| February 26, 2003 | Wednesday | Zul Hijjah 24, 1423 |
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Cancellation of student pass
PTCL customer’s complaint
Cricket team’s performance
Killings in Karachi
Computerizing Form B
Renaming the NWFP
Parliamentarians’ basic duties
Iqbal and Rahmat Ali
US offer to Turkey
India’s behaviour with neighbours
PRIME Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali must know the difference between national interest and the interest of the people. Is it not in the supreme interest of the people that government institutions, organizations, corporations, departments and divisions which are not yielding any positive results should be disbanded?
Good governance in democratically advanced countries is the basic responsibility and the function of a government. The government should provide social security, health care, education, transport and business opportunity to its citizens. Unfortunately, our successive governments, civilian or military, have failed to follow the principle of good governance. Those who are in the government are serving their own interests and are wasting public money without any remorse or shame.
Most government-owned organizations, likely to be privatized, are suffering losses and the government has to spend billions of rupees to keep them functioning. Those whose balance sheets are in the red have no attraction for private investors. Those which are making profit because of their monopolistic position are not being allowed to be given to the private investors, as their organizations will deprive those who are thriving on the taxpayer’s money meant for the welfare of the people.
It has been over a decade since the privatization commission was established to privatize government-owned organizations and to make Pakistan a heaven for domestic and foreign investors. The commission was also tasked with creating a conducive environment for free entrepreneur, and reducing government involvement in trade and industry.
The commission chairman now enjoys the perks and privileges of a state minister without any concrete progress in the privatization process. Instead of giving the privatization commission a time-limit to complete the process, it seems it will be a permanent government commission even when there will be nothing left to be privatized.
The very function of the commission can be performed by any private assets-auctioning company on a commission basis or by the ministry of industries and commerce, with their large number of employees.
We hope the prime minister and his adviser on privatization would expedite privatization on a war-footing to put the country at par with any free market functioning country. Instead of further wasting time and public money on implementing the privatization programme on an open-ended basis, he should spend his time on all the issues faced by the country.
ENGR S. T. HUSSAIN
Lahore
THROUGH these columns, we, students of Government Degree College, Attock, would like to draw the attention of the Pakistan Railways minister to the cancellation of the student pass.
Before its cancellation, the student pass was useful throughout the year and provided great relief to those students from the Jand tehsil who travel on the Rail Car RC-201. But now, these passes are issued only for the summer vacations under an order, issued by the Pakistan Railways on May 14, 2002.
The new facility is, of course, insignificant, as most of the students belong to poor families, whose only means of transportation is the Rail Car.
We fear that we will have to abandon our education ultimately, because our parents cannot afford expensive education as well as expensive travel at the same time. It is requested that the decision be withdrawn to help us continue our studies.
AFFECTED STUDENTS
Attock
WITH reference to the letter titled ‘PTCL customer’s complaint’ (Feb 19), PTCL would like to clarify that complainant Mohammad Bahadur Khan’s telephone (4559783) was installed on Aug 3, 1982, in his name at 59-O, 2nd Floor, Block-2, PECHS, Karachi,
The telephone number was shifted to 85/13, Sajida Manzil, 2nd Floor, Block-2, PECHS, Karachi, on Dec 20, 1993. The number was initially closed on Feb 14, 2001, owing to the non-payment of PTCL dues amounting to Rs3,920. The phone was finally disconnected on Aug 28, 2002, with the accumulated dues to the tune of Rs9,399 till the month of August 2002.
The customer lodged a complaint on Dec 20, 2000 about an overseas call made on Nov 24, 2000. The complaint was considered at a regional vigilance committee’s meeting on Feb 12, 2001, and the disputed call to Canada was rebated.
Another complaint against excessive billing for local calls up to Jan 2001 was considered at a DVC meeting on Aug 8, 2002 and was regretted, as there was no justification for revising the bill and deducting the line rent.
At present, the telephone line remains disconnected. At this stage, if the complainant does not want to avail himself of the phone connection, he will have to pay the outstanding dues of Rs4,810. Alternatively, if he wishes to have the telephone line restored, he will have to pay the entire line rent from June 2001 to August 2002 amounting to Rs 4589, in addition to the outstanding dues of Rs4,810 as per the PTCL policy for the consideration of such a case and the restoration of the line.
ATHER JAVED SUFI
Media Coordinator, PTCL,
Karachi
I wonder whether or not manager Shaharyar Khan knows that Pakistan’s cricket team is in South Africa to win the World Cup, and not on a goodwill tour. They can always conduct coaching clinics afterwards.
I would have the players sit back, relax and make strategies rather than teach the youngsters how to bat and bowl, and that, too, during this important tournament. Is all this part of his job description that we don’t know about?
Secondly, I firmly believe that Waqar Younis needs to show more aggression. Why is he always more concerned about completing his quota of 50 overs rather than trying to bowl the opposition out whenever he has them reeling?
