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Pakistan Institute of Engineering & Applied Sciences

Contents
Articles

The Bargain - Amna Rashid

A Helping Hand - Nauman Shahid Khan

Hearsay - Hasan Ashraf

Why Rag - Saqib Manzoor

Back from the gym - Hasan Javed Goreja

10

Life is Unfair - Nauman Shahid Khan

11

Maverick - Ali Shehzad

12

The Witches of Demon-Isle - Nauman

14

Animal Abuse - Nauman Shahid Khan

16

Just a life - Ayesha Tahir

17

We dont like cricket; We love it - Uzain Ijaz

19

On Religion - Saqlain Ali Asad

20

Effect of Global Warming - Maryam Zafar

21

KINESICS - Munim Rehman Kiyani

22

Divinity - Defined over ages - Abeer Fatima

24

Feelings of a PhD Scholar - Mushtaq Ahmad Rai

26

Reasonableness of Doubt - Philosphical Perspective - Usman Ayub Sheikh

27

The 8 most absurd published scientific papers - Abuzar Sharafat

31

(de) Ranging Fever - Amna Rashid

32

Quotes - Qadeer Khan

33

Poems

34

YOU, my friend! - Zeeshan Nayyar

35

Truth - Nauman Shahid Khan

36

Till the very end - Ali Shad Khan

36

A Melancholic Apology - Hasan Ashraf

37

A Story about a very poor family - Saqib Manzoor

38

A Dream - Hasan Ashraf

39

Epiphany - Hasan Ashraf

39

How to make a Hero - Rija Iqbal

40

Carry me away - Nauman

40

Sky - Ahmer Latif Khan

41

Love - Ahmer Latif Khan

41

Biggest Breakthroughs

42

Power Pages

46

PIEAS Performing Arts Society

47

PIEAS Debating Society

48

PIEAS Islamic Society

49

PIEAS Literary Society

50

Club Reports

51

The Bargain

Amna Rashid
BSEE 11-15

Fatima was sitting at her window, gazing out at the dusty and rocky terrain that stretched away to the horizon,
and into infinity. She was a Balochi girl living in Kharan, Central Balochistan. Her family, comprising of her parents,
brother, and herself, was living with their tribe. They were poor people, living off the goats and sheep they reared,
very poor and very proud, saviors of their ancient traditions and culture, born at the dawn of civilization, which had
remained unchanged through centuries.
Fatima was eleven years old, but surprisingly mature and thoughtful for her age. It was unmistakably in
consequence of her difficult life in the harsh climate where she lived. It affected every one: the men around her
were dismal, with wills of concrete shaped and molded by their never ending struggle against nature.
Fatima reflected on the bleak future prospects of her area. They had no facilities: electricity, gas or water,
there was nothing. Hardly anyone was educated. Her brother would tell her that one day the government
would come and build roads and provide water and life would become easy. But that day had not come, and
deep down in her heart, she believed it never would.
Night fell in the desert, bringing with it a cold wind. Fatima waited for her brother, but he had not yet come home
from his work. She and her brother were very close. She knew that he loved a girl from another tribe, and she too
liked him. But her parents had arranged her marriage with another person, regardless of her own wishes. It was the
girl's religious right to decide her fate, but here no one cared.
Next morning, her brother was still missing. Panicking slightly, Fatima asked her father about him. In his gruff
manner, her father told her that he had run away from the tribe with his sweetheart, and was fleeing towards the
nearest city. Fatima was filled with dread. It was another story of people trying to gain independence from their
tribal traditions. Such things happened every other day, and she painfully recalled, the results were always
disastrous. The males would get away with it, and the women would be tormented and tortured. The chase would
be hot after her brother and his beloved. And if they were caught, well, the jirga would decide their fate.
That night, Fatima prayed that her brother and Anisa would be able to elude the tribesmen who had doubtlessly
been sent after them. She knew the ways of her people. It was a matter of honour, and honour here was more
important than love, family, religion, or even life. A man could sacrifice his wife, sister or daughter to regain his lost
pride and prestige. Poor Anisa was sure to be executed in some barbarous way, and even this would not be the
end. Another girl from Fatima's own tribe would suffer.
Two days later, the unfortunate couple was caught by the tribesmen and brought back to the village. The
women of the village assembled at the house of the tribal leader to plead for the girl's life and freedom. But no one
paid them any attention. After all it was a matter of great esteem, and was, as such, sacred. They were all men of
influence including those from Anisa's tribe. This very jirga had condemned many women in the name of honour,
and so far, no one had dared to defy its orders. Indeed there was no one to go. The police was under their control.
The judges could always be bribed. People were too afraid to disobey their leader and file a case or hire a lawyer,
and no one had enough money to do so even if they had wanted to. And there were the never ending traditions,
cruel and relentless, fostered through the ages.
Fatima's father and brother also attended the jirga. At the very beginning, Anisa's father announced that
Fatima's brother had besmirched his honour by running away with his daughter. He intended to get suitable
compensation for this indignity and humiliation. Otherwise a war would be declared between the two tribes.
All day long the jirga discussed the situation. All that time, Fatima waited with bated breath. How she wished that
for once justice would be delivered and both her brother and Anisa would be allowed to go free. But she knew that
whenever something like this happened, hearts were turned to stone, and it became the aim of the whole village,
and indeed a necessity to avenge the disgrace before they could rest in peace. Only a month ago, a woman had
run away from her husband who used to get drunk and beat her on every other matter. The entire male community
had come out armed and combed every nook and cave of the dry and barren mountains, till they found the

When a leopard dies, he leaves his coat. When a man dies, he leaves his name.

woman, half starved, with sore limbs, trying to find her way to the nearest town. She had been dragged back and
then shot to death in the centre of the village, every one watching the scene of horror designed to warn all those
who dared to disobey.
At sundown, the jirga announced its judgment. Anisa, who had dared defy her parent's choice in marriage, and
eloped with a boy of another tribe, was declared 'Kari. She would be buried alive to avenge the disgrace caused
to her family. For the freedom of Fatima's brother, two minor girls of her family: Fatima herself, and a six year-old
cousin of her's, were declared 'Vani'. They were to be given away in marriage to Anisa's seventy year old father.
Anisa's grave was dug in a corner, at the foot of the mountains. She was dragged to it by her hair and thrown into
the ten-foot deep pit. As the men covered her with dust and stones, her helpless cries for mercy were suffocated,
and then died down. It was all over. Justice was done. Anisa was dead.
When Fatima heard of this disaster and her own fate, she was overwhelmed with wretchedness and despair. She
burst into tears and cried till she could cry no longer. Her eyes were swollen and her body was in anguish. She felt as if
her heart would burst with misery. Only a miracle could save her now. Perhaps she would die of despair, or God
would change the minds of everyone. The idea of committing suicide came to her mind for a moment, and only for
a moment. It vanished as quickly as it had appeared. Suicide was a cowardly act. God had forbidden it, and
however helpless she may become, Fatima was not a coward.
At that moment two armed men burst into her room and took her out. Knowing the futility of a struggle, she
limply allowed herself to be dragged. She knew that she would be beaten if she resisted, and she was already in
enough pain. There she saw her cousin, who due to her youth was quite ignorant of the hell she was being
sentenced to. As her marriage was solemnized, Fatima contemplated her situation. Neither was she the first, nor
would she be the last to pay the price of the crimes of her male relatives. She felt like a commodity or a sacrificial
animal, not a human being with feelings, hopes and dreams of her own. She had no control over her destiny, no say
in one of the most important matters of her life. She was doomed to be a menial drudge at the mercy of an
unfeeling beast. It was like an agreement signed in hell, a deal involving the sale and purchase of goods. It was a
bargain in its true meaning, and she was just a part of the merchandise being sold away.

I think we are well advised to keep on nodding terms with the people we used to be, whether we find them
attractive company or not. Otherwise they turn up unannounced and surprise us, come hammering on the
mind's door at 4 a.m. of a bad night and demand to know who deserted them, who betrayed them, who is
going to make amends. We forget all too soon the things we thought we could never forget.
(Joan Didion: Slouching Towards Bethlehem)

The poor man is not he who is without a cent, but he who is without a dream.

A Helping Hand

Nauman Shahid Khan

BSME 12-16

Malik was a very old man, so old that seeing him lift a stone was painful. He was nearing his 90 birthday, but
th

still held fast to his principle of earning bread by sheer hard work and labour. Malik worked as a local labourer for 8
hours a day, but the poor man was only given a meager wage of 1000 rupees per month.
Fate had been very cruel to Malik for the last 60 years of his working life as a labourer, and he wished that his
upcoming birthday would bring him some happiness. Luckily for Malik, his wish was fulfilled by Almighty Allah, not in
the form of money, but by providing him with a helping hand.
As Malik walked along the G.T. road looking for work on his 90th birthday, he saw a young man in rags lying on the
ground muttering for somebody to bring him some water. Malik gave him some water from his own water skin and
asked the man what his name was.
My name is Sheikh Suleiman and I was a very rich businessman, but fate took a cruel turn and I am now in the
state you see me in, the man said.
Fate has been even crueler to you than it has to me, replied Malik, stunned.
You look very old; you must be in your nineties yet I see that you still carry a spade on your shoulders. How do you
manage to work in such heat?, asked Suleiman in amazement.
I have been doing this work for the last 60 years, my boy!, replied Malik. If you like, can I adopt you as my son
because I have never got the chance to marry in my life? asked Malik intently.
Yes of course Baba, I would like nothing more than to help you in earning bread by fair means!, Suleiman
exclaimed.
Thus Malik got his best birthday gift, and Sheikh Suleiman started earning. Soon he became a master of his work
and Malik was really happy to see that Suleiman wanted to give him some of his 2000 Rupees salary. As he was
young, he often told Malik to sit down while he worked overtime.
One day luck shone upon Suleiman as well, and he found his old partner who invited him back into business.
Suleiman took Malik with him, but Malik, now aged 95, was too old to even move and often stayed ill. A day came
when Malik took seriously ill, and called Suleiman to his bed.
My dear son, you must always learn to find a way and earn your bread by fair means. Look how fate has been
grateful to you, and I hope that you will now never need a helping hand in your life. Saying these words, Malik's
eyes closed forever, and Suleiman was left crying his heart out.
Suleiman however continued his life as an honest person, and now at the age of 95, he is proud to still stand and
say that he never needed a helping hand in his life.

But love is much like a dam: if you allow a tiny crack to form through which only a trickle of water can
pass, that trickle will quickly bring down the whole structure, and soon no one will be able to control the
force of the current. For when those walls come down, then love takes over, and it no longer matters what is
possible or impossible; it doesn't even matter whether we can keep the loved one at our side. To love is to
lose control.
(Paulo Coelho: By the river Piedra, I sat down n wept)

Only fools are glad when governments change.

Hasan Ashraf

Hearsay

BSEE 11-15

When the wind blows on a summer evening and a thunderstorm is afoot, I am afraid. In the darkness when soft
music plays and melodious voices rise, I am afraid. I am afraid of the time when the flower blooms and there is no
one to tend to it. No human soul to share words with, to ask sudden frivolous questions and to just sit down with and
sip a cup of tea. I am afraid of the darkness, when the dark plays tricks on your mind and frightens you out of your
wits.
I was not born this way. As I recall, I was a happy child. I had normal parents. I had a normal childhood. I went to a
perfectly normal school and had lunch with normal children in normal cafs. There were times when my life
touched the sublime, but I was never afraid. I was never afraid of a shadow growing over me in the playground. The
rustling in the grass did make me fly but I was never afraid of it. It was self-preservation and not the fear of terrible
things afoot; events that would destroy the world.
How did I come to be this way? If you want to know, then let me tell you a story. It begins in an unremarkable
town in the country I live in. The town I speak of was situated somewhere in the foot of the great hills, beside the river.
It lay at the edge of a vast plane of fertile land. Though the people of this town were poor, they cared for each other
in subtle ways. There was no brotherhood; they did not share in each other's every sorrow and every joy. But they did
not wish death upon their neighbours and were generally amiable people. I lived in that town; I was born and raised
there.
There came upon us a great winter one year. The snow piled at our doors, and little children played about in the
little valleys and hills the snow had created. The sun would rise on a dismal scene every day. People huddled over
gas stoves would try to drive the cold away. It sunk into the marrow and chilled us to the bones. As the winter wore
on, our town was cut off from the rest of the country. There was little food and the howling of the wolves at night
might have been the crying child as it called for its mother.
The food was rationed for obvious reasons. Discontentment had been growing among the populace and when
someone accused the Copperfield family of bribing the officials to get more than their share of the supplies, a great
controversy arose. The family had only moved to the town last year.
No one knew the truth of the matter and no one could, for the accusation was not made in public. It first arose as
a rumor, a tremor in the social fabric. The winter had left us desperate; the people wanted to blame someone and
nature was not a conscious agency. The blame fell on people like the Copperfields. Perhaps there would have
been little reaction to this news if it weren't for the circumstances we found ourselves in. The local councilor met with
Mr. Copperfield. There could've been no trial, for no one had lodged a formal complaint against him-yet.
As winter wore out, the storm died its own death. Spring came, bringing with it the fruition that had died out in
that small town. The river ran anew and snaked its way to the sea far out in the uncharted territory. Nature
reinvented herself; flowers bloomed and the trees acquired a shade of brilliant green. But enmity slumbered within
the hearts of a few. The town with friendly people was not so friendly anymore. It was slouching its way to
disharmony. Mankind would accuse one of its own for preying on their share on hearsay.
One dusky evening a complaint was lodged with the police. It accused Arthur Copperfield of preying on public
property. Arthur was arrested and the date of hearing set. The chief witness in the case had an ideological quarrel
with Arthur and he also happened to be one of the functionaries at the warehouse where the food was stored
every winter. Arthur and Penfield, the man who had accused him, belonged to two opposing factions of a political
party.
I haven't really answered the question I set out to answer and perhaps you're convinced that I am going
nowhere with this story. It is as easy to trivialize an act of violence as it is to oppress a subservient person. Arthur
Copperfield was jailed for three years. During that time, his family moved on. They left the town. His friends refused to
see him. Three years is a long time to think about the injustices the world has visited upon you. Bitter and alone, he
tasted the dank prison air every morning and let the anger consume him.

