| April 30, 2003 | Wednesday | Safar 27, 1424 |
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‘Neo-fundamentalism’
Pensioners’ plight
Revival of sick units
Clashes on campuses
Gawadar port project
Pakistan’s image in Ethiopia
Rebuilding Iraq
Low-grade employees
MMA’s policies
National anthem
LFO and democracy
THE epidemic of newly-diagnosed viral disease called Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) is the potential cause of concern for scientists and health care professionals around the world. This fatal and rapidly spreading disease has killed more than 200 people in the past one-and-a-half months.
Public health authorities worldwide have been concerned that data from China, where the disease apparently originated last November, are slow to emerge and may well be inaccurate. Due to this negligence, SARS is spreading to other Asian countries like Singapore, Vietnam, India and Hong Kong.
Being a doctor and a native of Northern Areas of Pakistan, I am much concerned about my own country where the health structure is worse than that of other developing countries.
Upper Hunza is the major transit route for business and tourism between Pakistan and China. Daily thousands of people cross this border to enter China and vice versa. Despite the geographical significance of this area, the government of Pakistan has not yet established a single hospital for the inhabitants of this area.
In case of any emergency, a patient travels 200 kilometres to reach the so-called DHQ Hospital in Gilgit, where basic health facilities and medicines are not yet available. Ultimately, the patient dies in a miserable condition. Surprisingly, the Sust Khunjerab border is the only international border which every visitor crosses without presenting any medical proofs.
In the present situation it is possible to get the SARS virus from China to Pakistan through the Sust border. If unfortunately that happens, the ministry of health will not be able to confront the situation with the current infrastructure and manpower.
Thousands of people will get this virus within a week. I request the government of Pakistan to make immediate and concrete arrangements at the Hunza Sust border to stop the expected transmission of SARS virus into Pakistan.
DR AZIZULLAH BAIG
London, UK
I WOULD like someone from the health ministry to give a public briefing about Pakistan’s preparations against the deadly spread of SARS.
India already has had four cases of SARS and it only looks like a matter of time before a case will appear in our country as well.
I would like to ask if anyone in our government is even aware of this threat? Are there any checks at our airports regarding flights coming from China, Hong Kong, Singapore and other infected countries? What are we doing in this regard?
ALI KHAWAR
Salt Lake City, UT, USA
DR IFFAT Idris Malik has rightly warned that the US, on sowing the seeds of democracy in the Middle East, may reap the specially bitter harvest of political Islam. (“Political Islam could be the real winner”, April 24). But is a government committed to political Islam all that undesirable for a US which is itself veering towards a conservative religiosity?
A. Knudsen in his study Political Islam in South Asia, undertaken for the Chr. Michelsen Institute Development Studies and Human Rights, Norway, has drawn attention to a distinction between what Oliver Roy calls “Islamism” and “neo-fundamentalism” (The Failure of Political Islam, London: I.B. Tauris)
The Islamists want to purify Islam and reform the state with a particular emphasis on the introduction of Shariah. They approve of schooling for women and their participation in social and economic life. They maintain their right to individual interpretation of the Quran and the Sunnah and they can, therefore, be considered anti-clerical. They believe in the reform of the state through social and political action beginning from “the top”.
During the 1980s the Islamists, as represented by the Jamaat-i-Islami, gradually lost momentum, and a new breed of “neo-fundamentalists” emerged. Instead of transforming society, they lay emphasis on implementing the Shariah. The right to individual interpretation of the Quran and the Sunnah is surrendered. Islamization is now set to grow from below and no longer through reforms of the state.
Compared to the Islamists, the neo-fundamentalists, therefore, espouse a more dogmatic Islam and are less concerned with state reform and more concerned with the implementation of Shariah, if necessary by violent means, in an Islamic revolution. Compared to the Islamists, they do not have a distinctive theory of political organization. Moreover, they do not want women in public life and place great emphasis on Muslim ritual (prayers), dress and behaviour such as Afghanistan’s Taliban regime.
So, neo-fundamentalism, and not Islamism, is what should be discouraged by the Americans.
ASAD SIDDIQI
Lahore
THIS is with reference to the letter published under the headline, “Pensioners’ plight” (March 13). I fully agree with the writer of this letter that it is not possible for most of the pensioners to deposit in lump sum as much as one million rupees for availing themselves of the benefit of the rate of return at 11.04 per cent on the deposit made.
It appears that this scheme is largely intended for the pensioners who sought retirement under the Golden Handshake scheme or who belonged to the highest income bracket, at the time of their retirement, specially those who retired after the recent increase in the salaries of government employees. For others it is of marginal benefit.
It is, however, possible that they may be in a position to mobilize additional resources with the passage of time by depositing of an existing asset or assets which at present are not disposable or only disposable at throwaway prices or through any other legitimate means. It is, therefore, earnestly prayed that they may be allowed to deposit bit by bit till the ceiling is reached.
