| May 8, 2002 | Wednesday | Safar 24, 1423 |
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Medical colleges
Regularization of companies
The game of hide and seek
Congratulations Mr President
Nehru and Iqbal
CNICs for overseas Pakistanis
Poor Karachi
A surfeit of forex reserves
Give us back our cool evenings
A rare treat for Pakistan
THE pseudo-experts who put the idea of referendum in the mind of the President were perhaps not aware of the pitfalls that supra-constitutional measures like referendum carry with them. There was no need to open the Pandora’s box at this critical juncture when the general elections were at hand and people were hoping for the restoration of democracy after three years of military rule in the country.
Apparently there was no need for the General to follow the example set by the former dictators who instead of going to the people in the established democratic way, resorted to ignominious extra-constitutional measures. Both Ayub Khan and Ziaul Haq used referendum as a shield to perpetuate their rule and derailed democracy for all times to come.
The biggest harm that Ayub, Yahya and Zia did to the country was that the rulers were placed above the law of the land.
It is absolutely wrong to believe that power is the most distinctive attribute of the state and that state is morally justified in applying its power without concern for individual aims and interests. A strong militaristic government cannot give orderliness to the people.
A government through its power cannot establish order, peace and law among the eternally clashing interests that make up a national society. The government’s first duty is to maintain itself constantly in a position to serve the people and this could only be done if it is nationalistically constituted. The unity of the people comes through democratic interaction and not through authoritarian impositions.
The ‘referendum drama’ was the brainwave of a few wise men who were out to damage the credibility of the judiciary and the President himself. The whole show was nothing but a cruel joke on the part of the authorities. With deserted roads and divorced polling stations, it was the miracle of the ‘magic boxes’ and not the ‘true’ ballot boxes that crossed the unprecedented 42 million-popularity barrier.
The much prompted district devolution programme put up a dismal show when the Nazims were found around the polling booths literally begging the polling staff to help them as their newly acquired ‘grassroots’ jobs were in jeopardy if they failed to put up ‘grand-slam’ shows in their ‘nizamats’.
Why this dismal turnout of voters in referendum 2002? To show that people want the political system back. It is a clear indication of the public-pulse that they want democracy back in its original form and not a polluted version of it.
Democracy prospers with collective political participation, which is a formal way of influencing the authority. This collective participation occurs in groups of persons who may not occupy positions of authority. This participation occurs in a profusion of concrete manifestations and is focussed on electoral process.
The domain of democracy and collective participation is much broader than the referendum hoax.
Gen Musharraf was more popular before the referendum. There is no country which has come in support of this extravaganza, which cost the public exchequer millions. It appeared to be more of a fanfare when ‘starred hotels’ offered on-the-house refreshment to the voters. In a situation like this when the country is being ruled under the PCO which is ludicrous perversion of the true constitution, people lose faith in justice and fair play.
Burke said that despotic changes in the constitution were bound to destroy the inward peace and harmony of the state thereby making the very existence of the state impossible. Let not democracy degenerate into anarchy. To avoid this care should be taken to keep the constitution intact because a state without a constitution is nothing but tyranny.
GHULAM ASGHAR KHAN
Islamabad
IN October last, an entry test was conducted for admissions to the NWFP medical colleges.
According to the policy, those candidates who had done FSc from the FATA areas would be given admissions from the quota reserved for FATA candidates. But then some candidates went to the court against that policy and uptill now there is no final decision coming out of the court.
Due to this delay the candidates who applied on the self-support scheme, are also suffering because they are also not being given admissions. They have already missed four months of study. I don’t know whether they will conduct extra classes for them but I would like to appeal to the honourable judges of the Supreme Court, where the case is now lying, that they should dispose of the matter as soon as possible.
KHALID KHAN KUNDI
Tank City
THIS has reference to the Companies Regularization Scheme providing opportunity to the defaulters to regularize their working through filing of overdue statements for which the last extended date was April 30, 2002, subject to payment of one-time additional filing fee and up to June 30, 2002, on payment of two times additional filing fee.
Moreover, on the receipt of representation from various quarters, the Securities and Exchange Commission introduced Companies Easy Exit Scheme providing an opportunity to non-operating companies to get their names struck off the register of companies.
The following problems are being faced by the companies and their auditors in the implementation of CRS and CEES:
The Companies Registration Offices submitted a list of defaulter companies to their auditors between 15th and 20th April intimating that their ranking was to be determined keeping in consideration the compliance made by their client.
This list includes various companies which were not functioning for the last 20/30 years and the list has been provided to those who were appointed auditors of these companies according to the last document filed.
Thereafter, these companies have no concern/contact with their auditors for the last 20/30 years.
In these circumstances, it is not possible for the auditors to have contact with these companies and if they are contacted it is very difficult to get filed the overdue statutory returns in this short period.
It is requested that the time for availing the opportunity of Companies Regularization Scheme on payment of one-time additional fee be extended till June 30, 2002.
