| February 3, 2003 | Monday | Zilhaj 1,1423 |
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Pakistan’s World Cup squad
Karachi Cattle Colony
‘Easier preached than practised’
Parking fee in Abbottabad
A tribute to Prof Annemarie
Running after a mirage
A teacher looted, killed
Needless provocation
Water apprehensions
Perks for civilians
FBI in Pakistan
Why not celebrate Basant?
Karachi
YOUR editorial on Jan 26 does not mention that a very high official in the State Department, Richard Boucher, stated that infiltration “has come back somewhat” in Kashmir and it should “stop completely.” In other words he is reiterating Nancy Powell’s statement.
Ambassadors Powell and Blackwill are the voices of the United States in Pakistan and India, and whatever they say is, in fact, the opinion of the Bush administration.
Pakistan accepted Boucher’s or Armitage’s assertions in the past when they were favourable to Pakistan, but why not now? The State Department is always in contact with all ambassadors and their voices are the voice of their country, whether anyone likes it or not.
Mr Boucher said: “Pakistan has taken a lot of steps, but more work needs to be done.” Nancy Powell said she was free to say anything she liked and Pakistan was being used as platform for terrorism and it was, obviously, not Pakistan’s liking.
As the US government did not reprimand Blackwill or Nancy Powell or Richard Boucher, it can be assumed that they represented the voice of the United States. Are Pakistan and all the media missing the signal sent by the US?
SAM BAIDYA
Toronto, Canada
US ambassador Nancy J. Powell has asked Pakistan to stop helping Kashmiri freedom fighters. It is indeed amazing that she did not condemn Indian, Israeli and Russian terrorism against genuine freedom movements, nor did she ask India to implement UN resolutions calling for a plebiscite in Kashmir.
If the Kashmiri freedom struggle is illegal and amounts to terrorism, then America’s own independence from ‘Great’ Britain also becomes an act of terrorism and the United States becomes a progeny of terrorism.
The US should then celebrate July 4 not as the day of independence but as the day of terrorism. Would Ms Powell accept such an interpretation vis-a-vis her country?
It is interesting to note that the US itself is sending troops and infiltrators all over the globe, but its leadership is asking others to refrain from even helping genuine freedom movements. It is distressing that the US is backing the slavery of human beings by state terrorism, may it be Vajpayee, Putin or Sharon’s government.
If anyone who helps a terrorist is a terrorist, the US again becomes a terrorist state by virtue of its unconditional help to Sharon for carrying out a genocide of innocent Palestinians.
ANWAR UL HAQUE
Islamabad
THIS is with reference to Brig (Retd) Salahuddin’s letter (Jan 17) on Pakistan’s squad for the Cricket World Cup.
I agree with him insofar as the psyche of our cricket-loving nation and its sporting patriotism is concerned. Even though at this point in time our expectations are at their lowest ebb. I believe all this could take only one win from the so-called best team potential-wise to change the nation’s expectations.
The brigadier has also pointed out that 12 out of the 15 players selected for the World Cup were also part of the 1999 Lords debacle. Furthermore, he says that four years past the Lords saga, even though they possess the highly valued experience, their age factor may affect their performance.
Even if one buys this argument, the only alternative then is to bank on the inexperienced young players. To my utter surprise, however, the brigadier later adds that their youthful exuberance might not be enough and that they could possibly wilt under pressure of the cricketing world’s biggest event. If so be the case, then nobody would be able to find a possible solution.
As far as the injury issue is concerned, seven of the 15 players included in the team were facing minor injuries. I think the benefit of the doubt in this case should be given to the selection committee as the team was announced 39 days prior to the commencement of the event itself.
All in all, I believe that in the prevailing circumstances, the selectors have done a reasonably good job presenting a useful blend of youth and experience. Who will rule the world remains to be seen. What we can do now is pray, keep our fingers crossed and hope that our team’s performance remains “only” a function of their potential and the efforts they put in.
MEHDI ALI HUSSEINI
Karachi
KARACHI Cattle Colony is among the largest animal concentrations in the world. It caters for milk, meat and allied needs of millions of people in and around the city. Unfortunately, for a long time this colony has been facing numerous problems which still remain neglected.
I intend to draw the attention of the authorities concerned to the problem of disease control in the area. In the absence of any quarantine laws, diseases play havoc with cattle. If a disease hits cattle in Faisalabad today, it will reach Karachi within 10-15 days, in seven days from Multan, in five days from Sukkur and in three days from Larkana.
These days a mysterious respiratory disease is prevalent in the area. Between 150 and 200 buffaloes are being slaughtered each day owing to the disease, causing irreparable loss to dairy farmers. Even the veterinarians who own cattle in this colony have lost many animals.
Furthermore, you can well imagine the quality of meat being supplied to Karachiites, but the government functionaries, diagnostic laboratories and all other people concerned have not done anything yet to check the disease.
MUHAMMAD IQBAL BRULA
Karachi
PLEASE permit me to correct a few factual inaccuracies in your editorial titled ‘Easier preached than practise’.
