| March 12, 2003 | Wednesday | Muharram 8, 1424 |
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Mishandling of Hajis’ stay
CSS qualified candidates’ plight
Umrao Jan: all that glitters...
Porus and Alexander
Civil-military relations
Victory for Osama
Cricket blues
NA sessions
‘PTCL: greater care needed’
Unknown articles
US-Europe rift over Iraq
Khalid’s arrest
PAKISTAN truly is a world of wonders. How odd it is that the prime minister, who is the leader of the house, should be canvassing for the Legal Framework Order which undermines the authority of that very house! He, and not the opposition members, should be leading the struggle to defend the supremacy of parliament.
Over 300 years ago, the parliament of England and the then monarchs were also engaged in a fierce battle over the question of ‘Divine Right to Rule’. Eventually, one king became a fugitive and another lost his head. The struggle came to an end after monarchy accepted the writ of parliament.
Come on, Mr Jamali, the whole world is watching you. The time to prove your democratic credentials is now.
NAVEED FIKR
Harrow, UK
THE Constitution of Pakistan is the supreme law of the country. Executives are to act within the framework provided by the Constitution. The judiciary can only interpret the Constitution to remove any doubts. The legislature is authorized to amend it, following the prescribed procedure to do so. The punishment for those tempering with the Constitution in any other way is also mentioned.
One cannot bring about changes in the Constitution except in the way laid down by it. Even the judiciary cannot authorize an individual to make minor or major changes in it. But this was done in the form of the LFO. One fails to understand how such a blunder was allowed to be committed by the judiciary.
ARIF Q. KHAN
Karachi
APPEARING on PTV’s News Night programme on March 8, PML(Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain made the following statements:
1. Parliament should concentrate on economic problems of the people instead of debating the LFO;
2. Parliament is supreme;
3. and the LFO should be discussed outside Parliament.
The second and the third statements of the PML(Q) leader contradict each other. If Parliament is supreme, why can’t it take up and determine the fate of the LFO?
The first statement is a case of distorted priorities. How can you solve the problems of the people without legislating in accordance with the spirit of the 1973 Constitution, which has been pulverized by the Legal Framework Order?
The Opposition’s demand to bring the LFO before Parliament for approval cannot be questioned. The Opposition’s stand is principled while the government is dragging its feet on the first national priority.
B. A. MALIK
Islamabad
I HAD an impression that the ministry of religious affairs was one of the best ministries of Pakistan. My opinion was totally changed after performing Haj this year.
The purpose of writing this letter is not to highlight the mismanagement on the part of the ministry and the problems faced by our group and thousands of other pilgrims, but to draw attention of the authorities concerned to the need for improving things next year.
It was mentioned in the Haj form that for category “A” a room would be allotted to five persons and the accommodation would be within 600 metres from the Haram. We made a group of 10 persons (five couples) after carefully reading the conditions. The reason was to get separate rooms for gents and ladies, as all the ladies in our group observed purdah.
We were shocked on arrival at the building in Makkah where we were to be put up. A room which was not for more than eight persons was allotted to 13 persons on the 15th floor. Another lady and two other persons were already present in the room which was allotted to our group.
All the group members were totally disturbed and believed this room should not be accepted by us at any cost. I came down and talked to the personnel concerned. They were very rude to me. I controlled myself as we were in “ehram”. It was useless to argue with these people. Therefore, we dumped our luggage in the room and performed Umra.
Next day, we met the deputy director of Haj in the Pakistan House, who said it was Islamabad’s fault. Although his attitude was positive, he did not do anything to give us a separate room for ladies.
Our building was 1,155 metres away from the Haram against the 600-metre distance promised by the ministry. For old people and patients, this was a big problem. Another couple whom I knew was also in the same building. The man was allotted a room in the basement and his wife on the 17th floor.
These were the arrangements for category “A”. I do not know what happened to those opting for categories “B” and “C”. If our government cannot make good arrangements, it is better to allow the private sector to do so.
NAVEED AHMED KHAN
Sadiqabad
IT has been more than five months since the Federal Public Service Commission (FPSC) declared the results of the CSS examinations 2001, but services/groups have not been allocated yet to more the 800 successful candidates.
CSS examinations are the most important competitive examinations in the country, and candidates prepare for many months, even for one year or so, for these examinations. The FPSC takes almost nine months to complete the process of the examinations.
In the case of the CSS examinations 2001, five more months have passed after the announcement of the results. This delay has caused immense mental torture to the successful candidates, who are expecting to be allocated various occupational groups.
In the hope of starting careers in the central superior services, most of them continue to remain jobless because they are unable to make any other professional commitments. Some have deferred their educational and personal plans, anticipating that their training at the Civil Services Academy might begin at a short notice.
Besides financial problems, this delay will also cause loss of time for their future promotions and service stints. Some candidates will also suffer by crossing the age-limit set for appearing or re-appearing in CSS examinations.
The FPSC has refused to do anything with regard to the allocation of groups owing to a case pending in the Supreme Court, thus affecting the allocation process. The case was filed by the FPSC itself.
