| November 30, 2001 | Friday | Ramazan 14, 1422 |
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Return of Benazir Bhutto
UN task in Afghanistan
Facts about Manto
Garbage collection
Banana republic?
Medicine for diabetics
Delay in plot demarcation
Need for dual carriageway
Lyari Expressway
Co secretary’s qualifications
Power breakdowns
THE Northern Alliance takeover of Kabul and other cities is not a matter of relief for the ordinary Afghans, who had experienced the days of horror during the Northern Alliance rule from 1992 to 1996. Afghanistan was bleeding with infighting among warring factions that were headed by corrupt and cruel commanders vying for every inch of land that they could get hold of.
Then came the Taliban. The people of Afghanistan had a love-hate relationship with the Taliban. The Afghans opted for remaining silent during the oppressive regime of the Taliban only because of the fact that the Taliban had brought peace in the country. The people had, in fact, sacrificed their freedom for peace.
The situation is heading back to square one. The same old commanders are raising their heads in different regions, trying to regain their lost territories, carving out fiefdoms to include themselves in any future political set up. It looks like that the people of Afghanistan are, once again, being left to the mercy of these illiterate and tyrannical warlords.
These warlords should be stopped forthwith from seizing power before all hell breaks loose in Afghanistan. It’s time to make the people of Afghanistan the masters of their own destiny.
Afghanistan is basically a tribal society. The tribal chiefs had commanded considerable influence even during the days of monarchy. Afghanistan had a loose centre and strong tribal domains. The tribal chiefs had been exploiting their people for hundreds of years. Apart from the Soviet invasion and the US bombings, these tribal chiefs, who became warlords, are equally responsible for the death and destruction in Afghanistan. They should not be allowed at any cost to rule the roost once again.
The United Nations and the regional powers in particular and the world in general have now a golden opportunity to develop Afghanistan and empower its people to choose the form of government they would like to have. I think the best course to achieve this would be for the world and regional powers to help the UN to form a provisional council for a period of two or three years.
The council should be headed by former King Zahir Shah, as there is no other leadership in sight. Majority of its members should be educated Afghans, including intellectuals and technocrats, who are residing in Europe, America and the former Soviet Union.
Others should include leaders of different ethnic groups, making it a broad-based representative body.
This council should then work for a constitutional framework, which would empower the people of Afghanistan to have the leader of their choice through election.
About the convening of a Loya Jirga, I think that too much focus has been given to the Loya Jirga, which will only lead to the hegemony of the same old commanders of different factions in any future dispensation.
Again, let me emphasize that the people will never accept any puppet regime, either backed by America or Russia. Any reconstruction of Afghanistan, either it be political or economic, should be done under the auspices of the UN.
Once the provisional council is in place it should be helped and aided in the rebuilding process by the UN.
KHURRAM MUSTIKHAN
Karachi
WHEN the Supreme Court of Pakistan sent the SGS-Cotecna case to Lahore High Court for retrial, the PPP leadership and its supporters went mad out of joy.
They danced in the streets and distributed sweets as if they had won the case in the Supreme Court. The leadership of the PPP went one step further and started holding long meetings to decide about the proper time when Benazir Bhutto should return to Pakistan.
Without wasting any time, Benazir Bhutto announced from abroad that she is all the more anxious to come back and is just waiting for the green signal from its Central Executive Committee.
Meanwhile, the process of the local government elections got under way and the Central Executive Committee of the PPP announced that Benazir Bhutto will come when the local bodies elections are over.
The elections came and went but Benazir Bhutto did not dare to come to her own country.
Now again for the last couple of days we have been reading in the newspapers that Benazir Bhutto is willing to land any moment in Pakistan should the government of Pakistan guarantee her a safe return.
Well if she has not committed any crime and her hands are as clean as that of an innocent person, then why is she afraid of returning to Pakistan?
The present government has repeatedly made it clear that it is not against any indivi-dual whose integrity is above board.
At presents only Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif have decided to leave Pakistan and live a comfortable life in foreign countries.
Except for these two, the rest of the politicians are living in their own country with their own people and under the same military government.
It appears it is a well-planned strategy of Benazir Bhutto to keep floating rumours about her return and thus keep herself politically alive among the masses.
Had her hands been clean she would have never left the country. She went abroad secretly when Nawaz Sharif was ruling the country and she is still hesitant to come back when there is a neutral government in Pakistan. Whether she really comes back or not there is no doubt that she can befool some people all the time but she cannot befool all the people all the time.
RAFAT MAHMOOD ANSARI
Islamabad
THE Northern Alliance in Afghanistan has reportedly massacred over 1500 surrendered Taliban in Mazar-i-Sharif and Kunduz, during last ten days.
The Northern Alliance is just violating the laws regarding Prisoner of War, according to the Geneva Convention, which allows the PoW, proper food, medical treatment, the right to receive letters and gifts from relatives and safe return home after the war is over.
