| May 18, 2003 | Sunday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 15, 1424 |
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Railway link with India
EU and industrial subcontracting
POL prices & OCAC
Travails of gypsies
Armymen’s behaviour
CIA’s map and FO
Remittance card
Bretton Woods and PM’s commitments
Wedding meals
Settlement of Kashmir dispute
THE US occupation forces in Iraq recently detained Dr Huda Sali Mahdi Ammash, an Iraqi scientist. South End Press, the publishers of Dr Huda Ammash, in a press release, has suggested that “there may be political motivation for her detention.” Dr Ammash published a peer reviewed paper, “Toxic Pollution, the Gulf War, and Sanctions.” In an anthology, “Iraqi Under Siege (South End Press, undated edition, 2002), edited by Anthony Arnove. Co-publisher of the anthology, Alexander Dwinell, said: “We are outraged at the US’s extra-legal detention of Dr Ammash and its plans to interrogate her. We demand that Dr Ammash be released immediately.” He added: “The US government is trying to silence Dr Ammash’s outspoken criticism of the US role in causing cancers and other illnesses in Iraq through its own use of biologically hazardous weapons such as radioactive deleted uranium.”
In her paper, “Toxic Pollution, the Gulf War, and Sanctions,” Dr Ammash examines the effects of the use of depleted uranium by the US during the first Gulf War, the spread of electro-magnetic fields in the environment, chemical pollution, and massive destruction of Iraq’s infrastructure on public health. Her assessment of the overall effect is that the US actions are largely responsible for the deterioration of public health in Iraq. She writes: “Iraqi death rates have increased significantly, with cancer representing a significant cause of morality, especially in the south and among children.” This view is shared by other scientists and experts.
According to biographical details that are available from various sources, Professor Ammash was born in 1953 in Baghdad. She obtained her BSc in Biology from the University of Baghdad in 1975 and her MS in Microbiology from Texas University, Denton, Texas. In 1983 she obtained her PhD in Microbiology from the University of Missouri at Columbia, Missouri, US. She was elected a Fellow of Islamic Academy of Science (IAS) in 2001. She has had a distinguished academic and professional career in Iraq. She served as Dean of College of Education for Women, University of Baghdad, and as Dean of College of Science (1995- 1997). Her publications include, “Impact of Gulf War Pollution in the Spread of Infectious Diseases in Iraq” (Soli Al-Mondo, Rome 1999) and “Electronic, Chemical, and Microbial Pollution Resulting from War and Embargo, and its Impacts on the Environment and Health,” (Journal of the (Iraqi) Academy of Science, 1997).
The US occupation forces had listed Dr Ammash among the 55 most wanted Iraqi officials. Dr Ammash is the daughter of Saleh Mahdi Ammash, a former vice-president, defence minister and member of the Baath Party’s leadership.
He was reportedly executed on Saddam Hussein order in 1983.
The US authorities have not given any reason for Dr Ammash’s detention. She was shown on Iraqi television on March 27 sitting next at the same table as Saddam Hussein. That cannot be sufficient ground for detention. Attending a meeting with a dictator of a country under attack by a foreign superpower is not a crime. Donald Rumsfeld had no qualms about attending a meeting with Saddam Hussein at the height of the regime’s brutality.
The US has been unable to find any concrete evidence of the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. The arrests of Iraqi scientists and technicians may be an attempt to (a) concoct some evidence of an Iraqi programme for developing weapons of mass destruction, (b) mute criticism of the USA’s occupation by Iraqi scholars and scientists, and (c) stifle Iraq’s technological and scientific potential for years to come.
Since the US has offered no reasons of Dr Ammash’s detention, one can only speculate about its reasons for her detention.