Fear is the tax that conscience pays to guilt.

Penfield was lauded as the whistle-blower on a public enemy. Government functionaries talked of having
made an example of a petty thief who had tried to trick the system. What had started out as an accusation was
now common knowledge. The voices piled up. It appeared that Arthur Copperfield was one of the most
loathsome criminals in the history of the town.
A year after he was released, the Sunday daily carried the news that Arthur Copperfield had died. His funeral
was attended by five people. Three of them were students at the local seminary. Public opinion asserted that he
got what he deserved.
This is the reason I am afraid. I am afraid I'll turn into a Penfield or die like a Copperfield. When the winds blow
outside on a winter night, I slip between the covers and pray that I never have to walk that path. When Jupiter glows
in all its glory over this wretched place, I am not jocund. I try to pretend that social oppression cannot kill a man. I
never try to question the prevalent hierarchy for I am afraid. Do you want to know who Penfield is? I cannot say I
know him. He's a part of the society I live in. Perhaps I meet him every day. I do not think that the world is evil. There is
virtue in this world, but that is not a comforting thought.
Someone once told me that in a competition, the smart group doesn't play by the rules. There is no law it holds
sacred. The end justifies the means, even though neither the means nor the end might be justifiable. The meek
accept their fate and give in. I do not want to give in.
I am afraid of the time when I would internalize the vices I see every day. I am afraid of persecution, I am afraid of
being left all alone. The silence in the theater makes me nauseous.
The bald tree on a wintry eve frightens me. The stony smiles I receive everyday frighten me. You might say I am
paranoid and I shall agree. I do not want to slight you in any way for to die a Copperfield is to die in obscurity.

Your children are not your children.

They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let our bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.
(Khaid Gibran)

Who gossips to you will gossip of you.

Why Rag?

Saqib Manzoor
BSEE 11-15

After my F.sc exams, a time of great confusion followed. Preparing for admission tests for different universities, I
was clueless as to where I would end up. I wondered whether I would get admitted to a good university. Finally, the
results came. I had cleared a few entry tests and decided to come here, to PIEAS. The prospect of living away from
home made me nervous and excited. Some of my classmates told me that they tease the newcomers in every
university and I thought, 'How bad can it be?'
I met my room-mates. Classes began soon after our arrival. Everything seemed to be happening very fast; but
then I heard a rumor. One of my batch mates had been ragged within our first week here. So my classmates were
right, I thought. They do tease newcomers. As time wore on, more and more of my friends and classmates were
ragged. The question is what really happens when they 'tease' the newcomers?
Some of you might be laughing at this question; others would be proud to have ragged their juniors. But the
question I'm asking is a moral one. Is it right to do this? To tease, harass and humiliate the newcomers and that too, in
the name of 'interacting' with them? Building their confidence? Helping them settle in a foreign environment?
I would define ragging as making one's juniors do anything against their will that borders on the vulgar in one
way or the other. Any sane person would tell you that based on the definition ragging sounds immoral. So why rag?
One victim of ragging, B (the real name cannot be mentioned here for obvious reasons) had this to say: Those who
rag their juniors like to relate it to manliness, i.e. 'attitude'. They want to feel powerful and respected. B conjectured
that perhaps they rag juniors for lack of proper entertainment. He even went as far as to speculate that these
people might be psychologically ill and might need therapy. I'm not sure if all of B's views are correct, but if I had
been ragged and someone had asked me the same question, my answer would have been the same.
B further expressed that there is this trend, where people who are or were ragged tend to rag their juniors. This
creates a chain of ragging in which the cruelties propagate from one generation of students to the next. You
cannot justify your actions by arguing that since you were ragged by your seniors, you retain the right to inflict the
same upon your juniors.
Another attitude I find disagreeable among people is that if they feel a junior has disrespected them by not
calling them 'bhai' or by being too candid with them, they punish the juniors by ragging. I don't know if this is ego, or
just another lousy excuse to 'tease' the newcomers. Is this right? Someone who is merely a year younger than you
doesn't call you 'big brother' and you rough him up for that? Is this the way to gain the respect of your juniors? Will
they respect you for this? When I asked B whether he respected his seniors for it he had this to say:'' jin logon ny meri
ragging ki hy main un k munh py unko 'bhai, bhai' kehta hun laikin dil main galiyaan daita hun.
They will call you 'bhai' on your face and would append a curse or two to your name within the safety of their
rooms. I wish I could go down that road but unfortunately, a lot of it would get edited out.
The hostel warden, Dr. Tariq Majeed, when asked why he was against ragging said that parents entrust him with
their children and the hostel administration was responsible for maintaining a friendly environment where these
children can study and learn. If a student cannot focus on learning because of the environment then the fault lies
with the hostel administration; this includes the issue of ragging. Once a parent (whose son had been ragged)
called the warden and complained to him, pointing out that he had trusted and put his child under the
administration's care so that he could study, sobbing all the way through the call. This is too high a cost for healthy
'interaction' between seniors and juniors.
I have had arguments on this topic with people who speak in favor of ragging. They have told me ragging
makes for good, healthy interaction between seniors and juniors. They are of the opinion that getting ragged could
have certain long term benefits for the juniors as well. The seniors who ragged them might recommend them for a
very high-paying job somewhere, sometime in the future. Whether that is likely or not, sacrificing one's self-respect is
still too high a cost for it. A former member of the Hostel Committee told me that ragging or fooling diminishes the
communication gap between seniors and juniors. Although it is not possible to draw a sharp boundary between

Without the fire of enthusiasm there is no warmth in victory.

ragging and fooling, when this interaction occurs within the confines of a hostel room then the victim himself
defines the limits. If he resists, he will be left alone. The seniors ought to take the hint. But the fact remains that these
limits aren't defined. People from different backgrounds come to live in hostels; many of them may not be familiar
with ragging at all before coming there. S, another victim of ragging told me that after getting ragged one retains
a two-faced image of one's seniors. Those who greet and meet you like the most decent people on earth might just
be the most perverted people you'll come across in the world. Another popular argument in favor of ragging is that
it increases one's self-confidence. Both B and S were of the opinion that as long as there is no vulgarity this
interaction helps in building the self-confidence of the juniors.

S wanted to explore the difference between fooling and ragging. He said that fooling of the type that happens
in the presence of teachers and female class fellows should be promoted. He said, he himself would do it and
encourage his juniors to do it as well. But ragging which results in learning a host of new vulgar habits doesn't really
help much with anything.
If ragging is discouraged somehow fooling would automatically rise to fill the gap, because then it would be the
primary means of senior/junior interaction. Since there are no definitive limits between ragging and fooling, how
can this be done? The warden said that victims must report ragging otherwise the hostel administration cannot do
anything about it. Mistreating or punishing anyone without proof is not the aim here. The perpetrators are fined from
rupees five thousand for ragging to rupees two hundred just for being present in the audience. (I would like to
mention what exactly happens, but unfortunately I cannot)
S however, was of the opinion that fines, punishments and eviction notices won't help curb this evil. In order to
put an end to this trend, those who get ragged must bear it and not inflict the same upon their juniors. If one wrongs
another for the express reason that he himself was wronged, then his/her morality is skewed. If a group of people as
a whole decide to act and put an end to this by abstaining from 'teasing' their juniors, ragging incidents would
decrease drastically.
Whether or not ragging should be stopped, interaction is necessary between seniors and juniors. The freshmen
need all the help and guidance they can get in universities and it is the responsibility of the seniors to make sure they
get it. To bridge the gap in the initial stages of the new session, the old students tend to fool or rag the newcomers.
This is a good way for the old students to get to know the juniors and the juniors to get to know their seniors as well. But
when it comes down to vulgarity, when mere interaction becomes a matter of losing one's self-respect, then it is
imperative that ragging be discouraged.

Go out in the early days of winter, after the first cold snap of the season. Find a pool of water with a sheet of
ice across the top, still fresh and new and clear as glass. Near the shore the ice will hold you. Slide out
farther. Farther. Eventually you'll find the place where the surface just barely bears your weight. There you
will feel what I felt. The ice splinters under your feet. Look down and you can see the white cracks darting
through the ice like mad, elaborate spider webs. It is perfectly silent, but you can feel the sudden sharp
vibrations through the bottoms of your feet. That is what happened when Denna smiled at me. I don't mean
to imply I felt as if I stood on brittle ice about to give way beneath me. No. I felt like the ice itself, suddenly
shattered, with cracks spiraling out from where she had touched me.
(Patrick Rothfuss: The Name of the Wind)

Who accepts nothing has nothing to return.

Back from the gym

Hasan Javed Goreja

MSME 11-13

was always impressed by Hollywood actors. No matter how old they grew, they still had those six-pack abs.

Whenever there was a shirtless scene, their well-shaped muscles dominated the screen.
As luck would have it, I also opted to become like one of these hunks and started searching for a gymnasium
near my home. It was only on the fourth day of my search that I triumphantly found a gym, albeit small and shabby. I
went inside to get information about the rates of their registration and other charges. A huge guy in his mid-30s, with
his head shaved and sporting a French beard, was sitting there on the counter waiting for prey, like my humble self.
Hi! How do you do sir? I asked. He, instead of giving me the prompt reply I was expecting, gave me such a hard
stare that I felt like I had just disembarked from a UFO, right in front of him. What do you want?, came the reply.
After a mostly one-sided conversation, and much ado, I succeeded in driving home the point. He passed me a
form, probably printed half a decade ago, and asked me to fill it. After the toil, I attached a cheque for the amount
he asked for. He directed me to collect the registration card from the same counter the next day.
Only I know how I spent those 24 hours. I imagined myself wearing a skin tight shirt, all muscles shaped up like
Arnold, walking on the beach, taking off my shirt casually as I saw different heroes do in movies.
The next day was my day. I couldn`t wait till dusk, the time at which the gym opened. I was at the main gate half an
hour early. At about six in the evening, I was confronted with the same shabby guy. This time his eyes told that he
had just come from bed and was half asleep.
Anyway, then came the time when I started working skillfully (read, playing) with the instruments placed there. It
was the first time I was in such a hall crammed with robot-like machines. I had no idea where and how to start. So I
started working-out on my own.
The rest of the day was full of energy. I felt stronger and fitter than before. The night`s sleep was also quite serene.
But the effects of that not-so-intense workout started to show as soon as I woke up in the morning. The moment I set
my foot on the floor and tried to stand up, I collapsed onto the bed. My thighs ached. After some hard work, I finally
made it to a standing position. The next hurdle was to go down the stairs. You cannot imagine how I felt when it took
me 15 minutes to descend just a dozen steps.
Going to work was no less than a nightmare that day. When I sat down my back ached. My shoulder hurt when
I extended my arm. My hands trembled when I picked my half-filled coffee mug. In short, that day passed like a
hot year without electricity. That evening I decided to hop back to my a-mile-a-day routine.
(Please note that this article of mine had already been published by Dawn newspaper and can be accessed at:
http://archives.dawn.com/archives/72382)

An old Sufi story

A man entered a village and went to see the Sufi Master. The visitor said "I'm deciding whether I should
move here or not - and I'm wondering what the people here are like?" The Sufi Master said "Tell me, what
kind of people live where you come from" The visitor said "They were robbers, cheats and liars" The Sufi
Master said "You know, those are exactly the same kind of people who live here" The visitor left and never
came back. Another visitor entered the village and asked the same question of the Sufi Master "I am
thinking of moving here - can you tell me what the people are like? Again the Sufi Master asked "Tell me,
what kind of people live where you come from?" The visitor said "Oh, they are the kindest, gentlest, most
compassionate, loving people. I shall miss them terribly" The Sufi Master said "Those are exactly the kinds
of people who live here too"

Sympathy: Two hearts tugging at one load.

10

Life is Unfair

Nauman Shahid Khan

BSEE 12-16

t was not my fault! It was not my fault! Max kept repeating the same words over and over again. This was
normal routine for Max; he neither ate nor slept. He just kept repeating the same words since he had been brought
into Central Prison the previous week.
To anybody who had seen him before, Max's appearance now would undoubtedly be shocking. A week ago
on Christmas Eve, Max had been the jolliest person. He had a talent for making great friends and these friendships
blossomed due to his happy-go-lucky lifestyle. Although Max had a great many friends, none were as dear to him
as Paul, the Shipping Manager.
They were as close to perfect friends as anyone could get. Seeing them hand in hand on Christmas Eve made
the fact unbelievable that Paul hadn't come to see Max even once since he came to Prison. In fact, it was all Paul's
fault that had landed Max in that wretched place.
Will you do a small favor for me, Max? Paul had innocently asked while they were crossing the road.
Of course, Paul! Anything for you. replied Max, and that was the start of it. Paul asked Max to deliver a
package for him and gave the reason that he himself could not deliver it because of shortage of time. Max
naturally agreed to the request and after receiving the address immediately commenced his job. He didn't even
stop to inform his family or friends.
The journey went well and soon Max was on a plane to Canada. He arrived the next day and followed through
everything smoothly as if he was a local; but little did he know that he was soon going to be in deep trouble.
He picked up his baggage and started to leave when suddenly, an authoritative voice called for him to stop.
Startled, Max turned around, only to be confronted by ten armed policemen.
What is that in your hand? asked one of them.
It is a package Sir! I have to deliver it to my friend in Toronto. replied Max innocently.
When the officer insisted he open it, Max declined saying it was not his own. Suspicion showed clearly on the
faces of the policemen and it was not long before Max was sitting in their office explaining that it was not his fault.
The package when opened had revealed $100,000 worth of Heroine. Max had been framed as a 'smuggling pro'
and the court sentenced him to life imprisonment.
To his family and friends, Max is long dead as they do not know his whereabouts, and he may be mentally dead
because he just keeps repeating the same words over and over again. However, to those who know his story, he
did not deserve this hell-doomed cell for the rest of his life. He had simply agreed to do a job for a friend, which went
terribly wrong.

