| January 4, 2003 | Saturday | Shawwal 30, 1423 |
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Solving Kashmir issue
Loophole in poll rules
Friday as weekly holiday
Teachers’ salaries
Spreading despondency
Phone fault rectified
Whom does terrorism hurt?
Pipeline project
‘Winter & weddings’
Nadra’s performance
‘Unjustified anti-Americanism’
THE HRCP is grateful to Engr M. Zafar Iqbal for drawing its attention to its ‘silence’ on the recent arrest of some doctors in Lahore as it shows that he does recognize the commission’s watchdog role. However, the HRCP wishes him and others who might hold similar views to consider two facts.
First, anyone‘s arrest on a formal charge does not necessarily mean a violation of human rights. No human rights organization can protest against the arrest of hundreds of Pakistanis every day, and all citizens, regardless of the halo of eminence some may enjoy for any reason, are to be treated equally.
Secondly, the grounds for protest have arisen in Pakistan when the detaining authorities do not acknowledge the fact of arrest, deny the custody of the detainee and do not disclose the grounds for their arrest. These were the reasons that became the cause of concern voiced by the HRCP in the case of Dr Amir Aziz of Lahore.
In the case of the doctors referred to by Zafar Iqbal, the government admitted the arrest, suggested a charge, produced them in a court, and the High Court’s intervention began soon enough. We were certainly shocked at the way the detainees were produced in a court but a redress was quickly offered by the court. We have also noted the change in the High Court bench hearing the case and may have reason to take that matter up.
Surely, the detained doctors are Pakistanis and human beings and as such entitled to due protection of law. We will certainly not condone any action against them that lies outside the law, and will continue to watch the other cases that may give cause for concern regarding respect for the rule of law and fundamental freedoms.
The question of the FBI’s involvement in the matter is a much wider issue than its alleged role in the present case. It also involves the innocent and nameless people of South Waziristan who have been bombed and those who have been given into the US custody by Pakistan government. The HRCP has already raised the issue and wishes to know, and the people to be informed, about the exact nature of Pakistan‘s understanding with the US government so that questions relating to surrender of national sovereignty may be raised in its proper context.
As regards Mr Iqbal’s reference to the degradation of Islam, the HRCP refutes the insinuation and draws his attention to the bulk of its work in the interest of the country’s Muslim population. We respect Islam not only because most of our members are Muslim or because Pakistan’s overwhelming majority subscribes to Islam, but also because it is the living faith of one-fifth of the human family. At the same time the HRCP respects all other systems of belief.
We may also point out that, while individual cases do demand attention, these are the symptoms of an oppressive system, highlighted by the entrenched rule of impunity. Unless this system is replaced by a just social order in accordance with the will of the people, neither the plight of the people nor the tribulation of individuals will end.
HINA JILANI
Secretary-General, HRCP,
Lahore
I BELONG to the “old” Pakistan hands from the early 1960s when the US embassy was in Karachi. Now I am a retired reserve colonel, then I was a young regular US Air Force officer in Pakistan.
It is interesting to note that many nations of the world now think that the 55-year-old stalemate between Pakistan and India over Kashmir will soon be settled in a friendly manner.
The recent confrontation between Pakistan and India should never have happened. The hate campaign is a vast and serious drain on their economic and manpower resources.
Religious extremism as evidenced in Jammu and Kashmir by violent, murderous acts is the root cause of the problems between the two equally important nations. The fact that India moved to occupy Kashmir despite the UN resolutions to the contrary does not justify religious murders and hatred in Indian held Kashmir.
The civilized world should consider itself fortunate to have Gen Musharraf around, as his is one of the few moderate voices in the whole of Pakistan.
The economic common sense has not settled the score between Israel and Palestine, nor is it likely to settle the mess in Kashmir. What can solve the Kashmiri problem is the honest will of all the people, of all the faith systems throughout the Indian and Pakistani parts of Kashmir.
If they so choose, a new nation of the Kashmiris, with dual citizenship rights, may emerge.
GEORGE SINGLETON
Birmingham, USA
THE armed forces of India and Pakistan are going back from borders after a long stay. The risks of an all-out war have been reduced but the Kashmir dispute is still there.
A recent phenomenon in South Asia has very important political and social implications — the rise of religio-politics.
The new turn in Indian politics during the last decade is the rise of Hindu fundamentalism. It derives strength from anti-Pakistan stance across the borders and communal violence within the country. This stand favours militarism and arms race. On the other hand, Gen Zia’s efforts for the so-called Islamization of society is yielding “fruit”.
The bitter truth is that the people of South Asia are living under a permanent nuclear shadow. The leaders of the two states hurl nuclear threat at each other because they are unaware of the destructive nature of these weapons. The people will be the main losers in the event of a nuclear war no matter who initiates it.
The indiscriminate destructive nature of nuclear weapons compels us to think beyond narrow national framework. The existing nuclear stockpile can destroy the entire human civilization.
