| August 6, 2002 | Tuesday | Jamadi-ul-Awwal 26,1423 |
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Fund raising abroad for RSS
Diplomatic victory?
Promoting IT education
Commercializing education
Residents’ complaint
Punjab’s freedom struggle
Dual nationality
Historical structure
Hepatitis C vaccine
Drinking water
Spelling
Rape cases
More than a mock marriage
THE article by Dr Akhtar Hasan Khan (July 22) wrongly places President Musharraf in the middle class. The President belongs to a well-to-do family which had valuable property in Delhi in the pre-partition period.
When the family moved to Pakistan it had ample means to provide for a good education to Musharraf in good private schools.
A brief analysis on the income levels of Pakistani households and their grouping in various classes shows the following: (HH=Households)
40% HH=8.8 million, income=Rs 3,000 per month (below poverty line)
45% HH=9.9 million, income=Rs3,000-7,000 per month (at poverty line)
8% HH=1.76 million, income=Rs7,000-15,000 per month (lower middle class)
6% HH=1.52 million, income=Rs15,000-50,000 per month (middle class)
0.9% HH=0.2 million, income=Rs50,000-150,000 per month (upper class)
0.1% HH=0.02 million, income=Rs150,000 per month (very rich)
As would be evident, our notions of who the middle class in Pakistan is, are wrongly placed. Obviously the earning levels shown do not statistically account for family wealth, or gray income.
The middle class has indeed shrunk and continues to be the one most hard pressed on account of rising costs of utilities, commodities and food stuffs as rightly pointed out by Dr Akhtar.
Those at or below the poverty level (85 per cent of all households) are not even part of the economic population of Pakistan and are only treated as statistics.
There is a pressing need for the government to focus development plans and the much touted poverty alleviation programme on the 40 per cent households below poverty level as a first priority.
Secondly, the next 45 per cent households (less than $2 a day) also need to be uplifted from the border of poverty. Such actions would provide for a bottom-up growth, which will carry a forceful momentum to drive the lower and middle classes.
Unless our planners, so ably assisted by the gurus of the World Bank, ADB, IMF, etc. really focus on the bottom-up approach, rather than the traditional ‘trickle down’ approach, not much will change for the poverty stricken 85 per cent of the population.
MUNAWAR B. AHMAD
Lahore
THE Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), the Bajrang Dal, and other Hindu extremist organizations, collectively known as the Sangh Parivar, are utilizing religion to foment communal violence towards organizing ultra right, non-secular and undemocratic nationalism in India.
Minorities in contemporary India are becoming the evil ‘other’ that must be annihilated or assimilated. For those of us not explicitly under attack, it is time to examine our privilege and use it to empower the conscience of a democratic and secular India.
Hindu fundamentalism is well funded by Indians abroad. These organizations receive substantial contributions from Hindus in the United States and elsewhere. The Outlook magazine in its July 22 issue published an article by A.K. Sen, titled, Deflections to the right highlighting a component of the chain of funding that sustains Hindu extremism.
The article states that the India Development and Relief Fund (IDRF) is one of the more conspicuous charity organizations that raises funds in the United States to support RSS battalions in India. The IDRF lists Sewa International as its counterpart in India. Sewa International and the various organizations that it oversees receive over two-thirds of IDRF funding.
In the United States, where substantial funding is raised for Hindu extremist agendas, the government must act to ensure that organizations that broker terror should not continue to enjoy their non-profit status within the country.
It is interesting that in 1999, the VHP failed to gain recognition at the United Nations as ‘a cultural organisation’ because of its philosophical underpinnings. However, the VHP of America is an independent charity registered in the United States in the 1970s, where it has received funds from a variety of individuals and organizations.
Non-resident Indians and Americans of Indian descent must examine the politics of hate encouraged by extremist Hindu organizations in the name of charity and social work. Indians, one of the most financially successful groups in the United States, must take seriously their moral obligation to ensure that their dollars are not funding malice and scrutinize the organizations that are on the receiving end in India.
ANGANA CHATTERJI
San Francisco, USA
PRESIDENT Musharraf has scored significant diplomatic victories during his recent visits to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. But, at the same time, we have been totally defeated by vicious Indian diplomacy in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of a friendly country, Brunei.
The declarations of the ASEAN and the European Union calling on Pakistan to stop, what they called, ‘terrorist activity’, show that in-depth homework is still needed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
It seems that a regular press briefing is not enough. I suggest that the Foreign Office should invite all ambassadors and consul generals of ASEAN countries and give them a comprehensive awareness on the subject.
FAYYAZ MUDDASSIR MUBEEN
Al-Jubail, Saudi Arabia
THE Ministry of Science and Technology seems to be very keen to promote IT education. But it does not pay any attention to check unethical practices and the use of misleading marketing slogans by commercial IT institutions thriving in all the cities.
