| December 12, 2002 | Thursday | Shawwal 7, 1423 |
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Drawing the line
Judges’ remuneration
Friday as weekly holiday
Rethinking foreign policy
Wedding meals
‘Flogging dead horses’
Ibex hunting
Bridge in bad repair
Death of a patient in prison
Wapda meters
The MMA phenomenon
THIS is with reference to Zubeida Mustafa’s article, ‘Where are our libraries’ (Nov 27), and the letters by Hamza Alvi and Jamil D. Dadabhoy (Dec 2).
Perhaps the fault lies with the education system inherited from the British. Our teachers usually dictate notes to students and never encourage them to use their faculty of inquiry, thus minimizing the need for libraries.
But things are totally different in United States and the Canadian educational institutions. The textbooks usually leave out steps to be explored by students themselves and, for that reason, one has to consult 10 or more outside references to complete one’s homework.
In the mid-1990s, the Association of Pakistani Scientists and Engineers in North America (Apsena) thought of helping libraries in Pakistani colleges and universities.
I wrote a letter to Physics Today, appealing to American professors who were about to retire to donate their books and journals to our libraries in Pakistan. Two American professors responded by dropping their entire libraries at our embassy. Those books, with a few cartons of my personal books and those from other donors, were shipped to the chairman of the University Grants Commission for distribution to the libraries concerned.
I asked some friends in Islamabad to let me know as to how that effort was proceeding. To my amazement, my friends informed me that the books were not traceable while trade and technical magazines, which contained a lot of useful information, were thrown away by the UGC staff as they found it below their dignity to send used journals and magazines to any library.
For any country to achieve scientific and technical progress, libraries are a must. And if the authorities concerned do not allocate funds for this purpose or assist people like us to help build libraries, I am afraid to say that we would be dependent on foreign aid for good.
BASHIR A. SYED
Former president, APSENA, Houston,
USA
I liked Zubeida Mustafa’s article very much. It brought the problems of libraries in Pakistan under the spotlight.
I can vouch for the poor situation in schools and colleges, a large number of which, as Ms Mustafa says, are educating their students in bookless institutions.
There are a few public libraries even in Karachi, which is the biggest city of the country. Many towns, like Orangi, inhabited by 85 per cent literate people as quoted in the article, are without a public library. And where libraries do exist, their premises are used for marriage halls and such other purposes.
Books are indeed very costly, as mentioned in the article. Medical books are even costlier and poor students cannot afford them.
It is not too late for the newly-elected government to give top priority to books and libraries if they want to change Pakistan from the present bookless society to a welfare state.
MEHWISH SAFDAR
Karachi
IN his column, ‘Drawing the line’ (Dec 4), Hafizur Rahman has referred to valid issues and there is merit in his argument for addressing the imperatives of good governance in Pakistan.
In Britain, too, there is much debate on the blurring of party and official lines. The phenomenon of presidentialization of the British cabinet has been identified to explain the various nuances of governance that are becoming increasingly obvious. That the British parliament has steadily lost ground to the prime minister and his cabinet is stating the obvious and, thus, the accruing problem of presidentialization.
With a non-existent “loyal opposition”, the British government seems to be quite prepared to limit parliamentary debate and bank on its comfortable majority in the house, and bring in laws that may or may not reflect the consensus that is the hallmark of most parliamentary forms of governments. This is just a point of reference, to keep the perspective in order.
I am also slightly puzzled by the argument of the “good, hands-off” Pakistani bureaucracy of the past and, implicitly, the bad boys who rule the roost today. Surely, in the good old days, we had prime ministers, presidents and governors-general who were bureaucrats, or bureaucrats who were elevated to these offices.
I would even suggest that the bureaucracy during the 50s and 60s wielded enormous powers to the exclusion of elected representatives. The bureaucrats now can only dream of exerting such influence, regardless of their attending party meetings or otherwise.
One final point would be to differentiate between keeping a public face, and devouring political opponents by not so public machinations. Lady Thatcher was not known as the “Iron Lady” for nothing. She broke the back of the labour unions in the UK, ruthlessly discredited her rivals, had an iron grip on her cabinet, did not tolerate dissent and, in her spare time, managed to give a good account during the Falklands/Malvinas conflict.
MAZHAR AZIZ
Nottingham, UK
IN Pakistan judges, particularly those of the lower courts, are not paid adequately. No wonder that well- qualified people are not willing to serve as judges of the lower courts, hence the erosion of the quality of the judiciary. Besides, low salaries are an inducement for corruption.
I suggest that the pay scale for judges should start at a minimum Rs40,000 per month, with an annual raise and fringe benefits accordingly. For the judges of the apex courts, the minimum scale should be Rs100,000 per month. This would, in conjunction with a constitutional amendment guaranteeing all judges a lifelong tenure with and dismissal possible only for proven corruption, ensure an independent and vibrant judiciary.
