| November 23, 2001 | Friday | Ramazan 7, 1422 |
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Violation of Geneva convention
Benazir’s return
Vehicle snatching: CPLC clarification
Flaws in district govt
Smoking by public figures
Pakistanis in Eritrean jail
Al-Jazeera in English
Leaking water pipeline
NIC issuing offices
Loans to the Third World
Irregular attendance
Garbage menace
Governor’s surprise visit to police station
THE vacuum in Afghanistan after the sudden Taliban withdrawal is taking it to worse days, though the retreat of Taliban is being celebrated.
But the main question is the future set-up of the war-ravaged country. The question has not risen for the first time. But every time the question of future set-up arises in Afghanistan, with it comes the Frankenstein of civil war. Today’s situation is no more different.
Pakistan repeatedly asked the world community to make efforts for broad-based multi-ethnic government in Kabul before it falls. Perhaps it is the fall (for some tactical retreat) of the Taliban that has taken everyone by surprise. No one was expecting such a fall so early.
Now United Nations special representative Lakhdar Brahimi has given a five-point formula. The UN Security Council has approved a resolution on the Brahimi formula, calling for immediate enforcement of the plan. But keeping in view the political vacuum and tribal divide, this plan is doomed from the outset.
Though Pakistan is rightly asking for international presence in Afghanistan and restraint on the part of Northern Alliance, it is up to America and Britain to move fast, as fast as they moved after the September 11 episode.
America must not go back on its promise of not leaving Afghanistan once its objectives are achieved. It is time to fulfil this promise.
What do the Afghans need? They need peace, they need some semblance of civil order, facilities and infrastructure. It is very easy to give pictures of people running “happily” on the roads of Kabul, but giving them a sense of life is a far cry from the images we are today receiving.
The Northern Alliance has failed in its duty of governance. It is the territory they are after. Their horizon is not Afghanistan, because they are basically warlords, more interested in strengthening their bases.
They are not talking about the Afghan people, they are not talking about the Afghan refugees in Pakistan, they are not clear about their own roles. Promise of polls after two years is only an eyewash.
The world has to move in, and move in quickly. Otherwise it would be the same old story of anarchy for which warlords in Afghanistan are responsible.
SARWAT AHSAN
Karachi
HARROWING incidents about the killing of Taliban supporters in more than one city of Afghanistan have been reported by war correspondents. The victims included Taliban fighters who had surrendered to the forces of the Northern Alliance.
In Mazar-i-Sharif, as many as 700 Taliban soldiers were done to death and their bodies were dumped in a huge mass grave. There was indiscriminate massacre of civilians suspected of supporting the Taliban. Several hundred, including some severely wounded, were put in freight containers without food and water. When they were removed from these containers, half of them had died on account of suffocation.
This outrageous treatment is a gross violation of the Geneva Conventions and comes under the definition of war crimes. On receiving authentic reports of these atrocities, the UN officials have termed it as a violation of the said Conventions. Hundreds of cases remain unreported. There was looting of shops and houses by the invading forces who had earned notoriety in their four years’ rule in the past.\
The Northern Alliance forces and the troops of two members of the coalition are engaged in military action. These two members not only had been bombing the fallen cities, their ground troops were also on the outskirts of those cities. They must also share the blame for the excesses committed in violation of the international law.
The signatories to the Geneva Conventions must take a note of its provisions. It is incumbent upon the UN to appoint a commission to probe into the outrageous treatment of surrendered combatants and civilians.
Prof. MUKHTAR ALI NAQVI
Orlando, Fl. USA
IN the backdrop of the Afghanistan situation, alarming reports have started filtering in that Benazir Bhutto may strike some sort of a compromise with the Musharraf government, allowing her to return to Pakistan.
These reports suggest that in return for her complicit support to the government’s policies on Afghanistan, some sort of compromise may be struck between her and the Musharraf regime. This deal would include waiving of charges against her and the release of her husband. Allowing Benazir and her cronies to re-enter politics would be the greatest mistake Musharraf can make. BB’s track record of corruption is second to none.
Many commentators have stated that the return to democracy is the only viable solution for Pakistan. As a youth who grew up in the unfortunate ‘lost decade’ of 1990s of Pakistan, I really do not understand the logic behind this. With half of our masses illiterate and most of the voting done on feudal and tribal basis, democracy has not really worked in Pakistan and if we wait for ten, fifteen years for the democratic process to ‘mature’ as suggested by many, I doubt there would be a Pakistan left, given the illustrious performance of our two biggest national parties.
President Musharraf, I think, has convinced many patriotic Pakistanis that he has the good of the nation at his heart. Even though he may have made some mistakes, his performance has been commendable contrary to what many of our pessimistic commentators would like to have us believe. Ruling Pakistan is one of the trickiest jobs in the world and, given the circumstances, Musharraf is making an honest effort.
