CPS NEWS

The question-answer session during CPS Seminar on

“Uncommon Qualitative Research Methods:

Phenomenology, Narrative Inquiry, and Conversation

Analysis" held at CUI, Islamabad.

May 2018

EDITOR

A BAID ULLAH

D ESIGNED BY

M. T AHIR A SLAM

The question-answer session during CPS Seminar on

Electoral Governance and Management in Pakistan

held at CUI, Islamabad.

CPS TEAM

Dr. Imran Syed Head CPS

Dr. Muhammad Shakeel Assistant Professor

Dr. Kalsoom Sumra Assistant Professor

Dr. Ghulam Shabbir Assistant Professor

Dr. Tanveer Zahra Assistant Professor

Dr. Saeed Anwar Assistant Professor

Mr. Laeeq Hassan Jawsal Assistant Professor

Mr. Umar Sheraz Sr. Research Officer

Mr. Abaid Ullah Manager

Malik Zeeshan Ahmad Assistant Manager

Mr. M. Tahir Aslam Office Assistant

COMSATS University Islamabad

Centre for Policy Studies

CPS Seminar on “Uncommon Qualitative Research Methods:

Phenomenology , Narrative Inquiry and Conversation Analysis”

Center for Policy Studies (CPS), COMSATS University, Islamabad successfully organized a seminar on “Uncommon

Qualitative Research Methods: Phenomenology, Narrative Inquiry, and Conversation Analysis" on May 14,

2018 from 3: 00 pm to 5:30 pm. The Seminar was held at Junaid Zaidi Library Video Conference Hall, CUI, Islamabad, and

more than 70 students, staff and faculty members attended the seminar.

The aim of the seminar was to add to the research strength of CUI, Islamabad by introducing students and interested staff

and faculty to some uncommon qualitative research methods. The uncommon qualitative research methods that were

focused on during the seminar were Phenomenology, Narrative Inquiry, and Conversation Analysis. The experts who pre-

sented at the seminar included Dr. Rao Nadeem Alam, Assistant Professor, Anthropology Department, Quaid -e-Azam

University, Dr. Imran Syed, Head, CPS and Dr. Aliya Moin Zafar, Department of Humanities, CUI, Islamabad.

CPS Roundtable Discussion on “Electoral Processes and Public Policy Issues

in Pakistan”

Keeping in view the significance of coming elections 2018, Center for Policy Studies (CPS) CUI, Islamabad organized a

Roundtable Discussion on Electoral Processes and Public Policy Issues in Pakistan on May 3, 2018 from 3:00 pm to 6:00

pm at BIC 1st floor CUI Islamabad.

The aim of the session was to raise awareness amongst CUI students and faculty members about Election procedures and

processes, public policy issues and creating a research agenda in the field of electoral studies and public policy.

Dr. Imran Syed, Head CPS, CUI Islamabad opened the session with the welcome remarks. In the beginning of the session,

Dr. Shakeel Ahmad from CPS talked about “Electoral Studies: theoretical understanding”

Mr. Kanwar M. Dilshad Ex-Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan and Chairman National Democratic Foundation

talked about “Electoral Management and Choices” followed by a lecture of Mr. Zafar Ullah Khan, CEO Pakistan

Institute of Parliamentary Services on “Would Electoral Act 2017 Strengthen Electoral Integrity? Pakistan’s

Debate in Comparative Perspective”. Professor Dr. Ijaz Shafi Gillani, Chairman, Gallup, Pakistan talked about

“Electoral Systems and Processes in Pakistan”. Dr. Faqir Hussain Ex- Registrar, Supreme Court of Pakistan talked

about “Legal framework of Election, 2018”. Mr. Muhammad Khizer Aziz, DG (IT) ECP briefed about “Use of I.T in

Electoral Management and Governance for coming election 2018”. The Session were moderated by Dr.

Kalsoom Sumra and Dr. Shakeel Ahmad from CPS. The session was well attended by CUI student, faculty members and

dignitaries from civil society.

CPS delegate visited Malaysia for USIM-COMSATS International Workshop

CPS delegate successfully participated in Opening session of USIM-COMSATS International Workshop at Malaysia. COM-

SATS University Islamabad, Pakistan and University Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), Malaysia in co-sponsorship with the Islamic

Development Bank, Saudi Arabia organized a one-week training course on “Foresight and Innovation Policy” at Uni-

versiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Nilai, Malaysia from May 10 to 14, 2018. The workshop was attended by 24 participants from

10 countries.

