| June 4, 2002 | Tuesday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 22,1423 |
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Time to talk peace
Our bad habits
Not living in the past
Clinical harassment
HBFC woes
Nuclear rejoinder
Buses running wild in DHA
Unruly behaviour
Leave Ayaz Amir alone
Problems of depositors
Looking for my brother
WITH the lowering of voters’ age, the government has not only increased the electoral base but has also added to its responsibility to enlighten our young people about their duties, responsibilities and rights as citizens. This way they will also become aware of the nature of democratic government and the skills needed to play an active part in the neighbourhood, in communities, in the nation and in society.
Unfortunately, the study of civics or a course in citizenship education — which would have helped in making young people realize their responsibilities — has been crowded out of our school curriculum. Computer literacy, Islamiat and Pakistan Studies have filled quite a number of slots in the time-table but an important nation-building and personal development subject has been neglected to the nations detriment.
The teaching of citizenship will help develop the ability of students to relate to others and work for the common good. It will enable them to respond positively to opportunities, challenges and responsibilities throughout their lives and to cope with change and adversity. Such a course would prepare them for holding any representative or public office.
Only through such a course or workshop will they learn to identify and distinguish the role of the legal, political, social and economic institutions and systems which influence their lives and communities. They develop skills, knowledge and understanding in these areas through, for example, learning about things like fairness, social justice, respect of democracy and diversity.
The proposal requires school-leaving students to know about legal and human rights, aspects of the criminal justice system, public services, the electoral system, the work of voluntary bodies and the importance of the media in society. Particularly in our society, greater emphasis has to be placed on tolerance and the ability to understand the views of opponents.
It is futile to lower voters’ age without an corresponding attempt to prepare teenagers for adult life. A crash programme should be launched this summer ahead of the October elections. It is further proposed that the young voter may be asked to produce a certificate that he has attended such a citizenship course or workshop. Without enlightening them, it will be a mere political ruse to win the vote of teenagers.
There is so much to expect from these leaders of tomorrow. They are quite different from the illiterate and mainly rural population, often the favourite hunting ground of many political parties.
While on this subject it may be appropriate to add that school libraries can play a continuing and supportive role. It is often said that school libraries are the first training ground in good citizenship and in fact the UNESCO School Library Manifesto states: “The school library equips students with life-long learning skills and develops the imagination enabling them to live as responsible citizens.”
Without educating the teenagers in the three Rs of good citizenship, you can’t think of better future Pakistani citizens to support the toddling democratic set-up of Pakistan.
MOINUDDIN KHAN
Karachi
IF other countries did not want war, like they proclaim they do, they would stop giving us arms. But they don’t do that, because selling arms is good business, and it keeps us divided and fighting. The British did the same to us and our politicians are following in these footsteps.
See how illogical we have become: India and Pakistan have the arms to destroy each other 20 times over, but do not have enough to feed or clothe their children.
We do not have enough drinking water, electricity, medicines or sanitation for much of our populations. Our officials are predictably and unashamedly corrupt, our economies are always precariously positioned. What kind of a mess have we led ourselves into?
Why should we hate each other? Our religions do not teach us this. We have simply fallen prey to the cheap, hate-mongering venom spouted by politicians and religious leaders.
Just as the ordinary, educated Indian bears no ill-will to the people of Pakistan, I am sure the reverse is true, too.
But, like squabbling brothers who only want to settle an ego game, we cause pain and spread hate. We allow our leaders and politicians to say anything they want, simply because we are too busy and too ‘clean’ to get involved in their shady ways. Yet, by looking the other way, we have allowed ourselves to slip into this morass of hating each other and are close to destroying our people.
Can we, each one of us, speak of peace and brotherhood, despite the noise of hatred all around? We should talk of love and peace, of a happy future.
PREETI S. Mississauga, ON
Canada
I agree with Mr Mahmood’s letter dated May 31 from Sargodha. We, the Pakistanis (thanks to our religious leadership), have come a long way on the path of destruction and destroying the dignity of all that is humane.
We have denied the freedom to choose one’s religion in Pakistan. We have punished people for being Muslims or posing as Muslims (as written in Pakistan’s Constitution). We have used blasphemy laws to settle our petty scores, we have killed minorities for professing what they believe in. We have indirectly denied them their right to live in dignity and to cast votes. We have stoned women to death on false accusations, we have slaughtered people inside houses of worship — and we have done all this in the name of religion.
We have supported the export of terror to Afghanistan, only to pay, now, for its ‘re-import’. We have followed this path of self-destruction throughout our history. We have been instruments of injustice and hatred instead of peace and love. So let us step forward a bit more towards the course of destruction we have always pursued and get it over with.
