| November 11, 2001 | Sunday | Shaba’an 24, 1422 |
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Local govt’s performance
Chomsky’s remarks
This is also terrorism
Cambridge certificate
Lack of tolerance
A pilgrim’s problem
Delay in appointments
American bombers
Treating children with kindness
Internet cafes in Islamabad
Commuters’ plight
A wrong assertion
CONSIDERABLE amount of speculation is going on in the US media about Pakistan’s nuclear assets falling into the hands of extremist elements. This appears to be a carefully orchestrated American propaganda campaign.
There are regular, almost daily, reports doubting the efficiency of Pakistan’s nuclear safety and control mechanisms, the involvement of pro-Taliban scientists in the nuclear programme and about their arrests. It has also been speculated that the Taliban have already got hold of fissile material stolen from Pakistan and that the Pentagon has noted with alarm visits made by Arabs and Koreans to the nuclear facilities several months ago.
This persistent propaganda is no doubt designed to convince the world that Pakistan’s nuclear capability is unsafe and a threat to world peace and safety.
The US message to the world is that in view of these risks, a surgical strike on Pakistan’s nuclear assets would be fully justified.
The US can easily engineer events that will justify a strike against Pakistan. Once its aims in Afghanistan are fully or partially achieved, they would play a pivotal role in bringing about a military coup. The American officials have already started voicing concerns, in private, that President Musharraf who is seen as a pro-West, will not last the present crisis.
Replacement of President Musharraf by a hard-liner would perfectly suit the US as this would provide an excuse to strike Pakistan and neutralize its nuclear capability. Under such circumstances the US action would be totally justified in the eyes of the world.
In addition to this, the US is cleverly gaining a non-reversible foothold in Pakistan’s nuclear programme through the so-called assistance / training programme to improve nuclear command and control structures. Under this programme, Pakistani officials / scientists will travel to the US for training and Americans will, most likely, visit our sites. No doubt, there will be an exchange of information on locations, current security procedures and their enhancements. But this would also provide a fantastic opportunity for the US to gain intimate knowledge of Pakistani nuclear assets.
This is a clever trap being set for Pakistan to which we have fallen an easy prey. According to our foreign minister, Pakistan could not say ‘no’ to such an offer, especially now that we are so grateful for the lifting of sanctions, promises of economic aid and the carrot of debt write-off hanging at the end of the stick.
If Pakistan can build nuclear weapons (a no mean feat), surely it has the capacity to build a nuclear command and control structure that would prevent its misuse. Pakistan should never seek American assistance in this regard.
American friendship is solely based on their self-interest. Their entire foreign policy is built on this principle. Sooner or later, Pakistan will find the rug pulled out from under its feet.
MAHMOUD MALIK
Dubai
IT is heartening to note that since the installation of the local government, Karachi in general and the Civil Lines area where I live, in particular, have shown considerable improvement. For years I have been trying to solve various problems related to electric supply and street lights with the KESC and the KMC, but with little success.
No success was achieved even in petty matters like replacing the fused street lights. But now the Naib Nazim has given us some peace at night. Not only that, but the Lily Road Bridge lights, which had been off for over a year, have also been repaired and restored.
The Cantt Station area is a haven for drug addicts and though they are a long way from being removed, the Naib Nazim has started the process. The restoration of lights and the clearing of undesirable elements from this area have made life much better for the residents.
Now I request the Naib Nazim to get all the roads repaired, fix street lights and, most important, evolve a system for daily collection of garbage from the houses, doing away with the huge bins which are always overspilling and being rummaged by scavengers. Let us make the Civil Lines a model area so that other localities can follow suit and make Karachi a cleaner and better place to live in.
S. BABAR
Karachi
THE ‘gloating’ of our press over Chomsky’s statements in India may be short-lived. He is an honest critic and is as likely to rip apart the mistaken notions about our self-righteousness (and a host of other ills) as he did with India, and constantly does with the US. I hope we shall, then, have the good grace to continue showing respect for his right to hold and express opinions that will often rankle some of our myopic leaders and the public.
Would he be as well received by our press and people if he referred to the Timor issue and blasted the roles of the oppressors? Or would he suddenly be termed a closet Zionist or some such thing?
And, even at this stage, with the President facing opposition from some quarters, will his justifiable criticism of the USA not be considered as added ammo, entirely out of context, for the opposition?
The right audience for people like Chomsky, as was true for Russell and others, is one that is looking for the truth and is prepared to face it.
ZAHEER KIDVAI
Karachi
THE following is my reply to a friend in Britain who has routine views on terrorists and terrorism:
Sitting where he is, it is difficult for him to share the frustration and rage of the people who have been at the receiving end for decades. The destructive power of the utterly hopeless cannot be fine-tuned to choose between combatant or non-combatants, who are also guilty of acquiescence at the criminal policies of their governments.
