| September 18, 2002 | Wednesday | Rajab 10, 1423 |
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Thank you, Pakistan
Tailoring democracy for us
Snatching the custody
SPSC exams for revenue employees
Dialogue among religions
Pre-entrance test in NED
Secularism in south India
Is Muslim identity embarrassing?
Vajpayee’s stance
PCB: toeing the line of politicians
I WAS more amused than amazed at the news of the arrest of fifteen Pakistanis in Italy for allegedly being members of Al Qaeda. They were arrested at a ship and were supposed to be planning an act of terrorism somewhere in Europe. They must indeed be strange terrorists.
Every man who knows even a little bit about spying is aware that spies never travel together. In fact, it is the fundamental principle of spy organizations that their operatives should travel singly, so that if one is arrested no one else is caught.
If at all any two spies or terrorists have to meet, they meet in safe houses, and they usually have perfect covers. They enter the targeted country as respectable businessmen in lounge suits or as wealthy tourists or maybe as delegates to seminars and to research institutions. The terrorists who attacked the World Trade Centre could not be detected because they had perfect covers.
And here were fifteen “terrorists” going to commit a major act of terrorism huddled together in a decrepit ship and the police being “tipped off” by Italian intelligence agencies that these were dangerous terrorists.
Those who actually attacked and destroyed the World Trade Centre in what indeed was a shocking and unpardonable act of terrorism remained undetected. America’s most sophisticated intelligence agencies could not get any idea of what was afoot, because the hijackers and the brains behind the conspiracy were intelligent enough not to travel in one ship or one plane.
He must indeed be a great spy master who asked his fifteen operatives with their Pakistani skins to travel in one ship for an act of terrorism in Europe.
Remember Prophet Jacob’s advice to his sons when they were going to Egypt: do not enter the city by the same gate.
For all one cares, those fifteen may be illegal immigrants: Pakistanis are notorious for this the world over. But that they were terrorists travelling together is laughable. Pakistan did well by denying the Italian story, but I think it hardly needed a denial. It was as absurd as it was amusing.
RIZWAN YASIN
Karachi
ON behalf of the general citizenry of the United States, I would like to thank the brave police who were responsible for the apprehension of the Al Qaeda operatives in Karachi.
These courageous acts by the individuals of the law enforcement agencies of Pakistan, and by the country of Pakistan as a whole, in the general campaign against terrorism, are prime examples of why the country of Pakistan should be recognized by the world as part of the collective effort being made for the well being of humanity and the furtherance of mankind.
MIKAEL VAN LOON
Louisville, USA
I AM a typical American, of British and European ancestry and raised as a Christian. But I have travelled quite a bit around the world on business and have seen much more than most Americans. Although I have spent less than two weeks in Pakistan and only visited three cities — Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad — I feel I have learned a bit about Pakistan and Pakistanis.
Americans do not travel outside the US and have a somewhat inaccurate view of the world. But Pakistanis have an advantage in that if one has not travelled outside Pakistan himself, he has friends or family members who have travelled, worked or lived in countries around the world.
I personally want to thank those who have done one job that should not go thankless. Those are the members of the police force who hunted down and captured Ramzi bin Al Shibh. They risked not only their lives, but the loss to their families if they had been killed. Their actions were selfless bravery of the highest order. No man can help but admire such courage.
As an American, I say thank you. As a man, I applaud you. As a believer in God, I ask Him to bless you and reward you for your courage and bravery.
Pakistanis and Americans share one thing with everyone in the world, the wish for a quiet place to raise their children in security and with hope for a better future. I wish you and your country the best future.
JAMES GAMMON
New Jersey, USA
ONE can’t agree more with Gen Musharraf, when he says: “There is no fixed formula for democracy around the world.” He then states that “I am trying to tailor democracy according to the needs of Pakistan.”
The fact of the matter is that the people are not bothered whether a country has democracy or dictatorship, as long as the basic needs and the requirements of the civilized society are accomplished.
The issue regarding democracy or dictatorship reminds me of Arundhati Roy’s remarks during her recent visit to Karachi: “The problem with India and Pakistan is that India has an imperfect democracy and Pakistan has an imperfect dictatorship.”
As Asians of subcontinental cultural background, our values are for a government which is honest, effective and efficient in protecting its people; and allowing opportunities for all to advance themselves in a stable and orderly society where they can live a good life and raise their children to do better than themselves. In other words:
(a) People are well cared for, their food, housing, employment, health, education, transport, etc.
(b) There is order and justice under the rule of law, and not the capricious, arbitrariness of individual rulers. There is no discrimination between peoples, regardless of race, language and religion.