As a result of this, those young men and women who spend their time and hard earned money in taking up courses in these institutions, finally discover that their degrees are recognized neither by employers for a job nor by colleges and universities for admissions in higher classes.
After doing my ‘A’ level, I took admission in an IT institute which awards a UK Bachelor’s degree. Fees were charged by them on British University rates and in foreign currency. After getting my Hons degree from there, I have been running from pillar to post, for admission to Master’s degree class in a college. At the college, I had to pay a non-refundable fee of Rs 1200 for the entrance test. But later, I was asked to get a certificate from the University Grants Commission (UGC) to the effect that my Bachelor’s degree from the UK was recognized by them.
One fails to understand this UGC phenomenon and the additional role encroached upon by them. How can the UGC assume to be supremely qualified to certify or de-certify any qualification acquired by any one? The UGC is a purely administrative body set up to look after the financial management and administrative problems of the universities in Pakistan. The recognition or otherwise of a foreign degree is an academic issue which should be within the domain of the concerned local university and its academic councils or affiliation committees or senate/syndicate etc.
The Ministry of Science and Technology must take note of this situation which is not at all in the interest of IT education.
S. ALI JAFFERY
Karachi
AT the heart of the present controversy between teachers and the Punjab government is the policy of denationalization of the educational institutions in the province.
The objective is stated to be improving the administration and the quality of education in these institutions. But the fact remains that successive governments since 1988 have been looking for ways to get rid of the ‘unproductive’ expenditure on education.
Every regime has associated efficiency and higher standard of education with privatization, without conducting an objective analysis or research.
Often the example of the developed countries is given where students have to pay higher costs for higher education. But the wide differences in economic development and job opportunities available to the students in the west, are conveniently ignored.
That position enables most of the students there to self finance their education. Interestingly, the present regime is keen to make democracy compatible to our peculiar domestic conditions. But they want to bring a change in the education sector without taking into consideration the local conditions.
Can we afford a system in which the opportunity of upward mobility is foreclosed on the poor and lower middle classes of the society?
The government’s answer to this question is scholarships for the needy students. But it is too simplistic and provocative.
Who is poor and needy? The official definition is that one who consumes less than 50 units of electricity, who deserves food from the food stamp programme, and who qualifies for assistance from Zakat fund or loan from Khushhali Bank. So others must pay for higher education of their children.
A tax paying grade-17 officer is certainly not poor according to the official definition. Thus, he does not qualify for any support scheme. But he, too, cannot afford the high cost of education in a privatized institution.
So, what is left for him if he still wants to buy higher education for his children? Corruption or suicide?
SHAHID ANWAR
Toba Tek Singh
WE, the residents of Street 40, Sector F-7/1, Islamabad, are deeply worried that a retired police official has been operating two ‘guest houses’ in our street for the past year or so, for criminal business. These ‘guest houses’ have no signboards and look like any other residential house, and the ‘guests’ come by reference only.
The families living adjacent to these ‘guest houses’ are kept awake at night by the boisterous and hedonistic activities of the guests and the ‘hosts’.
We have brought this matter to the notice of the relevant authorities, but nothing has been done so far.
CONCERNED RESIDENTS
Islamabad
KULDIP Nayar’s assertion that Pakistan was not founded on a popular struggle, at least in West Pakistan (Aug 3), is not based on any historical fact. It is just a result of the baseless superiority complex Indian nationalists seem to harbour about their own freedom struggle.
It is true that the Muslim League started off as a party of ‘landlords, tribal leaders and confirmed toadies’, but after 1937’s humiliation, Mr Jinnah transformed the League into a party of the masses.
In fact, the League during the struggle for Pakistan, was pitted against feudals of the Punjab and Sindh who constituted the Unionist Party, and against the tribal leaders like A. G. Khan in the NWFP, who were in alliance with the Congress.
The civil disobedience movement launched by the Muslim League nationwide in the later part of 1946, culminated into huge protests in what later became West Pakistan.
Perhaps more memorable than any single event in the history of the freedom struggle in South Asia was the incident when, during a Muslim League protest, a young League woman ran to the top of the civil secretariat building and replaced the British flag with a League flag.
Scores of Punjab Muslim League workers were arrested and jailed during 1946-1947, including brilliant women leaders like Jahan Ara Shahnawaz and Begum Tasadduq who remained in jail for months.
Mr Jinnah’s leadership was indispensable to the Pakistan cause and without the support of the masses, he wouldn’t have been able to carve out a new country.
YASSER LATIF HAMDANI
Lahore
SOME time back, I came across a news item saying that a Pakistani holding US citizenship had been disqualified from contesting elections.
Furthermore, it is also maintained that the US law does not permit dual nationality.
This is totally wrong. The United States does allow dual nationality.
It may be added that most of the Pakistanis living in the US do not want to lose their Pakistani nationality. Even while living here, they care for their values and proudly call themselves Pakistanis.
