| July 1, 2002 | Monday | Rabi-us-Sani 19, 1423 |
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Curbing drug abuse
ACLC Karachi
A junkyard of pacts
Our definition of unity
National interest and media
What cowardice
Keep Pakistan out of trouble
Irrigation system
Going a step further
Red herring
Turkey’s pro-West role: clarifications
IN April 2002, a convention of businessmen was held in Islamabad, and was presided over by President Gen Pervez Musharraf and attended by Shaukat Aziz, the finance minister, and other government officials, besides leading representatives from the FPCCI and other chambers of commerce.
President Musharraf decided and agreed to the proposal put forward by the businessmen to apply a levy of 0.75 per cent on the turnover of every retail outlet whether small or large in size. This bold and far-reaching decision taken by the president had put to rest the complicated problem of levying GST at the retail stage. It was also decided that the necessary announcement of this decision would be made through the 2002-03 budget.
Businessmen throughout the country praised this decision. From the economic point of view its implementation would help the economy in two ways: larger tax contribution by the retail sector, and reduction in the contact taxpayers have with tax collectors. It is clearly a win-win situation for both the government and the business sector.
However, the budget is completely silent on this important decision taken by the president. It may not be out of place to mention that on their part the businessmen agreed to fulfil their part of the responsibility by depositing the turnover tax for the interim period once the government officially notified the scheme.
Matters should be made more simple and decisions that were already agreed upon, in this case at the highest level, should have been implemented.
IMTIAZ AHMED
Karachi
I WOULD like to draw the attention of all concerned to Section 150 of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2002, whereby inter-company dividends will be subject to withholding tax at the prescribed rate and also taxed at the end. This has created a clear cut situation of tax on tax because of the following facts:
The situation is similar to an AOP — Section 92 of Income Tax Ordinance, 2002 — whereby profit distributed by AOP to its member will be included for rate purposes only. The circumstances are similar to after-tax profit distributed by a company to another company.
According to the Income and Corporation Tax Act 1988 of the UK, the dividend received from British companies plus the associated 10 per cent tax credit (withholding tax) is known as Franked investment income; dividends received from companies are not included in the profit calculation, as such dividends are paid out of post-tax profits of the company paying them, and are not subject to further tax (in UK a company is not liable to tax on dividends received, but an individual is); only dividends received from a British company are treated in this manner, and not those from outside the UK.
The Section 150 of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2002, will force companies not to invest their surplus profit in shares dealt at different stock exchanges. Although the dividend was taxed as a separate block in the past, it was dependent on the judgment of the assessing officer regarding the fate of residual profit, i.e., normal profit or dividend.
MOHAMMAD ASHRAF
Karachi
This refers to a news report headlined ‘Awareness of drug abuse to be the part of curriculum’ (June 23). According to the report, speakers at the National Narcotics Conference, Karachi, stressed the need to launch an effective campaign in the country against the evils of drug addiction.
Organizing forums and conferences are western strategies to control drug abuse. We cannot just follow the west in every matter; their underlying causes of drug use are different than ours. Their economic environments, social, cultural and religious bonds, and literacy levels are all different. Despite having almost all the necessities to support life, the use of drugs in western societies is on the rise mainly because of the ‘feeling of loneliness’.
In Pakistan, there is a seven per cent rise in the number of drug addicts every year, and some 71.5 per cent of total drug abusers are under 35 years of age with the highest portion between 26-30, while 60 per cent of them are literate. The statistics show that the major portion of the drug abusers is the demographic segment that is responsible for earning bread for household in our society.
The percentage of illiterate drug abusers is less than that of literates. These are alarming indicators of socio-economic conditions in our country which clearly indicate that mainly young people are falling prey to drug abuse. This is the demographic group on whose shoulders the future of our country rests.
If we really want to curb drug abuse in our country, we’ll have to clearly identify the root causes that lead to the use of drugs and then eliminate them. In our country, the cost of living is getting beyond the reach of the lower and middle classes, which is resulting in frustration, depression, and stress. We’ll have to control factors like unemployment, fuel and food prices, medical treatment and education costs, and restore basic social rights. Simply creating awareness will not work in our case, it is like ‘cutting the shoots and leaving the roots’.
SHAMEEL AHMAD ZUBAIRI
Karachi
THIS refers to ABS Jafri’s ‘Where do they land?’ (Dawn, June 24). According to the record of ACLC Karachi, the number of taken away vehicles has been on a decline since the beginning of this year except in the month of May in which 28 more incidents took place than the corresponding period of 2001. The bandits took away 329 four-wheelers in January, 310 in February, 289 in March, 343 in April and 340 in May 2002.
Almost the same tendency was seen in the incidents of motorcycle lifting and snatching, as bandits took away 561 in January, 477 in February, 430 in March, 494 in April and 491 in the month of May, 2002.
During the first quarter of 2002, 928 cars were taken away as compared with 1,161 cars in the corresponding span of 2001. This figure shows a 20 per cent decline in the incidence of car lifting. The total number of arrests made by the ACLC during the 150 days of 2002 is 223 out of which 186 were arrested with vehicles.