The interactive lectures at the workshop were delivered by Dr. Sohail Inayatullah (World Renowned Futurist), Tan Sri

Omar Abdul Rahman (Former Science Advisor of Prime Minister Mahatir Muhammad), Dr. Hammad Akbar (Senior Lectur-

er in Management, University of Liverpool), Dr. Wan Fariza Alyati Wan Zakaria (Senior Lecturer, Universiti Kebangsaan

Malaysia) and Mr. Umar Sheraz (Senior Research Officer, COMSATS University Islamabad). As part of the learning pro-

cess, the participants paid a visit to the premises of MAGIC (Malaysian Global Innovation and Creativity Centre) to study

their startup incubation process.

COMSATS University Islamabad was represented by Mr. Umar Sheraz, (Senior Research Officer, Centre for Policy Stud-

ies), Mr. Malik Zeeshan Ahmad, (Assistant Manager, Centre for Policy Studies), and Dr. Faheem Aslam, (Assistant Profes-

sor, Management Sciences Department). Mr. Umar Sheraz also gave a detailed presentation on the COMSATS University

and its achievements in his welcome speech. A book on workshop proceedings and selected academic work by workshop

participants will be published by USIM, later this year.

CPS Seminar on Electoral Governance and Management in Pakistan

Centre for Policy Studies, COMSATS University Islamabad organized a one-day national seminar on Electoral Governance

and Management in Pakistan at Junaid Zaidi Library video Conferencing Hall on May 11, 2018 Friday from 02:30 pm to

05:00 pm. The purpose of the seminar was to share ideas, insights and reflections on electoral governance, electoral integ-

rity, political accountability and public policy formulation processes in Pakistan. Members of academia, civil society and

government officials have attended this seminar and shared their insights on different theoretical and methodological as-

pects of electoral governance.

Dr. Imran Syed, Head CPS gave the welcome address to the speakers and participants Mr. Zafar Iqbal, Additional Secre-

tary, (Training, Research and Evaluation) from Election Commission of Pakistan, Professor Ijaz Shafi Gillani, Chairman-

Gallup Pakistan, Mr. Sarwar Bari, General Secretary Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) and National Coordinator

PATTAN Development Organization and Dr. Muhammad Shakeel Ahmad-Election Studies Coordinator Centre for Policy

Studies shared their intellectual insights on electoral governance with the audience.

Speaking to the participants of seminar Dr. Shakeel has highlighted theoretical underpinnings of electoral governance while

explaining three major dimensions of electoral governance i. e rules making, rules execution and rules adjudication.

Mr. Sarwar Bari shared the patterns of electoral monitoring and transparency and explained theoretical and practical as-

pects of elections and inherent contradictions prevailing in it. He also highlighted the role of civil society in electoral

awareness and shared his thought on other alternative electoral systems particularly launching of Proportional Representa-

tion (PR) campaign in Pakistan.

Mr. Zafar Iqbal Hussain shared arrangements of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for the smooth conduct of free,

fair and transparent elections in Pakistan including effective use of digital technology, result transmission system and geo-

graphic information system (GIS) for locating a polling station. He said that ECP has made full proof arrangements to en-

sure transparency in upcoming general elections 2018. He also explained constitutional mandate of ECP and highlighted

salient features of Election Act 2017.

In an informal discussion with researchers and students of elections studies, Professor Ijaz Shafi Gillani shared his reflec-

tions on making elections free, fair and transparent and relationship of electoral governance with people oriented public

policy in Pakistan. Seminar was ended with lively dialogue between participants and speakers.

CPS delivered Lectures at National Defense University on the International

Relations of Great Powers & US Foreign Policy and Great Power Politics: the

Case of Pakistan

Dr. Imran Syed, Head CPS, delivered a two part lecture on Great Power Politics at the IR Department, Faculty of Con-

temporary Studies, National Defense University, Islamabad. The first lecture was on the “The International Rela-

tions of Great Powers” and was delivered on 11 April 2018 and the 2nd lecture was on “US Foreign Policy and

Great Power Politics: The Case of Pakistan” and was delivered on 2 May 2018.

