Abstract
‘Real scholars have been silenced and pseudo-scholars and sycophants have been promoted. It seems that the forces of darkness and obscurantism have succeeded in arresting the processes of scientific research.’
Pakistan under General Zia-ul Haq has had a regime of Martial Law since July 1977. According to a 1984 report on a mission to Pakistan published by the Paris-based International Federation of Human Rights, a climate of insecurity and arbitrariness has existed in the country since that date. It is characterised by the facility with which the Martial Law authorities may arrest whomever they wish, whenever they wish, and hold them for indefinite periods, as often as they choose; the absence of any scope for appeal against such decisions; and the absence of judicial surveillance of any kind whatsoever.
In the following three articles, Pakistani writers describe the effects which Martial Law and the Islamic Law (Sharia) have had on higher education, the press and cultural life. Maleeha Lodhi teaches Politics at the London School of Economics and also works as a journalist with South magazine. The writer on Pakistan's press is a senior journalist who wishes to remain anonymous. And Farhad is the pseudonym of a Pakistani writer and journalist.
For other articles on Pakistan see John Melville Williams ‘The Press in Pakistan’ (Index 5/1978), Shahid Nadeem ‘Imprisoned In Pakistan’ (Index 5/1979), Feroz Ahmed ‘Pakistan Curbs the Press’ (Index 4/1980), and Behroze Gandhy ‘Jamil Dehlavi Interviewed (Index 4/1981); and, of course, the Index Index section generally.