| November 20, 2002 | Wednesday | Ramazan 14, 1423 |
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Prof L. A. de’Sousa remembered
‘Breathing for life’
ID cards for overseas Pakistanis
Hats off to MMA
Model university
Packaging of medicines
I wish I could visit Pakistan
PTCL’s apathy
Nuisance of stray dogs
A divorced woman’s ordeal
‘Terrorist’ organizations
Pakistanis in Afghan jails
PIA passengers’ complaint
THIS is with reference to Mahir Ali’s article (Nov 6) and Raza Naeem’s letter (Nov 11) on Josef Stalin and his role in the former USSR’s political history.
Being a native of Kyrgyzstan, I am a ‘product’ of the system which was established, shaped and moulded by the individuals whose names both the writers have listed: Lenin, Stalin, Trotsky, Khrushev and Brezhnev.
I often hear from people who did not experience living in the USSR whether we are living better than before, now that we have gained independence. The answer is not a straightforward one.
Most common people who lived in the former USSR states are experiencing dramatic changes daily. The majority are very disturbed due to numerous hardships following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Some of these hardships include unemployment, inter-ethnic cleansing, dislocated civilians, border tensions, disease and decline in education. A large number of people live below the poverty line, and many people cannot see a bright future.
As a result, there are still many who strongly believe that life was better under the former USSR. There were many positive aspects of that system which enriched the lives of many citizens. In the former USSR, the ideas and ideals were genuine in contrast to a selfish, individualistic culture and competition promoted by a market economy.
I do not agree with Mahir Ali when he says the USSR was a “flawed experiment from the outset.” For me, an experiment is something which is carried out in the laboratories. Therefore, it is wrong to talk of the experience of a people as an experiment.
As to the author’s point that the USSR “wasn’t based on any existing exemplar”, it may be pointed out that it was the first socialist country and, of course, there was no exemplar. In fact, the policy-makers of the former USSR were convinced that they were the exemplar for others.
And now about Raza Naeem’s letter. I feel his letter was rather emotional and one-sided. He has reacted to Mahir Ali’s reasonable arguments. He attempted to ‘defend’ the individual who, I think, does not deserve any defence. Although Stalin is still admired by the older generations of the former USSR, the terror he caused can never be erased from most people’s memories.
People have attempted to create better societies where they could lead free, equal and fear-free lives. However, means to create that kind of society varied. The Soviet Union will stay as one of the boldest attempts to give power to people in history. Whether people criticize it or praise it, it remains definite that no one can ever ignore it.
DUISHON ALKHOZ UULU
Karachi
I WAS very much touched to read the letter, “A teacher remembered”, by Chaghtai Mirza Ejazuddin to remember the late Prof L. A. de’Sousa, principal of D. J. College, Karachi.
I studied at this prestigious college from 1953 to 1957 and had the honour of being a student of Prof de’Sousa, who was both a great teacher and a great human being. He was one of the finest and kindest teachers I had ever met.
I still remember that, once during our Physics practical, he asked our demonstrator, Baqi Beg (who later became a famous physicist in the USA), to show him how to use a verniercalliper and a spherometer. Baqi Beg could not do it properly. He taught him then and there with great affection and advised him to first learn what he was supposed to teach his students.
Prof de’Sousa was a very fine physics teacher and advised us to read a very nice book of physics, written by Prof Jog of Calcutta University.
When I was going to Berlin for higher education I went to see him in his apartment along Bandar Road. He was extremely pleased to see me. He encouraged me to work hard and come back to serve Pakistan. He gave me a certificate which is still a valued treasure with me.
Teachers like Prof de’Sousa. Prof Shaikh, Prof Ansari, Prof Kamali, Prof Zuberi and Prof Obaidur Rahman are rare now. It is almost 50 years that I left them but their fond memories are still alive. May Allah Almighty rest their souls in eternal peace.
DR A. Q. KHAN
Islamabad
NOVEMBER 20 is the World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary (COPD) Day. This day is also observed by experts of chronic obstructive pulmonary and organizations in more than 100 countries.
The theme this year is, “Raise COPD Awareness Worldwide” and the slogan is “Breathing for Life”. Also, November 2002 has been declared as the COPD awareness month.
Smoking is the most important single cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary which leads to disability and early death. The WHO estimates that 2.7 million people died of the disease worldwide in 2000.
Unfortunately, smoking is on the rise in our country. The National Health Survey 1994 shows that 42 per cent of adult male population are smokers in Pakistan. With the current smoking habits, about 500 million people would eventually be killed by tobacco use.
The Pakistan Chest Society, Sindh, and other organizations have already marked the first day of Ramazan as the National Quit-Smoking Day.
A major awareness programme among patients, medical staff, health providers and politicians about the importance and cost of treatment of this condition is very much required.
