KARACHI: Justice Ajmal Mian stressed the need to separate Judiciary from the hold of civil administration, for better working of the judicial system to the benefit of the common people. He was speaking at launch of the autobiography of Justice (r) Dr Javed Iqbal, titled ‘Apna gareeban chaak’ on Friday.

The main speaker, Dr Iqbal, was accompanied by Justice Nasera Iqbal. Others, who spoke on the book, included Dr Jamiluddin Aali, Dr Farman Fatehpuri, Gen (r) Moinuddin Haider and Prof Sabir Nizami.

Justice Ajmal Mian, in his presidential discourse, lauded Dr Iqbal for writing such a valuable account of his life and time, which he said was enlightening as well as thought provoking. He also praised the organisers— Daira-e-Adab-o-Saqafat, Dhaka Group of Institutions and Bazm-e-Kahkashan, for launching the book.

Jamiluddin Aali, recalling his association with the author, praised him for bringing out a “very important book.” Justice Javed, he said, was acknowledged as an authority on Islamic thought. A noted son of Allama Iqbal, Dr Javed Iqbal, had taken note of the problems surfacing almost 70 years after his father’s socio-cultural world and in a different political environment, Mr Ali said, while adding that the question about Islamic identity and similar issues still needed an elaborate reply from him.

Dr Javed Iqbal, replying to the questions by Dr Aali and some other speakers, opined, democracy, so loudly professed in India, had failed after 50 years, along with their secularism. He said our own claim to establish an Islamic state had not succeeded, adding it was not for him (Dr Javed) only to find the answer. He therefore suggested that the intellectuals in Pakistan should sit together, forget their small differences and should discuss the issues pertaining to the state, its ideology, and governance.

Dr Farman, in a lengthy discourse, recalled the historic events of the about last six decades. The book, he said, portrayed the cultural values left behind and introduced a new path in biographical writings. He highly admired the book for having some rare photographs of Allama Iqbal.

Sabir Nizami, a translator of some of the Persian verses from Allama Iqbal, critically examined the book and expected the author to have guided the judiciary by his thinking.

Justice Nasera Javed Iqbal admired the book and also its author for keeping up the family tradition of honesty and frankness.—H.A