| May 19, 2003 | Monday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 16, 1424 |
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Sindh’s water share
Late-night weddings
Reinstatement of PS workers
Women passengers’ plight
Private schools & homework
Threat of religious extremists
Sars & Ojah sanatorium
Armymen’s behaviour
Appointment of HC
Political Islam
Sindhi transmission
Suggestions for Haj policy
I WRITE to offer my commendations for two of the most in-depth and insightful pieces in your esteemed daily (May 11) on the current Pakistan-India-Kashmir triangle.
These articles that appeared in the opinion section have been authored by what so proudly represents a part of the intellectual powerhouse and reservoir of our country in Mr Kunwar Idris, whom I have had the distinct pleasure of meeting on several occasions, and Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy. Needless to say, what a breath of fresh air it is to read these analyses that are given to logic and rationale, as opposed to emotionalism and knee-jerk reaction which, unfortunately, have become cornerstones of our national heritage, of late.
I whole-heartedly agree with the concept that we need a serious ‘rethink’ on Kashmir. The idea is to reach a happy medium, and not insist on being adamant on what the original positions may have been. Of course, this goes for both countries. I, however, will limit my comments on how we can dispel the misperceptions the world has of us as therein lies my loyalty.
Now, I do not want to touch on the UN resolutions passed over 50 years ago. If they had any chance of being implemented, we would not have this situation to contend with today. The fact is we have an impasse, a cul de sac of a kind. We can either look to the future and try resolving this with a view to pragmatism or continue being retrospective in our approach and end up being incessantly accused of infiltration across the border.
Also, who is being hurt more? I think Dr Hoodbhoy aptly addresses this in his piece with examples of the Indian reserves position, the size of the country notwithstanding, and the enormousness of the hi-tech development, both in the academia and the corporate side. I know for a fact that Dell Computers of the US has various call centres in India, and whenever I run into a snag and call the toll-free #, I end up getting somebody with a subcontinental accent! Some of the 911 emergency numbers are picked up by Indian call centres, and so are the Chexsystem inquiries that we use in our banking industry here for determining credit-worthiness.
Unfortunately, we have been too busy in self-destruction. Our constitution runs counter to what the founding fathers had envisioned. By bringing religion in the “apparent” modus operandi of our country, we have unleashed the bigotry that thus comes with it. There are examples galore, and volumes can be produced to the effect but the agony of being reminded be spared here.
I really do feel it is an opportunity that we should grasp and then start apportioning some of the budget to the social sector. The need for cautious diplomacy, however, cannot be overemphasized.
MOHSIN HAFEEZ
San Francisco, CA, USA
THE water war between Sindh and Punjab is intensifying with each passing day. The federal government, Wapda and Irsa seem to be least interested in coming to the rescue of Sindh which is facing shortage of water.
The core problem is that the water accord of March 16, 1991, was signed by the chief ministers of the four provinces, bypassing the provincial assemblies, the National Assembly and the Senate. The reason being that in the accord, on one hand, Punjab not only got its unauthorized withdrawals (1985-90) regularized but also managed to increase its unauthorized quota from 53.65maf to 55.94maf.
In the accord, Sindh was the only province whose quota was decreased by 0.40 maf. The people of Karachi are the worst sufferers. Gen Zia, keeping in view the importance of Karachi in terms of defence, economy, and foreign trade, sanctioned 0.87maf for Karachi from the national pool.
In the 1991 accord, this quantity was adjusted against the total water quota of Sindh. So, the total loss to Sindh comes to about 1.27 maf. This amount does not include the minimum amount of water, which was to be released Kotri downstream to check sea intrusion and save ecosystem of the Indus delta.
The most tragic aspect of this episode is that the people posted in Wapda and Irsa do not know the importance of ecosystem in the delta region or they think it is none of their business. Even more tragic is the role played by our representatives in the government, when the accord was signed, and their continued silence even now for want of lucrative ministries.
The Sindh government should demand of the federal government to let it know the quota of Sindh which became the basis for the World Bank assistance in the Indus Water Treaty negotiations. Even the international treaty is being violated to please one province and penalize the lower riparian region.
Someone has very rightly said: “There is sufficiency in the world for man’s needs but not for man’s greed.”
ABDUL GHANI BANGULZAI
Hyderabad
THIS is with reference to Mr Salahuddin Mirza’s letter (April 11), captioned “Late-night weddings”. The remedy suggested by him to ensure that wedding schedules are followed strictly is outrageous. He proposes a fine of Rs25,000 by the government for every hour of the deviation from the printed time of the ceremony.
I fully realize that it is extremely inconvenient for the guests to just sit down and wait while the hosts walk around merrily. Moreover, it is impolite to invite people for a function scheduled for 8pm and not make it materialize until 11pm or so. However, such behaviour in no way reflects a breach of any law and should not be taken in that light.