Countries, like Pakistan, seem to be heading for a situation where fighting the disease will be a gigantic task. We have not overcome the situation and are now moving towards the chronic disease in which tobacco plays a significant role.
Dr NADEEM RIZVI
Karachi
NATIONAL identity card for overseas Pakistanis (NICOP) is issued to those Pakistani citizens who hold a dual nationality, so as to facilitate their entry into Pakistan without having to undergo a cumbersome procedure of obtaining a visa. This card is specially useful for those Pakistanis who frequently visit their homeland. The fee for obtaining such a card, valid for five years, is Rs2,500.
The question arises: why should a dual nationality holder, having a Pakistani passport in his name, be asked to purchase an NICOP card? Is Pakistani passport not a valid document for entering into the country?
Pakistani passport authorities say that there is no need for having such a card for those who hold a valid passport, whereas NICOP authorities insist that it is a must. Interestingly, both these organizations are under the administrative control of the ministry of interior.
For instance, although NICOP officials promised to deliver a card (in the name of Muhammad Umar Piracha, Receipt No. 000000390, July 2, 2002) after a month, they have not done so even after four-and-a-half months.
Phones of these officials are constantly engaged. Even those telephones which can redial a phone number are unable to get connected for hours and for days in the run. I request Nadra to look into the matter.
PROF (DR) ASLAM PIRACHA
Islamabad
IT SEEMS that the dubious wheeling dealing of politics, which always peaks when the political process is either being midwifed or aborted by the military, is back to the fore in Pakistan.
All of us know that accountability for this kind of corruption never takes place because it always happens in “the supreme national interest”.
My respect for Gen Musharraf as a leader has finally come crashing down. At the same time, the standing of the MMA mullahs, whom we usually accuse of being responsible for the mess that
Islam and Pakistan find themselves in, has suddenly increased.
The mullahs have stuck to their guns, have not sold out (not as yet), have been talking more about the Constitution than loose interpretations of Shariat, women’s modesty and jihad, and seem to be playing (with the People’s Party Parliamentarians to some extent) on the dissidents’ side. What an amusing situation! Hats (and Hijabs and webbed caps) off to the Qazis, Nooranis, and Fazlur Rahmans.
Giving the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal leaders what they deserve has the best chance of slowly steering Pakistan out of the current conflict between (loosely defined) Islamism and progressive and predictable path of constitutionalism that it has been grappling with for so many years.
OMAR A. QURESHI
Singapore
TEACHER unions have been observing strikes and holding demonstrations in the state-owned universities in Sindh for three weeks to protest against the Model University Ordinance, which has become very controversial.
These strikes and demonstrations have affected academic activities, as teachers have been boycotting their classes. Teachers are opposing the ordinance on the grounds that if it is promulgated and implemented, they will lose their jobs. Their fear, however, seems to be baseless.
I think the ordinance will benefit both teachers and students because the teachers’ salaries will be raised significantly, and deserving students will be awarded stipends and scholarships to get higher education whether in or outside the country.
I would, therefore, request all the teachers of the state-owned universities to spare the students and hold classes regularly.
It is regrettable that the concerned authorities have not done anything yet to solve this serious problem.
It is hoped the authorities would take notice of the matter, and do the needful at the earliest.
SHAMASUDDIN HINGORJO
Hyderabad
THE manufacturers of pharmaceutical products spend hefty amounts on packaging their products, but the only consideration before them while doing this is to make their products presentable. They are the least concerned about the good or the safety of their customers.
The government always succumbs to their demands for price hikes made every now and then. However, it makes no efforts to force the manufacturers to comply with the international standards of packaging, such as the use of tamper-proof seals.
ARIF KHAN
Karachi
THIS refers to Waqif Lahori’s letter, “Restoring Indo-Pakistan travel links” (Nov 16).
I am an Indian Sindhi living in Hong Kong and share his hope that unhindered travel between India and Pakistan will become a reality some day.
I have never been to Pakistan but have heard many stories from my parents about their beautiful Sindh. They migrated to India during the partition and my mother passed away without ever going back to her motherland.
Their stories have evoked a desire in me to visit the land of their birth. My father says he will be merry to accompany me but with the current restrictions and tensions prevailing between the two countries, it does not seem to be feasible.
In my view, no two countries share more similarities than India and Pakistan do. We can set our differences aside and live together as neighbours in peace and harmony.
DEEPAK M. MIRCHANDANI
Hong Kong
MY telephone line (4982021) has been connected to some other number for over a month. Every time a person calls that number, we also get the ring. We have to answer the phone for about 30 times a day instead of normal four or five calls.
Most of the time when I make a call, background voices are heard. This is not only the invasion of privacy but also very annoying and irritating.
