Western Parameters of Freedom of Expression: A Critique from Islamic Perspective

This study explores Western parameters and principles of freedom of expression from an Islamic perspective. Western thought advocates infinite freedom of speech but it also has some regulations, limits and restraints. Every Western human rights instrument and convention guarantee freedom of expression, but in fact, the excess of freedom is bringing the society to a harsh kind of clash and conflict. In simple words, freedom without sufficient legal and moral restrictions cannot be managed. It is also observed that without strict legal and moral boundaries, it cannot become fruitful for the state and society. Even the Western world, which is representative of maximum freedom of speech, also bounds freedom of expression with some parameters and restrictions. However, it is propagated that the Western laws provide outclass freedom of expression and speech. The actual situation is not as good as it is expressed, because on one hand, the international instruments provide freedom of speech and on the other, they limit it through certain laws. It means freedom of expression is not free of boundaries in the West also. In other words, it is only a mythology and controlled propaganda that the Western thought and civilization provides absolute and unlimited freedom of expression and press in their countries. Instead, Islamic teachings categorically agree to provide the right to freedom of expression but on the other hand, it binds them with some social, moral and legal boundaries to save the society from any kind of clash and conflict. It is perceived Western legal instruments limit freedom of expression with some legal boundaries and laws rather than ethics and morals. It is recommended on behalf of this study that the Western world also puts moral and religious boundaries on freedom of expression for its safety. An analytical & critical approach with qualitative research methodology is adopted in the study.

Weed Population Dynamics and Wheat Productivity under Different Tillage Systems in Pothwar

Agriculture of Pothwar region is mainly rainfed and the small farmers of this area do not get sustainable income from the farmland due to inconsistent and erratic rainfall. Thereore, a two-year field study was carried out at University Research Farm of Pir Mehr Ali Shah-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi located at Mandra-Chakwal Road in district Rawalpindi of Pakistan, to investigate the effect of different tillage practices and sowing years on weed seed bank dynamics and above ground weed flora in rainfed wheat. This study was also aimed at to find out the most efficient tillage practice that conserves the soil moisture for longer period and is economically acceptable to the farming community of Pothwar Region. At the same time it was expected that this investigation would help us to meet the challenges of rainfed wheat of Pothwar Region. Moreover, the information collected based upon this study especially weed flora and soil weed seed bank could be utilized for planning better weed management strategies in rainfed crops in future. Different tillage combinations were included on: T1 = Conventional Tillage (1MB Plowing + 8 Cultivations), T2 = No-till + *Glyphosate, T3 = 1MB Plowing + *Glyphosate, T4 = 1MB Plowing + 4 Cultivations, T5 = Disc Harrowing + *Glyphosate, T6 = Disc Harrowing + 4 Cultivations, T7 = Chiseling + *Glyphosate. Soil samples were collected before sowing to define the soil. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. The effects of treatments were recorded on weed population density, weed population frequency, weed ground coverage, weed dry biomass, weed relative density, weed relative frequency, weed relative ground coverage, weed relative dry weight, weed relative abundance, summed dominance ratio and 29 importance value index of weeds. The data on yield and yield components of wheat viz. number of fertile tillers (m-2) at maturity, spike length (cm), number of spikelet spike-1, number of kernels spike-1,1000-kernel weight, aerial biological yield (t ha-1) and grain yield (t ha-1) were collected at harvest. Soil samples were collected and analysed accordingly to record data for soil parameters like soil moisture content, soil bulk density, soil porosity, organic matter, soil available nitrogen, soil available phosphorus and soil extractable potassium to evaluate the soil properties at pre and post experimentation. Data were analyzed by using MSTAT-C software on computer and treatment means were compared with least significance difference test (LSD) at 5% level of probability. The input and output data was collected for economic evaluation (partial budget, dominance analysis and marginal rate of return analysis) to identify the most affordable tillage combination. Results illustrated that the weed seed density was found maximum (29476) in zero tillage system. The study also revealed that there were small differences of weed seed density under different tillage systems, but the minimum number of seeds was found in reduced tillage systems i. e. T1 (21419) and T4 (22513). The vertical distribution of weed seeds indicated that the highest number of weed seeds (54.99 %) was observed at upper soil layer 0-10 cm, while the least (16.33 %) in lower soil layer 21-30 cm as compared to middle layer 11-20 cm having (28.54 %) seeds. Overall the higher seed density (28032) was observed at post-harvesting of wheat as compared to pre-sowing of wheat (21828) in all the tillage systems during both years of experimentation which could be the result of poor weed control during crop growth and development period. Chenopodium album, Asphodelus tenuifolius and Fumaria indica were considered as the dominant weed 30 community followed by Euphorbia helioscopia, Convolvulus arvensis and Melilotus indica in the overall soil weed seed bank. The weed flora population density, frequency, dry weight and ground coverage were found maximum under T6, T7, T5 and T4 treatments; whereas, these parameters were minimum under T1 which reflects the system’s controlling effect on weed flora and thus resulted in the higher yield. Soil properties were improved in reduced tillage systems i. e. T4 and T6 (conservation tillage systems), but the crop germination and establishment was best under conventional tillage and T3 (according to cluster analysis). The reason of low seedling emergence under conservation tillage systems was probably due to inadequate availability of soil moisture and nutrients well in time. The highest yield (3.5132), (3.1242) t ha-1 and net benefit (888.92), (839.35) $ ha-1 were obtained in case of conventional tillage (T1) followed by reduced tillage (T4) according to partial budget analysis. So, on the base of above mentioned facts further experimentation is recommended on integrated weed management under conservation tillage systems for controlling soil weed seed bank and above ground weed flora for obtaining higher yields, but conventional tillage is still recommended for obtaining higher net benefit. The management of weed flora through integrated weed management under conservation systems may decrease the weed crop competition and improve the moisture and nutrients availability to crop that may increase the crop yield.