Be it Agra, Kashmir, Afghanistan or the economy, Musharraf has turned up as a statesman, giving some confidence to the disillusioned and exploited citizens of this country. He should continue onwards.
Today, Pakistan stands at a crossroad and under no circumstances should we allow the good work done to be spoiled by allowing BB or Nawaz to have a further role in our politics.
I would request Benazir to keep on living in her majestic mansions in Dubai and London. She can go on jetting around, playing darling to the West and giving speeches while enjoying the millions of dollars of our money stacked in her Swiss bank accounts.
KAMRAN KHAN
Montreal, Canada
THIS is with reference to the news item on vehicle snatching (Nov 20). The number of 56 vehicles (4 wheelers + 2 wheelers) have been quoted as hijacked or stolen on a single day i.e. Monday, Nov 19, attributing the source to be the police and CPLC. It is most unfortunate that the number of vehicles quoted is highly exaggerated and untrue, as well as the fact that one of the sources of information is CPLC.
CPLC does not issue day-to-day figures of hijacked, stolen or recovered vehicles, as it requires at least 48 hours to confirm all entries from the respective police stations as well as from the victims. Only monthly statistics are documented after ascertaining the entries from ACLC, Police Control, police stations and mostly the victims. Temporary wireless messages may contain a lot of errors and repeated messages even though corrected and modified, may wrongly be incorporated, thereby increasing the chances of erroneous totals. CPLC makes an effort to prevent such errors which may tarnish its image of neutrality and authenticity.
It may also be noted that in the monthly report for October the number of recovered vehicles with percentage was also not published, which is extremely unfair.
JAMEEL YUSUF
Chief CPLC-CRC
Karachi
THE district Nazim system was introduced to improve the situation. Though we pray for its success, some difficulties are being observed.
The first is the clash of interests of each district over irrigational water because canals are flowing from one district to several others. If at the tail of the canal, there is shortage of water, the district management will force other adjacent districts to make more water available in its own area. In case of non-implementation of such demands, there are chances of bitterness and conflicts between the managements of various districts and also the people of the area.
The second conflict is feared in respect of the imposition of toll taxes by district managements. If all of them start charging it, the cost of transportation would rise enormously.
The third clash is expected in respect of the maintenance of law and order increasing cases of theft, dacoities etc.
The fourth conflict is foreseen in the purchase and sale of agricultural commodities like wheat, sugar, cotton etc. If one district faces any shortage of these commodities, the others will try to smuggle or purchase or sell the needful commodities through unfair means.
The fifth clash is expected between the bureaucracy and the Nazims. The Nazims have been elected and the people will press them to meet their demands. But the bureaucracy will resist. And that would create conflicts between the people, the bureaucracy and the district management.
In the past, the provinces used to make demands from the federal government. Now each district will make such demands and the federal government would be under extreme pressure.
DR ALI AKBAR M. DHAKAN
Karachi
IT has now been conclusively established that tobacco is one of the most important causes of heart attacks, lung cancer, etc.
In many countries, separate corners are marked for smokers in the planes, trains, etc, to save the neighbouring passengers from passive smoking which is equally detrimental to health. It is heartening to see that in India, legislative measures are available to impose a fine for smoking in public places. Unfortunately, such laws do not exist in our country.
The picture of veteran politician, Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, lighting his cigar at the PML-N seminar held at Islamabad (Nov 14) is certainly very disappointing. Leaders of his stature should smoke in private if they must smoke. Senior leaders have to present themselves as role models for the youth.
M. SHAFIQUE AHMED
Karachi
ACCORDING to a report (Nov 19), the fate of the eight Tablighis (preachers) languishing in the central prison in Eritrea since October 1993 still hangs in the balance.
The ministry of foreign affairs should ask its diplomatic mission in Eritrea as to why they failed to obtain the release of eight Tablighis (preachers) since their arrest in 1993, out of which two are reported dead.
If they are unable to get the release of the remaining six Pakistani preachers, they should be recalled and replaced by new officials capable of seeking release of the preachers, so that their families should be reunited once again.
SYED A. MATEEN
Karachi
THE on-going war against terrorism and the consequent attacks on Afghanistan have proved the great importance of the media’s role.
The world witnessed the September 11 events and its aftermath, in great detail, through the eyes of the Western media.
The Muslim world, however, showed a sheer lack of good media coverage, except Al-Jazeera - an Arab TV channel which gave a comprehensive coverage from inside Afghanistan’s war zone. But the world is missing a great deal because Al-Jazeera is an exclusively Arabic channel.
I request the higher authorities of Al-Jazeera TV to commence a few hours’ programme in the English language as well. This would increase the viewership of the channel in countries outside the Arab world.
ADEELA ZUBAIR
Islamabad
LAST week a reader complained that there was an acute water shortage in Nazimabad No. 3. But in our area, just in front of the Inter Board Office (Youth Centre), it seems to be in great abundance. You can see freshwater erupting out from the gutter manholes in front of houses B-1 & B-2 of Block-A, North Nazimabad.
