| October 22, 2002 | Tuesday | Sha’aban 15,1423 |
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A political marvel
MMA must be careful
PTCL move hurting the elderly
PTV quiz programme
The Urdu University
IT returns & senior citizens
Democracy or hypocrisy?
Lahore Govt College status
Strengthening democracy
Population growth
‘Mausiqar’
Why US talks war
Newscasters’ dress code
The People’s Party Parliamentarian has managed to secure the second position in the National Assembly. But this success is largely due to the split in the Muslim League. If this had not happened, the PPP’s position would have been the same as it was in 1997. So the PPP should, instead of running after power, concentrate on organizing the party and re-establishing their link with the masses. They must also apologize to the people for the massive corruption of their leaders while they were in office.
The PPP had committed a big mistake when they had decided in 1988 to form the government on the terms and conditions offered by the then president and the chief of army staff. Subsequently, the establishment had got them ridiculed by Nawaz Sharif before a dismissal.
It seems that they intend to repeat the same mistake and are running after forming the government. But I feel that the PPP should sit in the opposition even in Sindh, in case they are required to surrender their principles. This is in the interest of the country. But, unfortunately, the party is under pressure from their so-called leader whose main objective is to get her husband released and also to secure a safe return to the country for herself. However, I think that in times to come, she and her husband will become a liability for the party.
The party has very good young leaders who should be groomed. Makhdoom Saheb is mature, balanced and soft spoken. With other credible leaders like Raza Rabbani, Iqbal Haider, Aitzaz Ahsan, Fakhr Zaman, Prof Ijaz ul Hassan, Qaim Ali Shah, Khursheed Shah, Khuhro, Naveed Qamar, Shah Mahmood Qureshi and others, it is better for the party and the country to carry on without the husband and the wife. Of course, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto should be projected because, in spite of his many shortcomings, he was definitely a leader of the millions of the downtrodden people.
IKRAM UL HAQUE
Lahore
FIFTY years ago, in 1952, in the first ever general elections in India after independence, the communists won a majority in Kerala and were able to form the first ever communist government in the capitalist world. It was characterized as a “marvel” of the 20th century, an achievement of Indian democracy, which could “tame” even the communists and bring them in the democratic mainstream.
The sweeping victory of the religious parties (the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal) in the NWFP and their quite sizable showing in the rest of the country, is no less a “marvel”.
In India in the fifties, the experiment of a communist government in the midst of a sea of capitalism floundered on the bed rock of land reforms and the reform of educational system monopolized by a certain group. Will an MMA-dominated government flounder on the rock of war against “terror” of the Al Queda?
Already there are signs of “softening”. Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani has declared that they are not against the Americans! Qazi Hussain Ahmad has assured us that there will not be any interference with American operations provided they respect Pakistani sovereignty. Maulana Fazlur Rahman says he is only against the anti-Muslim policies of the USA.
This is all very good since America assures us that Pakistani sovereignty is safe even when operations are undertaken in the NWFP against the Al Queda.
However, the choice will have to be made sooner or later. Does the “Sharia” allow the “most allied” status to Pakistan? And does it fit in with the solidarity and best interest of the Ummah?
ALI AMJAD
Karachi
The success of the MMA in the latest elections has put an enormous responsibility on the shoulders of its leadership. At present, negotiations are going on for the formation of the new government. But it is a fact that alliances among political parties in Pakistan have always been short-lived. The MMA must, therefore, be very careful about three points.
First, they must maintain unity among their constituent parties. Only in this way, would it be possible for them to reap the fruits of success in the elections and to implement their Islamic agenda.
Second, it is imperative that the MMA does not admit into its ranks any groups or individuals who believe other Muslim sects to be ‘kafir’. Such divisive elements have been rightly condemned by righteous ulema and Islamic thinkers as their only object is to destroy Muslim unity and the ability of the Ummah to confront the enemy with success.
When he had established the Dar-ul-Islam, Sayyid Maududi had this to say about the conditions for membership of the organization: “(The member) must be free from sectarianism, that is, he should allow for differences of opinion in details of belief and ‘fiqhi’ schools, and should not call others ‘fasiq’ or ‘kafir’ because of such differences. He should consider the Muslims of all schools of thought to be a single community.” (Appendix A, Rules of Membership in the Organization, Article 2).
Third, the leadership of the MMA must strive to govern in accordance with the holy Qur’an and the Sunnah and to especially focus on confronting the Western cultural invasion. It is equally important for the MMA to counter those who put forward a reactionary and backward view of Islam.