The ceiling may, however, be kept unchanged. This will also benefit the government inasmuch as it will not be required to pay a heavy amount by way of rate of return on an investment of Rs1,000,000 made by each pensioner. The payment burden will increase progressively.
I, therefore, request the authorities concerned to examine sympathetically the above proposal.
A DEPRESSED PENSIONER
Karachi
THE effort to revive the sick industries is a cruel joke being played on the nation. The actual objective is to help in the recovery of bank loans, most of which are more than 90 per cent fictitious and unlawful, containing amounts such as mark-up over mark-ups and penal interests. Even the State Bank is aware and has failed to protect the people from being defrauded by these financial institutions.
Among other factors preventing economic revival, such fleecing of the public has eroded business viability. There is no remedy available from even the judiciary which mostly fails to give a decision against government excesses.
Under these conditions, it would be foolish to expect any improvement in poverty reduction, investment, employment opportunities, etc., what to talk of revival of the sick units. Bank officials are also members of the ‘holy cows club’. This club has done much harm to the poor of the country.
ADUL MATEEN
Karachi
I CONDEMN the fighting and clashes that took place in Karachi’s educational institutions between rival student factions. The type of show of strength by educated young people is shameful.
The students should not have been drawn into agitational politics. Their involvement into ideological and ethnic politics has done grievous harm to the cause of good education and discipline during the last so many years.
I would advise the government and vice chancellors to seek cooperation from political parties in order to deal with student indiscipline and unrest. I believe the parties’ response would be positive to the VCs’ initiative.
I appeal to the students to use their energies for encouraging the ideals of service at their educational institutions. I urge them all to develop acquaintance as an opportunity for service, help the needy fellows, cultivate understanding, goodwill and peace at the campus, and improve the lives of those around them.
CHAGHTAI MIRZA EIJAZUDDIN
Karachi
THIS refers to the report “BNM tells govt of launching agitation’ (April 25). It is painful that the Gawadar Port project is being embroiled in controversies before its completion.
At the BNM executive committee meeting, Secretary-General Dr Yasin Baloch alleged that in the Gawadar Singhar scheme, 80 per cent land was allotted to outsiders. He said the coastal highway authority had recruited 400 persons but not a single local was employed. Similarly, the Chinese firm took 150 outsiders, neglecting the locals, and the FWO did not consider the applications of the locals for jobs.
If these complaints are based on solid grounds, one may be convinced that the government aims at the colonization of the area to exploit its resources at the cost of the rights of the locals.
In the 19th century a colonized development strategy was focused on the development of landscape instead of people. They focused on greater exploitation of resources to maximize the revenue collection. If the local people are neglected, they might disown the development. Furthermore, this would result in extreme dejection among the masses. This would be catastrophic for the development process in the country because, in the background of the increased pace of globalization and greater demand for oil, Gawadar is the shortest possibl route to the landlocked oil-rich Central Asia states.
Export of oil through the shortest possible route (Gawadar) is going to change the plight of millions of poverty-stricken people in Pakistan, specially of Balochistan.
It is imperative to address the apprehensions of the local people regarding the development plans. To make them part of the development process, the government should carry out the Gawadar master plan through the Balochistan Assembly and the district council of the area. Furthermore, the government should develop the local manpower through skill development centres so that they could be part of the development process.
IMRAN UMAR BALOCH
Karachi
THE situation all over the world is bad for Muslims, specially for Pakistanis. I am working in Ethiopia where more than 50 per cent of the population is Muslims and the rest is Orthodox Christians. They both live in harmony. A lesson for Pakistanis.
I have met so many Indians working here. India is the most frequently-visited country for Ethiopians as they go there specially for IT training. All the cinemas here play Indian movies dubbed in Amharic. Recently, India had a very successful trade exhibition here.
It is disappointing that Pakistan does not even have an embassy here. So many Ethiopians and specially Ethiopian Muslims are interested in doing some business with Pakistani firms. Lots of youngsters after hearing about Pakistani IT institutes have shown interest in studying in Pakistan. They sent email inquiries to some well-known institutes a month back, but have not received any reply yet.
The only impression most people here have of Pakistan is of some prehistoric country full of fanatics and gun-toting people where women are raped in public. Even the Ethiopian Muslims do not feel happy about how Islam is being misinterpreted by some Pakistanis. The other day the CNN and the BBC were showing bearded Pakistanis protesting with guns in their hands. Is that the best we can do?
There is hardly anything civilized in programmes or the news about Pakistan. All the travel programmes and brochures have omitted Pakistan from their lists. So many Western colleagues of mine who have worked in Pakistan in the past as voluntary teachers or at NGOs serving the poor have had to give up their jobs and leave the country, as their lives were being threatened, and they were labelled ‘spies or Western agents’.
Is there anything good one can share about Pakistan? When shall I see any normality back in my country?
