| January 14, 2002 | Monday | Shawwal 29, 1422 |
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National Assembly seats
Inflow of forex
The film censor board
Women commuters
Clarification
Sea tax to hit trade
India’s two-pronged policy
Water scarcity
Rightsizing
Road manners
NAB’s bias
Glocalization, not globalization
I REFER to the letter of Mr Naeem Sadiq, published in your paper recently and reprinted by the Times of India on Jan 2, 2002. In this letter, the author has blamed the “intellect Supreme Inc.” for a wrong Pakistan Afghan policy, and has recommended a clamp-down on the “frozen in the 11th century” gun-toting jihadi organizations, their training camps and their activities in and outside Pakistan. He has also touched upon the need to change the mindset of the people of Pakistan. I think that the Indians also need to change their mindset!
This letter brought to my memory a letter written by me for Jakarta Post a few years ago while participating in a ‘war of letters’ between the Indian and Pakistani expatriates in Indonesia. My views then are so congruent with those expressed by Mr Naeem Sadiq that I would like to repeat a part of that letter for the benefit of my Indian and Pakistani brethren.
“We must accept, with a smiling face, certain realities and make peace so that our future generations are better off and do not keep bleeding each other to a slow (but sure) death. We should not spend our national resources to arm ourselves to the teeth but spend them to improve our economic conditions, our infrastructure, our competitiveness. When I read the economic indices published in Asiaweek and find both India and Pakistan in an ignominious (and unflattering low) position, I feel ashamed and wonder whether this situation will ever change!
Many countries have stolen a march over us. We must pause and think whether our children would be ashamed of us for the way we are conducting ourselves during the 50-odd years after the independence. In the enlightened era of tomorrow, this is very likely. After all, we are ashamed of our Kings and Nawabs and their generals of 1700s and 1800s, who fought amongst themselves over petty matters of personal (pseudo-) pride and (pseudo-) honour. They allowed it to take priority over our national pride and honour and offered our country to the British on a proverbial silver platter.
I know that Indians and Pakistanis are similar people, get along famously with each other when they meet abroad, have close friends in each other’s countries and at heart would like to bury this hatchet once for all. I feel that if Israel and neighbouring Arab countries can bury their differences and if the two Germanys can reunite, why can’t we sort out our problems? Why don’t we accept the status quo and forget the past? Follow this up by a TV and media blitz to declare that we are bhai-bhai (which we are) and reverse the way we have misused this blits so far to alienate us!”
I think that both Dawn and Times of India, as responsible members of the Pakistani and Indian media, should take a lead to help this happen.
K.B. KALE
Pune, India
ONE can’t agree with the proposal made by Engr. Khalid R. Qureshi (Dec 15) that the number of seats in the National Assembly be increased to 600 (three times) and in the senate, each province be allotted 40 seats (instead of 19) so that these houses can be made more representative and democratic. Such an expensive measure will never yield the results aimed at. The US, the richest country in the world with 280 million people, has only 435 seats in its house of representatives and just two senators from each of its 50 states.
What we need is real democratic power by the representative bodies. And it is the foremost duty of the present government to restore the basic political right to vote under a joint electoral system in which every Pakistani can use his vote without discrimination. Unless this system is restored, our elected bodies cannot be called national. They could only be termed as communal.
IBNE ALAM
Jhang
MANY expatriates, now residents, transferred their foreign exchange from local banks to overseas banks for fear of their accounts being frozen by the government. Now, they are not transferring their money to Pakistan for fear of being hounding by the taxmen, well known for exceeding their authority. As such, this is in favour of the overseas banks who welcome forex without questioning the source of income.
Recently, the government promulgated an ordinance to protect the Economic Reforms Act 1992 but a circular from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) is awaited.
Any forex policy which does not question forex account holders not involved in embezzlement of public money would encourage the inflow of forex in a big way under the Protection of Economic Reforms Act 1992, provided the SBP ensures payment of interest to the forex account holders which is now being denied by some foreign banks taking advantage of the draconian laws.
I appeal to the Governor, SBP, to kindly inform the public in general about the measures taken to encourage inflow of forex, through periodic press releases or advertisements in the national dailies.
SHAKEEL AKHTAR
Rawalpindi
WE recently had the misfortune of seeing the new film Moosa Khan at a local cinema, and were disgusted and outraged at its vitriolic content. Apart from its substandard production values and gratuitous bloodshed, the film was filled with hatred and venom against a particular religious community and minced no words in portraying this.
All the villains in the film are portrayed as being from religious communities that are minorities in Pakistan, out to loot, pillage and murder pious Muslims. Before they are inevitably dispatched in their hundreds by the ‘hero’ to their doom, their religion is verbally attacked for its corruption.
We have always voiced our opposition to the arbitrary extremes of censorship imposed by the Censor Board. But surely, this kind of vitriol and regression falls within the reasonable purview of the censor committee. It is thus very surprising that the committee allowed this film to be released in its current form. In the code for censorship of films, it is clearly stated in Point III: ‘Religion’, that nothing will be allowed that, (b) “ridicules, disparages or attacks any religion, sect, caste or creed”; or (c) “causes hatred or strife among religious sects, castes or creeds.” Section (c) of Point VIII: ‘National Sentiments’ of the code also proscribes anything that “fans racial, sectarian, parochial, linguistic, regional or class hatred.”