However, occupation authorities have an obligation under international law to follow the rules and procedures of Geneva Convention. The US has shown a consistent pattern of disregarding international laws and norms unless it suits its purpose. Hence, it is up to the people of the United States to compel the US occupation authorities to at least abide by the minimum acceptable standards of civilized nations. The progressive community should demand the unconditional release of Dr Huda Ammash as part of its campaign to end the illegitimate US occupation of Iraq.
ABU SPINOZA
Via email
NOW that the railway link with India is likely to be restored in near future, I would take this opportunity to bring it to the notice of the railway authorities of both countries that at one time, the Indian railways had opened a reservation office at the Lahore junction railway station.
Passengers could get the reservation done up to 15 days in advance at the Lahore station, effective from the Amritsar railway station onward to any place on the Indian railway against Pakistan currency. That was a great facility. People did not have to run helter skelter at the Amritsar railway station and would only leave Lahore the day their reservation was made from Amritsar.
On a reciprocal basis, the Pakistan Railways also opened a similar booking office at Delhi station in collaboration with the Indian Railways which made the booking from Delhi to Amritsar and from Lahore to any destination in Pakistan, probably on payment in the Indian currency. The passengers thus were spared the inconvenience of obtaining booking at the Lahore railway station and were thus saved from wasting time at the Lahore station. Indo-Pakistan passengers will greatly appreciate if this facility is also restored.
Until the 1971 war, the Samjhota Express was running on a daily basis. I do not understand why the frequency was later reduced to alternate days. Now that the travel links with India are re-opening after more than one year’s suspension, the volume of traffic will be extraordinarily high and it will be in the fitness of things if the service is run not only on a daily basis, as per practice in the past, but also more bogies should be added to the train.
The Pakistan Railways authorities may also note that 90 per cent of the Indo-Pakistan traffic shall be generated from Karachi and other parts of Sindh and as such the departure of the Samjhota Express may be so set that the passengers reaching Lahore from Karachi and other places of Sindh have enough time available at Lahore to board the Samjhota Express.
JUSTICE (R) SALAHUDDIN MIRZA
Karachi
THIS is with reference to the news item captioned “EU enlargement to benefit Pakistan” (April 23).
Indeed the European Union, particularly the enlarged 25-member forum, provides tremendous trade opportunities to us. Cooperation in trade between the developed and the developing countries is one of the major aims of the EU global policy. It appears that we have not taken significant advantage of the same, and various avenues of trade remain unexplored so far.
Besides the traditional items for export, we should consider, for example, the marketing of our engineering products and services, and this has to be done in a systematic way, adopting a pragmatic approach.
There is a limited scope for Pakistan to sell machinery and equipment as finished product to the EU countries, but prospects to secure subcontracting contracts are enormous — either through participation in their industrial projects or manufacturing parts and components for their various standard products. Our engineering industry and consultancy services can deliver. It however requires capacity building at our end to meet the needs of the western countries, demonstration of our technical know-how, competitive prices, acceptance of our quality and adherence to agreed delivery dates.
This arrangement would also be beneficial to the developed EU nations simply for the economic reasons. Huge funds are required to meet the needs of R&D, design, engineering, production, and installation/erection as areas of technology increase rapidly in present times. Subcontracting is thus the result of an economic choice for the EU.
The government and the trade bodies should look into the possibility of diversifying our engineering products and services in the area of subcontracting, and to undertake preparatory work in this context. The first step will be to bring into contact the prospective partners.
HUSSAIN AHMAD SIDDIQUI
Islamabad
THE petroleum minister, Nauraiz Shakoor, has stated that since the linkage of domestic prices with the international market was established, the prices of domestic products have changed 40 times, went up 20 times and fell on 13 occasions while they remained stable on seven occasions.
The prices of petroleum products are determined by the oil companies advisory committee (OCAC), a conglomerate of distribution companies operating in Pakistan, a modified version of the OPEC.
There is a feeling among the Pakistani taxpayers that if there is a hike in the prices, the entire burden of this hike is faithfully dished out to the consumers, whereas when there is a decrease in the prices, the benefit is not fully passed on to them. This notion needs to be dispelled with facts and figures. It may not be asking for too much if the taxpayer is apprised of the price the makeup.
