| October 18, 2002 | Friday | Sha'aban 11, 1423 |
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US policy in Middle East
Senior citizens’ rights
Women commuters
Seafarers’ agony at foreign ports
Being truthful
Election results
I will leave Pakistan
A blessing in disguise
Bhutto followed the law only
Mending the image
Eradication of polio
Coalition government
Beggars in Karachi
Ends and means
I WAS rather shocked to read a news-item about independent candidates being asked to make up their minds within three days to join one or another party. It was not clear what the consequences would be if they did not.
Nawaz Sharif introduced a law which prevented party members from taking a dissenting view or crossing the floor, but compelling or pressuring an independent member of parliament to give up their independence and join a party in parliament is simply unacceptable.
Not only the electorate but the elected members themselves have the right to insist on their independence of thought and action so that they may think, speak and act independently and vote in accordance with their conscience in the best interest of their country.
Parliament needs such independent-minded members not only as legislators but also to act as the conscience and voice of the people who do not belong to or subscribe to the manifesto or policies of the ruling party or for that matter any proposal or bill introduced by any party in parliament.
The position is still unclear but I hope that better sense will prevail and the independent status of members of parliament who have been elected as such remains undisturbed. Any action to the contrary would be a violation of the constitutional rights of such members.
LIAQUAT MERCHANT
Karachi
IN his opinion piece, “American policy in the Middle East” (Oct 15), M. Khalil Khan Ghauri states that during the presidency of Bill Clinton, Arabs had a strong hope that Palestinian issue would be resolved justly and peacefully.
Osama and his Al Qaeda outfit were assisting the oppressed and downtrodden Muslims elsewhere in the world too. They had no intention to target the US. However, things changed dramatically when George W. Bush moved into the White House.
Bill Clinton’s peace efforts in the Middle East were shelved, Israel was encouraged to back-track on its earlier commitments to reach a settlement with the Palestinians. This change of policy not only infuriated the Arab state but also forced Osama bin Laden to turn against the West with even stronger determination.
I am afraid he has got his facts wrong, for two US embassies in Africa were bombed by Al-Qaeda in 1998, and the USS Cole was also attacked later off the coast of Yemen, all during the presidency of Bill Clinton.
I recall that the US fired cruise missiles at various camps training the fanatical religious terrorists in Afghanistan, at the time that the embassies were bombed. Osama bin Laden had even prior to the bombings in Africa declared holy war on America. Therefore, nothing changed by the election of G. W. Bush to the White House for Osama. Since the Gulf war ended, Osama has been demanding the withdrawal of US troops from Saudi Arabia.
SHAMIM MIRZA
New York, USA
LIKE all other countries, the International Senior Citizens Day was observed in Pakistan on Oct 1 in order to highlight their problems and pay them respect. Marking the occasion, President Pervez Musharraf announced that the task force set up by his government was on the way to recommend “appropriate relief” to help them in the rainy days of their old age.
It should be noted that the majority of the senior citizens belong to the class of have-nots. They are overburdened by increasing prices of essential commodities every now and then. Unfortunately, the rulers have failed to realize the gravity of their problems.
In the last couple of years, age-old benefits, on which superannuated government employees fall back after their retirement, such as pension, value of commutated pension, provident fund, gratuity/bonus and profit on small savings deposits, if any, have alarmingly been curtailed.
Besides, entitlement of lumpsum encashment of unavailed earned leave for six months on the eve of their retirement and the advantage of restoration of their commutated pension after the due course have been withdrawn.
Now it is feared that the retirement age is going to be reduced from 60 years to 55 years, with a ridder of 25 years of service, whichever is earlier.
Many promises to provide ‘suitable relief’ to the senior citizens/pensioners have been made since the days of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, but nothing substantial has been done yet.
The curtailment of benefits at a time when the prices of essential goods and medicines have dreadfully shot up is much too derogatory to the spirit of the International Senior Citizens/ Pensioners Day.
MIRZA GHULAM HAIDER
Multan
WOMEN commuters, using the local public transport facility, have registered a strong protest over the regular presence of male passengers in the small portion reserved for them in buses, mini-buses and coaches. This is a genuine problem which has been overlooked by the local authorities in the province.
There are only a few seats reserved for women in the front portion of a public transport. The front gate is meant exclusively for women and the back door is meant for men. But apart from the passengers, every public transport vehicle has on board at least three male staff members — the driver, the conductor and a helper.
For the convenience of the conductor who is to collect the fare from both women and men, their is a passage between the female and male compartments. But the male passengers, who use it to occupy the seats in the female portion or to get down from the front door meant exclusively for women, misuse this passage.
The staff of the vehicle does not prevent male commuters from using the gate or from occupying the seats meant for women, as they want to carry the maximum number of passengers to earn maximum revenue.
The concerned authorities should take a serious note of this genuine problem of women commuters by blocking the passage permanently in between the female and male compartments.
