| March 25, 2003 | Tuesday | Muharram 21, 1424 |
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An American girl’s murder
Appointments at Faisalabad university
Rapid population growth
UN Security Council’s duty
Indian war strategy
‘NIC applicant’s complaint’
Changes in cricket team
Tributes to Maisoon
Dirty currency notes
Mass destruction
Water woes of Karachi
THE recent collaboration between Pakistani and American law- enforcement agencies in apprehending terrorists is a good omen for the long-term security of the two nations. The only motive behind this collaboration is to eliminate terrorism and it, in no way, is intended to be a tool of interference by America in Pakistan’s internal affairs.
Certain segments of society in Pakistan oppose this collaboration but their approach is based on nothing but religious bigotry and prejudice and can only be attributed to a lack of understanding of the issue. America has been Pakistan’s friend from day one. No doubt, this friendship has gone through many upheavals, as no relationship is immune to this phenomenon, but overall this friendship has been beneficial to both the countries.
Shortly after the fall of Dhaka in 1971, America lived up to its obligations under the defence treaties with Pakistan. The Indian army had penetrated many miles into West Pakistan. With the Pakistan air force and the navy badly bruised during the war that had led to the loss of East Pakistan, and the cream of Pakistan army having been overrun there, it would have taken India very little time to capture West Pakistan.
President Richard Nixon, cutting right through the red tape and quashing the then pro-India tilt at the State Department, picked up the phone and “asked” Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to withdraw from West Pakistan, immediately. Considering the fact that India had just signed a security pact with the then Soviet Union, the president must have been very convincing during this conversation, as shortly afterwards, India declared a ceasefire and initiated a frantic withdrawal from West Pakistan.
Pakistan had been saved and its friendship with America had paid off. It has been said that had America interfered prior to the fall of Dhaka, Pakistan would not have lost its eastern wing. However, this argument lacks substance.
Let us not forget that the vast majority of East Pakistanis had turned against West Pakistan due to foolish and illogical actions taken by President Yahya Khan. If one looks at the situation at the time from American point of view, it becomes obvious that the US did not want to place itself against the tidal force of history.
When people rise, no force on the face of earth can stop them from achieving what they want. America could not have committed its forces into a conflict which materialized owing to political mistakes of the Pakistani military junta. India took advantage of these mistakes; what else can one expect an enemy to do? When India went too far and started its march into West Pakistan, America took a quick, decisive and bold action of forcing India to “stop it”.
Terrorists who may be hiding in Pakistan constitute a bigger danger to Pakistan than to America or to any other country as they are in Pakistan. Considering the relatively less sophisticated state of Pakistani intelligence and law-enforcement apparatus, the FBI’s help should be regarded as a blessing. I am glad that the tax that I pay in America is helping strengthen Pakistan’s long-term security. Long live Pakistan-US friendship.
SIDDIQUE MALIK
Louisville, KY, USA
RACHEL Corrie will go down in history as one of the greatest peace activists of our times. She was crushed to death by an Israeli bulldozer while trying to prevent it from demolishing Palestinian homes in the Gaza Strip. The following are excerpts from the letters she had written to her mother (posted on Guardian’s Internet edition of March 18 under the title ‘Rachel’s war’, which are most inspiring:
“I’m witnessing this chronic, insidious genocide and I’m really scared, and questioning my fundamental belief in the goodness of human nature. This has to stop. I think it is a good idea for us all to drop everything and devote our lives to making this stop.
“I don’t think it’s an extremist thing to do anymore. I still really want to dance around to Pat Benatar and have boyfriends and make comics for my co-workers. But I also want this to stop. Disbelief and horror is what I feel. I am disappointed that this is the base reality of our world and that we, in fact, participate in it.
“This is not at all what I asked for when I came into this world. This is not at all what the people here asked for when they came into this world. This is not the world you and dad wanted me to come into when you decided to have me. I did not mean that I was coming into a world where I could live a comfortable life and possibly, with no effort at all, exist in complete unawareness of my participation in genocide.
“When I come back from Palestine, I probably will have nightmares and constantly feel guilty for not being here, but I can channel that into more work. Coming here is one of the better things I’ve ever done. So when I sound crazy, or if the Israeli military should break with their racist tendency not to injure white people, please pin the reason squarely on the fact that I am in the midst of a genocide which I am also indirectly supporting, and for which my government is largely responsible.’
FARAZ HUSSAIN
Karachi
THIS is with reference to the selection criteria for the recruitment of lecturers in the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. Some time ago the university appointed lecturers on a per lecture basis without advertising vacancies in the press.
Then these vacancies were advertised which were open to all eligible candidates. Interviews were conducted, including those of the candidates having PhD degrees. But this all drama was only to legalize the appointment of the lecturers who had been hired on a temporary basis.
