New academic session commences at SSUET

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

The Chancellor of the Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology, Mr Z.A. Nizami, has said that the institution has been established after the name of great educationist and reformer Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and, therefore, politics is completely disallowed in its campus.

He made the observation while addressing the orientation session for the newly admitted students of 1st semester at the University's convocation ground. Among others, the session was also addressed by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr Syed Nazir Ahmed, Engr Zakir Ali Khan, General Secretary, Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association, Shah Mahmood Hussain Syed, Registrar, Brig (Rtd) Qamarussalam and Adil Usman, Members Board of Governors besides Dr Javed Rizvi, Dean Faculty of Engineering, Dr M.A. Haleem and Dr Bilal Alvi.

Mr Nizami said that he has spoken to top leaders of various political parties and they have assured of non-interefernce in the university's academic activities.
He pointed out that it is because of strict maintenance of discipline that no one indulges in any kind of anti activities and that is why the university enjoys worldwide recognition and its degree is accepted all over.

He told the new entrants that for them it is a very important occasion as they were starting a new journey towards their future.

He said that the university had been founded and sponsored by Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association (AMUOBA) based on the mission propagated by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and Aligarh spirit.

Mr Nizami said that Higher Education Commission has awarded top `W' category and its disciplines accredited by the Pakistan Engineering Council.

The Chancellor said the credibility of the university can be judged from the fact that it is a member of Commonwealth Universities Association and has collaboration with reputed UK and US universities.

Its syllabus, he explained, is prepared after consulting 80 top universities and colleges and only last week 910 graduates of this university were either doing Masters or service in the US. He said that graduates from this university have bright employment prospects.
He made it clear that the university has been established as a centre of excellence with belief in discipline and merit. Therefore they should take special interest in their classes with 100 percent attendance.

Addressing the session Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Syed Nazir Ahmed, while highlighting the essential need of regularity and punctuality during their 4 year stay in this university, he told them that Engineering College at Aligarh Muslim University was quite different from other sections because the students and teachers both know worth of their time.

He made it clear to them that while studying here, there would be no relaxation for them in assignments given to them or else they would lose the marks.

The Vice-Chancellor said that they would receive here best possible education and it is for them to assimilate and make use of it.

Earlier Engr Zakir Ali Khan, General Secretary AMUOBA, spoke in detail on Aligarh Spirit and Traditions and said that the new entrants have been provided with the literature encompassing these two values. He said these are embodiment of Islamic values and starts with exchange of Assalam-o-Alaikum.

He said Aligarh Muslim University has 30,000 students out of which 30 percent are non-Muslims but even they, when meet each other, exchange greetings with Assalam-o-Alaikum.

Engr Zakir Ali Khan said this university was established under Sir Syed's Mission who wanted to develop the youth with all round qualities. He told them that when they enter the premises of this university, they would be nothing else but only Pakistani and Aligarhian.

He highlighted the facilities provided in sports and said the university has proper sports department and its students have won laurels in various sports. He said their involvement in sports will help them to enjoy their academic pursuits.

Welcoming the new entrants, the Registrar Shah Mhamood Hussain Syed congratulated them for getting admission in this university which, he said, was different from other universities as its sponsors Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association believed in education for developing overall personality and grooming the young generation to shoulder the future responsibilities.

"We not only impart knowledge but also inculcate various character building qualities, self-confidence, humility, accepting challenges and getting things done and see them grow not only as successful citizens of Pakistan but also as a true Pakistani, a Muslim and a true gentleman," he said.

Engr Zakir Ali Khan advised the students to take advantage of state-of-the-art laboratories, library containing latest reference books as well as extra curricular facilities that included both indoor and outdoor sports.

For research work, Registrar said, SSUET has collaboration with many foreign universities.
Members Board of Governors, Brig (Rtd) Qamarussalam and Mr Adil Usman also extended valuable advice to new entrants and their role during their stay in the university for four years.

Later the teachers guided the incoming students to their respective classrooms. It must have been a Red Letter day in the lives of the students in particular.