Perhaps the main water pipeline has a big leak somewhere and freshwater finds its way into the gutter line. Of course it could be vice versa also, which means that all the residents are drinking polluted water.
The water springing out from the gutter flows down the lane, from where it runs into another manhole and then erupts again to flood a road. So, the people going to offer Fajr prayers at the nearby Ibrahimi mosque, have to wade to make their way.
Will the Karachi Water Board please look seriously into the matter and kindly do the repairs?
JALALUDDIN
Karachi
KUWAIT has stopped issuing visas to Pakistani nationals because Afghans disguised as Pakistanis might enter Kuwait (Nov 20). The United Arab Emirates and many other countries have done likewise after Sept 11.
The question arises as to who is to be held responsible for the sufferings of thousands of genuine Pakistani travellers who have to visit these places regularly for various reasons. The credibility of being a Pakistani lies in the doldrums because anyone can become a Pakistani national by spending a mere Rs 3000 to 5000 to get a National ID Card. He can then go on doing anything in the world as a Pakistani.
ALTAMASH JAVED LONE
Karachi
THE IMF director, Horst Koehler, has said that the fund is to negotiate a new loan with Turkey in the coming month to compensate for the economic fallout in the wake of the September 11 strikes on the United States (Nov 17).
In recent days, there has been talk of fresh loans being offered to Pakistan by the World Bank and the IMF. In the past few days there was a report that the head of another western financial institution, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) touring Central Asian states had made similar offers.
Isn’t the whole issue of the September 11 attacks on the US and its follow-up by the US proving to be a conspiracy to rob the Third World, especially the Muslim countries by burdening them with further loans and then controlling their economies by dictating to them? The Third World countries must beware of this conspiracy.
LATIF QURESHI
Lahore
THE head of the community medicine department, Nishtar Medical College, Multan, attended college only six or seven days but drew her salary.
She seeks shelter under the umbrella of women’s health project where she discourages hard-working and honest people.
Even now she is not attending college regularly after being relieved of the women’s health project, thereby adding to the sufferings of post-graduate and under-graduate students.
I appeal to the higher authorities to look into the matter.
SHAUKAT IQBAL
Multan
IN front of Gulshan-i-Iqbal Park, there is an empty plot in which people throw garbage. This is burnt every morning and the air is filled with smoke.
A lot of people who come for a walk, suffer as a result. The concerned authority should arrange for the removal of the garbage site.
SALMAN HAMID
Karachi
THE other day, Punjab Governor Lt Gen (R) Khalid Maqbool witnessed a pathetic spectacle when he paid a surprise visit to Burki Police Station Lahore. Most police officials were absent, those present not properly dressed, the daily diary incomplete, lock-up dirty and the general state of overall efficiency unsatisfactory.
The Governor probably suspended a few and warned the others. But I do not think this is the solution of the problem. The need is to catch hold of the immediate superiors and hold them responsible for the degradation. When was it last that some SP, SSP, DIG or IG Police paid an unannounced visit to this or for that matter any other police station? Let the Governor visit any office of any department and he will find exactly the same state of affairs there if not worse. How many such surprise visits can he find time for? And for how long will he be able to do them? With the passage of time and with events more important taking up his time, his initial gusto for such close supervision is bound to lose its momentum. He should, therefore, find more practicable alternatives to achieve his objective of revamping the administration for the betterment of general public.
To start with, he should issue a general circular to all the heads of departments making them directly responsible for the deeds or the misdeeds of their respective subordinates. Give the poor fellows some time - say two months or so - to sort out the matters and inculcate this hitherto unknown quality in their departments. They should also be given the option of seeking premature retirement or proceeding on long leave. Thereafter, the scheme be implemented without any compromise, let or hindrance, may I say, ruthlessly.
To keep up the tempo, the Governor may pay a surprise visit once in a while to some office, say, Excise & Taxation or PWD and if something is found amiss there, the head of the department should simply be sacked.
One or two such surgical operations would be enough to put matters right. This will also introduce the two most warranted things in the civil administration. One, the senior will become cognizant of his “duties” also and not concentrate only on the ‘privileges’ that come with his office.
Two, it will cut at the very roots of the scourge of ‘vertical alignment’ so commonly found in the departments known for corruption, where the senior protects his junior in all matters of corruption and inefficiency as he himself is an accomplice. It is common knowledge that in such departments the public dealing clerks and officers extorting illegal gratification from all and sundry, get around a table at the close of the day, empty their pockets, pool the plunder and everyone’s share - including that of the higher ups is dished out.
If anyone cares to know, there are clerks of a department who run a “committee” amongst themselves where each one of them pays a daily instalment of Rs 4,000! It is rumoured that the share (called the monthly) is passed on up to the highest level. Let the Governor stop it, if he can.
COL (R) RIAZ JAFRI
Rawalpindi
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