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CHARLES UNIVERSITY IN PRAGUE FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES Bibliographical Registration Form Master thesis in the programme I E P S 1. Given name and SURNAME of the author: Mazhar Hassan Bari 2. Title of the Thesis: The Challenges and Prospects of Democratisation in the Muslim world: The case of Pakistan 3. Subordinate title: 4. Year of defence: 2019 5. Number of pages: 64 6. Summary of the Thesis (extended abstract): Debate on the compatibility of Islam with democracy has gained momentum between academic circles in the recent years often in the context of a "clash" between Western and Islamic civilization. The main objective of this thesis is to contribute to this debate by trying to identify main challenges and prospects of democratization in the Muslim world. The theoretical framework of this thesis will be based on modernist and reformist theories of Islamic political thought. The concepts of Ijtihad (independent reasoning) and Ijma (consensus or agreement) will be applied in order to answer key questions research "Are the key principles of Islam compatible with core values of democracy?" or "Is Islam inherently authoritarian?". The theoretical outcomes will be applied on the case study of Pakistan, country that has just achieved another significant democratic transition of power through general elections....

Thesis. 1977. M.S.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mathematics. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND SCIENCE. / Bibliography : leaves 201-202. / M.S.

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This thesis examines the epidemiology of avian influenza viruses (AIVs) in domestic poultry in Pakistan. Major aim of the current research was: to identify risk factors associated with the spread of these viruses; to quantify their prevalence in live bird retail stalls (LBRSs) and backyard poultry in Lahore district and to genetically characterize AIVs circulating in these stalls. Four independent studies were conducted which included (i) a retrospective matched case-control study in commercial poultry farms in Pakistan to identify the risk factors (ii) an estimation of the seroprevalence of AI from a cross-sectional study of backyard poultry flocks in Lahore district (iii) a cross-sectional study of LBRSs to estimate virus prevalence and identify associated risk factors and (iv) the genetic characterization of isolates collected from LBRSs. The retrospective matched case-control study identified five risk factors for AI infection. Multivariate conditional logistic regression model showed that distance of less than 0.5 kilometer of a commercial farm from the nearest case farm (OR= 145.4; 95% CI: 13.6-1553.5), followed by “previous history of infection of flock with infectious bursal disease (OR= 3.77; 95% CI: 1.18-11.97)”, selling of birds/eggs directly to live bird retail stalls from the farm premises (OR= 9.5; 95% CI: 1.7-51.9) have significant influence on spread of AI infection amongst the commercial farms. Other significant potential risk factors are “age of flock at the time of testing (OR= 1.0; 95% CI: 1.00-1.02)” and “a truck entering the farm areas (OR= 30.74; 95% CI: 1.56-604.78)”. Complete fencing of the farm was observed to be a protective factor (OR= 0.12; 95% CI: 0.02-0.63). The cross-sectional survey of backyard poultry flocks for AI (H9, H7 and H5) showed a seroprevalence of 67% (95% CI: 56.9-77.1) for H9 and 21% (95% CI: 13.8-28.1) for H5. Co-infection with both H9 and H5 was observed in 17 villages. Seroprevalence for H9 was significantly associated with the breed of bird. No samples were positive for H7. The cross-sectional survey of LBRSs in 07 towns of Lahore district showed the prevalence of H9N2 virus to be estimated at 10% (95% CI: 6.4-13.6). Subtypes H5N1 and H7N3 were not detected in any sample. Three risk factors showed a strong association with prevalence of H9N2 which are “adding new birds to the cages that already contained birds (OR= 9.2; 95% CI: 2.4-35.1)”, “purchasing birds for sale on the stall from mixed sources (other live poultry markets, auction markets, farm/individual producers) (OR= 3.4; CI 95%: 1.3-8.8)”, and “keeping birds partially inside and outside on the stalls during the day (OR= 1.7; CI 95%: 1.0-3.0)”. Phylogenetic analysis of ten H9N2 viruses isolated from LBRSs of Lahore district showed that four genes (HA, NA, M and NP) of all viruses belonged to G1-lineage and clustered with A/Quail/Hong Kong/G1/97 reference virus while the other four genes (PB2, PB1, NP and NS) from two of the viruses analysed clustered with a group of viruses from Indian subcontinent, Persian Gulf and Middle East. One recently reported H7N3 isolate from Pakistan also clustered with these genes. All H9N2 viruses examined harboured the mutation known to alter the receptor binding profile to one that preferentially binds to human receptors. The analysis shown in this study confirmed that further gene assortment has occurred since its emergence in poultry in Pakistan and Middle East, which could evolve into new genotype. Understanding the epidemiology of avian influenza has always been considered important in formulating and implementing control policies. Results from the current studies illuminate various aspects of epidemiological features of avian influenza viruses within poultry marketing systems in Asia. The current thesis has identified different risk factors and has also reported the prevalence estimates in backyard birds and LBRSs. The presence of reassortants of H9N2 with public health importance in LBRSs has also been reported in the current thesis. These results could be considered to plan future research and appropriate control and prevention strategiess for AIV by the global community. Continued surveillance and monitoring is essential to identify the viral gene pool circulating in live bird retail stalls and backyard poultry and to better understand the public-health risk posed by these viruses.