Famous comedian Shakeel Siddiqui beaten up in India

A prominent Karachi based Pakistani television and stage actor Shakeel Siddiqui was beaten up by some Indian fundamentalist elements in Mumbai on Wednesday, Geo T.V reported.

Famous comedian Shakeel was expected to perform in the famous show ‘Comedy Circus’. For that purpose he was staying in Mumbai, but it seems a group of thugs belonging to Nationalist/fundamentalist Indian mindset has badly beaten the terrific comedian. At the moment it seems a horrible news, as Shakeel has been a famous person in India and was a source of bringing joy to million of faces all across the sub-continent.

It will be interesting to see how this story unfolds and how it would affect the media relations between both the countries. Ghajini is just released in Pakistan after a slight delay and this horrific news is going to further affect the constant deteriorating situation between the two nuclear Nations.

Nazim Karachi briefs Senate committee

Nazim Karachi, Syed Mustafa Kamal has said that big cities with district city governments are country’s urban centres and the reflection of entire country, specially their respective provinces.

The development taking place there has its impact on the entire country and, therefore, a coordinated policy be framed for such citiesand they be given under one command and control. He expressed these views while briefing the Senate StandingCommittee for Local Government and Rural Development at his office on Tuesday.

MQM sees another conspiracy against Karachi

The Investigative Committee of MQM has revealed that a plan has been formed to create a bloodbath in Karachi and anti-social elements were busy to execute this plan. In a statement issued here on Tuesday, the investigative committee said anti-social elements and terrorists had set up their dens in various areas of Landhi and Quaidabad like Shepao Colony and Qazafi Town. They are demanding extortion from local traders. The report said these anti-social elements and terrorists beat up people having sympathies with the MQM.

It said some elected members of an ethnic party were also involved in these activities. The Investigative Committee of MQM demanded from President Asif Zardari, Prime Minister Gilani, Federal Interior Adviser Rehman Malik, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan, Sindh chief minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza to take action against the miscreants.

It also appealed to ANP chief Asfandyar Wali, vice president Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilor, Afsaryab Khattak, Haji Adeel Khan and other leaders to take notice of these criminals who are giving a bad name to the ANP. It also appealed the people of Karachi to keep a close vigil on these elements and inform the government and police of their evil activities.

Biden played role in shedding Musharraf’s uniform: PM

KARACHI: Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani has revealed that the newly-elected US vice president, Joseph Biden had played a key role in doffing off the uniform of former President General rtd Pervez Musharraf.

“ As far as Mr Biden is concerned, he has been a pro-Pakistani, and he has played a key role in restoration of democracy in Pakistan, and doffing off the uniform of General Musharraf. This was not done by us or any other party”, Gilani said while talking to newsmen the handing over of logistic ship to Pakistan Navy at Karachi Shipyard here on Monday.

The prime minister said that the US drone attacks in tribal areas was not permitted by the government and hoped that with the change in leadership in the US, that policy would also be changed.

“There is no agreement with the US in this regard. Pakistan is a sovereign country and no one, including US could not be allowed for drone attacks on Pakistani soil. We are seeking support of other countries against these attacks”, he said.

Mr Gilani said if the US authorities had any proofs regarding presence of terrorists in tribal areas, then it must provide such proofs to Pakistan. “ Our forces will act against them”, he maintained.

Replying to a query regarding Mumbai terrorists attacks, the prime minister said if India provided concrete proofs in this regard, Pakistan would certainly act in line with its own law.

“ We don’t want to indulge in exercise of issuing irresponsible statements in this regard”, he said and added “ Pakistan is a powerful nation, and it can defend itself very well”.

To a question regarding lawyers’ movement, he said that the PPP had rendered more sacrifices than any other party for the independence of judiciary.

“ As far as the lawyers and N-League’s movement for the restoration of deposed judges is concerned, it is their own affair, we have no objection on that.”.

