| March 20, 2002 | Wednesday | Muharram 5, 1423 |
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Powerful president
PTCL Model Colony exchange
Pakistan-US relations
Recognition of merit
In reply to a complaint
Vacations
It happened on Women’s Day
Daylight saving time
Checking quacks
Worth of a life
Killing of doctors (I)
Killing of doctors (II)
Hiring teachers
Sending children for adoption
IT is an under-statement when an official like the senior consultant of NRB says that “Karachi, like most of the urban centres of Pakistan, is faced with a rise in slums”. The truth is that today the number of encroached upon areas in Karachi is greater than that of such areas in all the cities of the country taken together.
Every year we are adding slums illegally and systematically, occupied in thousands of acres by 200,000 to 250,000 squatters in Karachi’s vast outskirts and its central areas. These illegal occupants, who seldom pay taxes including those for water and electricity, are a burden on the sagging economy.
Having been a resident of North Nazimabad for the last 34 years, I want to give an example of my area as a test case. In the late ‘50s, it was initially earmarked as a diplomatic enclave, designed by a French architect, when Karachi was the capital. More than 60 per cent of its area was reserved for parks, playgrounds, wide roads and streets, hospitals, libraries, community centres, colleges, schools, art gallery and a big hill park (similar to Islamabad’s Shakerparian) in thousands of acres. Water was supplied every day. There was good sanitation and sewerage system.
Today, more than 90 per cent of those public areas for North Nazimabad have been encroached upon. Mainly the senior office bearers of the ruling political parties participated in the loot. Today, water is supplied to the residents after every fourth day.
Garbage has piled up and most of the underground sewerage system is destroyed. Trees planted for greenery were chopped down, mercilessly. The width of footpaths on the intersections were deliberately increased to accommodate chicken tikka shops etc.
What the metropolis needs today on priority basis is an ordinance to eradicate the menace of forcible occupation.
In the past, river beds like Lyari, Malir and others were systematically encroached upon because the administrative control of such areas was not given to the KDA or to the then KMC but was jealously guarded by the former deputy commissioners of those districts.
Why is the Sindh government so helpless that it cannot save its own valuable property, even today, from the clutches of land mafia? What it has to do is simply call a provincial cabinet meeting under the governor, and approve anti-encroachment amendments and laws.
Like the vehicle snatching mafia, the land mafia is also a big racketeer operating with multi-billion rupees and ripping off the city under the very eyes of federal and provincial administrations.
KUNWAR KHALID YUNUS
Karachi
DEMOCRACY is a method of running the state, and in order to understand its real meaning we must know that the ultimate aim of the state is the welfare of its people.
The western interpretation of democracy is merely that of an elected government. As far as the element of welfare and good governance is concerned they have supposed that an elected government is a guarantee. But this is not wholly true. The countries ranking top among the most corrupt in the world are mostly led by democratically elected governments. Hundreds of people have been killed because of religious discrimination in India, which is the largest democracy in the world.
The effective working of a government not only depends on the elected representatives but to a larger extent on their sense of being accountable and responsible before the people. In this connection, the parliamentary system may seem very attractive in theory as it makes the prime minister responsible before the parliament. But on taking a closer look, the reality seems different. In effect, the parliament is dominated by the majority party, viz, the ruling party which would never pass a vote of no-confidence against its own government, however corrupt it may be.
That is why no corrupt prime minister was removed by the parliament here; rather the president had to do the job. That is the reason why a powerful president is indispensable in our environment for good governance and smooth functioning of a government (although it may seem undemocratic). Luckily we have got Gen Pervez Musharraf, a man of exceptional calibre who is doing far better than any elected government and it will be extremely unfortunate if we lose such a man only because he is unelected. For him to continue as president might require some amendments in the constitution but I think, for its own betterment the nation can happily afford this change.
KASHAN AWAIS
Islamabad
I LODGED a complaint with the Model Colony Telephone Exchange about a year back regarding excess billing for the telephone at my residence. Repeated complaints have also been lodged with the higher authorities of the PTCL. I have received a copy of the letter written to the DG Office in Karachi by the PTCL Islamabad.
A lineman from the exchange visited my residence to inspect the instrument. When I told him that my complaint was for excess billing and not for any defect in the instrument, he went away. Subsequently, I received a telephone call from the DEP, Model Colony Exchange, asking me to see him personally to resolve the issue.
When I made the visit, I was made to wait for long hours. Finally, when I did meet the DEP, he told me that one of his officers would call me in three or four days after collecting the necessary data from the computer section. More than two weeks have passed without any further development. Would the PTCL tell me what to do now to get a remedial action for eliminating the excess billing and for the refund of the excess amount which I have paid to the PTCL during the last several years?
