| August 5, 2003 | Tuesday | Jumadi-us-Sani 6, 1424 |
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Port Qasim: need for industrialization
Appeal for FIR registration
Jihad against corruption
In pursuit of justice
Billing complaint
Road hazards in industrial areas
Human life an expendable item
Ghee prices
Cartels, monopolies and prices
THIS refers to the letter by Mr Nazim Ali Hothi, published in your newspaper (July 26) under the above title. Mr Hothi wants people from the FIA and the anti-corruption department to be ousted from NAB. He feels that NAB has been paralysed by these people and the men from the army and other armed forces are in a state of confusion because their efforts to unearth the concealed assets is sabotaged by civilian officers.
This I believe is a totally wrong perception. Mr Hothi should know that initial inquiry is not conducted by the FIA and anti- corruption department but by the personnel drawn from the armed forces forming special inquiry wing (SIW) at all the NAB centres. Since these officials prepare a detailed report of assets of an alleged accused, the hiding and camouflaging of the assets by the FIA and other civilian officers is not possible at all. Their job, in fact, starts after the report of the SIW, which is totally manned by serving and retired armed forces officers.
What actually happens is that out of their excitement most of the NAB officers from the armed farces do not take into account the prevailing laws in the country; a lot of them are not professionally able to handle these cases and some of them are even unaware of the NAB laws. They fail to understand that the NAB laws may only be implemented from Jan 1, 1985, and they incorrectly record assets of earlier periods as unaccounted for in their reports. They also fail to realize that if an alleged accused or his relatives have acquired any asset in, say 1977, or even on December 31, 1984, no question about its sources may be asked under the NAB laws.
Some of the SIW officers of NAB (all of them are from the armed forces) use coercive measures. They direct the people to appear before them even without issuing any formal notice. They do not give any receipt of the documents presented to them by the alleged accused in support of establishing sources. There are quite a few SIW officers who even hide the evidence in their reports, with the sole objective of showing their bosses that they have unearthed assets which do not have known sources.
Subsequently, when this evidence of the sources are presented by the alleged accused or his relatives before the FIA and other civilian investigators, the whole edifice of incorrect reports prepared at the initial stage by the officers of the armed forces falls to its logical end.
Instead of feeling embarrassed for submitting incorrect, incomplete and unprofessionally prepared reports, they start accusing the FIA and anti-corruption officers of destroying their cases. It must be noted here that the FIA and other civilian officers of NAB work under the supervision of the officers drawn form the armed forces, mostly retired colonels and as such no hiding of assets is possible with the help of the FIA officials only.
Mr Hothi must know that NAB officials from the armed forces do not appear in the courts, it is the officer from the FIA and the anti-corruption department who represent NAB in the courts. Obviously, he must be 100 per cent sure of whatever is contained in the reference, otherwise he may not defend it.
The main reason for majority of NAB cases failing in higher courts is that some meek and docile FIA and anti-corruption officers blindly follow the incorrect and baseless initial reports prepared by NAB officers from the armed forces.
It is regrettable that some NAB officers use the tactics of a village SHO. They harass and pressure the male and female relatives of the accused to extract information, which they feel may not be collected by them through professional means. Whereas an FIA or anti-corruption officer is not trained to maltreat the female relatives of the accused.
It is suggested that the official in charge of the SIWs in NAB should first confront the alleged accused in respect of the findings of his officers and the reply of the alleged accused should also be sent to the legal section of NAB which after whetting the same should send it to the investigators, i.e. the FIA and anti-corruption officers working under the supervision of retired colonels, for detailed inquiry. This measure would not only reduce the unnecessary burden and the workload of the investigators, but also help eliminate chances of hiding and camouflaging the assets, as alleged by Mr Hothi.
PRO BONO PUBLICO
Karachi
PORT Qasim, a deep seaport, second in the country, was established under an enacted authority, Port Qasim Authority (PQA), on June 29, 1973, by the first elected government, led by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Its main objects were to make one more port after the Karachi port and to increase the export trading after installation of a net of industries within the premises of Port Qasim. Besides other port activities, decongestion of the city traffic system and curtailment of pollution were the prime objects.
For the industries a land measuring 12,000 acres was earmarked for north, south and east industrial zones. Out of this area, 3,700 acres of south and north zones have been allotted in the last 30 years. Whereas 8,300 acres are yet to be allotted at the east zone. At one end it is evident from the fact that almost 63 per cent of land for industries is lying unutilized and idle and, at the other, the whole feature speaks of port’s performance.
I have been approached by various people to draw attention of the concerned against the exemplary slackness and favouritism which had put the PQ as a decaying establishment. It’s a matter of regret that the PQA, through its tactics, has discouraged those who want to install factories as the people at the helm of the affairs are least interested in the rise of percentage of industry at this port.
The record shows that Port Qasim did its best in the elected system rather than in the unelected system where favourites are put to oblige only the favourites. It’s the need of the hour that the PQA affairs be monitored through a system which goes forward and removes the status quo, since less experienced people cannot materialize the system of Port Qasim for which it was established 30 years ago.
