| December 29, 2001 | Saturday | Shawwal 13, 1422 |
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No to war moves
Nazim’s orders flouted
Wapda’s kutcheri
A Raison d’etre for Pakistan
Another victim of terrorism
UBL clarification
Derailment of democracy
Indian channels
Rs2 and Re1 notes
Injustice to pensioners
Cleaner roads
Biharis in Bangladesh
THE government’s “Access to Justice” policy is a comprehensive document, aimed at doing the work missing for the last 54 years — reforming judicial system and the police. All the past governments since 1947 have promised to bring in judicial reforms to make access to justice smooth and easy for the people. But the promise was never kept.
Now the Musharraf government has taken up the task.
The endless chain of too readily granted adjournments needs to be broken by making courts accountable for delay and delinquent litigants liable to heavy and mandatory fines. The same deterrent needs to be built up against false and frivolous litigation.
The new policy seeks improvement of the criminal justice system to a simultaneous performance-enhancement of the inter-locked institutional triad of the courts, police and the prosecution. It will be achieved through enhanced logistical support and training, modern management techniques, enabling legislation and better salaries for the subordinate judiciary.
The policy has got the much-needed boost in the form of 350 million dollars assistance approved by the Asian Development Bank.
The Access to Justice Programme will enable the poor to exercise their rights guaranteed under the law and to protect their property from being taken away by the bureaucratic or political elite. It will promote awareness campaigns about legal rights in the simplified national language, Urdu. It will also provide, through a legal empowerment fund, free legal advice and advocacy for the poor by civil society groups, including lawyers and NGOs.
For women, the programme will promote affirmative opportunities to encourage the appointment of women judges and provide training courses in gender sensitization for the judiciary and the police.
The programme. It will strengthen judicial independence and make sure that the judiciary is adequately funded to meet its mandate. The programme will also improve governance and provide judicial training.
It also aims for an independent, accountable, transparent, and professional police force that is free of political interference. It will help establish an independent prosecution service and create an independent police complaints authority. In addition, it will improve police-citizen relations and raise awareness of gender and human rights issues.
A legal and judicial system that can uphold the rule of law, check bureaucratic excesses and enforce contracts will contribute to an enabling environment for private sector-led growth. The Ministry of Law, Justice, Human Rights and Parliamentary Affairs will be the executing agency for the Programme which is due for completion by the end of 2004.
The policy particularly focuses on defamation and consumer rights and aims to make special courts and laws to curb the menace of adulteration.
Though on paper the policy looks good but the test lies in implementation, the bane of all past failed policies.
FAIQA MASROOR
Karachi
THE hostile rhetoric that has been developing in India since the Dec 13 attack on the Indian parliament should be a cause of real concern for the whole world. While Pakistan immediately and strongly condemned the attack, India placed the entire blame on Pakistan even before concluding serious investigations into the incident.
The United States while condemning this terrorist attack has urged India, time and again, to complete the investigations and has also made an offer of assistance in this regard to which India has been constantly evasive. India has also spurned Pakistan’s offer of joint investigation, and has also refused to provide Pakistan with credible evidence against individuals/groups being accused.
The mobilization of troops by India, black-out drills in Rajasthan and recalling of ambassador from Islamabad are only raising temperatures in an already tense region.
It appears that India is taking a cue from the recent events in Afghanistan and Palestine and is set to run the same script but in a completely different environment. It doesn’t take a genius to understand that in case of any Indian adventure the people of both the countries would be the worst sufferers.
It will not be out of context here to mention that the whole region is suffering because of Indian intransigence. Regarding the issue of Kashmir, India has been using all instruments of force and coercion to achieve its end thereby alienating many of its own people as well. Alienation in Kashmir cannot be masked by the refrains of ‘cross-border terrorism’.
The world community has to tell India that war is not the solution and that India must come to the terms with reality and engage in serious dialogue, so that we can see smiles on the faces of Kashmiri children who have so far only seen tears.
SHAUKAT ALI
Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
THE District Nazim of Lahore, Mian Amir Mehmood, had ordered the city administration to check the sale of fireworks on the eve of Shab-i-Barat and Shab-i-Mairaj. But the district administration did not take the Mian Sahib’s orders seriously and the result was that the fireworks were sold in every nook and corner of Lahore quite freely.
The police and other law-enforcing agencies were silent spectators as usual.
The Nazim, naib nazims, general councillors and female members of the newly elected district government did almost nothing to check this menace.
The same was the case with kite flying. There were endless power trippings. But again Main Sahib and his large team failed to do their duty. If there is no difference in the quality of the life of the citizens of this city then for what purpose has the whole exercise been carried out at the cost of the public exchequer?
HAFIZ MOHAMMAD NAEEM KHAN
Lahore
THIS refers to the letter titled ‘Wapda’s open kutcheri’ which appeared on Dec 7. It stated that the chairman of Wapda held an open kutcheri in Sukkur after a long time to hear the consumers’ complaints and that he gave a patient hearing to the problems, in some cases ordering on-the-spot redressal. Some Wapda officials were placed under suspension and some were warned on account of excessive billing. However, according to the writer, many victims of excessive billing could not benefit from the open kutcheri because the event was not publicized adequately.