At five wickets down for just over a 100 runs against England, the skipper introduced Abdul Razzaq and continued with Shahid Afridi. Instead, he should have given Shoaib Akhtar one more over to bowl or he could have even brought Wasim Akram back into the attack. Afridi and Razzaq did not offer any threat to batsmen, and even though Razzaq was economical, the two allowed the batsmen to settle down. At that point in time, why did Waqar Younis want to keep Wasim Akram’s overs for the end? A couple of overs there by Wasim Akram might have been helpful.
Quite similar was the case against Australia when we had them struggling at 5 for 160. I am afraid the captain has a very defensive mindset. He has to show more faith in his team’s abilities.
I also cannot figure out as to why Imran Khan is so keen to send Inzamamul Haq at number three. I would rather like to send Youhana at that number. Why Pakistan is still looking for number-three batsman after all the success Youhana has had in batting at this position is beyond my imagination.
Then, Salim Elahi was the only one who looked in good touch against Australia and did fairly well against Namibia. He deserved to be selected for England’s game but was not for reasons better known to the team management.
My team for the next match would, therefore, call for his inclusion in place of Shahid Afridi to open the innings with Saeed Anwar. While Abdur Razzaq should make way for Azhar Mahmood or, perhaps, even for Mohammed Sami.
ADEEL JAVED
Karachi
THE news of the killing of nine people in Al Falah Society, Malir, Karachi, on Saturday last came as a big shock to me. I had a similar reaction to such recent incidents, including the killing of Christians at their places of worships in various parts of the country.
A nation which claims to be living in a country established on Islamic principles has no place for criminals. No matter what others are doing to Muslims elsewhere, we should prevent the use of such methods by those who want to create division.
The safety of worshippers in their places of worship should be ensured at all times. We should remember that Islam had established human rights during both peace and war times, many centuries before the West adopted the principles of Geneva Convention.
The authorities should take prompt action to apprehend the culprits and to bring them to justice. Until we are able or willing to safeguard the places of worship in Pakistan, we will not be in a position to ask the Indian government to stop its militant citizens from killing Muslims and destroying mosques.
I would also suggest my Pakistani brothers and sisters to write to their elected representatives and urge them to take quick and decisive action against all criminals.
NADEEM AHMAD CHAUDHRY
Texas, USA
IT is shocking to read about the death of Muslims at the hands of fellow Muslims while praying in a mosque in Karachi, specially at a time when so many Muslims are returning to their homes after standing shoulder to shoulder and praying together for forgiveness and unity during the Haj.
I was there and shared a tent with Muslims from Tunis, India, Egypt, Sudan and Bangladesh. I think the government alone cannot solve this problem. Good people in each community will have to step forward and form peace committees and protect one another’s mosques.
Friday prayers should be held combined or Imams leading the prayers be exchanged. There is a lot of misunderstanding about each other owing to lack of communication.
PERVEZ RASUL
Via email
WE would like to inform Mrs Farahnaz Haider that Nadra has undertaken computerization of various aspects of registration process as a phased programme.
The first phase, i.e. the computerization of national identity cards has been successfully completed. Now Nadra is computerizing Form B as a second phase of the registration process of the population.
The procedure which is still prevalent for the issuance of Form B is not user-friendly and causes inconvenience to the parents. A more sophisticated computerized system has been developed in which an applicant who is holder of a computerized National Identity Card will go to a swift centre, where he will be shown his children data as it exists in the database for confirmation/correction. Thereafter, child registration certificate will be printed on a secure paper and handed over to the applicant within 48 hours.
At present, the pilot project has started at one of the swift centres at Islamabad. We intend to launch the same project at all swift centres at the end of our trial period which certainly will not take long.
We regret the inconvenience caused to the lady and thank our clients for their suggestions/feedback, and for bearing with us in this phase of transformation, at the end of which we will be able to provide efficient and user-friendly services to every citizen of Pakistan.
JAHANZEB AZIZ
Media Adviser, Nadra,
Karachi
IT was nice to read your editorial, ‘Renaming the NWFP’ (Feb 22).
I fully endorse your views that a province should have a name which is representative of its people and history, but the name should be such that the majority agrees to it. A great number of non-Pukhtoons live in the NWFP and their aspirations should also be looked into before coming to a conclusion.
The name Pukhtoonkhwa had been quite controversial and many people living in the province agitated fiercely against it in the past. Secondly, this issue was not mentioned in the MMA’s election manifesto, and the people voted for it not because they wanted it to change the name of the province but to do something good for the people. The MMA government should concentrate on the betterment of the people, instead of wasting their energy on non-issues such as this one.
I suggest that three alternatives should be proposed and a referendum held to reach a final decision.
M. ALI AWAN
Abbottabad
ALTHOUGH the basic duties of parliamentarians are to make and amend laws, rules and regulations for the benefit of the people of their country, the newly-elected legislators of our country seem to be engaged in amassing wealth for their personal comforts and in wielding more and more power to add to their grandeur.