I suggest that all the pending cases of the allotments of the plots may be disposed of immediately and the buyers of the plots aimed at industrialization may be facilitated to make the industrial zone under the PQA beneficial in the port city of Karachi.
NISAR AHMED KHUHRO
President, PPP, Sindh,
Karachi
ON June 2 three men kidnapped my 10-year-old niece Fatima at 6pm when she was going from her home (at I-Safaida Gali, Taj Bagh Housing Scheme, near Harbanspura Mauza, Lahore) to a nearby market. The kidnappers put her in a van and took her to a deserted place (near railway lines) where there were a lot of trees and bushes.
Two of the kidnappers went somewhere while the third one kept watch on my niece. My niece eluded the watcher quite ingeniously; she hid behind trees and bushes and thus managed, through a sheer stroke of luck, to escape from the clutches of the kidnappers. She reached home running along with railway lines. Fatima’s mother was dumbstruck when she knew of the kidnapping.
When I got the news of this incident I immediately informed the Police Station, Ghaziabad (Tajpura). On June 4, I again met the SHO, with some respectables of Taj Bagh and presented a complaint for registration of a case against the unknown kidnappers. The SHO asked us to bring Fatima to him the next day. We took Fatima to the police station next day. The SHO heard the whole story from Fatima and also interrogated her, but refused to register a case, saying that the statement of a minor cannot be relied on.
This was his reason, but I think he did not want to register a case because he wanted to show that everything was all right within the jurisdiction of his police station.
My brother (Fatima’s father), who is posted at Islamabad, also came to Lahore and requested the SHO to register a case, but he said he would register a case only if he (my brother) nominates someone as accused. An application to police higher-ups is still in process.
I request the chief minister and the IG to look into the matter and order the SHO, Ghaziabad (Taj Pura), to register an FIR. The SHO’s arbitrary refusal to register a case is abuse of discretionary powers which the police are supposed to exercise judiciously and on sound grounds.
TALAT MAHMOOD
Lahore
THE national commission for human development (NCHD) is headed by Dr Nasim Ashraf with the status of a minister of state. According to the United Nations report on human development 2003, Pakistan‘s status has dropped further on the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI) — now ranking at number 144, lower than Nepal (143), Bangladesh (139), India (127), down 24 places as compared to last year.
Instead of explaining the reason of poor performance of the NCHD under his leadership, Dr Ashraf is always projecting the achievements of the NCHD and informing the nation that Pakistan is at the crossroads of finding new visions of human development. Should he not as head of the NCHD explain why instead of making progress in this field Pakistan‘s status has been further dropped?
With Rs2 billion of public money at its disposal, the NCHD was expected to produce significant improvements in the field of education and health. Now the NCHD is also entering in micro- finance services. It would be a great service rendered by our ministers and chairmen of our various commissions if they concentrate only on one subject and improve it by adhering to self-accountability and informing the nation on a monthly basis the progress made by their organizations through the print and electronic media.
It is the prime responsibility of the government to provide its citizens at reasonable cost health, education and transport. If a government is not able to provide these basic services to its citizens, it has no right to govern them.
ENGR S. T. HUSSAIN
Lahore
I WOULD like to apprise Gen Pervez Musharraf and the officials of his government of a grievous injustice done to me — reference my application
of Jan 20, 2000, addressed to the complaint cell, Public Relations Directorate, Inter-service, Hilal Road, Rawalpindi.
In 1995, the ministry of works and housing and the Capital Development Authority launched a New Islamabad, new city project. (The project has now been renamed as Soan City Development Project).
There is solid evidence to indicate that Ms Benazir Bhutto, Mr Asif Ali Zardari and Mian Nawaz Sharif organized the sale of the land which did not exist. In fact, the project involving the land existed just on paper.
On Nov 28, 1997, the Federal Ombudsman ordered refund of my money with yield (my individual reference: Serial No. 000098 and land allotment No. YA004668). I am sorry to point out that the money in question with yield has not been refunded to me to this day.
Through this letter I request the capital development authority to comply with the orders of the federal ombudsman and refund my money in question. Refunding of money would go a long way in restoring the confidence of the Overseas Pakistanis in the present and future government schemes. Also, they (Overseas Pakistanis) would feel secured while making investment in Pakistan.
Gen Musharraf has repeatedly been claiming to promote the culture of honesty. Actions speak louder than words. I wish his and his government’s claims would show in their actions. It is time for the government officials concerned to act and redress my grievances.
BARRISTER S. M. ANSAR
Karachi
IT is very astonishing to note that the PTCL has sent me a bill, against my phone No. 7528967, amounting to Rs3,040 for June, 2003, one day before the due date of payment, when my residence is opposite the Lea Market Telephone Exchange. I am a retired employee of the Sindh education department.
This bill contains uninformed CLI charges amounting to Rs1,670, without showing the period to which it pertains. This bill also contains sales tax of Rs383 and WH tax of Rs100.