Federal judges in the United States are appointed for life after passing through a Senate hearing and the confirmation process.
The salary of a federal district court judge in the US is approximately $250,000 per annum, and this is considered low because in private practice, senior partners at prestigious law firms make over one million dollars pre-tax annual income.
It is a fact that the best minds among the legal community in Pakistan also earn enormous amounts, much more than a judge gets as salary. And they almost never serve on the bench.
Incidentally, since it is also a fact that most lawyers in Pakistan prefer cash payments, it can be surmised that many are under-reporting their incomes. This is a violation not only of applicable tax laws, but also of bar ethics. Those lawyers who are convicted of cheating on their taxes should be expelled from the bar after a proper hearing.
SHAMIM MIRZA
New York, USA
THE recent proposal from the MMA about changing the weekly holiday from Sunday to Friday has stirred a controversy once again. I agree with the feeling that at present it is a non-issue and there are many more important problems which must be solved by the government on a priority basis.
I also agree with some letter-writers that there is no clear verdict in our religion that Friday should be observed as a holiday.
A weekly holiday is an entirely urban and industrial concept. In rural areas, where working hours are flexible and relaxed, it becomes of less consequence. In Pakistan where 65 per cent of the population is living in rural areas, changing the day of the weekly holiday would not have serious consequences. Our rural population will still be busy serving their feudal masters seven days a week.
The problem remains for the urban, industrial and business communities. It is said that Pakistan will lose economically if we declare Friday the weekly holiday, as we will be cut off from the rest of the world for three days every week. Nobody has put any facts or figures before us to favour this argument.
We have had a period of about 20 years with Friday as holiday and Sunday has been the weekly off-day for the last five years.
Why cannot somebody work out the statistics to let us know as to how much we have gained in real terms by having Sunday as public holiday and what the exact loss will be in numbers of jobs, business and trade if we revert to Friday? Merely saying that we will lose 52 days a year of trading and business contact with the outside world is not a valid argument.
If we do need a weekly holiday at all, the only logical day for Pakistanis is Friday. If Sunday is important for the Christians and Saturday for the Jews, Friday also has special significance for the Muslims.
DR SHAHAB JAVID
Karachi
THIS refers to the thought-provoking editorial, ‘Rethinking foreign policy’ (Dec 1).
In fact, for quite some time decisions on our behalf are being made somewhere else and we are on the receiving end and complying with orders. Most of the world bodies, including the IMF and World Bank, are forcing us to make decisions which are against our interests.
If our foreign policy were successful and guarded our national interest, the European Union’s monitoring team would not have bullied us and issued statements against our national interest.
Even now the EU has not stopped issuing statements against the manner in which the general election was conducted in Pakistan.
In spite of our efforts, we have twice failed to recover our full Commonwealth membership which has been suspended without any cogent reasons.
In spite of the whole-hearted support, which we gave to the USA and its allies in the post-9/11 period, we failed to get any material benefit. Our citizens were arrested, tried and often taken away without any fair trial.
It is time the new government formulated a new foreign policy which guards our national interests and is not subservient to any foreign power.
AZHAR HASAN SIDDIQI
Karachi
THIS has reference to the three letters, ‘Lifting ban on wedding meals’ (Nov 18). Inviting relatives/friends to celebrate purely private functions and serving food are not forbidden in Islam.
In the Holy Quran I have not come across any verse which forbids the believers from offering food to relatives/ friends or to the poor. Therefore, this cannot be termed as a wasteful expenditure if the person has the legal means to meet the cost of arranging a function and serving food.
Pakistan, perhaps, is the only country in the world where such unholy restrictions are imposed and appreciated.
K. A. WAHID BUTT
Lahore
THIS refers to Ayaz Amir’s article, ‘A talent for flogging dead horses’ (Dec 6).
He writes that one of the first acts of Gen Tikka Khan on becoming army chief was to order an end to drinking in the army clubs and messes.
I would like to remind him that the first act of Gen Ziaul Haque, immediately on being designated as chief of army staff, was to lift the ban ordered by Gen Tikka Khan. It was in February 1976, a couple of weeks before he actually took over power, with Gen Tikka Khan still in command.
I was then an ex-officio member of the executive committee of the Services Club, Multan. The then secretary of the club, who later retired as major- general, and many other officers serving at Multan at that time will bear me out.
KARAM A. SIDDIQUI
Karachi
THIS refers to an advertisement entitled, ‘Ibex trophy hunting’ (Dec 5), released by the conservator of wildlife, Sindh Wildlife Management Board.
I was shocked to learn from the ad that at least 10 Ibex goats are being officially allowed to be hunted and killed during the coming season. Is it that we have got too many of them now, or is it that the department wants to collect a handsome amount as license-to-kill fee?
Whatever the reasons are, with the kind of corruption embedded in society at present, what can stop the hunters from killing more than the permitted number of goats?