It is the people’s right to be lazy, disorganized and late if they so choose. This must constitute a part of the freedoms that the citizens must always have. It is not the government’s business to get involved with how people conduct their social life. I am surprised that Mr Mirza, a retired judge, failed to see this freedom-related anomaly in his suggestion.
The one way punctual people can stimulate a change in other people’s attitude about punctuality is by showing up on time and then if the main ceremony is delayed beyond their level of tolerance, getting up and leaving.
It will create tension among the families and friends but in the end it will cause dramatic changes in attitudes about the value of time. It is a dirty job but somebody has to do it. But certainly it should not be the government.
Besides, every minute of the delay eats into the wedding night of the couple getting married. The delay adds to their fatigue and tension on a night when they need to be most relaxed and well rested.
SIDDIQUE MALIK
Louisville, KY, US
THIS refers to the news item headlined “Reinstatement of PS workers demanded” (May 13).
The allegations levelled by the MNA quoted in the report are baseless. It is not by slashing the size of the workforce but by increasing production and sales that profits are being made, besides the clearance of huge liabilities, which include the payment of Rs4.67 billion to banks against loan instalments and Rs4.37 billion to the employees who opted for the voluntary retirement scheme. An amount of Rs946 million was also paid as import duties/demurrage to clear substandard steel at Port Qasim.
The repairs of the plant and machinery have not been ignored as alleged. In fact, it is by carrying out long-delayed capital repairs that the production capacity of Pakistan Steel has been revived to 1.1 million tonnes per annum.
As regards the allegation that the funds are being spent on construction and renovation of ponds, a cricket ground and parks, the fact is that not a single paisa has been spent from the budget of the corporation on the park and the cricket stadium in Steel Town, which have been developed on a self-help basis. Contrary to another allegation, no employee was forced to retire.
In the process to make Pakistan Steel economically viable, the non-core activities such as medical and security were reduced by 71 per cent. However, instead of terminating the services of the employees belonging to these departments, they were adjusted in other departments.
As far the death of nine employees in an accident is concerned, investigations have already been made at the ministry level and it has been confirmed that it was merely an accident.
The allegations of financial irregularity and corruption have no bearing whatsoever. Irregularities and corruption which were rampant in the past have been wiped out.
ANWAR SHAHID KHAN
In charge (Public Relations), Pakistan Steel,
Karachi
WHILE the Karachi traffic police have recently taken some steps to ensure smooth flow of traffic, they seem least bothered about the plight of women passengers in the public transport. Both regular and occasional women commuters have to face eve-teasing and sometimes harassment in buses, mini-buses and coaches.
Although an iron fence has been erected in every public vehicle to make some seats available to women, men often occupy these seats, specially during rush hours, thus making women wait at bus stops for almost half an hour and at times for an hour before they find some vacant seats. Equally inconsiderate are the traffic police who, despite having been given some incentives to book such public transport (half of the fined money is to go to the policeman who fines a vehicle for violating any traffic rule), do not usually fine errant drivers; most of the times they like to have their palms greased.
I, being a schoolteacher, have to travel daily by the public transport. Not a single day passes when I do not face eve-teasing myself or when I do not see other women being teased by some male passengers. That now even teenagers have taken to eve-teasing in buses is a sad commentary on the moral decadence of our society, thanks to the onslaught of cable TV channels.
I appeal to the governor and the chief minister of Sindh to ensure implementation of the traffic rules so that women could travel without any hassle. Corrupt traffic policemen should be taken to task.
NUDMA AURANGZEB
Karachi
TEACHERS of some reputed private schools are giving homework to students of primary classes without teaching them the lessons or explaining the subjects that are so hard that even the students of classes IX and X cannot do. Therefore, the parents or elders of the family have to do their homework or else their children would suffer the consequences.
Moreover, parents cannot dare complain about this at the parent-teacher meeting for fear of victimization of their children.
I think it is better that parents of all students jointly take up their problems matter at the parent-teacher meeting in order to resolve them.
MOHAMMAD USMAN
Karachi
ACCORDING to a correspondent of Dawn (April 20), President Musharraf said in Sargodha that religious extremists posed a major threat to Pakistan. Very true. But then he went on to repeat a slogan invented by these parties that Pakistan was established in the ‘name of Islam’.
I belong to the generation that as university students took a modest part in the Pakistan movement. The Muslim League was a secular party with a secular leadership. Most of the religious parties were on the Congress side. The Congress having spurned repeated attempts to bring about a modus vivendi between the major communities, the Muslim League turned to the idea of partition. The leaders of the Pakistan movement envisaged a secular state based on Islamic values.
During the Ziaul Haq years the ‘name of Islam’ slogan was adopted and became the received truth. It has opened Pandora’s box. Today the religious extremists are seen as a threat, tomorrow they will become a nightmare.
BIRJIS HASAN KHAN
Karachi
THIS refers to the letter headlined “Sars & Ojah sanatorium” by Mr Ardeshir Jehangir Viccaji (May 14).