The film is full of the worst cliches as well. At one point Saima’s character stabs herself saying “Aik Musalmaan larki ki izzat uss ki zindagi se ziada qeemti hai (A Muslim girl’s honour is more precious than her life)”. At another, Shaan’s character, Moosa, declares, “Jo bhi mere khuda ki tauheen karay ga woh mere liye waajibul qatal hai (Anyone who blasphemes against my God, is in my view, liable to be killed.)”
In the light of the government’s commitment to eradicating religious extremism in Pakistan and its earlier resolve to move against the culture of ‘honour killing’, it is extremely surprising that such content that advocates precisely the kind of behaviour the government is campaigning against, is allowed to be given such unquestioned release.
It is our appeal to all those concerned with issues of basic human values to raise their voice against this film and call to have it re-evaluated by the Censor Board.
MEHREEN JABBAR AND OTHERS
Karachi
WOMEN commuters using the local public transport facility have registered a strong protest over the regular presence of male passengers in the small portion reserved for them in buses, mini-buses and coaches (Jan 9). This is a genuine problem which has been overlooked by the local authorities in the province.
There are only a few seats reserved for women in the front portion of a public transport. The front gate is meant exclusively for the women and the back door is meant for the men. In addition to the passengers, every public transport vehicle has on board at least three male staff members — the driver, the conductor and a helper. For the convenience of the conductor who is to collect the fare from both women and men, there is a passage between the female and male compartments. But this passage is misused by the male passengers who use it to occupy the seats in the female portion or to get down from the front door, meant exclusively for women.
The staff of the vehicle does not prevent male commuters from using the gate or from occupying the seats meant for women, as they want to carry the maximum number of passengers to earn maximum revenue.
The concerned authorities should take a serious note of this genuine problem of women commuters by blocking the passage permanently in between the female and male compartments. The helper who even now usually stands at the front gate, can act as a second conductor and collect the fare from women passengers only.
SYED A. MATEEN
Karachi
I WRITE in reference to a report headlined ‘Two Jihadi outfits held in crackdown’ (Dawn, Jan 3).
The report attempts to link the name of Hizb ut-Tahrir with the ongoing government crackdown on alleged violent and sectarian organizations. We wish to point out that the Hizb ut-Tahrir has no relationship whatsoever with any violent or sectarian organization, nor does the Hizb itself engage in such actions. Any attempt to characterize Hizb ut-Tahrir as violent or sectarian will surely fail, because this party has been working for almost 50 years throughout the world without ever resorting to violence or sectarianism.
Hizb ut-Tahrir is a political party that takes Islam as its ideology and works throughout the Islamic world to bring an intellectual revival within the ummah and to resume the Islamic way of life by re-establishing the Khilafat-i-Rashida while adhering to the Islamic shari’ah in all aspects of its organization and work. The Hizb understands that the shari’ah prohibits sectarianism and that it forbids political parties from indulging in violence. Therefore, the Hizb limits its work to the intellectual and political domains.
NAVEED BUTT
Spokesman, Hizb ut-Tahrir
Lahore
THE proposed sea tax on import and export will make import costlier and export uncompetitive.
Earlier, the rate of sales tax was enhanced from 12.5% to 15% and octroi was abolished with the solemn declaration that loss of octroi would be duly compensated by the federal government out of the extra levy of sales tax. The Nazim-i-Ala, Karachi and/or the Government of Sindh should take up the matter with the federal government to honour the declaration.
Sea tax will only hit the country’s economy.
NOOR MOHAMMED
Karachi
THE two-pronged Indian policy is to pressure Pakistan diplomatically and through war rhetoric to change its Kashmir policy. By crying day in and day out about militant activities, India is trying to cover up its human rights abuses in occupied Kashmir.
What our diplomats and journalists should do is to raise in all forums the issue of Indian army’s brutality in the Kashmir region and India’s non-cooperative behaviour for the last 50 years to resolve the dispute. Focus should also be on the plight of poor Kashmiris. PTV can play a crucial role in this regard.
India wants to get rid of the Kashmir problem by fooling the world that it is the victim of terror. While the fact is that the real victim of terror are Kashmiris, not India. The point to be noted is that most of the people who were arrested by the Indian police after the attack on Indian parliament had to be released because of no evidence against them. Just by giving a list of militants without any proof does not make any sense.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair agrees that Pakistan’s position on Kashmir is “strong”. But just by stating the factual position will not end the misery of the Kashmiri people. Their rights have been denied by India. Many Kashmiris living in camps on the Pakistani side tell of harassment, arrest and torture at the hands of security forces in occupied Kashmir.
To bring the violence in Kashmir to a quick end, initiation of a political dialogue between the representatives of the people of Kashmir, and the governments of Pakistan and India is a must. World leaders should not let India go scot-free this time. Pressure should also be put on India to honour its pledge about Kashmir.