Now look at the way the Taliban and the Afghans, all non-combatants, are being pounded mercilessly. This is going to give a new dimension to the word “terrorist.”
I want to quote from a column by a very senior bureaucrat of the Ayub and Bhutto eras:
“Instinctively, we turn aside from the killing fields over the border. Yet instinctively also, we are not isolated from these suffering people.
“Try as we will, we cannot brush away the pitiless picture of their destruction, or escape its profound effects upon our world.
“As long as we don’t feel ashamed to be alive while innocent Afghanis are being killed, with our ‘logistical support’; don’t feel guilty, sick, humiliated because we have been spared; we will remain what we are — accomplices by omission and commission.
“To watch this folly, to wait for the catastrophe which we cannot prevent, fills me with choking, impotent despair.
“And if hands raised in prayer in thousands of mosques throughout the country, are also pointing in accusation, the government has itself to blame and must pay heed.
“It is a terrible thing to look over your shoulders when you are trying to lead your people in a national crisis - and find no one there.
“The cup is full, let’s not make it overflow.” (Mr Roedad Khan)
He has said it all for me, and for many more in Pakistan.
KHURSHID ANWER
Lahore
THE letter by Anwar Abbas (Nov 5, headed Cambridge Syndicate) suggests that a ‘score’ of 89 would merit a D grade. This is an error of understanding that needs to be corrected. The ‘score’ of 89 would be for a student who had gained a very high grade B — narrowly missing a grade A. The ‘score’ for grade D ranges from 62 to 69.
Anwar Abbas asks why it takes such a long time between issuing the statements of results (which show only the grades obtained) and the scores (which are printed on certificates, alongside the grades). Our published schedule clearly indicates that certificates are not despatched from Cambridge until mid-October — shortly after the period allocated for schools to submit requests for re-checking of examination scripts. One needs to remember that Cambridge certificates and Statements of Results do not normally show scores and that it was in response to requests from schools that we started, about 5 years ago, to include that piece of information on certificates for candidates in Pakistan.
We may decide, in future years, to publish ‘scores’ on Statements of Results printed in Cambridge.
However, we at Cambridge would regard this as a significant change and one that we would not normally introduce without consultation with schools and other authorities in Pakistan. The switch of information from an official certificate to a sheet of A4 paper would need the support of schools, not just that of Anwar Abbas.
DR FRED BURKE
Director — South Asia Cambridge International Examinations Cambridge,
United Kingdom
THERE are reports that Nasir Bagh or Mochi Gate in Lahore will get the status of public speaking places as is the case with Hyde Park in London. Freedom of expression is very important for every healthy nation.
The government says that this step is being taken to control general agitation. I wonder whether this decision will keep the public peace or lead people to more agitation because we all know that the tolerance level of our nation is very low. I feel that we are not tolerant enough to listen to the views of others, especially our opponents.
I fear that this step will lead to more agitation unless some rules and regulations are formed.
USMAN SARWAR
Lahore
I WANT to perform Haj this year under the International Passport Haj Scheme announced by the Government of Pakistan. Everyone appreciated this scheme but there are some difficulties which are frustrating.
One of the requirements of this scheme is to provide an accommodation certificate duly attested by the Director Haj, Pakistan House, Makkah. For the last one month I have been trying to get this certificate and have spent thousands of rupee on telephone calls. I approached my friends in Makkah and asked them to help me to get this certificate. When they approached the Director Haj, Makkah office, they asked them about their relation with the intending pilgrim and replied that only real blood relations can get this certificate verified. My friends told them that they can provide every guarantee and documents but the officials asked them not to waste their time. I have complete address / phone numbers and fax numbers of the persons who approached the Director, Haj office.
I have a question for the Minister of Religious Affairs, Secretary and Joint Secretary and ask them to put themselves in my position and imagine my frustration / disappointment due to the procedural difficulties created by the Director, Haj, Makkah. Will anyone in the Government of Pakistan look into the matter and help me and other intending pilgrims to overcome this difficulty as the last date for the receipt of application form is Nov 14? Can somebody ask the Director, Haj, Makkah, to change his attitude and help people?
IKRAM CHAUDHARY
Islamabad
I PASSED the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC) examination for the post of Agriculture Officer in November 1998 (along with 84 candidates). The SPSC informed me that my name has been recommended to the government for appointment.
But appointment letters have not yet been issued. During 1999-2001, I have contacted the office of the Secretary of Agriculture several times and they always told me that they have dispatched the summary (matter of appointment) to the Governor’s Office for approval but so far nothing has been done.
I appeal to the President to order the authorities concerned to do the needful.
ASIF SIDDIQUI
Sukkur
WHILE watching detailed specifications of the Hawk and other aircraft being used by the US in the current operation on CNN, I felt I was seeing advertisements for these aircraft! I was reminded of Economist Marilyn Waring’s observation that the five permanent members of the Security Council are also the five biggest arms exporters in the world.
