| April 3, 2003 | Thursday | Muharram 30, 1424 |
To send a letter to the Editor
Click here
Schoolteacher’s complaint
NIC for overseas Pakistanis
‘New-look’ cricket squad
Hindutva: Congress vs BJP
PSC exams & age relaxation
Smoking in buses
LFO and technocrat senators
Re-use of syringes
Fascism on campuses
Choice of Porus
PTV showed old shot?
Removal of CPLC chief
FROM the very beginning of the Iraq crisis, we have been hearing cries from the far reaches of the country branding this as a conflict between Islam and Christianity. Nothing could be farther from truth.
In the early ’70s, when the West dubbed our newly-acquired nuclear capability as ‘Islamic Bomb’, there were mass protests across the country to remonstrate that religion had nothing to do with this issue.
However, history has a tendency to turn the tables and repeat itself. Therefore, we are now guilty of the same offence that we once accused the West of. The war in Iraq is a humanitarian conflict rather than a religious one. While it is true that a Muslim country is being attacked, it is also very true that at least two Muslim countries, i.e. Kuwait and Turkey, have facilitated the attack by allowing the allied forces to use their air space and ground facilities.
In branding this as a religious war we have also failed to take into account the mass demonstrations and protests against the war, the lion’s share of which have been held in countries that are perceived as overtly ‘Christian’. As a matter of fact, apart from the much-hyped but highly ineffective ‘million march’, and a few other small demonstrations, the Muslim world has had little to say by way of protest against the war.
At this time of crisis, it is important that we put aside our religious prejudices and view this conflict from the humanitarian angle rather than the Muslim-Christian angle. This is our golden opportunity to show the world the solidarity we share with our brethren from all religions.
Our God is the ‘Rabbul Alemeen’ (God of all universe) not ‘Rabbul Muslemeen’, our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is ‘Rehmatulil Alameen’ (blessing for all universe), not just for the Muslims. Similarly, the Bible says, ‘Love your neighbours as you love yourselves.’
When there is one God for all people and all people are asked to love one another as they do themselves, there should be no conflict on the basis of religion.
Let us not isolate ourselves by giving this conflict an Islamic angle, but join together with the peace-loving peoples of the world to combat this assault on humanity.
SYED JAWAID IQBAL
Karachi
I BELIEVE that Pakistan is not on America’s hit list. With a nod from America backed by technological and intelligence support, India will do the job.
We live in a very dangerous and unjust world. Let us pray that our leaders will have the wisdom to accept things — however unpalatable and painful — which we cannot change.
A. M. HAIDERMOTA
Karachi
I am a teacher and rendering my services as an HST at H.M. Khoja GP (DC) H/S Nawabshah. I heard about a quota-based UN programme for studying abroad from the DEO (Elam) Nawabshah, who informed me about this programme for 2003-2004 offering a two-year MPhil in “International and comparative education” in Norway. He issued me a letter for appearing in the test held on October 8, 2002 at the Sindh education department.
I was declared one of the six successful candidates according to letter no: SO (TRG) SECY/QUOTA-54/2002 issued by the section officer (SO) (PRG), Education, to the SO (FT), Sindh planning and development department.
I remained in touch with the education department after this but they said they would send my nomination letter duly supported by all the academic and professional certificates to the Sindh planning and development department, which would forward it to the federal planning and development department in Islamabad, and they would send it to Norway.
I met the SO, Education, at the PITE in Nawabshah in January 2003, and he informed me that the letter would arrive in March 2003. Now both the SOs of the education and planning and development have been transferred.
The federal government department in Islamabad said that they had not received my nomination documents from Sindh.
I met the current SO, Education, who said he was unaware of the programme and of the fate of my application. I was at my wit’s end when I found out that my documents along with those of the other five hopefuls were lying on the SO’s table.
The attached note said that the Sindh planning and development department had raised the objection of our not having cleared a TOEFL exam, which was a requirement to be met later after we received acceptance by the Norwegian government. It was the duty of the former SO to inform all candidates about this wrong objection, but he did not.
Now I don’t know what to do. Hardly had I begun to dream of a bright future when these inefficient officers crushed all my hopes.
I request the Sindh secretary education, the minister and the CM to look into the matter and take reasonable action against the officers concerned whose negligence and inefficiency have deprived me and others of this golden opportunity to study abroad.
RAB NAWAZ BURDI
Nawabshah
THIS refers to the prompt response by Mr Sohail Asif, Director Media, Nadra, Islamabad, (March 25) to my letter (March 19). What Mr Asif has stated in your columns is not true.
He states that I had been “directed time and again via the embassy to apply for NICOP.” The truth is that I had not been directed even once to apply for a NICOP, not even once during the last two years. It is, therefore, patently false to state that I was so “directed time and again”.