Brucellosis is endemic in many livestock worldwide especially developing countries. The aims of this study were to estimate the seroprevalence of bovine brucellosis and risk factors associated with the seropositivity in rural and peri-urban buffaloes and cattle populations of Sindh. Firstly, a cross sectional study was conducted to estimate the seroprevalence of bovine brucellosis in cattle and buffaloes of Sindh province, Pakistan. Serum samples (2600) were tested using Rose Bengal Plate Test. The overall seroprevalence of brucellosis in Sindh province was 13.96% (95% C.I.; 11.55 - 16.37). Of the 917 herds tested, 232 or 25.30% herds (95%C.I.; 22.51-28.24) were positive for brucellosis. The adult animals were 2.05 (95% C.I.; 1.14-3.68, P= 0.02) times more likely to test positive for brucellosis. The animals in a peri-urban dairy production system were 2.07 times (95%C.I.; 1.09-3.90, P = 0.03) times more likely have brucellosis. The species or sex of animal did not appear to affect the risk of seropositivity in cattle or buffalo in this population. Secondly, a cross sectional survey was conducted to understand the structure and composition of farms, animal husbandry and management practices in peri-urban dairy colonies in Karachi and farmers’ awareness of zoonoses. The mean herd size was 93.58 animals and 88.01% of these animals were female buffaloes. Of 326 farms surveyed, only 37.42% were able to associate animals with transmission of diseases in human. The characteristics of peri-urban dairy farms in Karachi are discussed. Thirdly, the value of FTA® cards in detecting the Brucella DNA in milk samples was estimated by determining the detection limits of genus specific ERI PCR assay for FTA® cards and comparing the PCR results from whole sediments taken from culturing pooled milk samples with taking sediment on FTA® cards. The detection limits of this method ranged from 6.6 x 103 cfu/ml for B. abortus to 7.17 x 106 cfu/ml for B. suis. Assuming the results of ERI PCR for the whole sediment as gold standard (method 1), the method using sediment on FTA® cards as test samples (method 2) showed a diagnostic sensitivity of 81.44% (95% C.I.; 75.54-87.33) but a poor diagnostic specificity of 42.86% (95%C.I.; 16.95-68.78). The kappa value, κ, was 0.14 (p = 0.02) demonstrating a poor agreement between the two methods. Lastly, 181 bulk milk samples were used to estimate the herd level prevalence of bovine brucellosis in Landhi dairy colony, Karachi. The ERI PCR was used to test these samples. The herd prevalence was estimated as 92.26% (95% C.I.; 88.34-96.19). For each level (50 animals) increase in herd size, the risk of herd being brucellosis positive increases by 2.38 times. The herds that have a male animal for breeding are 0.09 times less likely to have brucellosis. The history of abortion, presence of small ruminants or the regions of animal purchase don’t appear to have any association with the risk of brucellosis at a herd level in this population at LDC, Karachi. A high seroprevalence of bovine brucellosis in livestock population in Sindh and a very high herd level prevalence in peri-urban dairy farms in particular poses a serious threat to the public health and livestock production in Sindh, Pakistan.

Out of 14.4% of Asian Americans in the state of California, and 5.4% in the United States, Pakistani-Americans are one sub-group, out of ten. Pakistani- Americans are either born in, or have familial ties back to the country of Pakistan. This research emphasizes on the lack of knowledge or awareness of mental health, and more importantly, the perceptions of mental health amongst Pakistani-Americans. The topic of mental illness within the Pakistani community is almost taboo and never spoken about with individuals outside of the family. With Islamic laws having a huge a huge influence on the Pakistani culture, people tend to turn to the religion to find answers. Using a qualitative approach, the researcher was able to conduct interviews and find 7 emerging themes; perceptions on seeking mental health treatment, where individuals would prefer to be treated for mental health issues, the significant role of religion, sharing problems and issues growing up, different cultural practices associated with psychological distress, identifying depression and anxiety as a mental illness, and the idea of Schizophrenia vs seeing or hearing Jinns. The researcher was able to conclude that Pakistani-American’s have shown growth in the understanding of mental health symptoms, however are still behind in understanding what is classified as a mental health issue and what is not.

Graduation date: 1995

Indien macht sich Sorgen, ob seine betont nichtmilitärische Politik in Afghanistan nach Abzug der ISAF-Truppen Früchte trägt. Als einer der größten Entwicklungshilfegeber hat Indien nach Vertreibung der Taliban 2001 mehr als zwei Mrd. US-Dollar in das Land gepumpt und der Nachfrage nach militärischer Hilfe bislang erfolgreich getrotzt. Unter Umgehung des einflussreichen Grenzlandes Pakistan will Indien von den Bodenschätzen Afghanistans, seiner strategischen Lage und seinem Wirtschafts- und Handelspotenzial profitieren. Die Angst vor der Rückkehr der Taliban sitzt jedoch tief und die eigene Verwundbarkeit ist groß, wie die Bombenangriffe 2008 und 2009 auf indische Botschaften in Afghanistan zeigten. Langfristig wird Indien seine Interessen in diesem Raum nur über einen multilateralen Ansatz sichern können.