| March 29, 2003 | Saturday | Muharram 25, 1424 |
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Mirage of sound economy
Faith in action
Maisoon: honest & courageous
Al Jazeerah broadcasts
A letter from Guantanamo Bay
Teaching in English
Police shootout
Fascism on campuses
Why Pakistan next?
DHA ballot
China role in PSM’s expansion
Friendship with America
I AM an Indian and a Hindu. I do not support the argument of Mira Bells when she says that all Hindus support Hindutva. This is big lie or she is also part of the paranoid group. I believe that all sane people across the world prefer a civilised society far beyond the realm of religions.
I do not want to interpret Hindutva as way of life or Islam as such, because arguments for or against will have a religious fervour. The BJP in India and all the hardline religious parties in Pakistan, I believe, have a seasonal existence when they can play on people’s emotions.
Let’s not make them more popular and try to encourage moderates in both countries so as to resolve our differences as friends. When all the Indians, Pakistanis and the Bangladeshis can live here in the US as close friends, why can’t this be replicated in South Asia?
For the sake of my Pakistani brethren, I would like to state that India does not perceive China as a friend. We have disputes with China which got all the boundary disputes in its favour from Russia, quoting them as Big Brother. Now when time comes for them to act as Big Brother, they have hardened their stance. India’s defence preparation is justified in countering the threat from China. The same reason applies to Pakistan: till its threat perception is high, it has every right to enhance and build its defence.
GAUTAM SINHA
Indiana, USA
I FEEL compelled to correct the wrong impression that Mira Bells has sought to create in her response to your editorial, “Friends, not masters”, regarding support of the Indians to Hindutva. I strongly state that the editorial writer has got the point correctly and there is no need to correct his perception.
It is people like Mira Bells, who use all platforms to create a misconception that there is support for Hindutva in our country. If that were the case, the BJP would have won in all the four states which went to poll recently. The fact that it was routed in these places is a clear indication that all of India is not like Gujarat to allow itself to be misled by communal forces.
There is a potent force within the Indian society for peace and amity. It is time we made use of it to improve relations between Hindus and Muslims.
S. SRINIVASAN
Bangalore, India
SINCE the decision by Pakistan to join America’s ‘war on terror’, stock markets have been at an all-time high. The finance minister and others in the government have been talking about making the country’s economy strong and sound. But, one wonders if all this hype has anything to do with a revival of business and industry.
Hardly any new industries have been set up in the country for the last three years. There is a strong fear that foreign investors will take away not only their own investments but also the invested money of local businesses and financial institutions, like what happened during the East Asian crisis in the last decade.
Unless the government takes steps to encourage both local and foreign investors to invest in business and industry, our economy will not progress. No new jobs will be created and poverty would increase. Instead of encouraging people to put their savings in the banks, the government should encourage them to invest in trade and industry.
ASIF SALEEM
London, UK
THE third national congress of the Pakistan Association of Urological Surgeons (PAUS), held at Karachi in February, was attended by health experts from all over Pakistan and abroad.
While lamenting the inordinate delay by our government in passing a law regarding cadaveric organ transplantation, they emphasized the need for early enforcement thereof. And for assuming “research as an essential component of urological training”, eloquently advised and vehemently advocated by them, I would suggest the formation of “council on donor education and awareness programme (CDEAP)” based on two fundamental pillars of secular and Islamic identities — both sides of the same coin (religion). These are duly supported by documentary evidences cited as under:
1. Faith is Powerful Medicine — by Phyllis McIntosh
2. The True Faith with Allah is Islam — by Syed Zahid Shahbuddin Shibli
The scope of work and research of the council can be increased and elevated to the status of a think-tank by studying modern sciences and evolving society capable of holding its own in the 21st century. This is, however, a slow and steady process, specially in the context of the religion of the donor, if it approves or otherwise the action of the faithful.
All good acts are meaningless in the absence of proper faith. And faith is an affair of the heart which can be activated and motivated as such by enforcing the law of the land as sought for in this regard by experts. The sooner it is done, the better it would be towards leading the world we are aiming at conquering.
Consequently, faith in action, as a whole, would not only help provide the gift of life and human healing but also meet both the religious obligations and the spirit of times as per priorities and planning discussed.
HAJI HAMID ALI QURESHI
Karachi
I GOT to know Maisoon Hussein almost a decade ago when she worked with the OUP in the preparation and compilation of a book. We became friends and remained in touch after this project was completed.
I was deeply impressed by her quiet, unassuming ways and admired her courage and spirit of service. As a journalist, she was involved, among other issues, with juvenile justice and prisons and was frustrated at being denied access to the Karachi prison because she told the story accurately and completely.
