Vol.19 – No. 2 www.nawabbari.com February 2011
EDITORIAL
Some time ago a very senior and experienced journalist had said, that the ‘Editorial’ is the column of the Editor, and, therefore, as the Founding Editor of the DNF Newsletter I am taking the liberty to use it as such for this issue to tell my own story.
“The King’s Speech” is the title of a film: “based on the incredible true story of the man who became King George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II, after his brother abdicates. George (Bertie) reluctantly assumes the throne, plagued by a dreaded stutter and considered unfit to be king. Bertie engages the help of an unorthodox Speech Therapist named Lionel Logui. Through a set of unexpected techniques, and as a result of an unlikely friendship Bertie is able to find his voice and boldly lead the country through war.”.
The film, which we saw on a DVD given to us by our daughter, Nazli, brought back nostalgic memories of the time when the whole world was anxiously waiting to know what decision King Edward VIII would take, since the British Government had refused to give him permission to marry Wallace Simpson, an American divorcee. It was the year 1936 when I was thirteen years old living in Bait-ul-Amn (the house of peace) with my parents, brothers and sisters. One night, I do not remember the date, when parents had gone over to Dilkusha, to see our grandfather – Atiqullah Nana – as they often did, after dinner, our telephone rang and I answered. It was uncle Hasan (father of Samee-ul-Hasan and the late Riffi, wife of the late Faiyaz Alam, later, Vice-Chancellor of the Dhaka University) who told me to inform father that “the King had abdicated.”
Umbereen Rahman, daughter of my brother, the late Lieut.General Khwaja Wasiuddin, who saw the film in Dubai recently, was very kind and thoughtful to remember me as she knows that I too have an impediment in my speech and, the mention in the film of two of my favourite songs: “Swanie River” and “Dooda dooda day” ( “Features” page 15). She also informed me that the film had already received 12 nominations for the Oscar Award in February.
Be that as it may, I passed the competitive examination for boys from all over India, Burma and Ceylon for entry in to the Training Ship Dufferin and was called to Bombay for interview and medical examination. The first interview, which was very thorough, was taken by the ship’s Head Master, Mr. H. I. Jones, followed by a formal interview by the Governing Body – which had almost every province of India represented - under the Chairmanship of Sir Zafarullah Khan, Commerce Member, Government of India. My interviews must have gone well, in spite of the impediment in my speech, as I was selected and I joined the Training Ship on 10th January 1939.
At the end of the first term in the Training Ship, when I came home to Calcutta for the summer holidays - June, July and August – my father read, with concern, a remark by Captain M. F. Harvey, the Chief Officer, in my report that, the impediment in speech that I have, may affect my profession at sea. At the first available opportunity father took me to see a ENT specialist, Dr. Roy, who examined me and said there was nothing physically wrong. A day or two later, Dr, Roy took me to see the Principal of the Deaf and Dumb School, Dr. Chatterjee, a highly qualified speech therapist educated in the USA. An elderly gentleman, simply dressed in a Dhoti and vest, spoke very good English. He asked me to take a deep breath, and then, asked if I could sing. I said, “yes sir” and sang one of my favourite songs: the "Swanie River". He said my problem was due to defective breathing, and started me on some speech exercises. During the next one month I was in Calcutta, I used to leave the house at 6 a.m. every morning and take a bus to his place, which was quite far from our home, and spend almost an hour with him every day. . At the end of the month I had an exercise book full of various exercises which meant regulated breathing, as taught by him, along with making sounds and pronouncing words aloud. When I returned to the ship after the holidays, my father wrote a letter to the Captain Superintendent telling him about the action he took in response to the Chief Officer's remarks. Captain R. C. G. McClement, who had the interest of the cadets at heart, spoke to the Chief Officer, Captain M. F. Harvey, who gave me permission to go up to the Boat Deck, at various times, particularly during the P. T. period in the morning, to do my speech exercises.
At the beginning of the third and final year, in January 1941, I was appointed one of the seven Senior Cadet Captains (like prefects in public schools). Six of us were given charge of one of the six Tops (like ‘houses’ in public schools) and the duty of the seventh S.C.C. was to take charge of the Top when one of us was assigned the duty of Chief Cadet Captain for a fortnight.
