| October 12, 2003 | Sunday | Sha'aban 15, 1424 |
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Woman’s status in Islam
Why cars sell costlier in Pakistan
Constitution ‘sacrificed’
Karachi University affairs
Australian sheep
Drugs and their ingredients
Controlling crime
Law enforcers?
CPR training in medical colleges
Tribute to Hugo Young
Rule of jirga
HRCP & WAR for justice to Saima
THIS refers to the article by Karen Armstrong, titled “The West’s role in the terror” (Dawn, Sept 19).
Washington’s tendency to diagnose the syndrome of terrorism as having roots in Islamic extremism rather than seeing it in the context of cause and effect has caused split between the western and the Muslim worlds.
Elihu Root, once US secretary of state, writes: “When foreign affairs were ruled by ‘autocracies and oligarchies’ the danger of war was in sinister purpose. When foreign affairs are ruled by ‘democracies’ the danger of war will be in ‘mistaken’ beliefs.”
President Bush has made it clear that he is not out after only one man, nor even just his network of presumed collaborators, but he is also after those who harbour him. What this means is that when someone commits a criminal or violent act against a community and another community gives protection to that man, refusing to extradite him to those he has injured, the victim community has the right to retaliate against the community that protects him. This line of thinking is definitely not supported by any norm of humanity and international law but has probably been shaped by the ‘political egotism’ of neoconservatives.
The US president said the terrorists behind the 9/11 catastrophe were motivated by hatred for democracy and freedom. The fact is that Islam has been the ‘mentor’ of western democracy, as well as the harbinger of the UN charter of human rights. Can the West ever deny the pivotal role of Islamic teachings in transmitting Greek thought to the West, in advancing human knowledge, in supplying a mould for the shaping of western scholarship, in developing empirical sciences, in bringing about the Italian renaissance and in providing a stimulus to the speculation of western thinkers from Descartes to Kant?
Against whom have we gone to war? Is it the neo-cons’ intention to restrain them until the conspirators are turned over so that the guilty may be punished and the innocent left alone? Or will they expand the war on terror after Afghanistan and Iraq to Iran and Syria, or even worse? Or will they continue to support the slaughter of non-combatants Palestinians or Arabs with American weapons by Israelis?
S. Q. AFZAL RIZVI
Karachi
THIS is with reference to the ongoing debate on the woman’s status in Islam. Nowhere has God said man is superior to woman or should hold a higher position. What we need to understand is the use of the word “qawwam” in the context of Sura Nisa.
Muhammad Asad (1980), a modern interpreter, says “qawwam” is an intensive form of “qaim”, one who is responsible for or takes care of a thing or a person. “Qawwam” is made from “qaama”, he stood, the Arabic root of the word. Standing in every language connotes intention and readiness to do something. Hence Asad translates verse 34 of Sura Nisa as “Men shall take full care of women with the bounties” which God has bestowed more abundantly on the former (in fact some) than on (some) others and with what they may spend out of their possessions.” Mostly, the word “qawwam” is translated as maintainers or protectors and providers. All these words are used for a “responsibility” and for “being ready to perform” these functions.
According to Maulana Maudoodi, “qawwam” means one that is responsible for providing the necessities. It’s not a question of talents but that of what one possesses and is responsible for. It is having wealth, which is more with man according to the inheritance law, that is two shares for man and one share for woman. In fact, Allah has made man to stand for two functions. One is for bestowing on the woman with what Allah has given him as a free gift, i.e. the wealth given by Him. Th other function is to spend his wealth on her. This is meant in the context because it is mentioned in the previous verses that man should not devour wealth belonging to a woman or an orphan. Rather he should spend this on her.
This wealth is generally acquired by inheritance. Hence his responsibility is more than that of the woman. Abdullah Yousuf Ali (1938) has supported the meaning of “qawwam” by quoting the same word used in verse 135 of Sura Nisa, where it is translated by him as “stand out firmly” (qawwameen). Therefore, it is all because of misunderstanding the true meaning of the word “qawwam”.
LIAQUAT A. SAMMA
Hyderabad
A SERIOUS discussion has been going on in these columns for some time regarding car prices in the local market. There are four points to be discussed about this issue: auto prices, quality, availability and variety. Sadly enough, the ground realities do not depict a rosy picture; the prices are high, the quality is low, the availability is averaging six months and the variety is hardly 10-12 different models.
Manufacturers of all kinds of automobiles are doing business in Dubai, UAE, which is the nearest international destination. Wide variety of models are available readily. A new fully loaded Civic car is for 40,000 dhs (Rs640,000), Corolla for 35,000 dhs (Rs560,000), City for 28,000 dhs (448,000), Camry 55,000 dhs (Rs880,000), Accord 60,000 dhs (Rs960,000), Mercedes 88,000 dhs (Rs1,408,000). Besides, there are over 150 car models to choose from all over the world.
