| January 12, 2002 | Saturday | Shawwal 27, 1422 |
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Blair’s visit, a failure
Commercial units in residences
Freedom struggle is not terrorism
Olive branch from an Indian
Discipline on Karachi roads
A new system
Sindh Madressah affairs
Extortion by PIA staff
Ban Indian film videos also
Shortage of coins
Local trains
Caring for our elderly
REPORTING sanguinely from the opening session of 11th SAARC summit at Kathmandu, Dawn states on Jan 6 that in a command performance laced with humility, eloquence, fair play and a firm resolve to seek peace with dignity, President Pervez Musharraf forced Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on Saturday, Jan 5, to rise and shake hands with him, a move that many believe could help deter the two countries from their untenable logic of war.
The Telegraph, India (Jan 6) rebuffs President Musharraf’s gesture of goodwill and states: “If it was the handshake the world thought would shake India and Pakistan back from the brink of war, Musharraf’s dramatics was only the beginning. Long and anxious moments would follow before the next act would show how the play progressed.”
War is not child’s play. Musharraf is down to earth a soldier who is spectacularly aware that tens of thousands of troops engaged in a tense stand-off across the India-Pakistan border may simplistically exchange fire that could speedily escalate into a major conflict between the two nuclear-armed nations killing all, burning all, destroying all and add to the miseries of lucky unlucky who survive.
Nevertheless, the immediate and direct impact of the tense stand-off has been on those who live near the border villages astride Sialkot, Shakargarh and Lahore. In anticipation of any major conflict the poor peasants have started fleeing their homes with bare minimum essentials in search of security.
What we need today, in consonance with Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee’s philosophy, is the dose of maturity which would lead the South Asian states from adolescence to adulthood. It would enable us to put aside our mutual rivalries, so that our scarce resources could be concentrated on eradication of poverty, hunger, disease, and illiteracy. It would not let political obsessions cloud our collective vision of being a vibrant and prosperous South Asian community.
Why this faux pas? Will the extensive mobilization and massive build-up of the armed forces and deployment of Prithvi missiles along the border, consequent expenditure of taxpayers’ money in billions help India progress economically and take care of millions of their drought stricken miserable people?
Never the war hysteria, but dialogue based on tolerance and adjustment is going to resolve numerous problems spawning terrorism on both sides of the divide.
LT COL (R) SYED AHMED
Karachi
IT was expected that during his recent visit to South Asia Mr Blair would play a positive role in defusing the tension between India and Pakistan. Unfortunately this has not happened and there is still a likelihood of war between the two countries.
In the press conferences held in India and Pakistan, Mr Blair gave the impression of being the spokesman of India. He, without any concrete evidence, has taken the words of Indians that the attack on the Indian Parliament was the work of Pakistan-based organizations and has asked General Musharraf to do more to satisfy the Indians although Pakistan has repeatedly stressed the point that if India furnishes the evidence, it is prepared to take action against such elements.
Had Mr Blair gone through the role played by India in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), Sikkim, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Maldives since partition, it would have given him a fair idea of the real intentions of the Indians.
This was a good opportunity for a British Labour Party Prime Minister to see that the injustice done in the case of Kashmir at the time of partition by a Labour Government by awarding a Muslim majority area, Gurdaspur, to India was rectified.
BRIG (R) ZAHIR SUHRWARDY
Karachi
IN Larkana there is a growing trend of converting residential premises into commercial units, which is in violation of the Sindh Building Ordinance, 1979. This is going on with the connivance of the subordinate staff of the Larkana Development Authority.
Commercial undertakings in the midst of a residential area cause a number of problems for the residents of the locality.
There is an increase in traffic and also an increase of strangers visiting that area which often leads to embarrassing situations for the womenfolk.
In my own locality, Kasaie Mohalla, which has been so far a purely residential area, premises bearing C.S. Nos: 1878, 1879, 1893, 1894 and 1895 Ward ‘B’ have been converted into godowns and offices, despite public protests.
I request the Secretary, Local Government, and the Chairman, Larkana Development Authority, to look into the matter.
M. ANWAR CHANNA
Larkana
WITH the recent visit of Tony Blair to South Asia and his concern about terrorism, particularly in India, one would be inclined to ask what constitutes a terrorist organization.
The British should know well that they fought in the late forties in what was then called Palestine against the Jewish underground terrorists, known as the Stern Gang, the Haganah and the Irgun.
The Irgun blew up the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, killing more than 90 soldiers and civilians, (both Arabs and Jews). They also attacked the Arab village of Dayr Yasin, killing all 254 inhabitants. In Britain they were called terrorists. The Jews called them freedom-fighters.
In the fifties and sixties, the British fought against the Mau Mau in Kenya and Eoka in Cyprus. Again, they were branded by the British as terrorists. The people of those countries called them freedom-fighters.
The British would consider the IRA to be a terrorist organization fighting for united Ireland free from British rule. The British would consider George Washington a terrorist as he fought against British rule, but America got its freedom.
