A., F.B.A.
… This 272 page book was first published by Henry Holt and Company, London in 1913.
As I read a lot, it is difficult, for want of time, to prepare a summary of the theme and insights the book contains. However, I may mention whether the book I read is worth reading and why.
This history of the freedom of thought ought to be considered an essential reading. It narrates all the stages freedom of thought has undergone, and tries to explicate the layers of this absolutely indispensable category of human condition.
Given its subject-matter, I wonder will this ever be translated into Urdu!
Have a look at the Contents of the book:
I – Introductory
II – Reason Free (Greece and Rome)
III – Reason in Prison (The Middle Ages)
IV – Prospect
How they use the citizens’ tax money to promote their personal-political interests!
Here are certain advertisements published in various newspapers:
… 
[The Express Tribune, December 11, 2012]
[روزنامہ ایکسپریس لاہور، 8 مارچ، 2013]
[The Express Tribune, The News, March 14, 2013]
[The Express Tribune, March 14, 2013]
[The News, March 15, 2013]
[The Express Tribune, March 15, 2013]
[The Express Tribune, The News, March 16, 2013]
[The Express Tribune, March 18, 2013]
[روزنامہ ایکسپریس لاہور، مارچ 18، 2013]
Wizarat-e-Uzma Ke Tamannaee
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State Aristocracy’s Pakistan – 23
I started collecting and sharing this information just because of my focus on how the state aristocracy makes use of its capture of the state to further its interests and loot; however, there is so much to it appearing daily in the newspapers that to me it requires another blog fully devoted to the state aristocracy’s appropriation of the citizens’ tax money and misuse of the public authority.
… Hence, I think I should give only the links to such news items and of course from such newspapers which I happen to see.
ٹپی سے 8 پولیس موبائلز اور 50 اہل کاروں کے پیسے لے کر خزانے میں جمع کرائے جائیں: چیف جسٹس سپریم کورٹ
[Roznama Express, March 9, 2013]
—–
The sorry state of health of a medical regulator
[The News, March 10, 2013]
—–
Govt commits contempt of court by reappointing Awan in PTA
[The News,
Rules as moral signposts
Recently I participated in the 2nd Annual Conference (Islam and the Institutions of a Free Society) of the Istanbul Network for Liberty, which was held in Islamabad from 28th February to 2nd March.
… The following paper was read in its 1st Session: Sociological, Philosophical and Legal Considerations of Shariah: The Rule of Law in Islam, on 1st March. The Session was chaired by Dr. Khalid Masood.
Rules as moral signposts – a brief sojourn in the realm of philosophy of religion
The initial and original inspiration the entity of religion resorts to take advantage of, and exudes is moral.
The spirit religions imbibe is ultimately moralistic.
That gives them an aura of appeal irresistible to their audience.
However, with time, spread, reach, following, politicking, and the unexpected encounters on the road, they start losing that moral exuberance.
So much so that a day comes when
Tehreek-e-Insaaf Aur Paarty Intikhabaat
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Buzdil Atum Bum
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“Rape Season” in India – a comment
What has gone wrong with the Indians?
… It seems they are in for a Rape Season or a “Rape Jug,” just like a “Kal Jug?”
As the outrage against the rape of an Indian girl-student, Jyoti Singh, who died later, got out of hands in India, a spate of news reports of more and more rapes and rape-attempts started pouring in; as if it’s a contagious crime!
No doubt, that’s symptomatic of an ingrained inhuman attitude towards womenfolk!
A few days earlier, we some friends were enjoying our talk about all the intellectual issues including a favorite of Pakistani Left, i.e. how Pakistan came in to being. A thought just occurred to me:
“Yeah, had there been no Pakistan, we would have been part of a procession against rape in India now!”
Paarty Intikhabaat Ka Dhoang
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A letter that is a challenge to the State of Pakistan
Here is a letter that challenges the state of Pakistan and the politics it protects. It appeared in The Nation as a Letter on March 10.
