| November 25, 2001 | Sunday | Ramazan 9, 1422 |
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Amnesty for the Taliban
Need for repealing blasphemy law
A policy of double standards
PAF housing scheme mosque
Injustice to pensioners
Carry on Qazi
Internet in Larkana
Chat telephony facility
New telephone directory
Infringement of seniority rule
Noble work
One-sided report
Appointment of assistant commissioners
BELATEDLY, UN Secretary General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan has taken a hundred-and-eighty degree turn on the subject of peace-keeping in Afghanistan. The idea of sending a UN-sponsored peace-keeping force comprising neutral Muslim countries army units which, until recently (or, shall we say, until the exit of the Taliban from Kabul) was vehemently shunned by him, seems to him “logical and workable”. Interestingly enough, with Afghanistan now firmly in the grip of the West, unworkable ideas seem workable. That is Mr Brahimi’s miracle!
For a while, bashing the Taliban seemed the right course of action given the almost sickening manner in which the Taliban portrayed themselves as the sole protectors of Islam ably guided by Messrs Mullah Omar and Osama bin Laden. But the downside is that it has widened the gulf between Muslims and Christians - a lasting monument to the collective shortsightedness of the Western leadership. The misery it caused to ordinary Afghans will further increase. Already Muslims in the West are feeling harassed. The violence is being downplayed by the Western press but self-respecting Westerners are talking about it, at times, too loudly.
US coalition-inspired rumours are afloat about Northern Alliance being ready to join with all and sundry for setting up a government of national unity. Splendid! But why wasn’t it possible earlier? Or is it that for such miracles, the UN needs the combined US-British might to administer a dose of ruthless bombing before the miracle begins to work? If that’s what the UN bureaucracy believes, it is an insult to humanity. Setting up of a national government was possible earlier too but, obviously, Mr Brahimi didn’t see the possibility. Had he been more resolute (and less influenced by the powers that be), things would not have reached this stage.
What is now being advertised as an original solution to the Afghan problem isn’t as fresh. Most observers believed that warring Afghan factions would be amenable to mediation by a third party that didn’t have an interest in Afghanistan. A force consisting of moderate Muslim countries army units under UN command could bring this about. Besides, such a force was more likely to succeed in raising, and supervising for a while, an Afghan army under a credible unified command, and a civil defence force capable of establishing law and order. Mr Brahimi knew it all along, but was pathetically late in accepting this solution. It cost the impoverished Afghans dearly, and Christian-Muslim amity even more. Who is the beneficiary of this historic gaffe? The Jews, the arms manufacturing mafia, or those surviving on pervasive chaos in the world?
A.B. SHAHID
Karachi
AS reported by Dawn on November 21, a Coalition Information Services spokesman, Mr Keith, in his maiden briefing at the newly established CIS offices at the American-Centre in Islamabad, ruled out the possibility of the inclusion of moderate Taliban in any future set-up in Afghanistan. This will be a historical blunder in the reconstruction programme being envisaged for Afghanistan by the Coalition against Terrorism led by the US.
Now when the Taliban have been routed from Kabul and other important cities of Afghanistan, it is time to announce a general amnesty for all Taliban, of course exclusive of prime accused Mullah Omer and Osama bin Laden and absorb them in the mainstream reconstruction and development efforts to be pursued by the coalition.
Leaving them out of the new arrangement in Afghanistan would only give rise to guerrilla warfare by the Taliban fighters who would be hiding in the inaccessible mountains which abound in Afghanistan.
Allowing general amnesty to the common Taliban fighters and engaging them in the new political set-up would open the doors for their education and enlightenment and also eliminate the Taliban mentality in Afghanistan.
LATIF QURESHI
Lahore
IN his column (Nov 18), Ardeshir Cowasjee has rightly pointed out that the blasphemy law under section 295-C of the Pakistan Penal Code is “a weapon designed to be used for personal vengeance”.
Masood Nasir, (letter Nov 17), by quoting seven verses of the Holy Quran has proved that this law is contrary to the injunctions of the Quran and the Sunnah. Allah has not permitted anybody to award any physical punishment to a person who commits blasphemy.
Prior to the conquest of Makkah, there were 13 men and women (listed in all the books of Seerat) who used to commit the worst type of blasphemy, apart from actively harming Islam. All these were liable to be killed. After the conquest, all these offenders were at the mercy of the Muslims. Though many companions of the holy Prophet (peace be upon him) wanted to kill them, the Prophet (called by the Quran as blessing for all the worlds) intervened and pardoned the offenders.
According to the holy Quran all the Muslims are bound to follow the example of the holy Prophet. So the blasphemy laws enacted by Gen Zia-ul-Haq are patently un-Islamic and against the Sunnah of the Prophet.
