Summary Lecture was attended by the Rector International Islamic University among other dignitaries
ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) - Dr Mumtaz Ahmad memorial lecture series have been initiated on Wednesday by Iqbal Institute of Research and Dialogue (IRD) at International Islamic University.
Late Dr Mumtaz Ahmad (1940-2016), was a social scientist, scholar and academic who led IRD as an Executive Director. The educational institution has launched the series to continue his aim and affection towards knowledge. Dr. Husnul Amin, Executive Director of IRD has initiated a series of lecturse in the memory of Dr. Mumtaz Ahmad in coordination with Society of Politics and International Relations-IIUI.
In this regard, first lecture of this series was held on Monday, 26th September at IRD on, “The Empire and the Middle East: Political Debate and Security Questions” by emerging scholar whom Dr. Mumtaz use to call ‘budding scholar’, S.M Omar Shaukat, Associate Professor in Philosophy and Religious Studies at IBA, Karachi.
Family of late Dr Mumtaz Ahmad attends the session
A still from the event today
Speaker Omar Shaukat elaborated the concept of Empire in the modern era of multi-polar world. The changing dynamics of old political and business imperialism to the modern way of dominating and controlling the mindsets by imperial powers were also focus of his lecture.
From Colonialism to Macaulayism and to ‘torture’, when imperial powers were only keen for material interests and now to establishing dominance and controlling mindset for their influence.
France in Algeria (1830-1962), United States in Vietnam (1962-1973) and then in Afghanistan (2001-todate) and Iraq (2003-2011), while Islamic State (IS) is Syria and Iraq, all have adopted the method of torture to crystallize it purist form of imperialism. The speaker Omar Shaukat related the process of torture with the Empire’s influencing tool which is more devastating than a killing. The fear of being torture controls minds. This is what Islamic State is doing in Syria and Iraq to dominate in the regions. Islamic State has tried to civilize its barbarianism by declaring its Empire under Caliphate system.
Lecture was attended by the Rector International Islamic University, faculty members, students, scholars, academics and journalists who appreciated this initiative of IRD. Executive Director Dr. Husnul Amin expressed his ambitions to continue this initiative and to carry forward the dream of Dr. Mumtaz Ahmad.
Reported by Naeem Qurban