Hence would they be interested in promoting peace - or war?
SHIFA NAEEM
Karachi
I HAVE noticed children being beaten even in supposedly prestigious schools. For instance, I saw child-hitting at a model school in DHA, Karachi. And recently, I saw teachers (role models for children) hitting mentally retarded and learning-disabled children at an institute of special education in Karachi.
The teachers at the institute perhaps seemed to feel they had to threaten children in order to discipline them. These teachers must know that this is wrong.
We also see child-battering in homes. Children must not be called “bad” if they do something wrong. Psychologists tell us that they should be gently told that what they are doing is bad, if it appears that the children are doing something harmful. For if one hurts children, they may grow to lack self-esteem or turn out to be defiant.
We should nurture, help, support and teach children with love, compassion, kindness and mercy. God loves kindness and likes it when we restrain our anger. According to the holy Prophet (peace be upon him), he who is kind has been given the best in both worlds.
Hurting children is something that God may also hate. Let us be caring, considerate and careful from now.
ONE CONCERNED
Karachi
I WANT to draw the attention of the concerned authorities towards what is happening in various Internet cafes in Islamabad. They are, in fact, engaged in promoting porn material. People of all age groups visit the net cafes but they mostly view porn sites and the owners of the cafes allow them to do so. It is not impossible to ban such sites as censor softwares are now available in the market.
I request the government to take necessary steps and ban such cafes which are morally damaging. I would also suggest to the parents who have PCs in their homes to buy censor softwares.
ALI FAHEEM
Islamabad
MORE than 50% of Karachi’s commuters have to use mini buses, most of which are in bad shape. They face great hardship during the journey because these vans are always overcrowded. They also indulge in reckless driving.
The authorities are requested to look into the matter and do the needful.
SYED ZULFIQAR HAIDER
Karachi
MR Anwar Syed’s article “Idea of a broad-based set-up” (Nov 4) wrongly asserts that Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto “will surely demand that all ongoing court cases and those currently contemplated against her, her husband and Party dignitaries (Jehangir Badar and others) be annulled”. This assertion puts the PPP stand on “accountability” in a distorted perspective. While firmly holding the position that these cases are false and have been instituted to malign popular democratic leadership as well as to institutionalize controlled democracy in the country, we have only demanded a fair trial according to the internationally accepted norms of justice.
These unsubstantiated cases have also been accompanied by the most despicable and shameful character assassination campaign on the media. The highest authorities in the land, without caring that the cases were subjudice in special courts under special laws have blatantly been announcing their own judgments and have been declaring time and again that they will not allow Mohtarma to return to power. Inadvertently, Mr Syed also accepts the political nature of these cases when, five years after the overthrow of Mohtarma’s elected government, he mentions options like “contemplated cases”.
It is for those accusing Mohtarma and other PPP leaders to prove the charges in a court of law, under the universally accepted principles of natural justice. Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and PPP leaders have never objected to facing these false charges in the courts. We have demanded that the laws made by a very small group of individuals should not clash with the principles of the Constitution and natural justice. These laws should not be person specific.
The judiciary should not be pressurized as has been amply demonstrated in the aftermath of the sentence given to Mohtarma and Senator Asif Ali Zardari, when two senior judges had to resign. The process of accountability should not be one-sided and politically motivated. It should be broad-based and even-handed.
Mr Syed’s apprehension regarding the negative fallout for the regime in case the hypothetical demands suggested by him on PPP’s behalf were accepted by the regime is also unfounded. Where is the “moral ground for continuing the accountability process” that Mr Syed fears would be lost by the regime. So many cases of undeniable corruption have been withdrawn or not instituted at all and billions in bank loans written off as a result of political deals with those who support the regime, besides unjustified persecution of those who clamour for democracy, that there is hardly any credibility left about the accountability process. If even an FIR cannot be registered to investigate the death of Mian Arshad during interrogation by NAB officials, then we should not be talking about any moral grounds.
Mohtarma’s principled stand about the Taliban and terrorism is well known. It is the regime which has changed its old position of supporting religious extremism and the Taliban, in particular, and adopted PPP’s old stand on these issues and not vice-versa. Peace is the only option and a definite turnaround towards peace would have surely been made if Mohtarma’s efforts to reconcile the warring factions in Afghanistan had been followed up by successive governments.
Whether she or other PPP leaders can speak about the peace option in a public meeting at the Mochi Gate or in Karachi is to be seen, when restrictions on political activities are lifted. The present position remains that while the extremist religious parties have all the leeway to hold meetings, rallies, enforce strikes, and even recruit and dispatch Lashkars, there are all kinds of restrictions on peaceful political activity.
TAJ HAIDER
Secretary Information, PPP
Karachi
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