I have all letters from Canberra and not a single one directs me to do so. Right up to Feb 28, 2003, in its letter to Nadra, Canberra was pursuing only my NIC with Islamabad. The NICOP has not even been mentioned in that letter. I, therefore, protest at Mr Asif’s inaccurate statements.
On March 31, for the first time, I received a brief letter from Nadra via the embassy dated March 5, 2003. Although it is difficult to follow because it is unclear, it does for the very first time indicate that a NICOP would be necessary for a passport renewal.
This comes after two years since my initial application. I find this delay quite incredible and the directive inappropriate.
It also appears that Nadra may have informed Canberra for the very first time on Feb 22, 2003 that a NICOP would be necessary. Things seem to be seriously wrong at Nadra. I have already responded to Canberra and sent a copy to Islamabad by fax.
HUSSAIN A HASHAMBHOY
Thirroul, NSW, Australia
THIS refers to the report titled ‘New-look Pakistan squad for Sharjah Cup (March 21).
I fail to understand as to how and why the team selected for Sharjah could be called ‘new-look’; it includes those who have been in and out of the national team and were a failure during the tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Some of them lack talent and are unsuited to play cricket at this level, as they have continuously ill-performed with the bat and the ball.
At best, it is a panic selection, which is in line with the attitude problem that your correspondent talks about (March 20).
South Africa, one of the strongest sides in the World Cup, has only replaced the captain and has not gone about witch-hunting. Why do we, in all spheres of life, let the emotions rule supreme? Let us not panic as only one battle has been lost. Be cool and deliberate before arriving at a decision.
I hope a systematic planning at various levels will enable potential cricketers to get recognition and show their talent.
KHAN A. SHAMSHAD
Karachi
SOME letters have appeared in your esteemed newspaper about support for Hindutva by Hindus in India. The fact remains that every Hindu feels proud to be a Hindu (just as every Muslim is proud to be a Muslim). There is nothing in it to be ashamed of.
What is required is non-hatred for other religionists. In this context, the Congress party in India is playing a cunning game. In its heart of hearts all Congressmen support Hinduism, temples, festivals, etc. They are also irked by the importance given to Muslims. But they keep quiet and show a different face outwardly.
But the BJP has openly declared its support for Hindutva and is taking the bad name. Every Congressman will be happy to see more importance for Hinduism and Hindu culture (without taking the blame) if it is brought by the BJP, which incidentally takes all the blame. This is the cruel game Congressmen are playing.
It has been observed that even the so-called secularists in India are basically Hindu minded in their inner hearts. To avoid earning a bad name, they espouse the cause of secularism in public. In private they are angry with minorities and specially they detest Muslims.
The BJP does not practise double standards and tells openly what is in its heart. And one must not forget that Congressmen are playing this Hindu-Muslim divide to put the blame on the BJP. But it has been having a negative effect.
For example, in a by-election in Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister Jayalalitha (who had passed a law earlier banning conversions by force and unlawful means) won with a big difference when all the opposition was united against her. The reason is clear; the opposition instigated Muslims and Christians to vote against Jayalalitha because of the conversion law; but this angered Hindus (who are the majority) who voted in bulk for her.
N. NAGESH
Chennai, India
THE Punjab Public Service Commission failed to conduct combined competitive examinations in 2001 and 2002. And now it has advertised the posts for combined competitive examinations for 2003.
It is strange that it has not made any allowance for age relaxation, putting at disadvantage many candidates who must have exceeded the age limit in these two years.
The Punjab governor, the chief minister and the chairman of the Punjab Public Service Commission are requested to relax the rule to accommodate those who have crossed the age limit.
The other three provinces make an allowance for age relaxation whenever the combined competitive examinations are delayed.
FARHAD HASMI
Lahore
SMOKING in public transport is a nuisance which causes frequent altercations between smokers and non-smokers. In the absence of no smoking instructions in most public transport, it becomes very difficult to convince smokers not to smoke.
It is suggested that the police, in the first place, make sure that instructions forbidding smoking must be displayed in all public transport.
Also, bus/coach conductors should be instructed by the competent authorities (the police or transport organizations) to help commuters convince smokers to stop smoking. Those who refuse to cooperate should be forced to get down from the vehicle.
ENGR NIZAM QURAISHI
Karachi
IT is painful to bear when lawyers, journalists and politicians, many of whom are members of the king’s party (PML-Q), defend the Legal Framework Order knowingly that it is not morally and legally justified. Some of these include the technocrat Senators, who were in the government of the former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, and were considered his intellectual brains.
Perhaps the weight of morality and conscience was too heavy for these technocrats to adhere to the principle of political loyalty. That may be the reason for our moral decline as a nation. The lust for power, position, status and greed of money are untreatable infections of the soul.
By joining the king’s party, they have joined the ranks of those politicians who have compromised the supremacy of parliament for their personal interests and have accepted the COAS as president of Pakistan. This is against the Constitution. How can such people contribute to establishing the rule of law?