The helper, who even now usually stands at the front gate, can act as a second conductor and collect the fare from women passengers only.
QAZI NAZIM NAEEM
Karachi
THIS is with reference to the letters appearing in these columns under the heading, “Seafarers’ agony at foreign ports”. Undoubtedly, seafarers bring almost all their earnings to Pakistan in the form of foreign exchange, as they receive free lodging, boarding and entertainment while on board a ship. The remittances made by them are to the tune of millions of dollars.
But after 9/11, Pakistani seafarers are facing difficulties in the international job market because of strict checks carried out on a vessel employing Pakistani crew.
Moreover, every vessel manned by Pakistanis, calling a port in the US, is required to engage private security guards to watch their movements on the shore. This is an extra expenditure for the owners. And, therefore, what the owner eventually does, is to recruit their crew from other countries.
This situation is not good and is expected to get worse. What is required from the government is to use its unique strategic position of being the front line ally of the US against terrorism, to get lifted these restrictions on Pakistani seamen and to bring them at par with the seafarers from other countries.
GHAYOOR ABBAS SHAH
Sukkur
I READ the news of the suspension of the president of the Pakistan Medical Association from government service, with a great sense of anguish.
What are the charges against her? The said news item clearly identifies them as well. She is guilty of being courageous and truthful. She has been found guilty of criticizing the wrong and destructive health and education policies of the government.
Dr Yasmin Rashid of the PMA has always been remarkably vocal in expressing the consensus view of the medical profession regarding the health policy, government’s health spending, drug policy, and the disastrous handling of the institution-based practice promulgated in Punjab and the North West Frontier Province.
If demanding an increase in the health and education budget is a crime, I am sure there are quite a few thousand more who share her views and hence are liable to be suspended from service.
If the citizens of this country who are committed to the development of health and education in their homeland, remain silent on this injustice it would be an unpardonable crime against the society.
DR SARWAR JAMIL SIDDIQUI
Karachi
THIS refers to the editorial “The rocky road ahead” and the news item “Govt accused of rigging” (Oct 12).
The average turnout in the elections was around 30 per cent. The majority of constituencies registered similar turnout, except for a strange phenomenon that around (90) per cent constituencies from where the PML-Q candidates won had the turnout average of 45 to 50 per cent. This point needs to be answered to remove doubts from the public mind, especially in the light of the very late announcements of results that were supposed or desired to produce ‘positive’ results.
AMIR ALI ESMAIL
Karachi
I will leave this country if Maulana Fazlur Rahman were ever to become prime minister. I am serious.
I have suffered many heart breaks. In 1971, this country was cut into two. In 1979, a prime minister was hanged; between 1985 and 1999, elected prime ministers were dismissed by five times. In 1980s, there was a bloodbath in Karachi when brother fought brother. I survived all this.
I fainted, but survived, when I saw what Gen Musharraf had reduced himself to during the wholly spurious referendum — instead of a general’s uniform, he donned turban and funny tepees. I survived that, too, and decided to remain in this country.
But, by God, if ever Fazlur Rahman were to become prime minister, I will leave this country. Since most nations have stopped issuing visas to Pakistanis, I have heard Papua New Guinea has kept its doors open to Pakistanis. So I have already secured the visa form, and booked the flight. I am only waiting for the day Fazlur Rahman becomes prime minister.
ZAMIR AJMAL
Karachi
With the split mandate the electorate has given for the National Assembly, Pakistan stands at the crossroads. The country may get trapped in further crises if the winning parties fail to form a workable coalition government.
I think President Gen Pervez Musharraf, who kept his commitment by holding free and fair polls, should invite the leaders of the winning parties to constitute a national government at the Centre. Such a national government should be allowed to complete its tenure smoothly so that the legislators have a chance to formulate the required laws.
Such a parliament will not only promote a culture of debate and tolerance among the lawmakers, but will also send a message to the world community that a split mandate can be a blessing in disguise if it is handed reasonably.
PROF TARIQ HABIB KHAN
Murree
THIS refers to an interesting article “The day after” (Oct 11) by Mr Firozuddin Ahmed Faridi. There is one point that needs explanation. It is about Bhutto who, the writer says, “has the dubious distinction of being the first, the one and the only civilian martial law administrator in world history”.
Actually since 1958, in Dosso v. Federation of Pakistan case, Justice Mohammed Munir had given the ruling that martial law was the “basic law-creating factor”. Iskander Mirza was legitimized under that ruling and so was Ayub. And till that point in time Bhutto could not have stepped into a power vacuum (in December 1971) without assuming the title of CMLA. Right or wrong that was the only law at that time.
It was only later in Asma Jilani v. Government of Punjab and another 1972 judgment that the ruling of Justice Munir was overturned and Yahya was declared a usurper.
