| December 15, 2001 | Saturday | Ramazan 29, 1422 |
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Heavy taxes on old vehicles
SC decision on CSS age limit
Outrageous war crime
Rise of terrorism
Laws in the making
National Assembly and Senate seats
Waiting for an accident?
Treatment of PoWs
Master Madan’s prodigious achievement
PROFESSOR Hoodbhoy is one of Pakistan’s leading intellectuals, and his voice is often the lone voice of reason in a cacophony of chaotic voices. His article (Dec 10-11) is a tour de force, and will no doubt inspire much debate and dialogue throughout the world. I found much to agree with in this article, but even more to disagree with.
He argues that the US, in its zeal to bring justice to the terrorists, is not taking the time to understand the root causes of terrorism. Given its own history of supporting corrupt and tyrannical regimes throughout Latin America, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific region, the US actions belie its claim to being a “champion of democracy and human rights”. In fact, they lend credence to the words of MIT Professor Noam Chomsky, that the US is the world’s Number 1 “rogue state.”
Hoodbhoy further argues that the Taliban’s interpretation of Islam was bigoted, extremist, and wrong, and caused much harm to Islam. Their extremist views have inspired much of the sectarian killing that has been going on in Pakistan for the past few years. Osama bin Laden’s views and policies — while much admired in the Muslim world because of their political underpinnings — have caused more suffering and aggravation to the Muslims than to the non-Muslims. His “fatwa” to kill Americans — whether civilian or military — outraged Muslims and non-Muslims alike. The terrorist actions of Sept 11 which Osama praised but for whom he did not accept responsibility-have to be condemned in the strongest possible terms, and their perpetrators brought to justice. I agree completely with these sentiments.
However, I don’t agree with Hoodbhoy’s implicit thesis that Muslims should not aspire to create an Islamic state and that they should instead aspire to become “secular humanists.” Hoodbhoy’s assertion that today’s conditions are very different from those when the first Islamic state was created in Arabia 1,400 years ago is irrelevant.
Until the first world war put an end to the Ottoman Empire, Muslims lived in a caliphate that was organized along the lines of an Islamic state. In this caliphate, religious and political authority were interwoven. The caliphate was a living proof that an Islamic state could exist with large minority populations. As Prof Hoodbhoy himself argues, science and the arts flourished in the Islamic states that ruled variously from Baghdad (Iraq) and Cordoba (Spain).
Imam Ghazzali, whom he criticizes for imposing orthodoxy in Islamic thinking, created a grand synthesis in the writings of rational philosophers and the writings of the Sufis. By so doing, he created flexibility and not rigidity in Islamic thinking. If he emphasized the role of “revelation over reason,” it was because he accepted the divine, infallible character of the former and the human, infallible character of the latter. I have learnt much from Ghazzali’s writings, especially from his short book on the Inner Dimensions of Islamic Worship. This book brilliantly illuminates the basic principles of Islam by integrating the Quran and Ahadith (sayings of the Prophet).
Hoodbhoy cites the examples of those who rejected Ahadith to liberate themselves and pursue scientific advancement. Rejecting Ahadith that contradict the Quran is one thing, but rejecting Ahadith altogether is hardly a tenable course of action for a Muslim. Basic religious precepts, such as how and when to say your prayers, are defined through the Ahadith. Only through a study of the life of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (May God’s Mercy and Salutations be upon him) can we understand the full purpose and intent of the divine revelations that constitute the Quran. The Ahadith are the only genuine way to understanding the Prophet’s life. Prof Hoodbhoy regrets that the names of Muslim scientists do not fill up the bibliographies in today’s scientific journals. This shortcoming can hardly be attributed to the religion by which they live. It is the fault of the educational institutions from which they graduated; the fault of the system within which they work, which does not sufficiently encourage them to publish their works; and ultimately it is their own fault.