But the United Nation has failed to stop the massacre. In my view, it represents the interest, of only some countries — the US and its allies.
America gets permission of attacks on Afghanistan by the Security Council within hours but it remains silent when Muslim and other underdeveloped countries are concerned. Take one example: the United Nations has totally failed to implement its resolutions on Kashmir.
The poor Afghan people have been victims of wars for last 22 years. Now it is high time to take concrete measures for the establishment of peace in Afghanistan.
The United Nations must continue its efforts till a broad based, multi-ethnic and real representative government of Afghan people is establi-shed.
WASEEM AHMAD
Lahore
I MUST confess that I was extremely disappointed to the extent of being hurt after reading the column entitled, “Manto on Manto”, written by my friend Khalid Hasan about the last days of my brother-in-law Saadat Hasan Manto.
I may state here for the record that he has been previously responsible for doing considerable service to the memory of Manto, by translating into English a large number of his short stories.
He is also known to the surviving members of the Manto family, who have never denied him access to his manuscripts and records.
It is, therefore, all the more surprising that he has written this column in Dawn, without checking the full facts.
The most objectionable and baseless paragraph contained in his column is a quotation from a “so-called” friend of his, Sayyed Faizi, based in Vienna. He should have exercised due professional care before printing excerpts form the letter, which refers in a ludicrous or malicious manner to Manto and his family.
Let me state here categorically that, speaking on behalf of the family, that the paragraph referred to and reproduced below contains a lot of trash which I can only attribute to the figment of Faizi’s imagination:
“After he died, incense was burnt in the entire house and the walls whitewashed.
“Also followed was the ritual of placing asafoetida-fried lentil, a piece of fish, and some onion and garlic on a loaf of bread on the outstretched hand of a beggar to keep the departed spirit away. Items in his personal use were not kept.”
Speaking on behalf of the family, I can say without fear of contradiction, that we have never believed in such ridiculous rituals.
Manto must be turning in his grave to learn that this is being written by his “so-called” friends. It is true that worse things were said about him during his lifetime and even afterwards, but Manto’s surviving family is pained to learn that such baseless stories are being given publicity when facts could have been easily checked or verified from them to determine their veracity.
ZAHIRUDDEEN KHWAJA
Lahore
THE city government’s announcement to carry out an insecticide spray campaign in every town sounds like a joke for the citizens who watch helplessly the growing piles of dirt and filth in every nook and corner of the city.
For the last two years, we have witnessed the gradual deterioration of the municipal system in Karachi.
Overflowing gutters, broken sewerage lines, battered roads, blatant violation of building rules, and the littering of garbage at every nook and corner, are now common sights for the Karachiites.
One can have patience on many issues, but sanitation is something that concerns every citizen and has a direct bearing on his life and health.
An indifferent attitude towards this is costing the citizens dearly with far-reaching implications on our socio-cultural environment.
The prevalent garbage collection system has totally broken down. The garbage truck that used to come daily on the dumping site, fails to pick up for weeks.
The dumping sites in every locality make a pathetic sight. The garbage rots in the open for months, causing all kinds of environment problems and health hazards.
Some years back, diseases such as hepatitis and kidney failures were unknown to us. Now these have become household names. Complaints fall on deaf ears.
The trucks that were imported from Sweden many years ago for lifting the garbage, are not working any more.
We are told that the municipality does not have the funds to repair and maintain them.
Certainly fighting malaria is important, but in this backdrop where the resources are scarce, would it not be better to utilize the money to repair those trucks or buy more trucks (indigenously made) and remove the very source of malaria.
FAUZIA WAHAB
Karachi
HAVE we surrendered our sovereignty and become a ‘banana republic’? This question has been haunting many Pakistani minds since the closure of the Taliban-run Afghan embassy in Islamabad.
On one day, a US spokesman in Washington says that Pakistan should close the Taliban embassy in its capital. The next day, our government announces the decision to say good-bye to Mulla Zaeef.
DR MUNIR D. AHMED
Kummerfeld, Germany
THIS refers to misleading statements made by a patient on Nov 17.
All life-saving products including insulin are sold in Pakistan after obtaining registration from the Ministry of Health (MOH) which fixes the maximum retail price of these products and no company can sell the products at a higher price. Anyone manipulating the situation should be reported to the MOH.
The price of Mixtard 30 NovoLet (1.5ml x 5 pens) is Rs458.39 at which the pharmacy are allowed to sell.
In case of non-availability with the pharmacy for reasons best known to them, the product can be obtained at the approved price directly from Novo Nordisk sole agent in Pakistan Novins International - (D-127, Block 4 Clifton, Karachi - Phone 5865393; 5864059.
NOVO NORDISK
Karachi
I want to draw the attention of the City Nazim to a problem concerning the purchase of a plot. I purchased commercial plot # ST 39 in Sector 36-C, Korangi, at an open auction from the KDA, which was subsequently transferred and leased in my name vide indenture of lease # 1912 dated 25.5.99 (a period of 2-1/2 years having since elapsed).