My turn to be Chief Cadet Captain came quite soon and, one night, after doing the rounds I went to the Captain’s quarters to report “All is well, sir”. Captain Mc Clement was at the dining table and asked me to sit down. He then said (As far as I can remember): “My boy, I am going to give you a shock. We have not selected you for the R.I.N. (Royal Indian Navy) class. I know your speech has improved to a great extent as I see you giving orders and, while performing the duty of Chief Cadet Captain, reading the ‘Weekly Orders’ at the Sunday Division Parade. Nevertheless, I cannot take a risk as I would be held responsible if there is the slightest hint of an impediment in your speech when you go up for an interview before the R.I.N. Examination Board. One other reason is that you are week in Mathematics. However, we would like to see Indian boys in command of Merchants Ships and as Pilots or Harbour Masters in one of the ports around the world.”
In December 1941 I passed out having won the Viceroy’s Gold Medal (the one and only Muslim cadet to get this prestigious award in the history of the Dufferin from 1927 to 1967 when she was scrapped), and, earlier, in May of that year, I had won the Victor Ludorum at the Ship’s Annual Athletic Sports. Reporting this event in the sports page of The Times of India, Bombay,the following morning it was headlined: “Dufferin sports at Haybunder – Shahabuddin Champion”.
I joined the British India Steam Navigation Company Ltd. (B.I.), in Calcutta, and was posted as cadet aboard their passenger-cum cargo ship S.S. Chilka on 11th January 1942. This ship was on its way to Padang, in Sumatra, to evacuate women and children, when she was sunk by a Japanese submarine on 11th March 1942 about 300 miles off the west coast of Sumatra. I was severely wounded in action and had burns. We spent six days in a life-boat and arrived at a southern point of Nias Island. Two British Officers and I were hospitalized. A month later, the Japanese army took over the Island, and since I was fit for transportation – as a young man eighteen and a half years old, a teenager, I recovered fast – I was taken by the Japanese to the capital of the Island, Goonoogsitoli, and due to the kindness, consideration and intervention of a German doctor, left in a camp where the Indian crew of our ship were accommodated. I have narrated an account of my experiences during that period in my book “To HIM I owe my life”.
To cut the story short, at the end of World War II, I came home to Calcutta in November 1945, and quite obviously, among other things, there was a set back so far as my speech was concerned. However, I appeared before the Public Service Commission in Bombay at the end of November and was selected to join the Bengal Pilot Service in the port of Calcutta in March 1946.
In July 1969, I was elected President of the Rotary Club of Dhaka, which I accepted most reluctantly as it meant welcoming guests, delivering speeches etc. Two distinguished personalities that I had the honour to welcome were: Justice Hamood-ur-Rahman and Admiral S. M. Ahsan, who was Governor of East Pakistan. By the grace of God, at the end of my term, at the District Conference held in Karachi in June 1970, the late Mr. Kasim Dada, District Governor, presented me with the Merit Award as the Best President of Rotary International District 325 comprising of all the 22 clubs of East and West Pakistan. Many years later, I was elected to two terms – 1975-1977 - as President of the Society for the Promotion of Arabic in Karachi, where again, I was called upon to deliver speeches, welcome Chief Guests etc.
Since 1996 and continuing presently, family members, friends and acquaintances have given me the honour and privilege to conduct Nikahs (weddings) and Dua-e-Maghfirat (prayer for the dead) at small and quite large gatherings - which I normally perform in English or Urdu as desired by the family concerned, so that the proceedings can be understood by those present. I am very fortunate that, people have been kind and gracious to overlook brief pauses or my difficulty in pronouncing certain words, and continue to invite me on these occasions.
Thus, in a very, very small way I could understand and appreciate the feelings and the tension King George VI went through while delivering speeches, addressing various audiences and talking to his subjects.
All praise is due to the Lord Almighty, the Most Gracious and the Most Merciful, who has been so kind and gracious to bless, help and guide me throughout my life by His grace and mercy.