AHMAD FARUQUI
Danville, CA, USA
CURRENTLY, motor vehicle taxes are being charged on the basis of engine size, that is, piston displacement in cubic centimetre (cc).
It must be realized that due to increasing petrol prices during recent years, the majority of owners of old large cars have converted their vehicles to diesel engines to lower their running costs. Generally, 1300 cc to 1600 cc cars were fitted with diesel engines of 1800 cc to 2800 cc. The resale value of a 15 to 25 years old large car, fitted with diesel engine, ranges between Rs 75,000 to Rs 150,000, usually not exceeding Rs 200,000. The owner of any such vehicle has to pay Rs 4,000 to Rs 10,000 as annual taxes.
On the other hand, a new car of 800 cc to 1300 cc costs about Rs 300,000 to Rs 800,000, on which annual taxes are charged at the rate of Rs 500 to Rs 2500.
It is obvious that the current ratio of taxes is many times more on large older vehicles of lesser value, than on smaller vehicles many times more valuable. The power of the engine has nothing to do with luxury and value of a vehicle. Yes, there are luxurious new vehicles with larger engines, but some other parameter could be used to determine the amount of taxes on these. It is totally unjust to charge heavy taxes on the basis of engine power, especially on more than 15-years-old vehicles.
Further, there are vehicles 30 to 40 years old, still in service due to change over to diesel engines. The owners of such vehicles too have to pay heavy annual taxes. Why can’t such vehicles be exempted from taxes for all times in the future because they have already paid many times the original cost as taxes, during the previous 30-40 years.
I appeal to the concerned authorities to look into this matter and take steps to ease this burden on the white collared owners of old vehicles.
SAAD LATIF QURESHI
Lahore
SUDDENLY a ray of hope has appeared for the affected CSS candidates as the Supreme Court has allowed five candidates to appear in the forthcoming examination 2001, who could not avail their remaining chances owing to new age limit rules.
However, the fact is that it is more or less impossible for the candidates to pull up their socks for such a difficult task in merely 15 days as the examination is to commence from December 24, this year.
Secondly, it is also obvious that other countless affected candidates would also make their way to the court of law for the same relief. Resultantly, in case of a general decision by the Supreme Court, as the situation demands, the FPSC will have to re-issue application forms to those candidates and the procedure will obviously take a couple of months’ time.
It is suggested that the FPSC must re-issue application forms to all candidates in accordance with the old rule of age limit, that is, 35 years for government employees and 30 years for general candidates, and sufficient time may be given to them.
GHULAM MURTAZA MEMON
Hyderabad
THE New York Times has reported that the death of more than 100 prisoners of war occurred as a result of asphyxiation while they were being transported from Kunduz to Shiberghan in containers. Many of them were foreign fighters including many from Pakistan. Suffocation of the prisoners of war is a serious war crime and the militarymen responsible for it deserve severe punishment. It is a flagrant violation of the Geneva Convention of 1949.
General Jurabek of the Northern Alliance has admitted the death of 43 prisoners but the number is much higher. The general says that several of them had died in containers on the way either from injuries or suffocation. Some were alive when brought out of the containers and were left without any medical aid. They were buried in Dasht-i-Laila.
One of the Pakistani prisoners said that all the prisoners but seven died in his container from suffocation. Another prisoner, also a Pakistani, said that 13 suffocated to death in his container. Another Pakistani who was interviewed in the presence of Gen Jurabek revealed that 35 died in the container he was in.
There are confirmed reports of commission of war crimes by the militia of Northern Alliance and the world community must take a notice of it. It is most disconcerting that the UN Secretary General is staying mute. He is failing in his duty as chief officer of the world body and is earning discredit by his inaction.
PROF, MUKHTAR ALI NAQVI
Orlando, Florida, USA
SINCE a few weeks, some senior columnists have contributed their articles to Dawn with different viewpoints on “Terrorism.” Let me try to explain “Terrorism” in its Neo-global perspective.
