| September 4, 2002 | Wednesday | Jamadi-us-Saani25,1423 |
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World’s attitude towards US
Elections & controlled media
Democracyhas to prevail
Pakistani expatriates
Disappointing pre-polls scenario
National Security Council
Working women’s hostel
Image of a general
Regrets to Bangladesh
Problems of public sector universities
I REFER to Dawn’s Aug 30 report about the Islamabad visit of Mrs Margaret Brown, widow of Major William A. Brown who commanded the Gilgit Scouts in the turbulent year of 1947 and daringly contributed to the liquidation of Dogra rule over the Gilgit Agency and its strategic neighbourhood.
An intrepid Scottish soldier, Major Brown was fond of Pakistan and hated the tyrannical Dogra straps with Maharaja Hari Singh’s evil coterie in Srinagar who tormented the Gilgit Muslims.
The anti-Dogra rebellion in the Gilgit Agency, in which pro-Pakistan Brown helped, made it possible for Gilgit, Hunza, Nagar, Punial and their neighbouring territories in the lofty Karakoram mountains to be placed under Pakistan’s control in the autumn of 1947 which saw the birth of Pakistan.
Early in the 1980s, Major Brown had spoken to me during my posting as minister at the Pakistan Embassy in London that he was writing a book based on his diary of his tour of duty as Commandant of the Gilgit Scouts in 1946-48 and that he had in his possession some extremely vital documents which he would use in his proposed book. He died in 1984.
Through the efforts of his son and his devoted widow, Major Brown’s book, The Gilgit Rebellion 1947 was published in London by IBEX in 1998 posthumously and his wish to see his diary printed was fulfilled.
The late Major Brown deserves the gratitude of us, Pakistanis, for his courageous role in the epic war waged by the Gilgit Muslims to overthrow the Dogra tyranny.
Maj Brown’s book should be published in Pakistan as an abridged paperback edition. It contains an exciting account of the capture of the Gilgit Agency headquarters by the pro-Pakistan Gilgit Scouts (under Maj Brown’s command) and the hoisting of the Pakistan flag there. It has interesting photographs of the Gilgit region and the Quaid-i-Azam’s birthday celebrations there in December 1947.
Mrs Margaret Brown was serving in the British High Commission in Karachi in 1957 when she met Major Brown and they were married. An excellent polo player, he played polo in Gilgit and later in Karachi.
On March 23, 1994, Mrs Brown had received Sitara-e-Pakistan posthumously conferred on Major Brown by the then president.
We are grateful to Mrs Brown for coming to Islamabad and presenting her husband’s historical Gilgit Agency documents to the President of Pakistan.
QUTUBUDDIN AZIZ
Karachi
THIS refers to a news item headlined ‘State department to study why world hates US” (Aug 30).
It appears very relevant in this regard to reproduce a sentence from Dawn’s editorial of the same day under the caption ‘The other cola war’ which is as follows: “Just goes to show how in the post September 11 world consumer behaviour has become a means of venting public anger in a region where people are utterly frustrated when it comes to making their political views effectively known.”
Equally relevant are the following excerpts from the weekly article of Ayaz Amir of the same date:
i) Look at the way Pakistan is treated. In deciding between India and Pakistan in recent months it is India that the US has favoured and not Pakistan on whom it has leaned. Every time an American official comes calling Pakistan has to put up with lectures on cross-border infiltration. Not a word about the fundamentals of the Kashmir dispute.
ii) Yet the cruel paradox remains that for all its back-bending services, Pakistan has not received the recognition and appreciation it deserves.
iii) What did Pakistan get for being the major factor in the American-sponsored coalition (back in the eighties) which fought the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan? What did it get for acting as the bridge between the US and China in 1971? What did it get for being America’s most allied ally during the cold war when anti-communist alliances were all the rage and Pakistan was a member of CENTO and SEATO?
iv) The US wants a democratic facade in Pakistan. This is what the October elections are set to deliver. But the US is not exactly overwhelmed by democratic scruples. It pursues its interests. If democracy happens to coincide with those interests, fine. Otherwise, too bad for democracy.
All this explains why there is hatred for the US.
MOHAMMAD YUSUF
Karachi
THE government has lifted the ban on political activities, though with a difference this time around. Public meetings will have to be held at specified places and not, as has been the custom, at public thoroughfares and other congested places like railway stations. The obvious objective is to avoid public inconvenience.
With the lifting of the ban on Sept 1, the political parties have more than a month to woo the voters. The campaign conducted through the electronic and print media has been confined to pronouncements and posturing on who would or would not be returning from abroad to contest the elections. The political leadership and the government have both been guilty of wasting valuable media time, particularly the new found access through the private TV channels, on such polemics rather than bringing issues to the fore.