Terming the hanging of former Prime Minister, and founder of the PPP, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto “judicial murder”, the prime minister observed that the issue should be investigated.

To another question, the prime minister said that the MQM Chief Altaf Hussein was an ally to the government, and his party would soon be part of the federal cabinet.

He said that his advisor on interior affairs, Rahman Malik had gone to London with his permission to meet Altaf Hussein,

Referring to the simmering financial crisis, Mr Gilani said that the whole world was in the grip of recession, which has hit Pakistan also.

He said his government had been given a mandate for five years and that the problems confronting the country could not be resolved in eight months.

He said that PPP was not against the current local government system and intended to make it more effective.

“ We will take concrete steps to make this system more effective”, he added.

Earlier, addressing the ceremony, the prime minister hailed the performance of Pakistan navy saying that it was playing a key role in the country’s defence.

He observed that the shipping industry was playing an important role in making the country’s defence impregnable.

“ This is not only playing an important role in the country’s defence, but will also increase the employment opportunities”, he maintained.

The prime minister welcomed the beginning of commercial activities at Karachi Port Trust.

KARACHI Post-Partition

Karachi on the Eve of Partition

On the eve of partition, in spatial terms, Karachi consisted of four distinct areas. One, the old pre-British city and its post-British suburbs which consisted of narrow winding lanes, high densities and wholesale markets. These areas were occupied by the "native" merchant classes and the proletariat that worked for them. The area had a large number of mosques, dharmshalas and Hindu temples. Collectively, this area was known as the "native" city and celebrated Hindu and Muslim festivals with fervour. Two, Saddar Bazaar, which was the Europeanised shopping area, consisting of wide roads on a grid iron plan. This Bazaar also had residential areas dominated by Goans, Parsis and Europeans, who owned much of the businesses in the Bazaar. The Bazaar was dominated by churches, mission schools, community halls and civic buildings owned and operated by trusts belonging to Christians (local and Europeans) and Parsis. To the south-east of Saddar Bazaar were the Civil Lines and military cantonment where the British officers lived and worked and where their clubs were located. Saddar Bazaar and its surrounding areas were known as the European city and here New Year and Easter were celebrated and balls were held. Three, the area between these two "cities" consisted of administrative and civic buildings and educational institutions of higher learning. And four, the area of Lyari and Machi Miani where the working classes lived. A diesel operated tramway linked these areas to each other and to the port.

The population of Karachi at that time was 450,000 of which 61.2 per cent was Sindhi speaking, 6.3 per cent was Urdu-Hindi speaking, 51 per cent was Hindu and 42 per cent was Muslim. By 1951 all this had changed and Karachi’s population had increased to 1.137 million because of the influx of 600,000 refugees from India. In 1951 the Sindhi speaking population was 8.6 per cent, the Urdu speaking population was 50 per cent, the Muslim population was 96 per cent and the Hindu population was 2 per cent1. These changes have had a major effect on the culture, politics and development of Karachi and its relationship to the politics of Sindh and Pakistan. For an understanding of the present situation in the city and the province, an understanding of the repercussions of these demographic changes is essential.

The Physical and Social Repercussions of Migration on Karachi

Karachi was made the capital of Pakistan in 1947. It was separated from Sindh and was known as the Federal Capital Area. Sindhi politicians and intellectuals objected to this separation since it also involved the taking over by the federal authorities of various civic buildings and institutions that previously belonged to the province. This was the first Karachi-Sindh conflict.