The Commission has the legal option of requesting an early hearing or a day to day hearing. One wonders why the FPSC has not taken such a step yet, with a view to ending the plight of the qualified candidates.
It is hoped that President Pervez Musharraf will look into this matter and do the needful.
AHMED ALI
Rawalpindi
THE serial Umrao Jan Ada, running weekly on a private TV channel is an impressive and spectacular production in the tradition of Bollywood’s cinematic portrayals of classical works, fictional and historical. Bollywood’s Dev Das, the third remake since the original in the mid-’30s, aptly lives up to the description of an essentially grey landscape (of a fort, a mosque, a church, the Colosseum) transformed beyond its true essence by the use of carnival colours and the nouveau-riche sets.
It would not be fair to be too judgmental about the on-going serial in question and its progressive evolution. The amount of hard work, attention to sartorial and stylistic detail, not to speak of the huge expense involved, is indisputably praiseworthy. However, there have been certain slips in the episodes telecast so far, the serial director Raana Sheikh and the script writer Zehra Nigah, would do well to take notice of and avoid such mistakes in the rest of the serial.
Some of the more glaring ones are as follows:
Ameeran’s (latter day Umrao Jan) father accepts a pan from his wife and puts it into his mouth before going to offer his prayers; the 11-12 year-old Ameeran’s voice carries the bass of a mature young woman; elderly courtesans would be dressed a bit simply according to their age rather than like Khanam (Bushra Ansari), who is loaded with brocade and jewellry; Gohar Mirza smoking a cigarette while whispering passionately into Umrao’s ears; the duet (Umrao/Gohar Mirza) adage is utterly vulgar in verse and the composition is out of synch with the cultural milieu portrayed in the serial.
ABDUL RAHMAN SIDDIQI
Karachi
YOUR distinguished columnist Shafqat Tanvir Mirza’s review of the book Maharaja Porus (Feb 7) notes with regret that like many others, Porus was not given due recognition for his resistance to the foreign invader, Alexander. We, in Pakistan, have a tendency to favour the second-rate and denigrate and ignore the true and the illustrious.
For the record, I would like to state that Porus’ resistance inspired Mehr Nigar Masroor, writer, choreographer and playwright, to create and choreograph a dance drama Jab Jhelum Jewa Tha on Punjab’s resistance to Alexander under Porus.
This dance drama was part of the PIA Dance Academy’s repertoire and was selected as official cultural item for presentation in the United Kingdom during President Ayub’s official visit to the UK in the 60s. It was performed in the presence of Queen Elizabeth and an audience, comprising the notables and the British media.
The drama was favourably received with an element of surprise at the sophisticated and professional presentation by a Pakistani institution — Pakistan not known for its artistic abilities at that time.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation of Shafqat Sahib’s consistently relevant and brilliant articles providing essential knowledge of our cultural heritage.
I am sure all his readers will support me in honouring his contribution in this area of crucial interest to the people of Pakistan.
FARRUKH NIGAR AZIZ
Lahore
THIS refers to your editorials “Confrontation over LFO” and “Making local government work” (March 7 and 8). Both the editorials put together bring into sharp focus the political crisis we are confronted with.
Added to this are problems related to the judiciary, the corrupt and incompetent bureaucracy (at all levels) and the worsening socio-economic conditions in the country. Is it not time we looked deeper into the root causes of bad governance?
Unless we address the issue of the civil-military relationship, we will continue going downhill until nature takes over. However, nature has its own cruel and torturous ways of dealing with rotten and moth-balled societies.
NAZIM F. HAJI
Karachi
DEAD or alive, Osama bin Laden is no fool. He seems to be succeeding in his mission. He started with a simple objective of driving out the American soldiers from the sacred soil of Saudi Arabia. When his mission failed it was soon converted into a mission to generate hatred against the US in the Islamic world. A bigger objective.
He is fully aware that by acts of sabotage and terrorism, he cannot succeed in his mission. He can only cause some damage to property and few deaths of Americans. But his overall objective is to create hatred for the Americans throughout the world.
After the 9/11 incidents, he failed miserably. Instead of generating hatred, he created goodwill for Americans. The world unanimously endorsed American attack on Afghanistan. But President Bush and his team have somehow lost the way. Instead, the worldwide sympathy that was generated after the 9/11 attacks has almost entirely evaporated. Now all over the world there is intense dislike for Mr Bush and all that he stands for.
There can be no greater accomplishment for Osama Bin Laden in his mission. Instead of generating hatred in the Islamic world, he has managed to spread it around the world. How swiftly sympathy has been transformed into hatred is something Bush and Rumsfeld and Cheney and Powell are responsible for. The irony of it is that the main culprit — Sharon — successfully keeps a low profile.
DR R. H. USMANI
Karachi
BEFORE the World Cup tournament began, PCB Chairman Lt-Gen Tauqir Zia submitted his resignation citing the dismal performance of the Pakistan team in South Africa. He knew that his resignation would not be accepted as the World Cup was just round the corner. Talk about soldiers not being able to understand politics.
