| June 22, 2002 | Saturday | Rabi-us-Sani 10, 1423 |
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Islamabad circular railway
Railway bridge tax
Whose honour is it anyway?
Suicide bombing
Advani’s dream
Our survival lies in unity
Foreign Office rudeness
Raising retirement age
Budget for education
Lyari students
Defeating politicians politically
The old and young
Accountability process
THE formulation of foreign policy needs an objective assessment of the capabilities of a nation-state. The concept of power and elements of power are central to the subject. A nation-state’s power is measured in terms of territory, population, and industrial, agricultural and military capabilities, character of people, quality of leadership and image of the country.
An eminent commentator of international politics, Roy S. Cline, has tried to measure both tangible and intangible elements of power in the following manner. Perceived power = (population and territory + economic capability + military capability) x coherent planning and national strategy and will.
No nation-state can afford to make its foreign policy options independent of these factors. Yet, it is not suggested that the power configuration is all the time tangible and mathematical. Sometimes chances, accidents, or dependency may enhance the stature of a state for a short or long period. For example, Pakistan has been twice a ‘front-line state’, and most allied ally of the US.
Nevertheless, the real source of strength or weakness lies within. At the official level, we have performed poorly in recognizing and improving our capabilities — the interplay of which shapes the status and course of country’s foreign engagements. Thus, the basic task of foreign policy, ‘to determine its own hierarchy of interests’, has not been taken that seriously. In the absence of a clear-cut national agenda, we have been leaping in the dark, reacting, or adjusting to the international environment, at best.
We never focused on improving our political, economic, technological, and educational bases of national power. Obsessed with the muscle power, we have shown little realization that military power is only one component of power, and it must be backed by strong economics and will of the people reflected through democratic institutions.
Nevertheless, thanks to the chain of events triggered by 9/11, we are coming closer to the real world. We are beginning to think within the framework of a nation-state. We are recognizing the realities of the world and the region.
We must remember that the sense of pride should be proportionate to one’s capabilities. Rhetoric and slogans cannot provide the solid bases to build a great nation. If we really aspire to be a respectable, dignified and great nation, we must attend to the long neglected business of nation-building.
Things look like moving in the right direction. The world is only reminding us the commitments President Musharraf made in his historic speech on Jan 12. We must keep our words and be resolute to build Pakistan a progressive, democratic and responsible nation, as per the vision of the founding father.
SHAHID ANWAR
Toba Tek Singh
ISLAMABAD is connected with Rawalpindi by road only. Keeping in view the rapid increase in the population of both the cities, it is essential that a circular railway line be laid down around Rawalpindi city, connecting Islamabad through two points: Golra and Sihala. After 20 to 50 years, when the now uninhabited areas would get densely populated, it would be impossible to lay down any such railway track.
The minister for railways is requested to consider this proposal and order a feasibility report to be prepared with the help of the CDA and the Islamabad administration. Such a project would benefit millions of people of this area and would be a blessing for the twin cities.
S. NASIRUDDIN
Islamabad
THE railway authorities have recently imposed toll tax on those using the bridge between Hyderabad and Kotri. An attempt had been made a few years ago to impose such a tax, but it had not been successful because of public agitation against it. I wonder why it has been imposed again.
The public is not prepared to pay any such tax. And, therefore, there are scuffles everyday between the passers-by and the tax collecting staff, especially at the Kotri end of the bridge.
I request the district Nazims of Hyderabad and Dadu to take up this matter and find a solution before some serious incident occurs on this spot.
KHAHRO MUMTAZ ALI
Kotri
I WOULD like to express my concern over the honour killing of Kubran Bibi.
Kubran Bibi was married by her parents without her consent to a man of Chhedu village, Punjab, in 1999, but was divorced within a few months. Her father then married her off to a man named Iqbal in her home village Rangeelpur of Manga Mandi, Lahore, again without her consent. When she was repeatedly beaten by Iqbal, she left him on Jan 30, 2001, and sought refuge in a women’s shelter house, Dastak, in Lahore.
She expressed her fear of both her own relatives and her in-laws, all of whom had threatened her. While at Dastak, she was visited by her sister, brother-in-law and a cousin on Feb 9, 2001, and again by her father and sister on Feb 16. She returned with them to her father’s home on the same day.
On March 25, 2001, as she was sleeping in the courtyard of the family home, Kubran Bibi was shot dead. According to press reports her cousin, Ashiq, killed her in the name of ‘honour’. An FIR (126/2001) was lodged by her father at police station Manga Mandi. It named Kubran Bibi’s cousin Mohammad Ashiq as the perpetrator. He obtained pre-arrest bail. Kubran Bibi’s brother and brother-in-law were named as eye-witnesses.