DR FAKHIR RAZA
Karachi
THE news in Dawn metropolitan (Oct 15) saying that ‘PTCL shuts its voice chat channels’ is very unhappy for us, the senior citizens of this country. Most of the younger members of our families live abroad and this was an economical means for parents to keep in touch with their children. How can the authorities be so cruel as to deprive the aged citizens of their country of such a facility?
About a month back, I read a statement of the minister of finance saying that ‘our foreign exchange reserve has reached 9 billion dollars for the first time in the history of Pakistan’. This has been so because of these overseas Pakistanis’ home remittances. When the country has gained so much from these Pakistanis, why the PTCL is crying over its losses which are just peanuts as compared to the gains to the country through the Pakistani expatriates.
After the curtailment of the profit rates of the national savings schemes, the closing down of the voice chat channel is another blow to the senior citizens of this country.
MRS SHEHNAZ RIZVI
Karachi
I wonder where and when on earth the recordings of PTV’s quiz programme, “Jo Janey Woh Jeetay”, take place and who are the blessed persons who won the prizes.
Everywhere in the world, such quiz programmes are projected prominently in the print and electronic media and people are invited to participate in them to test their knowledge and win prizes.
But whenever I contacted the PTV for this purpose, I was told that all recordings have been completed. They never told me how to participate in the programme as if it was a clandestine ritual, not to be performed openly.
Will any one of those involved in this programme at the PTV, bother to respond?
KAMRAN H. ALAVI
Lahore
DR Tariq Rehman’s article “The Urdu University” (Oct 13) brings the issue under the spotlight. The writer has given a brief analysis of the pre- and post-partition socio-political scenario that delayed the establishment of a university.
The article takes an overall view of the circumstances that made Sir Syed Ahmad Khan acknowledge and emphasize the importance of English for the Muslims of South Asia.
Here a reference can be made to a historical fact that it is the language of the ruling elite that has always found favour with the ruled.
The Roman conquest of Britain and the Muslim and British conquests of the subcontinent exemplify this phenomenon.
The point of importance is that all the languages that won international status in the past were the languages of politically and socially dynamic communities of the world.
Arabic, at some point in history, got international recognition because the Arabs developed themselves in almost all spheres of human endeavour. The English came to the subcontinent as the language of the then mightiest colonizers.
Now the unprecedented prevalence of English the world over can be attributed to the political, scientific, economic and technological ascendancy of the United States. It is, therefore, significant to note that if we are sincere about promoting our language, it is indispensable for us to make progress in other areas as well.
SHAHID SERWAR QAZI
Kharian
ACCORDING to Section 55 of the Income Tax Ordinance 1979, a person owning a motor vehicle, having a telephone, or possessing immovable property of 250sq. yds or more was required to file income tax returns irrespective of the fact whether he was liable to pay income tax or not.
This provision was, however, not applicable to widows, orphans below the age of 25 years, pensioners and disabled persons.
In the new Income Tax Ordinance 2001, which is to take effect from the next financial year, the above facility has been withdrawn from the pensioners as per Section 115(3) of the new ordinance. This would cause great hardships to the pensioners in their old age.
I request the government to kindly reconsider the matter and restore this facility to the pensioners.
The senior citizens would be greatly grateful for this act of kindness.
MUHAMMAD SALIM
Lahore
Recently, I saw a video clip on PTV in which Maulana Fazalur Rehman and Qazi Hussain Ahmad were shown embracing Makhdum Amin Fahim, Raja Zafar ul Haq and Chaudhry Shujaat.
There is no doubt that Jamaat-i-Islami and the JUI had often been in line with the Muslim League (Q or N). But these parties have never been allied with the People’s Party because of the differences of ideology.
It is said that democracy and hypocrisy are sisters. But there should be a limit to fooling the people of Pakistan.
The generation which witnessed the Pakistan movement of 1946 is still alive. I remember that the Jamaat-i-Islami workers used to chase with sticks the Muslim Students Federation volunteers canvassing for Pakistan.
They called Quaid-i-Azam “Kafir-i-Azam”. In reply, the MSF workers would raise slogans like “sau yahoodi aik Maududi” (one Maududi is equal to one hundred Jews). How is it possible that Jamaat-i-Islami or the other moulvis will forget their mission to oppose the ideology of the Muslim League?
A WORKER OF PAKISTAN MOVEMENT
Lahore
THE Government College, Lahore, was recently given the status of a university and named the Government College University. This step neither sounds good nor does it make any sense, since the college has already been given autonomy and is allowed to award degrees.