The factual position is that the news of the holding of this kutcheri was published in leading national and local newspapers well in advance.
KHALID AHMAD Public Relations Officer, Wapda,
KARACHI
FOR the past 50 years, the basis for Pakistan has been a moot point, hotly debated in all forums.
Now, thanks to Dr Israr Ahmed in his Friday sermon, all is clear. As reported in Dawn Dec 15, the worthy doctor stated that “He feared that the US would ask Pakistan to freeze its nuclear programme, withdraw its support for the Kashmir freedom movement, and impose restrictions on religious leaders and parties. Should the demands be accepted, he said, the reason for Pakistan’s existence would be eliminated”.
Eureka! Pakistan exists primarily to maintain a nuclear programme, support the Kashmir freedom movement, and promote religious leaders and parties! Dr Israr and his ilk are the new Mohammad Ali Jinnahs!
Perhaps, this is why educated young people are emigrating from Pakistan in such large numbers. They wish to live in societies with higher values: education, freedom, justice, and economic prosperity for all.
ROLAND DeSOUZA
Karachi
THE people of Karachi had heaved a great sigh of relief for the last three months as the cycle of targeted killings came to a sudden end. Reasons for such a discontinuation may be an unusual situation on our western borders.
But the killing of Mr Ehteshamuddin Haider, a brother of the Interior Minister, has once again shown the present government’s vulnerability in its war against terrorism. It was also a “message” delivered in the traditional style to the “uncompromising” Interior Minister as to what extent those forces may go against whom an operation is being seriously considered by him.
Pakistan has a litany of cases in its 54 years history, when uncompromising sitting chief executives, ministers, politicians, government functionaries or their sons, brothers, fathers were rubbed off. It is neither compatible with Islamic norms nor approved by any religion or any society. Yes, we may call it a very important segment of the mediaeval but existing tribal and feudal system.
In my opinion, the minister’s brother was assassinated by some extremists, with the message that they don’t care two hoots for the government policy, whatever it is. Among the members of the present government, the Interior Minister is the only person who has been delivering forceful statements in support of the country’s security. He did not mince his words and called a spade a spade, well before the Sept 11 events. That was one reason he was not liked by a section of the establishment also.
The area where this assassination took place has a history of high profile murders, including those of Ulema and doctors during the last few years. In fact, the neighbourhood of Soldier Bazaar has now been transformed into a slaughterhouse, simply because of some obvious reasons.
For how long would we go on blaming ‘foreign’ hands? Let us coolly reach the conclusion that in the present environment the elements which were supported in the past; rightly or wrongly, need to be controlled or dispensed with.
KUNWAR KHALID YUNUS
Karachi
THE United Bank Limited wishes to clarify the wrong assumption of restrictions imposed on UBL in New York for accepting cash (for home remittance, etc.)
It is, however, true that under the recently enacted USA Patriot Act of 2001, every bank operating within the US will be under closer scrutiny and will have to maintain higher level of vigilance to ensure that no American or foreign banks operating in the US are used as a conduit for assistance in any form of illegal activities.
The United Bank Limited is accepting cash, but as always, has set stringent controls on the identity of the sender and the purpose of the remittance. On remittance of amounts over an internally set threshold, UBL has always required the remitter to provide the bank either a postal money order or a certified check from a reputable bank in the US.
There has not been any objections from the Regulators on the procedure adopted by the United Bank Limited.
PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT OF UBL
Karachi
IT was on Oct 7 way back in 1958, just little more than eleven years of Pakistan coming into existence, that democracy was derailed for the first time. The author of Pakistan’s first martial law regime was Ayub Khan who had been reprimanded for dereliction of duty by the Quaid-i-Azam some months before his demise in 1948.
The influx of refugees from India into Pakistan after the creation of a new Muslim country on the world map was the biggest human, administrative problem. Most of the Muslim refugees were coming into Western Punjab from Eastern Punjab. The Quaid-i-Azam had entrusted the important responsibility of looking after the refugees to his trusted lieutenant Sardar Abdul Rab Nishtar. Major-General Ayub Khan was to help him in this gigantic humanitarian task. But Ayub Khan was more interested in spending his evenings in the army mess or some club rather than to assist Sardar Nishtar in the accomplishment of the task assigned by the Quaid-i-Azam. After tolerating this for some time, Sardar Nishtar addressed a letter to the Quaid-i-Azam pointing out what Ayub Khan was doing.
Obviously, the Quaid was greatly annoyed. He did not expect such dereliction of duty from a senior army officer and that too within less than one year of Pakistan’s coming into being.
The Quaid-i-Azam picked up the holder and wrote with a G nib in black ink on the same (Sardar Nishtar’s) letter:
“I know this army officer. He is more interested in politics than the army matters.
i) He is transferred to East Pakistan.
ii) He will not hold any command position for one year.
iii) He will not wear his badges during this period.”