We travelled together to Beijing in a small group last November for a week. It was a privilege to be in her company every day and to see her reactions and listen to her comments. Maisoon wanted to experience the cultural life of Beijing, visit the university and meet lecturers.
She pointed out to me the daily newspapers mounted on street corners for the benefit of the public and enthusiastically joined the group on various expeditions. I was struck by her sense of adventure, wonder, and curiosity even as her illness was beginning to take its toll.
Despite her physical frailty, she was a monumental figure of intellect and determination who upheld the principles of honesty, courage and decency.
I treasure the times I spent with Maisoon.
AMEENA SAIYID
Karachi
THE Doha-based independent Arabic news channel Al Jazeerah has steadily gained a reputation for its objective coverage of the world events following the 9/11 incidents. To many Arabs and Muslims around the world it offers news analyses and assessments from the ‘other’ side — the western media otherwise enjoying a monopoly over the airwaves.
Some of the views expressed on Al Jazeerah have irked Arab governments and those sitting in the western capitals alike, but the channel has stood by its stories. It is for this reason that when it suits the purpose of the western media they rely heavily on the footage provided by Al Jazeera. At other times the channel simply annoys them.
For obvious reasons, perhaps, it would be unfair to ask Al Jazeerah to launch a separate news channel broadcasting in English. But surely the channel can afford to offer short bulletins in English on an hourly or bi-hourly basis alongside its regular Arabic transmission? This would help a wider audience around the world to have access to the Arab world’s perspective on critical global developments.
MAYA RAZVI
Karachi
I RECALL the recent BBC Urdu Service coverage of a letter received by the families of two young men in Pakistan through the courtesy of International Red Cross Society. The letter came from two prisoners at the Guantanamo Bay camp in Cuba after two years of their absence from home.
Aged 32 and 26 years, the two men came from a small village in Swat and went to Afghanistan for jihad from where they went missing. It was only last week when the families received a letter from them saying they were arrested by the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan, which sold them and other mujahideen to the American army.
They were taken to Guantanamo Bay in most inhuman conditions, tied up inside containers as captives and had to satisfy their thirst by licking one another’s sweat. In Cuba they are under going torture and humiliation at the hands of the American army.
They say they heard the name of Al Qaeda for the first time from their American interrogators at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. “Whether or not we will live to see our parents and near and dear ones only God knows,” they wrote. “Torture is meted out to us in most inhuman ways every day and every night. But we have firm faith in Islam that stands for truth and justice.”
One wonders why the world conscience is silent over the treatment meted out to these 1,500 Muslim prisoners, and why they are not covered by the Geneva Conventions like the US POWs in Iraq.
ALI ASHRAF KHAN
Karachi
THIS refers to the letter titled “Teaching in English” by Ms Maheen Rashdi (March 23). The point was put across very well. If we are to stick to Urdu, our national language, as the medium of instruction, how are we to gain access to all the information available in the wider world?
My suggestion to the so-called narrow-minded literati is to first understand this concept then advise our youth. Until the time that all modern knowledge is made available in Urdu, it should not become the only medium of instruction in our schools and colleges. English, as the medium of instruction, does in no way undermine the growth of the Urdu language.
NEJDET MOORAJ
Karachi
THIS is with to reference to the report by Mr Nadeem Saeed (March 20). The gory incident of shootout and alleged encounter raises a number of issues.
The police remain an instrument of coercion and high-handedness, acting as a stooge of local influential people. Despite the various reforms, checks and balances, nothing seems to have changed. The underprivileged keep running for their lives without redressal and legitimate support from the concerned arms of the administrative machinery.
Through these columns the Punjab chief minister and other officials concerned are requested to order an inquiry into the alleged encounter that took the lives of two young men, apparently in cold blood.
Due protection should be provided to all witnesses and village contacts who agree to speak up the truth to pave the way to justice. If our government does not put its acts together to safeguard the lives and property of its ‘lesser’ subjects, the same lawlessness will soon jeopardize its control on the administrative affairs.
ABDUL AZIM KHAN
Karachi
THIS is with reference to the letters by Aamir Hussain Nihal and M.B. Naqvi (March 22). There is no denying the fact that campuses in Pakistan have remained in the grip of violence, disturbances and long spells of breakdown of educational activities. But students are least responsible for these.
An objective overview of the past two decades would show that it was Martial Law which promoted the culture of arms in the country. It was a lack of political activities which resulted in the politics of violence in the universities.
Violence cannot be curbed at the point of its occurrence. It should be addressed at a more substantial level. We need demilitarization of society. The state should fulfil its responsibilities in this respect and that it can do it by democratizing itself.
Union activities on campuses cannot be prohibited as this would be against the fundamental rights ensured by the Constitution. Union activities can be made more meaningful and healthy by employing various means such as adopting the principles of merit in all matters, making education creative and interesting, accommodating the unprivileged, offering a reasonable fee structure, employment, and allowing parents to have a say in the affairs of institutions.
