| October 28, 2001 | Sunday | Shaba'an 10, 1422 |
If autumn comes
PERHAPS among the many good things in life that we have gotten accustomed to living without in Karachi are parks. So the news that there are going to be provided, officially, 17 “Hyde Parks” is something that makes one sit up, contemplate and feel pampered. It is as if the authority or establishment wish to fuss about the citizens, if not give them what is due — a long-denied right.
So as one contemplates this, many thoughts come to mind. That those of us who have grown up in Karachi, in all these decades of “freedom”, have done so not just without “Hyde Parks”, but even bare parks and adequate playgrounds. If our history on this count had been good and our track record of preserving and promoting parks been mentionable and not a matter of shame, then the vision of the citizens of this city would have been a totally different one. The health of the city would have been good and its citizens would have had the very desirable habit of relaxing in parks, going there for recreation, without the fear of being intimidated by people such as policemen or impostors, of sorts, who operate in the name of the law. One has the local Clifton beach in mind or even the few parks that we have. The Nikahnama fear!
If the city had had its parks — the number and quality that it jolly well deserves — it would have had a positive impact on the lifestyle and personality of the citizens of the overpopulated Sindh capital, on the personality and inner health of individuals and on the city as a whole.
Of course, the 17 ‘Hyde Parks’ come as good news and it makes the mind wander in a happy direction. We will now have, finally, parks that will be green, clean, serene and with rules and infrastructure, public opinion and spirit of tolerance that will be demonstrated at these proposed parks. Sadly, this was not done at the Mazar of the Quaid-i-Azam during a political rally this week that became unruly and in a fit of rage, damaged park property. The incident should never be repeated at the proposed parks.
At these Hyde Parks-to-be, it is reported that “various political, social, cultural and religious organizations will be allowed to hold public meetings or gatherings”. This is indicated by the city government sources, who add that the Home Department has agreed to the proposal. If it happens the way it is being sounded, it will be unique for this part of the world. While the whole idea is welcome, it is too good to be true, says a citizen, cynically.
The 17 sites mentioned in the details in the newspaper of Oct 20, indicate that no “Hyde Parks” are planned for Nazimabad, PECHS, housing societies, Clifton and Defence. Why? Is there not in these areas, too, the need to have freedom of expression, or are the residents of these apparently-prosperous areas a class unto themselves?
How soon will these 17 parks actually become operational? The season for them is now, quite evidently.
A great deal of political awareness and restlessness is overflowing onto the streets and the sooner they are made functional, and efficiently so, the better.
One could say the same for at least two other parks that are in the news these days. There is the model central park planned at what is commonly known as “Gutter Baghicha”.
First comment: what a name! Residents of the locality should initiate a change of name and give it something that doesn’t remind them of sewerage. The City Nazim announced at a seminar that not only will this park be developed but another one would be established at the site of old Sabzimandi on University Road, and that it would henceforth be ensured that “not a single plot reserved of parks would be utilized for anything else’.
That’s a commitment, if honoured, would do a great deal of lasting good to a city rapidly losing its fight against pollution, as environmentalists fail to motivate citizenry or officialdom. The effort is there but in the face of constant rural and tribal migration to this urban ‘dreamland’, the results are meagre, if at all. Some NGOs do work hard, but their efforts serve as the proverbial drop in the ocean.
At the seminar where City Nazim Naimatullah Khan spoke, other speakers underlined that of the 1,400 plots reserved for parks, playgrounds and open spaces, over 300 had been put to commercial use by previous governments. How much money must have been made at the cost of the citizens of Karachi and how much are Karachiites deprived of are questions presently left unanswered.
As one citizen said, “If the establishment had ensured that Karachi’s amenity plots are safeguarded, its parks and playgrounds preserved and not turned into housing colonies, it would have slowed down the migration of rural population to Karachi. It is because there is opportunity that they come to Karachi. So the city stagnates, stifles and stinks.”
But perhaps there is some optimism left for as many as 38 NGOs have made a commitment this week to plant 80,000 trees and protect them as well. The NGOs assembled at the lush-green Frere Hall, under the chairmanship of the City Nazim. There was a great deal of talk of making the city green and providing weary residents the cool shade they deserve in a city where summers have become particularly tormenting.
More optimism — Korangi industrialists have announced that each industrialist will plant 500 saplings both within his premises and outside as well, as part of what is described as the “Green City Programme”. Details of this announcement make happy reading.
Still more optimism. Encroachments on University Road at old Sabzimandi have been removed and work on the new park begins on Wednesday. Can you visualize the day when this park will finally be ready and families will visit it (admission fee or not), and someone will say that things are no more the same.
AUTUMN, the season of mellow fruitfulness, is our time this year for heartbreak and sadness. Some of it quite undeserved. The invigorating air of accomplishment seems to have been replaced by a feeling of betrayal.
The mornings are bright, the afternoons cosy and the night air without being chilly. But, the riot of colour that made the season rival —- some would say exceed —- the beauty of spring is missing. The realization rankles as a poignant reminder of the loss of trees whose foliage had provided the colours. Instead, there is dust.
The harvests have been good but no joy to the farmers. All growers’ representatives were reported to have resigned after the standing committee on cotton crop assessment ignored their input. The ‘support price’ has been fixed at last year’s level despite the introduction this year of a 15 per cent sales tax on fertilizers and pesticides. Forecast for paddy yield is again in excess of two million tonnes but there is no official word yet on procurement. Citing difficulties of their own, sugar mills have delayed the crushing season. This will not only delay payment to farmers but threatens also to make the land unavailable for wheat sowing.