I share his good wishes not to have Pakistan on the Sars map. I must, however, bring it to his knowledge that tuberculosis spreads not by the use of utensils, crockery or cutlery but through droplet infector, i.e. coughing, sneezing and loud laughing by tuberculosis patients.
Moreover, Ojha is no more a sanatorium. It has in fact been working as the Ojha Institute of Chest Diseases, Karachi, since 1973. Mr Viccaji is welcome to personally see the performance of Ojha.
DR M. ASHRAF SADIQUE
Director-cum-Chest Specialist Ojha Institute of Chest Diseases,
Karachi
IN your editorial, “Not a law unto themselves” (May 9), you say: “No one should be above the law, however powerful the organization they represent”.
Well, well, when the generals consider themselves to be above the supreme law — the Constitution — and once every few years establish their domain all over the country, why lecture their juniors on observing the common law.
The juniors take their cue from their seniors and establish their domains in streets, mohallas and shops! If the generals can send political leaders abroad, their juniors can send shopkeepers abroad also!
M. ASLAM KHAN
Karachi
APPOINTING an ambassador always remains a delicate issue in our country. We have an assortment of such persons throughout the world, ranging from political appointees, career diplomats, military generals, retired bureaucrats and businessmen. In some cases, we may even find the evidence of a patronage system.
The question has now arisen about appointing a high commissioner to India. Quite surprisingly, the job was assigned to the present foreign secretary. He gave a list of three names, and now the prime minister has to choose one out of those few.
On the contrary, in India it was solely decided by its chief executive, the prime minister. The latter must have taken his foreign minister and some veteran MPs of the opposition and the treasury benches into confidence on such an important issue.
Why can’t India give us a high commissioner from one of those Sikh and Hindu communities who once played in the streets of Punjab’s Lahore, Faisalabad or Sindh’s Hyderabad? They have no dearth of talented writers, poets, politicians and businessmen.
Pakistan, too, has no shortage of men who were born in Mumbai, Allahabad or Delhi. If the two countries sincerely desire to open a new chapter, they should consider this suggestion.
KUNWAR KHALID YUNUS
Karachi
IN her article entitled “Political Islam the real winner” (April 24), Dr Iffat Idris Malik writes that “Islam on its own is a powerful ideology”.
In my opinion it is self-deception. One does not require a PhD degree to recognize that the Islamic ideology has actually not been successful in any Islamic state to solve the problems of the modern world. In the case of Iraq the Shiite mullahs would not be successful.
The mullah-type Islam would not be tolerated by the United States to make an Iran-like state. The so-called “success” of the political Islam in Iraq is actually only a result of a vacuum created by the absence of real administration and authority.
TANWEER HUSSAIN
Bickenbach, Germany
THE PTV is making good efforts to promote our national language Urdu, but it should also promote Sindhi, which is the official language of the Sindh province. It is unfortunate that in the 24-hour transmission, the PTV has only 45 minutes for Sindhi programmes.
It would be proper if the PTV increases the minimum Sindhi transmission time to four or five hours.
HUMERA ALWANI
MPA, Sindh Assembly,
Via email
FIRST I must appreciate the prime minister for ordering the refund to those who were not able to perform Haj this year under the open scheme due to mishandling of the applications. I have some suggestions for the religious affairs ministry to consider while preparing the 2004 Haj policy.
A major problem concerns the provision of accommodation to intending pilgrims. It is so mismanaged an affair that the pilgrims are forced to hire illegal Haj operators who fleece people like anything. The question is, can they do it without the support of the Haj directorate’s official?
These unauthorized Haj operators claim that, to get private residences approved by the officials in Islamabad, they have to spend money. Some of them are even getting approvals on fake documents.
It seems officials of the Haj directorate are either doing it to please some vested interests or are ignorant of the facilities needed by the Haj pilgrims. However, there seems to be no accountability in this regard.
The government should introduce yet another category under which it should arrange residences within a radius of 200 meters of Haram Sharif at some reasonable additional costs for those Haj pilgrims who wish to reside near Haram Sharif. The accommodation problem should be so addressed that not more than 6/8 persons are housed in a room, which should also have a bathroom.
The government should either ban such unauthorized Haj operators or legalize them with some reasonable fees ad security deposit and also fix an amount for different categories of residences to be provided by these operators so that they may not charge exorbitantly from the pilgrims.
They should have no direct access with the Haj officials in Islamabad, and the directorate should process their cases on merit.
The number of days of stay for Haj purposes should be reduced from around 40 days to a maximum of 30 days.
To reduce the duration of stay, the government should ask PIA and Saudi Airline to allow increase in Haj flights and also allow the private airlines to operate.
The government should consider providing separate passports to those who want to perform Haj on the open Haj scheme as majority of them are business-related and cannot deposit their international passport for a longer period.
Those who have already performed Haj should not be allowed to do so until the next five years, as is being practised in Saudi Arabia.
MUHAMMAD IQBAL SIDDIQUE
Karachi
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