| January 10, 2002 | Thursday | Shawwal 25, 1422 |
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Mutilating the Quaid’s motto
Tax concessions in NWFP
O-level Islamiat
Govt’s invitations to party members
Zoological Garden
Notes and coins
Improving the basic school structure
Reason to be proud
Nurturing the rural talent
Participation in civic matters
Third party car insurance
Is there any hope for the Afghans?
PTV exposed
The jihadis way
Lahore and Delhi resolutions
THE various religious leaders in Pakistan who were seen so actively supporting the Taliban during their last days also played a very important part in helping a lot of Pakistanis cross the Pak-Afghan border into Afghanistan to fight the coalition forces.
But instead of leading the fighters into the war, these religious leaders had stayed back in Pakistan, confining their own Jihad to mere rhetoric. They also incited Pakistanis to stand up in rebellion against their own leadership. Most of the men and the boys they armed and sent into Afghanistan, were mercilessly killed either by the US bombing or by the Northern Alliance forces.
The discord these religious leaders created within Pakistan by holding protest strikes, also cost a number of lives. Innocent children were killed. The children were from madressahs and were just obeying their teachers’ orders and had no idea what they were really protesting against.
The government should put these leaders on trial for playing with the lives of so many people in the name of religion. Whether be it the men who died in Afghanistan or their followers who lost their lives in street protests — the leaders are directly responsible and should pay for it adequately.
BAKHTIAR M.
Karachi
IT was quite sad to see the Quaid’s motto mutilated at his birth anniversary function on December 25 when Gen Musharraf came to pay homage to him.
The motto given by the Quaid is Unity, Faith, Discipline and not Faith, Unity and Discipline which was displayed on the dais.
I also wish the speech writer of the general was more knowledgeable.
Stanley Walport has paid tribute to the Quaid in his book, Jinnah of Pakistan thus: “Few individuals significantly alter the course of history. Fewer still modify the map of the world.
Hardly anyone can be credited with creating a nation state. Muhammad Ali Jinnah did all three” — and not as was said by the general in his speech.
ZAFAR OMER
Lahore
IN three out of the four provinces of Pakistan, namely Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan, no property tax is leviable in case a residential house is owned and self-occupied by retired federal/provincial government servants and ex-servicemen. Similar concession is available in all the cantonments in Pakistan to a person who is a retired government servant or to the spouse of any such person, if the house is self-occupied and is not rented out, wholly or partially.
Further to that, the government of Balochistan, on the recommendation of the Council of Islamic Ideology, has exempted from the payment of property tax one residential house owned and self-occupied by any citizen.
Unfortunately, this is not the case in the NWFP where, except for the ex-servicemen and retired government servants residing in cantonments, all retired federal/provincial government servants have to pay property tax, though at half the normal rate. This is against the principles of natural justice.
The governor of the NWFP and the Corps Commander, Peshawar, are requested to look into the matter.
ENGR. MOHAMMAD SAEED RAJA
Peshawar
THE Presidents’ secretariat is requested to examine the prescribed books and question papers of O-level examinations.
The ayaats have been changed, not by zair, zabar or pesh but by the addition of words. The differences between the Sunni and Shia beliefs are stressed while the over 90 per cent common ground between them is not mentioned. Young minds are being polluted by stating that some people consider certain Islamic principles as being out-of-date. Moreover, bribery is being justified.
Something needs to be done before it is too late.
JAMAL KHAN
Rawalpindi
I REMEMBER, in the heyday of democracy in 1988, the then prime minister invited some members of the National Assembly for a serious political discussion on national issues. But instead of the party heads, the letters were sent to the invitees only. The mistake was pointed out by the parliamentarians and the error was rectified.
In 1990, a western country suggested a three-week visit by some senators and MNAs. This time, the Speaker and the Senate Chairman made the selection. Again, the parliamentary leaders of political parties challenged their power to select legislators on their own. Eventually the leaders of parties, including PPP, MQM, ANP, JUI and JI, were consulted before their legislators’ departure.
In 1997, once again the then chief executive started asking legislators for meetings and visits abroad without party leadership’s consent. During the allied party meetings, after some protests, this practise too was discontinued.
I also remember how certain print media managers resented direct invitation to their journalists by the then chief executive or the information ministry.
Although the situation in the country has changed, the structure of political parties is still intact. The protocol section of the presidency has perhaps not realized the significance of the matter; or perhaps it feels it is not appropriate to communicate with the top political party leadership while sending invitations. This thinking must change.
KUNWAR KHALID YUNUS
Karachi
ONE portion of the Karachi Zoological Garden, known as the Baradari, has a beautiful structure with some fountains and colourful flowers around it. But it remains closed for the general public.