Empty-handed like the proverbial grasshopper after toiling since summer like the workaholic ants, what comfort can the farmer expect next. If autumn comes, can winter be far behind? Having themselves witnessed mid-career lay-offs, the urban workers understand the farmer’s situation. The more sensitive ones are suffering with him. Attending office, a youthful colleague said today, he felt like dating a recent widow. Another concurred.
Nor is the All Pakistan Music Conference adhering to its schedule. Its annual four-day event at the Bagh-i-Jinnah Open Air Theatre, the cultural highpoint of the season, has been downsized.
The treachery, come to think of it, had started early. The monsoons that showed early promise this year — even threatened briefly to drown the poorly drained cities — did not deliver in the end. Water is thus going to be scarce for the third year running. Irrigation water shortage for the Rabi crop, in fact, is going to be the worst ever. No wonder, then, the farmers are advising the food department — eager to export its wheat stocks — not to rush it. Some are talking even of a famine.
IN what may prove a landmark case, the Lahore High Court ruled last week that the grave and sudden provocation defence was not available in all cases of so-called honour killing. It also enhanced the seven-year imprisonment sentence passed by the subordinate court to death for the convict.
Another bench, sitting in Multan, later gave a similar judgment in a double-murder case. The bench also regretted lack of specific legislation despite acknowledgement of the problem by politicians, state functionaries and judges.
Rights organizations have been pointing out for quite some time now that as a result of a mechanical application of the statute by over-worked judges determined to err on the side of leniency the mitigating circumstance plea was too readily accepted in many cases of premeditated murder. Worse, it was feared that this had ceased to be just an appeal for clemency at the sentencing stage and was indeed becoming a factor and strategy option in cold-blooded planning and execution of murder. This is not to suggest that the war against ‘honour killing’ has been won. The problem is multi-dimensional and the attitudes too deeply rooted in a culture of ignorance, false values and intolerance to wither away quickly. As crusaders for the cause recognize, the cherished change can be brought about through education and enlightenment alone. Should it be sustained, vigilance in the application of the mitigating-circumstance statute, demonstrated by the judgment, will surely revive a valuable deterrent. Should this save but one life, the judgment would be worth the one lost in execution.
Privately, one also looks forward to seeing a learned court rule that similar vigilance is necessary in case of other abuses of the process of law. That the need to be wary of those found to have lynched, humiliated, or otherwise wronged people, when they justify their actions by accusing their victims of irreverence for their favourite dogma, even blasphemy, is recognized.
A Dawn reporter recently visited the Ghazi Road national registration office seeking verification of a B-Form. He saw a protocol officer of some very senior officer introducing himself. The PO, who was carrying some identity card forms, said the boss desired their expeditious handling. The man behind the desk said the National Database and Registration Authority recognized urgency in three categories. He mentioned the categories and the evidence of urgency required to be submitted in each case. The PO said he found the ‘official’ answer disappointing. Was there no accommodation for colleagues? Won’t the gentleman then accept the forms the way they were? Did he realize who he was putting to inconvenience? Should he arrange a phone call from the interior secretary himself? The clerk kept answering that he was merely following instructions, that he had no say in policy decisions and did not have the authority to oblige the gentleman. The PO said it was not as if this was the first public office he had been to. Tasks entrusted to him, he said, never got stuck. Those crossing his path, he warned, proved losers. Exit the PO.
A grey-haired citizen was told the forms submitted by him could not be entertained as they did not bear the Nadra stamp. He suggested that the official could easily fix the problem by stamping them himself. The official said he was not authorized.
The citizen questioned the rationale for the rule. “Don’t blame me,” said the official. “I don’t make rules here. The instructions come from above. Besides, everybody knows about this. It has been in the papers.” The citizen said pointedly that the official’s salary came from the taxes he paid. “Have you ever paid any?” he asked. The official said he paid no direct taxes because none were due from him. He also said while it was nice the gentleman paid his taxes, he did not see why he should be personally beholden to him for this. The citizen shouted that the official was being ‘suicidal’ in refusing to entertain the forms. He also said he did not need the identity card any way but would see to it that the official got what he deserved. The official said the citizen was being unfair, demanded that he behave in a manner befitting his age and his station in life and declared that while he was disappointed in him he was by no means bothered by the stupid threats. Tension in the room now became too much for others and some ladies requested both of them to please calm down and try to appreciate the other person’s difficulties. A woman submitting unstamped forms was similarly told they were unacceptable. She should obtain stamped forms, fill them in and bring them over. She said this was the easy part. Locating an authorized person to attest the forms, she said, was the hard part. Did the gentleman understand the problem? Perfectly. Was there no way she could avoid doing that again? None. Was there perhaps somebody authorized to condone the use of unstamped forms or to stamp them for a charge? There was none. Was there somebody she could file a complaint with? Not in that office.
The Dawn reporter noticed that there was nobody in the room marked ‘Inquiry’. He learnt that it was a rented building and the rent was due but nobody in the office could tell the landlord how or when he would be paid.
He learnt that the forms were sent for verification to the regional office where the person attesting the form was based. An attestation by an authorized person in the same locality can thus avoid delay. The information, however, is not available the easy way. The instructions say a picture should be glued to the form, not stapled on to it, but not that using staples to secure the supporting documents would make the forms unacceptable. It does. — ONLOOKER