Furthermore, the time for getting the benefit of Companies Easy Exit Scheme may also be extended up to June 30, 2002.
MUHAMMAD YOUNAS GHAZI
Multan
TWO years ago the telephone exchange of our village, Mashkai, Awaran District, was connected with the nation wide dialling system, having a code 0877. But, unfortunately, this system has never worked properly.
Every time we want to make a telephone call, the computer gives us the message: ‘Lines are busy, try later on’. The system remains completely inoperative for at least 15 days in a month. On the rest of the days, it plays the game of hide and seek, being operative for short periods.
Thus, more than 300 subscribers are paying line rents just for keeping a practically dead set of telephone in their homes.
The chairman of PTCL is requested to take personal interest in the matter.
ZAHOOR AHMED BALOCH
Mashkai, Awaran
THIS is with reference to the comments of Ather Javed Sufi, Media Coordinator, PTCL, Karachi, under the heading ‘Telephone complaints’ (April 29). I may say that calling 106, a helpline, is nothing short of a joke.
I had made a request on 106, under Registration No. 970, on April 18, 2002, to provide me with CLI facility, which the PTCL claims to provide within 48 hours. I kept reminding them about it every day and got the same answer every time: ‘The request has been faxed to the exchange.’ I contacted the exchange and was told that no such information had been received by them.
Next, I lodged a complaint with the in charge, CLI, through a telephone number given to me by 106. And from there, I am being daily promised that the facility would be provided the following day. That ‘tomorrow’ has not come as yet and would probably never come. Any comments, PTCL?
M. YACOOB AHMED
Karachi
I WOULD like to congratulate President Pervez Musharraf for winning the referendum which he held for the continuation of his policies for the greater good of this country.
Though the way he did it invited criticism by certain quarters, he was still able to obtain people’s mandate and muster public support, which was mostly genuine.
President Musharraf really deserves all this support because he saved the country from total disaster, both internally and externally. The so-called political and religious extremists who opposed his referendum were the same people who were against his Afghan policy; a policy that improved Pakistan’s image in the whole world.
However, President Musharraf will have to beware of such persons who have supported him in their self-interest and would now like to cash in on their support.
He should also keep in mind that a genuine supporter will not only praise him but will also point out his mistakes as a true friend.
On the other hand, he must be aware of the fact that there are many people in our society who just for their personal gains support a government and for this purpose issue statements and even advertisements to achieve their selfish aims. We have seen quite a number of such advertisements in the press and they will try to recover the price from him.
In short, a very difficult period has now started and he will have to come up to the expectations of the people who voted for him.
K. MURAD BEY
Karachi
Jawaharlal Nehru’s comment that Pakistan’s creation would only prolong the hold of the feudals (Literary Roundup, April 30) is one hundred per cent correct.
But his claim that Allama Iqbal had lost interest in the idea of Pakistan because of his growing interest in socialism does not carry much weight.
Mushir Anwar is right in suggesting that if indeed that was so, why didn’t Iqbal make that confession to Nehru whom he had invited to visit him? Pakistan was still several years away from becoming a reality and Pandit Nehru could himself had put that question to Iqbal.
The fact that he did not, means he knew of Allama Iqbal’s strong belief in his Pakistan concept. Such matters need objective research by scholars like Fateh Mohammad Malik. Instead, all they do is collect material to support myths and find justifications.
COL (R) NISAR HUSSAIN
Islamabad
THE government has announced June 30th as the last date for the new Computerized National Identity Cards. The Pakistanis staying aboard are also interested to avail this facility. People have been calling at the Pakistani diplomatic missions, which seem to be helpless in facilitating such requests as Nadra has not provided CNICs’ application forms to them.
A close relation of mine who is a permanent resident of Sharjah, UAE, called the Pakistani consulate in Dubai to apply for new CNICs for his family.
His request was declined by the consular staff, who asked him to go to Pakistan if he wanted to apply for new CNICs, as the Pakistani consulate in Dubai did not entertain CNIC applications.
The family came all the way from Sharjah and went to the Swift Centre at Awami Markaz in Karachi, known as Nadra’s fast processing centre.
They were told that while filing new application forms, they should not mention their temporary residential address of Sharjah, as the courier companies only deliver those CNICs that fall within the limits of Pakistan.
The policies laid down by Nadra for overseas Pakistanis are unnecessarily strict, and due to inadequate facilities and limited funds, Nadra will be unable to compile a comprehensive database of Pakistanis living abroad.
If wrong entries of temporary addresses are made in the CNIC application forms by the overseas applicants, the whole exercise of new CNICs becomes futile.
The government of Pakistan should look into this matter seriously to facilitate overseas Pakistanis and all Pakistani diplomatic missions working abroad should be armed with necessary authority and application forms.
SYED A. MATEEN
Karachi
POOR Karachi again came under fire with bomb blasts and target shootings.