The HRCP concluded: “The killing of a woman, Kubran Bibi, who had recently left the women’s shelter ‘Dastak’ indicates how precarious the position of women is in a situation where even their closest relatives present a threat to them. It also points to the difficulties for those providing shelter to women in an attempt to offer some protection from the dangers they face.”
I, therefore, call upon the government of Pakistan to take immediate steps to ensure that the perpetrators of this crime, and all other honour killings, are arrested and brought to justice.
I furthermore appeal to the government to follow up on its commitments to address violence against women in the family and the community.
CHRISTINE JAKOMINI
Hoflein, Austria
I WANT to ask intending suicide bombers and the organizations promoting this kind of activity, if they happen to be Muslims, and as to from which aayat, hadith or fiqah book they derive the justification for suicide bombings. It they or their supporters, could do so, it would be a great service to Islam and to their own cause.
From whatever I know myself and from what I have learnt from the ulema whom I have consulted in this regard, suicide bombing in its present form is nothing but only ‘suicide’ and the person committing it is not a ‘shaheed’ (martyr). And since suicide is haram (prohibited) in Islam, I request all these people either to satisfy us regarding their belief in suicide bombing or to declare that they are no longer Muslims.
YASER MAQSUD
Lahore
SHAKIR Lakhani’s letter on the above subject (June 13) refers to Advani’s talk about confederation between India and Pakistan.
Some sort of loose federation or confederation was proposed in the pre-partition days also. There were people who talked of giving the widest freedom and the residuary powers to the federating units. But they had over-looked the constitutional history of the various parts of the world.
A federation or a confederation, howsoever described and in whatever terms it is put, must ultimately deprive the federating units of their authority in all vital matters. The units, despite themselves, would be compelled to grant more and more powers to the central authority until a strong central government would be established by the consent of the units themselves and they would be driven to do so by absolute necessity.
The scheme was opposed as it would have in the long run, led to the emasculation of the entire Muslim nation, socially,educationally, culturally and politically and would have resulted in the establishment of the majority community raj in the subcontinent.
Any idea of even a loose federation is, therefore, inconceivable in the present circumstances.
HAJI ESSA KATCHI
Karachi
ADDRESSING a press conference in Abu Dhabi, President Musharraf said Pakistan and its people have emotional and religious attachment with the Arabs and the Muslim world, which should see realities on the ground and uphold justice and come openly in support of Pakistan as its stand is based on justice.
It is heartening to know that Saudi Arabia and the UAE have expressed solidarity and complete agreement with Pakistan on its stand on India’s threatening posture, coercive diplomacy and the core issue of Kashmir. The Malaysian leadership has reiterated the need for de-escalation in South Asia and for a meaningful dialogue between Pakistan and India to resolve outstanding issues.
In case a dialogue does not make progress, there should be third party mediation. This is in line with the Pakistani stand. The other Arab and Muslim states must rise to the occasion and openly support our just cause. Let them realise that in the present world situation, Muslims can only survive if they are united. Otherwise, they will fall one by one. Their faith, civilization, honour, liberty, economy and existence are in danger.
They are dubbed villains of the New World Order and globalization, which is a new nomenclatures for imperialism and colonialism. They will be terrorized into submission as serfs by various means one by one. Since India and Israel are strategic partners in this game with common intentions and plans, the magnitude of the axis needs no emphasis. Let bold statesmen and capable Muslim leaders like Prince Abdullah of Saudia and Dr Mahatir Muhammad of Malaysia unite the Muslims to defend their rights.
KHWAJA MUHAMMAD BASHIR BUTT
Bahawalnagar
I HAPPENED to switch on the TV on the afternoon of June 10. A press briefing by the foreign office spokesman, Aziz Ahmed Khan, was in progress.
I was greatly dismayed to find that the gentleman dealt with some of the reporters rather rudely. Upon being asked a rather lengthy question by a Pakistani correspondent, the answer was a blunt ‘no’ and Mr Khan seemed to be amused by his ‘smart’ response. I would not object to a brief answer. In fact, very long-drawn and complicated answers can be annoying. But it was the uncourteous manner and expression, which had a mix of a little bit of arrogance as well, that I found objectionable. The gentleman could answer such questions with something like “No, sir” or “No, I am sorry.”
I could not help but compare the briefing with White House press briefings. Even very senior White House officials are extremely polite and one hears them use words like ‘Thank you, sir’ and ‘please’ when talking to the press.
I was left wondering if this difference demonstrates our basic lack of civility as a nation or is it the difference between a democratically elected government and a military one?
Mr Aziz Ahmed Khan would do well to remember that the questions asked by the correspondents are being put forward on behalf of the people of the country. He must, therefore, deal with them with the utmost civility.
AYESHA KHAN
Islamabad
IT is depressing to note that at a time when job opportunities for youth are almost non-existent, people talk about raising the retirement age to 65 years (Dawn, June 10-13).