India was invited to Sri Lanka to help with the insurgency there. It fought side by side with the Sinhalese in order to try to keep the country together, not dismember it.
You have glossed over the fact that China swallowed Tibet in whole and has sinister aims on almost all of India’s northeastern provinces. Contrary to what you say, India has excellent relations with landlocked Nepal and has an open border with it — something that the ISI has tried to exploit.
J. A. MONICKER
USA
THE tehsil municipal administration of Abbottabad is minting money through an illegal practice. In order to fleece motorists, it has unilaterally and unlawfully declared all parking spaces in the city as no parking zones without even erecting ‘No parking’ signboards.
This is being done to attract motorists in an empty ground where every vehicle is charged five rupees. The traffic police are being used as a tool to implement this unjust and unlawful decision. And the image of the traffic police
who have already earned very bad reputation for fleecing motorists is being further tarnished.
A concerned lawyer should file a writ petition in the Peshawar High Court, Circuit Bench, Abbottabad, challenging this unlawful decision taken by the TMA with the connivance of the traffic police.
SARDAR ABRAR RASHID
Abbottabad
THIS is to thank and compliment Mufti Jamiluddin Ahmad on his personal tribute to
Prof Annemarie Schimmel (Jan 29).
Sitting in a small New England town on a snowy day, I feel great pleasure and personal satisfaction that people like Mufti Ahmad and many more Pakistanis valued Prof Annemarie Schimmel not only because she was a great scholar but also because she was a true mystic who felt at home with the East as well as with the West, unlike those who thought that “never the twain shall meet”.
We of Pakistani origin and particularly Muslims are going through some difficult times in the United States, but it is the people like Prof Annemarie Schimmel who give us hope that a person can indeed transcend his or her Western garb and can successfully, and indeed joyfully, penetrate the East. May the great German scholar and a great humanist sufi rest in peace.
Now that she had returned to her Creator, she will never be forgotten, at least not by thoughtful Pakistanis. She will be sorely missed by all lovers of Islamic and particularly of Urdu literature.
M. H. KHATANA
Woodbury, UK
THE sad demise of Prof Annemarie Schimmel after the death of Dr Hameedullah is a blow to the scholarship of the Islamic world and has created a vacuum which will be hard to fill.
Pakistan has lost a friend, sympathizer and advocate of Iqbal and sufism in the West. Whenever she was in town, she was welcomed warmly. The need of the day is to spread the literary works of Prof Annemarie Schimmel at all academic levels for a better understanding of Iqbal and Islam.
M. YAQUB
Karachi
THIS refers to a news item (Jan 17) concerning 110 Pakistanis captured in Malta while illegally attempting to enter the country by boats. They had paid between Rs500,000 and Rs800,000 each by selling all their belongings in the hope of finding a prosperous future abroad.
A large number of Pakistanis have already faced deportation and many more will continue to meet the same fate under the current INS registration law in the US.
Corruption at the top has contributed to the current unstable state of our economy, leaving very little hope for the younger generation of Pakistan. Their frustration forces them to take extreme measures. Either they choose to end their lives or make desperate attempts to seek a future abroad by legal or illegal means.
In the 60s and 70s there was a great demand for manpower both in the West and in the Middle East.
However, the scenario has completely changed. You must now be highly educated, preferably from overseas, in order to compete with the Western society to have a decent living. However, those who cannot speak English, leave aside Maltese or any other European language,end up in humiliating themselves as well as damaging the reputation of their country.
The Pakistanis who paid from Rs500,000 to Rs800,000 could have earned a decent living in Pakistan, had they been given appropriate guidance to invest their money here. I hope these people as well as the newly-elected members of the assemblies would learn a lesson from this example.
NAQVI
Islamabad
WE, the students and teachers of Generation’s School, North Nazimabad, Karachi, would like to draw attention to the mindless killing of an esteemed teacher of the school, Prof Naseeruddin, who was an excellent teacher of Urdu literature.
On Jan 25, while he was waiting for the traffic signal at Teen Hatti to turn green, he was approached by unknown assailants who demanded money. Even though he surrendered his wrist watch and all the money he had, the miscreants thought he had more cash so they asked for it, but when he showed his inability to comply with their demand, they shot him point blank in the abdomen.
Mr Naseer was rushed to hospital in a critical stage. Doctors tried to save his life and performed three surgeries but all in vain. His kidneys had damaged and intestines ruptured by the gunshots. Besides, a lot of blood had been lost. His students, including former students, donated blood but the efforts didn’t bear fruit. Mr Naseer died on the morning of Jan 30.
Mr Naseer was an inspiring teacher. He will not only be missed because of his teaching skills but also because of his affectionate and caring attitude towards students and his colleagues alike. Since this tragedy struck us, his students in particular find it difficult to concentrate on studies.
We appeal to the Sindh government and all authorities concerned to improve the law and order situation in the province because under the present circumstances no one feels safe and secure.