AKIF NAQVI
Ethiopia
I FULLY agree to the observation in your editorial (April 23) that the best option left with US-led coalition, after the ouster of Saddam Hussein, is to collaborate closely with the United Nations and the international community in the reconstruction of Iraq and the country’s transition to representative rule.
America, by bypassing the UN in attacking Iraq, has already done a lot of damage to the international system of collective security and international law. By doing so, America has not only undermined the very credibility of the UN, but also tarnished its own image.
Sharing responsibility would help restore the confidence of both the Iraqi people, who are increasingly becoming sceptical of American intentions, and the world community. But America’s uncompromising attitude tells us that the US will not take notice of the world community’s concerns.
Moreover, the Bush administration is refusing to share with the UN the task of post-war management, arguing that the coalition is capable of handling the task itself and sees no need for any UN role.
This inflexible and arrogant American attitude is neither good for world peace nor for
America itself.
ABID BARKI
Islamabad
GOVERNMENT working in Pakistan depends mostly on the performance and quality of those who are in grades from BPS-1 to 16 because officials above grade 16 mostly sign the files put before them. Thus, recruitment through ministers or the departments concerned will not only politicize public institutions but also undermine the merit system in all the departments.
As the implementation of the merit system is only possible by recruiting officials through federal and provincial public service commissions, the justified arguments against the recruitments by ministers would be that the secretariats have neither experience nor the quality of impartiality while filling vacancies.
Another major drawback of this law is the setback to the quality of education, which is inter-linked with the fairness and independence of all public service commissions. Therefore, democracy should not be moulded by discouraging and minimizing the constitutional and legal function of the public institutions.
Therefore, the president, the prime minister and the cabinet are requested to reconsider the decision the government has taken without parliament’s deliberations, and save the talented and competent candidates from being sidelined.
ZIA MANDOKHAIL
Zhob
THE other day the treasury benches in the NWFP raised a hue and cry when proposing a law declaring un-Islamic the trousers-shirt dress worn in the province’s educational institutions. This is a sad commentary on the state of affairs. Who are they to decide what is Islamic or un-Islamic? Why is the MMA poised to impose its will on the people?
I would not be amazed if the MMA makes the wearing of beard mandatory. They should instead debate such issues as deweaponizing the NWFP, educating the children, helping women against rape, developing a transparent judicial system and health care.
REHMAT ALI RAUF
Bloomington, Indiana
I AGREE with Mr J. N. Rahi’s suggestion (April 22) that the playing of national anthem in cinema halls should be stopped.
I have had the chance to watch movies in cinemas around the world, but nowhere have I come across the practice of the country’s national anthem being played in cinemas.
In order to prevent the national anthem from getting less than the respect that it demands, the practice of playing it in cinemas should, therefore, be discontinued.
TARIQ RAZA
Mississauga, ON, Canada
THE matter of the LFO and its impact on the survival of the National Assembly occupy centre-stage in the news these days. President Musharraf’s detractors, who are paradoxically the idolizers of Saddam Hussein, are predicting that he would have to back down on this crucial matter. The only consideration arguing against this outcome is the consistently poor record of these analysts in reading the crystal ball.
The tenure of President Musharraf is rated as a failure and he is being depicted as a power-hungry dictator who, among other things, has failed to deal with the United States with ‘honour’. He certainly had the good sense not to destroy Pakistan for the sake of ‘honour’ as the Taliban and Saddam foolishly did and as the MMA and its fellow travellers wanted on both occasions.
However, the stands that the government of Pakistan took with regard to Afghanistan and Iraq were both courageous and in the best interests of Pakistan.
As regards the LFO, those who have discovered the passion for unbridled democracy ought to objectively assess the contributions that the president has made towards stabilizing Pakistan and moving towards democracy.
If the Nawaz Sharif regime were to continue another month, the only dream of making the army subservient to his ambition of becoming the “Ameer-ul-Momineen’, after he had successfully defanged the legislature and the Supreme Court, would have become a reality. Who could have ever managed to loosen the grip of dictatorship in democratic clothing then?
It is apparent to any impartial observer that democratic practices, such as total freedom of the press, which were under constant attack during the two tenures each of Benazir Bhutto and of Nawaz Sharif, are now available and are comparable to those of any mature Western democracy.
The ‘failed decade’ of economic decline has been replaced by an incredibly strong position of foreign reserves in excess of $10 billion. Most importantly, a culture of comparative honesty has been ushered and even the most virulent critics of the president have not accused him and his close associates in the government of being personally corrupt.
President Musharraf is unusual in the sense that he means what he says and his insistence on keeping the LFO intact, which may not be strictly democratic, is to ensure that the country doesn’t revert to the free for all looting in the name of democracy. If he can overcome his obsession with Kashmir and can control the ‘Jihadis’, he would undoubtedly go down in history as one of the greatest leaders that Pakistan has ever had.
M. HAIDER
New Jersey, USA
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