RIZWAN ATTA
Lahore
THE government has enacted a law forbidding the losers in the general election from contesting the Senate election scheduled to be held in February.
I think the government is justified in promulgating this law. How can a candidate who has been rejected by his constituents to represent them in the National Assembly be allowed to become a member of the Senate?
However, I would like to point out a glaring loophole in the election rules which allow a losing woman candidate to get elected (or selected) on the reserved seats for women.
Tehmina Daultana contested the general election in two constituencies and lost both seats, but gatecrashed into the National Assembly on the reserved seats for women.
The question is, who is she representing after all? This is a fit case for Guinness Book of World Records.
SHER AZAM
Karachi
THIS is with reference to Shahab Javed’s letter, ‘Friday as weekly holiday’ (Dec 12), in which he referred to the MMA demand that Friday, instead of Sunday, be promulgated as the weekly holiday.
He thinks that as Sunday is important for the Christians and Saturday for the Jews, Friday is important for the Muslims.
According to the Bible, God Almighty worked for six days to construct the universe and on the seventh day took complete rest. Thus, the Jews rest on Saturday and the Christians reserve Sunday exclusively for prayers.
In Islam the issue of the weekly holiday in respect of Friday is clear from the verses of the holy Quran in which there is a special chapter under the title of ‘Al-Juma’ (Friday), and it proposes to the Muslims that as soon as they hear the call for prayer on Friday, they should make haste to the recitation of the name of God and stop sale and purchase.
It is also emphasized that as soon as the Friday prayer is over, they should disperse and seek God’s blessing, which means earning their living and at the same time remembering God as much as possible.
Another verses emphasize in clear words that God is too strong to be overpowered by dizziness and sleep.
MALIK SAEED
Karachi
THE education minister pointed out in a recent PTV interview that in the US and the UK the salaries of teachers were lower than those of the other functionaries of the governments. She was making a comparison between the salary structures of Pakistan and other Western countries.
I would like to inform the minister that in those and many other countries of the developed world, the teachers may be drawing low salaries but they are also paid for pre-teaching and post-teaching work along with many of the incentive-based benefits.
The working environment of those teachers is also pleasant. Their governments have given maximum possible facilities to their citizens, including teachers. If similar facilities are given to the teachers in Pakistan, they will surely work with vigour even on low salaries.
ZIA AHMED
Multan
THIS refers to Ayaz Amir’s recent column which was very disappointing. Nowadays it seems that our press has only one thing before it — to criticize the United States and President Pervez Musharraf on any pretext. It appears as if Pakistan and the Pakistani people have no other problems.
As a lower-middle class citizen of Pakistan living in Karachi, I have noticed that the three years’ tenure of President Musharraf has been much better than those of the past so-called elected and democratic governments.
Regarding the hue and cry about true democracy, I can only say that in a nation where the so-called intellectuals and politicians and bureaucrats are short-sighted, self-motivated and biased and where the majority of elected members of the assemblies are from the feudal class, how can we demand full and unbridled democracy.
In my opinion the honest and committed intellectuals of Pakistan need to focus their attention on the following important issues:
1. Drug mafia.
2. Reducing expenses on the army so that sufficient funds are available for the welfare of the poor.
3. Adopting normal, modest living standards.
4. Campaign against waderas and sardars who have enslaved the people.
5. Movement against Karo-kari in which thousands of women are being slaughtered.
6. Establishment of good schools and hospitals by the government for free education and treatment of the common people.
7. Honest police and honest courts for imparting free and immediate justice to the victims.
I hope our writers will divert their attention to these issues, instead of indulging in the luxury of discussing the so-called norms of democracy.
MUKHTAR A. QURESHI
Karachi
ABDUL Jaleel has complained in his letter (Dec 28) that his telephone 7790156 has been out of order since Dec 5.
Mr Jaleel’s complaint was registered on Dec 10 and attended to on Dec 14. This delay in the rectification of the fault was due to a cable breakdown.
The number again reported faulty but the connection could not be restored, as an electric wire which was being used as a kunda was touching DP No. 34/22. The customer was informed about this matter.
After the removal of the kunda by the customer on Dec 23, the fault was rectified the same day. However, the inconvenience caused to the customer is highly regretted.
DGM, STR-II, PTCL,
Karachi
TERRORISM is not hurting the West but is actually hurting the East, in particular the Muslim countries.
Be it the killing of French engineers in Karachi, bombing in Bali, the murder of some Americans in Yemen or attacking churches in Pakistan, in the ultimate analysis, it hurts the Muslims.
If the so-called protectors of Islam really want to defeat the West, they need to do the following:
(1) Promise to live and die in peace.
(2) Promise to stop killing in the name of religion.
(3) Promise not to kill civilians anywhere in the world.
(4) Promise to protect the minorities living among them.
(5) Invest in the next generation by making them educated in every field of life.
(6) Provide funds for libraries instead of guns.
(7) Explore the holy Quran for the benefit of the whole mankind and not for the destruction of human beings.