M. SHAFIQUE KHAN
Karachi
THIS is with reference to ‘Dynamics of ties with US’, by Talat Masood. His analysis is one of the best I have recently come across. He is absolutely right when he writes:
“Good relations with the US are an important factor in countervailing Indian hegemony. American presence in Central and South Asia can be a stabilizing force in the region and could serve Pakistan’s interests at least in short and medium terms as it needs a year of peace to address its domestic problems and to concentrate on development. By accepting a relatively benign American dominant role in the region, Pakistan expects to benefit in the form of a check on Indian pressure, cooperation in certain defence fields, lifting of sanctions, economic assistance, freer access for Pakistani exports and better prospects for investment”.
In fact, the United States remains the only stabilizing force in South and Central Asia today. American intervention in Afghanistan has been a blessing in disguise for both India and Pakistan. Without American presence they would have gone to war and even if it was to be a limited conventional war, it would have been devastating.
MAHMOOD ELAHI
Ottawa,
Canada
THE President emphasized on Jan 28 the need for developing a society where merit was the only recognition. He was speaking at an awards ceremony, at the Chief Executive Secretariat, to the distinguished achievers in the secondary and higher secondary school certificate examinations 2000.
The President asked the students to focus on acquiring ‘wholesome’ knowledge, concentrate on capacity and character-building besides developing an acumen in science and technology to excel in this world of competition. He said a nation developed through human development, which was possible only by improving educational standards, providing better healthcare system, poverty alleviation and quality improvement. He observed that the country would continue to suffer heavily if we continue producing low quality doctors, engineers and other professionals.
We should wholeheartedly support the government in the implementation of all the practical measures to be initiated in this context. Quality education is the key to all such objectives.
However, it may also be recognized that teachers and schools/colleges play a definite role in the winning of top positions by their students. Therefore, it is proposed that the government also recognize the services of the concerned teaching faculty by awarding them cash prizes and advance increments. The concerned schools/colleges may also be given special funds for improvement of teaching facilities.
This practice is expected to initiate a healthy competition among the teachers as well as the schools/colleges. The recognition and awards to the top achievers in professional colleges may also be considered on similar lines.
M. BASHIR CHAUDHRY
Karachi
THIS refers to Muhammad Akram’s letter (March 9) on the working of the Muzaffargarh Telephone Exchange. The exchange is digital and is connected to Multan via optical fibre. The compliant has been thoroughly investigated and no instance of ‘silence’ instead of a busy tone has been observed.
The telephone number and the name of the valued customer who received a bill for Rs4,000 for local calls has not been given. The divisional vigilance committee has not received any such complaint. The PTCL is continuously striving to improve its services and is always willing to sort out any complaint which is brought to its notice.
IMRAN GARDEZI PRO MTR
Multan
THE eleventh hour postponement of the SSC examinations has disturbed the educational session for the current year.
To make up for the lost time, it is suggested that the summer vacations this year may be shortened and be only of a duration of one month, either in June or in July 2002. I am sure, this proposal would be seconded by all.
The education department is requested to take necessary action in this regard.
S. ABRAR HUSSAINI
Karachi
ON March 8, 2002, ‘Women’s Day’ was observed. On that very evening I attended an unpleasant wedding where a young girl of 21 years was married off to an old man of 45 years.
I recalled all those debates, speeches and newspaper editorials on the rights of women, which proved to be of no avail.
In our rural society, young girls are either forced to become wives of those who are old enough to be their fathers or they are slaughtered by their brothers and cousins in the name of honour. Is there no one to raise a voice to save such girls?
MUHAMMAD HANIF
Nawabshah
THERE are reports that Pakistan is going to adopt daylight saving time, starting
April 1. We certainly hope that this would not be the joke for the day.
A country located just north of the Tropic of Cancer has no justification for causing confusion among the majority of the illiterate citizens and chaos for public airlines, railways and other communication sectors, twice a year.
Such changes conforming to daylight length are appropriate for the northern latitude countries in Europe and America, where the difference between summer and winter day-lengths is huge and the population is literate.
What is needed, if at all, is simply to change the office timings for summer and winter.
SAJIDA SULTANA AHMAD
Islamabad
THE Punjab and NWFP governments have banned the private practice of doctors of teaching hospitals. This decision has aroused great unrest among the concerned medical men.
On the other hand, the authorities are not ready to pay attention to the menace of quackery. Unqualified persons and paramedical staff are running their clinics as medical doctors throughout the country. They are playing with the lives of the people.
Is it not necessary to take effective steps to check it?
