| June 4, 2002 | Tuesday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 22,1423 |
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Bus tragedy
Safety at the beaches
ON June 10, some 1,500 delegates from across Afghanistan will gather in Kabul to decide the future course of their war-torn and ravaged country. The tortuous process leading up to the convening of the Loya Jirga, the council that will choose a transitional government to rule Afghanistan for two years until elections are held, has been underway for several weeks. It has been marked by assassinations, charges of corruption and intense wheeling and dealing. However, it is nothing short of a miracle that the traditional jirga is being convened at all, given the backdrop of the on-going US-led war against the Taliban and Al Qaeda and the intense jostling for power by competing warlords in this fragmented and war-ravaged country. Eight people have already been killed during the process of selecting delegates to the jirga and many warlords have been exerting pressure on intending candidates to withdraw from the race. To make matters worse, the scattered remnants of the Taliban are believed to be regrouping in order to violently disrupt the process. It is widely believed that the current interim leader, Hamid Karzai, will emerge as a strong contender for the job of the chief executive in the new set-up, with the former king Zahir Shah being favoured as head of state. This is not only because Karzai has done surprisingly well in holding the country together since he came to power late last year but also because of his ethnicity.
Both the ailing former king and Karzai are ethnic Pushtoons representing the largest and most powerful ethnic group in the country. Many Pushtoons are unhappy with the ethnic composition of the present interim government, which they feel gives Tajiks and other non-Pushtoons more representation than their numbers warrant. The former king, who recently returned to his country after spending 30 years in exile in Rome, may be old and ailing but enjoys a certain respect because he symbolizes a more peaceful past and represents the unity of the nation. To counter the negative reaction to the two top jobs going to Pushtoons, the smaller ethnic groups will try to claim some of the top portfolios, including foreign affairs and defence.
For over two decades, the hapless population has known only death, destruction and displacement. Their troubles began following the invasion of the country by the Soviet Union in 1979. Ironically, the departure of the Soviets did not bring any respite to the war-ravaged country. If anything, it made matters even worse as groups of rival warlords fought fierce battles for control and razed much of the country, including its capital Kabul, to rubble. A traumatized population turned to the puritanical Taliban in desperation, but their obscurantist excesses and mindless zealotry made things extremely suffocating for the already distraught and suffering people. The US-led anti-terrorism offensive in the country following September 11, has caused large-scale civilian casualties and more misery while many powerful warlords continue to hold sway in the countryside. Given this bleak scenario, the convening of the Loya Jirga in Kabul next week, holds out the promise of Afghanistan making a break with its traumatic past and shaping its future under some sort of democratic system.
THE ghastly bus accident near Jhelum on Sunday, claiming 43 lives, is a stunning reminder of the unending slaughter on our roads and highways. The Rawalpindi-bound coach fell into a ravine after crashing through the railing of the bridge it was crossing. Some reports say that the bus skidded off the road but a shocking disclosure is that the driver was a novice not trained or experienced enough to drive a heavy vehicle on a highway. If true, this is absolutely horrifying, pointing to the totally casual and callous attitude of transport companies, in utter disregard of passenger safety, rubbishing road rules with impunity. Only an inquiry can shed light on the causes of the disaster and fix responsibility. The stark reality, however, is human safety is at a huge discount on our roads. Grievous accidents are taking place at a dizzying rate, with no worthwhile action being taken to check the mayhem. A few days ago, at least 13 people were killed near Taunsa when a Karachi-bound coach collided with a wagon.
Earlier, 26 people died and 62 others were injured in two major accidents in Azad Kashmir. One of the vehicles involved was heavily overloaded and the condition of the road was bad. At least 10 people were killed and 39 others were hurt when a Balakot-bound bus plunged into a ravine near Mansehra last month. Indicative of the appalling rate of accidents in the country is the fact that during the last couple of years over 600 people were killed and more than 900 wounded in accidents in Lahore and its vicinity alone. Negligence by drivers, speeding and overloading, bad roads and poor traffic engineering stand out as major causes. Lack of awareness of traffic rules and poor driving skills and training are additional factors. Scant attention is paid to drivers’ mental condition even when many are made to work long hours and are known to be hooked on drugs. Corruption of the traffic police makes the story even murkier. The latest disaster must prompt a review of road safety measures, specifying stiff penalties for bus companies involved in serious accidents and enforcing traffic rules rigorously.
WITH the onset of summer, thousands of people throng Karachi’s beaches to escape the sweltering heat. Unfortunately, the summer season also coincides with the period of high tides when the sea is most turbulent and choppy. As a result, large numbers of unsuspecting swimmers and bathers drown off the beaches every year. The latest such incident took place on Sunday, when four young picnickers drowned near Gadani. In the past, responsibility for safety at the beaches rested with the district administration. However, with the induction of the new local bodies system, the powers have passed on to the city nazim. Unfortunately, even the rudimentary system in place in the past has been thrown into confusion because of this change. Unlike in the past, when Section 144 used to be imposed to prevent people from swimming and bathing in the sea during the high-risk season, no such precautionary measures have been taken by the city government this year.
The city has at its disposal some 50 lifeguards — under the control of the city government, KDA and Edhi Trust — who patrol the most popular beaches. An additional 12 lifeguards were also provided by the Pakistan Navy during holidays. The Navy claims that while it is willing to spare these lifeguards this summer too, the city government has failed to respond to repeated queries on this subject. The situation at the medical and rescue centre at Hawkesbay is also dismal. The centre does not have any medical supplies and is in no position to cope with emergencies. While it is impossible to patrol every part of Karachi’s long beaches to prevent drownings, the city government should at least ensure a minimum of safety at the beaches. It would also be a good idea to involve public spirited individuals and NGOs to maintain safety at the beaches and to launch public awareness campaigns. The authorities have a duty to ensure that a visit to the beach does not end up in tragedy.