Knowledge is Power

One thing I love about coming home is the access to books regarding Pakistan’s history and international politics in general. You can’t always judge a book by its cover, so I thought a simple thread listing well written, objective, well researched books on Pakistani politics by era would prove to be a nice resource for all, including myself.

Jinnah and Independence

“Jinnah” by Stanley Wolpert

Indecision of the 1950s

Ayub Khan

The Destruction of Pakistan

Bhutto

“Zulfi” by Stanely Wolpert

Zia-ul-Haq

Bhutto, Sharif, Bhutto and Sharif again

Musharraf

If you are a student of Pakistani politics, you know that the time frame does not matter, it is the man at the helm that does. Thus I have categorized the era’s by leaders instead of time.

Re: Knowledge is Power

Nadeem Qasir's Book on the Ayub, Bhutto, Zia era was amazing too, it was part of the Olevels Pakistan Studies reading list back in 1997, not sure if it still is.... From land reforms to the political atmosphere, the book covered everything...

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edited

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CM, yeh low, read to your hearts content. :) Good luck.

Ahmed, Feroz, 1999*, Ethnicity and Politics in Pakistan, Oxford University Press, Karachi
Ahsan, Aitzaz, 1996,
* The Indus Saga and the Making of Pakistan*, Oxford University Press, Karachi
Ali, Chaudhari Muhammad, 1967, **The Emergence of Pakistan
, Columbia University Press, NY
Al-Mujahid, Sharif, 1974, **Ideology of Pakistan
, Islamic Research Institute, Islamabad
Amin, Shahid M., 2000, **Pakistan’s Foreign Policy: A Reappraisal,
* Oxford University Press, Karachi
Arif, K. M., 2001, Khaki Shadows: Pakistan 1947-1997, Oxford University Press, Karachi
Aziz, K. K., 1993, The Pakistani Historian: Pride and Prejudice in Writing of History, Vanguard Books Pvt. Ltd., Lahore
Cloughley, Brian, 2006, A History of Pakistan Army: Wars and Insurrections 3rd Ed., Oxford University Press, Karachi
Feldman, Herbert, 1967, Revolution in Pakistan: A Study of the Martial Law Administration, Oxford University Press, London
Husain, Ishrat, 1999, Pakistan: The Economy of an Elitist State, Oxford University Press, Karachi
Hussain, J., 1997, A History of Peoples of Pakistan: Towards Independence, Oxford University Press, Karachi
Jafar, M., Rehman, I. A., Jafar, G., 1977, Jinnah as a Parliamentarian, Azfar Associates, Lahore
Jalal, Ayesha, 1999, The Sole Spokesman: Jinnah, the Muslim League, and the Demand for Pakistan, Sang-e-Meel Publications, Lahore
Jalal, Ayesha, 1995, Democracy and Authoratarianism in South Asia: A Comparative and Historical Perspective, Sang-e-Meel Publications, Lahore
Jones, Philip E., 2003, The Pakistan Peoples Party: Rise to Power, Oxford University Press, Karachi
Kadri, Syed Shamim Hussain, 1982, The Creation of Pakistan, Wajidalis Limited, Lahore
Kazimi, Muhammad Reza, 2003, Liaquat Ali Khan: His Life and Works, Oxford University Press, Karachi
Khan, Hamid, 2001, C*onstitutional and Political History of Pakistan,* Oxford University Press, Karachi
Khan, Jahan Dad, 1999, Pakistan: Leadership Challenges, Oxford University Press, Karachi
Khan, Shahrukh R., Khan, Foqia S., Akhtar, Aasim S., 2007, Initiating Devolution for Service Delivery in Pakistan: Ignoring the Power Structure, Oxford University Press, Karachi
Khan, Shahrukh Rafi (ed.), 1999, 50 Years of Pakistan’s Economy: Traditional Topics and Contemporary Concerns, Oxford University Press, Karachi
Mahmood, Safdar, 2000, Pakistan: Political Roots and Development (1947-1999), Oxford University Press, Karachi
Malik, Mohammad Aslam, 2001, The Making of the Pakistan Resolution, Oxford University Press, Karachi
Mazari, Sherbaz Khan, 1999, A Journey to Disillusionment, Oxford University Press, Karachi
McGrath, Allen, 1996, The Destruction of Pakistan’s Democracy, Oxford University Press, Karachi
Muhammad, Ayaz, 2004, Local Government Finance: Some Political Aspects - A Case Study of Punjab, Oxford University Press, Karachi
Nadeem, Azhar Hassan, 2002, Pakistan: The Political Economy of Lawlessness, Oxford University Press, Karachi
Newberg, Paula R., 1995, Judging the State: Courts and Constitutional Politics in Pakistan, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge UK
Rizvi, Shabbar Raza, 2005, Constitutional Law of Pakistan: Text, Case Law and Analytical Commentary Vol-1 (2nd Ed.), Vanguard Books Ltd., Lahore
Rizvi, Shabbar Raza, 2005, Constitutional Law of Pakistan: Text, Case Law and Analytical Commentary Vol-2 (2nd Ed.), Vanguard Books Ltd., Lahore
Rizvi, Shabbar Raza, 2005, Constitutional Law of Pakistan: Text, Case Law and Analytical Commentary Vol-3 (2nd Ed.), Vanguard Books Ltd., Lahore
Saeed, Khawaja Amjad, 2007, The Economy of Pakistan, Oxford University Press, Karachi
Sattar, Abdul, 2007, Pakistan’s Foreign Policy: 1947-2005 - A Concise History, Oxford University Press, Karachi
Seervai, H. M., 2005, Partition of India: Legend and Reality, Oxford University Press, Karachi
Sayeed, Khalid B., 1987, The Political System of Pakistan, Civil and Military Press, Karachi
Sayeed, Khalid B., 1960, Pakistan: The Formative Phase, Pakistan Publishing House, Karachi
Umar, Badruddin, 2006, The Emergence of Bangladesh (vol 2): Rise of Bengali Nationalism (1958-1971), Oxford University Press, Karachi
Umar, Badruddin, 2004, The Emergence of Bangladesh (vol 1): Class Struggles in East Pakistan (1947-1958), Oxford University Press, Karachi
Waseem, Mohammad, 2006, Democratization in Pakistan: A Study of 2002 General Elections, Oxford University Press, Karachi
Wilder, Andrew, 1999, The Pakistani Voter: Electoral Politics and Voting Behavior in Punjab, Oxford University Press, Karachi
Wolpert, Stanley, 1999, Jinnah of Pakistan, Oxford University Press, NY
Zaidi, S. Akbar, 2006, **Issues in Pakistan’s Economy **2nd Ed., Oxford University Press, Karachi