While I am still awaiting a “demarcation” of the plot to commence construction work thereon, the KMC has constructed 14 feet wide tracks on both sides within the alignment of the plot and the owners of residential quarters have made encroachment on 20 feet wide lanes on both sides by constructing closed verandahs in front of their houses, thereby leaving the open space hardly 3 feet for public passage.
I have been representing my case for a clear site to get “demarcation” of the plot to commence construction work through my applications to all concerned officials but in vain. Last and very recently I have also knocked at the door of the City Nazim, through my application dated 24.09.01 followed by a reminder dated 12.10.01 to which I still await response.
I request the City Nazim to take immediate action for the removal of the KMC track and the encroachment.
MOHAMMAD NASIR
Landhi Township,
Karachi.
I have been living in Sialkot for some years now. Every other morning when I pick up the newspaper, I am always expecting one accident or another on the narrow road linking Sialkot and Gujranwala via Daska.
And, unfortunately, I am invariably right. I don’t know whether to be happy as to the accuracy of my predictions or mourn the untimely death of innocent people, victims of sheer official negligence. Every passing day, people are dying unnoticed on the road.
In developed as well as most developing countries, roads linking the cities are dual carriageways.
This reduces the chance of accidents drastically. Most of the accidents taking place on the Sialkot-Gujranwala Road are head-on-collisions. At least we should have a dual carriageway to avoid the loss of precious lives.
There was such a plan but whether it has been shelved or not is not clear. It was to connect Sialkot to Lahore through a new road, cutting the distance considerably.
The government should stop blaming bus drivers and do its duty by the people.
IRFAN JAVED
Sialkot
I have read the report regarding the KCR and the Lyari Expressway projects (Nov 19). Arman Sabir has expressed his personal views without making any technical assessment of the projects.
The Lyari river passes through the heart of Karachi. Unfortunately, its banks on both the sides have been encroached upon and unauthorized hutments have sprung up over there. Whenever there are heavy rains, the river gets inundated threatening the lives and property of those dwelling there.
The banks of Lyari are also being used for the dumping of garbage. This is a very ugly sight.
Under these circumstances, if the Lyari Expressway is constructed by the federal government, it would change the look of this metropolitan city.
SYED ASHRAF ALI TIRMIZI
Karachi
THIS refers to a letter from Tahir Mehmood (Nov 25) regarding mandatory qualification of a company secretary.
He has mentioned that in the United Kingdom only Chartered Secretaries are appointed to the post of Company Secretary.
This is not true. In the UK, a Chartered Secretary is just one of the prescribed qualifications. A member of a recognized accountancy body also qualifies to be a Company Secretary.
ABDUR RAUF GADAR
Houston, USA
I refer to my letter (Nov 4) and the reply thereto by Wapda, (Nov 9). I wish to comment on the Wapda reply as under in the larger interest of public welfare.
Wapda observes that it is not necessary that, if a certain measure has failed in one country, it would fail elsewhere also. The restructuring of the power sector has failed in more than one country and not only in the US, where the bulk power prices shot up from 1.5 and 3 cents to $7 & $9 per unit (kWH) in the summers of 1998, 99 and 2000. In addition, the consumers were subjected to long power cuts. The investigations by experts revealed that the misery to the public was the result of wrong power policies of the authorities to restructure, deregulate and privatize the power industry. All this happened in the presence of regulatory bodies, like the NEPRA here!
I wish to remind the readers and the public that the misery brought to them in the form of IPPs was the result of blindly following the imported slogan of privatization. The slogan of ‘restructuring’ and ultimate ‘privatization’ of power is also an imported one and accepted by us (and is under implementation) without working transparently the economic and technical benefits or otherwise of such an adventure.
I also take this opportunity to inform the readers that New Zealand and Australia have experienced adverse effects since the restructuring of their power system took place. In addition to price hikes, there was more load shedding. It is estimated that by the year 2003, Australia will have negative generation as a result of non-investment in new generating plants and transmission lines by the new game players.
The prices in the UK also increased after the break-up of CEGB (Central Electricity Generating Board). Only the new buyers of CEGB benefited and not the consumers, to the extent that the new owners made so much profit that they also purchased electric utilities in the US!
I fully agree that scheduled power outages are necessary to do maintenance and for augmentation of the supply system. But if a long term optimal planning is made beforehand, the number and duration of these shut downs can be surely brought down.
As regards the rising tariffs (already perhaps the highest in the world) experienced by the public, industry, agriculture and commercial establishments, besides putting up cheaper sources of hydro (also nuclear and others), Wapda need to control wastage of power by strictly adhering to and implementating standard engineering, good practices, control of power leakage and by improving efficiency.
ENGR RIAZ AHMED BHUTTA
Lahore
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