Since the state-sponsored “reign of terror” in France in 1793, we have also seen the 1970’s radical terrorism, which has now been taken over by the extreme right.
The method to combat terrorism was to simply kill a few “collaborators” with the minimum force. But the international terrorism on Sept 11 causing huge human loss has changed the whole thinking.
Now we see a new kind of terrorism. Also labelled as “catastrophic terrorism”, it is operated through “human suicidal bombs” and through some concealed and unconventional deployments, hard to detect, monitor or encounter. So the western world has decided to go unrestrainedly after those “virtual universities”, which in their conviction, were busy in churning out “graduates” in such an “extreme” discipline. Afghanistan was serving as a “global academy”, the west alleges.
So the Americans would stay put indefinitely in some parts of South Asia, including the northern Indian Ocean, close to Karachi. Now, we even find them breathing down our necks. It was all due to our wrong and whimsical policies, quarter of a century ago. Was this ever mentioned by those whom we read, most diligently, on every Sunday, Wednesday, Friday, etc?
In Pakistan, some political parties are accused of involving in terrorist activities. The critics, however, conveniently overlook the acts of state terrorism, the role of rightist religious parties in sectarian killings and the questionable role of those who patronize them. The MQM, in particular, is blamed for terrorist activities by some scribes. Have they analysed the pre-June 1992 newspapers? The bottom line is that the MQM was named the accused after the operation against it. Why?
Coming to the MQM bashing by some columnists, it should be pointed out that if the MQM had not taken its principled stand against religious intolerance, the whole city could be swept away by the elements hostile to all religious minorities.
There is no doubt that Karachi was once the city of religious parties and groups. But that was before the MQM.
KUNWAR KHALID YUNUS
Karachi
IT IS heartening to know that the government is at last thinking to take some steps for the betterment of our country. First, some legislation is to be enacted that would deal with fundamentalists and would aim at eliminating violence.
Secondly, reform of the police is on the cards, as well as to provide them proper training, better facilities and reasonable salaries. Thirdly, model schools are to be established. Let us hope that the government is actually able to implement these plans.
But I also read somewhere that a law is in the making that deals with dogs and dog lovers. If anything goes out of hand and the owner of a dog somehow offends someone, then the punishment would be a fine of Rs 5000 or a month in jail.
I just wonder who has suggested this idea. What have pet lovers done to deserve this sort of treatment? It is understandable that nothing will ever be done about animal rights in Pakistan. Nevertheless, it is not fair to create unnecessary problems for those who unconditionally love animals.
Instead, attention should be focused on the wide range of stray dogs posing a genuine threat. Effective measures should be taken so that the incident of Baldia Town may never happen again and anti-rabies vaccine ought to be available at all times.
NADIRA RAHMAN
Karachi
IN THE recent elections held in Sri Lanka, there were 215 assembly seats for a population of about 20 million, that is, one seat for a population of 100,000. Pakistan, with a population of 140 million, has 213 seats only, which means one seat for a population of approximately 700,000.
It is evident that we need to increase the number of seats at least three times, that is, make it more than 600. This will enable many middle class persons to take part in the elections, which has so far remained a preserve of the rich.
Similarly, the number of seats in the Senate should be increased allocating 40 seats to every province. The elections to the Senate should also be held directly.
All types of indirect elections should be dispensed with as these give birth to ‘horse trading’.
The elections should be held on the joint electorate system.
ENGR. KHALID R. QURAISHI
Karachi
THERE is a trend in our society, especially in the government departments, that we do not undertake general repair and maintenance of things until an accident occurs.
The barrier for heavy traffic, which is seen in the picture, is placed at the entrance of Shaheed-i-Millat Road extension at Korangi crossing. This was constructed more than two years ago, and has now developed deep cracks.
According to a survey conducted by the writer, on an average 910 vehicles pass through this barrier daily. The present condition of the barrier is so bad that it cannot absorb even a feeble hit by a bicycle, what to say of a heavy rainfall. Both life and property, are in danger due to this sub-standard structure. The barrier needs to be repaired on emergency basis before it collapses, causing serious losses.