(8) Give priority to human rights.
(9) Spend time in solving the problems of their society. We should give a call for jihad against the following:
(a) Bribe.
(b) Honour killing.
(c) Pollution.
(d) Women abuse.
(10) Admit our mistakes and be prepared to learn how to apologize.
(11) A religion of peace should spread peace.
(12) Let us make this world livable for everyone.
JOHAR ALI
MO, USA
THIS is with reference to your editorial, ‘Pipeline, peace & progress’ (Dec 30).
By agreeing to allow a pipeline to carry gas to India through Pakistani territory, isn’t the Pakistan government negating its earlier stand that no trade is possible with India until the “core” issue of Kashmir is discussed and resolved? Or is Pakistan so tempted by the prospect of a $400 million annual royalty that it has decided to sacrifice its “principled” stand on Kashmir?
HARISH G. IYER
Hyderabad, India
YOUR editorial, ‘Winter & weddings’ (Dec 29), has rightly stated that woe betide anyone who is punctual in attending wedding ceremonies in Karachi.
Guests at wedding ceremonies get bored and are often heard expressing resentment against unnecessary delays.
The government should take the necessary steps to ensure that such ceremonies do not end up late in the night.
H. E. H. AHMED
Karachi
I AGREE with the views (Dec 22) expressed by Nusrat Nasarullah about the performance of the National Database and Registration Authority.
Nadra must first put its house in order if it is to operate with any modicum of efficacy and purpose. It is not very responsive to people’s concerns, rarely meets its deadlines and functions in a world of its own.
Take as an example the issuance of NICs by Nadra. A national identity card is not a driving, nor is it a TV licence which needs to be renewed periodically. What then is the logic of printing the “expiry date” on the card? It lasts as long as the holder does and expires with him. Why then this date of expiry? It just does not make sense.
There has been an unending spate of complaints in the media regarding the poor performance of Nadra, but to no avail. The agency simply does not care, much less attend to these complaints.
Indeed, there is no system of redressal in Nadra, which operates pretty much under the same doctrine as the country itself: the doctrine of necessity.
I submitted my NIC form at Nadra’s Malir regional office vide CNICF No. 179395 on Jan 1, 2001. The delivery date was May 5, 2001. It is now January 2003, and I am still waiting for my card.
Will the authorities concerned let me know as to which door I should knock at for acquiring my NIC?
TAJ MUHAMMAD
Karachi
I CAN hardly wait to tell New York’s Shamim Mirza, who had his letter published in Dawn on Dec 1, that being anti-American is no longer a passing inclination. Now it is a moral imperative.
The United States is today audaciously engaged in undermining the authority and effectiveness of the United Nations, the institution that is the only guardian of peace on this planet. It is tantamount to crime against international law and also humanity.
The power that ought to be blamed for the rise of the blood-thirsty Iraqi dictator is none but the United States. The US created Saddam Hussein. The US used him to mount aggression on Iran. The US connived (if not actually instigated) Saddam Hussein’s attack on Kuwait. The design was to create insecurity in the Arab family of states, and then to sell more than two billion dollars’ worth of arms to Saudi Arabia.
If the US is really interested in getting rid of Saddam Hussein, why is this so difficult? King Faisal was removed. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was removed. Allende was removed. There is no counting such liquidations. How and by whom? If anyone does not know the answer, he/she is disqualified from making comments on the US tirade against Saddam Hussein.
The reference to alleged inaccurate reports in the Urdu press is irrelevant as far as Dawn is concerned. Your correspondent from New York is calling the wrong number.
There is a streak of what I consider impudence when the English press of Pakistan is held “culpable” for supporting the Iraqi president. Nobody in right mind in Pakistan is supporting him. He is seen as an established former puppet of the United Sates. If Israel can target-shoot Palestinian leaders in their offices and homes, why is Saddam Hussein such a difficult target?
About what US troops are occasionally capable of, this gentleman should read millions of words written inside the US about the Vietnam war, about their conduct in Japan and about the current wave of protests in South Korea. Seoul is an intimate US pal, mind you.
The success of the religious rabble-rousers in the recent general election in this country should be put down to the account of none but George W. Bush for his total support and endorsement of what Ariel Sharon is doing in Palestine. The people watch unabashed aggression on defenceless people every day. They believe, not wrongly, that the US today is anti-Muslim. Mr Mirza is obviously unaware of the INS outrage on the Muslim citizens of the United States. Mr Mirza is also a Muslim, one should presume. Bravo!
The entire caboodle of Western democracies has been doing business with hundreds of dictators of their own creation for literally hundreds of years. Remember slave trade? Remember the US was the homeland of the Red Indians, not White Americans? What about the original people of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa?
These are indeed strong words. But it is time such words were addressed to those who are bent upon turning this planet into an unrelieved inferno. Let us stop mincing words and articulate the truth about these self-appointed hypocrites.
A. B. S. JAFRI
Karachi
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