This is in serious violation of the merit system, and makes a mockery of those who are better qualified, i.e. holders of PhD degrees. If this is the attitude shown to our doctorate holders, one wonders how the government would succeed in encouraging people to enrol in PhD programmes.
I request the chancellor (the governor of the Punjab) of the university through your columns to order an inquiry into these appointments and instruct the universities to follow merit.
DR AAMER IRSHAD
Faisalabad
LET us not forget that Pakistan’s population growth rate is around three per cent which happens to be one of the highest in the world. At this rate, the population doubles approximately every 24 years.
With 140 plus million people, Pakistan already is one of the most densely-populated countries in the world. If we do not diffuse the population time bomb now, it may blow up very soon, thereby landing us into the worst kind of governance from the poor governance into which we find ourselves stuck today.
It does not take a genius to see that our resources are currently over-stretched. In older times, human populations were of the order of thousands in the densest of city centres, but now we have millions of people living in various cities in Pakistan. In the absence of population control regimens and environmental laws, we seem to be headed towards disaster.
It would not be wise to introduce strict western-style environmental laws and hamper our development at this time. However, we need to start giving due importance to our air and water quality, and waste management practices sooner rather than later.
The government is advised not to ignore the writing on the wall and to aggressively check population growth and environmental degradation.
HASAN MAHMOOD
Rawalpindi
THE entire world clearly understands that the war on Iraq has been motivated by American greed to boost its oil-run economy and its military and political power. Iraq has never acted in any manner that may be construed as an act of aggression or even a threat to the security of the United States.
On the contrary, the United States of America and Britain are guilty of launching an unjust, illegal and immoral war against Iraq, a member state of the United Nations.
This completely unprovoked act of aggression is a blatant violation of Article 2 of the UN charter, and has not been authorized by the UN Security Council, as clearly stated by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
The United Nations charter requires such cases of crimes against humanity to be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for investigation and prosecution.
It is, therefore, a moral and legal responsibility of the UN Security Council to formally declare the illegality of the war against Iraq and to refer the following names to the ICC for immediate trial and prosecution for their crime of aggression and genocide of thousands of innocent Iraqi people: President George W. Bush, Vice President Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Colin Powell, Condoleeza Rice and UK’s Prime Minister Tony Blair.
The International Criminal Court at Hague has explicitly stated that it will prosecute individuals accused of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. These crimes are defined in the court’s treaty, and also stipulated at article 5 of the ICC which defines crimes within the jurisdiction of the court.
The ICC charter also defines that the ICC will help ensure that these serious crimes, which have long been recognized by the international community, no longer go unpunished because of the unwillingness or inability of individual countries to prosecute them.
NAEEM SADIQ
Toronto, Canada
THIS is with reference to the letter, ‘Indian war strategy’ (March 21) by Khwaja Muhammad Bashir Butt. I agree with him but want to add some of my thoughts.
I frequently visit major US educational institutions such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale and Hopkins. In all these institutions one finds many Chinese and Indian students but a very few Pakistani or Muslim students. It is wrong to say the Americans are prejudiced, it is we who are to be blamed. We take more interest in frivolities like kite-flying than in seeking education.
As Mr Butt says that India is preparing for the right moment to attack us, we have only one way left to protect ourselves, i.e. we must stop depending on others and get ready for the eventuality by training ourselves in the right direction.
Our educational priorities, therefore, must serve our national interests. We must excel in education to survive. Only then India or anyone else will not dare attack Pakistan.
AMEER PAUL
Manassas, VA, USA
THIS is with reference to the letter (March 19) by Mr Hussain A. Hashambhoy, in which he complains about lack of response from the various forums he approached concerning the non-issuance of his national identity card that he needed for the renewal of his passport while he was living in Australia.
He might have applied for computerized national identity card whose terms and conditions are different.
On receipt of a fax from our embassy in Canberra, he was directed time and again via the embassy to apply for NICOP (national identity card for overseas Pakistanis) with completion of all the formalities. However, he never responded.
Mr Hashambhoy is once again asked to apply for NICOP, with all requisite details. He may visit Nadra website www.nadra.gov.pk to check the procedural requirements.
SOHAIL ASIF
Director Media,
Nadra, Islamabad
WHATEVER happened in the World Cup should be left behind now and a new start be made. But dropping eight senior players makes no sense. A totally new side will lead to chaos only.
Wasim Akram should not be dropped. With 500 wickets in ODIs to his credit, he is invaluable. Why was Saqlain Mushtaq dropped? He did nothing wrong. And what about Saeed Anwer? He came good when it mattered (against India) and he is the only one with some consistency at the opening slot.
Again, I believe that Waqar Younis has still something to offer, specially since he is not the captain. He might not be a good captain but is certainly a good player.