It is not correct that only 123 cars have been recovered in 150 days of 2002. The total number of cars recovered and handed over to their owners by ACLC in 150 days is 697.
Up to June 25, 2002, a total of 210 accused have been arrested by the ACLC Karachi and 1,800 four-wheelers and two-wheelers recovered. In order to curb this crime, 236 cases of car-lifting/ snatching have been detected and 49 notorious gangs of car mafia busted so far by the ACLC Karachi.
ABDUL RAZZAQUE CHEEMA
Senior Superintendent of
Police ACLC, Karachi
IT appears that the meaningful ABM Treaty is being formally scrapped. In fact, notwithstanding its utility as an arms control measure, the treaty had almost been scrapped with the launching of SDI by President Reagan. This project was a negation of the objectives of this well meaning treaty.
And surely, there are analysts who think that the abrogation of this treaty means a free hand for the US to work on any type of anti-ballistic missile programme which will promote an arms race.
I suppose all such pacts have almost the same fate and according to one French president, these are like a beautiful girl or a flower and last only as long as these last, and no more. History, according to President Nixon is a junkyard of such pacts and every nation is more interested in its national objectives than these pacts.
EAS BOKHARI
Lalamusa
KHAWAJA Muhammad Bashir Butt (June 22) reproduced a part of President Musharraf’s press conference in Abu Dhabi.
The writer has called upon the Arabs and Muslim states to realise that in the present world situation, Muslims can only survive if they are united; otherwise, they will fall one by one.
The writer considers that the Arab and the Muslim world would fall for our gimmicks and support us blindly. We have shown to our friends in the Muslim world what ‘unity’ stands for by breaking our own country into two parts in 1971. We could only hope for lip service from the Arab and Muslim states in future.
K.A. WAHID BUTT
Lahore
THE Indians are experts at launching and sustaining a well- organized propaganda campaign against their adversaries to hasten the achievement of well-defined military and diplomatic objectives. In 1971, they launched a propaganda and diplomatic campaign against us after Yahya Khan’s ill-advised military action in East Pakistan.
India aided and abetted the insurgency in East Pakistan (an internationally recognized undisputed part of Pakistan at the time) under cover of this propaganda. Later, it committed open aggression and achieved its objective of breaking up Pakistan.
India is pursuing the same policy today. Its foreign and home ministries regularly brief and guide mediamen and writers about the situation and the propaganda line to be taken. The same is done by western countries in such situations. The media then faithfully toes the government line of propaganda. Unfortunately, this is not the case in Pakistan where the press is kept ignorant of the real situation, strategy and propaganda requirements for achieving diplomatic and strategic goals.
Lack of a democratic climate and culture also contributes to our failure on the diplomatic and propaganda fronts. Let us take extraordinary measures to counter the western and Indian propaganda lest we meet the fate we met in 1971.
KHWAJA MUHAMMAD
BASHIR BUTT
Bahawalnagar
HATS off to the bravery and courage of the Indian armed forces for shamelessly and brutally murdering Lance Naik Maqsood of Pakistan Rangers in the most wicked and gruesome way.
This reminds me of a similar incident which took place some two years ago when an Atlantic, a non-combat surveillance aircraft of the Pakistan Navy, was shot down by the Indian air force in Pakistan territory during a routine training flight killing 16 officers and sailors of the Pak Navy.
This shows the professional integrity of the Indian armed forces. This also reminds me of how Flight Lieutenant Nachikita was treated when he was captured during the Kargil conflict and how he was given all due respect according to the Geneva Convention and handed over safely to the Indian government.
This matter should be raised with the International Court of Justice to show the world the real face of the Indian government.
ALTAMASH J. LONE
Karachi
THE loose alliance of Islamic parties demands that Pakistan should withdraw its support to United States against Afghanistan and wage a war in Kashmir. Most of these politicians have reasonable experience in politics but they do not understand world politics and world opinion.
Either they are ignorant or they try to improve their public standing by issuing such irresponsible statements. If Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman cares so much about the Afghan and Kashmiri people then why doesn’t he go there himself to fight.
These esteemed politicians have failed in national politics. Pakistanis are smart and intelligent people and they know that if they vote for these people, the short-sightedness of these politicians will take this country decades back.
Most of these politicians talk about jihad against India or other western forces. They need to understand that we first need to do jihad in our own country: jihad against poverty, injustice, illiteracy and corruption. Instead of teaching hate, they need to teach our young generation love, which is the basics of Islam.
Instead of training the young generation for war, they need to establish modern schools, hospitals and other social welfare organizations where these young minds can become a positive force for Pakistan.
Possessing nuclear devices alone means nothing. It just means destruction. What we need to fight is the war of economics. Instead of fighting on petty matters, these politicians need to spend their time positively.
SAQIB JAMIL
Muncie, Indiana, USA
THE irrigation system of Sindh has almost collapsed. Most of the laws and regulations enacted for its smooth and just operation are outdated.
Influential landlords have taken control of the canals. They routinely break modules and outlets so as to draw water which is many many times the share sanctioned to them.
They breach the canal banks. They dig their watercourses very deep and install pumps to draw even the last drop from the canal bed. No one stops them.
