| January 3, 2003 | Friday | Shawwal 29, 1423 |
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Sayings of Bush
Pakistan study centres
Nazim-i-Ala’s attitude
KU arrangements for exams
Cotton Standards Institute
We have got everything
PAF plane crash
Dr Ibad
Security for Musharraf
First human clone
Quaid’s birthplace
I AM an Indian born naturalized Australian and I had an opportunity of visiting Pakistan on a business trip in February 2001.
I would like to share my experiences and thoughts on how to improve relations between India and Pakistan.
India has made considerable scientific and technical progress in the past 50 years but most of the benefits have been nullified by its population explosion. On the other hand, military dictators have ruled Pakistan for a long time causing incomprehensible damage to the democratic institutions of the country. Consequently, both have achieved little in real terms.
During my visit the people of Pakistan extended their hands of friendship to me. They were very inquisitive to know how things were on the other side of the border. The same inquisitiveness exists on the Indian side.
On seeing the pictures of Shahrukh Khan in the bazaars of Islamabad, listening to the music of Indian films in numerous restaurants and eating places and eating my favourite dishes I could never feel that I was in a foreign country.
There are only two options before India and Pakistan: either they go for a nuclear war resulting in being wiped out from this planet; or they opt for a peaceful solution through the efforts of the peoples of both countries.
The latter approach is simpler. The two governments should facilitate the exchange of school and university students and academia by easing visa restrictions. The young generations of India and Pakistan should not be made to pay for the mistakes of their forefathers.
The issue of Kashmir is the biggest stumbling block in the normalization of relations between the two nations. Even being an Indian I think that on the basis of Muslim majority and geographical continuity Kashmir should have gone to Pakistan.
I do know that hanging on to Kashmir is an issue of ego for India. Some possible solutions to solve the Kashmir problem are as follows: one possibility is to accept the Line of Control as the border between the two countries. There is little possibility of this being accepted by Pakistan. The other solution is to declare Kashmir a jointly- administered zone of India and Pakistan. It appears that some vested interests on both sides of the divide do not want peace in Kashmir. If this problem is solved, most of the defence forces of both nations will become redundant. In addition, many politicians on both sides of the border will be out of work.
I may mention that last year the Indian and Pakistani students of Swinburne University in Melbourne celebrated their Independence Day together. This is a great start.
NEEL KAILA
Victoria, Australia
A FRIEND of mine has emailed to me the following sayings of President George W. Bush. I want to share them with Dawn’s readers.
“Ariel Sharon of Israel is a man of peace.”
“General Musharraf of Pakistan is a democrat.”
“The inhabitants of Greece are the Greecians”.
“The French don’t have a word for ‘entrepreneur’.”
“The vast majority of our imports come from outside the country.”
“If we don’t succeed, we run the risk of failure.”
“I have made good judgments in the past. I have made good judgments in the future.”
“The future will be better tomorrow.”
“We’re going to have the best educated American people in the world.”
“I stand by all the misstatements that I’ve made.”
“We have a firm commitment to Nato, we are a part of Nato. We have a firm commitment to Europe. We are a part of Europe.”
“A low voter turnout is an indication of fewer people going to the polls.”
“For Nasa, space is still a high priority.”
“Quite frankly, teachers are the only profession that teach our children.”
“It isn’t pollution that’s harming the environment. It’s the impurities in our air and water that are doing it.”
“It’s time for the human race to enter the solar system.”
NAZIMUDDIN
Islamabad
THE Commission on Higher Education has decided to merge all Pakistan study centres with their respective universities presumably because of the financial burden which the federal government has to bear in running these institutions.
These centres were set up in 1974 and were later validated by an Act of Parliament in 1976. They are doing a tremendous job by promoting research into Pakistan history and culture.
We were already more then 25 years late in making Pakistan Studies a compulsory subject in our schools and colleges.
It may be pointed out that the first subject to be made compulsory in the US was American History. Now the Pakistan government has decided to merge these study centres with the respective universities. We are already famous for preaching what we do not practise.
On the one hand, much hype has been created about allocating the huge sum of money to higher education and on the other, steps were being taken to push the country towards ignorance, by ignoring the importance of history and culture and focusing only on the IT sector.
No nation can make any progress if it ignores its own history and culture.
MOHAMMAD MAHMOOD
Hyderabad
THIS is with reference to Farhat Asrar’s letter narrating his experience with the Nazim-i-Ala of Karachi, Niamatullah Khan, on the issue of charged parking.
Charged parking is normally introduced in an area where supply cannot meet demand. However, when such a scheme is introduced, it is important to provide alternatives.
When charged parking was first introduced in Karachi on Zaib-un-Nisa Street and Abdullah Haroon Road (important arteries), alternative long-duration parking was kept in mind before implementing the scheme.
Although the scheme was not perfect as far as its implementation is concerned, it made parking space available to shoppers, helped improve business activities and decreased traffic jams.
