Religious parties’ stand
DOES it occur to our religious parties that they have aligned themselves with India in the present crisis?
The present crisis has brought Pakistan into the mainstream of the international community. The United States has sought our cooperation and received it promptly. This has also served to bridge the gulf that has existed between Pakistan and the United States for more than a decade in the wake of the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Pakistan stands to gain immensely. Too much attention has been paid to the lifting of sanctions and the likely economic benefits that will accrue to Pakistan. Actually, Pakistan’s real gain is the opportunity the present crisis has offered to Islamabad to re-build its relationship with America on a higher level.
In cooperating with the US and the world community, Pakistan has, however, made it clear that there were limitations to Pakistan’s cooperation with the US in its war on Afghanistan. Nevertheless, Islamabad has behaved very tactfully to bring Pakistan on the side of the international community. India feels greatly disappointed.
Do the religious parties realize what Pakistan’s refusal to cooperate with the world community would have meant for this country?
America would have found a ready ally in India. In fact, Jaswant Singh had already offered logistic support to the US. Then American and Indian planes would have flown across Pakistan while on bombing missions to Afghanistan.
Together, the US and India might have jointly targeted Pakistan’s strategic installations, including the nuclear facilities. Do the religious parties think Pakistan should have fought India and the US at the same time? What chances did then Pakistan have?
As I have said above, India now feels disappointed and sorry to see the Pakistani nation united as one man. It wants nothing but to see violence and anarchy in Pakistan.
Do the religious parties want to oblige India by creating anarchy in Pakistan? Are not they serving India’s cause by threatening to create disturbances in the country at a critical hour? Is their stand “religious?”
JUI has been carried away by the fact that their party is in power in Afghanistan. But must other religious parties also hurt Pakistan and help India in its design? Do they really think they are patriotic Pakistanis?
Ulema, please think it over!
RIAZ RAHMAN
Karachi
‘The terrorists within’
THIS is with reference to Mr Adreshir Cowasjee’s above captioned write-up, published in Dawn on Sept 30.
One would have hoped that the columnist with all his knowledge of law must be conversant with the edict, “an accused is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty”. But for Cowasjee such principles seem to be extraneous just as he dismisses the Supreme Court’s decision for the abolition of the Military Courts on the ground that they were unconstitutional. Simply stating, “over the ocean, Langley has a file on him (referring to Altaf Hussain — the leader of MQM)”, is not only misleading but presumptuous.
Cowasjee’s piece should not just be taken as a mere write-up. Apparently it is a preconceived design to malign the image of a leader of the toiling millions. To corroborate my contention, I would like to clarify certain misgivings and skepticisms as under:
The statement of Louis J. Freeh, Director Federal Bureau of Investigation, that he gave to the US Senate’s Select Committee on Intelligence, on January 28, 1998, is on record:
“Circumstances surrounding the November 12, 1997, ambush of four American businessmen in Karachi, Pakistan, suggest a link to the conviction of Mir Aimal Kasi in a Virginia court for his 1995 attack on CIA workers outside the agency’s headquarters. Although no clear motive has been established for the killings in Karachi, the attackers tracked the activities of the victims for several days and launched the attack within 36 hours of the verdict. Earlier, Kasi had predicted that ‘his people’ would retaliate for his prosecution.”
He further stated before the US Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee for the Departments of Commerce, Justice and State, the Judiciary and Related Agencies on February 4, 1999:
“The November 1997 murder of four United States businessmen and their driver in Karachi, Pakistan, believed to be in retaliation against the FBI’s capture and rendition of Mir Aimal Kasi.”
Since Mr Cowasjee seems overwhelmingly obsessed with foreign newspapers, therefore, for his benefit, I would also like to quote from ‘Muslim Militants Threaten American Lives’ written by Kamran Khan and Kenneth J. Cooper and published in The Washington Post of March 7, 1999. “Militant Muslim groups such as Harkat are suspected of killing six Americans in two Karachi street shootings, security officials said. Those attacks, still unsolved, claimed the lives of two US consulate employees in 1995 and four oil company workers in 1997.”
To refresh the memory of the learned columnist may I quote a news item of daily News, Karachi, of Feb 5, 1999: “US officials refuse to buy Karachi police story. US officials have ruled out the involvement of the two Muttahida activists held by the police for the murder of five Union Taxes employees...”
Moreover, even after the arbitrary conviction of the two MQM workers, the Diplomatic Security Service of the US Department of State repeatedly offered through all the national newspapers of Pakistan, including Dawn, a reward of $5 million to those who would provide information or assistance that could lead to the arrest or conviction of those responsible for this attack. Had the US Department of State been convinced of the guilt of the two MQM workers, what was the necessity of offering a reward? It goes to prove that the Mutahidda workers were not involved in the killing of four innocent persons. Mr Cowasjee owes an apology through these columns for his prejudiced and presumptuous remarks against Mr Altaf Hussain.