Bhutto knew his law and he stated in his book, “If I am assassinated” that he didn’t want to escape from the law but from the lawlessness of martial law. The Constitution that Bhutto gave was adopted by the National Assembly unanimously and it commanded respect and awe for those who tried to trifle with it. The dictators that came after him claimed they had not abrogated the Constitution but only suspended it or held it in abeyance. They said this is not that they had a respect for the document but because they were mortified of the implications of its abrogation.
ASLAM MINHAS
Karachi
THE religious parties have achieved a remarkable success in Elections 2002. Different theories can be put forward to explain their gains at the polls. Whatever the reasons might be, it is now up to them to do their best and meet the expectations of the public.
One of the tasks that they should take up immediately is to counter the bad press they have accumulated over the years, especially with regard to women related issues. It is interesting to note that Jamaat-i-Islami, one of the most active members of the MMA, has a very active women’s wing. The Jamaat’s women are participating in several projects like legal aid, ‘baithak’ schools, Quranic Teachings, Zakat distribution, etc. The textbooks of Education Research Institute, an organization run by them, are comparable to any high quality foreign textbooks, except that these books have a strong Islamic orientation.
The JI’s lady workers are anything but submissive slavish housewives that the western media is so fond of projecting. It is time their hard work and dedication to their cause are recognized by Pakistani media.
FAROOQ KHAN
Karachi
The number of polio cases is decreasing every year since 1994. National Polio Immunization Days (NIDs) were celebrated for the first time in that year and since then, two rounds of NIDs are being celebrated every year.
Besides that, in high risk areas, sub-national immunization days are also celebrated. These NIDs have resulted in a marked decrease in the number of acute cases of polio. But we are still far away from declaring our country free of this disease. In the first nine months of this year, 50 cases were confirmed in 29 districts of the country including one case from Lahore.
So, it would be premature to start claiming complete success in our effort to eradicate polio as was done by Lahore’s Nazim in his statement published in your paper. We still need to do more.
PROF TARIQ IQBAL BHUTTA
Lahore
THE success of MMA in Pakistan’s general elections can be attributed to the Afghan war and the protest vote against the US presence in the area and its policy towards Muslims.
It appears that the government’s foreign policy initiative towards Afghanistan has also been disliked in the border areas.
However, the election result has not created any majority winner and therefore this is a unique opportunity for the political parties to show their maturity and try to establish a credible coalition government for the country’s development. The people need better education, health care and employment opportunities. The message is clear, get on with the job and deliver.
ZAFAR RAJA
London
This is with reference to the letter by Syed Adnan Saeed (Oct 14) regarding the problem of an increasing number of beggars in Karachi.
I would like to add that it has been noticed by me and my friends and relatives that the only problematic city in respect of baggers is Karachi. In Lahore, Islamabad and other big cities of Pakistan, this is not a major problem. Can any one explain as to why only Karachiites have to suffer this ?
MALIK MURAD ALI
Karachi
THE first advice and guidance on ends and means was given to me by an active member of the Indian National Congress as long ago as 1935 when I was leaving Nizam-ul-Mulk Osman Ali Khan’s state of Hyderabad, Deccan, Dr Lateef Sayeed, my dear father.
He convinced his Congress friends that it was immoral to accept donations from liquor shops because Congress policy was for ‘prohibition’; he insisted that only good means could bring about good ends.
Some years later, I read Aldous Huxley’s Ends and Means, Shelvankar’s Means Are Ends and Immanuel Kant’s Critique of Judgement. Huxley is not very clear in his conclusion on the subject and he provides for ‘compromise’.
I remember that between the Navigating Bridge, ship convoys and Italian bombers in the Red Sea as my ship Jalavihar carried war supplies and explosives for the Mediterranean island of Malta, I managed to read Shelvankar over and over again. I also read at the Library of the Royal Asiatic Society in Calcutta and discussed with my master M. N. Roy on this important aspect of daily life.
It was evident, in all respects, that moral value judgement must be absolute. Kant gives every human being the capability to make value judgement by first applying the ‘hypothetical imperative’ and, consciously elevating oneself to achieve the categorical imperative.
It is part of world history that years before Kant Epicurus used to state: “I am a human being and it is ‘in my being’ to be truthful in all that I say and in all my inter-relations with fellow humans in the world”.
Kant and Shelvankar, pursuing the aspect of means and ends agree that the “end is approached, in the progressive application of means.” It is significant that one approaches the ‘end’ and the ‘end’ is not achieved, because the end escalates as a continuing process. However, it is evident that, whatever the end, it is logical that in approaching it by pursuing harmonious moral ‘means’ in compliance with the categorical imperative, the ‘end’ continues to escalate.
Our knowledge of the universe and our socio-cultural and moral values continue to escalate as an unending process and, indeed, this ceaseless pursuit of harmonious moral values must not cause dismay.
Indeed, every human being must accept this challenge as an important aspect of life and an individual’s interaction with fellow human beings, indeed, all ‘the beings of our beautiful wandering planet’.
M. J. SAYEED
Karachi
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