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BANGLADESH
There is no news to report from Bangladesh except that, the people are most excited as Bangladesh are co-hosts with India and Sri Lanka for the Cricket World Cup 2011 which starts on 19th February 2011. We hope this cricket extravaganza is a great success with the competing teams putting up a high standard of performance and, all the matches are played in the best traditions of the game and sporting spirit.
Cricket lovers all over the world are waiting anxiously, supporting their respective teams and hoping that the best team wins. Let us remember the words of a poet, whose name I do not remember, who wrote:
When the one great scorer comes
To write against your name,
He writes not that you won or lost,
But how you played the game.
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ABOUT OURSELVES – FROM AROUND THE WORLD
From UMBEREEN RAHMAN in Dubai
In Early December Mahmood received a call from his younger brother Hameed in Lahore telling him that his name had been nominated for the position of the CHIEF JUSTICE of the Islamabad High Court and to pray for his success. Phone calls between the brothers followed and finally towards end of December 2010 Hameed was confirmed .We were naturally elated and felt very proud of his achievement. He later informed us that his oath taking ceremony would take place in Islamabad on the 3 rd of January and if Mahmood could also attend as his other brothers and their families were all planning to be present on the happy occasion.
On the 30th December Mahmood and I left for Lahore and upon reaching we learnt that since our President Asif Ali Zardari was in Karachi he wanted the ceremony to take place there. Since it would be difficult for everyone to make the journey to Karachi just for a day Hameed suggested that we should proceed to Rawalpindi and wait there for him in the Judges Rest houses that he had already booked for us and after the ceremony he would return to Rawalpindi on the first available flight. All of us agreed.
On 2nd January 2011 he saw all 19 of us off in a convoy of cars and took a later flight to Karachi. The road trip was exciting and fun. On reaching Rawalpindi we settled in and checked into our respective rooms (everything had been very well organized by Hameed's wife Bushra and others who lent a helping hand and our accomodation was very comfortable and spacious). One house was made the central point for getting together for meals, gupshup etc. After a late lunch, that had already been ordered in advance, we went out on our own. Mahmood and I went to meet Hashmut phuppi and Noor phuppa. I met him after 26 years!! It was lovely to see them in their own home and to meet Tariq's eldest daughter for the first time. Later we all had an early dinner and retired for the night.
The following morning we woke up early and got ready and walked the short distance to the main house to have breakfast and left for Murree, again
in a convoy of cars. The roads were very good and we enjoyed the spectacular scenery and the cool fresh air. We reached our destination at 12 noon, enjoyed the snow, had a sumptuous lunch at one of the restaurants and returned to the guest house, where we all sat in front of the TV and watched the live proceedings of Hameed’s oath taking ceremony that was held in Karachi. It was quite grand and very emotional. Later we left for Rawalpindi as we had to be back on time to receive him when he returned from Karachi. While we were away in Murree Hameed's and the other brothers in-law had also arrived from Lahore specially for the occasion and were waiting for us at the same guest house. His flight arrived on time and the 4 brothers and Hameed's wife Bushra and his son and 2 daughters went to the airport to receive him. His eldest daughter could not be present as she is in college in the U.S.A..The rest of us waited for him at the guest house. When his motorcade, escorted by a police pilot rider and van with a police contingent, was nearing the house we were informed and we welcomed him with garlands and hugs. There was much jubilation amongst us to celebrate the momentous occasion. After hearing everything in detail from Hameed we had dinner and retired for the night.
The following morning we all woke up very early, had a quick breakfast and left for the Islamabad High court and on reaching the venue were guided in to the hall. Some time later Hameed arrived and we were asked to go outside to watch the guard of honor and the flag hoisting ceremony. It was very impressive. After a short while Hameed came in, followed by two other judges that were being sworn in that day and after the tilawat from the Holy Qur’an Hameed administered the oath to the two judges. Light refreshments followed and we went and saw his chambers, took some more photographs and then left for home. Later that day all were invited for tea to Riaz's (Mahmood's younger brother) sister-in-law's resort home on the outskirts of Islamabad in a place called Bani Ghalla.The home is something to see and experience. It was an amazing sight, with acres of land overlooking the river. with animals from Ostriches to Monkeys, Turkeys and Birds, an infinity pool and a waterfall too. The interior was just as beautiful as the outside. Our host, Mr..Sohail, Riaz’s brother-in-law, was very gracious and had laid out a grand tea. in the open with outdoor gas heaters to keep us warm. We spent our time in those serene surroundings till it was time to leave for dinner to another exotic spot.. All of us had been invited for dinner by Mahmood's brother, Hameed's brother-in-law, Asad and his wife to a restaurant named MONAL located in PIR SOHAVA which is on top of the mountain. The road was long and winding all the way to the top. The view was breathtaking but it had become dark and due to the extreme cold
could not be enjoyed much. The ambience and the food at Monal was amazing and anyone visiting Islamabad should definitely experience it.