Does it break my heart, of course, every moment of every day, into more pieces than my heart was made of,
I never thought of myself as quiet, much less silent, I never thought about things at all, everything changed,
the distance that wedged itself between me and my happiness wasn't the world, it wasn't the bombs and
burning buildings, it was me, my thinking, the cancer of never letting go, is ignorance bliss, I don't know,
but it's so painful to think, and tell me, what did thinking ever do for me, to what great place did thinking
ever bring me? I think and think and think, I've thought myself out of happiness one million times, but
never once into it."(Jonathan Safran Foer)

11

When a blind man carries a lame man, both go forward. - Swedish proverb

Maverick

Ali Shehzad
BSME 11-15

Who the hell are we kidding man?

And that was the moment I removed my Beats from the ears and decided to give this care-free lunatic a shot.
Judging from his clothes and posture, he seemed to be high. He was aged around 17 and was my only companion
in the locomotive cabin compartment.
Excuse me?
You heard me right bro. I've just about had it with the TV channels and papers showing us all the crap going on
in our country. 'The politicians have brought nothing but pain to these people'. 'OH look! Our justice system has
crashed'.' Boom! and there goes the economy, blown to pieces!'. Problems, bro. It's typical.
And I couldn't believe my eyes and ears after that. Here I was, travelling to Lahore to catch a glimpse of my
newly-wed cousins, and God had put his one-kind-of-a weirdo right here in my lap. I was more than
flabbergasted.
Yeah? Well, the papers are supposed to report what actually goes on in the country man. There's no doubt that
we've got a whole new bunch problems to deal with that we didn't have 5 years ago. But what's your point?
My point? he tried to exclaim. I'll tell you my point. I'm only 17, mate and I've the solution to this mess already.
And then I got scared. Not to death, no. But I felt as if all 5 of my senses were sending contradictory signals to my
brain in the process of forming a viable opinion about this lad. It was already fried up after giving my terminal
papers, and now I felt as if this person had just thrown the final napalm at my head.
And then he took out some custom-made tobacco, and began to roll out his own cigarette. Of course, underage usage of these things is not allowed by state-laws, but I wanted to explore this person more so I didn't try to stop
him. He started puffing away like a billionaire.
I'll tell you what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna get rich, man. Real rich. Filthy rich. I don't know how, man, but I tell you,
I'm gonna have 40 spinners on my ride. I'm gonna do it like the West side.
Oh yeah? this sounded extremely like what I was listening to on my music player.

I'm gonna sleep all day and party all night

Sipping on the booze till I see the sunlight
Imma shine my own chains and make 'em touch 'em slow
This time 'tis for real I ain't trippin bro
And this seemingly bad excuse for a guy turned out to be a rapper and a superstar of his own world. You
wouldn't believe it when I tell you that he was making the same hip-hop gestures you see those real guys make in
their music videos. He was in another planet, for sure.
Okay, okay. Say you hit the jackpot by accident. Then what my man?. Now I was paying full attention to him. I
wanted to see what he was coming to.
Yeah I'm filthy rich now, man.
Yeah? Hit the Earth now bro. What next?
Then I'm gonna give it all to the poor. Not the idiots, man, no. The guys who really deserve it. I'm gonna build free
schools to let all these little children learn what they're supposed to. It's not their fault they were born here; Ya know
what I mean man?

Life's most persistent and urgent question is, What are you doing for others?

12

And that was the point I was swept off my feet altogether. So this was a guy who probably didn't know what he
was talking about and might not remember a thing he said tomorrow. And here he was, suddenly talking just about
all the philanthropy I knew.
These kids aren't gonna spend a day in those slums anymore. Look man, I don't believe in no God or nothing.,
he went on And I wouldn't say he was lying about it.
But I know humanity when I see it man. I'm gonna be the next president and stop all this corruption. I'm gonna
take all the politicians and kick their butts real hard.
And I couldn't stop laughing. That was it! That's exactly what you need in times like these but hardly anyone
notices.
What you laughing at, man? These blokes take all the money out and don't leave anything for you and me. Yo,
Jinnah didn't work for a Pakistan like that did he? He wanted a real turf for us play'as to live happily ever after. I'm
telling you man, if he was alive today, he would have done the same thing! I ain't trippin' man. You can't hide
behind religion and all and still loot the crap out of this country. Yo, say I start talking about religion, I get everyone's
attention just right. What about terrorism, man? There've been so many bomb blasts that no one ever talks about.
Yo, we don't even have the guts to despise these fools. No one speaks, man. Everyone's scared to talk about this.
Justice? You don't get justice without quick and tough law enforcement. Economy? You gotta make the money
circulate to the workers. Energy crisis? Switch to green technology and scare the hell out of everyone with your
CNG stories. What about the women? You don't see sitting places for them in restaurants, do you man? They're
human, and they've got feelings too. I despise everyone who thinks that men and women aren't equal. Why do we
need to get off our seats in the Suzuki for a lady traveler man? Yo, they also say that the ladies have got to cover up
themselves and all, but they're not told to just go away from us gentlemen! Yo just talk to us with respect. I've got
respect for every one man. So why don't I get that respect back? I'm telling you, man, you can do whatever the hell
you want right now, but you can't fool God. Everyone's gotta pay in the end. I know what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna
get filthy rich and try to run these schemes to make Pakistan once again. You go study engineering or medicine or
whatever it is that you do, I'm all for Pakistan, man. I've got nothing to lose. Nothing
And then he passed out into a deep sleep that lasted 20 hours or so until his custom-made tobacco wore out.
Believe it or not, he was actually talking in English, his name was Tariq, his clothes were all torn up like that of a junkie,
he was high, and that's all I know.
And yes, this story is real.

Every world spins in pain

The Patrician took a sip of his beer. I have told this to few people, gentlemen, and I suspect I never will
again, but one day when I was a young boy on holiday in Uberwald I was walking along the bank of a
stream when I saw a mother otter with her cubs. A very endearing sight, I'm sure you will agree, and even
as I watched, the mother otter dived into the water and came up with a plump salmon, which she subdued
and dragged on to a half-submerged log. As she ate it, while of course it was still alive, the body split and I
remember to this day the sweet pinkness of its roes as they spilled out, much to the delight of the baby
otters who scrambled over themselves to feed on the delicacy. One of nature's wonders, gentlemen: mother
and children dining upon mother and children. And that's when I first learned about evil. It is built into the
very nature of the universe. Every world spins in pain.
(Terry Pratchett :Unseen Academicals )

13

There was never a night or a problem that could defeat sunrise or hope.

The Witches of Demon-Isle (The wolf rises)

Nauman
BSEE 12-16

There was a deep throated growl nearby, and heavy footsteps thudded on the forest floor. Courtney knew she
had neither the stamina nor speed to outrun the beast, Nevertheless she continued to struggle deeper and deeper
into the heart of the woods. This was the first time she had strayed from the path and wandered into the imposing
wilderness, and the very first time everything had gone wrong. Suddenly, Courtney lost her balance and fell facefirst into a small clearing.
The footsteps quieted down; her heart was pounding so loud in her chest she feared the sound might give her
away. Breathing and sniffing sounds were growing closerevery moment Courtney anticipated the beast
pouncing upon her, tearing her flesh, ripping apart her body, and uttering a fierce cry of triumph. The Korigwa
came into view, its hideous snout glistening with saliva and its red, evil eyes gleaming with pleasure at finding its prey
defenseless. The huge beast stood 7 feet tall and was native to the Demon-isle. It circled Courtney a few times,
enjoying the damsel in distress and suddenly, without warning, attacked!
Courtney saw the monster lunge at her throat, the half foot fangs bared in a feral snarl, saw her own scared face
reflected in its eyes, and closed her eyes accepting that she could not possibly survive. The Korigwa howled and
gurgled in agony? Courtney's eyes snapped open, and she knew she was saved. Casey, finally you're here
Courtney spoke aloud and drifted to blackness.
Courtney, wake up sishey fatso, wake up already! shouted Casey.
Will you stop calling me fatso? I've been chased by a towering beast, and now I'll have to bear with your
pathetic nicknames? Courtney replied irritably with her eyes still closed. She opened her eyes slowly and gasped.
Casey you're still in wolf form? Why haven't you transformed? Isn't the fight over?
Hey slow down sis you're putting too much load on that pea-sized brain of yours. Of course the Korigwa didn't
stand a chance against yours truly. Casey bragged, showing off his 5 inch long deadly claws.
Courtney rolled her eyes at her brother. He just can't resist showing off, can he? She thought lovingly. She was
jolted out of her thoughts by Casey tugging at her arm.
Sis there is one tiny problem I can't change back. He explained waving around his huge paws.
What? How is that possible? You were always able to change back; it's not the full moon tonight. Courtney
replied in a squeaky voice.
See that's the problem sis, I think this wolf thing is taking over me big time, like it's becoming permanent. Casey
replied, just as confused.
The Andersons had been on Demon Isle earlier than anyone could remember. A family of different supernatural
powers, they themselves did not know the extent of their might. The latest generation was even more dangerous,
with werewolves and vampires being commonplace. Casey was different. He was a true wolf. Bitten at the age of
five by a werewolf at midnight on the night of full moon, he had unknowingly inherited all the powers of the true
wolf: superhuman speed and agility, as well as astounding intelligence. The Andersons were not aware of Casey's
predicament, that he would soon have to be separated from the family when he could not transform back to
human form. That time had now come.
Well we still have time until the moon shows up. Why not ask Charlie about your problem? Courtney suggested
soothingly. She realized that her little brother was really upset, and tried her best to comfort him.
Charlie, the family vampire, was lounging at his favourite spot along the Isle beach when the two youngsters
showed up. Although he looked to be about 35, Charlie was actually very old, and wise. Casey ran the few
kilometers to Charlie's side in a minute and prodded him gently to get his attention.
Charlie, I don't know what to do, I can't change back!! shouted Casey hysterically.
Always the calm one in the family, Charlie was slow to reply. Casey you must leave us before the full moon.
Leave the Andersons and get away as far as you can from this Isle. Charlie told him in a low voice.

Love makes time pass. Time makes love pass.

14

Casey and Courtney stood gaping at the vampire, confused and angry at his reply. Courtney ventured to argue
first, How can you say such a thing Charlie? Casey is part of my blood, and yours too. Why would you want him to
go away? Instead of helping him to solve his problem, you're distressing him further.
Charlie angrily got to his feet and there was a loud crunch as the recliner crumpled in protest. Both kids saw his
eyes and quickly backed away; they were blood red instead of their usual calm sky-blue color. How many times
have I told you kids not to ever question my commands? Casey is a threat to our family, our future and this WHOLE
Isle! Leave this Island, Casey, before someone dies because of you! He shouted in a voice they hardly recognized.
Casey and Courtney ran away from Charlie, confused and disoriented till they reached their favourite spot
beneath the shade of a palm tree at the beach. Why does Charlie think you're a threat? Courtney asked
innocently.
Guess we'll have to research my condition of not being able to turn human. I'm sure his attitude had something
to do with it. Casey replied with a determined voice.
The Isle Library was a few minutes' walk away from the Anderson villa. One of the oldest buildings, it had an
astounding collection of nearly 300,000 books and scrolls on topics both worldly and supernatural. Casey entered
breathless through the wide double doors of the building and immediately sprinted over to the supernatural
section. A huge black leather cover book caught his attention and he called Courtney over. This looks just like
what we need Werewolves and a detailed study of wolf life.
Maybe we'll find a cure to your dilemma here. Courtney added hopefully.
Looks like I'm not the first one with this wolf thing. Casey said, pointing to a folded page. Casey started reading
the highlighted passage on the page,
The werewolf, if bitten by a true wolf on the night of the full moon will turn into a full savage and very powerful
true wolf exactly 17 years after the bite. The wolf shall do anything to satisfy its hunger on the night of the full moon. It
will not pay heed to any family relations whatsoever and no living thing shall remain safe from its wrath. Casey
finished breathlessly.
Wow, now we know why Charlie was so mad at you, Courtney said. I'm not safe from my own brotherdidn't
think this day would ever come. She thought to herself.
You know sis, I think I better listen to Charlie's advice and get out as soon as I can. I'm beginning to feel a bit
strange and my vision is starting to go all red. Casey replied uncertainly.
Ok, but you better tell mom and dad about this decision. Courtney said, while starting to trot back towards the
Anderson villa.
On the way back, Casey suddenly stopped in his tracks. He didn't respond, even when Courtney nervously
tugged at his arm. A rumbling started in his throats which gradually buit up to a frightening growl. Courtney backed
up from her brother, whimpering his name. Without warning, Casey pulled back his maw and uttered a long howl.
Courtney had never heard Casey howl before even in wolf form, so naturally she started to run into the woods as
fast as her legs would carry her.
Halfway into the woods Courtney realized her brother was not following her and she stopped, leaning against
an Oak tree to catch her breath. A piercing scream, definitely human, tore through the woods, followed by vicious
snarling and sounds of a struggle. Two cracking gunshots were heard, and Courtney blindly fled from the scene.
Another terrifying howl, this one longer than the first, a howl of victory.
The wolf had had his first kill and the true wolf had emerged.
Racing back and completely out of breath, Courtney in between gasps told Charlie all that had transpired in
the woods. With a grim expression on his face, Charlie announced, He has murdered, and gotten his first taste of
blood. Now he will not stop at anything to rip all humans apart, limb to limb. I'm sorry Courtney, but the wolf has risen.
Your brother is now the greatest threat to life on this Isle and you're the only one who can stop him Charlie told a
bewildered Courtney.