(c) As much personal freedom as possible but without infringing on the freedom of others.
(d) Growth in the economy and progress in the society.
(e) Good and ever-improving education.
(f) High moral standards of rulers and the people.
(g) Good physical infrastructure facilities for recreation (music, culture and the arts), spiritual and religious freedoms, and a full intellectual life.
Very few democratically elected governments in the Third World uphold these values. Can Gen Musharraf tailor these values in the democratic set-up that he has in his mind?
NAZIM F. HAJI
Karachi
ANYONE seeing the TV/press coverage of the recent encounter with the alleged Al Qaeda terrorists living in the Defence Housing Society must have been amazed at the sad spectacle of senior officers of the Rangers and police facing off against each other over the question of custody of the accused whom the police had already apprehended after a long encounter and in which six police officers were injured.
Three days after the encounter, police high-ups claimed that they had no idea about the whereabouts of the arrested persons.
This was extraordinary. I have gone through the Police Order-2002 (as also the relevant law) and have failed to find any law or regulation that provides legal cover for the Rangers, or for that matter any other law-enforcing authority, to snatch custody and to remove person(s) already arrested by the police under the law as in force.
In fact such an act would be a substantive and non-bailable offence. The legal and proper course would have been for the suspects/culprits to have been taken into and kept in the custody of the Karachi police, where after they could have been interrogated by any other agency (even the FBI) authorized to do so.
The Rangers should have had nothing to do with the legal custody of the accused.
The government should take immediate notice of this ugly incident and issue a clear directive as to the functioning of the Rangers when acting in aid of the civil power (i.e. police) as by law established.
S. ASIF MAJEED
Karachi
THIS is with reference to Dara Jagirani’s letter about the Sindh Public Service Commission’s exams for revenue employees (Sept 15).
He has rightly pointed out the mistakes in the question papers. He has also regretted that no one from the SPSC turned up at the examination centre in Hyderabad to correct the mistakes.
It may be pointed out that the same thing happened in Karachi also.
In addition to that, the invigilation in Karachi was poor. Candidates were seen consulting each other and the invigilators did nothing to stop them. In this regard, a complaint was made to the chairman of the SPSC who visited the centre, but there is little hope that he would take any action.
AZAD NAREJO
Karachi
THE root-cause of most contemporary conflicts is to be found in the inequitable distribution of economic resources and denial of political power-sharing in governance. However religion is frequently used as a tool in the escalation of these conflicts. Religious symbols and idioms are often manipulated by political forces to promote their own interests.
The best way to overcome the present growing environment of religious intolerance and violence is through the vigorous promotion of inter-religious dialogue at international and especially at community levels.
Such a dialogue should be promoted by both the government and the religious groups through education and awareness-building programmes where members of communities are taught to respect each other’s religion and culture; to make a commitment to observe the rule of law, respect democratic values and promote good governance.
Nowhere is our concerted effort more urgently needed as in the address to the international and internal conflicts which are taken up in the name of religion.
We can strengthen the commitment to a culture of peace and deny the sanction of religion to those who are bent upon making it a tool of violence.
SHADAAB KANWAL
AZ, USA
IN his letter (Sept 13), the Registrar of the NED University says that there are no categories for the pre-entrance test.
But it may be noted that prospectus 2000-2001 of the NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, has the following words regarding admission to the university:
15.1(a): pre-admission entry test ... the minimum qualifying marks 40 per cent for all categories except admission categories:
15.2.4: i.e. rural areas of Karachi division
15.2.6(a) & (b): real sons/real daughters of the university employees
15.2.7: i.e. outstanding sportsmen
15.2.11: (foreigners) for which the minimum qualifying marks shall be 36 per cent. (This condition is still applicable).
Moreover, it is a well-known fact that the students who seek admission on quota basis are not competent enough as compared to those who get admission on merit basis.
This act of discrimination is not justified.
ABBAS
Karachi
THIS IS with reference to S. Venkatasubramaniam’s letter (Sept 14). I have to make some corrections.
E. V. Ramaswamy Naicker was not the leader of DMK. He belonged to a movement called Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) which was not a political party. The DMK which is still an atheist party is DK’s split away group and is now an alliance partner of the BJP.
Previously, they had aligned themselves with the Muslim League. But now they are with Hindutva forces. Either ways, like many other political parties DMK, too, suffers contradictions with regard to secularism.
Naicker insulted Hindu religious beliefs with obscene pictures and he also irritated Muslims.
NARAYANAN
New York, USA
I WAS shocked to receive a copy of the letter faxed to me from Islamabad and addressed to the MD of PIA by its chairman, Lt-Gen (r) Hamid Nawaz. It read:
“Visible Muslim manifestations are likely to come under close scrutiny while travelling and staying in Europe or trans-Atlantic destinations.”
