| May 11, 2002 | Saturday | Safar 27, 1423 |
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Enough is enough
The CEC must respond
Social Security Ordinance 1965
Classifying beards
Poverty and pensioners
A role for the army
Payment of utility bills
When will we wake up?
Naming a road
Power sector development
IN contrast to the situation in Pakistan, the more established and better educated Pakistani-Americans tend to be overwhelmingly supportive of President Musharraf, whereas the relatively newly arrived immigrants, both legal and illegal, are more vocal participants in the ongoing debate on democracy.
The attitude of the former group is best reflected in the views expressed by Nicholas D. Kristoff, in his latest column in the New York Times entitled ‘What is democracy anyway’. Kristoff is one of the rare breed of journalists who make objectivity their main goal. Whether it is the Israeli/ Palestinian conflict, Shariah law, or America’s war on terrorism he is always balanced and makes a great deal of sense.
He starts out by saying that “if there was a form of government that produced autocrats who sponsored terrorism, stole millions of dollars while impoverishing their citizens, shredded public education, and health, permitted child bondage, tortured dissidents and tolerated pogroms against minorities, then we will all condemn it, except that in South Asia such a system is called democracy.”
He continues with a quotation from an expert, Dr Summit Ganguly, of the University of Texas in Austin, who says: “We place an inordinate emphasis on elections alone. Elections are only one element of democracy; others include a free press, an independent judiciary and respect for the minorities. Without these checks, countries can end up with elections that (as in Pakistan) are used by drug lords as a convenient way to install their pals in important offices. Once in place, they can use their power to steal money and murder critics.”
Kristoff then goes on to offer his own point of view:
“But I can’t help thinking that Pakistan may be better off under him — if only he will use his power to building democratic institutions starting with the parliamentary elections in October. This is precisely the hope and wish of the Pakistani-American supporters of President Musharraf, and a point that the many respected and no doubt idealistic columnists and writers in Pakistan seem to miss in their longing for democracy.
However, one aspect of the President’s performance — his handling or lack thereof of the religious extremists — has greatly disappointed his supporters in the United States. It has been all too obvious that the President and the Interior Minister are afraid to confront the religious right and start backpedalling shortly after announcing a new initiative.
Most of the 2,000 suspected terrorists arrested with such fanfare have been released as were the leaders of several religious organizations. Murder, mayhem, violence and near anarchy continue unabated in the major metropolitan areas of Pakistan. The released leaders are those who were clearly involved in seditious activities against the state and should be tried.
This is the most opportune time to address the issue of law and order, which is a fundamental concern for every citizen and without which no sensible foreign businesses will invest in Pakistan.
History will not be kind to President Musharraf also, if he misses this historic opportunity to rein in the extremists and help Pakistan evolve into a tolerant and compassionate society where the rule of law prevails.
M. HAIDER
New Jersey, USA
OUR interior minister is off to the US to discuss how to combat international terrorism. But what about domestic terrorism in which every day eminent scholars, doctors, and teachers belonging to different religious sects, are being mercilessly killed?
This savagery continues unabated as even the killers of the brother of the interior minister, are still at large. Other cases of homicide committed during dacoities and car-lifting, are also increasing. All this has made the lives of the ordinary people full of fear and tension.
The interior minister, who has failed totally in his task to bring to book the offenders involved in these barbaric crimes, should either give some results immediately or resign.
DR SALIM AHMED
Karachi
A TEACHER of God-gifted qualities has left this mortal and treacherous world, as a consequence of an act of terrorism. I, along with thousands of others, am deeply grieved.
In the tragic death of Dr Murtaza Malik, we have lost a beloved teacher. A teacher with a smiling face and convincing style, whose lectures used to appeal to both our hearts and minds.
What have the concerned authorities done except for making boastful declarations? Hundreds of doctors and other eminent persons have been killed during the past two years. But, alas, not a single murderer was ever been apprehended.
IFTIKHAR AJMAL BHOPAL
Islamabad
IT is heart-breaking to see the new wave of sectarian killings in Pakistan. Two scholars, Professor Zafar Zaidi and Dr Murtaza Malik, were killed within a span of two days.
The involvement of our neighbour, who has always tried to destabilize Pakistan, cannot be ruled out. Yet, we cannot absolve ourselves of all responsibility. We are, as Muslims, divided, disorganized and disjointed. It’s high time for us to develop unity amongst our ranks.
BABAR SULTAN HASAN
Karachi
I WAS overwhelmed and shocked to read the letter by a professor in Grade 20 who worked as presiding officer at a Karachi polling station for the referendum (May 9).
What the professor has stated is a matter that needs to be looked into by the Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan and the President of Pakistan.
