| January 23, 2003 | Thursday | Ziqa’ad 19, 1423 |
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Rogue state: Iraq or US?
MMA: better ‘in’ than ‘out’?
Unauthorized use of loudspeakers
Where are we headed?
‘Bin Ladenism’ & Pakistan
Another cricket ‘record’
IT subject in exams
Banana diseases
Hijacking of vehicles
Food for thought
Smoking in buses
INS issue and Musharraf’s stance
DR M. JALALUDDIN
HERE are some very important documents relating to Indian Prime Minister Nehru’s pledge for self-determination in Kashmir. From his statements it is quite obvious that Kashmir is not an integral part of India.
The Kashmir pot is being kept boiling by the Indian leaders on one pretext or another. The Indian government is involved in state terrorism in Kashmir. The BJP has allowed the communal divide all over India and its offshoots, including Bajrang Dal and the VHP, and other affiliated parties have indulged in mass killing of Muslims in Gujarat, and are being financed by none other than Indian Americans.
Now let’s look at some of Nehru’s statements:
In his telegram to the prime minister of Pakistan, the Indian prime minister said: “I should like to make it clear that the question of aiding Kashmir in this emergency is not designed in any way to influence the state to accede to India. Our view which we have repeatedly made public is that the question of accession in any disputed territory or state must be decided in accordance with the wishes of the people and we adhere to this view.” (Telegram 402 Primin-2227, dated Oct 27, 1947, to the PM of Pakistan repeating telegram addressed to the PM of the United Kingdom).
In another telegram to the prime minister of Pakistan, Pandit Nehru said: “Kashmir’s accession to India was accepted by us at the request of the Maharaja’s government and the most numerously representative popular organization in the state which is predominantly Muslim. Even then it was accepted on condition that as soon as law and order had been restored, the people of Kashmir would decide the question of accession. It is open to them to accede to either dominion then.” (Telegram No. 255, dated Oct 31, 1947).
As reported by Amrita Bazar Patrika of Calcutta, on Jan 2, 1952, while replying to Dr Mookerji’s question in the Indian legislature as to what the Congress government was going to do about the one-third of the territory still held by Pakistan, Pandit Nehru said that Kashmir “is not the property of either India or Pakistan...It belongs to the Kashmiri people. When Kashmir acceded to India, we made it clear to the leaders of the Kashmiri people that we would ultimately abide by the verdict of their plebiscite.”
SHAH AFFAN
Toronto, Canada
DEFIANT as ever, Saddam Hussein appeared on television on Jan 17, and warned that anyone who tried to invade his country would be ruthlessly defeated and forced to commit suicide at the gates of Baghdad. His fiery rhetoric marked the 12th anniversary of the Gulf war.
Now another war looms, rattling financial markets worldwide. Despite the apparent willingness of his regime to help United Nations inspectors search for evidence of weapons of mass destruction, things are not looking good for Saddam Hussein.
It is obvious that the US is determined to find faults with Iraq. Even if one was to accept that Iraq is a rogue state, there are several aspects of this investigation and the American stance that make it clear that America’s position is not above board.
The most glaring example, of course, is the discrepancy between its stance on North Korea and Iraq. North Korea has refused to negotiate, withdrawn from the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty and expelled UN inspectors. Despite this, Bush says that there is still hope that diplomacy will work. North Korea has admitted to having weapons of mass destruction as well as its willingness to use them, and has refused to be disarmed. Yet Bush believes there is still hope.
Iraq has bent over backwards, allowed arms inspectors to go wherever they want and virtually exposed every defence secret it might possess. These steps have left it extremely vulnerable as far as its self defence is concerned.
In Washington the best guess remains that America is preparing for war with Iraq even in the absence of another UN resolution. Officials argue that Saddam Hussein does not have to be in “material breach” of UN resolutions; he is guilty until proven innocent. Only proof of innocence is a clean bill of health, which can save him. And the inspectors are likely to return a verdict of “not proven”, rather than “not guilty”.
Iraq is not being punished because it is guilty but because it is basically defenceless against the sole superpower. Maybe, the real rogue state is the US, because it refuses to disarm and imposes its will on anyone it pleases.
MIRZA KHURRAM BAIG
Karachi
WHILE the election of the Pakistan Muslim League (Q) is generally deemed to be engineered as that of a king’s party, the election of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal is generally viewed as a “free and fair” one driven by a certain anti-American sentiment.
In the light of casual observations and the observations submitted by the European Union election observers’ group, can the election of the MMA be deemed as absolutely free? For, one could see the second highest level of projection given to the MMA by the state-controlled electronic media during the election campaign as a result of which many could anticipate their victory.
This was later confirmed by the EU observer group’s report on the subject according to which, the second highest time was allowed to the MMA on PTV. Is it, therefore, not possible that the MMA received support because of either one of the following reasons:
(1) Were the MMA considered to be better in than out? It is a different matter that they later wanted to be more “in” than they were allowed.
(2) Were the ultra-right thrown up in an attempted face-off with the right in the world’s power centres in an attempt to have their acceptability enhanced at the global level by projecting them as the voice of the people that a pro-democracy world is expected to respect?