The college has produced great men like Allama Mohammad Iqbal, Dr Abdus Salam, Faiz Ahmad Faiz over the years. In the British days, there was a time when its principal nominated young men to the ICS.
Now that the college ceases to exist after 140 years, its traditions will also die. Except that the college principal, a professor in grade 20, would now be promoted to grade 22 as vice-chancellor, I cannot figure out why it has been upgraded to the level of a university.
Has anyone heard of the London School of Economics, a great seat of learning, closing down and opening a new institution by the name of the London College or University of Economics? Similarly, in India the oldest institution of engineering is still named the Roorkee School of Engineering.
I call upon the authorities concerned to restore the college to its previous status.
HAFEEZ AKHTAR
Lahore
THE founding father of Pakistan, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, had visualized that Pakistan would be a liberal, democratic and welfare state, but with his death all his dreams were shattered by self-motivated politicians and overconfident bureaucrats of the country, leading to the debacle of Dhaka.
Now the recent general election, though engineered and rigged, provides a chance to all parties to take the country to the road of democracy.
All parties and the military and bureaucratic establishment should rise to the occasion and strengthen democracy, the only choice with which to cure all the ills of the country.
May God help all the actors to make Pakistan a welfare state as envisioned by the great Jinnah.
TAHIR GORCHANI
Islamabad
THE population of Pakistan is growing at an alarming rate as ten children are born every minute.
There are several reasons for this high rate of growth. Early marriages, Illiteracy, antagonistic attitude of the people against family planning and the desire for a male child, are some of these.
There is hardly any aspiration among the masses for a higher living standard and this general contentment has affect adversely the idea of “planned parenthood”.
No matter how much foreign reserve we are able to accumulate and how many industries we set up, our problems cannot be solved if the rate of population growth is not checked.
Unfortunately, we cannot apply the one child policy, as they have done in China, because of the fear of opposition from the people. But we should try to make people aware of the problems which they face and would continue to face if they have a large number of children.
ANIL KHAN LUNI
Karachi
MR Q. A. Moini’s article “Mausiqar” (Images, Oct 13), an NGO established “to save a dying art”, was very informative. There is an urgent need for such an organization to preserve and promote our musical heritage. Sadly, the writer did not mention where the offices of this NGO are located or how a devotee of classical music can contact the people running it.
I request Mr Moini to provide the e-mail/postal address of Mausiqar to those who want to join the NGO.
WAQIF LAHORI
Lahore
MR George W. Bush wants to attack Iraq for two reasons: first, to impress upon the world the reality that his country is the sole superpower and, therefore, no one should dare challenge the will and might of the United States and, second, to cover up his administration’s ill-conceived economic policy at home.
In order to demonstrate his country’s military might, Bush attacked Afghanistan, one of the weakest countries that had nothing to do with the 9/11 terror attacks. The forces of the so-called civilized country killed nearly 10,000 innocent Afghans, making thousands of children orphans.
The US sabre-rattling can also be explained in the context of the country’s economic problems which the Bush administration has failed to solve. Unemployment is on the increase, multi-billion-dollar companies are crashing and going into compulsory liquidation, and many others are cutting their labour force in the thousands.
Although the Federal Reserve Bank has further 1.75 per cent potential money loosening ‘in the barrel’, concerns are mounting that it may be insufficient for economic revival. At a recent meeting of American policymakers, two of the ten voting members voted for a cut in the bank rate.
Moreover, industrial production in the US fell from 55 to 48 points in September. This indicates that the industrial sector experienced negative growth in the last quarter.
The US wants to attack Iraq because it fears that Iraq may possess weapons of mass destruction for which there is no proof. Even if Iraq does possess weapons of mass destruction, what threat could it pose to the US from such a long distance? And if America needs bases in the nearby countries to attack Iraq, how can Iraq acquire bases near the US to become potentially dangerous to the former?
It is a general perception that the US wanted access to oil-rich Central Asia. That was why it attacked Afghanistan. The same seems to be true in the case of Iraq. The world community must take notice of the serious situation and must make efforts to stop the US from attacking Iraq before it is too late.
REHAN AHMAD
Islamabad
Till the year 2001, one could find a mystifying piece of cloth precariously balanced at the back of the head of PTV newscasters. Unfortunately, now we can’t see even that kind of an apology for dopatta.
I admire President Musharraf for the great work he is doing. But I request him to take necessary measures to save our identity.
The dresses of PTV-World newscasters must reflect our culture.
AMIR IKRAM
Lahore
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