NASREEN JALIL
Deputy Convenor, Muttahida Quami Movement
Karachi
CBR clarifies facts
THIS IS with reference to a news item (Sept 22) titled ‘CBR’s decision criticised’. I would like to clarify and state the factual position in this regard, as the news was based on wrong information.
The National Tax Survey Scheme 2000 was launched in May 2000 and in the first phase, posh residential and commercial areas of 13 big cities were selected.
Spot visits to evaluate the stocks of commercial entities of these 13 cities were to be undertaken. Such visits were called off in 10 cities after the completion of surveys of 15 per cent of the commercial entities.
In case of Karachi and two other cities, the 15 per cent limit has yet to be achieved. Therefore, no discrimination is being meted out to Karachi in this respect.
VAKIL AHMAD KHAN
Member & spokesman, CBR
Islamabad
Misconceptions about hepatitis
A FEW days ago, I came across a close friend of my aunt’s. She had been ill for quite some time and had not gone through proper investigations to diagnose her illness. She had finally been asked to get her blood tests done for the detection of Hepatitis B or C.
Her blood report confirmed that she had Hepatitis C viral infection. It was when she confided in me that since she didn’t have either Hepatitis A or B which, according to her, were the dangerous types, she would soon recover that I was taken by extreme surprise. It seems that even literate people of this country don’t have adequate knowledge about this very common ailment.
Hepatitis B & C are highly problematic types of hepatitis. It is the ability of these viruses to infect the liver for a long period of time that causes significant morbidity and mortality. These infections are not caused by any contaminated food or water, rather, they are caused by insertion of a needle previously infected by these viruses into the body; through sexual relations with a partner infected with this virus or having a blood transfusion in which the transfused blood is infected with these viruses.
These viruses cause slow damage to the liver over months to years, ultimately causing irreversible injury to the liver.
There has been very little success in eradicating these viruses once they house in the liver. Once considerable injury has been caused to the liver, the only effective treatment option left is liver transplantation which most people cannot afford. It is, therefore, extremely important to prevent these infections in the first place.
Contaminated needles are becoming one of the major causes of these life-threatening illnesses in Pakistan. The government controls over the packaging and sale of disposable needles have been lax, to say the least. Besides, a large proportion of GPs go for unnecessary injections just to satisfy the people because most illiterate people presume that every illness can be effectively and quickly treated by the use of injections.
I, therefore, appeal to people to avoid the use of syringes as much as possible and only use injections when it is absolutely required, and to always use disposable syringes.
DR KASHIF JABBAR
Lahore
A friend indeed
THIS is with reference to a news item (Sept 27) regarding Fehur High Level Canal Project, wherein it has been stated that the current crisis is demobilizing the Turkish staff at the construction site, which would result in delaying the project. This is not true.
In fact, the Sezai Turkes Feyzd Akkaya Construction Company (STFA) has reinforced its efforts to complete the tunnel and all affiliated works as per schedule.
The STFA in a recent letter addressed to the Wapda chief has reaffirmed that at this time of crisis they would pursue the completion of the project with more vigour.
NAEEM HAIDER SYED
Lahore
Tasks before the OIC
THIS is with reference to the editorial on ‘Tasks before the OIC’ (Sept 30).
I would like to remind the leaders attending the upcoming OIC conference that the remarks of Italy’s Prime Minister Berlesconi must also be answered forcefully. His contention that the West has and will always be the conquering force of the world is a testimony to the Eurocentric attitude pervasive in the world today, especially among the leaders.
The OIC must provide Berlesconi and others who think the same way, with a concrete reply.
SAJJAD IDRIS
N. Woodmere, NY, USA
Answers from religious parties
RAFIQ Zaheer’s ‘Questions’ (Sept 23) are addressed to religious parties. Most of his premises are superficial yet the issue has to be addressed lest it spawn a wrong conclusion.
Answer 1: How far kowtowing to America has served ‘Pakistan’s interests’ so far is debatable. The last bounty was the medal Aimal Kansi’s prosecuting lawyer granted to us in return for our delivering Kansi to America. The citation said: “Pakistanis can sell their mothers for 200 dollars”. It made no distinction between President Leghari and Allah Ditta.
2: There was nothing new about it. Demonstrations have never been peaceful. And the killer police always open fire on protest demonstrations.
3: This is the same trite insipid argument with which the establishment has always tried to strangulate dissent. The first is Islam, the other Pakistan. How can expressions of dissent against government policy be ‘anarchy’?
4: It begs question. On what evidence does the author fancy that the religious parties have not condemned the carnage along with the international community and the Ummah?
5: As above.
6: Only religious parties can answer this question properly. But a layman’s answer is that under normal circumstances suicide is not jihad. However, in an age where the enemy can attack with remote control or cannot be faced in a direct combat due to overwhelming disparity of resources, suicide attacks remain the only alternative. The question also begs another question: Is surrendering to threat and bullying — cowardice or bravery?
7: This amounts to an admission that Pakistan got cold feet and compromised its sovereignty under duress.