(3) Thus, could it be an attempt to enhance the profile of all-time allies in certain foreign policy struggles that could not possibly be waged or won formally militarily?
(4) Does our anti-terror stance not betray a contradiction between the head and the heart?
We need to rule out the above and some other possibilities before viewing elections of some as engineered and of some others as the exercise of free will in a province and in some other parts of the country.
DR MAHNAZ FATIMA
Karachi
WE, the residents of Akbar Road, endorse the views expressed by ‘an affected resident’ in your newspaper on Jan 17.
In our area there are five mosques. Two of these mosques have been built on encroached land and another on a land which, I believe, is part of Nabi Bagh Government College in A. M. 18. Just opposite this college is another mosque, which has also been built illegally on the land of Preedy Police Lines.
At the time of prayers, almost all these mosques use their loudspeakers at full volume. One mosque on Akbar Road has installed 12 loudspeakers on the rooftop of an adjacent building, Rizvi Chambers.
It seems that there is a competition going on among these mosques for the loudest azan. Besides, they also use the loudspeakers for purposes other than azan and the Friday sermon.
This excessive use of loudspeakers results in various physiological (Boiler Marker’s disease, loss of hearing, threshold shift) and psychological (anxiety, nervousness, loss of sleep, etc.) disorders. Besides, sustained stress reactions to noise can lead to high blood pressure, hardening of arteries, ulcers, indigestion and various other ailments.
The residents of the area suggest that in such a case where there are a number of mosques in a vicinity, only one mosque should be allowed to use a loudspeaker as is the case in Cairo, Egypt.
Besides, there should be a regulatory authority to monitor the noise levels of mosques and give permission for their construction at only designated sites and plots.
AFFECTED RESIDENTS
Karachi
WHAT is most sadly lacking in the world of today is evolution and development of human beings as human beings. Godlessness, immorality, materialism, conformity, narrow and narrower personal and national interests are permeating as a show poison into the vitals of human society.
What I mean is that civilization and culture continue to be thin veneers, which crack at the slightest pressure. On the contrary, fantastic progress has been registered in the field
of material science and technology, with destructive overtones.
Unless we become acutely conscious of the alarming gravity of this ever-widening gap, and rise to the challenge of the race to close it, the alternative is chaos, discontent and strife, and, let me add, it can be utter destruction.
It’s a wake-up call. The time is running out.
MRS AKHTAR TAUFIQ
Lahore
Ayaz Amir’s column in your Jan 17 issue, ‘Fighting bin Ladenism: the West and us’, is a brilliant articulation of the most critical issues facing Pakistan today. I hope it will not be relegated to the dustbin as another piece of writing from a writer with liberal and secular leaning.
Among all the Islamic nations Pakistan has the greatest potential to leap into the modern age and provide good life to its people. Pakistanis all over the world are known for their entrepreneurship. Many hold high positions in businesses and government in the West. The reason is that the Pakistanis who have excelled have done so by acquiring knowledge.
S. CHOHAN
California, USA
IT is a matter of great pleasure and pride for all Pakistanis to see Saeed Anwar’s name in the Guinness Book of Records for his 194, the highest individual score in a one-day international, though appearing late by at least four years.
To the nation’s surprise Pakistan will be making another world record by the time the Cricket World Cup 2003 ends. It will be the ‘highest number of officials accompanying a cricket team’.
The Pakistan Cricket Board is learnt to have nominated the undermentioned nine officials to accompany the Pakistan’s team participating in the World Cup. (1) Shaharyar Khan, manager, (2) Richard Pybus, coach, (3) Daryl Foster, bowling coach, (4) Sikander Bakht, analyst, (5) Aamer Siddique, motivator, (6) Samiul Hasan, media manager, (7) Dennis Waight, physio, (8) Dr Tauseef Razzaq and (9) Dr Mohammad Riaz.
Since the International Cricket Council has allowed only three officials for each participating team, the half a dozen extras will be enjoying a six-week excursion in South Africa, Kenya and Zimbabwe at the expense of the PCB.
In all probability PCB Chairman Lt-Gen Tauqir Zia, Director Chishtie Mujahid and GM Cricket Zakir Khan, with some others, will join the team when the championship reaches the semi-final stage. The presence of a dozen VIPs will form a unique combination of one official per member of the team, never seen or heard of in the history of cricket before.
It is said that records are made to be broken, but this record will stay for good because no cricket board will be foolish enough to waste a huge amount simply to please their favourites, nor will there be a chairman as generous as Gen Tauqir and an obliging government to let such a luxury and extravagance go unchecked.
COL (Retd) RAFI NASIM
Lahore
I AM a student of first year science with biology as my main subject. I was really shocked to read a news item in Dawn about making IT a compulsory subject.
I want to be a doctor and am not interested in physics, chemistry or computers. To tell you the truth, I took up biology because I am not good at maths and the aforementioned subjects. I do not understand why we are being forced to study Urdu, Islamiat, physics and chemistry when we have already chosen biology as our main subject. One can realize how much hard work is needed to manage eight subjects at a time.