The people who made the draconian laws in the name of Islam cannot be called fundamentalists because the fundamentalist is one who gets guidance primarily from the Quran and the Sunnah. They should be called ‘deviants’. Allama Iqbal’s book ‘Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam’ in fact alluded to such deviant jurisprudence which led to the downfall of the Muslim community. Iqbal clearly differentiated between Mullahism and Islam, which is the religion of peace and tolerance.
It is time the present government took a bold stand and repealed the blasphemy law at the earliest.
S. FEROZ SHAH GILANI
Karachi
WHEN it comes to non-Americans, the United States, otherwise a proclaimed champion of democracy, equality and human rights, tends to forgo all these high principles. This leads one to believe that America is willing to apply these principles only when they serve its own interests. This policy of double-standards is being pursued by the modern day super-power since its inception.
Seen against this background, President Bush’s decision to create a secret military tribunal to deal with international terrorists, does not come as a surprise.
Mr Powell’s statement that once they finish with the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, they would turn towards Iraq, which is making weapons of mass destruction, is but another glaring example of America’s double-standards. Did the mighty US take into account its own nuclear stockpile, missile defence system and biological weapons before blaming Iraq for its alleged designs? Besides, there does not exist any evidence even remotely suggesting the liaison between those responsible for Sep 11 attacks and Iraq. Why then should Iraq, already victimized, be the victim of America’s wrath again?
If it is terrorism America is after, why is the US indifferent to state terrorism by countries like Israel and India?
IRFAN TARIQ BHUTTA
Lahore
THE Residents Committee of the PAF Housing Scheme located at haheed-e-Millat Road Extension, opposite KAECHS, (Baloch Colony), Karachi, are denying people entry into the mosque.
Ironically, the funds for the construction of this grand mosque were donated by a businessman whose name is still inscribed at the mosque gate, and not by the residents of the housing scheme. Perhaps he had no idea that after its construction, the residents would treat the mosque as personal property.
The facility of the mosque was regularly utilized by the people at large mainly from the adjacent areas, till the 2nd of Ramadan. However, after that, the guard simply refused entry to all the non-residents, as per the decision of the Residents Committee.
The mosque was neither built exclusively by the residents of the housing scheme nor its use can be restricted like a club where membership is necessary for entry. However, if the residents of the scheme are very particular about their security, I would make a suggestion. The mosque is located at least 5000 yards away from the residential area. A wall may be constructed in between, which shall allow the Namazis a passage to the mosque without entering the residential area of the housing scheme.
As the housing scheme proudly displays the Pakistan Air Force logo, such a discriminatory act would have a negative impact on the people.
ASAD RAFI
Karachi
THE federal government in its letter of September, 4, 2000, introducing revised scales of pay from December 1, 2001, stated that those who opted for these scales would also be governed by the new pension and commutation rules, 2001. The restoration of the commuted portion of pension has been withdrawn with effect from December 1, 2001, under the new pension scheme.
However, those who do not opt for the revised scales of pay, “shall be deemed to have opted to continue to draw their salaries in the basic scales of 1994, and pension/commutation as per existing formulae.” The existing pension formula allows the restoration of the commuted portion of a pension on the expiry of the period of its payment. However, in its letter of November 3, 2001, the government clarified that “the benefit of restoration of commuted value has been withdrawn from Dec 1, 2001 irrespective of an employee’s date of retirement”.
This means that no restoration of commuted pention portions is permissible from Dec 1 this year. With this clarification, all pensioners who retired or will retire on superannuation (60 years) during 15 years (Dec 1, 1986 to Nov 30, 2001) will not be allowed restoration of commuted pensions although they were or are entitled to it under the existing rules.
Again, there may be quite a number of other pensioners retiring before the age of superannuation, whose restoration is due after December this year but they will also be deprived of the same. This is a great injustice to pensioners who retired at a time when restoration was admissible under the rules and to deprive them of this concession is against equity and all canons of justice.
In view of this, the government is requested to reconsider its decision and allow restoration of the commuted portion of pensions to all old pensioners who retired or will retire before the introduction of the revised scales of pay to be enforced from Dec 1 this year.
ABDUL GHANI RUHI
Lahore
THIS is with reference to the news item that Qazi Hussain Ahmad has had some heart trouble. The reason for the trouble was attributed to tension.
I do not really see why the JI chief should suffer from tension. Only those people suffer from tension who do not let go of their emotions. Those who, like the JI chief, blurt out whatever they want never suffer from tension. In fact, ever since the Afghan crisis started, there is nothing that Qazi Sahib has left unsaid — from threatening to lay siege to Islamabad and asking his followers to bring ten days of ration with them to asking the army to revolt.
In the present context, it is President Musharraf and his interior minister who should suffer from tension, because they cannot say or do all that they really want to do to the religious leaders.
I wish the JI chief good health and long life. The more he talks, the more his health will improve, and the more his heart improves the greater will be his ability to drop gems of political wisdom. Carry on Qazi!
AKBAR FAROOQI
Karachi
THERE are around 600 users of Internet in Larkana but only 16 lines are available to them.