The Zoo authorities fear that if it is opened for the public, it would get spoiled. But if the public cannot be trusted, why so much money has been spent on the construction of this edifice in the name of providing relaxation and recreation to the public?
It is felt that this part should be opened to the general public. That would help attract more visitors and an increase in the revenues which would, in turn, make it possible to carry out necessary maintenance of the zoo, as also that of the Baradari.
SHAHID H. QADRI
Karachi
I FEEL that the issue of coins should be restricted up to the denomination of Rs10.
If coins of denominations higher than this are issued, it would not only become difficult to carry them but it would also create a lot of problems for the aged and the weak-sighted who would not be able to distinguish one from the other. Also, children would be frequently loosing their pocket-money, as coins are bound to slip out of their pockets easily.
I propose that paper notes of the denomination of Rs 20, 30, 40, 200, 300 and 400 may also be issued, as this will help us all in day-to-day payments. It will also ensure that change is easily available, which is a growing problem nowadays. Hopefully, the printing cost would not be on the higher side.
SYED ABRAR HUSSAINI
Karachi
I HAVE been running a school since 1996 under the government’s non-formal basic education programme at Chak No. 509/GB, Mamunkanjan (District Faisalabad). This school is working under the ILM Trust Pakistan (NGO).
The teachers, including myself, have not been paid salaries since July 1, 2001. The salary is only Rs1,000 per month which the teachers have to collect from Faisalabad. They have to attend frequent meetings there accompanied by their parents.
This way a big part of the meagre remuneration is spent on travelling. The salary should be raised and delivered at schools.
I declared the result of fourth class in September 2001 and informed the concerned office but the books for class fifth have not been provided so far. The material for school (blackboard, chair, stationery, etc), which was issued at the beginning of the programme in 1996, is now worn out.
During inspections, the officials often encourage us to motivate others to set up new schools for non-formal basic education but the fact is that they are not meeting the requirements of the already existing chain of such schools.
Furthermore, no appointment letters are issued to the teachers.
I request the Minister of Education, the Chairman of the Literacy Commission and other concerned with this programme look into the matter and do the needful.
I suggest that all the NFBE schools be made part of regular schools under district educational authorities for better management.
TASKEEN ZAHRA
Faisalabad
HOW often is it heard said that “I am proud to be black/white, Jew/Arab, American/Russian etc.”
Why, what is there in such things to be proud of?
By an accident of birth we are born somewhere, then why should we be proud of that? We had no hand in it. More reason to be proud would be if we are tolerant, helpful, kind and unwilling to hurt someone because he or she is different in some respect.
It must be realized that if this world of ours is to survive, then we have to work hard at getting along with each other.
GLYN EDWARDS
Bridgend, UK
IN order to achieve our objective, we have to look around for a sincere and capable leadership, but in any case, it would not be wise to put the reins of our country in the hands of those who have already failed us in the past. For this purpose, a lot of talent in the rural areas waits to be utilized, but at present due to acute shortage of educational facilities in the far-flung rural areas, this talents hardly gets a chance to achieve its objectives for want of resources; whereas children from affluent families avail all available opportunities to achieve success in life.
For this purpose, a big chunk of the budget must be spent on the education in far-flung areas rather than on defence. This would educate our majority and help put the country on the right track.
S.A. KHOKHAR
Lahore
FIRST, as a responsible citizen and second, as the Nazim of Jamshed Town, I refer to the news item ‘Garbage burning posing health hazard to people’ (Dec 29). I fully agree with its contents. I also refer to the letter by S. Irtifaq Ali (Dec 13) on the subject of garbage collection.
I suggest to the awakened citizens that they should come forward to assist the newly elected government with practical ideas to solve the civic problems. I support the proposal that special courts should be set up on the pattern of NAB, to punish the responsible officials.
The burning of garbage generates poisonous fumes and causes not only asthma but depression, and affects the human psyche negatively. Stress should also be laid on public awareness strategy. Public awareness campaigns using information, education and communication (I-E-C) techniques, may be launched. Waste reduction, re-use and recycling (R-R-R) may be adopted to reduce the burden on the local body, and the citizens may be motivated to store waste at source in a two-bin system, co-operate with the doorstep primary collection system and keep the city litter-free.
Hygienic Solid Waste Management now needs to find a place in the national agenda.
AHMED PAREKH
Nazim, Jamshed Town
Karachi
THIRD Party vehicle insurance is a legal requirement. But over the years, it has become a meaningless formality because the numerous small insurance companies which usually indulge in this kind of insurance business do not actually take any responsibility in the case of an accident.
