مولانا ظفر علی خاں
افسوس ہے مولانا ظفر علی خاں بھی چل بسے۔مرحوم علی گڑھ یونیورسٹی کے قدیم طلبا میں اور اس ادارہ کی علمی،ادبی اور تہذیبی روایات کے بڑے حامل تھے۔ اردو صحافت میں انھوں نے بڑانام پیداکیا۔وہ بیک وقت بلند پایہ صحافی، صاحبِ طرز ادیب،نہایت قادر الکلام شاعر،نامور ادیب اورساتھ ہی صف اوّل کے لیڈر اورمجاہد تھے۔ایک زمانہ تھا کہ’ زمیندار‘ اخبار اورمرحوم کے اشعار کاگھر گھر چرچاتھا۔اُن کے فیض تعلیم وتربیت سے سینکڑوں ادیب، جرنلسٹ اور شاعر ہوگئے۔ شاعری میں انھوں نے شروع شروع میں اپنے استاد مولانا شبلی کاتتبع کیا لیکن اس مخصوص طرز کوانھوں نے اس درجہ ترقی دی کہ وہ اردو شاعری کی ایک مستقل صنف بن گیا۔الفاظ اُن کی مشت ِفکر میں موم تھے، جس طرح چاہا اُن سے کام لے لیا۔سخت سے سخت قوافی پرغیر معمولی قدرت تھی۔ذہن بے حد رسا اور طبیعت بلا کی موزوں تھی۔اگر وہ چاہتے توگھنٹوں شعروں میں گفتگو کرسکتے تھے۔بے شمار اخباری مضامین ومقالات اورنظموں اورغزلوں کے علاوہ چند ادبی کتابیں جن میں سے بعض اوریجنل ہیں اور بعض تراجم اور’الفاروق‘ کی جلداوّل کا انگریزی ترجمہ اُن کی ادبی یادگاریں ہیں۔تہذیب وشرافت اوراخلاق واطوار کے لحاظ سے ایک راسخ العقیدہ مسلمان تھے۔اُن کی زندگی بڑے بڑے طوفانوں سے گزری تھی جن میں وہ چٹان کی طرح اپنے مقام پرکھڑے رہے۔اﷲ تعالیٰ اُن کومغفرت وبخشش کی نعمتوں سے نوازے۔ [دسمبر۱۹۵۶ء]
This study aims to draw a comparative analysis of the powers of local governments in Karachi. The subject of local government structure and its authority has become more important in the current local scenario. The findings of the study reveal that in past successive civilian governments in Pakistan did not pay attention to developing a solid local government system and instead preferred controlling districts and tehsils through the bureaucracy, with the absence of democracy and accountability at the local level. Instead of using this third tier of the government for the delivery of swift and better municipal services, they always made an effort to keep them weakened through legislation at different levels. The situation has now got worst in the biggest city and economic hub of Pakistan where people are deprived of basic facilities due to a handicapped system. The Mayor of the biggest city of Pakistan felt powerless as the provincial government through the Sindh Local Government Act 2013 deprived the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation of its main functions. The local bodies will have to be given the authority and essential powers. Only then these institutions can be made capable of providing basic services to the people.
The main focus of this PhD research project is the isolation, structure elucidation and bioassay of steroidal alkaloids of medicinally important plant Sarcococca saligna, belongs to Buxaceae family. Five compounds were isolated from the chloroform fraction of S.saligna through phytochemical investigation i.e. Alkaloid-C (1), Dictyophlebine (2), Sarcovagine-D (3), Saracodine (4) and Holaphylline (5). The structure of compounds was determined through modern spectroscopic techniuqes. These steroidal alkaloids were then screened for various In-vivo biological assays such as hepatoprotective and antidiabetic, while also tested In-vitro biological activities such as immunosuppresent, antibacterial, antifungal, phtotoxicity, insecticidal, cytotoxicity and leshmanicidal activity. The compounds were also investigated as steroidal aromatase inhibitors through molecular docking studies against breast cancer. The selected steroidal alkaloids were screened for In-vivo hepatoprotective and antidiabetic activities. The compounds 1, 3 and 5 markedly decreased hepatic injury by CCl4-injury inducer and mixed inflammatory penetration. Therefore, we explored and suggest that steroidal alkaloids from S.saligna could be excellent hepatoprotective agents. The isolated steroidal alkaloids were also tested for the antidiabetic potential and the result showed that compounds 3 and 5 reduced the glucose level significantly in blood and also make better others diabetes associated complications. The isolated steroidal alkaloids were screened for In-vitro biological assays. Compound 1, 3 and 5 were screened for immunosuppressant activity. Compounds showed inhibitory activities of T-cell proliferation in the range of 78 to 95% and also inhibit IL-2 production which means the tested compounds were excellent immunosuppressive agents. The compounds 2, 3 and 5 were screened for antibacterial activity. The compound 2 showed significant antibacterial activity against S.aureus (79%). The compound 3 showed significant antibacterial activity against P.aeruginosa (79%), while compound 5 showed good antibacterial activity against B.subtilus (72%) and P.aeruginosa (69%) respectively. The isolated steroidal alkaloids were screened for antifungal activity against various pathogenic fungi and showed low to moderate antifungal actions. Compounds 1 and 3 showed low antifungal activity while compound 5 showed moderate antifungal activity against selected pathogenic fungi. The selected steroidal alkaloids were also screened for antileshmanial activity. Compounds 4 showed moderate antileshmainal activity while compound 5 showed significant inhibition against the promastigotes of L. tropica. The phytotoxic effect of compound 5 was observed maximum 66%, while 1 and 2 showed low activity at different concentration level. The isolated steroidal alkaloids were tested for insecticidal activity and among them compound 5 showed maximum activity 65% against T.castaneum, while showed low activity against R.dominica and C.analis (20% and 10%) respectively. The selected steroidal alkaloids were screened for antioxidant actions in which compounds 3 and 5 showed significant antioxidant actions and radical scavenging activity increased up to 78% and 80%. The isolated compounds were also screened for anticancer activity in which compound 2 found to be more active with IC50 value 6.13±0.345, while compound 1 showed moderate anticancer activity with IC50 values 12.98±0.235 against HeLa cells lines. The compounds were to explore as a new steroidal aromatase inhibitors through molecular docking studies in which compound 5 and 1 were active against aromatase enzyme in breast cancer could provide new lead compounds.