June 21st, 2010
Random thoughts
By Dr A Q Khan
The three words unity, cooperation and disunity look so simple but their importance is realised at crucial times. In all societies and nations, great emphasis is laid on unity and cooperation
The Quaid-e-Azam was like a superhuman and the Almighty had bestowed on him the wisdom of Khizar (AS). Though he never claimed to be a religious scholar, all his actions were in accordance with the golden rules of Islam. His slogan “Unity, faith and discipline” reflected the essence of the Islamic code of conduct. The very first word of this slogan emphasises the dire need for unity, not among the countrymen but also amongst Muslims.
There is the story of a wise old man who gave each of his sons a stick and asked them to break it, which they all managed to do. Then he placed all the already broken sticks together in a bundle and again asked them to break them. None of them succeeded. He then told them that the young men were like the sticks–individually they were vulnerable, but nobody could harm them when they were united.
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June 14th, 2010
Random thoughts
By Dr A Q Khan
It was one of my childhood dreams to visit Lhasa. To most people, Potala Palace is Lhasa. It is well-known all over the world and UNESCO has declared it a site of World Cultural Heritage.
The Tibet Autonomous Region is situated in the south-western region of China and has an area of about 125,000 square kilometres. The average height of the area is about 4,000 metres and many places are even 5,000 metres. Tibet has an approximately 3,500-km-long common border with India, Bhutan, Nepal and Myanmar. In the north and east it is bordered by Xinjiang, Qinghai, Sichuan and Yunnan provinces. Temperatures range from 15°C to 25°C. Buddhism is the prevailing religion. Tibet has a population of about 2.5 million, with about the same number of Tibetans living in Sichuan and neighbouring provinces.
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June 7th, 2010
Random thoughts
By Dr A Q Khan
The law of the land is not applicable to the select few and they openly ignore even court orders. In the olden days a Qazi would hear and decide cases quickly and fairly. Our history and traditions have many golden chapters. There were not merely a dozen or so honest, efficient rulers, but literally hundreds of them.
An efficient administrative and legal system already existed during the period of Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA), but it was Hazrat Umar (RA) who established the most efficient, honest and neutral system. Everything was properly recorded and coded and it was a complete, exemplary constitution.
In one of my previous columns I had mentioned how the Qazi, a former Turkish slave, had thrashed Ali Noshtgin, commander-in-chief of Mahmud Ghaznavi’s army, for being under the influence of alcohol. Here I would like to mention Sher Shah Suri, who had the Grand Trunk Road built from Peshawar to Calcutta. What he achieved in the five years of his rule our inept rulers have not been able to achieve in even 62 years. His minister of finance was Raja Todar Mal, who was so efficient that, years later when Akbar became emperor, he sent for Raja Todar Mal and requested him to be his minister of finance. History is witness to the prosperity and progress made during Akbar’s reign.
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