| January 29, 2003 | Wednesday | Ziqa’ad 25,1423 |
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Plea from a fellow Patrician
World Cup: what else do we want?
State of the economy
DHA residents’ problems
One good thing about MMA
Why avoid registration?
Internet telephony
Exam 2001: FPSC version
‘Kinnow’
A tribute to Nani A. Palkhivala
MAHER H. ALAVI Director (PR), PTA, Director-General, FPSC,
ONE thing is quite clear from the US ambassador’s recent statement about Pakistan’s alleged involvement in the infiltration at the LoC: the US does not buy our official policy on Kashmir issue, no matter how much we feel jubilant for being a ”front-line state” against terrorism and the US’s dearest top friend in the region.
The inclusion of Pakistan in the list of the countries whose citizens have to register in the US is a clear writing on the wall. The days of our honeymoon with the US are probably over, and now we have to be prepared for the worst. And the worst one can expect is the inclusion of Pakistan in the list of the countries which are termed as “axis of evil” by the Bush administration.
Perhaps it sounds very pessimistic, but shouldn’t we be ready for the worst and act for the best? And the best in the circumstances is that we should really act to project the image of Pakistan before the world community as a responsible, progressive, forward looking and peace loving country. This requires some fundamental changes in our foreign policy. Perhaps we have to change our traditional strategy towards India and Kashmir.
It is obvious that our Kashmir policy is not going to convince the world community to accept our point of view. On the contrary, India’s diplomacy has been quite successful in projecting our image as an irresponsible state supporting cross-border terrorism.
What we need is a bold and realistic attitude to the present situation in the region and also at the global level. We need to engage our neighbours, particularly India, into a meaningful dialogue process which should lead to sustainable peace. We have to give up our hobby of always talking about nuclear capability and wars.
We should rather let the politicians and the civil society members engage their counterparts in India in a continuing dialogue process to defeat the evil thoughts of their right-wing politicians. We can still pursue our Kashmir case successfully before the Indians and the world community in a democratic and popular style without talking in terms of bombs, missiles and destruction.
I strongly believe that the solution of Kashmir problem lies in a political and diplomatic dialogue. About 99.9 per cent people in the subcontinent and around the world will vote for sustainable peace.
TANVEER ARIF
Karachi
NANCY Powell’s comments did not came as surprise to us Pakistanis living abroad. They are, however, made at a very crucial time, thus hinting what may lie next for Pakistan.
It is quite clear that the US pressure on Pakistan is not to resolve the Kashmir conflict. If that was the issue, then the same remarks could have been heard across the borders. The real demands for Pakistan are yet to be tabled.
Only if the Pakistani junta understands what the next demand would be, maybe to fold our sleeves and become one of those helpless people who are facing the wrath of the enemies they never created.
ABDUL BASIT
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
NOBODY could be a bigger fan of President Musharraf than I because of my bias towards his schooling. We Patricians always say, “Once a Patrician, always a Patrician.”
Thus, when I found out that our president had studied at St. Patrick’s High School, I was assured that we had finally found a right leader. However, as it is so often the case, some things are too good to be true and the curse always starts with small things. Being a fellow Patrician, I want to inform our president that he better take notice of these small things or they could add up to him losing most of his fan following at least in Karachi.
In the last three months or so I think the president has been to this metropolis two/three times at least and what testing times they have been for the Karachiites.
During the Ideas 2002 exhibition I was stuck at a traffic intersection for an hour and 17 minutes! At that time I was thinking of putting my name up for the Guinness Book of Records, but two subsequent thoughts stopped me from doing so: first, there would be at least one million more Karachiites who could match that or probably do better, and second, I had this patriotic feeling that this was good for the country. So I let the feeling pass.
However, when in the last three days of 2002 and the first few days of the new year, I had to go through a worse ordeal because the president wanted to celebrate the new year in Karachi, my blood pressure shot up to heights that would put the “Killer Mountain” to shame.
Not being allowed to park your car in front of your office, stuck at cross sections for hours, not being allowed to get gas filled in one’s car, being shouted at and sometimes even abused by those “protectors of the city” and, finally the straw that broke the camel’s back, not being allowed to go to your house because the intersection of your home lane is blocked.
The question is: aren’t the people of Karachi enduring enough mental torture owing to traffic jams, inefficiency on the part of the city administration, electricity and water issues, etc. that we have to go through such an impossible situation?
So, all I plead, and surely other Karachiites will agree with me, is that if someone of such importance has to come to Karachi, the city management must plan it out. Either arrivals or departures be kept in late hours or maybe the dignitaries be airlifted to the locations that they have to go to.
I request my fellow Patrician to look into this matter.
SHERAZ SIDDIQUI
Karachi
BRIG (Retd) Salahuddin in his letter (Jan 17) asked the Pakistani cricket fans to consider a few factors before setting any kind of hopes on their winning the World Cup.
He said that most of the selected players had been in the World Cup squad of 1999, and that the senior players were injury-prone and past their prime. He also mentioned that a few players were playing the World Cup for the first time. I think the selectors have come up with a perfect combination of youth and experience.