After a tiring but very enjoyable and relaxing day, we returned to the Rawalpindi guest house and next morning left for Lahore. With the exception of our children Nabil and his family, Sameer and Umair and some of Mahmood's nieces and nephews whom we missed a lot, and his eldest sister and her husband, who could not accompany us due to other commitments, the best part was that we were all together for the happy occasion. It was a marvelous trip and we had the time of our lives! May Allah shower His choicest blessings on us all.
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The
Ambassador of Pakistan Dr Syed Khawaja Alqama hosted a dinner
reception in honor of the visiting Pakistani delegation, attended by
Minister of Education, Minister of Industries & Trade and leading
businessmen, Tarek A Hayel Saeed, United Insurance, Ahmed H
Shumailah, Chairman Shumailah Group, Monnwar Al-Fakhri, Al Fakhri Oil
Services, Omar M Omar, MD Universal Group.
Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig,
Hon Consul General of Yemen in Sindh and Adviser to Prime Minister on
Textile, attended the 6th Session of Pak-Yemen Joint Ministerial
Commission meeting in Sana’a on Dec 28-29, 2010.
The Pakistan delegation was represented by Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani, Minister for Industries and Production, Dr Ikhtiar Baig and Sohail Rehan, Joint Secretary Economic Affairs Division, says a press release.
Both sides agreed to increase the present level of trade of $170 million, particularly in the field of pharmaceutical, oil, gas, rice, foodstuff, electric fans and footwear.
The private sector of Pakistan has proposed an investment of about $100 million in LPG Extraction Gas project in Yemen to export LPG to Pakistan. A four member technical committee has been constituted, headed by Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig and representative from Ministry of Oil and Minerals, Yemen. Both sides agreed to establish the Pak-Yemen Investment Company for the promotion of investment.
The Yemeni Minister of Industry and Trade, Yahya Y Al-Mutawakel, and Pakistani counter part Mir Hazar Khan Bijarani have agreed to negotiate a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries.
Dr Ikhtiar Baig also took up the matter of holding the meeting of Pak-Yemen Joint Business Council of Federation of Chambers, established in 2006 as per an agreement signed by Dr Baig and his Yemeni counterpart. It was also decided to promote cooperation in the field of healthcare, agriculture, fisheries, education, technical training, industrial and infrastructure.
During the visit, the delegation had meetings with Prime Minister of Yemen Dr Ali Mohammad Mujawar, Foreign Minister Dr Abu Bakr Abdullah Al-Qirbi, Deputy Minister of Oil Eng Abdulmalik M Alama.
The foreign minister of Yemen appreciated the efforts of Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig for promotion of bilateral trade and investment between the two countries.
Dr Ikhtiar Baig invited Yemeni businessmen to attend the Expo Pakistan to be held in Karachi in February 2011. The next Pak-Yemen JMC will be held next year in Islamabad.
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PAKISTAN
Dr. Kamal Hossain, Barrister-at-Law, is a cousin of the Khwaja Sudderuddin brothers and sisters and, at one time, was the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh.
