| February 12, 2003 | Wednesday | Zul Hijjah 10, 1423 |
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Washington’s war fixation
Unsafe drinking water
EIDUL AZHA — the festival commemorating the supreme sacrifice of Hazrat Ibrahim (peace be upon him) in the way of Allah — coincides this time with a dire threat facing Iraq and, by implications and consequences, the Muslim World generally. In this hour of trial, the inspiring example of steadfastness of faith, devotion and courage shown by Hazrat Ibrahim through his readiness to make the supreme sacrifice of his beloved son Ismail in obedience to the divine command has a special relevance. Correctly understood, that relevance requires the Muslim Ummah to stand united and face the looming danger as a collective threat and raise its voice against the tyranny and injustice that it represents. With firm faith and unity of purpose guiding their responses and actions, the impending danger can still be averted. But, as in the case of Eidul Azha, mere ritualistic observance of the prescribed rites and customs devoid of the deeper meanings and spirit behind these is not enough. The holy Quran drives home this point thus: “It is not their (animals’) meat nor blood that reaches Allah. It is your Taqwah (piety) that reaches Him.” Adherence to form minus the underlying spirit is a hollow exercise: animal sacrifice is meaningless if the animal within remains untamed. Congregational prayers and collective resolve to uphold and defend the highest human values, as on Eid day, symbolize the path to be taken for the salvation of mankind.
If those who believe that Allah is Almighty are cowed down by threats or use of brute force, their belief has to be superficial. They must be prepared to offer every sacrifice deriving inspiration from Hazrat Ibrahim’s imperishable example. Armed with the revealed Truth and courage of conviction, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) struck at the roots of the prevailing pantheistic order and had to suffer persecution of the worst kind for it, but he remained steadfast in his ways. No wonder the prayer taught by Allah to His last Messenger ran thus: “Say O Muhammad, verily my Lord has guided me to a path that is straight, a religion of right, the path trodden by Ibrahim, the true in faith and he certainly joined not gods with God: Say ‘truly my prayer and my service of sacrifice, my life and my death are all for God’.”
The message and mission of Hazrat Ibrahim reached the culminating point in the life and tradition of Muhammad. In his last memorable address before the vast Haj concourse at Arafat, the last Prophet’s message highlighted the virtues of equality, justice and human values. The Eid celebrated at the close of Haj rites symbolizing Islamic unity and brotherhood is a timely reminder. Here millions of Muslims from all corners of the world and representing a varied racial, ethnic and cultural spectrum reciting “O Lord I am here” make a solemn promise that must be fulfilled in deed.
The situation in the Middle East continues to be ominous. If the slide among the Muslim countries towards distancing themselves from Iraq is not checked well in time, the impending catastrophe will overtake us all. Let us remember Allah’s words in the Quran that clearly show that He saved us from the furnace of fire by dint of conviction and collective action. The holy Prophet’s traditions also emphasize the overriding concept of collectivism in graphic terms. “If one limb aches the whole body is in pain and when one brick is disturbed the whole edifice is threatened”. As we commemorate the unexcelled example of Hazrat Ibrahim, we must grasp the true spirit of the occasion and fortify ourselves with faith and fraternal solidarity. That is how this Eid should be celebrated in a spirit of prayer for unity and strength.
SHORT of announcing a surrender, Iraq is doing everything that is possible to avert war. Its latest decision is to let American U-2 spy planes carry out surveillance missions over Iraqi territory. This should remove whatever hurdles there were in unearthing the weapons of mass destruction which Iraq is supposed to possess or believed to be engaged in making. The decision on U-2 comes two days after chief arms inspector Hans Blix and Mohammad ElBaradei, chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency, left Baghdad satisfied with talks for securing greater Iraqi cooperation with the UN inspectors. A day earlier, Baghdad had also handed over relevant documents to the inspectors. America, however, seemed to have anticipated an Iraqi acceptance of U-2 missions. To pre-empt whatever good may flow from the Iraqi decision, Colin Powell had already said that allowing the spy planes to operate would not be enough. Instead, the US Secretary of State said what Washington wanted from Baghdad was “far more cooperation.” All this boils down to one unpleasant truth: no matter what Iraq does to satisfy the UN inspectors, America still wants war — not only for regime change but because there may be territorial changes which will, in Powell’s words, enhance America’s interests.
Germany and France are now coming up with another proposal to avert war. As German Defence Minister Peter Struck revealed the other day, Paris and Berlin would propose that UN troops be sent to Iraq to back up inspections. One can take it for granted that Washington would oppose this too. In fact, US officials have already indicated that America will oppose the move when it is presented to the Security Council on Friday. Moral principles and arguments now do not seem to matter any more; what matters is America’s fixation with one objective: to make a terrible example of Iraq for its defiance of Washington’s might and authority. The only value of Iraq’s decision about U-2 flights is that it will expose the hollowness of America’s case for war and strengthen the hands of those the world over who are making last-ditch attempts to avoid death and destruction in Iraq.
A REPORT emanating from the Sindh ombudsman’s office says that most cities in the province do not have adequate provisions of safe drinking water. Some 25 to 80 per cent of the tap water being supplied to Sindh’s urban residents is not treated with chlorine and therefore liable to pose serious health risks. According to the report, tap water supplied to Thatta residents tops the list with 80 per cent of the city’s water supply comprising untreated, and possibly contaminated, water. Karachi and Hyderabad, which have perennial water shortages and problems in the supply systems, rank second, with 75 per cent of the tap water supplied in the two cities being contaminated. Other major cities in the province do not fare any better.
The decline in the flow of the Indus river over the past decade has played havoc on Sindh’s underground water reserves and wells too, which are the alternative sources for water supply. The aquifer has not been replenished causing an alarming rise in the underground salt levels. Moreover, in bigger urban centres, the aging water supply lines are laid alongside the sewage lines so that seepage occurs in many broken or worn-out parts of the parallel lines. This has become another major source of contamination of piped water. Obviously, the problem cannot be resolved just by wishing it away. The Sindh government must take concrete measures entailing an overhaul of the existing water supply lines in major cities. This means making urgent and proper budgetary allocations for the purpose. Unless this is done, the danger of infectious diseases spreading will continue to haunt Sindh’s urban population.