The Sept 11 tragedy should not be a pretext for any country to unilaterally declare all in their midst as terrorists.
The people of Palestine and Kashmir are engaged in legitimate freedom struggles. Both have UN resolutions which still need to be implemented by Israel and India respectively. This fact should be appreciated by all.
Pakistan expects a more positive response from India on the Kashmir issue.
ZAFAR RAJA
Dammam, Saudi Arabia
AS usual, India and Pakistan have once again embroiled themselves in a dispute that now threatens to take a dangerous turn. At this moment, I believe, a little introspection is in order. As can be seen by the letters in any of Pakistan’s daily newspapers, the Pakistani people squarely blame India for all of their troubles. However, I urge the people of Pakistan to pause and reflect for a second.
India — the country that supposedly foments trouble in Pakistan — is the largest democracy in the world today. The Indian constitution embodies secularism as one of its first principles. If we had hated Pakistani people or Muslims, had we made our state secular?
India is the country with the largest Muslim population after Pakistan. I am a Hindu, but I grew up with Muslims as my neighbours. We have the most closest family relations with them. Are they any less Muslims than the people in Pakistan?
We are the same people as you are in Pakistan. We are also troubled by corruption in our politics, we also worry about the corruptness in education system, we are also worried about all the issues of daily bread and butter.
It is quite commonly known that there are extremists on both sides of the border, but then that is not everything. We in India know that Pakistan is not just composed of jihadis and extremists, but there are also people there who are very much just like us. The important point is to promote tolerance. We have a thousand places in India where Muslims and Hindus work together, pray in their respective holy places, which are situated side by side.
As far as I am concerned, I know that Islam teaches tolerance and brotherhood, as one of its first principles. Let’s not forget that.
Let us eliminate extremism. Let us throw away all the prejudices and together all of us can be the strongest power in the world.
PANKAJ LAXMAN AHIRE
Mumbai, India
IT is felt that the Traffic Police personnel need more training and discipline to regulate and deal with the ever growing chaos on the roads. Also, the traffic constables must be brought back on the main roads instead of them hiding in the by-lanes waiting to impound innocent motorist.
Tinted glass vehicles have re-emerged on the roads and dangerous criminals may be hiding in them. These vehicles must be checked, as I understand that no specific class of vehicles are exempted, not even the vehicles of foreign consulates.
The provinces of Balochistan and the NWFP are already issuing new number plates for cars, trucks and buses. All those vehicles (specially trucks) be checked, and instructed to put-on the new number plates issued by their respective provinces. Their documents must also be checked as many are plying with irregular documents, depriving the provincial excise and taxation department of the tax money. In fact, all vehicles registered in other provinces and plying on the roads of Karachi city must be checked to find more about the authenticity of their papers, duties and taxes.
I am sure that the new DIG, Traffic Police, Karachi, would take immediate measures for enforcing traffic discipline on the roads.
ASIF I. SAIGAL
Karachi
A NEW system for garbage collection has been introduced in UC-1 (Delhi Mercantile Society), Gulshan-i-Iqbal Town.
When the new union council took charge of the area it felt the need for a proper way to dispose of the garbage.
Due to lack of garbage dumps, garbage was seen piling up at several places, especially empty plots, playgrounds and streets.
Residents of the area were taken into confidence and their cooperation was sought. Participating residents from areas, including Al-Hamra Society, Adamjee Nagar, Shabbirabad, Mohammad Ali Society, KDA Scheme No. 1 and CP and Berar Society, were provided with garbage bags at low cost and asked to keep the garbage bag outside their houses between 9 am and 3 pm during which period garbage vans will collect the garbage and dispose of it properly.
AZHAR SIRAJ BANDUKWALA
Karachi
I AM an old student of Sindh Madressah, which has the honour of being the alma mater of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, who studied here for about four-and-a-half years, the longest period of his student life anywhere. He loved his alma mater so much that he bequeathed one third of his personal property to it through his last will.
The greatest contribution of Sindh Madressah has been that it has nurtured, nourished and enlightened generations of Sindhi Muslims since its establishment in 1885. It produced leaders like Sir Abdullah Haroon, Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto, Sir Ghulam Hussein Hidayatullah, Khan Bahadur Mohammed Ayub Khuhro and scholars like Allama I.I. Kazi, Allama Umer Bin Mohammad Daudpota and countless others. The people of Sindh respect and revere this institution the most.
Since 1974, a Board of Governors headed by Federal Minister for Education, runs the affairs of the institution. I am also a member of this Board. It may sound strange to many that the last meeting of the Board of Governors was held in June 1999. Over the last two-and-a-half years, the meeting of this governing body has not been convened.
But during this period, the principal was removed without the approval of the Board of Governors and in a questionable manner. The post of the principal remained unoccupied for more than a year. Then recently, again without consulting the Board of Governors, a retired colonel from another province was appointed principal of Sindh’s most revered institution.