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Btw, a historical dictionary of pakistan by Burki...

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I was hoping for more than an internet list of books on Pakistan, Goddess of Wisdom. :p

Shamraz Khan editted.

Spock thanks for the books, now to find time to read them.

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My pleasure CM, some of the books were so hard to find back then in Pakistan, but its amazing how they are now so easy to buy off the internet. I spent about 3 weeks searching Islamabad bookstores for the one I mentioned in the second post back in 1996, and now its so easy to just buy it off Amazon, and get it shipped whereever you want. I am pretty sure you will be able to find them in a good university's library too.

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I personally get lost in Saeed Book Bank for hours. Great place, plus if you can find a corner you can read some of the books in peace :D I am certainly interested in the first one you mentioned. Political economy during the era of those three individual is something I am obsessed about.

Right now I am reading Memoris of Lt. General Gul Hasan Khan. Definitely to be taken with a pinch of salt. But so far I have found it an amazing easy and intellectual read. Also so far (1/4 of the way through) he has kept pretty factual in his accounts. Now to see what his personal experiences are you.

By any chance have you read Military Inc.?

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Saeed Book Bank, I cant seem to remember where it is, though I swear the name rings a bell in my head... Yes, I do strongly recommend the first book, its very professional (not at all biased), and no matter who you support or not, you will say the books very informative and interesting...

I did not read military inc but I just looked it up in the database of a library near me and they have it, so I'll go grab it!!

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Err sorry not a good idea to post around iftar time. lol

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A thread to keep a database of Recommended Reading and Books & Sources on Pakistan, History, Politics, Economy and Military has already been under planning for a while, though delayed for various reasons.
The planned thread would be a permanent sticky and serve as a good source for members and readers.

Good thing you started this thread CM. The project prep can be revived and this thread can be used for any suggestions, ideas as well.

The format Ive planned also requires a short 200-400 word review of any book listed written by members here. For eg if someone is reading a particular book,or has read a particular book they should come up list it and write a short review in their words, based on what their sentiments are.

Share your thoughts on how this could be made to work even better. And lets work together and launch this.

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Good coincidence, I just finished reading it recently. I found it quite interesting too. I did take the portions on his role during late 1971 at GHQ with a pinch of salt because he was after all the CGS. Let me know what you think when you reach those portions. The book becomes bit slow half way, but is definitely quite interesting again towards the later sections.
Infact some political conditions from the 1950s, late 1960s and 1970s and the way that he describes them rings so many bells; lots of similarities in circumstances, personalities, leaders and blunders as well as possibilities for blunders from today.

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Spock Saeed is at Jinnah opposite Pappasalis.

Ive been finally thinking of getting Mil Inc too. How about you write a short review on it when you're done?

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I was a great fan of both Saeed Book Bank and the London Book Co. There are across the road to each other in Peshawar. Saeed Book Bank opened their branch in Islamabad as well, but they have started to put the prices of books in dollars which instantly make them expensive.

I love Islamabad's second hand book shop culture. You can find some amazing books.

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Thanks Haris, now I remember! In Pindi, I would say the best one at that time was Idris Book Bank (Saddar)...

WitchDr, right on bro, the second hand book culture back in the 90s was amaing indeed, you could even find some vintage comic books back then over there which you could now sell on ebay for alot of money! And that culture was there because people over there loved reading so much and werent extremely rich though...

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Be warned Military Inc. is an extremely extremely heavy read. I have gone in roughly 60 pages or so and I had to take a break. Its so far is very good but reads too much like an academic paper. If you guys plan on reading it make sure you have some other book close by to help relax the mind.

As for second book culture, it seems to have died down a lot, or atleast that is my perception as my regular haunts in the F-6 Markaz and the F-8 Markaz are no longer there. Need to find some new ones.

Haris, like all military authors he is pretty precise about his comments, but what I personally enjoy about these memoirs by our "old guard" are the personal stories they tell. I like the way he describes Jinnah and some of the personal experiences. They show much more about a leader's character than what any text book can provide.

Anybody read "Jawan to General" - The memoir of General Muhammad Musa? Need to check on the validity of some of the stuff he says in it.

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CM, I wasn't thinking about that, I thought its our chance to build a database of books on Pakistan. :p
Haris, I like your suggestion about building a database of books on politics, history, religion, social issues of Pakistan. (y)

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Goddess your style reminds me of someone. Are you by any chance her?