A democratic consensus among political parties (to be evolved through public pressure) on the parameters of their relationship with the academic institutions will also help restore the sanctity of education on campuses.
SAFDAR KHAN
Gilgit
THIS refers to the letter by Dr Moonis Ahmar (March 26). The professor has very correctly suggested three ways of avoiding Pakistan to be the next target. It’s a matter of shame and disgrace for us to be talking of Pakistan being the next target.
This approach very clearly indicates the lack of trust we have in our capabilities, in our armed forces and, above all, in ourselves as a Pakistani nation.
Our memories are very short. Saddam Hussein never supported Pakistan on Kashmir; a huge amount of arms and ammunition was recovered from the Iraqi embassy in Islamabad during Z.A. Bhutto’s government, which was meant to create a law and order situation in Pakistan.
Saddam Hussein is responsible for the death of millions of innocent Iraqi and Iranian people before he attacked and captured Kuwait for no reason. Maybe these barbaric acts were part of a planned conspiracy to weaken the Muslim Ummah.
No doubt our hearts beat with our Iraqi brothers and in no way we can support the senseless killings in Iraq. But while condemning the barbaric and cowardly acts of the collision forces we must not paint Saddam Hussein as a hero of the Islamic world.
If we continue to follow the extremist groups blindly and call all dictators and terrorists as our heroes, then maybe it’s going to be our turn next.
AAMIR AQIL
Lahore
THIS is in continuation of the letter by Mr Wasim Attaullah (March 24). I second his opinion that this is an open attempt at cheating by the Defence Housing Authority, Lahore, which conducted the said balloting without unveiling the map of the site in question.
It is obvious to everyone that the plan is now being altered according to the wishes of the influential officials who will now allot the plots to their favoured people in better places. Will the DHA secretary offer an explanation?
MUHAMMAD JEHANZEB ZAFAR
Islamabad
THIS refers to the above-captioned news report in Dawn. It is ironic that 30 years ago Pakistan begged almost every country in the world to set up a steel mill and no one thought that the project would be economically feasible or viable. Perhaps we can ask our Chinese brothers to help us set up another one.
Perhaps we could also request them to help us build some of the steel smelter ships that transport scrap metal and melt it down during transportation while en route from America or Europe.
We possibly could also ask them to set up a train manufacturing facility that offers quality train carriages to the world.
MOIN ANSARI
Via email
THIS refers to Siddique Malik’s letter from the US (March 25). It is true that our ties with the US have generally been beneficial for us, but these have not been for nothing.
As regards the situation in 1971, East Pakistan was of little strategic importance to the US but West Pakistan was because of its proximity to the Gulf region and also because of the Cold War, with the Soviets vying for access to the warm waters. The US could not allow India, the Soviets’ patron, to take control of this region.
The American Jewish lobby has traditionally been anti-Pakistan for obvious reasons, with Pakistan being ardently anti-Israel. Pakistan was only courted when needed. There was a cooling-off period with the cooling of the Cold War, revived again with the Soviet involvement in Afghanistan, and no sooner had that conflict ended, Pakistan became subject to the Pressler Amendment and other sanctions, and now again a cozier period following the 9/11 attacks.
The friendship is being questioned by many circles in the US, who claim that Pakistan is providing sanctuary to the Taliban, Al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations, who re-group and conduct raids on US positions in Afghanistan, and the threat of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal falling into the hands of radicals, with the need for contingency plans to secure these weapons in such an event. As mentioned by Mr Malik, India is taking full advantage of such sentiments with its own axe to grind with statements such as “the epicentre of terrorism has shifted from Afghanistan to Pakistan” (Advani in Singapore, Feb 5).
Our situation is not being helped with statements from the likes of Gen Hamid Gul, retired head of the ISI, that “we have the nuclear capability that can destroy Madras; surely the same missile can do the same to Tel Aviv. Washington cannot stop the Muslim suicidal attacks. The Taliban are still alive and along with friends” (Washington Post, March 24). This threat would make the US campaign against Iraq’s WMDs a minor undertaking.
Notwithstanding our limitations that we have little control over the tribal areas, which Fox News TV mused as being the “wild, wild West”, we should not create more problems by creating more enemies. What is Israel to us? We do not even share a common border.
Why are we so keen to create a nexus of enemies, whose coalition our true enemy on our eastern border would gleefully join to settle her own scores. As mentioned by Mr Malik, we should shun terrorism and not allow some extremist groups to have their way and get away with it.
We should not allow religious sentiments to get the better of us. True, the attack on Iraq is immoral, and we should protest like in all other capitals in the world, but without giving it a religious or Jihadi colour.
RAFI AHMED
Karachi
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