It is absolutely essential for the political parties to utilize the remaining time to educate people on what they stand for. It is their obligation to seize the moment and raise issues to convince the people how voting for them would lead to a more responsible and responsive governance and a better future for all.
The government can accelerate this critical process by opening up the controlled electronic media which has the greatest outreach to political debate.
SAMINA WAQAS
Islamabad
PAKISTAN was created as a democratic state by the Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Unfortunately, democracy was not allowed to function and prevail by extra-constitutional forces.
We had martial law thrice, in our country and it was during one of these that we lost half of the country in 1971.
In today’s world, democracy has proved itself to be the most reliable and transparent system of government.
For Pakistan, there can be no other system which may keep the country united and marching through the path of progress.
It is satisfying to find that we are going to vote in general elections in October. Leaders of all the political parties must be allowed to participate in the polls without exception. Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif should not be exceptions in spite of the cases against them pending in courts.
Let the people decide whether they are good or bad for the people. In this respect, no individual should have the prerogative to pass a verdict.
It is the time to end the politics of vendetta. A new chapter of harmony and good relations between all concerned should be established in the interest of our beloved country.
ABDUL FATAH MUGHAL
Larkana
THIS refers to Dr Lakhani’s letter ‘dual citizenship’ (Aug 26).
I am here in New York and have attended the Pakistan Parade arranged by Pakistani New Yorkers. Also present were some Congressmen and a representative of the Mayor of New York.
It was announced by the representative of New York Mayor that 25th August will now be celebrated every year as the Pakistani American Independence Day in New York. It is no small achievement for the Pakistani community in that city. I have been living in Scandinavia for the last 20 years but we could not achieve there any thing comparable to this. I salute my countrymen who could do this when the winds were blowing against them after the 9/11 incident.
What Dr Lakhani laments is very true. Why should overseas Pakistanis not be trusted if they want to contribute to the progress of their homeland? Pakistanis, wherever they may be, remain Pakistanis and they must be trusted, especially by the intellectuals and the establishment.
This is so because, after having lived abroad in an alien land and culture, we find that we have belonged to a great civilization - Pakistan. We are then fired by a patriotism about the Indus Valley which never passed our ways earlier.
Oh the inhabitants of the Indus Valley! abandon us not, we are with you wherever we are.
CMDR (R) MUNIR VARRAICH
Angered, Sweden
ALTHOUGH there are only four or five main parties (factually speaking, only two — the PML-Q and PPPP) who would get a good number of seats in the coming elections, all the parties are anxious to get the smaller parties into their folds through alliances to ensure greater support in the assemblies.
In all, about 90 political parties have been registered for the October elections. However, the main parties — PML(Q) (also known as the government party), PML(N), PPPP, Millat Party, PAT, TIP, Jamat-i-Islami and JUI(F) — are fielding their candidates. But the smaller parties, too, have their own areas of influence and are confident of winning a few seats.
We have so far a grand national alliance, the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, mainly comprising religeo-political parties, and some weaker alliances. We also hear of some sort of infighting among the components of some unnatural alliances on seat adjustments.
Seemingly the most uncertain alliance is of the PPPP and the PML(N) who have been far apart politically in the past.
These two parties have now agreed to make an alliance with the MMA on only one point, to defeat the PML(Q).
It is disappointing to see that in order to grab power, such political parties have sacrificed all principles and scruples they should adhere to.
Some leaders also have quit their original party and defected to other one while some others like Aftab Sherpao and Ejazul Haq have formed their own factions.
This clearly shows that our politicians can go to any extreme when it comes the question of reaching the power corridors.
Just go through their words and deeds and you will learn what sort of new parliament we are going to choose. We have now a limited choice after short-listing of eligible politicians. The same old faces though with addition of a few new ones.
Would there be the same loot and plunder with addition of some new beneficiaries?
M. AZHAR KHWAJA
Lahore
AFTER listening to the views of most of the politicians on the television, I find that two major objections have been raised on the constitutional reforms: One, President Musharraf has no right to amend the Constitution. Two, constitutional reforms would tilt the balance of power in favour of President, making the PM just a naught.
What needs to be understood is that in the half century, the army has always, directly or indirectly, overshadowed the civilian government. And whenever the latter refused to listen to the dictates of the former, Martial Law was brought in and democracy was uprooted.
Secondly, the Constitution was either abrogated, reframed or tampered with, by the military rulers. All organs of the state, time and again, became subservient to the will of the military rulers. Even the apex court of the country had no choice but to listen to them under the law of necessity.
The actual issue which caused a confrontation between the army and the civilian government has always remained a secret. This has been so because there was no formal forum where important issues likely to create a gulf between the two parties, could be discussed.
The setting up of the NSC is a very positive step in preventing confrontation between civilian and military rulers. The forum is available to both the parties for resolving the issues. The NSC will provide as much strength to the prime minister as it might to the military.