Let us fight it out with nuclear weapons and let humanity witness its worst. Let’s do this because there are no other people ignorant and accursed enough to take such heinous step. We are the only ones. We are one of a kind.
A CRY IN WILDERNESS
Midvale UT, US
THIS is in reference to a letter by Vembar K. Ranganathan, whom I would like to commend for what he wrote.
It was a pleasure reading something slightly more positive in the air of despair that engulfs us at the moment, that too from someone who belongs to the country next door.
His suggestion that we should look more for similarities with our neighbours rather than differences needs to be emulated. In this struggle for superiority of might versus right, we have conveniently ignored the fact that Indians and Pakistanis do have a lot in common.
One should seek to bridge the differences between us instead of indulging in jingoistic policies which will result in nothing but the loss of innocent lives.
It may not be simple for our parent’s generation to reconcile to suggestions such as these because they have lived through at least two wars with India, but as far as my generation is concerned we are not willing to live in the past. We would rather look ahead to a stable and united South Asia rather than be victims of a war that will never be won.
The only humble suggestion I can make is that the time has come when we should both put our swords back in their covers and talk.
SUMAYYA USMANI
Karachi
IN last few days, the excise and taxation staff has become quite active in Taj Complex on M.A. Jinnah Road. They come and harass doctors in the name of professional tax.
When the junior staff of the department failed to elicit any response, a person claiming to be an ‘ITO’ from the ‘P-II division’ came to the clinics. He began issuing certificates to clinics, proof that the doctors had paid the tax. However, he charged Rs 1500 though the official fee is one-third that.
Will the government please clarify whether income tax officers are authorized to visit taxpayers and whether they are authorized to receive cash payments. I will also request the Pakistan Medical Association to do something about this.
DR ABDUL HAMEED
Karachi
THIS is in reply to the letter of Sohail Osman Ali, MD HBFC Karachi, published on May 28.
Unfortunately, there is a difference in policies and procedures and reality. The ‘Ghar Aasan’ scheme may have been launched recently for the purported benefit of consumers but the HBFC itself and its bureaucratic ways are much older.
Most applications are not processed before at least six months pass. I went to their office in Karachi to ask about the new scheme. I was given a long list procedures to complete. An estate agent offered to do all this in less than 15 days if I was willing to spend 10 per cent extra.
I visited their website which does not give a clear indication of how much people have to pay in instalments. The bottom line is that good policies need to be implemented for the benefit of the public.
NASIM AHMED SOOFI
Karachi
THIS is with reference to Zubeida Mustafa’s article “Nuclear war: An insane option” (May 28). She has toiled hard to prove that with no nuclear weapons, Pakistan could maintain a better stance vis-a-vis India at the bargaining table.
Her very words, that this nuclear status gives us no joy or confidence”, show the sense of guilt she has developed being a native of a nuclear state. She goes on to say that our nuclear capability “hangs like an albatross tied around our neck” giving the impression that having modern technology self-defence is somehow a shameful act.
If that were the case we must be equally ashamed of possessing guns, bullets, tanks and warplanes. If we accept the philosophy propounded by the writer, then maintaining an army itself is a crime.
I fully agree with the post-nuclear war scenario she has painted. Yes, it results in death and destruction on a large scale. The writer is amazed at the general public’s lack of awareness about the hazards of a nuclear war. I assure her that the common man in the street is quite knowledgeable and he knows that both radiation and a bullet result in death.
At the end of her lengthy effort she has tried to prove that the ongoing freedom movement in Kashmir is an act of terrorism by Pakistan.
She has also suggested at the end of the article that Pakistan should unilaterally scale back its forces along the Line of Control. Why the writer has become an Indian mouthpiece appears a mystery.
SHAHID IQBAL
Lahore
I would like to draw the attention of the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) to a very serious problem. Previously, buses coming from Abdullah Shah Ghazi’s mazar would turn left and take the road dividing Neelam Colony and Defence Phase V, and travel past Shah Rasul Colony on their way to Zamzama.
A couple of months back a rashly-driver bus ran over a boy who lived in one of these colonies. An angry mob later burned down the bus and also pulled down this dividing wall in protest.
After this incident, Khayaban-i-Shujaat in Phase V has become a commercial freeway for public buses. These drive past our once peaceful residential neighbourhood and have been the cause of much danger for those who use these roads, particularly little children and pets.
One of the buses got entangled in cable wires coming to our house and broke them. To make matters worse, the noise of the horns, often freely used by the bus drivers, is also extremely annoying at times.
I would like to ask the DHA how long do we have to bear this trauma? Can’t it do anything to prevent the buses from travelling past what is a purely residential area? After all, this could lead to a serious accident.
FARAH QADRI
Karachi
EID Milad-un-Nabi is celebrated throughout the world to pay tribute to the Prophet (PBUH) who by his great characteristics and qualities changed the world. He gave people in this world an exemplary life to emulate, a life of high morals, ethical conduct and good manners.