I condemn this permission to kill. Either the department should withdraw the licensing opportunity or, maybe, someone should buy these licences and then not use them, thus sparing at least 10 animals from being killed needlessly.
HASEEB KHALID
Lahore
SADIQABAD is a very important city of lower Punjab. It has grown rapidly as a business centre in the last decade. The city has an overhead bridge which was built several years ago to connect its two halves across railway lines.
A few years ago the bridge started showing signs of wear and tear and many holes appeared. The number and size of the holes is continuously on the increase and temporary repairs are of no avail. Although a signboard is displayed warning heavy traffic, buses and trucks are still using it, as there is no easy alternative route available.
I request the authorities to take immediate action for permanent repair of this bridge before a serious accident takes place.
PERVAIZ IQBAL
Sadiqabad
IT was depressing to read a news item (Nov 28) that Mohammad Iqbal, a prisoner suffering from TB, died in Camp Jail at the young age of 30. He belonged to the Haripur Hazara district and probably had nobody to look after him or get him released on bail on medical grounds.
These days, tuberculosis is a curable disease, but the fact that the prisoner died in jail instead of a hospital or a sanatorium shows criminal neglect on the part of those who had kept him there. I wonder if the jail authorities, including the jail doctor, acted upon the jail manual.
I am sure if they had followed the manual, the prisoner would have been in some sanatorium. His death proves that his disease was in an advanced stage. Keeping an advanced-stage TB patient with other prisoners is bound to be detrimental to the health of others. I fail to understand why this point did not strike the authorities concerned. What were the NGOs involved in jail affairs doing? They, too, owe an explanation.
I request the Punjab chief minister to order a probe into the death of the prisoner to avoid recurrence of such incidents.
HAFEEZ AKHTAR
Lahore
THIS refers to the news item, ‘Wapda causes huge loss to consumers’ (Dec 4), about malpractice in the purchase of meters.
The news report is incorrect and misleading. It erroneously says that the tender has been scuttled, whereas Wapda is processing the case for purchasing meters from a Chinese company.
The rate quoted in the international tender by the Chinese company was Rs768 and was reduced to Rs765. The rate was further negotiated and reduced to Rs730. Thus Wapda will save Rs69 million in the procurement of 1.5 million meters. The tender has not been scuttled as alleged in the report.
The purchase of 600,000 meters from local manufacturers was ordered only to meet the immediate requirements as supply from the Chinese company will commence after three or four months. This time is required for testing in the KEMA Laboratory, Netherlands, and for prototype approval and subsequent pre-shipment inspection of meters.
The increase in the quantity of meters by 100 per cent allowed in the local purchase orders will be implemented only if the purchase of meters from the Chinese company is not materialized.
As to the price preference for local manufacturers, it is very much in line with policy of government which has allowed from 15 to 25 per cent preference to local manufacturers.
KHALID AHMAD
Public Relations Officer, Wapda,
Lahore
EXCEPT for the 1970 election, half-a-dozen religio- political parties have never made their presence felt in the assemblies in Pakistan.
These parties were first divided along sectarian lines such as Deobandi, Brelvi and Ahl-i-Tashi. Later, most of them split into factions identified by their leadership such as the JUI (Fazlur Rahman group) and the JUI (Samiul Haq group).
Strangely, hostility among these religious parties with each other was severer than their opposition to the so-called liberal or non-religious political parties.
During Election 2002, all the religious parties and their various factions decided to join hands together. They also found an opportunity for themselves in the prevailing anti-US mood in various parts of the country and the pro-US policies of the government.
When the religious groups began to trust each other and chalked out a common strategy, voters responded with enhanced confidence in them. Like others, the MMA was itself surprised as was evident from their initial wavering policies. But it has since stabilized and is now presenting a somewhat principled stand.
Maulana Fazlur Rahman and Qazi Hussain Ahmed, two strong men in the MMA, often seem to hold divergent views but so far they have avoided bringing forth the proverbial dirty linen out to be washed in public.
The emergence of religious groups in the Muslim world does not represent unconnected incidents. These are a reaction to the domination of the world by oppressive forces.
Within Pakistan, the MMA should be expected to provide a good leadership at the national level since they have emerged from the lower middle class of society. If they are able to demonstrate good governance in the NWFP, the province where they have an opportunity to rule unchallenged, they might find acceptance in future in other areas as well. Good governance should mean the collective good of society and the benefits of official policies fully reaching the downtrodden.
The MMA should try to ensure that (a) the gap between the rich and the poor is narrowed down to the minimum; (b) opportunities for corruption are eliminated; (c) a reasonable minimum standard of living is guaranteed to all; (d) those in power live at a level that is available to the poorest in the land, thereby ushering in a culture of austerity and (e) higher moral values are encouraged instead of a yearning for plenty.
TARIQ MAHMOOD
Peshawar
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