The 600,000 refugees who invaded the city occupied all open land and the empty buildings that the fleeing Hindus had left behind. These refugee settlements were multi-class and multi-ethnic. Intellectuals, artists, poets, performers and the working classes all lived together and in walking distance from Saddar Bazaar. Also, walking distance from the Bazaar a university was established in 1952 and the federal secretariat was constructed adjacent to the Bazaar. Embassies were established in the Civil Lines quarters, also walking distance from the Bazaar. The older educational institutions and the Courts of Law were already within walking distance of Saddar. Thus, within four years of the creation of Pakistan, Saddar Bazaar became the centre of the city with a cosmopolitan culture and Karachi became a high density multi-class city. Saddar’s old institutional buildings began to be used for civic functions, entertainment, musical programmes and professional conferences. Bookshops, eating places, bars and billiard rooms and night clubs developed. Politicians, students, diplomats, intellectuals and the working classes all shared this space. Cinemas increased and film festivals were held regularly.
However, the government was anxious to develop a plan for the city of Karachi that was in keeping with its position as the capital of Pakistan. In addition, it was anxious to develop proper accommodation for its civil servants and other employees. To this end, it developed cooperative housing societies around the then city. As a result, the more important and wealthier residents of Saddar and from the refugee settlements moved out. To tackle the problems of the rest of the residents of refugee settlements and new migrants coming from other parts of Pakistan, the government initiated a number of planning processes.

Note:

Source : Arif Hasan, Akbar Zaidi , Muhammad Younus, "Understanding Karachi" A publication of URC

KARACHI Pre-Partition

Legend has it that Karack Bunder was an important port on the Arabian Sea in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth century. It handled the south Indian-Central Asian trade and was situated about 40 kilometres (km) west of Karachi bay on the estuary of the Hub River. The estuary was silted up due to heavy rains in 1728 and the harbour could no longer be used. As a result, the merchants of Karack Bunder, most of whom were Hindus, decided to relocate their activities to what is today known as Karachi.

In 1729, they built a fortified settlement on 35 acres on high ground north of Karachi bay and surrounded it with a mud and timber-reinforced wall of over 16 feet high which had gun-mounted turrets and two gates. The gate facing the sea was called Kharadar, or salt gate, and the gate facing the Lyari River was called Mithadar, or sweet gate. Mithadar and Kharadar are now important neighbourhoods in the old city around where these gates once stood. The settlement was strategically located. There were mangrove marches to the east and south-west, the sea to the west and south-west, and the Lyari River to the north and west. As such, the settlement was very well protected and storming it successfully was only possible from the sea.

Karachi, or Kolachi as the area where it was located was originally called, was a new settlement. However, in its immediate vicinity, there were important and ancient places of Hindu and Muslim pilgrimage. These included the temple of Mahadev, which is mentioned in the Ramayana; the Ram Bagh, where Ram and Sita, heroes of the Ramayana are supposed to have spent a night on the way to their pilgrimage to Hinglaj in Balochistan; the tombs of Abdullah Shah and his brother Yousef Shah, both tenth century sufis (religious person), and the twelfth century tomb and monastery of Manghopir. In addition, buried under the government houses on Bath Island are the remains of the sixteenth century capital of Raja Diborai. The tomb of Morerio, the hero of Shah Abdul Latif’s Sur Ghato is also close to the old city. He is supposed to have lived in the time of Raja Diborai. His descendants are living in the old Karachi goths of Baba Bhit, Rehri and Ibrahim Hydery and are called Moreriopota, of the sons of Morerio. All these important places are now within metropolitan Karachi. However, Karachi’s intelligentsia, academia, public representatives and the citizens at large know very little about these important places which have attracted a large number of pilgrims from the interior of Sindh, Kutch, Rajistan and the western coast of India, from times immemorial to the partition of the Subcontinent.

Between 1729 and 1783, Karachi changed hands several times as the Khan of Kalat and the rulers of Sindh tried to control it due to its strategic location. Finally, in 1783, the city fell to the Talpur Mirs after two prolonged sieges. The Talpurs constructed a fort at Manora point, the entrance to the harbour, and mounted it with cannons, thus making Karachi impregnable. At about this time, the British started taking an interest in Karachi due to the expansion of the Czarist Empire in Central Asia. This led to their opening a factory in Karachi at the end of the eighteenth century. However, due to disagreements with the Mirs of Sindh on trade tariffs, the factory was soon closed down.