15

None of us is a smart as all of us.

Nauman Shahid Khan

Animal Abuse

BSEE 12-16

Animal abuse is a term used to describe any act which involves the torture or mistreatment of animals. It can
be done consciously or even unintentionally. However, the animal abuse prevalent in society at present is mostly
intentional abuse.

In the past, people lived with animals in peace and harmony. They regarded animals such as horses and dogs as
their friends and companions. This love was present on both sides because the animals helped Man while he fed
and housed them.

Although these people were not advanced but what they had is nonexistent in most of the world's population
today. Man has advanced himself but he has forgotten about his companions of the past who civilized him for so
long and still do. Today, it is a common sight to see overloaded horse or donkey carts, limping dogs, and homeless
cats. There are various reasons for such sights, but the most common one's is that Man has obviously begun to think
of himself as a god. He thinks he is mightier and more intelligent than all the animals around him. Animal abuse has
been reported to such an extent that one starts to wonder whether animals have souls or not.

Unbearable torture is being inflicted on animals everyday with increasing intensity. The Animal abuse that we
see on the street is just a small part of the whole. The greatest mistreatment of animals is the rapid increase in growth
and development activities. Everyday thousands of trees are cut down to make more room for buildings.
Commercial activities have grown to such an extent that it is leading to a full scale unstoppable destruction of
habitats and ecosystems all around the world.

Scientists have forewarned us that one third of all animals could be extinct by 2050, but Man has paid no
attention and has continued on his rampage. If animals don't have a home to live they will definitely pursue other
means of survival, and such means destroy the comfort of Man, which becomes the main reason for thousands of
killings and animal abuse every time.

Although many wildlife societies have been set up, there is no stopping the thinking that has been ingrained into
the minds of all individuals; that Man is the most powerful creature on earth and he can do whatever he pleases.

Animal abuse is also prevalent in our society due to poverty; in some extreme cases of penury, the people
themselves are as helpless as the animals they are abusing. However Man should fully understand that animals
have been created as creatures with souls and feelings. It is unethical, immoral, and inhumane to violate their rights
of being loved and having freedom and serenity in their lives.

If you must play, decide on three things at the start: the rules of he game, the stakes, and the quitting time. 16

Ayesha Tahir

Just a life

BSEE 11-15

It's been ten years now; but the wound is still fresh. It still takes her breath away and pushes her to the edge of
darkness, despair, and of pain; never ending pain. She visits his grave every year on the day they took him away
from her, so suddenly, so mercilessly. Oh God, how much more pain can my heart stand? When will the ache ease?
The wound fill? She thinks as she places the roses on his grave and loses herself in the memories.

Nida, nida where are you? Ali said in a singsong voice.

Here, right here I am. She came out of the kitchen wiping her hands on the apron, and giving him a smile. The
smile he claimed was the most precious thing in his world.

So what brought on this chirpy mood? she teased him.

Oh you will know soon enough but first I have something for you, he said and brought forward a bouquet of
gorgeous white roses from behind his back.
Hey they are so beautiful, but you know you don't need to bribe me for a favor, she said with a twinkle in her
eyes. So is your mother coming? It's not that forever complaining aunt of yours, is it? Mind you, roses aren't enough
if it's your aunt. Something sparkly would be a better bribe, she laughed.

What is with you women and sparkly things, he said as he took a small leather pouch out of his pocket and
inspected it as if it were a very strange specimen.

Well, well, well. So when is the dear sweet lady coming?, she asked, with a sigh.
Tomorrow and she will be staying the whole month, he said with a cheeky smile. She knew it was just his way of
giving her presents; just like the roses he said were left on his table by some poor girl who had lost her heart to him
and left the roses as a token of her love.

She wipes the silent tears from her cheeks with that smile still on her face.
Maybe the harmless banter was the thing she missed the most. That sparring of words they had so often. It was
just as easy and effortless as breathing. She gives a shaky laugh as she remembers how scared she was at the
prospect of marriage. Her marriage was the talk of the whole household. Eldest of two brothers and a sister and the
beauty of the family, everyone was waiting eagerly for the event, except for her brothers; maybe because she was
the life of the house. The mastermind of all their mischiefs, the ray of light which brightened their day, and they knew
it. But they were more worried about her future happiness, her future comfort.

All these brotherly worries were so genuine, oh so sincere. She herself was so nervous. What would it be like there
at her susraal (even the word scared her) and the stories she had read in countless magazines about violent
husbands that scared her witless. Loved, protected and cherished all her life she knew she wouldn't be able to
stand it if it turned out bad. And how all that worry had gone to waste: the two years she had spent with him were
the best, the happiest ones in her life. Even the little arguments they had were so enjoyable. Fighting over silly things,
preparing little surprises, little treats for him, the smile he had only for her; he who was her pillar and her support. Oh
God! People say life and love go on, no matter what. Why, just why, doesn't it do the same for me? She looks
helplessly at the sky broken and scarred.

17

You teach best what you most need to learn.

Not once had he raised his voice at her. He was always there for her in her little worries, little joys. It was all too
good to be true and she knew that, didn't she? If something seems too good to be true it usually is.
Two years of happiness have now to be countered with a lifetime of pain, a sense of loss. It was the way he died
that hurt the most.

dou na maloom ashkhaas ki firing se char afraad halaak.Dou afraad halaak.Das afraad halaak

Day after day she had heard this news bulletin and never paid any attention to it until it became an
unforgettable part of her life and her being, because it was Ali's life this time or rather his death. Before her own eyes,
she saw him get riddled with bullets, his blood spilling on the road, over the ice-creams she had asked for. That last
look he gave her, disbelief in his eyes; disbelief and pain. It felt as if time had stopped for her. Her brain had gone
numb as she saw him crumble to the ground and from that moment on her life became a matter of ifs: If she hadn't
asked him to stop, if they hadn't gone out that night, if they hadn't stopped at that particular point he would still be
alive. Every night she relives the horror. It will end some day she hopes, the wound will fill; but it's not a wound, it's a
scar. It will always be there to remind her of that night, of the pain. It is the same for countless others who have lost
their brothers, their fathers and their husbands. Are they just blobs of flesh to be destroyed at will, and not human
beings with homes and families? Are they just lives to be taken?

The Solitary Piece of Coal

Juan always used to attend the Sunday service at his church, but he began to feel
that the priest was always saying the same things, and so he stopped going.
Two months later, one cold winter night, the priest came to him.
He's probably come to try and persuade me to go back, Juan thought to himself.
He felt that he couldn't give the real reason for his absence the priest's repetitive
sermons. He needed to find an excuse and, while he was thinking, he placed two chairs
beside the fire and started talking about the weather.
The priest said nothing. After trying in vain for some time to start a conversation,
Juan gave up. The two men sat on in silence for nearly half an hour, staring into the fire.
At that point, the priest got up and. With one of the logs that had not yet burned,
he pushed one piece of coal away from the flames.
Since there was not enough heat for the coal to continue burning, it began to cool.
Juan quickly drew it back into the center of the fire.
Good night, said the priest, getting up to leave.
Good night, and thank you very much, replied Juan. However brightly a piece
of coal may be burning, it will soon burn out if you remove it from the flames. However
intelligent a man may be, he will soon lose warmth and his flame if he distances himself
from his fellow man. I'll see you at church next Sunday.
(Paulo Coelho: Like the flowing river)

An ant may well destroy a whole dam.

18

We don't like Cricket;

Uzair Ijaz
BSEE 11-15

We love it!

t may seem unfair to Hockey, but Cricket has always been the first crush of our nation. Yes, we've had our share

of achievements in Hockey, Squash, Snooker, and even Tennis (Aisam and Shoaib Malik!) but Cricket has always
been our one true love. No matter how much we curse our team when they lose, we still schedule our day
according to the timings of the matches as much as possible.
In our country, instead of lush green grounds 'Gully cricket' serves as the breeding grounds for great cricketers.
We all know childhood habits are not easy to let go. No wonder then, that some of our players still take a trip down
the memory lane every time they are out on the field. This curious phenomenon is evident, for instance, when
Misbah-ul-Haq plays. It reminds me of the rule in street Cricket which declares a batsman to be out, if he hits a six into
a house. Consequently, Misbah likes to keep it on the ground. Shahid Boom Boom Afridi has always had trouble
forgetting the Gully Cricket rule which says that the first ball is a try ball on which you cannot get out. I am not
amazed when he slogs the first ball and in the process gets himself out. Muhammad Hafeez fits perfectly the
stereotype of the bossy player in Gully Cricket (who often brings the bat, ball or even both) who is the opening
bowler, batsman, as well as the captain of the team.
We are a cricket crazy nation, and the expectations are also crazily high, regardless of all the controversies we
have managed to get ourselves mired in over the years. Bob Woolmer's death, players caught with drugs, players
taking drugs, spot fixing, attack on Srilankan players, ball-biting ( as evident in the case of Afridi ) and changing the
captain at will are just a normal day at the office for a Pakistani cricket official or player. The fact that there exists a
Pakistani Cricket Team at all is something of an achievement. It's hard for the players when they have to play away
from home. The so-called 'home' series is played on foreign soil. This has hampered the growth of cricket in Pakistan.
Take for example the case of Umar Akmal. A gem of a player who has been with the team for the good part of the
last three or four years but has not played a single match in his own country; not a single international match on the
very same pitches he grew up playing. This can explain his low batting average.
The treatment meted out to Pakistani players by the nation comes in discrete values; hero or zero. We win,
they're heroes. We lose, they're zero. We do not leave it at that though. They must have received fat dollar bills to fix
the match. It's just impossible for us to acknowledge that the other team was better and that they deserved to
win. To be honest, Pakistan has been one of the most consistent sides in all of the ICC events. We were semi-finalists
in all editions of the T20 World Cup, won it once and were the runners-up on another occasion. The Pakistani team
played the semi-finals in the 50-over World Cup in 2011 and clean swept the then number one test team England 30 in the test series. Setting aside the humorous remarks presented earlier, Misbah-ul-Haq is the one who should be
credited for bringing stability to a sinking ship with no life boats on it. Instead, he's criticized for not being the
dynamic power hitter every Pakistani batsman ought to be, as the nation thinks. His record as a captain, in Tests as
well as ODIs, speaks for itself.
Trying to sail against the tide, the ship of Pakistani cricket braves the turbulent waters under the calm leadership
of Misbah-ul-Haq. Sure, the weather may not be good at times, and the ship might be thrown about, but it has
survived these horrors in the past and God willing it will in the future. Just have a little faith!

19

Those who sleep with dogs will rise with fleas.

Saqlain Ali Asad

On Religion

Bsme 09-13

hroughout history, religion has been used to give meaning to life. But many argue that religion has been a result of

superstition and mythology, and is the biggest hurdle towards peace. Every religion teaches peace, yet we see many
wars carried out in the name of religion. We see genocides and mass murders against rival sects or religious entities, and
the perpetrators are ever more happy and satisfied with their deeds. Perhaps that is why Blaise Pascal said 'Men never
commit evil so fully and joyfully as when they do it for religious convictions'.
I would like to quote some examples from history, when religion was used in the most barbaric way. In Buddhist Burma,
human sacrifices were carried out until 1850s, and when the capital was moved to Mandalay, 56 spotless men were
buried beneath the new city walls to sanctify and protect the city.
In India, the Thuggee sect strangled people as sacrifices to appease the bloodthirsty goddess Kali. The practice
began in the1500s, claiming 20,000 lives a year and the tally of victims is estimated to be as high as 2 million. The British
rulers stopped this practice and one Thug, at a trial in 1840, was accused of killing 931 people. Today, they sacrifice goats
to the god Kali.
The Aztecs, whose theocracy began in the 1300s, used human sacrifice to a large extent. About 20,000 people were
killed yearly to appease the sun god, who needed daily 'nourishment' of blood. Hearts of sacrificial victims were cut out,
and some bodies were eaten ceremoniously. Other victims were drowned, beheaded, burned, or dropped from heights.
In a rite to the rain god, shrieking children were killed at several sites so that their tears might induce rain. In a ritual for the
maize goddess, a virgin danced for 24 hours, then was killed and skinned; her skin was worn by a priest in further dancing.
One account says that at King Ahuitzotl's coronation, 80,000 prisoners were butchered to please the gods.
It is estimated that 1 million innocent men, women and children were killed in the Crusades. Hundreds of thousands
non-believers have also been killed by religious extremists in the name of sacred wars. Many black Africans - men, women
and children, were enslaved by Muslims from the 7th century onwards. Hundreds of thousands of Muslims have been
killed by their fellow Muslims since the dawn of Islam. About 36,000 Pakistani's have been killed by Taliban and other
religious extremists alone since 9/11. Since 1985, 20,000 Shias have been killed in Pakistan by their fellow Muslims. Hundreds
of Ahmedis, Christians and Hindus have been killed in Pakistan and the population of minorities has decreased drastically
since independence.
The purpose of all these facts and figures is not to demonize religion, but to show us the mirror. It is time for us to pause
and reflect; to understand where we went wrong. Why the religion of peace has become the religion of violence in
Pakistan. We will only be able to find the solution, if instead of blaming foreign secret agencies; we realize that we
ourselves are responsible for all this mayhem. As shown by the examples above, religion can be an ultimate source of
barbarity and ruthlessness, if it is followed blindly and reason is not given a chance. Islam is the religion of reason, and
anything that conflicts reason is against Islam. Therefore, we should abstain from the blind following of Mullahs and Pesh
Imams of our mosques, but instead weigh their teachings in the light of reason and logic. If they tell us to stop girls from
going to school, give unequal rights to minorities or support the religious extremists; we should first of all think rationally and
if any of our acts come under the banner of human rights violation, we should abstain from it, because Islam is the biggest
advocate of human rights. We should not listen to Maulanas who use religion to amassing power and wealth.
Now looking at history, we are amazed and astounded by the acts committed in the name of religion. We should learn
from history and take measures so that we don't become a laughing stock for future generations. Drastic measures should
be taken so that we don't become a blood blot in the pages of history. We should realize that the word of religious
preachers is not the word of God; therefore we should test their teaching with reason before implementation. May
Pakistan become prosperous and may we be rid of the traders of faith and heaven.
But paradise has no temple
No mosque and no church
AllamaIqbal

Talk doesn't cook rice.