I hope and wish that this confusion is removed as soon as possible.
ADNAN SIDDIQUI
New Jersey, USA
THERE is an abandoned Hindu temple at Manora beach. The temple was built in the 19th century, as mentioned on the plaque at the main entrance.
It, therefore, has some historical value. But its existing condition is pathetic and picnickers are using it as a costume room.
Concerned authorities should take a notice and must act to protect this historical structure.
SHAHID H. QADRI
Karachi
THIS is with reference to the debate on Hepatitis C vaccine. I may remind the readers, especially those who are in the medical field, that therapy for hepatitis C is a rapidly changing area of clinical practice.
Combination therapy with interferon and ribavirin, a nucleoside analogue, is now US FDA-approved for treatment of chronic hepatitis C in patients who have relapsed following interferon treatment, and might be approved soon for patients who have not been treated previously. So nothing is available for acute infection.
Several studies of patients treated with a combination of ribavirin and interferon have, however, demonstrated a substantial increase in sustained response rates, reaching 40 per cent to 50 per cent, compared with response rates of 15 per cent to 25 per cent with interferon alone.
However, as with interferon alone, combination therapy in patients with genotype 1 is not as successful, and sustained response rates among these patients are still less than 30 per cent.
I am glad to see that public health issues are now openly discussed in your newspaper.
ASHRAF KHAN,
MD, MPH, Hackensack,
New Jersey, USA
Water is a necessity for man. It is a very precious gift of Allah to the entire world. But unfortunately, water shortage is a very common complaint in our country, specially in Karachi.
But now we are experiencing a new problem for the last 30 days. The water that we are getting is very dirty. It is almost of the colour of milk. When I talked about it to others, I found that it was so in several other parts of the city also.
I request the concerned authorities to take the necessary action and provide us healthy drinking water.
IBRAHIM KHALIL SIDDIQI
Karachi
THE spelling of our Prophet’s name is ‘Muhammad’ (PBUH), as officially declared by the government. But PTV World is still using ‘Mohd’ in its transmission, News Morning, as noticed on Friday Aug 2. Why it doesn’t comply with official instructions in this regard?
MAQSOOD AHMED
Sialkot
Mr Shahid Ather failed to mention a very pertinent point while outlining the social causes of rape. Rape is on the increase in Pakistan more because of the existing laws, than due to any thing else.
The victim goes behind the bars whereas the rapist is allowed to go scot free. Zafran Bibi’s case is an example.
FARANAZ NADIR SHAH
Karachi
THIS refers to Mr Amad Khan Malik’s letter (Aug 1) whose father, the Nawab of Kalabagh, mediated to save lives of four condemned to death. The Mianwali episode is more than just a matter of preserving peace.
It is also about the lives of the women who were being bartered for peace. Women deserve more respect from men, unlike what Capt (rtd) Malik and his father believe.
Where should our priorities lie? Saving killers or saving the lives of innocent women? Mr Malik says the women were supposed to have been divorced before Rukhsati.
Even if that is true, what kind of lives would the women lead after being divorced this way? Would their families treat them with respect? Wouldn’t the society treat them as pariahs? These women are being punished for the crimes committed by men because they happened to be in a society where they are treated slightly better than cattle.
Why can’t we treat women equal to men?
AHMED ARSALAN
Birmingham, USA
Capt (rtd) Amad Malik has revealed that he could have had a cushy job in the West. He says: “But instead, I sacrificed all comforts of civil life and western education to join Pakistan army so that I could defend my country.”
The fact is that the upper class people love this country and do not move out to the West. But only because they would not enjoy the power, luxuries and the comforts available to them in this country.
All the citizens, belonging to any class, have to abide by the laws and treated equally.
The children of our upper class families return home after completing their studies not for their patriotism but because they don’t like to do everything by themselves and surrender the luxury of having many domestic servants.
Furthermore, one can’t use his influence in getting things done in the West. But in Pakistan, Bus, Naam Hee Kafi Hai.
Please don’t forget, Mr Malik, that joining the army is not enough to defend your country but fighting against evils and injustices that plague our society.
“Just to save four murderers” is not a defence of your country; “saving poor women from being married against their will and then divorced” would have been the real defence of this nation.
S.A. NAQVI
Karachi
I AM amazed at Mr Amad Khan Malik’s letter. What is so ‘noble’ about saving the lives of convicted murderers at the cost of exploitation of helpless girls and women? There is something particularly unfair about a system that allows these murderers, convicted by the courts, to go scot-free under some ‘arrangement’ that Mr Malik’s father had facilitated.
If indeed, these old men were going to divorce the young girls immediately after marriage, why marry them in the first place? Would anyone, or he himself, like to offer his daughter under a similar deal?
ANANTH SANKAR
Palo Alto, USA
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