Students and teachers Generations School,
North Nazimabad, Karachi
IT is sad but true that all nations and national leaders indulge in petty “little games” keeping their national interests in mind. Your editorial titled “Needless provocation” of Jan 24 was one-sided in putting the blame squarely on India.
Though India protested strongly to the “Needless provocation” by ISI agents’ harassment of its charge’ de affaires, Pakistan, instead of containing the harassment, went ahead and denied the allegations.
It is this inaction which led the Indian government to declare two diplomats and two staffers persona non grata. So, like in the underworld gangster wars, a tit for tat “settled the score”. An eye for an eye has made both countries half blind! Pakistan could have taken the moral high ground by not retaliating. It’s easier said than done, because people cry for blood.
Declaring diplomats persona non grata is nothing new. We have seen similar games played by even superpowers during the cold war days.
PETER J. ASIRVATHAM
Chennai, India
THE much prolonged lack of consensus on the issue of Kalabagh dam is mostly due to inaction on the part of the authorities that be to remove doubts and apprehensions in the minds of some of the more vocal elements, including professionals.
It is a pity that no serious efforts have yet been made about the matter. Signals from the new NWFP government in this regard appear to be positive about the potential benefits of the dam, but Sindh has not yet indicated any positive response.
In a chance meeting with a senior technocrat from Sindh at Islamabad airport, the following points emerged which need consideration by the government in order to resolve the deadlock on the project.
(i) It may be ensured by all means that Sindh’s water share from this dam as agreed in the Water Accord of 1991 would be available to the province as the province mostly depends on river water for irrigation.
(ii) The Rohri Canal may be redesigned to carry 15,000 cusecs of water. The present capacity of 10,000 cusecs results in overflow and extensive loss of water.
(iii) Water may be supplied to the non-perennial canals of Sindh during the Rabi season for wheat cultivation as far as possible.
(iv) In view of the inability of IRSA to resolve water disputes between the provinces of Sindh and Punjab, a jointly-agreed arbitrator may be appointed who may decide the issue in a week to be accepted by both the provinces.
The above-mentioned steps may help in the resolution of the Kalabagh dam issue.
DR M. YAQOOB BHATTI
Lahore
THE weekly Newsweek magazine recently carried an interesting article regarding the perks enjoyed by military personnel in Pakistan, specially their post-retirement housing facility.
It is a good scheme which should be extended to civilian retirees. Such a step, if taken, will provide a chance to most civilian officers to be honest during their service. Presently, honest officials always end up homeless. A case in point is a recently retired health department specialist of Muzaffargarh who could not build a house of his own and is now threatened with imminent eviction from his government residence.
Till the formulation of such a policy, the government is urged to allow retired employees to retain their residences.
AHMAD JUNAID
Muzaffargarh
A NEWS item in your daily (Jan 24) says the FBI is now going to keep track of three million Pakistanis. Doesn’t this also mean that the FBI’s departure from Pakistan will be delayed by half a century or even by a longer period?
The question is: to whom amongst us is such an exercise and FBI’s long-term presence acceptable?
Z. A. KAZMI
WE should pride ourselves on having a glorious culture which comprises wonderful traditional values and events, but I cannot figure out as to why some elements term the festival of Basant a wastage of time and money.
Every year on the eve of Basant in February there are statements in newspapers, criticizing the festival during which people, specially youth, have fun by flying kites, listening to music, etc. The question is, why don’t people take this event as a kind of sport like any other sport?
One should appreciate that Basant is one of the most popular festivals of our country, specially in Punjab, and has been a great source of recreation for people most of whom are fun-starved for want of public resorts and festivities.
Thus, this event must be supported and introduced in other parts of the country. It has been observed that Basant attracts thousands of people from all over the country and hundreds of tourists from many parts of the world, thus promoting tourism in Pakistan.
It is true that millions of rupees are spent on Basant, but this is not a valid reason for abandoning traditions. No occasion can be celebrated without spending money. Can we organize a cricket match or, for that matter, a hockey tournament without spending any money? Moreover, if this is the criterion, then perhaps we have to stop celebrating all of our cultural events.
A thousand other things can be done to save money if we are really interested in doing so. To begin with, let’s stop launching ill-planned or fake projects. We must support our sick industries and, above all, we have to check corruption if we cannot eliminate it completely. By discontinuing a popular sport such as Basant we cannot solve our economic problems.
I would like to suggest that all provinces organize similar programmes to promote a healthy atmosphere amongst the people. A couple of years back the government of Punjab officially invited international dignitaries and celebrated Basant.
However, during these celebrations law and order should be maintained strictly and the authorities concerned must not let anybody involve in any wrongdoing so that no sad incident takes place at a time when everybody is happy.
Our youth should ensure that no such material is used in kite strings which, on touching electric wires, may cause disruption in the supply of the utility. We should prove to that we are a sporty as well as a disciplined nation.
ASIF SHEIKH JAVAID
Karachi
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