Those responsible for this misdemeanour should by fully exposed. This is necessary because the very transparency of the referendum polling has been called into question.
Where I live in DHA, a polling station on Khayabane Shahbaz crossing with Khayabane Hafiz was put up where we voted, myself my wife, my two sons and their wives. In all six voters. It took up four minutes to register, take the ballot, put the stamp on our choice and put the ballot in the ballot box.
However, a police DSP was monitoring the number of votes cast and asking the presiding officer how many ballot books he had used till that time. It was 4:00 pm. There were substantial number of voters coming to cast their votes. However, the police on duty seemed more than on security duty. The CPO Karachi also owes an explanation.
I and my family members voted for General Pervez Musharraf’s reforms. But the manner in which the referendum was being monitored by the police was most unfortunate and has, therefore, raised the question of credibility.
I recall the elections conducted during CEC Justice Naimuddin (late) and remember his personal effort to ensure that no policemen are involved in monitoring the progress of polling, votes cast and the end result.
It seems that in this referendum there was excessive usage of the police to monitor and speed up polling at the different polling stations.
This impression needs to be explained and rebutted or corrected by the authorities concerned. Otherwise honest voters and supporters of General Pervez Musharraf would be disappointed. The earlier this is done, the better.
MAHMUDUL AZIZ
Karachi
THE Lahore High Court holds that the provision of Social Security Ordinance 1965 is not applicable to the establishment in the absence of notification under Sec 1(3) of the Provincial Employees Social Security Ordinance 1965, and till such a notification is issued by the government specifying the date and the establishment etc. therein, the provisions of ordinance do not automatically apply to an establishment.
The term premises specifies the place where an establishment is housed or located and cannot be considered to be an area or a class of persons or an industry or an establishment. Premises cannot also be misconstrued as a place wherein whichever person, industry or establishment is housed automatically attract the ordinance.
The ordinance does not by its own force apply to any establishment or industry but its applicability is dependent upon the issuance of a notification by the provincial government.
The notification primarily makes establishment listed in the schedule subject to the provisions of the ordinance and not a premises where the establishment is located.
It has further been held that the provision of the ordinance will not be applied to the establishment previously covered by the ordinance if working in the same premises under a different name, and if the organization itself undergoes a change and becomes different in character or composition, it would not fall within the purview of the notification though it may be carrying on the same business in the same premises.
ABDUL BASIR
Karachi
THIS is with reference to Mr Muhammad Ali’s letter (April 30). I do not intend to kick-start any discussion on the benefits of growing a beard, but can try to clarify the position prevalent in the country.
We can classify bearded people into four main groups.
First, there are professional maulvis, who have little or no concern with the plight of the Muslims or Islam.
The major concern of such maulvis is to feed themselves and their children. Second, there is the group of bearded men about whom we cannot utter a single word, because of their very innocent track record, and their proximity to God. These people don’t take any part in political or other worldly activities.
Third, we have a group of people who have relatively greater sympathies with Islam than ordinary Muslims. The people belonging to this group sport beards without knowing enough about Islam.
We, the ulema, always try to convince them to follow Islamic tenets as quickly as possible.
The fourth group has always been prominent. It comprises maulvis who want to conquer Pakistan by capturing Islamabad. About them, I have no comments to offer.
MAULVI RAUF TAQI
Mandi Bahauddin
THE pay, perks, privileges, and allowances of the president, prime minister, chief justice and the provincial governors have been recently enhanced. Perhaps, it was inevitable under the prevailing high cost of living. So, we welcome it.
But what about the pensioners? Most of them, after serving the country well, are now living with their inadequate pension, in abject poverty. To add to their misery, the benefit of the restoration of their commuted part of the pension, has now been abruptly withdrawn through a law that has been made effective retrospectively.
The government has repeatedly declared its intention for poverty alleviation. But how is it going to be achieved when the poor pensioners are being made further poor by the denial of a rightful claim? This injustice, even if committed on the directives of the IMF, needs to be rectified if the government is serious about retaining its image of being sympathetic to the poor.
The pensioners have served the government at the cost of their health, denying themselves pleasures and luxuries of life. They hardly deserve to get such a rough deal at the fag end of their life.
M. SHAFIQUE AHMED
Karachi
THIS refers to a recent interview by the President in which he hinted at a constitutional role for the army in politics. He was very right when he said that the army should not be ashamed of such a role, as shame, rule of law, self-respect and the constitution should not be a matter of concern for it.
I would not go into details of the 1965 or 1971 wars when we had military governments which could not blame politicians for the shameful happenings of those years, but one really wonders that an organization which failed so miserably in doing what it was supposed to do, should now tell the people what is good for them.
And about the President’s personal wish to have a reconciliatory role for the army, I must say that what the army wants is anything but a reconciliatory role.