DR SHAHID BANDESHA
Faisalabad
PAKISTAN is getting all kinds of aid and rescheduling assistance. It would be interesting to equate this amount with the number of Afghans killed, to calculate the value of one Afghan life.
KHURSHID ANWER
Lahore
ONE more doctor was shot dead in Karachi on March 12. This target killing has been going on for long enough to attract the attention of the government. But surprisingly the authorities have remained unmoved. How is it that the death of an American journalist, Daniel Pearl, aroused so much controversy but this massive killing of some highly qualified doctors has failed to attract the government attention?
Recently I went through a news item that said there was a website enabling people to offer their condolence to Mrs Marriane Pearl. But what about the families of the assassinated doctors? Don’t they deserve our sympathies? Why should we blame the Hindus for killing innocent Muslims in Gujarat when Muslims are mercilessly killing other Muslims.
Due to these murders a feeling of insecurity has taken over the minds of our fellow citizens and this in turn is resulting in huge number of people (mostly the highly educated and the intellectuals of our society) emigrating to Canada and Australia. It seems as if our government has adopted an different attitude towards this situation.
It’s time to wake up and take some action against this brutality or else our country will become deprived of the people who possess the ability required by a nation like ours to progress.
ZAINAB
Karachi
THIS is in reference to Dr Shershah Syed’s letter ‘Killing of doctors: who’s to be blamed’ (March 14). He is very right in saying that “it is a failure of the civic society and the writ of the government”. He holds the citizens responsible for failing to protect their doctors, lawyers and journalists. But the fact is that they are equally helpless when it comes to protecting themselves. Who has the courage to stand in the way of a motorcycle with two men showering bullets. Sadly, the answer is: ‘None’.
He is mainly disturbed at the cold response from the doctors’ community to the protests organized by the PMA. One reason for the ‘poor show’ is that they don’t want to be noticed as a ‘protester’ against the murders for the simple reason that it would increase the risk for them.
A DOCTOR’S SON
Karachi
I AM a student of Computer Science, University of Karachi. I don’t know what are the selection criteria for the appointment of teachers in this department, but I find that a number of them are not competent at all. Some of them are not even able to answer questions raised by students.
There should be a system of evaluating teachers’ performance through inspection by noted professionals and also through feedback from students.
A STUDENT
Karachi
OF late, offers for adoption of infants through the internet have given birth to a lucrative business.
According to Unicef, Guatemala handles more adoption that any other country in Latin America where infants are in great demand. The booming business needs regular supply and there are just not enough healthy and legally available babies around the Third World countries. Eyes of the West are now set on orphaned Afghan infants.
Malta, a small independent republic in the Mediterranean, is also prospering in the trade. Agriculture and ship-repairing played an important role in the Maltese economy. Adoption is yet another important sector analogous to tourism that generates over US$600 million annually.
Back in 1998, a Maltese couple Dennis Charles, a former Pakistani citizen, and Ms Concetta Charles sent nine infants to Malta who were stated to have been adopted by childless couples after completing the legal formalities abroad and here. Ms Concetta is also reported to have said that despite everything she would continue to carry on with her social work, and if such abandoned infants were found, arrangements would be made to send them to Malta.
On Sept 30, 1997, Mrs Habibur Rahman gave birth to two babies in a hospital at SITE, but the hospital administration handed over to her only one baby. The hospital administration could not give any satisfactory answer to Mr Habibur Rahman despite his repeated queries about the other baby.
Finally, on Jan 15, 1998, Habibur Rahman lodged a case with the anti-terrorism court and accused the hospital staff of kidnapping one of his newly-born twins.
Later, the defence counsel applied for the shifting of the case to a sessions court deposing that the offence was not a schedule offence within the definition of section 2 (e) of AT Act and as such the anti-terrorism court has no jurisdiction to try the case.
The administrative judge of the anti-terrorism court in Karachi, who was also heading the ATC-1, transferred the case to a sessions court, on June 10, 1999, under Section 23 of AT Act, 1997.
The judge also directed the parties to appear before the sessions court on June 16, 1999. What transpired next is anybody’s guess but the fact remains that “justice delayed is justice denied”.
The fate of five women and three men arrested for kidnapping seven girls and four boys whose ages ranged from 2 months to 3 years, from a bungalow in Gulshan-i-Iqbal on March 15, wouldn’t be any different; the fact remains that a formal complaint is required from the legitimate parents of the children or their guardians.
All those involved in the racket must be hauled up and produced before specially convened military courts. The government must not allow deporting of children, including infants, for adoption.
Lt-Col (R) SYED AHMED
Karachi
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