To be perfect in biology one has to devote a great deal of attention and concentration. Some people say computers will overtake most of the work from humans, so everyone needs to be computer literate. Fine, I know that it applies to the field of medicine as well, but we do not have enough resources to manage computerized systems and machines. We might have some at some places in our country but it will take an unimaginable period of time to make it commonly available for all people.
How can one expect us to complete the syllabus of IT when we are told about it only two months before our final examinations?
RABIA IQBAL
Karachi
SCIENTISTS have warned that unless radical action is taken (Dawn, Jan 17) banana plantations may be wiped out in 10 years owing to fungal disease, sigatoka (causing extensive leaf spot and irregular ripening) and panama (causing yellowing, buckling and wilting of the leaf).
Banana plants in Sindh suffer from bunchy top disease (rosetting of leaves and stunting of plants). I gave a detailed account of the viral disease and its vector (Dawn, Dec 27, 1991).
The crop plants propagated vegetatively (asexually) become vulnerable to diseases. Plants grown by means of seeds (involving sexual reproduction) are also prone to attack by pests.
We spend billion of rupees every year on insecticides to control white fly, which transmit cotton leaf curl virus. Fortunately, for us, there is so far no report about the incidence of sigatoka and panama disease of banana from Sindh.
Karachi
THE reason why the Karachi police are unable to stop the rampant hijacking of vehicles in the city is that they are not the crime-control police. They are only a riot-control force.
Controlling riots has been their duty since the time of the British Raj. The British policy was to hire non-residents for a city as its police force so that they could put down any uprising with brute force.
Unfortunately, this policy was continued even after the creation of Pakistan. I hope the high-ups in the federal government will finally change this policy.
NOOMAN NAQVI
USA
EVERY nation gets the kind of laws it deserves. A case in point is the Punjab government’s decision to prohibit more than one dish to be served to a maximum of 300 guests in a wedding, as reported by your paper in its issue of Jan 21.
The federal government had banned serving food in wedding ceremonies, but the decision was revoked by the Supreme Court about a couple of months ago.
In Karachi, the wedding season is these days at its peak. The city is dotted with colourfully- decorated marriage houses. The objective of matrimony — a union of two souls — has been relegated to a secondary position.
What matters these days is a show of opulence by the socialites and elites of the city. The usual talk among ladies and gossipers is how large a crowd is at a wedding function, how many dishes are being served and how pretty (or otherwise) the ambience is?
Recently, I observed in some weddings that the dinner was served by top class caterers or five-star hotels for about 3,000 guests, and that it comprised as many as 15 dishes. The hosts must have ended up spending four to five million rupees on food alone! I only wish they had realised that they live in a country, where millions do not get two square meals.
AMIN-E-AJAM
Karachi
SMOKING in buses and coaches has become very common these days, causing not only great inconvenience to commuters but posing health hazard as well.
If commuters dare raise an objection, scenes of violence take place in buses. Prohibitive orders issued in this regard by the court must be fully implemented to protect the health of the public.
M. SHAMSUDDIN
Karachi
THOUSANDS of Pakistanis in the US are facing the problem of special registration without any headway being made by President Pervez Musharraf, despite the fact that this INS law will have far-reaching repercussions for the social, economic and political life in Pakistan.
It is humiliating, disgusting and annoying to see nationals of a front-line state being arrested, disgraced, detained and deported on unproven charges. About 1,00,000 more Pakistanis are likely to be deported soon.
President Musharraf’s statement, describing serious matters as “small issues which should not affect our long friendship with America,” has confirmed our complete capitulation. A weak, meek and mentally subdued government is unable to show moral courage and strong nerves in dealing with an overpowering government on preconceived issues. It is high time the president proved it to the nation to be otherwise and put Pakistan-American relations on an equal footing.
President Musharraf’s government seems to be overzealous in promoting one-way friendly relations with the Bush administration. The servile submission to demands and commands (hot pursuit, FBI operations, arrest of respectable citizens, bombardment inside Pakistan territory, interference in politics, etc.) appear to have compromised the sovereignty and dignity of Pakistan.
The president has to make it absolutely clear to President Bush that our cooperation is based on equality, trust, mutual respect and promotion of common interests. These are the prerequisites of durable friendly relations between two individuals or two nations. The present cooperation between Pakistan and the US is likely to suffer a major setback if Pakistan is humiliated by listing its nationals for special registration.
The Pakistanis living without legal status in the US should be granted permanent legal resident status. President Bush has promised President Fox of Mexico not to deport Mexicans as such a move will cripple the Mexican economy.
Three million illegal Mexicans are estimated to have been given protection and legal cover against any action of deportation until a plan to legalize their stay is worked out. This is a good precedent, and President Musharraf must impress on President Bush to do something similar for the Pakistani expatriates as well.
No legal actions, including deportation and special registration, should be taken against the Pakistanis living without legal status until their stay in the US is legalized as permanent residents. Special registration should be undertaken only for fresh arrivals with legal entry documents.
LT-COL (Retd) MUHAMMAD ASHRAF
PA, USA
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