Thousands of haris and other land holders are left to face the disastrous consequences of this loot and plunder. They do not get any water, forget about their sanctioned share. If at all, they get a nominal quantity after the sowing season of the crop ends. Their protest demonstrations, hunger strikes, sit-ins and pleas are falling on deaf ears of high officials.
Just one example will suffice to show how the robbery of canal water is being committed all over Sindh. Reti-Minor canal takes off from Seharwah on the left bank of Guddu Barrage in Talaquo Daharki, Gotki. The water in this system was released about 60 days back for cotton sowing. It has not reached the tail-end areas of Reti-Minor as yet though the cotton sowing season is over i.e. 15th of June.
Can’t there be a system whereby every farmer gets his due share of water. If there is shortage, let everyone share it. If the supply is adequate, let everyone enjoy it.
I request the Governor to look into the matter and do the needful.
CHAUDRY RUSTAM ALI
Deh Chanad, Daharki, Gotki
DAYLIGHT saving is a good idea. Due to intense heat and long days in summer, it would be worthwhile to think of advancing clocks by yet another hour from April 2003, and rolling it back by one hour in the winter of 2003. Then we can go straight to work after the morning prayers in the cool of the morning, and return to our families in daylight, which is currently unavailable.
A major advantage of such a move would be that we, as a nation, would become morning people, from the late-nighters we now are. The saving on electricity because of a later need to light up is a big bonus at the national level. It should also cut individual household electricity bills.
SADAAN SAEED
Lahore
AN 11-year-old asked his mother: “What is blue in colour, hangs from the ceiling and answers Hummh?” After a few tries the mother gave up: “You tell me,” she said.
The son beamed back: “It is a Red Herring, Mom.”
“But you said it’s blue in colour,” protested the mother.
“Oh yeah, I painted it blue,” came the simple reply.
“And how come it’s hanging from the ceiling?” the mother queried further.
“Oh that, I hung it there,” again came the innocent reply.
“OK, so what about its answering Hummh?” the mother asked firmly.
“Oh Mom, that was just to confuse you,” the son said with a twinkle in his eye.
The Indians and Americans are behaving just like this kid. They blame the ISI or Al Qaeda for everything conceivable. And surprisingly the Mom — the world body — believes them.
COL RIAZ JAFRI (RETD)
Rawalpindi
WITH reference to the article ‘Turkey’s pro-West role’ by Eric S. Margolis (June 17) I would like to make the following clarifications:
The claims of the writer such as “the real power in Turkey remains the army” and “behind a facade of squabbling impotent politicians real power in Turkey is held by the generals, who throw out prime ministers whenever they please” are absurd, baseless and reflect his prejudice against Turkey. “The sacred flame”, which apparently bothers Mr Margolis very much for not unknown reasons, is not only kept by the “generals” or “the Turkish Army”, but also by every Turk because it is the flame of strong belief and conviction for Turkish independence, a sense deeply rooted in every Turk’s heart and mind.
Regarding his views on the leaders of some political parties, the former mayor of Istanbul and “a few Turkish intellectuals”, the writer should be well aware of the fact that there is no room for “phony charges” in a modern, democratic country like Turkey, which is governed by the rule of law. As a modern democratic, secular country, Turkey imposes no restrictions on fundamental freedoms and rights including the religious ones. All Turkish citizens enjoy equal freedoms while they share the responsibility of observing the democratic rules of the country like any other democratic country around the world. Turkey has the legitimate right as well as obligation to prevent fundamentalism and militancy from disrupting constitutional order.
His views on Ataturk and the political system of Turkey reflect sheer ignorance. Ataturk’s vision and principles have been guiding the modern and democratic Turkish Republic since its foundation. Alleging that Ataturk “imposed a dictatorial regime that was influenced by 1930s fascism and communism” is a blatant distortion of historical facts. It was Ataturk’s worldview that has laid the foundation of the modern Turkish democracy. Turkey is an open, democratic society. Claiming that “anyone daring to question Kemalism is jailed — or worse” is an outright lie.
Ataturk did not repress Islam but he did save it from foreign subjugation as well as from bigotry and fundamentalist zealotry. Ataturk did not hang Islamic scholars, but prevented exploiters of the religion from misusing the sublime values of Islam. He paved the way for enlightment of the Turkish people.
The similarity in the language used by Mr Margolis against modern Turkey and that of the fundamentalist zealots is very striking and it serves as eye-opener.
Mr Margolis’ enmity against Turkey puts him in such a desperate ferocity that he does not hesitate to depict a most vicious terrorist and his killing-machine as “captured leader”, or “struggle for independence”. The PKK (now KADEK) is surely not a charity organization but one of the most dangerous terror organizations in the world. It uses terrorism as a means to achieve its target of dividing Turkey. It is responsible for the deaths of more than 30,000 people, most of whom were innocent civilians and public servants. The PKK, headed by Abdullah Ocalan, has been declared as one of the most dangerous terrorist organizations by many countries and international organizations including the USA, England, Germany, France, the EU etc.
MUHSIN OZCAN
Press Attache, Turkish Embassy, Islamabad
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