I understand the CLI facility is a complimentary service provided to customers. Will the PTCL authorities explain how the amount has piled up?
ABDUL AZIZ KHATRI
Karachi
DURING his recent visit to America and other countries, President Gen Pervez Musharraf called upon their business communities to invest in Pakistan. It seems the president does not know that even Karachi, the most important industrial city of Pakistan, lacks the rudimentary facility of proper roads in its industrial zones like Korangi and SITE.
For example, in Korangi, as one enters the industrial zone after crossing the long bridge and turns to the right of the first roundabout, one encounters a double-track road, both sides of which is in such a horrible state that it becomes very difficult for the driver to decide which of the track to choose for a less hazardous drive.
The road is in a very bad shape because there is a constant overflow of industrial wastes from the factory of a MNC, with utter disregard of civic obligations. This is one specific example. There are many other similar examples, not only in this industrial belt but in other belts as well.
So, President Musharraf may be well advised to first put his house in order before inviting others to step in. One more piece of advice for him would be to come and visit the Korangi Industrial Area when he comes to Karachi just to verify the veracity of what has been written in this letter.
A. M. SAYIED
Karachi
THE menacing scenario in Pakistan is substantiated by the harsh realities of death when we witness reckless driving claiming a heavy toll of human lives; rainfall ending in deaths via electrocutions, open manholes as veritable death traps; water-borne diseases cutting short many innocent lives and death by drowning turning joys into mourning.
The situation became worse when we heard the Quetta carnage being condemned as a heinous act of terror. Terror existed abundantly as bomb explosions in small modes, frequent plundering of valuables, repeated killings, and many calamities come to the view commonly. Besides the core facts, water shortage, loadsheddings and several vulnerable features are seen like the regular vaccinations to increasing pain.
Almost all upsets are cultivated plants of our own farms, although the significant portion has been farmed by the government itself.
Natural disasters like floods and earthquakes are beyond our control but self-inflicted injuries whether by reckless driving, drowning and similar casualties are glaring examples of our careless attitude towards life. We should hang our heads in shame when we suffer from a calamity of our own making which could have been shunned by exercising care and vigilance.
More than 50 years have passed but the lives of the people are still insecure. It is a sad commentary that human life is an expendable item in Pakistan.
FEROZ SADRUDDIN
Karachi
THIS refers to a recent report by Mr Aamir Shafaat Khan on your Metropolitan pages.
We want to clarify that Zulfeqar Industries is neither a member of the Pakistan Vanaspati Manufacturers Association nor is it the manufacturer of edible oil and ghee as mentioned in paragraphs 6 and 13 of the report.
SHEIKH AHMED AKBER
Manager Accounts, Karachi
THE article by Jawaid Bokhari (July 21) mentioned in passing that steel prices have gone up from Rs22,000 to Rs32,000, and attributed this to oligarchic practices. As a long time player in the steel industry, I feel it is necessary to explain to the general public what is going on here.
Our re-rolling mills, which provide reinforcement bars for construction, traditionally get their raw materials from three sources listed below. I have listed approximate percentages of supply against the sources, namely ingot producing melting furnaces in Punjab (40pc), ships brought in to be broken down (35pc) and Pakistan Steel Mills (25pc).
The present shortage of raw materials to the rerolling industry is caused by the absence of ships for breaking being brought into the country. This is because the world price of these has risen and ship-breakers have to pay more to bring them in, making this business temporarily unviable.
There is also a great demand for reinforcement steel in the Asian region, fuelled by requirements from China and Thailand. It is expected that rebuilding works in Iraq will enhance the requirement in future. These have caused a shortage and price rise in the region.
If steel re-rollers want to import their raw material (billets) to close the current gap in supply, they are faced with the current high international prices plus the 20pc customs duty and the erratic customs valuations in import (ITP) prices, currently leviable on this product. This would make the imported material far more expensive than anything currently available here, making import unfeasible.
Due to the shortage, most re-rolling mills are running at about half the capacity they should be running at and incurring a massive rise in costs as a result. As any cost accountant will tell you it is simply not viable to run below capacity in the long run. Our costs of production have increased by almost 50pc due to insufficient and erratic supply.
In addition, the Pakistan Steel taking advantage of the demand for its product has naturally raised prices, fuelling the hike. The Pakistan Steel re-rolling mills had presented a very detailed and fair proposal to the ministry of industries on June 26, requesting that any government organization be allowed to import the raw material, which is in shortfall, at a reduced rate of duty to equalize supply and demand in the country. That was about a month ago.
Mr Bokhari is right in that this year’s budget was focused on construction to give a kick-start to the economy. However, I feel the government’s efforts are not coordinated. Shortages and crises always occur — that is in the nature of things. The reaction to these and the smoothness with which corrective action is undertaken is the sign of a mature and well-managed government. The method through which Korea and Thailand successfully handled the Asian crises, and more recently Sars, are examples. We await such seasoned and coordinated responses from our government.
F. MOWJEE
Karachi
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