مولانا بشیر احمد خاں
افسوس ہے پچھلے دنوں دارالعلوم دیوبند کے نہایت لائق وفائق اورمشہور استاذ مولانا بشیر احمدخاں صاحب کااچانک انتقال ہوگیا۔ مولانا ریاضیات اور ہیئت میں برِصغیر ہندوپاک کے علماء میں اپنا جواب نہیں رکھتے تھے۔ اس کے علاوہ فقہ اورحدیث میں بھی اُن کی نظر وسیع تھی، چنانچہ دارالعلوم دیوبند میں ان فنون کی اونچی کتابیں اُن کے زیر ِ درس رہتی تھیں اور کبھی کسی طالب علم نے اپنی بے اطمینانی کااظہار نہیں کیا۔ علوم وفنون میں اس درجہ مہارت اور اُن میں شغف کے ساتھ مولانا میں نظم و نسق اور دنیوی معاملات و مسائل کو سمجھنے اور ان کے حل کرنے کی صلاحیت بھی بدرجہ ٔ اتم تھی۔ اسی بناء پر چندماہ ہوئے اُن کا انتخاب نائب مہتمم کے عہدہ کے لیے ہواتھا۔ عمر اگر چہ ستّر( ۷۰) کے لگ بھگ تھی، لیکن قویٰ مضبوط اور عام تندرستی بہت اچھی تھی۔ ۱ ۲؍ اگست کومجلسِ عاملہ کی میٹنگ میں وہ شروع سے آخرتک شریک رہے اوراُس کاکبھی وہم بھی نہیں ہوسکتا تھاکہ دو دن کے بعد ہی مولانا یک بیک راہی عالم ِبقا ہوجائیں گے۔یوں بھی عابد مرتاض اور خندہ جبین وخوش اخلاق تھے۔ اﷲ تعالیٰ مغفرت وبخشش کی نوازشوں سے نوازے اور اُن کے درجات اونچے کرے آمین۔ [اکتوبر۱۹۶۶ء]
Pakht┴n society has its own justice system which has different types of penalties and remedies to maintain the justice in the society. This study concentrates to investigate the nature of pecuniary punishment’s practice in distressing issues like killing, civil injuries and criminal offences. Perpetrators are punished to resolve the disputes. On one hand, this paper aims to find out answer to the methods of inflicting decisions in Pakhtan’s cult and on other hand, to shed light on the legal status of arbitration regarding resolving such issues in the light of Qur’an and Sunnah. Study results illustrate that in some cases the offenders are charged in term of money to facilitate the victims, while in other cases both of the parties, perpetrators and victims, are called upon on meal for reconciliation of their dispute. Besides this, sometimes it is observed that the offenders are not only awarded pecuniary punishment but they are exiled as well.
Species composition and vegetation structure of Western Himalayan alpine and subalpine highlands are among the key components of regional biodiversity. The current research project was designed to investigate the species composition, distribution pattern, conservation status, ecosystem services and sustainability of sub alpine and alpine vegetation zones with reference to environmental and anthropogenic variables in the state of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Pakistan. Field sampling was carried out at 56 sites in an altitudinal range of 2700 to 4400m in 5 districts of AJK following standard phytosociological protocols. Results revealed a total of 517 plant species recorded from the study area belonging to 78 families and 239 genera; including 9 trees, 51 shrubs, 48 Pteridophytes and 407 herbs. Highland flora showed overwhelming (63.05%) dominance of 14 plant families contributing 326 species out of the total 517 recorded species. Asteraceae was the largest recorded family with 54 species followed by Rosaceae (37 species), Poaceae (35 species) and Lamiaceae (29 species). Analysis of the Biological spectrum of the highland flora revealed Hemicryptophytes as the dominant Life form with 211 species constituting 40.81 % of the local flora whereas Micorphylls were found to be the dominant leaf spectrum with 185 Species (35.78 %). A total of 56 plant communities were established at the sampling sites on the basis of Importance Value Index (IVI) with Salix flabellaris as the most dominant plant species with an IVI of 11.31 followed by Juncus membraneous (10.03), Abies pindrow (9.21), Betula utilus (8.02) and Pinus wallichiana (5.38).The average value of Simpson’s diversity index was calculated to be of 0.92 whereas Shannon-Weiner diversity index as 3.16 for the studied communities. The local flora exhibited an average Menhinick’s richness value of 2.26 with an evenness of 0.62. Plant communities showed an immature succession rate with a low value of community maturity index recorded as 19.13 % attributed to the anthropogenic disturbances and climatic harshness. The contribution of ecosystem services provided by the alpine and subalpine in livelihood of local communities was assessed through socioeconomic surveys in ten remote valleys of AJK. Study area showed large family and herd sizes of 8.95 and 17.96 respectively with a small average land holding of 2.13 ha and an available grazing area of just 0.683. Data revealed 67 plant species having indigenous ethnomedicinal utilizations whereas 24 plant species were used for treatment of veterinary ailments. Wild vegetables were found to be an important component of local food with a total of 34 herb species whereas 53 plant species were recorded to be used as fodder. Collection and trade of 8 mushroom species, especially Morchella esculenta from the forest areas were identified as a significant source of income for locals. Local communities were totally dependent upon the forests for the fuel wood with an average annual consumption of 269 tons/ household. Current study identified anthropogenic impacts including deforestation, overgrazing, overexploitation of medicinal plants and soil erosion as serious threats to the local plant biodiversity. A total of 45 plant species were found to be seriously threatened having very low (<0.05) IVI values in the area. Results of the study might be helpful for the researchers and policy makers to take steps for the conservation of threatened and rare species in the subalpine and alpine vegetation types. We recommend Improvement and implementation of local conservation strategies with an integrated approach involving the local community, government departments and researchers to protect these fragile but immensely important sub alpine and alpine vegetation ecosystems in western Himalayan region of AJK.