The present widespread introduction of charged parking was introduced by a former KMC administrator (an army officer) to provide work to the over-staffed KMC and generate revenue, but without any consideration for vehicle owners.
Unfortunately, the present city government has not only continued this practice but also expanded it to other areas to generate revenue, and that, too, through contractors.
Parking in congested areas of the city is a serious problem and the solution to this problem is a well thought-out strategy rather than ad hoc measures.
As for the writer’s frustrated comment, “So much for the devolution of power plan”, I support the concept of local governments and think that this is the best thing that has happened in Pakistan during the previous government.
Of course, it is not perfect and needs to be given time to strengthen its roots. This is the grassroot tier of democracy, which delivers services and is accessible and accountable to the local people of an area. To make it successful over a period of time, it is for citizens like Mr Asrar to participate in this process as an extension of democracy.
NAZIM F. HAJI
Karachi
THIS refers to the news item, ‘Poor arrangements irk students’ (Dec 31).
These days the University of Karachi is conducting the BA, BSc and BCom examinations for both regular and external (private) students at its campus. These candidates number around 22,000, and making arrangements for their examinations is really a challenging job.
The university administration has made efforts, in collaboration with its faculty members, to hold the examinations accordingly. In order to keep a close watch on candidates and ensure fairness in the examination process, these examinations are held at the university campus.
As regards the transportation problem, the university has always made its fleet of buses available for the candidates of these examinations. It also makes efforts, within its means, to provide the maximum transport facilities to its students.
It is important to mention that a large majority of the candidates took their papers peacefully and had nothing to complain at all. The demand of about 200 students (who are even less than one per cent of the total number of the candidates) to cancel the examinations cannot be accepted.
However, the university is sympathetically considering the cases of those candidates who were affected owing to rain on Dec 30.
The university has always been sympathetic to and lenient towards with its students and expects them to help maintain discipline at the campus.
CONTROLLER OF EXAMINATIONS
University of Karachi, Karachi
THROUGH these columns, I wish to invite the attention of the prime minister to the sorry state of affairs in the Pakistan Cotton Standards Institute hoping that he will take immediate action to save this organization from ruination.
The PCSI was established to introduce internationally accepted cotton grading and standardization. But for the reasons best known to the ministry of food, agriculture and livestock, (Minfal), no managerial position has been filled with care.
This organization is working without any head of the department as the post of director has remained vacant for several years. This speaks of the level of interest being shown by the Minfal to run this important organization. Besides, other financial irregularities are being committed, but the ministry is not taking any action to run this organization properly.
As a consultant in the field of cotton trade, I think that if this situation persists , the possibility of implementing the Cotton Standardization Ordinance in real sense will be jeopardized. This would result in a huge loss of share in international market.
I would request the prime minister to appoint a high-level inquiry committee to look into the affairs of the PCSI on a priority basis.
BAKHTIAR AHMAD
Karachi
WE have a ‘magno’ train, the KCR (which has finished its table life), a big central park at the old Sabzi Mandi in Karachi, the Kalabagh dam generating thousands of megawatts for us, the Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway which is so long that it took the builders many years to complete just a small portion of it.
We also have Karachi-Hyderabad Motorway, a project which was started but only God knows in which direction, and now a Disneyland park for Karachiites, who already have a big central park at the old Sabzi Mandi.
Above all, the nation has honest and patriotic leaders who spend every single penny from the budget on these kinds of projects. We have excellent economy, billion of dollars in reserves, high GDP, better education and health care. What else do we want?
We are so lucky to have all these things. We have got everything in Pakistan though only on paper.
WAJIH UR REHMAN
Shanghai, China
THIS has reference to the letter, ‘PAF plane crash’ (Dec 22), by M. Jahanzeb Rahim.
Since I have served the Pakistan Air Force for over three decades, I would like to throw some light on the subject and the questions that have been raised by the writer.
Accidents do occur in all air forces both in the air and on the ground. The Indian Air Force reportedly lost 200 aircraft in the last decade alone.
Even the US Air Force and the Russian Air Force, despite having high technology, have not been able to avoid such accidents. In mid-80s one USAF flight called “Thunder Bird” went dashed into the ground while displaying aerobatics. Recently, the US navy lost two aeroplanes in a mid-air collision.
Analysts cite the human factor as a cause of such incidents. Either a pilot’s misjudgment or a technical fault due to poor maintenance causes an accident.
Accidents by high-tech planes are few and far between. Planes which are prepared with
old technology cause difficulties, which are gradually overcome to improve their performance.
An F-7 plane is the new version of MIG-21 but with improved technology. This is regrettable that, since the induction of F-16s in the PAF in 1983, the US has denied Pakistan any weapon systems of the latest technology.
Air Marshal (R) Asghar Khan instituted a special directorate of flight safety at the PAF Headquarters to keep a close watch on flying exercises and ensure flight safety.