Out of these, 12 lines are always busy because of the Internet cafes in the town. One line is meant for the exclusive use by the Paknet office. Thus, in fact, only three lines are available for the general users. Consequently, a user has to sit for hours trying to get connected to the Internet.
It may be mentioned that there is a large student community in Larkana studying at the various educational and vocational training institutions there. Some of them, enrolled with the Chandka Medical College and other institutions, are foreigners.
Thus the need for the use of Internet is wide and pressing which cannot be met adequately with the existing facilities. We, therefore, request the Paknet authorities to make a larger number of lines available for the users in Larakana district.
ENGR SAFDAR HUSSAIN BOUK AND OTHERS
Larkana
THE PTCL has repeatedly warned that chat telephony through internet was illegal and the PTCL could take action against both, the service provider as well as the user.
On the other hand, a news item originating from New Delhi through the AFP says that India would allow internet-based telephone calls from April next. Another press report says that in some Indian cities, such as Ahmadabad, authorities are offering a second telephone connection for a token fee of Re 1 only. The logic behind the offer is that those who are using their first phone line for internet purposes, need a second line for other normal uses.
MUHAMMAD JAVED
Karachi
THE current year is about to end yet there is no sign of the new telephone directory about which we have heard so much.
Yet again it is being said that the PTCL would issue the telephone directory of Karachi region on CD Rom. Perhaps the PTCL does not know how many people have PCs to run this CD Rom — that is why this step has also not materialised!
It may be recalled that the PTCL printed the last directory in 1996.
DR ALFRED CHARLES
Karachi
THE PIA management for the first time in the history of the national carrier has taken a very strange decision.
The heads of foreign stations till recently used to be officers from the marketing department, but the present management has posted an operations engineer as head of the marketing department at a very important station, Frankfurt, without keeping him on the waiting list for five years to enable him to gain experience in marketing as per the long standing PIA policy.
This has created a lot of disappointment among sincere officers of the marketing department who have been awaiting foreign postings for many years.
It wouldn’t be surprising if the PIA tomorrow appointed a doctor as a head of the engineering department.
I appeal to the President to intervene in the matter and save PIA from favouritism in the name of ‘suitability’ or ‘merit’.
The rule of seniority must be observed in letter and in spirit in foreign postings.
A WELL WISHER
Multan
ACCORDING to a section of the press there is one Raja Haq Nawaz Kiani of Haripur Hazara, who has donated his house measuring 54 marlas to Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust and Research Centre (SKMT & RC). The SKMT & RC plans to convert that place into an Early Diagnosis Centre for the cancer patients.
Now the poor cancer patients of Haripur Hazara and of nearby places would get themselves treated at their doorsteps and would not have to travel all the way from the far-flung areas of NWFP to the Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital at Lahore. And from that Early Diagnosis Centre only those patients who might have cancer at an advanced stage and need a prolong treatment, would be referred to the SKMT & RC at Lahore.
In this materialistic world, the kind gesture shown by Raja Haq Nawaz Kiani deserves not only to be appreciated but needs to be emulated by the affluent people of Pakistan. Who knows this world is sustained due to the noble deeds of such generous and kind-hearted people.
RAFAT MAHMOOD ANSARI
Islamabad
THIS is with reference to a report by Ahmad Faraz Khan (Nov 15) headlined “Punjab spurns Irsa notification on ‘94 agreement’. I am very sorry to say that it was a one-sided story and the reporter did not take the trouble to balance it by giving the Irsa or Sindh version on the subject. This is against the norms of healthy journalism.
The facts are that Irsa had obeyed the orders of the Chief Executive and the Ministry of Water and Power. Only the Chairman, Irsa, has the power to annul the 1994 formula.
KHAN BABA
Quetta
THE Governoer of Sindh, Mohammadmian Soomro, has through an order, confirmed the services of all the 12 Assistant Commissioners illegally appointed by former Chief Minister Jam Sadiq Ali in blatant violation of the relevant rules.
The action of the governor could have been ignored, as sacrifice of merit has been a norm in this country. However, what is astonishing is the fact that the worthy governor has gone a step further and has granted these political appointees seniority over and above the officers selected by the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC) through a competitive examination in 1992.
It is remarkable to note that only a week earlier, the same 12 officers had been issued Show Cause notices for removal from service, presumably under the orders of the same governor. What happened within a week that compelled the governor to reverse his decision, remains shrouded in mystery. It appears that he was so overwhelmed by the “competence” of these illegal appointees that he finally decided to not only legalize their illegal appointments but also to grant them seniority.
This is a clear example of the contradiction in the words and deeds of the present government. While ASIs and primary school teachers (BPS-11) are being selected through the SPSC, it is an irony that shady and dubious appointments of A.C.s who are the most important administrative officers of the provincial government are being legitimized for the sake of short-term expediency and at the expense of merit and fairplay.
ZAMIN AHMED
Karachi
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