In 1838, the British, obsessed with the fear of Czarist expansion to the Arabian Sea, occupied Karachi and it served as the landing port for their troops for the First Afghan War. In 1843, they annexed Sindh and shifted the capital of the province from Hyderabad to Karachi. Subsequently, they made Sindh a district of the Bombay Presidency and Karachi was made the district headquarters. Troops were stationed in Karachi and a services sector to cater to the needs of the army sprung up in what is today Saddar and the Cantonment. A district administration was also developed and it was housed in the Civil Lines area. Thus, the city became divided into the native city, consisting of the old pre-British town and its suburbs, and the European city consisting of the Cantonment, Civil Lines and Saddar Bazaar. The port was improved and steps were taken to develop and market Sindh’s agricultural produce to the Great Britain. To this end, the Indus Steam Flotilla and the Orient Inland Steam Navigation Company were developed to transport cotton and wheat down the Indus and across Karachi bay to Karachi port. As a result of these initiatives, a number of British companies opened their offices and warehouses in Karachi and its population increased from 14,000 in 1838 to 57,000 in 1856. Trade also increased during this period from £122,160 to £855,103.

During this period, a municipal committee, the first in British India, was also established for Karachi and two libraries, the General Library and the Native General Library were set up. The General Library became a part of the Frere Hall Library in 1865 and the Native General Library was absorbed in the Khaliqdinna Hall in 1906. Buildings essential to European social and cultural life were also constructed. The first Church was built in 1843 and is used today as the assembly hall of St. Joseph’s Convent School. Other important churches built during this period are Trinity Church and CMS Church on Lawrence Road. The Collector’s Kutchery (court) and the Kharadar Police Station are some of the few civic buildings belonging to this period that survive.

During this period, an important event occurred in Karachi. In 1857, the native troops rebelled against the British in support of the war for independence that had engulfed India. The rebellion was crushed by the British. Seven freedom fighters were publicly hanged in Artillery Maidan and three others were blown from the mouth of cannons. An eyewitness account states, "Their remains were immediately collected by sweepers and carted away to a pit at some distance. After this those who had been hanged were cut down like so many dead dogs and taken away in the same manner, and thus ended one of the most awful and imposing spectacles for the people of Karachi to be ever held.". One week later, another 14 freedom fighters were hanged in a similar manner and Ramdin Panday, the ring leader of the Karachi revolutionaries was blown from the mouth of a cannon. Karachi has not honoured these freedom fighters and no monuments have been built to them and nor have any roads been named after them.

Between 1856 and 1872, Karachi’s population did not increase although trade figures increased from £ 855,103 to over £ 5 million. The reason for the increase in trade figures is that between 1861 and 1865 there was a big boom in the cotton trade in Sindh as Sindhi cotton replaced American cotton as raw material in the British textile industry. This was because supplies from America had been disrupted due to the American Civil War. It was during this boom period that the Karachi Chamber of Commerce was established and has since then played an important role in the economic development of the city. However, at the end of the American Civil War, trade in Karachi dropped from Rs 66 million to 38 million and the membership of the Chamber of Commerce fell from 15 members in 1865 to 8 in 1872.

The expansion of trade during the American Civil War was aided by the development of the Sindh Railway in 1861, which linked Karachi to the cotton and wheat producing areas. The decision to extend this railway into the Punjab and subsequently link it up with northern India was taken in 1869 and this increased Karachi’s "catchment" area. At the same time the British began the development of perennial irrigation schemes in Punjab and Sindh. These schemes brought large desert areas under cultivation and increased activity at Karachi port. As a result, by 1868, Karachi became the largest exporter of wheat and cotton in India. Karachi also received a boost with the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, which made it the nearest port in India to the UK.

A lot of important civic buildings and churches were built during this period. They include St. Andrew’s Church in Saddar, St. Paul’s Church in Keamari and another St. Paul’s in Manora. In addition, City Courts and Frere Hall were constructed during this period and a number of mission and English language schools, including Grammar School, St. Joseph’s School and St. Patrick’s School were built. The Karachi Zoo was also established during this period on the site of the old British factory and a lot of domestic architecture of this period still survives.