CPS delivered a talk at Quaid-i-Azam University on Canadian Foreign Policy

As part of two-part lecture on Great Power Politics, Dr. Imran Syed, Head, Centre for Policy Studies (CPS), gave a talk

on "Canadian Foreign Policy: Some Important Debates" at the Area Studies Center (ASC), Quaid-i-Azam Uni-

versity, Islamabad, on 3 May 2018. The talk was attended by the faculty, Ph.D. students and M.Phil. students of the

ASC. The talk was followed by a question and answer session.

COMSATS University Volunteers participations in launch of Pakistan National

Human Development Report (NHDR) organized by UNDP

Mr. Abaid Ullah of CPS successfully coordinated with UNDP and EE Department for CUI students’ participation as volun-

teers in launch of Pakistan National Human Development Report (NHDR) on May 2, 2018 at PNCA, Islamabad.

More than 20 students from EE Department Idea Society successfully participated in the program.

The aim of the session was not only to enhance the personal wellbeing of the youth but also to enhance the country’s

human development.

CPS Researcher participated in PTV program

Dr. Kalsoom Sumra, Assistant Professor, Center for Policy Studies successfully participated in Pakistan Television program

“ Nishandahi” as analysist on May 15, 2018. The host of the program was Ms. Samina Waqar. The other panelist in-

cludes Mr. Shahid Kiayni, ex-Ambassador and Mr. Mansoor Jaffer, expert in International Journalism.

The topic of the discussion was “US Embassy setup in Jerusalem and Brutality of Israel on Palestine people”

Dr. Kalsoom Sumra gave her intellectual point of view during the discussion and the policy position taken by Dr. Kalsoom

Sumra was: Muslim countries Turkey and Organization of Islamic Cooperation should take to solid step

Israel Brutality on Palestine people.

CPS Seminar on Storytelling for a better world: alternate future and Policy Change

CPS is planning to arrange a Workshop on "Storytelling for a Better World: Alternate Futures and Policy

Change" in collaboration with Lincoln Corner, National Library of Pakistan, Islamabad . This 02 hour Workshop will be

held on June 6, 2018 from 11 am to 1 pm at National Library of Pakistan.

The workshop will look at the emergence of alternative, progressive and socially inclusive futures, though storytelling and

will be facilitated by Mr. Umar Sheraz, Senior Research Officer, CPS. The workshop session will be followed by a presenta-

tion by Dr. Imran Syed, Head, CPS, on "Storytelling Inspiring Policy Change". The workshop is aimed for professional train-

ers, educators, storytellers, media producers, publishers, narrative psychologists and story enthusiasts.

Upcoming Events

CPS monthly meeting was held on May 7, 2018 at 1:30 pm to 02:30 pm in Head of Department Room CPS. The Meeting

was chaired by Dr. Imran Syed, Head, CPS and he briefed about the upcoming CPS seminars and other activities in

details.

Monthly Meeting of CPS Team

W E ARE ON W E B

WW3 . COMSATS . EDU . PK/ CPS

WWW . FACEBOOK . COM/ CPS . CIIT

CPS

Second Floor, IRM Complex, # 7,

Sunrise Avenue, Park Road, Chak

Shahzad,Near Obsession

Marquee, Islamabad, Pakistan

Phone: 051-835054 Ext: 117

Fax: 051-9247-006

About CPS The Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) aims at bridging the gap between academia, research and

the public policy making processes. To achieve its goals the Centre’s team is a blend of academi-

cians, scholarly researchers and policy practitioners who have had extensive experience in public

policy formulation and implementations process at senior levels.

Through its collaboration and partnership with well-known policy centers and think tanks around

the world, the Centre also examines Pakistan’s policy alternatives on the basis of best interna-

tional practices in various fields.

Apart from the small number of team members at CPS, the Centre is also able to access over

500 PhD scholars working as faculty across the campuses of COMSATS in the country.

Address Centre for Policy Studies, COMSATS University Islamabad.

Second Floor, IRM Complex, # 7, Sunrise Avenue, Park Road,

Chak Shahzad, Near Obsession Marquee, Islamabad, Pakistan

For more information about CPS please visit

http://ww3.comsats.edu.pk/cps/

www. facebook .com/cps .c i i t