Alternatively, the barrier should be removed immediately to avoid any unpleasant incident.
I also appeal to the newly elected City Nazim to look into the matter personally.
ASIF SHEIKH JAVAID
Karachi
THE Northern Alliance in Afghanistan has apparently massacred over 2000 Talibans who had surrendered at Mazar-i-Sharif and Kunduz. The rulers of Kabul have violated the Geneva Convention which provides that PoWs would not be killed and that proper food and medical treatment would be given to them along with the facility to receive letters and gifts from friends and relatives.
But the United Nations was unsuccessful in preventing the massacre. I feel that this international body acts only to safeguard the interests of some influential countries.
M. UMAIR KHAN
Islamabad
THANKS to M. Rafiq, a friend of mine who has spent a lifetime researching the subcontinent’s cinema and music, there is exciting news for music lovers which I hasten to share with them. The child musical prodigy Master Madan, who, everyone believes, recorded only two songs, turns out to have recorded more. Rafiq, who lives in England but has a network of fellow obessives scattered around the world, has unearthed six more recordings, of which I now have a tape. I have mailed a copy to Saeed Malik in Lahore, one of Pakistan’s most knowledgeable musicologists for his comments.
The two celebrated ghazals sung by this child wonder were written by Saghar Nizami and set to music by Pandit Amarnath (‘Hiarat se tak raha hai jahan-e-wafe mujhay’ and ‘Yoon na reh reh kar humain tarpaiye’).
Rafiq writes that Master Madan was born in village Khankhana, District Jullunder, in 1927, but he spent his entire life in Shimla. Some members of the family still live there and in the same home. They too believe that nothing survives of Master Madan except those two ghazals.
They are wrong, as is everybody else. Three more records were made, two at HMV and one under the Twin label.
Master Madan, born in an orthodox Sikh family, was a Yogi (child ascetic) - he had it from his mother - and carried with him from a young age, Guru Nanak’s portrait wrapped in silk, a rosary and the Granth Sahib. He was a craze across India from the age of two and a half for his almost mature singing voice. Some devout Sikhs, however, felt that he should be persuaded to sing ‘shabds’ and Punjabi songs. HMV did not think it was a good commercial proposition and so some wealthy Sikhs decided to finance private recordings. In this way, two 78-rpm records with ‘shabds’ and one with Punjabi songs, were made in a limited edition and acquired by the sponsors. Even Master Madan’s family did not know about this.
The great K.L Saigol (working at the time for the Remington Typewriter Company in Shimla) used to come to the Madan home where he and Master Madan’s older brother would play and sing together. Madan, who was about two at the time (1929) was always present on those occasions. In a few months he began to sing and soon he was drawing large crowds to his performances. Rich people and rulers of Indian states began to invite him and shower him with medals and presents. From then on, Madan never appeared anywhere without a string of medals around his neck. His life became a never-ending public performance. He was always on the road which brought the family a lot of money.
But this relentless roadshow took a toll on his health (in our time the same thing happened to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan). The young boy would complain of being tired and he was always feverish. It was only when he became too ill to carry on, that he was properly seen by doctors who diagnosed a case of slow poisoning and declared that nothing could be done to reverse the damage.
On 5 June 1942, this child genius died in Shimla. He was cremated wearing all his medals, as he had in life. After his death, there were several rumours some of which are believed in, to this day. One was that once when he was performing in Ambala, some singing girls had doctored his ‘paan’. Some said that at the AIR station in Delhi, he was given mercury in his drink by a jealous performer. Others said he was given a slow-acting poison in Calcutta. There was even a rumour that K.L. Saigol had something to do with this.
Perhaps the truth is that it was the greed of the family that killed Master Madan, as it was to kill Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan exactly 55 years later.
KHALID HASAN
Fairfax, USA
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