During the past two years, the fee for such insurance has gone double. The owners of vehicles are paying millions of rupees to insurance companies just for issuing a certificate showing the engine and chassis numbers along with the registration number and the owner’s name. These insurance agents are found near the offices of every tax collecting authority.
I request the government to do away with such formalities in which only a handful of people benefit.
It is a burden on the vehicle owners without any benefit, as no insurance company is bothered unless the insurance is comprehensive.
ABID RAZA SYED
Karachi
BETWEEN the years 1979 and 1992, more than one fifth of the Afghan population — over six million — was driven from their homes in search of safety, mainly to the neighbouring countries of Iran and Pakistan. Although many returned in anticipation of peace following the collapse of the Soviet Union, the continuation of the armed conflict and deteriorating law and order and human rights situation has resulted in a large number choosing not to return.
Moreover, even as many refugees have gone back under UN-sponsored programmes or on their own, the volatile political situation and continued acts of violence and repression have produced new refugees and outlaws.
This means that the Afghans remain the largest single refugees group in the world for the past 20 years. The current number of Afghan refugees is estimated to be more than two million, living mainly in Pakistan and Iran.
Today, many Afghan refugees live in a state of anxiety and uncertainty. They see little hope of an early return in safety and dignity to their homes. And yet they are finding that their presence in their countries of asylum is being increasingly resented. Is there no hope for them? Do these luckless people have no future?
ABDUL TAWAB
Lahore
I FULLY agree with Mr Zain Mankani (Jan 3) that Indian TV programmes have corrupted the Pakistani audiences’ taste. But a ban on Indian channels has also brought our media into the limelight. It is irrefutable that our media has nothing to entertain us with — not even with shallow and meaningless plays. Our audiences cannot take immediately to reading because of many factors like illiteracy, lack of good books, and so on. The Pakistani media must think in terms of launching good channels presenting quality programmes or at least they must try to improve the present channels if they aspire to participate in the media war in South Asia.
FARRUKH AMINA
Lahore
I WOULD like to ask all those who think that Osama bin Laden is not a true Muslim and a coward a question. A son of a billionaire who had all the luxuries in the world leaves Saudi Arabia to fight face to face with the Russians when they invaded Afghanistan. Is that a bad Muslim or a coward or someone who doesn’t care for the Afghans?
When bin Laden first moved to Afghanistan with his family, for a long time he did not even have basic facilities like water. Even now when his home was raided it was an underground tunnel. The little he had was destroyed except for his children’s dolls and swing sets. He is fighting for Islam, though what happened on Sept 11 is not the way, for jihad actions are judged by intentions and if Osama did it I can honestly understand why bin Laden or anyone else would do it. The purpose was to teach the enemies of Islam a lesson and to make them feel how we feel when we watch thousands of Muslims die because of America and its support for other countries who are killing Muslims.
If Muslim countries wake up and do something, bin Laden and other people would not have to resort to such means.
SAMRA MASOOD
Lahore
THIS refers to Dr Aftab Ahmed’s article (Jan 1). While commenting on M.P. Bhandara’s article about Mr H.S. Suhrawardy (Dec 12) he has also discussed the Lahore Resolution of 1940 and the Delhi Resolution of 1946.
The Lahore Resolution, also called the Pakistan Resolution, is considered the most sacred document of Pakistan’s history being the founding charter of this country, but at the same time it has become controversial. The controversy mainly between the nationalist and the centrist forces has, with the passage of time, attained new dimensions and pertains specially to the Constitution of the State and the status of the constituent units.
The State of Pakistan has followed the path of Delhi Resolution as a highly centralized single entity and all the centrists speak and argue in support of it.
But the question is whether all this is correct in the presence of the 1940 Resolution?
The supporters, including the rulers, come up with the argument that the 1940 Resolution was amended at the Muslim League Legislators’ convention held in Delhi in 1946 and hence the Delhi Resolution should now be considered as the Pakistan Resolution.
It is absurd to say, even think, that the word states came into the Lahore Resolution through a typing mistake. How can it be? After all it came to the General Council session of an all-India-based party making the most important of all the demands i.e. creation of a new country, and also the said resolution was debated and vetted for two days before passing it.
If at all, for the sake of argument, it is presumed that the Lahore Resolution was amended at Delhi, then it vindicates the nationalists’ long held view that reneging on the basic covenant of Pakistan started even before the country came into being and the same continues till this moment.
ABDUL KHALIQUE JUNEJO
Chairman, Jeay Sindh Mahaz
Karachi
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