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NAZLI SHAH, daughter of Sayeed and Ayesha Shahabuddin, arrived in Karachi in the very early hours of Friday 7th January 2011 on her annual visit to spend time with her parents and meet relations and friends. Unfortunately, she picked up an eye infection during the long 13-hour flight and then a 7-hour wait at the Dubai International Airport. She was seen by an Eye Specialist the same evening who treated her infection and told her that she should have the cataract in her left eye removed as soon as possible. The following day, through the kind help of Mehreen Amin and her son Dr. Assad Amin, she got an appointment to see one of the top Eye Specialists who eventually removed her cataract on Wednesday 12th January. He was keen to do the other eye as well but there was not enough time as she had to leave for Toronto on Friday 21st January. Due to this problem she was unable to meet as many relations and friends as she had wanted. Nevertheless, by the grace and mercy of the Lord Almighty, those fourteen days were a real treat for her parents and they had a glorious time together. Nazli left for Toronto in the early hours of Friday 21st January to return home to her husband, Taimur Shah, daughters Zeyna and Mona and their little puppy called Pepe.
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ZAHID ZAKIUDDIN, is in Katachi to spend time with his mother, meet friends and relations and enjoy the lovely Karachi weather. He plans to return to Toronto by the middle of February.
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FEATURES
The future trend
By Moeed Yusuf
(Courtesy: Dawn January 10, 2011. The writer is South Asia Adviser at the U. S. Institute of peace, Washington D. C.).
THE professed reasons behind Salman Taseer`s assassination remind us of the level of degeneration to which Pakistani society has sunk. Even more telling was the extremely vocal reaction of those who rejoiced at the gruesome act. Within hours, the assassin was being hailed as a hero. To be sure, there was also representation of those who were appalled by what they saw but they were, as always, much less visible.
This is certainly not the first time fanaticism of this kind has raised its ugly head. There has been a steadily rising trend in this direction. One only has to remember the floggings and beheadings in Swat, the violent defiance of the state by the Lal Masjid cadres, and the murder of Zill-e-Huma, a Punjab provincial minister, an act motivated by the same beliefs that led to the present episode, amongst many others.
While the reaction in support of the perpetrators may not have been as pronounced in these previous incidents, sympathy for those who violated the law was apparent. I, for one, ended up in endless debates with a number of educated Pakistanis who defended these actions even as they professed to value differences of opinion, a clear contradiction. The fact is that intolerance and an overall ambivalence towards the use of violence pervades much of Pakistani society — elite and non-elite, rich and poor, and even many of those who claim to be `liberals`. The fact that segments of the traditionally peaceful Barevli community have come out in support of Mumtaz Qadri fits in perfectly with this trend.
I do not wish to dwell on the past and on how a traditionally moderate Pakistani society has arrived at this disturbing state. Let me focus on a relatively overlooked aspect: where this trend will take us and, more importantly, what key aspects need change.
Predicting the future is not difficult in this case. Empirical research shows Pakistan to be an increasingly polarised society. The `silent majority` — which no longer seems to be a majority in reality — of moderate individuals is on the retreat. It neither associates itself with the ultra-liberals, nor has the tools to stand up to the ultra-right`s onslaught.
As the state weakens further and as the intolerant mindset represented by Qadri and his many predecessors grows, one will witness many more of these incidents and much greater support for them. The space for rational discourse will disappear; the process is well under way. In the worst case, fanaticism, the extreme level of intolerance, will force non-violent moderates to conform or exit. This, and not a violent Taliban takeover, is Pakistan`s real threat.
Let me reproduce from my recent research three aspects that require urgent attention for Pakistan to course-correct. These aim not at altering the role of religion in society — an obsession of liberals that is misplaced and undesirable in the Pakistani context — but to address a more elementary and fundamental issue, i.e. tabooing the use of violence to resolve differences of opinion.
Education: Pakistan`s education system has done a terrific job of creating conceptual confusion in young minds over the value of tolerance and use of violence. The textbooks and the socialising process may not explicitly promote violence but neither do they taboo intolerance and violence. Much of the debate is coloured by politico-religious overtones to the point that outlawing violence is considered sacrilegious.
The government ought to consider introducing two compulsory subjects at all levels of education in Pakistan: civic education and peace education. Imparted efficiently, civic education tends to create minds much more conscious of the rights of the state and the individual`s responsibility towards state and society, while peace education emphasises the basic need for tolerance and peaceful conflict resolution as the basis for a healthy existence.