Where and what went wrong in Pakistan? The CKD unit imported from Japan has 30 per cent import duty, six per cent withholding tax and, on top of it, 15 per cent sales tax. And when the car comes in market, it has 15 per cent tax on the total cost of the car. So, it is more than 50 per cent that the government is getting on each car.
If for instance the government does away with these duties and taxes, the cost of the car will be reduced by 50 per cent. Also the WTO’s free trade agreement is going to be enforced from Jan 1, 2005. So, the government should take measures so that there will be a win-win situation for both customers and car manufacturers. It should reduce these duties to half, and should open import market by allowing only new cars.
There is no such thing as reconditioned cars. These are all used cars which has already lived their lives in Japan. So, once the government reduces the duties, locally produced Civic and Corolla, for instance, will be available for Rs750,000 while imported ones for Rs1,000,000.
S.M. ARIF
Karachi
THE nation may recall with profound grief that soon after the military takeover from an elected civilian government of Nawaz Sharif on Oct 12, 1999, Gen Pervez Musharraf as chief executive of the country had, in his first formal address to the nation on Oct 17, 1999 (Dawn Oct 18), amongst other things, said about the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973: “My dear countrymen, that choice before us on 12th October was between saving the body (that is the nation) at the cost of losing a limb (which is the Constitution) or saving the limb and losing the whole body. The Constitution is but a part of the nation. Therefore, I chose to save the nation and yet took care not to sacrifice the Constitution. The Constitution has only been temporarily held in abeyance. This is not martial law, only another path towards democracy....”
To the great dismay of the nation, the general, arbitrarily, chose to follow in the footsteps of the previous military dictators to remain in power, both as self-extended COAS and self-appointed president and to perpetuate his personal, over institutional, mode of governance through his king’s party on the poor, illiterate and the downtrodden, by taking advantage of the concessions granted to him by the Supreme Court in Zafar Ali Shah’s case.
In spite of his solemn pledge, Gen Musharraf sacrificed the Constitution by himself re-writing it through the much- maligned and bitterly criticized Legal Framework Order.
SYED IQBAL AHMAD
Karachi
A RECENT report in your paper about the suspension of some officials of the Karachi University’s examination and accounts department should not come as a surprise to those who have suffered at the hands of incompetent and greedy personnel.
Your report, though interesting, is slightly incomplete. Several years ago a senior official of the examination department was subjected to an inquiry by Justice Qadeeruddin, who recommended his removal and banning his entry into the examination department. Owing to political leverage, not only did the report go into cold storage, but he remained in the examination department till recently.
If the report of a judge can be ignored like this, the result of the inquiry commission appointed by the VC can be imagined. Who does not know that a large majority of the university employees and even teachers have affiliations with political parties and, in this situation, any inquiry conducted by the university’s own teachers, howsoever well-intended, can bear no results.
The most interesting part of your story is the mention of a recommendation having been received from the Governor’s House about one of the five alleged culprits for appointment as controller. The suspension of the director of finance is a sad commentary on the way the accounts department is being managed.
It will be in the fitness of things if the inquiry is conducted by one or two retired judges to remove the stigma which has been the fate of the examination department for several years.
A. HAMEED
Karachi
I HAVE been reading about ‘the sheep without port’ controversy for some time in your and other newspapers. What amazes me is the lamb mentality being displayed by our authorities in Pakistan. Did anybody work out the maths of this controversy?
This shipload was rejected by the Saudi authorities because six per cent of the sheep were infected, against the allowable limit of five per cent. Five per cent of 50,000 is 2,500 and six per cent is 3,000, i.e. a difference of 500 sheep. Now the logical question should have been, what do you do with the infected sheep?
Treat them or destroy them? Taking the extreme scenario, of destroying the infected sheep, you will have to destroy 3,000 sheep in this case, instead of 2,500 during normal circumstances. So, this leaves us with 47,000 perfectly healthy and fully acceptable sheep. Which, if handed over to the Edhi Foundation or other NGOs, would have provided thousands of meals for destitutes.
We should seriously rethink this issue and take a decision in our best interest after considering the numbers mentioned above. We must remember that when Saudi Arabia refused to accept this shipment for whatever reasons, it was automatically refused by all member-states of the GCC. This is as per the agreement between them, but we are not a party to this agreement, and we should not allow their refusal to affect our response.
KHALID ABDUSSALAM
Salmiya, Kuwait
IN his letter of Oct 4, Dr Kamran Vasfi has mentioned that certain brands of toothpaste contain steroids and the manufacturers do not mention the actual ingredients on the packing.
This problem is not limited to toothpaste and can be noted in medicinal products as well. An ointment made by a well-known multinational company for cracked and sore nipples of nursing mothers does not show the ingredients on its packing or on the tube. Even manufacturing and expiry dates are not given.
I am not sure whether it contains steroids or not, but doesn’t the law require all ingredients to be mentioned on the pack? This example is sufficient as a comment on the ability of our drug control department.
The PCSIR should check the ointment immediately.
DR ABDUL QADEER
Mithi
THIS refers to a great number of crimes being committed in Pakistan every day. The question arises, what are the causes of these crimes?
