Daily Times

‘Family Laws in Pakistan’

Muhammad Zubair Abbasi and Shahbaz Ahmad Cheema

This book provides the latest and updated account of the principles and practices of family laws in Pakistan. It is primarily based on the latest case law and statutes. The authors not only present systemically organised case law but also critically evaluate leading judicial precedents. Various chapters of the book cover general principles of family law, demonstrate their application based on the facts of each case, trace patterns of developments in case law, rationalise conflicting judicial authorities, and propose law reform, wherever required. This is the first book that takes into account personal laws of non-Muslims in Pakistan and covers important issues related to conflict of personal laws.

‘Intikhab: Ibn-e-Saeed’

Compiled by Asif Farrukhi

This book is a selection from Ibn e Saeed’s work covering the entire span of his creative output. With the recent posthumous publication of two undiscovered writings (Mehwar and RoshniyounKaShehar), Ibn e Saeed is emerging as a writer to be reckoned with in the realm of Urdu literature. A well-known journalist, he also published more than 40 short stories through a long career but for somehow did not put together any collection of his work. The editor of this selection, Asif Farrukhi, has researched Saeed’s life and works to contribute a major essay on this remarkable but neglected writer.

‘Mazameen e Sir Syed Ahmed Khan’

Compiled by Tanzeem-ul-Firdous

This book is a selection of the representative essays by the great reformer and philosopher Sir Syed Ahmed Khan. Sir Syed wrote these essays to spread awareness and knowledge on modern subjects and promote reforms in Muslim society. He worked to promote reinterpretation of Muslim ideology in order to reconcile tradition with Western education. He argued in several writings on Islam that the Qur’an rested on an appreciation of reason and natural law, making scientific inquiry important to being a good Muslim. Sir Syed promoted the use of Urdu through his own writings.

‘Intikhab-e-Kalam: Ada Jafarey’

Compiled by Fatema Hassan

This is a representative selection of Ada Jafarey’s poetry. As early as 1950, she was recognized as the First Lady of Urdu Poetry. Ada Jafarey wrote in a gender-neutral mode, though her works include feminist themes like discrimination and dehumanisation of women and of them being viewed as sexual objects. Ada Jafarey mastered both genres of Urdu poetry, Nazm and Ghazal. She published her first collection of poems, Main SaazDhoondtiRahi, followed by five more collections: Shahar e Dard, Ghazalan, Tum to WaaqifHo!,Harf e Shanasai, Safar Baqi, and MausamMausam.

‘Intikhab-e-Kalam: Zehra Nigah’

Compiled by Asif Farrukhi

Zehra Nigah who initially regaled the audience at mushairas soon matured and turned to more serious themes and more innovative forms, and produced powerful poems on themes such as terrorism, globalization, street children, and drug abuse. She also wrote long poems dealing with death; imbuing them with a softness her early lyrics did not have. She is a poet who is feminine without being feminist, gender issues finding a commensurate space in the vast canvas of her concerns. This volume contains a representative selection of her poems.

Published in Daily Times, October 14^th 2018.