Qaum, Mulk, Sultanat Citizenship and National Belonging in Pakistan

"Complementing the burgeoning scholarly literature on citizenship, Qasmi's insightful and erudite book foregrounds Pakistan's efforts to frame a conception of citizenship through a range of symbolic trappings of national sovereignty such as the anthem, archives, flag, museums and much more. Based on extensive research in the infamously inaccessible national archives, he demonstrates the myriad contestations that continue to shape conceptions of citizenship in post-colonial Pakistan. Notable in this regard is his revealing study of the reasons for the perennial controversy between the state and the ulema over moon sighting to mark the end of the Muslim month of fasting. A must read for students, scholars and anyone interested in the evolution of citizenship in South Asia, this is an especially welcome addition to the historical scholarship on Pakistan."-Ayesha Jalal, Tufts University "Embedding important legal and political decisions about the meaning of sovereignty within the lively debates in civil society that prompted, shaped, and defined them, Qasmi has written one of the liveliest cultural and conceptual histories of Pakistan to date."-Faisal Devji, University of Oxford "Combining theory with empirical 'hard evidence', ...Qaum, Mulk, Sultanat represents a veritable game changer in terms of bringing Pakistani developments to bear on wider global theoretical debates, and in the process relocating Pakistan to the heart-rather than languishing on the side-lines-of such discussions."-Sarah Ansari, Bloomsbury Pakistan "In a detailed study..., Qasmi excavates previously overlooked legal and religious archives to illustrate how these fundamental issues surfaced in debates over Pakistan's constitutions, the role of the government versus religious authorities in setting the dates of religious holidays, and the country's symbols-the precise shade of green on the nation's flag, the official dress code, the national anthem, and the choice of iconography on official stationery."-Andrew J. Nathan, Foreign Affairs "Throughout, Qasmi innovatively analyzes diverse archival records and popular media while impressively embedding his insights within international theoretical debates about the nature of state authority, citizenship, and Islam.... Recommended."-M. H. Fisher, CHOICE