I have registered the complaint with 18 several times but without any relief. Some of the complaint numbers given to me are: No. 131 dated 13.9.02, 103 dated 18/9, 42 dated 2/10.
In the last two weeks I have also talked on phone to every concerned officer listed in the telephone directory. Unfortunately everyone gives me a new number to contact. Every official assures me that the complaint will be redressed in a day, but that day has yet to come.
I request the high-ups of the telephone department to come to my rescue and take me out of this predicament.
M. A. ABBASI
Karachi
ALMOST every week, I read in newspapers about dog-bite cases but the concerned authorities have not taken any steps to check the menace of stray dogs.
Ten months ago, the KMC decided to launch a campaign against stray dogs but no action has been taken yet.
I once again draw their attention towards this menace, and request them to take necessary measures in this respect.
SYED BILAL HAQQI
Karachi
THIS is with reference to the news item about a woman, Yasmeen, who allegedly murdered her parents. One should not forget the immense psychological breakdown a woman in our society has to suffer when she is divorced.
Added to this is the little recognized but very real medical condition of pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) and pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) that affect many women and lead to violent behaviour.
I have suffered the demon for two years and Ms Yasmeen’s use of sedatives, as well as rocky personal relationships, can provide the perfect breeding ground for a PMS to turn into a PMDD.
Many courts in the US have also recognized this state and have pardoned the accused on the basis of solid medical evidences.
I urge Ms Yasmeen’s lawyers, doctors and sympathizers to check her hormonal and chemical levels and treat this case as that of an insane person, for a woman in the throes of PMS/PMDD is not her real self.
A SYMPATHIZER
Karachi
The United States has included the Ummah Ta’amir-i-Nau in the list of terrorist organizations, though this organization has been working for the welfare of the poor in Pakistan and, to some extent, for the Afghans.
It appears that any organization which does not subscribe to the US world order view and does not serve the interests of that country would be included in the list even if its activities are confined to the well-being of the suffering humanity.
Now, it is apprehended that the next additions to the list may include some of the most-renowned human rights organizations of Pakistan, like the Ansar Burney Trust and the Edhi Welfare organization, because they do not work for the US administration.
IRSHAD AFRIDI
Peshawar
ABOUT 600 Pakistanis have been languishing in different jails of Afghanistan for over a year now. These Pakistanis, who are from the Malakand division, went to Afghanistan to fight against the US in support of the Taliban. After the fall of that regime, they were arrested and lodged in different Afghan prisons.
The relatives of these prisoners have made all efforts to get them released, but have failed. The leaders of different political parties have also paid several visits to Kabul and other cities of Afghanistan to convince the Afghan leaders, but their efforts, too, have been fruitless so far.
I request President Gen Pervez Musharraf to personally attend to this matter.
SYED A. MATEEN
Karachi
THIS refers to the news item, “Extortion by PIA staff” (Jan 13), in which Abid Japanwalla has complained that when his daughter was leaving for London by PK-787 on Dec 30, 2001, the staff at the check-in counter at Karachi airport demanded Rs35,000 for 27kg excess baggage.
When the lady said that the excess was not that much as she had weighed the baggage at home, the demand was reduced to Rs5,500.
She agreed to pay through credit card which was not acceptable to the staff.
She was advised to make payment after clearance from immigration formalities. The amount was allegedly taken from her at the boarding gate without any receipt.
The letter writer further says his daughter was asked inside the plane if she had paid the amount and wonders if there was a liaison between the counter and the staff inside the plane.
In August 2001, my sister arrived in Karachi on a return PIA ticket from Islamabad. The return date was open. Four or five days before her departure she gave me her ticket to get it booked for her return to Islamabad.
I visited PIA’s Rashid Minhas Road Gulshan-e-Iqbal Office. The seat was booked and confirmed and I was asked to pay Rs25 which I did.
However, I could not make out why this tax had been charged. On Aug 18, 2001, I sent a letter to the managing director of Pakistan International Airline, not as a complaint but just to know how it was that PIA had levied a tax or fee on booking/confirmation of seats without any receipt or endorsement on ticket jacket.
The PIA office replied on Aug 29 asking for a “copy of ticket” in “my favour” for investigation. This letter remained unattended as I was out of station.
On my return on Oct 4 I informed PIA that the ticket was not in my name but in the name of my sister and we had no photocopy.
After giving full name of the passenger, date of travel and flight time, I told the PIA office that instead of asking for a copy of the ticket, it was very convenient and logical for PIA to take the ticket coupon that had been detached and retained at Karachi airport by CAA/PIA at the time of issuing of boarding card.
I also told the staff that the coupon had been preserved at the airport and on which original handwriting of the person charging Rs25 and endorsing ticket confirmation was available.
On Nov 29, 2001, I was informed that the matter was under inquiry which, it seems now, will never be completed.
JAVED
Karachi
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