Amending the Constitution to justify the will and whims of a general is not permitted in any democracy. The lawyers and the judiciary are considered the protectors of the Constitution in civil society, but when such lawyers use their professional knowledge to prove guilty an innocent person, they only prove their own moral and professional bankruptcy.
ENGR S. T. HUSSAIN
Lahore
THE re-use of syringes is one of the major causes which cause the spread of AIDS, hepatitis and other deadly diseases. The following three measures will help balk the re-use of syringes.
— Production and marketing of multi-dose vials of injectables be banned.
— With each single dose vial, supply of one syringe free of cost be made mandatory.
— Doctors be advised to educate their patients to refuse the injection if provided without syringe at pharmacies.
These steps will cost a little bit more to the patients but at least will save them from deadly diseases.
HAQ DAD KHAN
Karachi
THIS refers to the letters by Mr Amir Hussain Nihal (March 22), Mr M. B. Naqvi (March 16) and Mr Safder Khan (March 29) in which they have regretted the militant politics by right-wing student organizations in Karachi University in particular and in other educational institutions in general.
It is really unfortunate that when a few enlightened students initiated positive activities to revive the culture of debate, intellectual circles and constructive politics in the university, the forces of obscurantism made an attempt to thwart their efforts by beating them up.
It is highly reprehensible that the university administration and the Rangers deployed at the campus to ensure law and order did do nothing to stop this heinous act.
The absence of student unions in educational institutions has halted the promotion and evolution of democratic norms and culture such as enlightenment. It is constitutionally guaranteed that students have the right to participate in the process of nation building, intellectual progression and unionization for the betterment of society.
It was the regime of Gen Ziaul Haq that completely eliminated progressive elements from our educational institutions and also put a ban on their existence, in violation of the fundamental right of a citizen.
I urge the Jamali government to lift the ban on unionization by students, and enable the student community to indulge in such educational activities as will help bring stability and societal progress, and promote a democratic culture.
GHULAM-UD-DIN
Karachi
MR Kunwar Khalid Younus writes in these columns: “I personally believe that the ‘second-rate’ and ‘lesser-known’ Dahir of the Kashmiri stock and Raja of Sindh was more courageous than Porus, who spent the rest of his life as a loyal lieutenant of the victorious Alexander. Sindh’s boundaries at the time extended into Kashmir.”
The choice of Porus to rule in the name of Alexander the great was obvious and most appropriate because Porus, too, was of Greek blood. Alexander felt more at ease with him than any other arrangement. Such choice was also safe because Alexander left his trustworthy generals behind.
HAMID KHAN
Florida, USA
This is with reference to Mr Sajjadullah Baig’s letter on the subject of snowfall in Chitral and the usage of an old video shot during the PTV Khabarnama news telecast (April 2).
The point is well taken and appropriate action is being ordered to avoid such mistakes.
ALI AKBAR ABBAS
Controller Public Relations,
PTV, Islamabad
WE wish to express our shock and outrage at the removal of Mr Jameel Yusuf as Chief of the Citizens’ Police Liaison Committee. Faced with the breakdown of law and order in the city, rampant crime, dacoities, kidnappings, car and motorcycle thefts, it is the CPLC that residents of Karachi have turned to for help and have rarely been disappointed.
Mr Jameel Yusuf was instrumental in the CPLC’s development and has also earned the gratitude of numerous victims of kidnappings for personally negotiating their release at the risk of his own safety. If the restoration of democracy is going to result in such shameful acts, then it will only be a matter of time before the military is welcomed back into politics and governance.
The CPLC exists because the government has failed to ensure the security of its citizens, and because the law-enforcing agencies are often viewed as predators, rather than protectors of the public. And now, instead of serving the citizens of this city and improving law and order, the government is sabotaging the efforts of those who attempt to do so. Most of us no longer expect the government to act in the interest of its citizens, but is it too much to ask that they leave alone those who genuinely work for the betterment of our society?
Is the administration threatened by the CPLC’s efficiency and sincerity? Do they wish to install someone more pliant in place of Mr Jameel Yusuf, someone whose success and devotion to duty will not embarrass them? It is such self-serving and shortsighted actions that have destroyed the credibility of our leaders, and it appears the incumbent administration has no intention of learning from history.
Finally, it is hoped that the various political and religious organizations that are quick to agitate against events having little or no bearing on our day-to-day lives take up the cause of government interference in the CPLC. Their repeated and futile protests against the United States only serve to show Pakistan as a dangerous and unstable place to the international community and to create a nuisance for ordinary citizens. By protesting this shameful act directed against the CPLC, there is a chance that they may actually prevail on the government to improve law and order in the city and safeguard the interests of ordinary citizens.
MOHAMMAD RAJPAR and others
Karachi
You can also send letters to the Editor
Just send your message to the following address:
Make sure you include your full name, postal address, e-mail address, and in the case of Pakistan your day-time telephone number.