Last week, the Federal Minister for Education, Zobaida Jalal, who is also the chairman of the Board of Governors, visited the institution for the first time since her assumption of office more than two years back. Strangely, no member of the Board of Governors was invited on that occasion. News reports suggest that an exercise has been undertaken to dilute the colour and influence of Sindh over this institution.
I may take this opportunity to remind the Minister and the Ministry of Education that Sindh Madressah is the identity of Sindh and it should be allowed to continue like this. The decisions referred to above should be withdrawn immediately. Instead, efforts should be made to improve the educational standard.
ALI AHMED K. BROHI
Karachi
MY daughter, who was visiting us for Eid, purchased a PIA Economy ticket in London and her baggage allowance on the ticket was 40 kg. She travelled back to London by PK 787 on Dec 30. The counter staff, after weighing her luggage, declared that she was carrying an excess baggage of 27 kg for which she will have to pay at the rate of Rs1,300 per kg. The total amount demanded was about Rs35,000. She maintained that the excess could not be that much as she had weighed her baggage at home.
Finally, the counter staff reduced the claim to Rs5,500 which she agreed to pay by her credit card as she did not have the said amount in cash. This was not acceptable to the staff and, therefore, she came to the gate and borrowed the money from me. She was then told to make the payment after clearance by the immigration, to the PIA personnel waiting at the boarding gate.
But, strangely enough, no excess baggage receipt was given to her when she made the payment. And stranger still was that when she boarded the aircraft, she was asked if she had paid for the excess baggage and she replied in the affirmative. Apparently, there is a chain from the counter to the attendant in the aircraft, otherwise how could he know that my daughter was carrying excess baggage.
I hope that this complaint would be thoroughly investigated as there are similar instances within my knowledge, of extortion for excess baggage without giving any official receipt, and thus depriving the PIA of its revenue.
ABID T. JAPANWALLA
Karachi
THIS is with reference to the letter by Lt Col Syed Ahmed (R) on this subject (Jan 5). I differ with him and feel that the ban of various Indian TV channels is perhaps a blessing in disguise. In fact, I would like the government to ban Indian film videos as well.
I don’t think that most of the Indian TV channels and film videos are disseminating valuable information or good entertainment. Most of the programmes are full of vulgar songs and cheap dances which are in conflict with our customs and traditions. Besides this, their plays are usually very shallow, full of violence, and reflecting Hindu traditions which are in no way suitable for our children and youth to watch.
MAJ SAEED-UZ-ZAMAN JANJUAH (R)
Karachi
CURRENCY notes of one rupee and two rupees ceased to be legal tenders on Dec 31, 2001, and were withdrawn. But it has created an acute shortage of coins which are not available even with the banks.
However, the same can be procured in any quantity from the money-changers, by paying a premium. It is about time that the State Bank of Pakistan took necessary steps to rectify the situation.
ABDUL HAMID
Karachi
ALL the windowpanes of the compartments of local trains plying between Karachi City and Malir Cantt are broken.
Old and sick commuters are inconvenienced while travelling in these trains in winter as they have to face the cold wind. The concerned railway authority is requested to install window panes in the compartment of these trains at the earliest.
KHAWAJA M. SHAFI
Karachi
LATELY, a large number of letters have appeared in Dawn about the plight of, and injustices to, the pensioners. It is understood that under the new rules, half of the pension, which is commuted at the time of retirement, will no more be restored after it becomes due to the pensioners, who would be of 75 years or more at that time. Then, it appears from the letter of Q. Raza (Jan 5) that whereas salaries of government servants have been raised from 50 to 70 per cent, pension has been increased by only 5 to 15 per cent.
These pensioners are those who have spent their lives in the service of the government on an income which is definitely low on the scale of the market. By virtue of that service they earn in their old age a pension, which is only a part of their income while in service.
In this backdrop, let us look into the system of pension in another country, Canada. Here pension is given to all those who retire either from government or private service. For this, they have to contribute during their service. Indexed to the age, the contribution rises annually.
In addition, all Canadians reaching the age of 65 are granted a pension, called Old Age Security, by the government of Canada.
There is a code establishing a minimum level of income needed for the sustenance of a person in this country. Therefore, if this old person’s total income from all sources does not meet that threshold, he is further entitled for a Guaranteed Income Supplement. Still further, if his/her spouse is 60, and has no income of his/her own, a Spousal Allowance is granted for his/her support. And, if a person is a widow or a widower, it means he/she may need outside help due to physical disability of old age. Such a person is granted Widower Allowance.
These measures reflect the deep concern of the Canadian government for its citizens. It recognizes that when they are unable to work, they have a right to pass their waning days without stress and discomfort.
Admittedly, it will not be fair in this respect to compare Pakistan with Canada, which is economically more developed and affluent. But if the Canadian government cares for its senior citizens, Pakistan government should at least not be unjust and harsh to its own employees when they are at the most vulnerable stage of their lives.
SYED OSMAN SHER
Toronto, Canada
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