The poor governance of corrupt leaders has not only robbed this city of its beauty and tranquillity, but has also snatched books away from the young generation. Instead, they have been given guns to play with.
We got separated from India in 1947 on the basis of our differences in religion, culture and traditions. Now what are we trying to prove with sectarian hatred and provincial prejudice?
MRS A. KHOJA
Dallas, USA
OUR government takes pride in building up unprecedented reserves of US$5.4 billion. As stated in your editorial of April 29, Pakistan today is ironically faced with the problem of plenty, and the IMF is of the view that an increased absorption of foreign exchange inflows is warranted.
I suggest that the government should now defreeze the Foreign Currency Accounts ($) accounts which were frozen during the misrule by Nawaz Sharif government and thus provide relief to such FCY account holders.
BASHIR AHMED BATLA
Karachi
THE decision to introduce ‘Summer Time’ in Pakistan, in imitation of the very northerly countries of Europe and North America, is a mindless decision for us.
We live in more southerly latitudes, in a very hot country where we look out for cool sunsets before venturing out for a breath of fresh air and a little recreation after work.
In very northerly countries it is quite different. There we have a wide variation (of several hours) in sunrise and sunset times between summer and winter.
Advancing clocks in the summer gives them a little more time in the evenings free from gloom; and their sunsets are followed by long twilight periods that we do not have. That is a time for recreation for them, after work, while there is still light.
In our case, the blazing hot sun does not allow us to venture out until after the sun has set. If we go promenading, that has to be after sunset. But now with our ‘summer time’ sunset is at about 8:00 pm, when we must soon rush to feed our families and go to bed.
That gives us no time at all to go out and relax, to breathe a little fresh air after a day’s work. Our government’s decision to introduce ‘summer time’ is surely an example of mindless imitation of countries of the north (usually known as the ‘west’).
We need not ape them in everything. We must take into account our own particular conditions and needs. The powers that be had better think again. Please give us our pleasant evenings back — and soon.
HAMZA ALAVI
Karachi
STEPHEN Fleming will surely think twice before denying Inzamam-ul-Haq a runner again. When Fleming made this decision on the second day of the recently concluded 1st Test at Lahore, he would have had no idea of the monster he was about to unleash. We all know how Inzamam hates to run for his runs, and now he had to do this with severe leg cramps. Fleming’s disappointing — though entirely legal — gesture awakened the sleeping giant in Inzi. It didn’t help matters that at the time the sleeping giant was already batting on 221.
There was no mistaking that Inzi was ticked off. He bludgeoned the New Zealand bowling with a dismissive hostility that went well beyond arrogance. And before he knew it, he had recorded Pakistan’s second triple-hundred in history, and the first in 44 years.
Once you cross 300 in a Test innings, the landscape of batting achievements must stretch out in front of you like a path of infinite glory. At present, the last human signpost on this road is located at 375, erected by Brian Lara in 1993. But it is treacherous territory. Lara’s mark was well within Inzi’s reach, but beyond that lies infinity, and we all know how many have perished trying to go where no man has gone before.
Inzi fell too, at 329. It would have been fantastic to see him go beyond 375, but he broke our 44 year-long triple century drought, and that is really more than a Pakistani fan can ask for. Inzi’s innings served several gentle reminders. It reminded us that Inzi was still the same batting genius whom Imran Khan had described back in 1992 as the best player of fast bowling after Viv Richards. We were reminded that this was the same Inzi who had stroked Pakistan to the 1992 World Cup with a magical innings that turned a semi-final 180 degrees in the space of 37 balls.
Inzamam-ul-Haq has now served notice of his rightful place alongside Hanif Mohammed and Javed Miandad in the pantheon of Pakistan’s batting greats. Hanif, too, made a triple century, back in January 1958, at Bridgetown, Barbados. It was a mammoth innings, in endurance and valour, as much as in the amount of runs. Hanif had come out to open the second innings as Pakistan followed-on 473 behind the West Indies. He was up against names like Gilchrist, Atkinson, Smith and Valentine, and the pressure must have been crushing. But he responded with 337, saved the game, and became immortal.
Javed Miandad may not be recognized in the score books as a triple-centurion, but he is certainly an honorary one. The story is well known, but 19 years have passed and it is worth recounting. In the 4th Test of the 6-Test home series against India in 1982-83, Javed was batting at 280 when his innings was left unfinished by an abrupt declaration from Imran Khan. Who knows how many he would really have made that day. He had enslaved the Indian bowling on a Hyderabad featherbed, and looked good for 400. Only Donald Bradman and Walter Hammond have more Test double-hundreds than Javed Miandad, but the 300 mark eluded him throughout his career.
Pakistani cricket fans have had a lot to cheer about over the years, but 44 years is a long time to wait for anything. Memo to Inzi: thanks for the magnificent 329, but please don’t make us wait that long for Pakistan’s next triple-hundred.
SAAD SHAFQAT
Karachi
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