8: What an inane question. The author is the first person yet to question Taliban’s (including Mullah Omar’s) participation in the fight against the Soviet occupation. And whom have the followers of Ahmad Shah Massoud, Rabbani, Mujaddedi, Hikmatyar been killing after the Soviet troops left? Was it not their infighting that invited Taliban?
S.G. JILANEE
Karachi
Work distribution at post offices
I VISITED the GPO at Chundrigar Road twice during September and found that very few persons were there for availing of the facilities. More than a dozen clerks were assigned the various counters, but most of them were sitting idle with no work to do.
On the other hand, post offices located at different places in the city are visited by hundreds of people every day. These POs are provided with only one or two clerks who remain very busy and the visitors seeking different services are compelled to wait for 20 to 30 minutes for their turn.
While this situation is painful for the visitors, it speaks of the carelessness and ignorance of the big bosses of the postal department who seem to be either indifferent to or unaware of the actual load of work at the various post offices.
I request the PMG to look into the matter and open more counters with sufficient strength of staff on the basis of volume of work in all the post offices of the city.
G. RAZA
Karachi
Time for national cohesion
PRESIDENT Musharraf’s Sept 30 live interview on the CNN looked more like an interrogation of a head of the state; one already under tremendous pressure to do the impossible. A job that could not be accomplished by a superpower with all the resources at its command has conveniently been passed on to the president of a Third World country.
President Musharraf was not clear about the modalities of the use of Pak airspace, the ground facilities and the logistic support to the US military operations in Afghanistan. He is being denied certain vital information in the name of confidentialities. A frontline country that has put its security at risk is being denied the right to know as to what use his country would be put to by an aggressive superpower.
The president seems to be on the horns of a dilemma: he is losing public support for being a ‘lone ranger’ for the US global strategy in the region under the cover of anti-terrorism. This is the time when he needs the nation at his back to give him strength and forbearance. National solidarity has never come through the holding of state-sponsored ‘solidarity days’ by the establishment. The Sept 27 solidarity day was not a success and in fact proved counter-productive in the wake of whisking away of public transport by the authorities at the cost of public convenience.
The protests lodged by the people of Pakistan against the proposed attack on Afghanistan were brushed aside as vandalism of a small chunk of groups who formed only 15 per cent of the population. Accepted! What about the remaining 85 per cent of the silent majority? Are they supporting the US stance? No. Their sympathies are with the poor people of Afghanistan who are being made the scapegoat at the altar of US imperialism. That silent majority is gradually shifting its loyalties to the religious parties.
With the political leadership either in exile or incarcerated the field has been left open for the extremist religious groups to take over. The ARD demand for the release of all political leaders is justified to ward off the danger of extremism. The importance of political leadership has been recognized even by the powerful US allies as they have gradually started to change their stance in favour of a political solution of Bin Laden’s case rather than naked aggression.
While there is still time, the President should come out of his political isolation and call the political leaders to his help. Why keep them behind the bars and in exile at the cost of national unity? The country is in grave danger. It is the biggest national crisis we are facing and it needs absolute national cohesion.
When the issue is being gradually recognized as political, let the politicians sort it out. A right decision at this juncture will lead us out of the present imbroglio.
GHULAM ASGHAR KHAN
Islamabad
Appeal
I AM a pensioner of KW&SB drawing pension through PLS account No. 1861-8, Habib Bank, village Karnana, Br. Kharian, Dist Gujrat, Bank Code No. 1871. Now the bank has refused to make any payment saying that Habib Bank Sindh Sect. branch, has not transferred the requisite fund. Consequently, I am facing financial hardships.
I am a completely handicapped person. I can neither stand and move, nor hold something with my hands. I request the manager of Habib Bank, Sindh Sect Br., Karachi, to provide funds at an early date and save me from starvation.
GHULAM SARWAR
Kharian, Gujrat
Muslim solidarity
THIS is with reference to a letter by Rafiq Zaheer (Sept 23).
As a Muslim, we must show solidarity with our Muslim brethren, wherever in the world they might be. Muslims are putting up a struggle for their rights in Kashmir, Palestine, Chechnya and a number of other countries. We have to sympathize with them and do our best to ameliorate their miseries.
NOOR MUHAMMAD
Karachi
Northern Alliance
PAKISTAN has waken up too late, when the Indian military advisers are already in Uzbekistan.
The US forces in Uzbekistan will initially launch an air attack on the Taliban front lines north of Kabul, before landing air borne troops to secure the large former Soviet air base of Bagram etc.
Now Pakistan can just sit back on its hands and enjoy the scenery.
KHURSHID ANWER
Lahore
Great expectations
TONY Blair and David Frost (BBC TV) talked about all the ways to combat and eliminate terrorism, but there was not a word about the reasons for terrorism. One does not expect much wisdom from Mr Blair, who is just toeing the American line, but better sense was expected from David Frost.
KHURSHID ANWER
Lahore