Without confronting religious sensitivities directly — instead presenting these values and duties as intrinsic to humans — such knowledge will over time create minds that are amenable to discussing all issues, including religion, within this basic framework.
Committed political leadership: Perhaps the most disheartening aspect of Taseer`s assassination apart from the support for the act by the ultra-right was the response from the country`s political leadership. Not a single right-of-centre party showed the courage to challenge the motivations behind the act. In fact, many espoused that Taseer deserved it. Part of the problem, of course, is that individual political leaders are also products of the same education system and have been socialised in the same environment.
But more so, it highlights the political leadership`s short-sightedness and just how wary it is of the potential political and physical backlash from these elements. The latter, in itself, is an indication of the strength of the ultra-right (and the leadership`s cognisance of it).
No longer can only part of the political spectrum denounce intolerance while others are busy courting the very creators of mayhem. Only an across-the-board political consensus on tabooing intolerance will prompt a concerted civil society response as well as rally those religious elements who oppose intolerance but see no room to project their views without the state`s backing.
The role of militancy: For years, the state willingly allowed militant recruitment from within and ignored its sociological ripple effects in society. Today, militancy is an industry whose upstream effects lie at the heart of the intolerance highlighted here. Let`s face it: the strategic establishment tried to distinguish between the good and the bad militant for years. The model failed; it has left enormous space for intolerance to breed and has caused many a mind to see some legitimacy in violence. Eliminating intolerance demands eradicating the militant industry in all its aspects, not just tackling certain groups. And while state capacity may force a sequential approach, the philosophical commitment to eradicating all militancy must be explicit.
None of this should be construed as a call to undermine the importance of religion in the society. Rather, it is only a recipe to be able to discuss differences of opinion on religious injunctions in a peaceful and tolerant manner. Make no mistake: even getting to this will be painful. What has been recommended above is no less than transformational.
(The tune is based on a popular English song – Dooda dooda Day)
Going home day is coming soon,
Dooda Dooda,
Going home day is coming soon,
Dooda Dooda Day.
I’m going to run all night,
I’m going to run all day,
I’ll spend my money on the D.H.R*
Gooda dooda day.
Riding down from St. Paul’s,
On a bhutia Tat,
After nine months mugging,
It takes up all your fat.
See the engines puffing,
And see the trains go by,
Home sweet home is coming
Home sweet home is nigh.
When we reach the big train,
Hailing with a shout
Paan, Biri, cigarette
We’ll knock the caller out.
When we reach Sealdah**
Our parents ought to say,
Come our darling children,
Enjoy your holiday.
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* D. H. R. - Darjeeling Himalayan Railways
** Sealdah - Calcutta Railway Station
(In addition to Rahman Sobhan, Farooq Sobhan and myself, other ‘Old Paulites’ as the old students were known, who have passed away, were: Nawab Khwaja Habibullah, Nawabzada Khwaja Nasarullah, K. M. Shahed, Syed Faiyaz Alam, Khwaja Reshad Nasarullsh, Qamar-uz-Zaman, Syed Aziz Salim and Jamil-ur-Rahman Khan)
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(As translated and explained by Muhammad Asad)
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Dispenser of Grace.
Surah AL – MAIDA (The Repast) Chapter 5. (Verses 4 & 5)
They will ask thee as to what is lawful for them.. Say “Lawful to you are all the good things of life.”
And as for those hunting animals which you train by imparting to them something of the knowledge that God has imparted to yourselves – eat of what they seize for you, but mention God’s name over it, and remain conscious of God: verily, God is swift in reckoning.
Today, all the good things of life have been made lawful to you. And the food of those who have been vouchsafed revelation aforetime is lawful to you, and your food is lawful to them. And [lawful to you are], in wedlock, women from among those who believe [in this divine writ], and, in wedlock, women from among those who have been vouchsafed revelation before your time – provided that you give them their dowers, taking them in honest wedlock, no in fornication, nor as secret love-companions.
But as for him who rejects belief [in God] – in vain will be all his works: for in the life to come he shall be among the lost.
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Editor: Khwaja Sayeed Shahabuddin, sayeed425@gmail.com Tel. (92-21) 3567- 4639 & 0300-292-1903
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