20

Effects of Global Warming

Maryam Zafar
BSEE 12-16

The planet is warming, from North Pole to South Pole, and everywhere in between. Globally, the mercury is
already up more than 1<degree> Fahrenheit (0.8<degree> Celsius), and even more in sensitive polar regions. And
the effects of the rising temperature aren't waiting for some far-off future; they're happening right now. Signs are
appearing all over, and some of them are surprising. The heat is not only melting glaciers and sea ice, it's also shifting
precipitation patterns and setting animals on the move.
Some impacts of the increasing temperatures can already be seen.
Ice is melting worldwide, especially at the Poles. This includes mountain glaciers, ice sheets covering West
Antarctica and Greenland, and Arctic sea ice.
Researcher Bill Fraser has tracked the decline of the Adlie penguins in Antarctica, where their numbers have
fallen from 32,000 breeding pairs to 11,000 in 30 years.
Sea level rise became faster over the last century.
Some butterflies, foxes, and alpine plants have moved farther north or to higher, cooler areas.
Precipitation (rain and snowfall) has increased across the globe, on average.
Spruce bark beetles have boomed in Alaska thanks to 20 years of warm summers. The insects have chewed up 4
million acres of spruce trees.
Other effects could be visible later this century, if warming continues.
Sea levels are expected to rise between 7 to 23 inches (18 to 59 centimeters) by the end of the century, and
continued melting at the poles could add between 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 centimeters).
Hurricanes and other storms are likely to become stronger.
Species that depend on one another may fall out of sync. For example, plants could bloom earlier than their
pollinating insects become active.
Floods and droughts will become more common. Rainfall in Ethiopia, where droughts are already common,
could decline by 10 percent over the next 50 years.
Less fresh water will be available. If the Quelccaya ice cap in Peru continues to melt at its current rate, it will be
gone by 2100, leaving thousands of people who rely on it for drinking water and electricity without a source of
either.
Some diseases will spread such as malaria carried by mosquitoes.
Ecosystems will changesome species will move farther north or become more successful; others won't be able
to move and could become extinct. Wildlife research scientist Martyn Obbard has found that since the mid-1980s,
with less ice on which to live and fish for food, polar bears have gotten considerably skinnier. Polar bear biologist
Ian Stirling has found a similar pattern in Hudson Bay. He fears that if sea ice disappears, the polar bears will as well.

"No one would have believed in the last years of the nineteenth century that this world was being watched
keenly and closely by intelligences greater than man's and yet as mortal as his own; that as men busied
themselves about their various concerns they were scrutinized and studied, perhaps almost as narrowly as
a man with a microscope might scrutinize the transient creatures that swarm and multiply in a drop of
water. With infinite complacency men went to and fro over this globe about their little affairs, serene in
their assurance of their empire over matter. It is possible that the infusoria under the microscope do the
same."
(H.G. Wells: War of the Worlds)

21

Don't think there are no crocodiles because the water is calm.

KINESICS

Munum Rehman Kiyani

BSEE 11-15

A significant amount of communication occurs through body language. Though we can't see our own,
everyone else does. If you're saying one thing and thinking another, your body language may well give you
away.
- Gerri King, Ph.D.
Communication through words is one of the abilities of human beings that differentiate them from animals.
Nonverbal communication includes gestures, facial expressions and body part movement. A study revealed
that 55% of communication is visual (body language, eye contact) and 38% is vocal (pitch, speed, volume, tone of
voice). That means only 7% involves actual words. Body language is actually accompanied by the movement of
body parts, gestures, signs, and facial expressions that accompany verbal communication.
The Human brain has long wanted to decipher this major chunk of communication to understand the
complexity of human personality effectively. This interest turned into an obsession for many and a hobby for some.
Those who would like to polish their social skills can easily understand the need to know the real meaning of body
language. This has led to a new science called Kinesics which has yet no laws but many hypothesis and few
theories. Now, it can be said with confidence that if not all then at least a fraction of the NON VERBAL
communication is no more a mystery for those who have studied it.
Kinesics is not a science with strong grounds yet; that is to say, it lacks rigor. As there are many conditional factors
which cannot be rendered as standards. Body language gestures and signs differ from culture to culture. History,
culture and society influence body language of individuals.One more factor that is to be kept in mind while
studying about non-verbal communication is that usually when a gesture or a sign travels through time or one part
of the world to the other then there are many meanings attached to it during the travel, or the real meaning can
get lost in the course of travel. There is a possibility that one gesture is common in one part of the world but the same
is considered obscene in another part of the world.
Body language is basically an art and a science that can help people in many ways. It can help an interviewer
understand the personality of the applicant better or the interviewee in impressing the interviewer. Some
arguments can be avoided just by understanding where the conversation is turning to.
So, in all, knowing kinesics can be an interesting and helpful thing as it can be used in everyday life and in a
professional environment.
So to help you fellows starting your journey towards being a better interpreter of body language, here are the
meanings of commonly used body movements:

Gesture: Brisk, erect walk

Meaning: Confidence
Gesture: Standing with hands on hips
Meaning: Readiness, aggression
Gesture: Sitting with legs crossed, foot kicking slightly
Meaning: Boredom
Gesture: Sitting, legs apart
Meaning: Open, relaxed
Gesture: Arms crossed on chest
Meaning: Defensiveness
Gesture: Walking with hands in pockets, shoulders hunched
Meaning: Dejection

The dog wags his tail, not for you, but for your bread

22

Gesture: Hand to cheek

Meaning: Evaluation, thinking
Gesture: Touching, slightly rubbing nose
Meaning: Rejection, doubt, lying
Gesture: Rubbing the eye
Meaning: Doubt, disbelief
Gesture: Hands clasped behind back
Meaning: Anger, frustration, apprehension
Gesture: Locked ankles
Meaning: Apprehension
Gesture: Head resting in hand, eyes downcast
Meaning: Boredom
Gesture: Rubbing hands
Meaning: Anticipation
Gesture: Sitting with hands clasped behind head, legs crossed
Meaning: Confidence, superiority
Gesture: Open palm
Meaning: Sincerity, openness, innocence
Gesture: Pinching bridge of nose, eyes closed
Meaning: Negative evaluation
Gesture: Tapping or drumming fingers
Meaning: Impatience
Gesture: Steepling fingers
Meaning: Authoritative
Gesture: Patting/fondling hair
Meaning: Lack of self-confidence; insecurity
Gesture: Quickly tilted head
Meaning: Interest
Gesture: Stroking chin
Meaning: Trying to make a decision
Gesture: Looking down, face turned away
Meaning: Disbelief
Gesture: Biting nails
Meaning: Insecurity, nervousness
Gesture: Pulling or tugging at ear
Meaning: Indecision
Gesture: Prolonged tilted head
Meaning: Boredom

23

Live as if everything you do will eventually be known.

Divinity -Defined Over Ages

1.

Abeer Fatima
BSEE 09-13

Religion

Definition
Religion (from the Latin word religio, meaning bond, obligation) is the collective adherence to a general reality
model, most often centered around one or more deities, most often governed by elaborate codes of conduct.
Being observed everywhere and at every time, it has been rendered as a natural phenomenon.
Religion has been one of the great uplifting and unifying forces of human history. The religions of the world have
often brought diverse groups together in pursuit of higher moral or spiritual goals.
Need of Religion
We have entered the new millennium in the middle of a conversation that has been building to a crisis
throughout the 20th century. Between people who live religion and people who study it; sometimes to justify it,
sometimes to challenge it, and sometimes to satisfy their curiosity about it. Religious faith is an explicitly contested
issue in politics; locally (prayer in school), nationally (the influence of Christian values upon legislative and judicial
policy), and internationally (Islam being the most prominent but by no means the only religion in the
headlines)but many participants in these encounters are genuinely trying to understand one another's positions.
2.

Monotheism and Polytheism

Monotheism is the belief in a single, all powerful God. The word Monotheism derives from the Greek words theos
meaning god and monos meaning ONE.
Polytheism is the belief in many gods.
Polytheistic religions include all religions except Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Sikhism.
A character trait of all monotheistic religions that has shown up all through history is that they believe that God
created all reality and is totally self-sufficient. Also monotheistic religions are exclusive. They deny existence of gods
of all other religions, unlike polytheists who believe that there can be more gods than what they themselves
worship.

3.

Monotheism to Polytheism

The only time that Monotheists have been seen as tolerant of other religions is when they are beginning to move
from monotheism to polytheism, and see other gods as reincarnations of their god to help explain away their
ultimate God.
They became polytheists mainly because

They wanted gods that they could control themselves, to explain away or give licenses to their lifestyles that
God would not tolerate. Many secular philosophers and even some theologians argue that monotheism evolved
from polytheism saying that Polytheistic faiths were more primitive and monotheistic faiths more advanced
culturally, ethically, and philosophically.

The attributes of a single God were differently emphasized by different people until those people in later
years came to forget that they were speaking of the same Person. Thus attributes of a single deity became a
plurality of deities.

It is not merely that single individuals laid emphasis upon different aspects of God's nature, but whole
families and tribes seemed to have developed certain shared views about what was important in life and what was
not, and therefore, not unnaturally, came to attribute to their god and to put special emphasis upon those
characteristics which seemed to them of greatest significance. For example, a warlike people are not too likely to
emphasize the gentleness of God, nor a legalistic people the forgiveness of God. They would rather emphasize His
power in the one case and His justice in the other.

The silent dog is the first to bite.

24


Examples: There are in ancient religions and theologies very different classes of gods. Some races, such as
modern Hinduism, revel in a profusion of gods and godlings which continually increase. Others do not attempt to
worship great gods, but deal with a host of animistic spirits, and devils. But all our knowledge of the early positions
and nature of the great gods show them to stand on an entirely different footing from these varied spirits.

Wherever we can trace back polytheism to its earliest stages, we find that it results from combinations of
monotheism. In Egypt, even Osiris, Isis, and Horus, so familiar as a triad, are found at first as separate units in different
places: Isis as a virgin goddess, and Horus as a self-existent God.

4.

Polytheism and Modern Age

While religions have changed over the ages Polytheism has de-evolved from Monotheism. Even secular
philosophers and polytheistic theologians have admitted that for polytheism to come from monotheism means
that it must have de-evolved. Monotheism was in place even before there were people, before God created
people to worship and glorify himself and no others.
Polytheism still represents much of the world today. Except for the monotheistic (belief in one God) religions of
Christianity, Judaism and Islam, most of the world's religions are overwhelmingly polytheistic. Polytheism
characterizes the beliefs of Hinduism, and also contemporary tribal religions in Africa and the Americas. These
religions are widely practiced throughout the world and remain very popular in their ancestral areas.
Some polytheistic beliefs are also popular in today's Western Civilization. This appears to be a result of increased
immigration of Eastern cultures and the mainstream popularity of New Age pluralism. Ideas of morality (notions of
right and wrong) are relative to the individual or culture.
Concluding, in polytheism, which is prevalent nowadays in a major portion of the world, each believer is free to
worship the god of his or her choice in the manner of his or her liking. As a result, each person is free to behave as he
or she sees fit. Although polytheistic systems provide flexibility and a relativistic lack of accountability, they often
leave followers with no sense of ultimate purpose and no prospect of eternal hope. Monotheistic faiths, such as
Christianity, teach that absolute truth is reality, mankind is on earth for a purpose, and eternal salvation is possible for
those seeking a reconciled relationship with the one true God.

The child never dies in anyone. It is not that the child dies when you grow, the child remains. Everything
that you have been is still within you, and will remain within you until your very last breath. But society is
always afraid of nonserious people. Nonserious people will not be ambitious for money, or political power;
they would rather enjoy existence. But enjoying existence cannot bring you prestige, cannot make you
powerful, cannot fulfill your ego; and the whole world of man revolves around the idea of the ego.
Playfulness is against your egoyou can try it and see. Just play with children and you will find your ego is
disappearing, you will find that you have become a child again. It is not only true about you, it is true about
everyone. Because the child within you has been repressed, you will repress your children. Nobody allows
their children to dance and to sing and to shout and to jump. For trivial reasonsperhaps something may
get broken, perhaps they may get their clothes wet in the rain if they run outfor these small things a great
spiritual quality, playfulness, is completely destroyed. The obedient child is praised by his parents, by his
teachers, by everybody; and the playful child is condemned. His playfulness may be absolutely harmless,
but he is condemned because there is potentially a danger of rebellion. If the child goes on growing with
full freedom to be playful, he will turn out to be a rebel. He will not be easily enslaved; he will not be easily
put into armies to destroy people, or to be destroyed himself. The rebellious child will turn out to be a
rebellious youth. Then you cannot force marriage on him; then you cannot force him into a particular job;
then the child cannot be forced to fulfill the unfulfilled desires and longings of the parents. The rebellious
youth will go his own way. He will live his life according to his own innermost desiresnot according to
somebody else's ideals. The rebel is basically natural. The obedient child is almost dead; hence the parents
are very happy, because he is always under control.
(Osho: Life, Love, Laughter)

25

Sour, sweet, bitter, pungent, all must be tasted

Feelings of a PhD Scholar

During the Journey from Mr. to Dr.

