| July 11, 2002 | Thursday | Rabi-us-Sani 29, 1423 |
Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)
Appalling state of jails
A victim’s gesture
THIS time it is official. It is no more a leak to the press, nor an opinion by a minor official. The President of the United States himself has declared his intention to topple Iraqi president Saddam Hussein. Speaking at a news briefing on Monday, the president said he would use “all tools” to oust the Iraqi leader and that he was examining “all aspects” of the issue. It is difficult to see how Iraq qualifies to be an American target as part of Washington’s war on terrorism. As far as Iraq is concerned, it is not supporting or exporting terrorism, nor has it provided sanctuary to any terrorist groups. In fact, given Saddam Hussein’s highly self-centred and isolationist policy, support to non-Iraqi elements — terrorist or not — has never been part of Baghdad’s highly nationalistic stance. As for Iraq producing weapons of mass destruction, there is no evidence that it is doing so. In fact, virtually all of Iraq’s projects suspected to be involved in producing weapons of mass destruction were destroyed by international monitors in the wake of the Gulf war. That is the reason why America’s allies across the Atlantic want Washington to provide proof that the Saddam regime is still engaged in developing such weapons. Italy, an important member of the European Union, has already rejected the idea of a military invasion of Iraq. As its Defence Minister Antonio Martino said, his meetings with other EU leaders had convinced him that European countries will not approve of an American attack on Iraq without proof that Baghdad is in fact developing or manufacturing lethal weapons.
It is not clear from President Bush’s briefing when he intends to use “all tools” to oust Saddam. He has also indicated that the measures against the Iraqi president may not necessarily be military and there are “different ways to do it.” Nevertheless, persistent reports in the well-informed sections of the American media have spoken of a three-pronged air, land and sea attack on Iraq, involving possibly as many as 250,000 troops. If that happens, it will set off a new wave of anger and resentment all across the Arab and Muslim world with unpredictable consequences for the region and beyond. Already, the Iraqi people have suffered untold hardships because of their ruler’s doings and the sanctions imposed by the UN. Half a million children have died because Iraq is not allowed to import certain medicines, and there has been a phenomenal increase in the number of cancer cases because of the use of depleted uranium during the Gulf war.
In such a situation, none of Iraq’s neighbours, which include some of America’s staunch Arab allies, would approve of another attack on Iraq. A military strike may remove Saddam Hussein, but it would throw Iraq back into the stone age and unleash a new anti-American wave across the Arab and Muslim world. This will hardly serve the cause of the fight against global terrorism. Worse, the anti-American wave may turn popular opinion in the Arab world against those Arab regimes which are friendly to Washington. This may destabilize many Arab countries. Those likely to gain from such widespread anarchy may be hardline anti-American militants. Israel, too, may get involved in such a war, leading perhaps to a wider conflict. This will hardly serve the cause of world peace or of America’s own geopolitical interests in a sensitive region such as the Middle East. One hopes saner counsel will prevail in Washington. A military operation against Iraq is too full of horrifying consequences to be considered seriously.
IT IS difficult to say how much impact the Punjab governor’s order regarding surprise visits to jails by the provincial law minister will have on the pathetic condition of prisons, considering the huge mess they have been in for years. What is certain is that it is the minimum that ought to be done to check the massive violation of human rights and other illegal acts and practices taking place in our jails. The recent shooting down of a condemned prisoner in Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail by a fellow inmate spoke volumes for the thriving culture of arms and drugs and other vices in our prisons as also the rampant maladministration and corruption among the jail staff. Scant attention has been paid to these pressing matters in spite of mounting evidence of prison security failure and unchecked transgressions by prison authorities. Trafficking in drugs and arms cannot take place without the connivance of the jail staff, nor can favours be extended to influential prisoners without bribery. On the other hand, the poor and illiterate inmates, including women and children, are exposed to the worst sort of exploitation, abuse and maltreatment.
Cross fetters declared illegal by the superior judiciary continue to be used. A major source of corruption in Karachi Central Prison was stated to be the process of prisoners’ selection for taking them to court and it was reported that undertrials who wanted to appear on the due dates had to grease the palms of jail officials. Similarly, prisoners’ meetings with their relatives is another avenue for corruption. Overcrowding and the slow pace of disposal of cases have further added to the atmosphere of discontent and violence prevalent in jails. Thus, far from reforming inmates, jails have become breeding grounds of crime. The task entrusted to the Punjab law minister is thus a challenging one. Determined steps are required to humanize the prison regime to turn them into reclamation centres. Malpractices and human rights violations by the jail staff must be severely punished and the role of NGOs, lawyers and journalists in inspection enhanced significantly.
THE Meerwala Jatoi gang-rape victim, Mukhtaran Bibi, deserves appreciation for her laudable sense of public good and a newfound mission in life. Mukhtaran Bibi has announced her plans to set up a girls’ school, a mosque and a seminary with the financial assistance she has received from the government and the NGOs in the wake of the panchayat-approved criminal assault on her as a form of punishment last month. It is commendable that a victim of bestial violence should thus seek to get over her personal trauma and grief by doing something this positive for the greater good of the people.
Talking to the media the other day, Mukhtaran Bibi also had some more disturbing facts to reveal about her tormentors. She disclosed that after her plight received the coverage it deserved in the national media, the powerful members of the Mastoi clan returned many kidnapped and raped girls to their families, including a local woman councillor’s daughter. This calls for a thorough inquiry into the alleged kidnappings and rapes at the instance of the said clan, which seemingly has a history of such criminal behaviour. The disclosure also points to the need for setting up a mechanism of reporting crime from the rural hinterland where powerful landlords continue to perpetrate injustice and atrocities on the helpless poor people who are too afraid to approach the authorities for redress. The norms of civil society demand that all such criminals be brought to justice in a swift and unsparing manner.