The poor man’s fuel, kerosene, used for light and to ward off mosquitoes in the rural areas, is exorbitantly high priced beyond his means. True, lowering the price encourages adulteration with motor gasoline.
There are laws to punish the offenders. Surprise checks should be conducted at the petrol pumps where the two products are marketed and offenders prosecuted.
The prices of lubricants and greases (not within the purview of the OCAC) are skyrocketing. There is a mushroom growth of blending plants in the country. Substandard, not re-refined lubricants, are sold along the roadside at throwaway prices to attract uninitiated customers, causing damage to the machinery.
The blending plants should collect the used lubricants from petrol pumps, re-refine them and exercise quality control. Thus this unhealthy practice will be eliminated. This should not, however, give them an incentive to increase the prices. The petrol pumps should not sell the used lubricants to any unauthorized party.
M. SHAFIUDDIN
Texas, USA
THIS refers to the report, “Travails of gypsies” (May 4). I want to mention some facts about Bashir’s life and his background. He is a permanent resident of my village, Chak No. 14/9-R (Khanewal). He belongs to the tribe of Muslim sheikhs and is its effective member.
However, properly speaking we cannot call these people gypsies. They have their business of woods and coal. Bashir is also a partner in the business of local people. Last year, Bashir found a handbag containing Rs100,000 near Data Darbar where he happened to be begging at that time. He returned to his village to deliver this money to his relatives and his partners.
His statement that his parents left him the miseries of life only is a blatant lie. Anyone can verify this by visiting my village. He has become big and is doing the business of sending gypsies from here to Lahore. He has an elaborate arrangement for training new beggars.
JAVAID IQBAL SAHU
Khanewal
THESE are strange times indeed when the army has to prove its might in dealing with the police and the people.
This “flexing of muscles” happened in the Multan Cantonment area (May 8) when two army officers violated some traffic law and, on being reprimanded, got restrictions imposed on a fabric shop belonging to one of the witnesses who dared to point out their mistake. Two armed officials of the military police were made to stand guard outside the shop which was declared out of bounds for all ranks.
However, this was not an isolated incident as, according to the report, three Pakistan army cadets also let a full army contingent loose on the police when they stopped them from riding one motorcycle.
It seems that, apart from the fine traditions of laying down one’s life for the country and upholding its dignity and honour at all costs being instilled in the young minds of our army cadets, now the “might is right” phenomenon is also being taught with equal gusto!
FARHANA CHAGHTAI
Karachi
THIS refers to the CIA map that shows Kashmir as undisputed (May 5).
It is a matter of shame and regret that our Foreign Office has not challenged and protested against the CIA map showing Kashmir east of the LoC as ‘Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir and Siachin no longer part of Azad Kashmir’.
We expect our leaders to stick to their oft-repeated exhortations that Pakistan comes first and strongly protest against the CIA map which is an unfriendly act. This point, I earnestly hope, must have been brought home to Mr Armitage. It must be understood by all that resolution of the Kashmir dispute on the map lines will never be acceptable.
KHAN A. SHAMSHAD
Karachi
AFTER the government announced issuance of foreign exchange remittance cards for the people remitting money through the normal banking channel, I applied for a card last year but has not got any response yet. Has the scheme been abandoned? This usually happens in Pakistan: governments proudly announce schemes but they are hardly implemented.
Would anyone from the government like to comment on it?
ARSHAD MANZOOR
Florida, USA
PRIME Minister Jamali said recently that the main guideline for the upcoming budget would be investment, privatization and poverty reduction.