Mushtaq Ahmad Rai

PhD Scholar, DMME

Before Joining PhD

*

I want to win the Nobel Prize

I want to win the Turing Award

First Year of PhD

*

I want to finish PhD in two years

I want to publish papers only in top rated Journals

I want to do ground-breaking research

I want to win the Best PhD thesis Award

Second Year of PhD

*

I want to finish PhD in five years

I have a problem

Shall I change my Supervisor?

Third Year of PhD

*

I want a paper; don't care which conference

Shall I change my topic?

I want to be known as Dr bhOndOO

Fourth Year of PhD

*

I want to finish PhD!

My college friends have two children by now. When will I get married?

Fifth Year of PhD

*

Why did I come here?

Why did I choose this supervisor?

Why did I choose this topic?

Sixth Year of PhD

*

Someone give me a degree!

I want to leave this place forever

Let me leave

Seventh Year of PhD

*

People call me uncle

She waited and finally married someone else

I don't want any degree. I just want to live peacefully!

Your friend has a friend; don't tell him.

26

Reasonableness of Doubt

Usman Ayub Sheikh

Philosophical Perspective

BSME 11-15

What do they mean when they say: Beyond any Reasonable Doubt!?
The wise are doubtful, and I should not be singular if, like them, I too doubted.
-Socrates
The concept of doubt may have been pondered over for years by many profound thinkers and philosophers and yet,
Faust reports a firestorm of controversy concerning: What differentiates a reasonable doubt from an unreasonable
one? And, what is the proper legal meaning of the term reasonable doubt?
Before we dig deeper, let us start by building our understanding of doubt from what wise men have been saying
about it. Let us tantalize our taste buds and devour the first course of this royal meal.
st

1 Course: What's Doubt?

Nathan Salmon (1995), an American philosopher, in Being of Two Minds: Belief with Doubt, proposes the following
definition of the word doubt:
A doubts p = def (A disbelieves p) ? (A suspends judgment concerning p)
One plausible way of making out the connections among belief, disbelief, failure to believe, failure to disbelieve and
suspension of judgment for the given definition, again as given in the Salmon's article, could be:
A disbelieves p = def A believes ~p
(~p = not-p)
A fails to believe p = def ~(A believes p)
A fails to disbelieve p = def ~(A disbelieves p) ^(A fails to disbelieve p)
A suspends judgment concerning p = def (A fails to believe p)
The problem with this definition is that Salmon clearly denies the existence of a case where the person A would never
even have considered the proposition p. Salmon's definition also does not say anything about the doubt's being an
emotional phenomenon; for him, the doubt is an entirely cognitive phenomenon.
The same kind of concept i.e. doubt is a purely cognitive matter, has been put forward by Jennifer Faust in his
discussion regarding the reasonable doubt in the law.
An alternative concept of doubt comes from Charles Pierce (1860s and 70s); according to him, doubt is not merely a
matter of belief or disbelief but is an anxiety that causes inquiry in a man's struggle to attain a state of belief. According to
Pierce, "the action of thought is excited by the irritation of doubt, and ceases when belief is attained". For Pierce, doubt is
intimately tied to man's goals and motivation to enhance his knowledge, and to the emotional states of anxiety,
excitement and surprise.
While Pierce's understanding of the doubt seems to capture much more of the nature of real doubt, it fails to offer a
general theory of what doubt really is.
From our everyday experience and a bit of pondering over the situations in which doubt arises, it could be said that
one ends up doubting a proposition when:

27

1.

Someone puts forward a claim about the proposition.

2.

One notices that the proposition is incoherent with one's beliefs

3.

One finds a relevance of that proposition with one's goals

4.

One feels emotions related to the proposition; these emotions are caused by a combination of the claim, the
incoherence, and the relevance of the proposition.

When you cease to make a contribution you begin to die.

Doubt always involves incoherence of a proposition with what one expects to see. The most obvious and trivial cause
of incoherence is a claim's contradiction with what one already believes. The problem is that everyday situations we get
to deal with are not that ideal and easy to model; the same is true for the case of incoherence and contradiction is just
one of hundred sources of incoherence. I wouldn't go so far to count all those sources of incoherence here but just to
make the point clear, consider the case of incoherence, when a hypothesis is found to be analogous to another
proposition that has previously been recognized as dubious.
While the existence of incoherence is a crucial requirement, doubt does not require the conscious recognition of such
incoherence; one can feel uneasy about a proposition without being at all aware of the source of discomfort.
The 3rd point was that people doubt propositions that they care about, where care is a matter of relevance to their
goals. For instance, if your goals include the achievement of truth and understanding, then you will be provoked by
someone who makes a claim that challenges the fact you are convinced is true. Personal, practical goals can also
contribute to doubt; let's say, a claim is a potential threat to your well-being or self-esteem, it will force you to look at it
more critically. Practical goals need not involve personal interests, but could also be concerned with the general welfare
of people or with questions of fairness. Inference in science and law are not merely aimed at acquiring truths. Science
often has a practical goal of increasing human welfare through useful technology. Similarly, the law is concerned not
only was finding out the truth, but also ensuring that the accused gets a fair trial and presumes him to be innocent until
proven otherwise.
Among a wide variety of emotions involved with the feeling of doubt, the mildest negative emotions include Pierce's
irritation that has been mentioned earlier. Since these emotions are sufficiently vague and ill defined, it's not even obvious
that whether the claim is the cause of irritation or the proponent who advocates that claim is. Intense negative emotions
can also be associated with doubt. If someone makes a claim that is both strongly incoherent with your belief system and
is highly relevant to your personal goals, then doubting a claim can involve emotions such as annoyance and outrage.
Then, there are other claims, where the emotion of fear also got associated with doubt. According to seventeenth
century philosopher John Wilkins (1969), doubt is a kind of fear. One of the real life cases where fear may be part of doubt
is the case of that scientist, who fears that new data may show a favored theory to be false.
There are cases, where doubt gets associated with positive emotions. One such real life case is the case of a patient
who is told by the doctor that he would need open heart surgery, but he reads on the internet that his condition might be
treated less invasively by a new drug. Now, the patient doubts that he should have the surgery, and is happy at the
prospect of avoiding a risky procedure. It's just one of hundred examples.
Enough with the first serving, chef says the second course is ready! Let's sum up what we have been discussing up till
now; the first course's main purpose was to stimulate your appetite. Putting it all in one sentence: Because someone
makes a claim that is incoherent with what you believe and that is relevant to your goals, you respond emotionally to the
claim and sometimes also to the claimant; prototypically, doubt is emotional incoherence.
nd

2 Course: When is the doubt reasonable?

If doubt's a cognitive and emotional state caused by incoherence of a claim relevant to one's goals then what's a
reasonable doubt? It's the same question that has been bothering not only the philosophers but has been the cause of
equal anxiety for scientists and legal experts. In the law, the issue of what constitutes reasonable doubt has been
annoying, for practical as well as theoretical reasons. The Supreme Court of Canada recently overturned a number of
convictions on the grounds that the judges in the original trial had given an incorrect instruction to the jury concerning the
nature of reasonable doubt. In science, there are not only epistemic issues about whether the scientists are reasonable in
doubting the new proposition, but also practical issues about when it is reasonable to doubt the desirability of
technological applications of science.
Incorporating the prototype of doubt we gave earlier with the fact that the reasonableness of doubt is both an
epistemic and practical matter, Paul Thagard in his paper What is doubt and when is it reasonable says:
I will specify that doubt in a proposition is reasonable when:
1. A claim about the proposition has been made.
2. The noticed incoherence of the proposition with other beliefs is based on a legitimate assessment of coherence.
The very first requirement for the suitability of the doubt is the claim that should be made by someone other than the
person who doubts it. The second condition is a real distinguishing condition. Many people would come to doubt
something because it's incoherent with their beliefs. The question is: Has any one of them performed legitimate
calculation of coherence?

A quarrel is like buttermilk: once it's out of the churn, the more you shake it, the more sour it grows.

28

What's Legitimate calculation of coherence? Paul Thagard, in the same paper, defines it as:
Legitimacy depends on the kind of coherence involved. For explanatory coherence, which is the kind most relevant
to factual claims in metaphysics, law, and science, the requirements of legitimacy include:
1. The available relevant evidence has all been taken into account.
2. The available alternative hypotheses have all been taken into account.
3. The available explanatory relations have all been used to establish constraints among the hypotheses and
evidence.
4. Constraint maximization has been performed, consciously or unconsciously, producing a coherenct judgment
about what propositions to accept or reject.
Now consider the reasonableness of doubt in scientific and technological contexts. If the hypothesis under
consideration states that a toxic ingredient of a drug wasn't present in a lethal quantity, then the degree of confidence
we would be requiring before accepting the hypothesis would be much more than that required for the case where, on
the basis of some sample, someone claims that a certain lot of machine-stamped belt buckles wasn't defective. How
serious a mistake would be, that degree of confirmation is required before we accept the hypothesis. Thus, doubt in
science is in part a function of our practical goal of avoiding harm that might result from premature acceptance of the
claim.
Another thing that's worth addressing in this context is the idea put forward by some epistemologists that the rational
belief fixation is a probabilistic rather than a coherence-based process. Among those who claim that reasonable doubt
depends on the probability of claim, the most notable ones are David and Pargetter (1987). They gave three
requirements for a guilty verdict:
1.

The probability of guilt given the evidence is very high,

2.

The evidence on which the probability is based is very reliable, and

3.

The probability of guilt is very much able to withstand any possible evidence.

Paul Thagard, in his paper What is doubt and when is it reasonable?, mentions that the probabilistic interpretation is
problematic in legal, scientific and as well as philosophical contexts, and supports his claim with the following list of
reasons:

1. There is considerable psychological evidence that people's degrees of belief do not obey the rules of the
probability calculus (Kahneman, Slovic, and Tversky 1982; Tversky and Koehler 1994). Many psychological experiments
have shown that the degrees of confidence that people place in propositions are often not in keeping with the rules of
probability theory. Probability theory is a relatively recent invention, having been developed only in the seventeenth
century (Hacking 1975). Yet people have been making judgments of uncertainty for thousands of years, without the aid
of probability theory. Coherence provides a much more plausible, descriptive, and normative account of non-statistical
human inference than does probability theory.
2. Probability theory is often orthogonal to the aims and practice of law. Cohen and Bersten (1990) argue that high
probability is not even a necessary condition of finding someone guilty, which requires satisfying a number of legal rules
that must be followed in order to ensure that the accused is given the benefit of the presumption of innocence. Allen
(1991, 1994) has described numerous ways in which deliberation in legal trials much better fits a coherence account than
a probabilistic one.
3. There are technical reasons why probabilities are difficult to compute in real-life cases in law and other areas. A
full probability calculation is impossible in cases involving more than the handful of propositions, because the size of a full
joint distribution increases exponentially with the number of propositions. Powerful computational tools have been
developed for calculation of probabilities in Bayesian networks, but they require more conditional probabilities than are
usually available and strong assumptions of independence that are rarely satisfiable. Computing probabilities in legal
and similar cases is much more difficult than coherence computations based on maximization of constraint satisfaction.
Hence incoherence is a more plausible basis for reasonable doubt than low probability.
4. Finally, probability does not provide the basis for understanding reasonable doubt because it is not directly tied in
with emotion. I have argued that doubt is a mental state that usually involves negative emotions such as discomfort and

29

After dark all cats are leopards.

fear, whereas probability judgments are purely cognitive. In contrast, coherence judgments routinely give rise to positive
emotions such as feelings of satisfaction and even beauty, whereas incoherence judgments give rise to negative
emotions such as anxiety (self-reference omitted). If doubt is emotional incoherence, then there must be more to
reasonable doubt than just a probability calculation.
Now that we have established the definition of a reasonable doubt in the light of what different philosophers have
been claiming regarding the topic, it's time to sum it all up and answer briefly those questions we set for ourselves at the
start of this article. It's time for the sweet course of this meal; it's time for the dessert!

3rd Course: Summing it all up

What differentiates a reasonable doubt from an unreasonable one? And what is the proper legal meaning of
the term reasonable doubt?
Doubt is based on its incoherence with a thinker's beliefs and goals, where coherence can be computed in a
psychologically realistic manner by parallel satisfaction of multiple constraints. What makes a doubt reasonable is
not a probability calculation but a coherence computation that takes into account constraints based on full
available range of evidence, hypothesis, and explanations. Reasonable doubt is a product of legitimate
emotional incoherence.
References:
1.

Faust, J. (2000). "Proof beyond a reasonable doubt: An annotated bibliography." The APA Newsletters (American Philosophical
Association) 99(2 (spring)): 229-235.

2.

Faust, J. (2000). "Reasonable doubt jury instructions." The APA Newsletters (American Philosophical Association) 99(2, spring): 226-229.

3.

Salmon, N. (1995). "Being of two minds: Belief with doubt." Nous 29: 1-20.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Salmon
4.

Peirce, C. S. (1958). Charles S. Peirce: Selected writings. New York, Dover.

5.

Davidson, B. and B. Pargetter (1987). "Guilt beyond reasonable doubt." Australasian journal of philosophy 65: 182-187.

6.

Thagard, P. What is doubt and when is it reasonable? In M. Ezcurdia & R. Stainton & C. Viger (Eds.), New Essays in the Philosophy of
Language and Mind. Canadian Journal of Philosophy, Supplementary Volume. Calgary: University of Calgary Press.