Mr Hamid Nawaz emphasizes: “It is imperative that necessary actions be taken to avoid any such occurrence with PIA crew, which may cause embarrassment for the staff and ill will for the national flag carrier. We need to evolve a suitable policy for the deployment of cockpit/cabin crew having visible Muslim manifestations. On international flights, such a policy will be in the interest of the crew members as well as in the commercial interest of the airline.”
I agree that the grooming of PIA staff in general and the crew in particular needs to be looked into from both professional and commercial points of view. Nevertheless, its shocking and frustrating to know that such a complex can be present at that level.
It implies that if a government/army officer or a PIA employee, while travelling abroad, follows the Islamic dictum and thus has a visible Muslim manifestation, it is a source of embarrassment for the PIA chairman.
ANVER BHUTA
Rawalpindi
In spite of world pressure on Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee to hold talks with Mr Pervez Musharraf, he (Vajpayee) insists that unless the so-called cross-border terrorism stops completely he cannot start a dialogue with Pakistan President.
Who are indeed the real terrorists? The Kashmir youth who have taken up arms to liberate their motherland or the non-Kashmiri soldiers who murder the Kashmiris, and molest their women?
It may be recalled that Pakistan committed a mistake by sending non-Bengali troops to former East Pakistan to contain the Bengalis. The troops had no option but to surrender in 1971 and consequently India dictated its terms for their release.
India has committed the same mistake by deploying non-Kashmiri soldiers in Kashmir to keep the Kashmiris under its heels. If India thinks that the Kashmiris support Indian occupation, why does it not replace them by Kashmiri militia?
Now the troops of both India and Pakistan face each other, and a disastrous war may state anytime. The world powers should, therefore note this possibility and arrange a meeting between Mr Vajpayee and Mr Musharraf as soon as possible. A third party mediation is now necessary to prevent a castophate in South Asia.
M.W.Z. ADENI
Karachi
PAKISTANIS like all others respect accomplishment not status. In a country which has seen nothing but political chaos, despotic regimes, social injustice and economic deprivation, the nation takes refuge in trivia and tries to reclaim its lost pride in the achievements of its hapless sportsmen from cricket, hockey and squash.
These men with a professional life span of 10-15 years are sacrificed at the altar of egoistic generals, politicians and bureaucrats whenever they lose a match or tournament. They are labelled as gamblers and match fixers, but no one holds accountable the country fixers belonging to the ruling oligarchy of past and present.
In the current scenario, some of them are trying to cover themselves behind Pakistani sports — cricket in particular. Tauqir Zia has taken a leaf out of Musharraf’s book and trying to create a PML(QA) of Pakistan’s cricket team. What a mess has he created of Pakistan cricket in the last three years. His closest advisers are nothing but second-rate ex-Pakistani test cricketers.
First Wasim Akram was ousted after losing a one-day series and then Moin Khan was ousted for reasons only known to the general. Now he is after the neck of Waqar Younis for his team did not win the Morocco Cup, the Kenya Cup final, which was abandoned due to rain and got knocked out in the ICC Trophy.
If Mr Zia has some semblance of sanity, he needs to follow the steps of his Indian counterpart who has stuck to Ganguly despite India losing more tournaments and test series under him than Wasim, Moin and Waqar combined. In fact, Waqar has yet to lose a test series as a captain.
Pakistani sportsmen are not politicians and no one should try to use them as one. We have enough of those in our civilian and military cadre. Let the players and the nation enjoy their sports.
Had Inzimam not lost his wicket while hitting a six against South Africa in Tangiers, Pakistan would have made it to the final of the Morocco Cup and then who knows. No doubt Pakistan lost the group matches against Australia in Kenya. They had made it to the final and had put up a fighting total against a team whose management does not press the panic button at every whimper.
Pointing was not replaced after losing to Pakistan in June. When are we going to grow up? New Zealand, the reigning ICC champions, were humiliated by Australia on Sept 15 but unlike PCB, their board has not threatened to sack Stephen Fleming or the coach.
Pollock was not stripped of captaincy after losing to Sri Lanka in Tangiers or when Australia hammered them 5-1 earlier this year. The West Indies’ faith in Carl Hooper also is gradually paying off.
It is time Gen Tauqir Zia stopped acting like a bad workman who always quarrels with his tools. The elder statesmen of Pakistan cricket should drive PCB out of the quagmire being created by its chairman. I hope this advice does not fall on deaf ears.
ASAD ALI QURESHI
USA
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