The file is lying in the strongroom of the Cabinet Division in Islamabad along with piles of other files as well as the various inquiries held regarding the murders of first Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan and Dr Khan Sahib, Rawalpindi Conspiracy Case, Agartala Conspiracy Case and Justice Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report on the fall of Dacca.
The Rawalpindi Conspiracy Case has since been declassified and published a couple of years ago. Justice Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report’s some parts have also been declassified and made public some months ago, though it would have been appropriate if the entire report was published to let the people know the whole truth.
The inquiry report on the Ojhri Camp fire accident in 1988, which cost Muhammad Khan Junejo his prime ministership, is also another secret file lying in the Cabinet Division.
Some years back, there was a move to declassify the inquiries into the murder of Liaquat Ali Khan and Dr Khan Sahib but this did not materialize because some of the characters said to be involved or mentioned in the reports were still alive and the publication of these inquiry reports would be a source of embarrassment to them.
TANVIR ZAHID
Lahore
INDIA is ready to go to war with us and our government refuses to retaliate. Why? Why should we not boycott India? Why not ban their Zee TV and Star TV and their movies?
Let the government at least make sure that these Indian channels are not shown on cable. We should at least have this much nationalistic thinking.
FAZEEL AHMED
Lahore
THE State Bank of Pakistan has announced that Rs2 and Re1 notes will cease to be legal from Jan 1, 2002, but they can be exchanged by Dec 31, 2001, concurrently from their branches as well as commercial banks all over the country.
It would be appropriate if the concerned ministry grant one month grace period so that the notes in question can be tendered into the banks and exchanged with respective coins.
SULTAN ALI
Karachi
THIS refers to letters by Muzaffar Hussain and Abdul Ghani Ruhi (Nov 25 and Dec 8) regarding the government’s decision to discontinue the restoration of commuted value of pension, irrespective of the date of retirement. This is not only a gross injustice, but also prohibited in Islam.
Besides, as Riba or interest is to be avoided under the directions of the Supreme Court, the interest so recovered from the pensioners is to be paid back. In all fairness the value of the commutation deserves to be restored much earlier than 13 years after the recovery of the full value of commutation.
The ministers of Finance and Law are, therefore, requested to reconsider the unjust decision at the earliest possible, instead of forcing senior citizens to knock at the door of justice with their already meagre resources.
The Supreme Court is also requested to take suo motu cognizance of this injustice.
SHAHAR BANO ZAIDI
Karachi
THERE is a pleasant change in the atmosphere of Karachi. The roads look cleaner. Even though there is still a lot to be desired. It would be unfair if this change towards the better is not appreciated and encouraged. Whoever is responsible for it must be given due credit.
N.A. KHAN
Karachi
THIS refers to Humayoun Akhtar’s letter on Biharis in Bangladesh (Dec 10). It makes interesting reading. While describing the plight of the impoverished Biharis who are living in the ghettos and shanty towns in Bangladesh, the writer narrated his favourable circumstances in Canada. He writes he has dual nationality and his children have the best of both words. It was sheer good luck that Mr Humayoun left former East Pakistan just in time otherwise he would have found himself in similar situation as the Biharis are facing.
The Biharis didn’t call themselves by this name but the Bengalis of Muslim Bengal created a distinction by calling them so. It was an apartheid policy towards them. They were a non-entity in their own country. Then came the horrors of 1971, the Biharis naturally supported the Pakistani Army because clearly Pakistan’s eastern wing was seceding. After the creation of Bangladesh all hell broke loose on them. History witnessed their worst massacre in the name of collaborators.
The Biharis are Pakistanis because they had made the eastern wing of the country their homeland. If that homeland of theirs has become Bangladesh, how can the Biharis have lost their Pakistani identity or nationality or sentimental attachment with Pakistan? Such thought defies logic.
The Bangladesh government in every encounter with Pakistani officials takes up the case for their repatriation. It is our government which is shilly-shallying. Millions of dollars were accumulated by the Rabita committee to finance their repatriation, alas; both the fund and the plan have been put in the cold storage. As for the new generation, the Bangladesh government is too clever to grant them any nationality. The recent move by the Bihari youths to denounce the stand of their elders is hogwash.
Some people are obsessed with the idea that if Biharis are repatriated, it will change the demographic complexion of Sindh. If two million Bengalis are living freely in Karachi and six million Afghans in Pakistan why are 2.5 lakh Biharis being denied the right of living in their own country? Mr Jinnah had visited Bihar several times during his long struggle to carve out a homeland for Muslims of the Subcontinent, every time he was given a standing ovation and wholehearted support. Today the same people are being denied entry into Pakistan. Treacherous indeed.
I thought since Mr Humayoun is living in an affluent country in opulence and style he would mobilize the world opinion and raise requisite fund for speedy repatriation of Biharis, alas! He is asking them to reconcile and forget about Pakistan. Can the Biharis forget their dreamland?
SAFIR A. SIDDIQUI
Karachi
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