To end the human rights abuses in Kashmir, India should be forced to remove its 700,000 heavily armed personnel from the occupied territory.
India has been trying to take the cover of UN resolution on terrorism but conveniently forgets that the UN has one more resolution, which asks India to hold a plebiscite in Kashmir.
SHAH AFFAN
Ontario, Canada
THE problem of water shortage is ever increasing in Karachi. As good citizens, we should think of ways to solve this problem.
I feel that the KWSB should work out a proper plan for the supply of water. They should take immediate steps to repair the leaking pipes so that water is not wasted. The Board should also take measures to stop water theft as this causes hindrance to the supply of water to those who pay for it.
The consumers, too, should not waste water. Used water can also be utilized again for gardening.
FARIDA SHAIKE AND ROZINA KAMALUDDIN
Karachi
THE decision taken by the government to rightsize the strength of the staff by declaring 40,000 employees as surplus, is rather irrational and harsh. It would only aggravate the already acute unemployment situation in the country.
Instead of immediate surgery, the objective can also be achieved by a less painful method, that is, by lowering the retirement age to 58 years but staggering the process of retirement for those now in the upper age bracket. For example, a person who is 58 years of age at present may have one year more and be retired at the age of 59 years.
In this way, all the incumbents falling within the age bracket of 56 to 57 years, will have time at their disposal to plan their future after retirement. In addition to this, the option for a golden handshake may also be kept open to those above 55 years of age.
If this proposal is adopted, the government can achieve rightsizing through a phased programme.
Z.A. ANSARI
Karachi
AS soon as the light changes from red to yellow, the motorists in the rear start blowing their horns. They need to be taught road manners and not the ones in front who are abiding by the law, which forbids any movement until the light changes to green.
Someone has very aptly defined the term for fractional measurement of time — ‘nano-seconds’ — as the time-lapse between the appearance of the yellow light and the blaring of the horns from behind.
KHURSHID ANWER
Lahore
EX-NAVAL Chief Mansurul Haq is being held by the NAB at a rest house in Sihala near Islamabad. And two-time ex-chief minister of the NWFP, Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, has been kept at the Civil Lines police station in Peshawar.
Is this the evenhanded accountability and treatment meted out to NAB’s nabbed ones.
SARDAR ABRAR RASHID
Abbotabad
MR Yusuf H. Shirazi’s evaluation of the state of our economy through his article, ‘Glocalization — not globalization’ (Dec 31) raises many a point for consideration. According to him, the Pakistan economy has suffered because of the role of international financial institutions — IFIs — in Pakistan, indigenous business environment and national ineptitude to implement remedies.
He says the World Bank has started focussing on international competitiveness as the yardstick for investment. IMF has prompted high devaluation and low tariffs. WTO works as a mouthpiece of about 1,000 large corporations contributing 80% of the world production. Mr Shirazi points out that our emphasis is more on simple manufactures, packaging and assemblies than on hi-tech value-added investment, production and export.
Among the remedies, he has proposed revival of the role of the civil bureaucracy, focus on agriculture, currency valuation, level playing field and above all, reliance more on import substitution, export-oriented and strategic industries based on local investment through local resources. He thus relies on globalization through localization i.e. glocalization, a term that he has coined as the key to revival of the Pakistan economy in contradiction to what the IFIs and our planners, as he thinks, are doing.
What Mr Shirazi has patently omitted is the role of the entrepreneurship in this country. There has been a lot of protection to the industry and incentives to the entrepreneurs but what did the entrepreneurs do? Take the money out and establish their empires abroad at the cost of the people in this country. Without a reference to entrepreneurs’ role, as such, Mr Shirazi’s critical appreciation of our economy remains incomplete. Mr Shirazi should also make so bold as to tell us who is promoting packaging and assemblies as against manufacturing, when he says that “we want good assembly plants” or for that matter who is promoting a liberal economy with basics when he says “onions must be imported and onions must be exported”.
Who are the people in whose favour assemblies may be sanctioned at 5% of customs duty in electronic and electric industry? He should also clearly come out for legalizing the flight of capital through government allowing to set up Pakistani companies abroad. Important also is to point out protecting “engineering procurement and construction contractors in complete exclusion of the foreign competition, including all major industrial and infrastructure projects in all matters of recognized local design engineering and manufacturing organizations” being a contradiction to the above general policy adoption, as he points out.
Similarly, he should also come out clearly how defence manufacture and export to which our country is committed will suffer because of what he says an ineptitude of the basic industries which the IFIs are now proposing to phase out, earlier nationalized during the 1970s. He would be well advised if he comes out with open disclosures in keeping with his usual style, otherwise it serves no purpose as far as the general public is concerned.
While I would call upon Mr Shirazi to elaborate upon these vital aspects of his article, our thinkers and planners, more particularly the economic team who know IFIs better than most of us, must consider whether they are really following the IFIs at the cost of national priorities.
DR MRS KHAWAR TAZEEN
Karachi
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