ایک حادثہ المناک]مولانا ظفر احمد خاں[
۱۳؍دسمبر ۱۹۷۹ء جمعرات کی شب میں ایک بجے مولانا محمد ظفر احمد خاں صاحب رحلت فرماگئے۔ اناﷲ واناالیہ راجعون۔ ۱۹۳۸ء میں یہ ادارہ قائم ہوا۔ مولانا مرحوم ۱۹۳۹ء میں ندوۃ المصنفین میں بحیثیت کارکن ومنیجر تشریف لائے۔ موصوف کارسالہ برہان اورادارہ ندوۃ المصنفین سے دیرینہ تعلق تھا۔مرحوم کا حضرت مفتی صاحب سے تعلق چالیس ۴۰ سال رہا۔ اوراسی دوران جب سے دفتر کی ذمہ داریاں میرے سپرد کی گئی تھیں وہ ۱۹۶۸ء تھا، زیادہ تراسی وقت سے میرا مرحوم سے قُرب رہا۔موصوف پُرخلوص نیک دل انسان تھے اور وفاداری ان کے مزاج میں بے پناہ پائی جاتی تھی۔موصوف اپنی خود ایک مثال تھے۔ادارہ ندوۃ المصنفین کے وفادار اورایک اعلیٰ معیار کے کارکنوں میں ان کاشمار تھا۔مولوی صاحب میرے لیے سہارا اور ڈھارس تھے کیونکہ مجھ کو اُن سے حوصلہ افزائی اور تقویت حاصل تھی۔ مولوی صاحب کی جدائی میرے واسطے ایک بھیانک انقلاب ہے۔مجھ کویہ دلی صدمہ پہنچا ہے دعافرمائیں کہ مزید ذمہ داریاں سنبھالنے کی اﷲ تعالیٰ مجھ کو بہترین صلاحیتوں سے نوازدیں۔آمین ثم آمین۔
مولوی صاحب اس جہانِ فانی سے رخصت ہونے کے چھ گھنٹے قبل تک رسالہ برہان کاکام انجام دیتے رہے۔ [منیجر ندوۃ المصنفین دہلی، جنوری ۱۹۸۰ء]
Media in its various forms has become a significant part of everyday social life. It influences both how we see ourselves and the world around us to some extent. At different screens of media, images of men and women are presented in different ways and with different characteristics. Studies have been conducted at large regarding representation of gender in movies and television drama serials. This paper was meant to be an addition to this vast canvas of research through analysis of gender representation in the comedy dramas of Pakistan. According to West and Zimmerman’s theory of ‘doing gender’, gender is performed by the people in their everyday actions and interactions. Keeping in view the concept of doing gender this study analyzed roles of males and females and tried to find out how different characters maintain their gender identities in comedy dramas. Results suggested that the characters were, at many places, observed to be acting contrary to the roles associated to their genders by the society. They did or performed gender to maintain their identities.
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.