However, now that we are out of the World Cup, he should resign immediately. The best would be that Imran Khan is named the PCB chairman heading a selection committee, comprising himself and other great players like Javed Miandad, Zaheer Abbas, Asif Iqbal, Abdul Qadir, etc. — people who have played for Pakistan and know what the game is all about.
Likewise, some other great cricketer such as Geoffrey Boycott or Ian Chappel should be asked to coach the national cricket team. Cricket, being a sport, should be overseen and managed by cricketers and not by the military.
M. HASHIM RASHID
Islamabad
IT is suggested that PTV give live coverage to the proceedings of National Assembly’s sessions, thus enabling the electorate to know as to what their representatives are doing in parliament.
DR KHALID BUTT
Karachi
THIS refers to the letter by Mr Riaz A. Khan (March 5) ‘PTCL: greater care needed’.
The case relates to the disconnection of telephone lines, i.e. 2637091, 2631796 and 2631797, due to non-payment of outstanding dues of Rs29,120 pertaining to the four-wire circuit provided to M/S Columbus Travels Services (Pvt.) Ltd., Iftikhar Chamber, Altaf Hussain Road, New Chali, Karachi, despite issuance of notices and allowing to make the payment of the dues in two instalments.
The customer was allowed two instalments on Aug 17, 2002 vide notice No. STR-II/AC-4/FWC/L/C-04/02 for the first instalment. The second instalment was due on Dec 2, 2002, but the customer refused to make the payment and insisted on extending the date up to June 6, 2003.
Since the bills of circuits are issued on a yearly basis and the outstanding has already been accumulated the customer’s request was denied and a telegram was sent to the customer on Jan 1, 2003.
The customer once again failed to make the payment and the telephones were disconnected on Feb 7. The customer approached to the office on Feb 8 and the date of payment was extended to April 30. The telephones were restored the same day.
Since the telephones were disconnected owing to non-payment of circuit dues, the recording of non-payment was activated, which is a normal procedure for the disconnection of telephones due to non-payment.
ATHER JAVED SUFI
Media Coordinator, D.G. (Operations) South, PTCL,
Karachi
THIS is with reference to my piece titled ‘Unknown articles-1’ (Dawn, Magazine, March 9).
In paragraph six, it has been printed, “...no writer in Pakistan...has ever referred to or cited them”. Actually, it should read, “...no writer... except perhaps one...”, which was inadvertently omitted in the fair copy. (And, I am such a poor proof-reader). The omission is highly regretted.
The one writer is Mujtaba Razvi, a former associate professor of International Relations, University of Karachi, who, in his book The Frontiers of Pakistan (1971), made use of Spate’s maps giving communal population percentages according to 1941 census, and had very briefly, in a sentence or two, referred to two of his articles.
MAH
Islamabad
IT is a matter of a few days before an attack might be launched against Iraq by the United States and Britain. A major offensive might be undertaken by the middle of March.
It is imperative to ask why the US has taken the stance that it has taken; tabling another resolution in the UN Security Council to seek approval to invade Iraq, and, if the resolution is voted out or vetoed, then unilaterally waging a war against Iraq.
America accuses Iraq of not only developing but also of concealing weapons of mass destruction. UN inspectors, however, have found no such weapons.
The US and Britain explicitly link Iraq with the Al Qaeda, blamed for the Sept 11 incidents and other attacks. In his Jan 28 State of the Union address, President Bush charged that Iraq had ties with the Al Qaeda.
The US and Britain feel that if weapons of mass destruction were in the hands of Iraq, the threat of terrorism would escalate. They are reluctant to give the UN inspectors more time to finish their investigations.
In the meantime, the UN inspectors have found little evidence to indict Iraq for defying UN Resolution 1144. The chief UN inspector has said: “There is no proof to justify an attack on Iraq.”
Iraq is a country with the second largest oil reserves in the world, a sizable population and the strongest army in the Arab world. Israel feels a constant threat from it. The Israelis are certain that Saddam Hussain will not hesitate to use its weapons against it should the need arise.
There is a strong Jewish lobby at the Capitol Hill which plays an important role in formulating both domestic and foreign policies. Every American administration is dependent on the support of the powerful Jews. They advocate a war against Iraq so as to devastate the country and destabilize the Middle East region. If that happens, Israel will emerge as the most powerful state in the region.
President Bush’s economic policies have not fared well with the American people who are disillusioned with him. He needs an issue on which he can regain the support of his fellow Americans. But he is wrong if he thinks that the people will support him in his war against innocent Iraqi civilians.
Many US and British soldiers will be killed if a war breaks out against Iraq. Although Spain supports the Anglo-American stand, powerful European nations like France and Germany and Russia, as well as China, feel that the UN inspection process should be given more time. Let us hope that war is averted.
ZAINAB HASSAN
Karachi
THERE are thousands of Muslims around the world who are as qualified as Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. Most of these Muslims are moderates. However, US policies on Iraq and Palestine may be converting some of these Muslims into Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.
The arrest of one Khalid Sheikh Mohammed may regrettably prove to be an insignificant event in the war on terror.
A. M. HAIDERMOTA
Karachi
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