Mazhar Abbas

Background

About Mazhar Abbas

Mazhar Abbas has a PhD in history from Shanghai University, China. He is a lecturer at Government College University Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan, and a research fellow at the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), Islamabad, Pakistan. He has recently won three prestigious research grants:(1) RASTA, funded by the Ministry of Planning and Development, Pakistan, for ‘Genesis of Perennial Instability and Ineffective Governance in Pakistan: Role of Regional Parties and Independent Candidates in Coalition Governments’;(2) RASTA, funded by the Ministry of Planning and Development, Pakistan, for ‘Exploration and Analysis of the Drivers of Urban Sprawl in Pakistan: A Case Study of Lahore’; and (3) National Research Support Programme (NRPU), funded by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan, for ‘Women’s Land Rights in Pakistan: Laws, Policies, and Practices’. Dr. Abbas has published research papers in well-reputed peer-reviewed academic journals, including Third World Quarterly, India Review, and Pacific Rim Property Research Journal. Also, Routledge published his book ‘The Aftermath of the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971: Enduring Impact’ in September 2024. His contributions to edited volumes published by Routledge also include chapters. Furthermore, he has presented his research at various prestigious international forums, including the University of Oxford, United Kingdom. Additionally, he has regularly written on the history of Punjab and Pakistan’s general history in national dailies such as ‘The News’ and ‘Daily Times’. Lastly, Dr. Abbas has contributed to documentaries about historical figures and sites for the BBC and the Independent. His research interests are deeply rooted in exploring the complex histories surrounding the partitions of the Indian subcontinent in 1947 and Pakistan in 1971. He focuses on the painful experiences of refugees whose lives were forever changed by these significant events. Additionally, he is keen on examining the intricate social landscape of Pakistan, paying special attention to the dynamics of the landed aristocracy, the resilience of the peasantry, the social movements, women's land rights, and the grassroots struggles that influence the land rights discourse in the country.