But what statements one read in Dawn (May 10) by the representatives of the two branches of the Bretton Woods system in Pakistan depicted altogether a different picture; the WB wants NSS rates tied to bonds’ yield, i.e. below five per cent-and another, stating the Asian Development Bank (ADB), requires “ ... 17 per cent return on average net fixed assets in accordance with ADB’s requirements ... “ for its loan to the Sui Southern Gas Co. (SSGC), which was criticized by the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as this would escalate the SSGC’s tariff and hamper increase of the Pakistani exports.
If the WB wants the NSS’s return tied to bonds’ yield to below five per cent, then on what ground does ADB demand — through increased tariff — a 17 per cent return on its loan from the Sui Southern Gas Co?
Can the public hope that the prime minister’s assurance would prove to be more than lip-service and the demands by the WB/ADB for the NSS and SSGC will be balanced, if not reversed, and the present government, as those in the past, will not prostrate before the master’s unjustified commands?
AMIR ALI ESMAIL
Karachi
APROPOS of the letter of Amira Mohammed (May 9) from the USA, I would like to say that we cannot single out a social practice, such as wedding meals, for criticizing and stopping by law. It has to b seen in the overall prospective outlook and practices in society.
We have a society which has developed habits of show of wealth in all spheres of life, such as houses, clothing, vehicles and parties. Even at the official level, compare the building of Nation Assembly with the Indian or even the British parliament.
With such overall thinking in society, you cannot bring simplicity by law or force, on how many things you can enforce law for spending less, for example cost or size of house, car or even the cost of the bride’s dress which, in certain cases, is more than Rs200,000.
The simplicity can be developed by example of the elite in all spheres of life on a long-term basis.
As regards inviting so many guests on weddings, it is part of our culture. In the US even the parents may not be invited for wedding.
MIR ZAIN KHAWAR
Rawalpindi
THE foreign minister of Pakistan attended a function of Nazaria-i-Pakistan and the inaugural function of the Karachi Council on Foreign Relations, Economic Affairs and Law in Karachi on May 10. The focus of questions at both places centred around Pakistan’s relations with India, in general, and settlement of the Kashmir dispute, in particular.
The foreign minister very forcefully but diplomatically put across the government’s point of view that since aggressive and hostile postures had not resulted in benefit to India over the past few years, the Indian prime minister had responded positively to the offer of normalization and talks made by the Pakistan prime minister. He said dialogue, discussion and debate were the only way forward for both countries so as to evolve a policy decision on Kashmir which was a longstanding sensitive issue for both sides with extreme positions.
In reply to a question from me whether the government had the political conviction and could achieve a consensus in parliament to formulate a new realistic and pragmatic policy on the Kashmir issue which would be different from our so-called principled stand on Kashmir over the past 55 years, which had not yielded any positive result, the foreign minister replied that not only would a consensus be developed in parliament but public opinion would also have to be built up on the issue as there was a great divide even between the views expressed at the two meetings he attended on the same day in Karachi.
In short, a settlement of the Kashmir issue is neither easy nor within sight at present but efforts are being made to reach a stage when Kashmir would become the focal aspect of discussions. India would like to discuss and normalize all relations with Pakistan and leave the status quo on Kashmir unchanged for the present. Pakistan must settle all issues with India, including the future of Kashmir, in keeping with the commitments made by India to the international community, and this settlement must also conform to the wishes of the people of Kashmir because it is their future which is at stake.
Unless both sides show a great deal of pragmatism and conviction in the belief that an amicable settlement on Kashmir is the only way forward for the people of the subcontinent, peace, progress and prosperity will continue to remain a distant dream, and what we will have instead is more loss of lives and a drain on our economy.
It is high time both countries paid more attention to the wishes of the Kashmiri people and put aside their own political aspirations. The present opportunity of the US as the world’s only superpower being vitally interested in a peaceful subcontinent for strategic and commercial reasons must not be lost. Europe, China, Japan, Iran and our other friends are equally interested in a peaceful resolution of all disputes between India and Pakistan. Let us not miss this opportunity.
LIAQUAT MERCHANT
Karachi
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