Inzimam-ul-Haq should also be supported at this hour. Axing him is the last thing he needs. Shahid Afridi is a good player if he is only allowed to settle in the team for once. Let us not forget that he is a good bowler, besides being the best fielder.
I also believe that Abdur Razzaq does not warrant a place in the side as his exploits even before the World Cup were nothing to write home about.
Safraz Nawaz is also wrong in his team selection because it has no experience. Rather Imran Khan should be given an authoritative post in the cricket administration. Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Tauqir Zia should also have the courage to resign.
Rashid Latif may not be a bad captain but I believe that the best man for the job is Wasim Akram, and the court ban on him should be lifted.
The openers’ slot should go to Saeed Anwer and Imran Nazir. The only thing that the PCB did right was to bring back Javed Miandad.
AHMAD SULTAN
Faisalabad
LIKE many of the readers of Dawn, the sad news of the untimely death of Ms Maisoon Hussain is a personal loss to me and my family. She was a very kind and cooperative lady. For the first time, I saw her in the Dawn office in the early 1980s. I found her a highly courteous person.
In the mid-90s she used to visit Hyderabad and Sindh University at Jamshoro as a human rights campaigner. I introduced her to my family. My children already knew her from the time she was in charge of the Young World.
The news of her demise was quite shocking for all of us. I pray to Allah Almighty to rest her soul in eternal peace.
DR MEHTAB ALI SHAH
Jamshoro
MAISOON’S death is sad news for all human rights and peace activists. Those who knew her found her to be a soft-spoken and compassionate lady who felt for the subjugated lot of this country.
Her mission in life was to highlight the miseries of women, labourers and prisoners through her reports and articles.
Maisoon actively participated in the anti-nuclear movement. Then came the US bombing on Afghanistan. I must salute her for giving a fair coverage to those opposing the US war on Afghanistan in the ‘Letters’ page of Dawn.
She will always be remembered for her commitment to the cause of the poor and neglected segments of society.
KHURRAM MUSTIKHAN
Karachi
I HAVE written on the subject of dirty currency notes a number of times earlier. While most of what I suggested did not reach the right ears, a five-rupee coin did get introduced some time back.
However, for whatever reason, I have yet to handle a coin of that denomination. Perhaps the coins in circulation are not enough.
May I suggest that a 10-rupee coin should also be introduced. Subsequently, all five-rupee and 10-rupee currency notes be taken out of circulation to save the public from contracting disease from a mundane source.
The money saved from printing and replacement of lower demonination currency notes can then be diverted to improving the quality and longevity of use of higher denomination currency notes.
A. WAJID SALIM
Lahore
“BAGHDAD turns into inferno” was the headline of Dawn’s lead story on March 22. Isn’t this ‘mass destruction?’
ANAS A. KHAN
Karachi
THIS refers to a report in Dawn of March 14 regarding disappearance of 10 million gallons of water daily on way from the Hub source to the city’s pumping station. A joint body is proposed to solve the mystery, in this case involving Wapda, Water and Sanitation Department (WSD), Rangers and the City government.
While the joint body may search how the disappearance of such a large leak of 10mgd occurs, a telling picture appears on the same page of Dawn, depicting how the normal shortage of water in Karachi forces people in many areas to collect water from some leaking pipelines. And alternately, for those who can afford, to purchase water from water-tankers managed and marketed by the Rangers.
Since democracy is said to have set in, I wonder if the public representatives would come forward and explain:
— If there is such a large shortage of water in Karachi, how is it possible for the Rangers to have under their control very large water-reservoirs that supply through hydrants millions of gallons of water to the tankers daily, of course at a price ?
— Wouldn’t it be more appropriate to lay pipelines to those areas that face water shortage and are now being supplied water by water-tankers, and shouldn’t the water in the reservoirs held by the Rangers be diverted directly to those in need, through pipelines to households, industry, etc., instead of to the tankers?
The above is necessary for two reasons:
i) Hundreds of tankers that ply day and night under the management of the Rangers cause destruction to roads that neither the Rangers nor the City government care to repair; in any case this would be futile unless the whole system is changed as suggested above, because soon the repaired roads would be damaged again by the leaking tankers, e.g. the roads surrounding the large WSD reservoir opposite the National Stadium, off the Mashriq Centre and the one leading to the old Sabzi Mandi Road from the reservoir, that are now totally destroyed, resulting in damage to vehicular traffic and may be the cause of accidents.
(ii) Hundreds of water-tankers that now ply around-the-clock consume millions of litres of diesel which, if water pipelines to the water shortage areas are laid, would save this avoidable wastage.
It is expected that those responsible for the prevailing state of affairs may favour us with their valuable response, and their plan for the rectification of quashing the seeming racket.
AMIR ALI ESMAIL
Karachi
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