Between 1872 and 1901, the population of Karachi more than doubled. The reasons for this were the completion of the railways which linked Karachi to the Punjab, northern India and Sindh and their wheat and cotton production started flowing through Karachi. Oil extraction was also undertaken in Sui, near the railway line 450 kms from Karachi. This was also exported from Karachi port. In this period water supply and drainage systems were developed for the city and the population of the old town decreased as water pipe lines were laid outside of it. In 1881 the population of Karachi was 73,056 of which 68,332 lived in the old town. By 1911 the population of the old town had decreased to less than 48,000. The Karachi Port Trust (KPT) was also created for the city during this period.

In 1885, the tramway was introduced in Karachi. It was owned by the East India Tramway Company and functioned on steam power. However, it was replaced by horse-drawn carriages in 1892 since Karachites objected to the noise made by the steam locomotives and claimed that animals which were then used for transport purposes, were scared of the locomotive sound. Empress Market was built in 1889, the D.J. Science College in 1887 and the Sindh Madrassah in 1885. Thus, Karachi acquired its most important landmark and its first institutions of higher learning during this period.

Between 1901 and 1911, Karachi’s population increased by 37 per cent. The reason for this was that a number of irrigation schemes were completed in the Punjab and Sindh thus increasing exportable agricultural produce. 260,000 acres of irrigated land producing more than 10,000 tons of wheat and cotton each were added by the Jamrao Canal Project in southern Sindh alone and over 6.8 million acres of irrigated land were added in the Punjab as a result of three major projects. To meet the resulting demand placed on Karachi by wheat and cotton exports, Karachi port was further developed, labour imported from the interior of the province, and merchants migrated from all over India to profit by the expansion of trade. By 1904, Karachi’s trade had expanded to over Rs 300 million.

During this period, Karachi expanded, and innumerable commercial, civic and educational buildings were added to it including Khaliqdinna Hall and the Victoria Museum. The Hall was built in 1906 and is famous because the trial of Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar and Maulana Shoukat Ali was held here during the Khalafat Movement.

Between 1911 and 1947, the expansion of irrigation systems in the Punjab and Sindh continued, adding to trade in Karachi. In addition, railways were expanded to link Karachi with Rajhstan, thus adding to its hinterland. During the First World War (1914-18) Karachi became a military base as it was the first port of call for ships coming through the Suez Canal and was the gateway to the Russian Empire north of Afghanistan. In 1924, the first airport in British India was constructed in Karachi and at about the same time Karachi also developed a reputation for having a healthy climate most suitable for patients of asthma and TB. This added to its population. In 1935, Sindh was separated from Bombay and became a separate province. Karachi was made its capital. Law courts, revenue departments, line departments and social sector departments were established in Karachi thus increasing its population and importance. Sindh’s landed aristocracy started building homes in the city and merchants who previously had their head offices in Bombay shifted to Karachi so as to be near the new seat of power.

During the Second World War, Karachi became the military base and port for supplies to the Russian front. Troops were stationed and trained here, military intelligence services functioned from here and telegraph and telecommunication systems were developed as a result. After the War Karachi became the centre for supplies to the allied troops in South and South-East Asia. This again increased its importance and between 1911 and 1941 its population increased by 133.4 per cent. It is estimated that 90 per cent of Karachi’s growth between 1921 and 1941 was the result of migration.
During this period, a number of beautiful buildings were added to the city, all of which testify to its growing importance and to the consolidation of its merchant classes. These buildings include the Karachi Port Trust (1915), Bank of India (1923), the Chamber of Commerce (1923), Hindu Gymkhana (1925), the High Court (1929), the Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC) Building (1931) and the Old Sindh Assembly (1940) where the Pakistan Resolution was passed.


Note:

Source : Arif Hasan, Akbar Zaidi , Muhammad Younus, "Understanding Karachi" A publication of URC