Unfortunately, all these qualities were found missing among the participants of a recent Eid Milad-un-Nabi procession that took place near the Liaquatabad post office. A car driver by a woman accidentally entered the path of the procession.
The woman was accompanied by another woman sitting in front and three children at the back. However, none of them was quite aware of what was to follow.
As soon as they saw this, the participants of the procession started hitting the car with their hands and made loud noises. Those inside the vehicle understandably got quite scared and the children started crying.
I was watching the scene with a sense of disbelief but was unable to help. Even the more elderly-looking men were taking part in this act.
Are these the values of a good Muslim? Does this ill-mannered act suit those religious people who claim to be true believers?
MOHAMMAD TARIQ AFRIDI
Karachi
IT is indeed unfortunate to read some letters asking Mr Ayaz Amir to lay off from writing the truth. One writer has gone to the extreme of suggesting that Indians would be “chuckling in glee at the perceived weaknesses of our government and getting trigger-happy” after reading Ayaz Amir.
I suggest to this writer to read expert analysis and columns in Indian newspapers that are quite dismissive and contemptible of their government’s current war stance towards Pakistan.
Ayaz Amir is only writing what he perceives to be the causes of our predicaments, present and past, and it happens to be factual. He should not be harassed. As the old maxim goes, ‘the first casualty of war is truth’.
Contrary to what some people may think I’m sure Ayaz Amir echoes the sentiments of many of our country people.
NAEEM MEMON
Redbridge, UK
THE State Bank of Pakistan has asked all banks and development finance institutions to submit details of loan cases pending in the courts. All profit and loss basis.
Account holders get a profit on their deposits if the banks earn a profit. The profit allowed to depositors so far ranges between three and five per cent.
The reason for this low rate has to do with the fact that banks give loans without properly scrutinizing the repaying ability of the party who has applied for the loan.
Presently, the banking court decides loan cases quite quickly issuing a decree as the case may be. However, the time it takes to implement such an order can be quite long because details of the properties or other collateral that might have to auctioned off are either missing or wrong.
In some cases, despite getting a court ruling banks slept over the matter and did not move to recover the value of their loans from defaulters and now the matter has become time-barred.
The banking court in Hyderabad recently dismissed suits filed by banks on an issue relating to interest payments precisely for this reason, that they were time-barred. The State Bank should take to task all bank officials which allowed such cases to materialize.
After all, if a bank is unable to recover its bad loans because the case has become time-barred those who stand to lose the most will be the bank’s account-holders who will be paid a lower rate of profit.
HIRANAND MOHANDAS
Mirpurkhas
I AM looking for my brother Aqeel. I don’t know his surname but have heard that he is quite well-known in business circles in Rawalpindi.
I can relate a story to prove what I am saying. It was May 1950 and I was riding a horse near Pindi Point in Murree. All of a sudden, a four-year-old boy came in my way. I did my best to veer away and keep the boy from harm, and I managed to do that. The boy’s mother, however, did not take kindly to this and began shouting at me. I was then taken away and put in a lock-up.
However, a few days later she, her husband and the child — whose name was Adeel — came to see me but couldn’t because I was in jail. I had also been badly beaten.
I later found out that Adeel was quite upset at not meeting me. His parents took him to Combined Military Hospital in Rawalpindi where doctors found nothing wrong. But the four-year-old died on June 1 and was buried in an unmarked grave in Murree.
Actually, I had met Adeel a year earlier in 1949. When I saw him I was amazed to see how much we looked alike. After my release from the lock-up I made a new life for myself.
All of the events mentioned here came back to my memory in May 1989. Adeel, the four-year-old who had died in 1950, had a brother, Aqeel Bhai, who was born in 1951. He knows me as ‘Sayeed Bhai, and this I know because me, Adeel and Aqeel were all brothers.
My mother, ammi, was orphaned early in her life. She came from a well-to-do family and re-married, this time to a military officer who later rose to the rank of major-general. However, when I was born she was told by certain relatives that she had delivered a stillborn child and I was given to foster parents. My father did search for me and found me in 1953 but I, though a young child, did not go with him.
The proof of all this is in the will and transfer deed of a famous company. There are other proofs that Aqeel himself can check out. Ammi later told only one friend about her first marriage.
I am dying slowly and want to meet my brother before that because I have many important matters to tell him. I know our late mother’s and father’s names but not Aqeel’s last name or the major-general’s. My mother died in 1975 and the general did in 1964.
Aqeel is well known in Pindi and Murree circles and in business. I hope that someone can bring us together. In anyone has any information they can fax me in Karachi at 021-2637624.
SAYEED HAROON RASHID
Karachi
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