What the Mr Salahuddin fails to realize is the fact that in almost all squads, there are players who have either past their prime (Alec Stewart, Aravinda De Silva, Javagal Srinath, Chris Harris, Brian Lara, Gary Kirsten, Allan Donald, Ridley Jacobs), or are injury-prone (Shane Warne, Murlitharan, Andy Flintoff, Heath Streak, Chris Cairns, Brian Lara, Michael Vaughan).
But the respective boards of these players have stuck with them because the World Cup is an event where you need more experience than youth, and it is felt that it is worth risking the threat of an injury. Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Shoaib Akhtar, Abdul Razzak, Saeed Anwar are all match winners and world class players.
So, what if they have past their prime or are injury-prone as long as they can play some good cricket, teach some of the inexperienced players a thing or two about handling pressure. What more do we want?
MUSTAFA CHAGLA
Karachi
SHAUKAT Aziz, adviser to the prime minister for finance, planning and economic affairs, while inaugurating the annual conference of the PSDE, has repeated his and the official resolve to improve the life of the common man, create employment opportunities through pro-poor growth policies and keep the inflation under control. It is, indeed, a lofty and high-sounding note, but unfortunately, it is far from being true.
In the last three years of Mr Aziz’s management of the country’s economy the life of the common man deteriorated, employment opportunities decreased and the inflation in real terms rose.
Small wonder that the majority of people continue to be poor. No amount of statistics can prove it otherwise if one has the eye to see and the will to discern.
We are repeatedly told that the country has a reserve of nine billion dollars. Maybe so, but the question is: why does the reserve not reflect well on the condition of the people?
Frankly, with the passage of each day the problems of the common man are multiplying and we have, indeed, failed the majority of people in the field of education, health, etc.
What then should we do? The only way the national life can progress is through compulsory primary education, large-scale industrialization and drastic reduction in the non-development expenditure, including most importantly defence.
Karachi
THIS refers to a news item (Jan 25) regarding a review of DHA’s uplift projects.
While appreciating the directives issued by the commander 5-Corps, Lt-Gen Tariq Waseem Ghazi, to make all-out efforts to provide the best possible amenities and facilities to the residents of the DHA, I would like to invite his attention to certain perennial problems confronting the residents.
Weddings and other functions more frequently held at Sunset Club deprive the residents of sleep and rest for the whole might owing to deafening, unbearable music, songs, stage plays, comedies, clapping, etc.
There are no words to express the agony and pain suffered by the helpless residents. I would like to request the authorities concerned to visit the site during such functions being allowed without let or hindrance at the club.
Another problem is the existence of an open nullah in front of Baitus Salam Masjid at Sunset Commercial Street No.2, which not only stinks and breeds mosquitoes but also causes accidents.
The lower middle class families residing in the DHA confront grave problems in providing education to their children. Not only school fees are high but the cost of conveyance for sending them to the far off schools earmarked by the DHA are not economical. They feel that DHA should allow the private sector to open schools in the other commercial areas at least for pre-primary classes, to begin with.
Moreover, inadequate supply of water compels the residents to buy tanker water at exorbitant rates. From four to five tankers per month is an average requirement of each bungalow. The other problems include open manholes and damaged roads.
I appeal to the DHA authorities to take immediate measures to redress the grievances of the residents.
HAJI ESSA KATCHI
Karachi
THE MMA has been subjected to a great deal of stinging rebuke, and termed a band of fanatics and obscurantists by various elements through the media.
The alliance has also been accused of irrationality owing to its support for the causes of the Ummah without considering the American pressure on Pakistan. Besides, it is considered an enemy of progress and women’s rights.
However, I believe that one positive thing about the MMA has been ignored completely. The MMA consists of people from all nationalities living in Pakistan. It has broken the power of ethnic parties in Balochistan, the NWFP, Karachi, rural Sindh.
The people who are supporting the MMA are more loyal to their Islamic and national identity than their provincial or sectarian identity. No MMA supporter in Balochistan or in the NWFP can dream of supporting Baloch or Pakhtoon nationalism.
It sounds so good when Maulana Asadullah Bhutto, leader of the MMA in Sindh, speaks passionately for the cause of Iraq. When he is so passionate about Iraq, how can he ever support ethnic nationalism in Pakistan? The MMA has thus promoted unity among the people of Pakistan in its own way.
OSAMA LONE
Lahore
AS my family lives in the United States, I have been closely following the INS registration issue. The US has for the process its own arguments which are probably better justified than its designs for the Middle East. However, on this side of the fence it is yet another painfully humiliating racist law which we are expected to comply with.
The fact that Diana’s butler got more coverage than this issue, which is directly or indirectly affecting millions of people in and outside the US, speaks volumes about the “free press” in the West. I, therefore, believe that your coverage of the issue has been a great help to the Pakistani expatriates.
There has been criticism that the Pakistan government has not done enough. Sadly, there is little it can do when a sovereign nation (and that too the most powerful) decides to get tough about implementing the law of the land. However, if we do want to better our lot, we should criticize less and participate more. I found out through Dawn that the embassy in the US was seeking suggestions. Since I contacted the embassy staff, I have been receiving regular updates from them.