Every accident is thoroughly inquired into by specialists and measures are immediately taken to ensure that such an accident does not take place again.
In case an official of the air force is found in breach of discipline, a disciplinary action is taken against him. Every year a flight safety conference is held to examine all accidents squadron-wise.
To maintain high flying efficiency in the PAF, both man and material (equipment) matter. I am sure the PAF is in the hands of professionals who know their job and mission very well.
AIR CDRE (R) IQTEDAR A. KHAN
Karachi
ARDESHIR Cowasjee’s columns are admired and widely read because of their frankness and mostly unbiased views. In his column of Dec 29, he says that Dr Ishratul Ibad, the new governor of Sindh, is a proclaimed offender.
While saying this, Mr Cowasjee has probably been swayed by the propaganda campaign which has been launched by Dr Ibad’s opponents.
Dr Ibad has never been declared a proclaimed offender by any court, and this allegation against him is false.
As for cases, if any, against Dr Ibad, a person like
Mr Cowasjee should appreciate their background in the light of the cases instituted against him in the decades of 70s and 90s.
M. A. JALIL
Karachi
I WANT to share my recent experience with my fellow country men.Our family was all set to go on a fishing trip from our only Jetty Kemari that has the facility for commercial boats to take the people out on boating trips.
Our guests’ list also included some foreigners who were invited to experience one of the few entertainment facilities that the citizens of Karachi have. We had made all the arrangements a day earlier so that we could start early for our outing.
On Sunday (Dec 29), when we reached the Kemari port we were told that no one was allowed to dock in or leave from the port and it would remain closed indefinitely.
On inquiry from the heavy police contingent present there, we came to know that since President Gen Pervez Musharraf might be visiting the PN Docks, the jetty of Kemari had been closed for the day for security reasons without prior information to anyone. We waited from 8am to 11am for someone to at least tell us when will the port be opened. But no one came to our rescue.
You can imagine the plight of host of picnickers standing outside the Kemari Jetty where no one was allowed to go into the open sea because the president might be visiting the Dock area.
The Dock area in any case is under the control of the Navy, patrolled by coast guards and surrounded by various law-enforcement agencies.
MUSTAFA ABID HUSSAIN
Karachi
THIS refers to the news report, ‘First baby clone born, claims US firm’ (Dec 28), which says that a Hollywood-based private firm, Clonaid, has claimed to have produced the first clone baby through cells taken from a 31-year-old American woman.
Apart from the enrichment of this scientific aspect (the progress of which is welcome), there are other humane issues related to this experiment.
* During the natural birth process, a human cell (in the shape of a sperm) gets conceived in a womb.
* In the cloned birth a cell from the body of a human being gets conceived in the womb.
* In this process the baby clone baby is deprived of the natural loving mother or father, or both. Why should a baby suffer such a loss at the alter of science?
If the baby had been mature enough, I think it might have preferred to sue the company who has produced it through cloning.
CHAUDHRY SHARIF AHMAD
Karachi
AN article published in your newspaper wrongly says that Mohammad Ali Jinnah was born in Karachi in 1876. The fact is that this noble man was born in Jhirk, at some distance from Thatha on way to Hyderabad.
The headquarters of the Ismaili community was in Jhirk at that time as the First Aga Khan, Aga Hassan, had arrived from Iran in 1836 to live in Jhirk, Sindh. The Talpur rulers were requested by the Qachar rulers of Iran to hand him over to Iran, but the Britishers intervened and, with the help of Aga Khan and Naoonmal, they conquered Sindh.
The family of Jeheena Poonja (Jheena means Zaeef, weak, humble) lived in Jhirk when Mohammad Ali was born. He went to a primary school in Jhirk where he studied up to class III. Then his family moved to Karachi.
After further education, he joined the Madrasatul Islam and then proceeded to England. Wazir Mansion which is claimed to be the birthplace of Jinnah was not built until 1911-12 when it was called ‘Chagla Musaafir Khana’. Later it was named Wazir Mansion.
The fact that Jinnah was born in Jhirk was mentioned in all school textbooks of Pakistan up to 1954. Then (after the One Unit that falsified every truth about Pakistan), this little truth also became a casualty to suit the whims of the then rulers.
Today, if you go to Jhirk, you will see the mansion of Aga Hassan still standing there, of course, locked. In the neighbourhood, next to the house, you will see an empty plot, facing the river, between the primary school and Aga Hassan’s mansion: that is the place where Mohammad Ali Jinnah was born. The people of the area will tell you the truth about his birth.
Ghulam Mustafa Shah, the ex-vice chancellor of Sindh University and one of the custodians of the Jinnah Trust, had an article published in Sindh Quarterly of 1980 showing the photographs of the place where Jinnah was born.
MUHAMMAD UMAR CHAND
Auckland, New Zealand
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