The allocation of Rs10 million to each MNA and five million rupees or so to each MPA, along with the latest policy of allowing the members of provincial assemblies to recruit at their discretion people for government jobs from grade 1 to grade 16, speak volumes of their intentions.
The billions of rupees allotted to the legislators to carry out development projects in their constituencies should have been allocated for projects of extreme national importance, which remained neglected in the past owing to the loot and plunder by successive governments. Similarly, recruitment to government posts should be made only on merit, thereby checking nepotism and favouritism.
A complete ban should be imposed on extravagant expenditures like the purchase of new cars and new furniture, and the fresh furnishing of buildings of government and semi-government departments to prevent ostentatious living by effecting austerity at all levels, starting from the top. Instead, a reverse process has been started, which will have a far-reaching effect on the country. The hollow slogans of poverty alleviation will not fill the empty stomachs of the poor.
The economic policies of the government do not seem to help the poor, the lower-middle class and even the middle class. Therefore, there is dire need for asking our elected representative for greater sacrifices at their level.
A complete reappraisal of the situation is the need of the hour. Every mature and patriotic citizen of the country would hail those government policies which are really meant for the uplift of the masses.
MUKHTAR AHMED
Karachi
IT is repeatedly being highlighted in the press that Chaudhry Rahmat Ali prevailed upon Mohammad Ali Jinnah during their stay in England to join the struggle for Pakistan.
On May 28, 1937, Iqbal wrote to Jinnah, “To make it possible for Muslim India, it would be necessary to redistribute the country and to provide one or more Muslim states with absolute majority,” and asked him, “Do not you think that time for such a demand has already arrived?”
On June 21, 1937, Iqbal wrote to him again, “I know that you are a very busy man, but do hope you would not mind my writing to you so often, as you are the only Muslim in India today to whom the community has right to look for guidance.”
The Quaid-i-Azam paid a tribute to Allama Iqbal, saying that “I have been finally led to Iqbal’s conclusion, as a result of careful examination and study of the constitutional problems facing India”. However, Chaudhry Rahmat Ali’s contributions to the struggle for Pakistan are great and historic. He not only coined the name “Pakistan”, but also gave form and shape to the Pakistan movement.
Of course, Chaudhry Rahmat Ali was happy to come to Pakistan in 1948. Unfortunately, he felt like a forgotten tale in the idealized homeland of his own dream. Exceedingly frustrated, he went back to Cambridge to be buried there, heartbroken, in 1951. His coffin is still there in a country of the foreigners against whom he struggled for Pakistan.
MIRZA GHULAM HAIDER
Multan
WHY is the US offering billions of dollars to Turkey for the latter’s support in the imminent war against Iraq? I think it would be much better to offer money to Saddam Hussein and his cronies to leave Iraq and settle in a safe place, thereby avoiding a war.
In fact, the US should seriously consider offering Saddam Hussein American citizenship, and should allow him to run for public office. I an sure Americans won’t mind having another crooked politician deciding what to do with their tax money.
SHAKIR KAKHANI
Karachi
IRAQ is likely to come under another attack by the US and its allied forces for allegedly developing weapons of mass destruction. If that is the case, then our eastern neighbour which claims to be the largest democracy in the world has been guilty of misdemeanours of a more serious nature.
Over the years, India has not only developed weapons of mass destruction, but also infringed upon the territorial integrity of its neighbours, just like what Iraq did to Kuwait in 1990. Moreover, extremists in India have proved to be more fundamentalist than Muslims. The following historical facts regarding India are worth noting:
1. forcible occupation of the states of Kashmir and Hyderabad by India in 1947-48, and of Goa in 1962;
2. fighting a border war with China in 1962;
3. involvement in the dismemberment of Pakistan in 1971;
4. illegal infiltration and occupation of Siachen Glacier;
5. it became the first country to violate the NPT by exploding nuclear device in 1974, thereby initiating an arms race in the region;
6. massacre of more than 3,000 Sikhs within a couple of days, following Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination in 1984;
7. demolition of the historical Babri Masjid in December 1992 by an extremist mob, leading to the killing of more than 2,000 people in the ensuing riots, mostly Muslims;
8. exploding another atomic bomb in May 1998, thereby adopting a threatening posture and causing immense tension in the region;
9. carnage in the province of Gujarat last year with the covert support of the provincial government, resulting in the death of nearly 2000 people, mostly Muslims;
10. has been involved in stand-offs with its neighbours other than Pakistan, namely Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal;
11. numerous attacks on minority communities, i.e. Muslims, Sikhs and Christians over the years;
12. and reluctant to solve the Kashmir dispute with Pakistan on one pretext or the other.
Considering the aforementioned facts, India should be penalized in the same way as Iraq is being done today. Once the crisis over Iraq is resolved, all the great power blocks like the US, the EU and the UN should turn their attention towards disarming India and forcing it to come to the negotiating table with Pakistan.
ENGR UMAR M. MAKHDUMI
Karachi
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