AIR CDRE (R) M. KHALIL KHAN GHAURI
Rawalpindi
THE occupants of Working Women’s Hostel located behind the Mideast Hospital, Karachi, have been suffering for quite some time due to the non-payment of electricity bills by the management of the hostel.
Power supply remained suspended for weeks earlier this year and restored only after first instalment was paid by the management. As the total outstanding dues run into hundreds of thousands of rupees, the management often ignores payment of rest of the instalments as well as the current bill. Consequently, power supply to the hostel has again been suspended partially.
The management is reluctant to lodge any complaints to the KESC for fear of disconnection because it has been defaulting on instalments. It may have no grievance on the basis of inflated bills as power consumption is justified in presence of a school (run by a relative of the hostel’s president), within the hostel premises. Moreover, the hostel’s auditorium is often rented out for functions.
When the management earns handsomely from these commercial ventures, it should pay the bills regularly.
A large number of girls residing in the hostel rooms are being punished for the fault of the management.
Whom should they refer for a remedy?
ANILA HAQ
Karachi
I WAS stunned to read your editorial captioned “Needed: a fuller explanation’ (Aug 27). The most objectionable part of the editorial is the following remark: “The general, whose claim to notoriety must be considered as resting more on his crusading days as head of ISI, might believe that this is the end of the matter, Unfortunately, it is not.”
What notoriety? Has Lt-Gen (r) Javed Nasir not been a committed and practising Muslim? By God, he is as clean as the grass is green. He has the distinction of having a marvellous career, which a few can match. As E-in-C, as Chairman FWO and as DG, ISI, he not only outshone his predecessors but also set standards for successors.
The astonished Americans chewed their fingers while seeing him at work during the clean-up of exploded Ojheri Camp in April 1988.
On retirement, he was made the chairman of the Evacuee Property Trust Board. There, he proved to be its first head who was round-the-clock accessible to widows, orphans and destitute and main beneficiaries of the EPTB. His visits to every nook and corner of the country for inspection of sites and meeting with those who were too weak to see him in his office at Lahore/ Islamabad are really difficult to emulate. Even if any land was ever sold at lower rates that was solely to benefit the poor. His image deserves to be eulogized and not to be tarnished.
M. WAQAR ASLAM DCO,
Dera Bugti Agency
THIS is with reference to Safir A. Siddiqui’s letter “Regrets to Bangladesh” (Aug 30) in which he differs with Dr Aftab Ahmed’s point of view that Shaikh Mujibur Rahman was working for Bangladesh since 1948. I think Dr Aftab Ahmad is correct.
On the independence day of Bangladesh in 1997, in an interview with the BBC, Shaikh Hasina Wajid claimed that her father started working for independence in 1951.
I am surprised to note that this is still an issue that Shaikh Mujib wanted a unified Pakistan.
I do not understand why the West Bengal Hindus have happily been living with Indian ‘Hindi’ and on the other hand the East Pakistanis started agitation for Bengali language.
This is question for the historians as to why Shaikh Mujib did not resort to a unilateral declaration of independence on March 7, 1971.
Dr WAQAR
Hyderabad
THIS is with reference to Dr Shamsh Kassim-Lakha’s article ‘For higher education a landmark initiative’ (Aug 30). As Secretary of the Federation of All Pakistan Academic Staff Associations (FAPUASA), I feel my responsibility to express concern that the Task Force report was anti-education and anti-democratic in essence.
It should be noted that the recommendations of the Task Force would strangulate transparency, autonomy and intellectual freedom.
The main problem with its recommendation is that the routine rules and regulations of the public sector universities, have not been addressed.
The Task Force has rather borrowed the structural changes that the private sector universities have introduced or are incorporating in their set-up. The Federation rejects these recommendations on the following grounds:
The proposed ordinance aims at eliminating members of the university community from running the affairs of universities.
Leaving universities in the hands of a governing body, most of whose members are non-academics or non-PhD degree holders, will play havoc with the system of higher education in our country.
Implementation of the proposed recommendations will empower a few individuals to turn public sector universities into business ventures exactly the way universities in private sector have become more of an industry.
The present democratic structure of the public sector universities will become oligarchic in nature.
Drawing comparisons between private and public sector universities is absurd. It would be valid only if the latter have the same facilities and privileges available to them as the former.
The Task Force has only suggested structural changes in terms of administration; all other spheres of the universities have been conveniently overlooked.
If and when there is an atmosphere of injustice, it has never been due to elected representatives of teachers but due to the nominations of inappropriate personnel to responsible bodies by both the representative and the non-representative governments.
If elected representation of teachers on various bodies is eliminated, injustice will soar to astronomical heights; redressing the problems of university community will be an impossibility in a set-up where out of 15 only two nominated teachers will represent the teaching community. A teacher, not on the right side of the administration, will be at the absolute mercy of the governing body and the CEO.
SARWAR NASIM
Karachi
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