The room contains a few dozen living human bodies, each one a big sack of guts and fluids so highly
compressed that it will squirt for a few yards when pierced. Each one is built around an armature of 206
bones connected to each other by notoriously fault-prone joints that are given to obnoxious creaking,
grinding, and popping noises when they are in other than pristine condition. This structure is draped with
throbbing steak, inflated with clenching air sacks, and pierced by a Gordian sewer filled with burbling acid
and compressed gas and a squirt with vile enzymes and solvents produced by the many dark, gamy
nuggets of genetically programmed meat strung along its length. Slugs of dissolving food are forced down
this sloppy labyrinth by serialized convulsions, decaying into gas, liquid, and solid matter which must all
be regularly vented to the outside world lest the owner go toxic and drop dead. Spherical, gel-packed
cameras swivel in mucus-greased ball joints. Infinite phalanxes of cilia beat back invading particles,
encapsulate them in goo for later disposal. In each body a centrally located muscle flails away at an eternal,
circulating torrent of pressurized gravy. And yet, despite all of this, not one of these bodies makes a single
sound at any time during the sultan's speech. It is a marvel that can only be explained by the power of brain
over body, and, in turn, by the power of cultural conditioning over the brain.
(Neal Stephenson: Cryptonomicon)

After the verb 'to love', the verb 'to help' is the most beautiful verb in the world.

30

The 8 most absurd published scientific papers

Abuzar Sharafat
MS Materials Engineering 11-13

Optimization the sensory characteristics, and acceptance of canned cat food: use of a human taste panel.

(Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition)

Effects of cocaine on honeybee dance behaviour. (Journal of Experimental Biology)

Swearing as a response to pain. (NeuroReport)

Pigeons can discriminate "good" and "bad" paintings by children. (Animal Cognition)

Intermittent access to beer promotes binge-like drinking in adolescent but not adult Wistar rats. (Alcohol)

More information than you ever wanted: does Facebook bring out the green-eyed monster of jealousy?

(Cyber psychology and Behavior)

Are full or empty beer bottles sturdier and does their fracture-threshold suffice to break the human skull?

(Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine)

The nature of navel fluff. (Medical Hypotheses)

A young woman approached who was not dressed in black. She had a vessel
on her shoulder, and her head was covered by a veil, but her face was uncovered. The
boy approached her to ask about the alchemist.
At that moment, it seemed to him that time stood still, and the Soul of the World
surged within him. When he looked into her dark eyes, and saw that her lips were
poised between a laugh and silence, he learned the most important part of the
language that all the world spokethe language that everyone on earth was capable
of understanding in their heart. It was love. Something older than humanity ,more
ancient than the desert. Something that exerted the same force whenever two pairs of
eyes met, as had theirs here at the well. She smiled, and that was certainly an omen
the omen he had been awaiting, without even knowing he was, for all his life. The
omen he had sought to find with his sheep and in his books, in the crystals and in the
silence of the desert.
It was the pure Language of the World. It required no explanation, just as the universe
needs none as it travels through endless time. What the boy felt at that moment was
that he was in the presence of the only woman in his life, and that, with no need for
words, she recognized the same thing. He was more certain of it than of anything in
the world. There is only that moment, and the incredible certainty that everything under the sun has been
written by one hand only .It is the hand that evokes love, and creates a twin soul for
every person in the world. Without such love, one's dreams would have no meaning.
(Paulo Coelho: The Alchemist)

31

Never advise anyone to go to war or to marry.

(de)Ranging Fever

Amna Rashid
BSEE 11-15

Disease Description:
Bieber Fever is a contagious mental disorder characterized primarily by obsession with pseudo-star Justin Bieber
(falling in love with him, probably irreversible), hysterical crying and poor life choices.
The underlying problem is rampant peer pressure and inferiority complexes in pre-teens and early teens, as well
as insufficient exposure to quality music (Evanescence, Metallica, Greenday etc.). Individuals in the
aforementioned age groups seeking social acceptance, rapidly coalesce to objects/people propagated by the
media, in this case, Bieber. Forgetting the adage All that glitters is not gold, they fall for the blond bangs, girly
voice, and the associated glam. Unable to see the glaring lack of depth in his music (with 5 albums now, thats a
lot of shallowness to ignore), afflicted people, also known as bieliebers, unite against supposed Beiber haters
further cutting off their access to normal people, rationality, and hence, cure.
Outwardly, Bieber Fever resembles Elvis Fever and Michael Jackson Fever to a degree. The comparison
is nullified by the musical talent Elvis and Jackson possessed, and which Bieber so obviously lacks.
Propagation:
The disease is thankfully not genetically inheritable (or the coming generations would be doomed, without any
choice in the matter). However, it is highly contagious, and has in fact been touted as the most contagious disease
of our time. In social groups where even one person is a Bielieber, the disease incubates and spreads rapidly.
Particularly susceptible are young children with afflicted elder siblings who make for an intensely dangerous home
environment. Foregoing the technical crap; if one person has a lousy taste, they're going to putrefy anyone around
them who hasn't got their head totally straight. Quarantine the idiot.
Bieber Fever spreads through YouTube videos of Bieber, as well as CDs, iPods, cellphones, mp3 players etc.
containing his songs. DONOT listen to them! And no, there s no such thing as a calculated risk in this case.
Remember, curiosity killed the cat.
Symptoms:
1. Skipping homework to memorize the lyrics to JBs single 'Baby'.
2. A picture of him is enough to get those waterworks going.
3. The idea of actually meeting him leads to loud screaming, hysterics, and in severe cases, fainting.
4. Poor life choices like purchasing worthless memorabilia and copying his signature hairstyle (Bangs? Really
guys? COME ON! Will you be doing lipstick next?)
5. Elevated heartbeat and excessive drooling when his songs play (although daydreaming with your
headphones in and walking into the path of a truck isn't too bad for the greater good).
6. The fact that his voice resembles that of a little girl will never be recognized by the faithful.
7. Willingness to push through 20,000 equally hysterical and screaming fan girls to attend JBs concert (and
pay money for it).

Every man is a fool in some man's opinion.

32

In short, Bieber Fever is more dangerous than heart disease and sadder than hungry kittens. If you are crushing on
him, it is more likely to make you look like a pedophile rather than a love-struck teen due to his inane resemblance to
a typical five year old.
Treatment:
Incurable, unless the teen idol undergoes a violent transformation which forces him to spare our grey matter, quits
his singing career, and does something productive (like hiding under a rock somewhere). In the meanwhile, keep
your teen hydrated. Faced with uncontrollable crying and drooling, they'll need it.

Quotes
Qadeer Khan
1. Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of
genius - and a lot of courage - to move in the opposite direction. - Albert Einstein
2. Imagination is more important than knowledge. - Albert Einstein
3. If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough. - Albert Einstein

4. It is better to rule in hell than to serve in heaven. - John Milton

5. In absence of clearly defined goals, we become strangely loyal to performing daily acts of trivia.
-Anonymous
6. The virtue lies in the struggle, not in the prize. - Richard Monckton Milnes
7. Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking. - William Butler Yeats
8. The time I kill, is killing me. - Mason Cooley
9.

The wise man learns by the mistakes of others. The fool has to learn from his own.

(Latin Proverb)

10. One who understands much displays a greater simplicity of character than one who understands little.
- Alexander Chase
11. Most people would rather die than think; in fact, they do so. - Bertrand Russell
12. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and it may be necessary from time to time to give a stupid or
misinformed beholder a black eye. Jim Henson

33

The more laws the less justice.

YOU, my friend!
A Bluster of intricate emotions blowing on my face
In my heart peace, hope and joy race
When I smiled, you smiled with me
When I cried, you felt it too.
You were my eyes when I couldn't see
You were my voice when I couldn't speak
You took my hand when I was weak and imbecilic
You were there to guide when I was lost
You were there to fight when I was misunderstood
You understood me when all the mendacious people fooled me
You stepped up when everyone stepped down from my life
You supported me and reawakened my hopes when i lost faith in the word, Friendship.
Now it's my time, my turn, my responsibility!
To sacrifice, to protect, to understand and to trust again
I'm sorry for all those moments when I hurt you
I feel terrible for all those moments where I ignored you for a bunch of fake losers
I promise that the lesson I've learnt will remain with me forever
Now when you're besides me
I'm not afraid because I know you're there
I'm not sad because I know you'll find out
I don't regret because you taught me to forget the past and to move on.
All pain is vanquished and hatred is gone
A sudden wave of alien energy is now born
I clutch my heart as a phantasmagoric life runs through me
This feeling of joy is nebulous and i wish that someone could see
As now i live without worries and am not tense
I realize I'm not lost and there is someone.
Humble and modest, my companion i always treasure
Incessantly helping me was always your obscure pleasure
Serene of heart and mind, you are unceasingly efficacious
Made me mature and my life steady and tranquil
You are my ingenious comrade and friend
Whose companionship I will hail till my bitter end
Now, I find a reason to live my forsaken life AGAIN.
If you weren't there, i could stab myself with a knife
This bond of friendship i must now make

Thanks to you friend, that I'm now awake

Thanks to you friend, that I'm now awake.
Zeeshan Nayyar
BSME 11-15

35

Truth
Wherever the eye swivels,
I see lies, terrible lies, and horrible foes.
To describe is agony,
But so is to keep it in your heart.
What to do?
The mind asks ever so innocently.
To reply fully,
is not accomplished so coherently.
O! What did you gain?
Ask the sinner this and you shall hear
No reply, no reply.
Except for the reality that you shall
Prevail. Yes, prevail.
O truth! It is only you who shall prevail.
Nauman Shahid Khan
BSME 12-16

Till the very end

You are in youth no doubt
The sun shines upon you
And the stars glitter with pride
Beauty, your parallel are a few
But the time will move on
Ah alas! Stepping upon you
Splendid hair will have silver tone
Glittering eyes will have mourning dew
That elegant back of yours will bend
And skin will have the ripples of age
The red ember lips will, to ashes tend
Days once gone, will never come to stage
All the love and affection you see
Will shatter and never mend
But remember it would be I and l only
Who will love you, till the very end.
Ali Shad Khan
BSME 10-14

36

A Melancholic Apology
Shriveled sun in spent glory
Frames hollow in deepened sorrow
Each bent tree tells a story
That chills the bone to the marrow.
Roads eager for weary travelers
To suck their spirit and leave
That mind in the hold of stranglers
What better way to bereave?
Crossed signs in hazy visions
Scintillate life's essence
Can there be a saner word
than the one belying effervescence?
Can these flowers be regrown
Even if the sun doesn't shine?
I do not know, for I have not sown
Love of a thousand hearts into thine.
Oh friend! Can you walk to my grave
In the bare night's silence
And forget all things grave
Spoken between us?
In that cold world of broken dreams
Eyes strewn in gilded locks of gold
I could feel life's vibrant streams.
To embrace them?" I was not so bold!
In the gloominess of this muddled world
I can recall many sunny days.
Yet, now everything is gone
But the memories remain, refrained stains.
Life spent in glittering glades
Where streams evoked pain and gloom
Colourless now are the broken shades
In which no flower now blooms.
Hasan Ashraf
BSEE 11-15

37

A Story about a very Poor Family

The father of the children is their only earning hand
Three sisters and a brother who survive on daily wages
They are the poorest in all the land.
One day the father gets sick, he is dying
The mother is left helpless, now she always keeps crying
The little girls know nothing, they are unaware
They only have their big brother left to care.
Their brother has to find a job, he leaves his studies
Begins driving an auto-rickshaw, forgets all his buddies
The mother begins to beg, what else can she do
No one can carry this family through.
He has no time to sit idle now, no time to eat
To live a life like this is indeed a great feat
The little girls will find out when they grow up:
No one will be there to help them, no one will show up
When their mother gets old and really sick.
His rickshaw won't start, no matter how hard he kicks
He wanted to be a doctor but look what happened to his dreams
He looks back at his life and reflects
He feels the world is crueler than it seems.
Full of worry always, the young man now, full of tension
He knows his father was just a peasant, they won't receive pension
He wants to give up - every day is harsh and long
But he has a mother, and sisters to feed, he has to stay strong.
He knows this family can't be fed
Wishes they were all dead instead
Some day he will meet his old friends
He's ashamed, he tries to hide his face; bends his neck away
He tries to run away from them, there is nothing he wants to say.
Saqib Manzoor
BSEE 11-15

38

A Dream

Epiphany

I have walked many a time,

Laden with despair.
On a summer day - hot, humid
To my gloomy lair.

Drowning in the ash

Which swirls in the wind
The shards of an epiphany
drift apart; wither in the wind
Till the bold summer sun
fuses them together again.

I have worn a frown on my face,

Many a time I have
And thought of life without a trace
with the setting sun.

Futile it seems, at times

To question even the worth
to reorganize the hearth.
Tempting us to move)
To full ripe climes.

I have gazed at this house of cards:

The ineffable beauty
of gloomy ends, stupendous starts in limericks and rhyme.

Oh! Would it were,

that we all wore
Lime hats tipping over our faces;
would it were,
a human child
singing the lore
of unquestionable worth
of the human dearth.

Have I divined something ? Yes To think is to break

the inherited pattern of being
Liberty assume and take.
So out of the blue, out of the green
Out of that hue, in an enchanting dream
I have lived for moments I cannot count
A blur of colour and mellow sounds.
Proposals worth nothing, and everything I have thought I can make this fly
But I can only try, I can only try
To wipe the tears off humanity's face
and be immortalized, and forgotten anew.

Then again, the stars do not conspire

unnatural events do not transpire
Of their own accord.
Thus narrated the bard.
A human is a work of art:
He himself the artist
He himself the art.