In my opinion, a major cause is the lack of strict enforcement of laws. Criminals do not have any fear of being arrested, and if at all they are arrested, they easily secure their release by paying bribes or by using influence. This provides them with an incentive to carry out their criminal activities. Poverty and unemployment are also major causes that force people to crime.
LIAQUAT ALI QASIM
Karachi
THIS refers to a picture (Oct 1) that shows the Garden traffic police checkpost in Karachi being built illegally on a portion of Nishtar Road.
Is this not a violation of the law by its enforcers? Who will come first to remove this encroachment: DIG traffic, police high-ups or the city nazim?
ZAKI ALAM
Karachi
THIS refers to Mr Vinod Motiani’s letter “CPR training in medical colleges” (Oct 9). I couldn’t agree more with the writer’s suggestion that CPR training should be given to all medical students during their early years in the medical schools.
I was surprised to read that students of Dow Medical College and even of the Agha Khan University do not get the CPR training before their 4th year rotations, as mentioned by Mr Motiani.
In the Ziauddin Medical University, during my first year MBBS cardiovascular system module, the university gave us full training of cardio-pulmonary resuscitation because CPR is a procedure which every medical student must know.
The CPR training is not a very difficult one, but it requires skills and, above all, the courage to save someone’s precious life. It will be great if all the medical colleges give this type of training to their students.
KHURAM ANWAR
Karachi
TWO great men passed away last week: Edward Said and Hugo Young. Said was a “personality” and, therefore, merited not only a big news item announcing his death, along with his picture, but also an editorial tribute. This is how it should be.
Hugo Young contributed two columns a week to The Guardian, and many of these were regularly reproduced in Dawn. I looked forward to reading them. Young had a long and illustrious career in journalism, starting with The Sunday Times where he stayed for a long time until Rupert Murdoch arrived on the scene and tried to muzzle him. This was unacceptable and he moved to The Guardian.
He was acknowledged as a perceptive political analyst and read by all residents of 10 Downing Street. His biography of Margaret Thatcher is considered as the definitive study of the Iron Lady. For the past two years of his life he had concentrated on the Bush administration and reported extensively and lucidly on the ineptitude of the White House gang of neo- cons. A belated tribute to this great gentleman in your paper would not be amiss.
ASAD SIDDIQI
Lahore
APROPOS of your recent report on the murder of Shazia and Hassan Solangi on the order of a jirga, I have a question: is Sanghar a private zoo or does the writ of the government cover this district also?
I. SHEIKH
Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria
THE Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and War Against Rape demand protection for Saima, twice subjected to gang-rape besides other abuses.
Niaz Mohammed married Saima, 19, in Sheikhupura and brought her to Karachi six months ago. He was already married and has six children from his first wife, who lives in Sheikhupura. In Karachi, Saima’s husband forced her into prostitution.
She was first gang-raped in Orangi, in the house where she lived with her husband. An FIR was registered. The HRCP contacted DIG Investigation who gave assurances that this case would be given priority. However, out of the six people involved, only three were arrested.
Saima and Niaz then moved to Teen Hatti, but the three men who were not arrested sent a group of men to their house on Oct 6 demanding Rs50,000 from Niaz for keeping silent about his prostitution business. They also demanded that the case against them be withdrawn or they must face the consequences. Niaz slipped out of the house, leaving Saima with this group of people that included at least three journalists. They raped and beat Saima most of the night. One journalist took photographs of Saima.
These men, including a journalist, then took Saima to Supermarket Police Station to register a complaint against her husband. As Saima made a statement about the abuse her husband had subjected her to, the SHO asked her to leave for he considered her a woman of questionable character.
Saima was unable to register a complaint about the second gang-rape because those who had committed this crime were with her and had threatened to expose her by printing her photographs if she complained against them.
On Oct 8, Niaz brought Saima to the HRCP office, saying the rapists had forced her to make a false statement about him. He said five men had followed them to their house and entered forcibly. He claimed they blindfolded him and took him to an unknown location where they tortured him. He said the rapists had also stolen money and valuables from his house. He made this false statement to counter the statement made by Saima at the Supermarket police station.
The HRCP and WAR representatives then contacted DIG Operations who then instructed the police to investigate the matter. Saima was placed in a protected location where she was able to tell the real story once she felt safe. It became clear that the police and journalists were involved in this scandal and Niaz has had their support throughout. This is a collective mafia that traps and then uses poor, unsuspecting women. The involvement of journalists is unprecedented and needs to be addressed immediately.
Saima has been treated as a disgraced woman of questionable character. Even law-enforcers have helped perpetuate this incident, turning a deaf ear to Saima’s complaints. She is still traumatized and feels threatened.
The HRCP and WAR demand that the authorities who have taken notice of this case must ensure a thorough investigation in this regard, and all those involved be arrested. Justice and protection should be extended to Saima who has been abused by every party involved in this case.
NADIA HAROON, HRCP,
KHALIDAH AHMAD QADRI, WAR,
Karachi
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