… Will this letter ever be taken notice of? Will we the ordinary citizens of Pakistan ever be able to know the price of the statecraft in Pakistan? Or, the price of the politics in Pakistan?
The Letter:
Daylight larceny
March 10, 2013
I am an 86 year old man who has fought three epic wars against India, the 1948, 1965 and 1971. In my young days, I had sufficient money, which I deposited in Quaid-i-Azam fund, to help my dear mother to live comfortably in newly created Pakistan. I have six sons who all opted to serve our country by joining the armed forces. I was living quite peacefully until bad luck started when one of my sons bought a 250 yards plot in
Mubarak Salamat!
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Religion and rule of law in Pakistan
After military might, religion is the greatest alibi to defy the rule of law in Pakistan.
… One of the most precious achievements of human civilization is the value of rule of law, as against the rule of man, ideology or faith. Herein is implied an inherent regard for the life and liberty of each person, his right to profess and practice any religion; in sum his right to live a life of his choice. It is as simple as that – that as against man, ideology and faith, rule of law is tolerant and accommodative of all creeds and all cultures, i.e. to all the individual differences of mind and body found in human beings. It looks upon each and every person as by birth endowed with certain inalienable rights, treats him as equal and without any trace of discrimination; it provides equal protection of law to all; it gives
Hukoomat Mayla – Aik Nazm
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“Nationalization” of the Pak Tea House
Back in 2011, on January 2, The Express Tribune carried an article, Pak Tea House, by Ayesha Siddiqa. In that, a reference was made to another article, Tea,anyone? by Ahmad Rafay Alam, published earlier on May 8, 2010, in the same newspaper. I read both.
… As I am an ardent lover of the Pak Tea House, as it has played an important role in my intellectual training and so many other souls, and also as I knew quite a bit of what was happening to the Pak Tea House then and to the owner of this property through friends who were part of the management of the Halqa-e-Arbaab-e-Zauq and attempts to save the Pak Tea House from disappearing, in response to both of these of articles, I wrote Reliving Pak Tea House.
Actually, I wanted to contribute to this debate, but was uncertain whether The Express Tribune would
Jaan Laina Sirf Riyasat Ka Haqq Hay
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State Aristocracy’s Pakistan – 22
I started collecting and sharing this information just because of my focus on how the state aristocracy makes use of its capture of the state to further its interests and loot; however, there is so much to it appearing daily in the newspapers that to me it requires another blog fully devoted to the state aristocracy’s appropriation of the citizens’ tax money and misuse of the public authority.
… Hence, I think I should give only the links to such news items and of course from such newspapers which I happen to see.
Government allows MPs to stay put at Parliament Lodges till next polls
[The News, March 7, 2013]
—–
Prime Minister approves plots for 100 Grade-22 officers
[The News, March 7, 2013]
—–
Islamabad High Court stays appointment of PM’s son-in-law
[The News, March 7, 2013]
—–
“State Bank of Pakistan deputy governor appointed on merit”
Insaaf Ke Insaani Taqazay
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State Aristocracy’s Pakistan – 21: Finance Minister’s cousin appointed to State Bank board of directors
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf has appointed a first cousin of Finance Minister Saleem Mandviwalla to the Central Board of Directors of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) apparently in violation of the law.
… Mehmood Mandviwalla is a practicing lawyer, a profession that disqualifies him from holding the position. He is also a partner at Mandviwalla and Zafar – advocates and legal consultants.
The State Bank of Pakistan Act 1956 states: “The Directors shall be eminent professionals from the fields of economics, finance, banking and accountancy, to be appointed by the federal government. Those appointed to the board shall have no conflict of interest with the business of the bank.”
The clause, which was inserted in the act in March last year, was aimed at depoliticising the board and ensuring that relevant people sit on the board, which is entrusted with vast powers in the SBP policymaking.
Mehmood was
Jaal Saaz Ya Qanoon Saaz
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