But
As I am walking down the street,
the dream ends in a woeful heap.
I am the same, the world the same
but, if I don't dream, is it all the same?
Hasan Ashraf
BSEE 11-15

39

How To Make A Hero

John's parents split up when he was just four.
His Dad broke John's arm as he stormed out the door.
His teachers decided, this child to ignore.
The police kept an eye on the son of a whore,
But to that village in Bosnia, John was a hero.
The neighbours were frightened to go on his floor.
The magistrates fined him ten times or more.
The police were armed when they broke down his door,
They used maximum force his arms to secure,
But to that street in Bosnia, John was a hero.
The Judge said John's crimes he had to deplore,
As he sentenced John to three years on the 'moor,
And when John was released he hated the law.
He took every chance to even the score,
But to that family in Bosnia, John was a hero.
Then John joined the Army and learned to adore
That sense of belonging to the guys in his Corps.
He was posted to Bosnia in mid-ninety-four
To fight against Serbs in the Bosnian war,
But to those parents in Bosnia, John was a hero.
John's unit was assigned to join UNPROFOR
To protect that village from the horrors of war.
They won't harm a hair on a head" John forswore,
Let them come, let them try - they won't want for more"
But for that child in Bosnia, John died a hero.
Rija Iqbal
BSEE 12-16

Carry Me Away
Going away so soon,
you seem so close
Caressing my face like a gentle breeze,
so soft, O! so soft.
At the earliest Winter Solstice,
you shall return,
return to my arms,
Like the wind that blows ever so sweet,
yet the Autumn leaves fall dry.
O! Carry me away,
take me with you to the place you call "Bliss".
Noman
BSEE 12-16

40

Sky
I wonder what the sky signifies.
It looks the same yet seems different every time.
To me it's a wonder- where all the peace of the world resides.
People have reached the moon but no one has touched the sky.
What magic it has that every time you see a sunset or the full moon
It feels like the entire love of the world coming to light.
The sun and the moon are just burning rocks;
But in the sky they are idols nothing can buy.
The stars in the sky seem like life on earth
So does a falling star mean that someone has to die?
The sky reaches beyond our sight;
Is that why God lives in the sky?
It is the oldest thing mankind has
But still we know nothing about what it tells.
They say the sky is the same for everyone
But it looks so different to each eye;
I think the sky reflects our true selves
for some it's dark, for others it's bright.
Ahmer Latif Khan
BSEE 10-16

Love
What is it like to be in love?"
To feel like you're out of this world,
To feel like you have all the happiness in the universe,
To feel like you've brought heaven onto earth,
To feel like you've the power to fly,
To feel like there is nothing that can stop you from touching the sky
To feel like you've denied all your life.
And to your surprise your life summed up to be her;
To feel alive when you see her smile,
To feel that her tears are the death of you,
And feel gravity crumbling beneath yourself.
1 t's the desire to see her again that's making you stick around;
I wish I had the courage to make her realize
That my life would be nothing if she's not by my side
I wish I had the strength to make her believe
That she is the "oxygen" 1 need.
I wish I had the time to make her feel,
Feel the nightmare my life would be without her.
I wish I had the confidence to tell her,
Tell her that losing her was my worst fear.
But you never get what you want,
For death is merciless
And life isn't fair.
Ahmer Latif Khan
BSEE 10-14

41

The Alchemist
(Paulo Coelho)
The Alchemist was first published in the year 1988. Originally written in Portuguese by its Brazilian-born author, it
has been translated into at least 67 languages so far. The Alchemist is the story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd
boy content to wander through the Spanish fields and towns with his faithful flock until a recurring dream about
finding his treasure at the Pyramids of Egypt rousts him from complacency. In trying to understand his dream,
Santiago encounters a wise old man who calls himself Melchizedek, the King of Salem, who sets the boy off on a
quest to discover his Personal Legend. The story is a short and simple one, an inspirational parable about the
importance of pursuing one's dreams.
The Alchemist is a quick and enjoyable reminder for anyone who feels they have become distracted from
pursuing their own Personal Legend.

Letter to a child never born

(Oriana Fallaci)
Letter to a child never born is a journal of a contemporary, non-conformist, untraditional working woman faced
with an unexpected pregnancy out of marriage and in the middle of a growing career. The format of the book is
like a monologue of a mother with her child which is not born yet. The child eventually died before birth due to
miscarriage.
The book was a socio-political statement more than anything else. Her thoughts on disparity between the rich
and the poor, on the social injustices as imposed my socio-economic status of an individual had been glaring all
throughout the book. These manifest most in the lessons of life she shared with the child as well as, or even more so,
in the fairy tales of magnolia tree, chocolates and tomorrows she narrated. Even her assertions on women's rights
were not taken solely on the gender and sexuality perspective rather in the context of a society primarily ruled by
those who have the means. And even the loss she suffered had implicitly been blamed on these injustices.

The case for God

(Karen Armstrong)
This book records the genesis of monotheistic faith and how it has developed, mutated and manifested itself to
the present time. The first half of the book reviews the pre-modern age, and covers such issues as the origin of the
scriptures, the early history of Christian religion, and the indelible stain of the crusades. The second part takes us
through the effect of the Enlightenment, the birth of modern atheism, the impact of evangelism, and the ongoing
critique of Darwinism. The 'case' is not argued until towards the end, when Dawkins and co are subjected to a
withering attack. She explains that in ancient Greek civilization the concept of the logical and the mythical were
not in conflict as they tend to be today, but both provided essential approaches to different aspects of life.
Armstrong argues convincingly that you have to 'do' religion in order to find God; and that this requires serious
commitment. One cannot arrive at it by a process of logic. She therefore posits that one can go from 'faith to
understanding', but not from 'understanding to faith'. She points out that the manifestations of religious faith are
inevitably bound up in rituals, explaining that One of the functions of ritual is to evoke an anxiety in such a way that
the community is forced to confront and control it.

43

The Mother
(Maxim Gorky)
Mother is the famous novel of revolutionary conversion and struggle. This novel of Russia before the Revolution is
without question the masterpiece of Gorky, Russia's greatest living writer. Into one passionate, astonishing book has
been gathered the spirit of the terrifying struggle against the Czar's autocracy.
The story whirls around the love and belief of a mother in her son. Her son, who worked in a factory, joins a
revolutionary struggle. He is then captured by the Czar regime and her mother joins the cause just for the sake of her
son. Eventually she starts to believe in the righteousness of the communist system. It also has some memorable
speeches like: "when will we have mothers who rejoice at sending their children to death.

The Great Gatsby

(F. Scott Fitzgerald)
The narrator Nick Carraway comes to New York City in the spring of 1922, an era of loosening morals, glittering
jazz, bootleg kings, and sky-rocketing stocks. Nick lands next door to a mysterious, party-giving millionaire, Jay
Gatsby and across the bay from his cousin, Daisy and her philandering husband, Tom Buchanan. It is thus that Nick is
drawn into the captivating world of the super-rich, their illusions, loves and deceits. As Nick bears witness, within and
without of the world he inhabits, he pens a tale of impossible love, incorruptible dreams and high-octane tragedy,
and holds a mirror to our own modern times and struggles.
Fitzgerald paints a picture of a lifestyle and a decade that is both fascinating and horrific. In so doing, he
captures a society and a set of young people; and he wrote them into myth. Fitzgerald was a part of that high-living
lifestyle, but he was also a victim of it. He was one of the beautiful but he was also forever damned. In all its
excitement--pulsating with life and tragedy--The Great Gatsby captures brilliantly the American dream in a time
when it had descended into decadence.

44

45

Shehzad Saleem (BSME 10-14)

PIEAS Performing Arts Society is a well-established and deep-rooted society in PIEAS. PPAS is based on:
1. Dramatics
2. Videography
3. Music
4. Videomatics
5. Culture
The year 2012 went very well for PIEAS Performing Arts Society.

Hierarchy:
In the start of year 2012, Mr. Zaigham Zaheer was the president of PIEAS Performing Arts Society. Afterwards, Mr.
Uzair Khan was elected in May and lately in November, Mr. Uzair Khan resigned from the president of PPAS as he
was given charge of 'Student Council'. For selection of new President, elections were conducted and Mr.
Muhammad Umar Farooq was elected as the new president. Mr. Nauman Shamim was the advisor of PPAS for first
half of the year and in June; Dr. Waseem Siddque became the advisor of PPAS.

Events:
For the duration of the year 2012 by the grace of Allah, PPAS organized very successful events. Following are the
events which were organized in this year:
1. Extravaganza'12
2. Cultural Trip
3. Nukta'12
4. Workshops

Extravaganza'12
Extravaganza was an inter-departmental competition consisting of dramatics and videography organized on
7th March, 2012. Mr. Farooq Abbas, Mr. Shabbir Mirza and Ms. Ghazala Butt were invited as a judge. Both the shares
were won by the department of Mechanical Engineering.

Cultural Trip
On 15th September, PPAS organized a cultural trip for the new batch of Bachelors. The places which were visited
during this trip were Lok virsa, National Museum and Faisal Mosque. Advisor PPAS, Dr. Waseem Siddique and Dr.
Inam-ul-Haq were also the part of this trip.

Nukta'12
Nukta'12 was organized by the collaboration of PIEAS Performing Arts Society and PIEAS Debating Society. Mr.
Uzair Khan was event head of Nukta'12. Dramatics and Videography was the part of Nukta'12 and PPAS played its
part professionally and set the landmark for organizing the first All Pakistan event of its own kind. More than 30
universities from all over Pakistan took part in this competition.

Workshops
PPAS organized workshops for members on Videography and Music on 19th and 20th December. Corel Video
Studio and camera handling workshops were part of videography workshops while FL Studio workshop was
conducted for Music. Mr. Waseem Ahmad was the instructor for Corel Video Studio and camera handling. Mr. Ali
Shahzad was instructor of FL Studio and Mr. Tariq Bashir conducted workshop of Adobe Photoshop.

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TRIVIA:
PIEAS Debating society was founded in 2009. PDS was created with the sole purpose of overall grooming and
assisting students having interests in debating, to provide a vehicle for students interested in politics, social change,
and community organization to discuss relevant topics and ideas, to engage students in activities beneficial to
their personal and professional development, and to increase the visibility of issues throughout the campus and
community. With this aspect in focus PDS actively organizes bilingual debating evens both at internal and external
level. PDS happens to be an active platform at PIEAS for producing quality orators capable of demonstrating
motivation, leadership qualities and strong rhetoric.

DOMAIN:

Public speaking
Extempore
Delegation

INTERNAL EVENTS:

Inter departmental trophy '10 & '11 & '12

Allama Iqbal Shield Round 1 '10 & '11 & '12
Leader Hunt '10 (in collaboration with PTS)

EXTERNAL EVENTS:

PDS Organized PIEAS Declamation Championship 2011, a twin city event which saw participation of over 50
students from various universities.

PDS Organizes Nukta'12 (in collaboration with PPAS), it was an all Pakistan event which saw participation of
over 65 debaters from all over the Pakistan.

ACHIEVEMENTS:

1st and 3rd position in English Category & 1st position in Urdu at regional level in HEC (2011).

3rd position in Urdu category at National level in HEC (2011).

PDS team Declared as winner at Bilingual Debate Competition Held in Institute of space Technology (IST),
Islamabad.

Students patronized by PDS clinched top positions at contest held at Military College of signals (MCS), Youth
festival '10 and Saach Media Fest'12 in Behria University, Islamabad

2nd & 3rd position in Urdu category at regional level in HEC (2012). Best of luck for National level(2013).

Our Mission:

To foster a culture of Debate, and in so doing, create the leaders of tomorrow.

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Objectives:
To provide a Healthy Platform to ALL PIEAS community to learn, share and disseminate Islamic knowledge
and information among the PIEAS community.
2. To provide the basic Islamic knowledge in Fiqah, Seerah and enable them to become a good practicing
Muslim.
3. To provide with an atmosphere as close to the Islamic ideal as possible, in which they can grow and learn
as a whole individuals, intellectually, spiritually and physically.
4. To develop activities to encourage Muslim students towards the Islamic environment.
5. To strive to always act in accordance with the injunctions of Holy Quran and Sunnah.
6. To organize various programs inclusive of Dars-E-Quran, competitions like Husn-E-Qirat, Mehfal-E-Naat Sharif,
and to arrange Islamic lectures/seminars/events in general and particularly on various Islamic occasions like
Ramzan-ul-Mubarak, Milad-E-Mustafa (S.A.W), Meraj-Un-Nabi (S.A.W), Muharram-Ul-Haraam etc.

Main Programs Organized by PIS:

Hafiz Muhammad Zain Ul Abdin

Secretary, PIEAS Islamic Society

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Co-curricular activities form the core of student life in PIEAS, since it helps to develop the overall personality of
the student for facing the undaunted tasks and turbulent world of future. PIEAS literary society (PLS) rightly
claims of being one of the most active societies of the institute, with many literary successes to its credit. The
aim of PLS is to make the students fit for the future time and to develop a sense of competitive spirit,
cooperation, leadership, diligence, punctuality, team spirit as well as to provide a backdrop for the
development of their creative talents.
Present Hierarchy:
President: Ali Shad BSME 2010-14
Vice President: Farrukh Anique BSME 2010-14
General Secretary: Zeeshan Nayyar BSME 2011-15
Treasurer: Touqeer Ahmed BSEE 2010-14
ACTIVITIES:
The domains that fall under PLS includes:
Poetry and Writing
Arts
Photography
PIEAS Literary Society strives it's best to justify it's domains and does everything possible that may benefit the
students of PIEAS.
The events that PLS organized this year include:
Essay and Story writing
2nd All PIEAS Arts Exhibition
Adbi Bethak
Achievements of 2012-13:

Winners of Sketching competition at CASE university's EPICA

Winners of Sketching competition at IST Youth Carnival

Winners of All Pakistan Arts competition arranged by Punjab Text board.

Winners of Writing competition at CASE University's EPICA

Runner ups of Mushaira at CASE University's EPICA

Runner ups of Photography at CASE University's EPICA

Zeeshan Nayyar was selected in the All Pakistan Young artist Union collaborated with the Lahore Arts
Council in 2013 and one of the top 50 youth artists in the Little Art Association affiliated with the
international arts council in the year 2012-13.

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