If a person knows that, come what may, he won’t get an extension, he would decide issues on merit and would do justice to his job. Of late, people from the higher judiciary have also gone out of their way to please the government in power to get a lucrative slot after retirement.
This trend needs to be curbed by religiously adopting a retirement age. Regarding utilization of the services of the retired people, they can contribute through social service. Dr Akhtar Hameed and Dr Shoaib Sultan are recent examples. Some of them may join political parties of their choice, like the late Anwar Zahid, Akram Zaki and Hafeezullah Ishaq. If one has real talent, he may start writing, like Kunwar Idris.
Nobody is indispensable in this world. So why grant extension to the favourites at the cost of the next generation? One should not forget that today’s favourites are approvers of tomorrow.
HAFEEZ AKHTAR
Lahore
THE finance minister has stated that the government was making extraordinary efforts to boost the quality of education and Rs2.6 billion would be spent on it this year. The fact is that the allocation for education this year has been 20 per cent less than that of the last year’s provision, if inflation is accounted for.
Besides that, it is only 0.35 per cent of the total amount of the budget and comes down to Rs25 per uneducated person per year.
With this outlay, extraordinary efforts would be required to boost the quality of education.
MUSHTAQ H. DAWOOD
Karachi
TWO months have passed since the inauguration of the literacy movement at the C.M.S. School in Lyari Town, Karachi, by the Governor of Sindh, Mohammedmian Soomro. But there has been no progress in this movement so far. The 11 union councils of Lyari Town have not been issued the promised books.
The poor students of Lyari Town are being deprived of their right to education and learning, and their precious time is being wasted for lack of books.
I request the education minister to look into the matter and issue the books as soon as possible.
GUL HASSAN BALOCH
Karachi
THE President returned from Agra a taller man. The coalition against terrorism and the U-turn on Afghanistan endeared him to the West. But he lost credibility because of the referendum. Despite assertions to the contrary, he is repeating the Ayub-Zia tactics.
Politics is not the domain of the army. They are not trained for this purpose. Their field is that of the heroes of the Light Brigade, of Nishan-i-Haider or marshals and field marshals. They are not trained to rule. Once entrenched in civil administration, they cannot be recalled. They lose their spirit and skill to fight the enemy.
Not withstanding financial allegations and democratic failures, BB and Nawaz Sharif still head their respective parties. The acts of omission and commission of successive governments do not change their bank vote. Gen Musharraf has yet to grow up by not declaring them persona-non-grata but by defeating them politically.
The Watergate and Encon scandals in the US and Tehelka in India did not tempt their armies to take over. Honest and experienced politicians as well as generals are our national assets. They do not grow in a day. Continuity of democracy weeds out dishonest and undemocratic elements. Despots add to their popularity. The BB-Nawaz scandals surfaced while they were out of power. The present regime is facing the worst while still in power. India has won politically what it could not win on the battlefield of Kashmir.
ABDUR RASHID
Lahore
ONLY old fogies are against daylight saving. Perhaps they are extremely inflexible. Most young people appreciate the additional daylight hour.
ASIM RANA
Lahore
DURING the last 30 months three persons were transferred and made NAB heads one after the other. In the beginning it was claimed that there will be accountability of all corrupt people without fear and favour, but later all men wearing an armed forces’ uniform or a judge’s robe were strangely declared to be above suspicion and exempted from the process of accountability.
But when there was a great hue and cry from all quarters, these categories were also brought under the accountability net.
According to the NAB report, it received 1,043 cases for investigation. In 30 months only 287 cases were investigated which means that only 27.5 per cent were investigated and the remaining 66 per cent are still under investigation.
Out of the total cases investigated so far, there has been bargaining in 87 cases.
How can there be a deal with one of the major crooks of Pakistan who has plundered its treasury? Mansurul Haq should indeed pay back what he has robbed, not only $7.5 million which we must assume is probably one-tenth of the total robbing, but the entire amount, and all his properties in Pakistan should have been confiscated. Additionally, he should have been tried and sentenced and made to serve his sentence.
‘Justice’ has been given an entirely new body and soul, all made in Pakistan. It is no more based on crime and punishment but comprises plea-bargaining based on the maxim ‘plunder shamelessly and bargain comfortably’. The administration of justice, according to the current accountability laws, will be in the mode of payment of ransom to what might be called an abductor’s mafia, instead of a penalty decreed according to the principles of modern law. The new concept of justice may or may not punish the smaller crime but will certainly facilitate and reward the major crime carrying only a minor price tag.
The way the most notorious politicians were exempted from the process of accountability has cast doubt on the performance and impartiality of NAB.
According to the claim of NAB, it has so far recovered Rs75.596 billions, but only Rs1.2 billions were transferred in the national exchequer. In other words, the Accountant General of Pakistan only received Rs1.2 billions.
S.A. KHOKHAR
Lahore
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