I request the President to leave us well enough alone.
OMAR MALIK
Lahore
WE hear that Gen Musharraf is considering amending the Constitution to limit the prime minister to two terms. What about the terms of army rule. I hope it will be zero!
AJMAL ABBASI
USA
THE Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has introduced a very convenient system of payment of bills according to which a customer can choose his own date for the payment.
I usually receive my gas bill by the 25th of every month and the last date for payment is the 1st or 2nd of the following month. But I get my salary between the 5th to 10th of each month and, therefore, I sometimes face difficulties in making the payment by the due date. With the new facility offered by the SSGC, my problem has been solved.
I request the PTCL and the KESC to also make a similar offer to their customers. It would not only be convenient to the customers but beneficial for the company as well because every one would make prompt payments, generating quick and regular funds for the billing company.
NASIM-UL-HASAN
Karachi
I REFER to A.B.S. Jafri’s letter ‘Demise of the UN’ (May 5) and endorse his views. Not only has the UN died but the entire Muslim ummah has become a non-entity in the comity of nations.
It is a pity that the Muslims are one-thirds of the world population and their billions of dollars are staked in the US banks, a major source of economic activity in the US. Their representation is also 30 per cent in the world body but they either do no raise their voice or it is not heard at all.
I am of the view that time has now come that the leaders at the helm of affairs in the Muslim countries must rise to the occasion and take a unified stand against the biased attitude of the US and its subordinated body, the UN.
* They must quit the UN collectively.
* They must withdraw their funds from the US banks and place them in a newly opened central Islamic bank.
* They must introduce a single Islamic currency and all trade between the Muslim countries must be conducted in this currency, in line with Euro.
A. AHMED
Karachi
IN the past, roads, bridges, parks, universities etc, have been named after the people in the government. It seems that this practice is to be followed under the present regime as well.
A new road in Turbat, which is still under construction, has been named after a sitting federal minister. Are we short of national heroes?
AZIZ ULLAH
Rawalpindi
THIS refers to the article ‘The power sector crisis’ (May 6) wherein issues pertaining to the power sector restructuring reform programme, autonomy of the corporate entities, regulatory regime and the operational performance of the corporate entities have been highlighted. In order to put the record straight, I would like to refer to the following facts:
Through intensive and focused efforts, the reform and restructuring programme has been put on track after the induction of army in Wapda. Significant progress has been made and notable milestones achieved that have been duly acknowledged by the international donors, including the World Bank.
The corporatization and commercialization programme is moving forward smoothly for conclusion by Dec 31, 2002, as committed by GoP with the international donors. Therefore, the impression created by the writer of the article about withholding of funding by the international donors due to unsatisfactory progress on the power sector programme is entirely misleading.
Major policy decisions to empower the corporate entities to function with full autonomy have already been taken and are being implemented:
* Functions of Wapda Private Power Organization (WPPO) have been transferred to NTDC.
* Technical working groups have been created for operating/commercial procedures and detailed market design.
* System operator functions are being totally transferred to NTDC (target, June 30, 2002).
* Commercial and financial settlement functions of Wapda are being transferred to NTDC (system operator) (target, July 1, 2002).
* Internal audit function have been transferred to the corporate entities which will report to the board of directors through the chief executive of the company.
* Internal audit plans for FY 2002-2003 to be approved by the BoD of each company and audit reports for FY 2001-2002 to be presented to the BoD (target, June 30, 2002).
* Rules of business/ financial and administrative power framed to provide the requisite powers in procurement, administrative, financial, commercial and operational areas to the key executives, chief executives and board of directors of all the corporate entities are being finalized for implementation (target, July 1, 2002).
* New contracts/ materials procurements and investment programmes to be fully managed by the corporate entities (target, July 1, 2002).
* Financial targets, revenues, O&M expenditure, capital budget to be established by the corporate entities and approved by their board of directors for FY 2002-2003 and onwards (target, July 1, 2002).
* Quarterly reporting of the operating performance to the board of directors by chief executive of each company (target, Oct 1, 2002).
The issuance of licenses is the sole responsibility of Nepra. No action is pending from Wapda and its corporate entities. However, licenses so far issued by Nepra have the deficiencies listed below:
* Lack of exclusivity in territorial jurisdiction.
* Protection to small power producers (SPPs) including certain categories of customers at the expense of Discos.
* Imposition of arbitrary conditions outside the scope of Nepra act and rules such as submission of digitized system maps although conventional maps as required by Nepra have already been provided.
* Certain privileges/ rights available to the utility under the Electricity Act such as recovery of arrears and right of way have not been covered in the licence.
SYED AKHLAQ AHMAD
Executive Director, Pepco,
Lahore
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