Finally, news about detention has been scaring the Pakistanis both in the US and at home. This is obviously a genuine concern since people are being picked up even for being slightly out of status. However, it would be worse if people decided not to register. Therefore, it might help if Dawn also gives coverage to cases where registration was done smoothly.
It would help if people who are registering call up or email the embassy and let them know how things went, so that it can be relayed to others and calm nerves.
ARSALAN KAMAL
Bangkok, Thailand
THIS refers to Irfanuallah Khan Waziri’s letter, ‘PTCL’s monopoly’ (Jan 26), in which he said the ban on the internet telephony had not yet been lifted by the PTA.
It is clarified that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority issued instructions to the PTCL to unblock websites leading to the internet telephony with effect from Jan 1. The PTA still stands by its decision.
However, the PTCL has taken up the case with the ministry of information technology & telecom against the permission granted by the PTA to unblock the websites so as to save their revenue stream.
GHULAM QADIR KHAN
Islamabad
THIS refers to Syed Tanvir Murtaza and Khair Khwah’s letters (Jan 5 and 6). It is clarified that:
(i) The Federal Public Service Commission did not announce that candidates, apart from those for BS-17 jobs, would also adjusted in BS-16, nor was there any such provision in the rules of the competitive examination 2001.
(ii) Age limits for the examination were reduced by the government, keeping in view all pros and cons on this change and in the best interest of the civil service.
(iii) The government announces between 150 and 200 posts every year. This year the lesser number of posts is due to the exclusion of posts in the district management and information groups.
(iv) As regards the quota system, it was introduced in the 1973 Constitution in the best interest of all the federating units of Pakistan. In the absence of this quota system, less-developed federating units/areas will obviously be under-represented.
(v) The allocation process is held up owing to a pending case and will be finalized as and when the apex court announces its decision.
One of the complainants said that had he known that no DMG posts were to be filled, he would have changed his preference. It is submitted that candidates are allowed to change their preferences at the time of interview with the following warning:
“The candidates may opt for a Group/Service irrespective of the fact whether there is a vacancy therein or not.”
SARWAR HASSAN KHAN
Islamabad
IN my article carried by the business section (internet) of your daily on (Jan 27), the word ‘Kinnow’ has been replaced with ‘Kinoo’. Please be informed that the correct and registered name is ‘Kinnow’, not ‘Kinoo’.
I am aware of the wrong usage of the word ‘Kinoo’ in the media, but it should not be used in an article written by a professional (myself in this case).
IQRAR A. KHAN
Muscat, Oman
READING Ardeshir Cowasji’s tribute to Nani A. Palkhivala (Jan 26) reminded me of my first and last meeting with him at the Tata Head Office in January 1999, in Mumbai.
I met a spry frail person seated behind an elegant desk in a sparsely furnished largish room. It was soon obvious that he had been partly incapacitated by a stroke. My intention was to pay homage to one of the most distinguished Zoroastrians of the 20th century. But he soon made it clear that he had to time for idle talk or sundry chatter.
He was chairman of a group called “People’s Initiative for Indo-Pak Amity”. I was immediately subjected to a close cross-examination on the conditions then prevailing in Pakistan for Amity. He declared that in his last days the matter dearest to his heart was to find an accommodation with us on Kashmir. He talked like a man possessed and with great passion on this subject. Suddenly he said, “I must call Dilip Kumar over at once. You must meet him. He is one of the most enthusiastic members of my committee.” Unfortunately Dilip Kumar was not contactable.
An hour later, by the time I took leave of him, I was the recipient of many constructive strategies and ideas, which were further developed by correspondence between us, when, alas!, Kargil intervened. The correspondence petered out soon thereafter.
Nani Palkhivala in his time was perhaps the most distinguished constitutional lawyer of the subcontinent, nay a philosopher of law. His advocacy literally saved the human rights “basic structure” of the Indian Constitution from annihilation by Indira Gandhi during the Emergency which was more repressive than anything experienced over here under martial law.
He was a Renaissance man. A humanist with wit and elan, and in the great Zoroastrian tradition fearless and bold to speak the truth.
I give an example of his civilized wit given in his eulogy to his mentor Sir Jamshedji B. Kanga, on his 70th birthday:
“... A tall commanding figure, by his sheer presence he reduces all around him to less than life-size.
The full biblical span of life has unrolled beneath his feet, leaving him untouched. Black-haired at seventy, he has the irrepressible buoyancy, vigour and agility of life’s spring-time. The fairies who presided at his birth showered on him a cornucopia of gifts - and one of their choicest was the gift of perpetual youth. ‘Whenever you die, William,’ said Lady Stanley to her brother, ‘you will die young.’ To say the same of Sir Jamshedji would only be to err on the side of restraint. If a man is as old as he feels, Sir Jamshedji ought to be still at school.”
The same could be said of Nani Palkhivala excepting that he was bald.
M. P. BHANDARA,
MNA, Rawalpindi
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