Curbing rape incidents

THIS refers to the report “Gang-rape victim in serious condition” (Oct 9). The victim in question was subjected to this inhuman crime twice in one week, which gives us a clear picture of the rampant lawlessness in the country.

Countless letters have been written regarding this subject but so far the government and law-enforcement agencies have taken no effective steps to curb such lawlessness. While people are crying for the Kashmiris and Indian Muslims, I find the situation much more deplorable and scary in our own country.

Gen Pervez Musharraf recently said nobody would be allowed to misuse Pakistan’s territory for carrying out extremist activities. I think the felony I am talking about could well be described as an extremist activity happening time and again right under the nose of the government. It’s just that the victims happen to be helpless women.

It is a matter of shame for all women parliamentarians who do not even bother to look at this grave problem of the common folks who perhaps voted for them in their state of blindness. In fact, these women could have brought about a social revolution to completely wipe out tyranny against women and minorities but they simply do not want to.

The Sindh chief minister showed some concern over the Aladin Park incident but nothing ever happened. We ought to keep in mind that Aladin Park has a history of such ugly incidents. The fact is that rape incidents are becoming common day by day, which is indeed scary, to say the least. In nearly all cases, the culprits always remain at large, thanks to our corrupt police force as they are not answerable to anyone. Further, the authority is not in the least interested in dealing with such social evils with an iron hand.

In fact, the human rights situation is dismal because the socio-political model has not changed even by a degree after 56 years of independence, which gives birth to the concept called “abuse of rights”, and morally inferior people are apt to take undue advantage of it. Many women are subjected to this barbaric crime but they prefer to keep mum about it and suffer silently because of the cruel man-made rules.

To control the moral inferiority of those who can do wrong to others, we need to enforce some good social and moral laws (quite unlike Hudood Ordinances and Blasphemy law) that could ultimately protect ordinary citizens.

First, we need an efficient and honest police force. Second, culprits should be tried in a special court and awarded an exemplary punishment. Third, people are not aware of their rights in the Constitution, so there is a dire need to educate them through an awareness campaign.

NADIRA RAHMAN

Karachi

Moral responsibility

RAILWAY Minister Ghaus Bakhsh Mehr said he would not resign even if the PR were found guilty of negligence in the Malikwal (unmanned railway crossing) accident in which 27 people were killed (Dawn, Sept 23). Look at the minister’s logic: “There is no question of relinquishing charge, as the issue has not been raised by any quarter.”

On Jan 10, 2001, in the aftermath of the train disaster of the Khushhal Khan Khattak Express, near Kotri, that killed seven passengers, Safira A. Siddiqui (Dawn letter, Jan 15) asked, “Will our communication minister (with all his glory) resign forthwith?” Such a wishful thinking to resign when the image of a system and for that matter that of its head is tarnished falls under the domain of controversial moral responsibility that aims at hoping too much from the general mindset beset with moral laxity.

Policy failures, crooked justice or other delinquency are an aspersion on the fair name of policy-makers and conscientious authorities — if not going to the extreme of Japanese ways of hara kiri, who should at least be valiant enough to tender resignations. Or a less graceful act of apology might do instead.

Former chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah once regretted that there was no tradition of voluntary resignation over policy failures in Pakistan, otherwise at least lawyers holding office in the government should have resigned.

On the other hand, Omar Kureishi takes a different stance. After a train accident in Sangi, 1990, when demands for the resignation of the Minister of Railways were made, he commented, “Assuming that the Railways Minister had resigned what would have happened beyond satisfying that section of public opinion, which wants a scapegoat in the aftermath of a tragedy? Would this mean that the railways would then become safe and efficient? I don’t think so. There is a compelling need for thorough and ruthless inquiry into all organizations that deal in mass transport of people to find out if there has been any relaxation in the safety standards that could result in the loss of human life.”

To a question about Gen Musharraf’s uniform, Federal Minister Mehr averred: “If the previous military rulers could stay in power for 12 years, why should Gen Musharraf shed his uniform just after four years.” Apparently, the learned minister is not aware of the fact that two wrongs do not make one right.

PROF (DR) P. NASIR

Gujrat

Steroids in toothpaste

I REFER to the recent letters on the above-captioned subject by Dr Awais Ali Farooqi, Dr Kamran Vasfy and Dr Arif Bawany.

My question to Dr Awais Ali Farooqi and associates and also to Dr Kamran Vasfy whether they found any case presenting the hazardous, steroid-oriented side-effects after using any of the toothpastes. And if so, why they have not mentioned this in the study.

Being a marketing executive associated with a toothpaste company producing a renowned international brand, I agree with Dr Farooqi that steroids are being misused and that all products having corticosteroids must be regulated by the ministry of health.

But the point is whether toothpastes contain steroids or not. I have minutely read the JPMA study, based on a PCSR test report in which they were given 20 samples of toothpastes and eight of them showed positivity for steroids. The testing method was an identification method, mentioned in British Pharmacopoeia, for a specific ingredient and not a mixture of ingredients as is the finished product.

If, for example, a toothpaste, is tested by this method as a finished product for the presence of steroid, there are a number of other ingredients present in many toothpastes that will produce the same result in the test as of steroid, and will be misleading.

The presence of steroid shown in the study is due to defect in the testing procedure. There are also some very renowned international brands, shown in study to have steroid, that have a research-backed formulations and contain the ingredients that have a proven efficacy in treating problems for which the toothpaste is indicated for. Then, why these reputed international brands would require putting steroids in their toothpastes. They have their own independent research and are very conscious about the prestige of their brands and will not allow their Pakistan-based manufacturer, or for that matter manufacturer from any other country, to depart from their quality standards.

So, before a fact goes to the public, it must be checked that all references are authentic. A layman should not get confused and kept from using a good product.

ANWAR SALEEM

Karachi

Victims of terrorism

MR Manoj Deshpande in his letter (Sept 20) has claimed that both India and Israel are victims of terrorism. He has not indicated why the people of Kashmir and Palestine have risen against these countries.

It is basically because of forced occupation of their land. The first prime minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, had himself taken the Kashmir issue to the United Nations Security Council and had accepted UNSC’s verdict to hold a plebiscite in Kashmir to let the people decide if they want to accede to Pakistan or India.

Nehru had made a commitment publicly in this respect to the whole world, but he went back on his commitment soon after. As a result, the Kashmiri people started a movement to press India to come to the negotiating table to get the UNSC resolutions implemented. India in turn deployed 700,000 troops which are daily killing dozens of Kashmiris.

Likewise, Israel occupied Arab/Palestinian territories in the 1967 Arab-Israel war, a portion of which was returned to Egypt in pursuance of an agreement between Egypt and Israel, brokered by Dr Henry Kissinger. On Sept 13, 1993, Oslo Accord was reached between Israel and the Palestinians. But like India, Israel went back on the accord. Israel is also not honouring the roadmap recently announced by the US. The Palestinians were, therefore, left with no alternative except to start intifada to press Israel to honour its commitments. But Israel is retaliating militarily with brute force, killing many Palestinians daily.

The fact is that both the issues basically relate to the breach of trust and agreements by India and Israel and their carrying on state terrorism against the people of Kashmir and Palestine. These countries are the real terrorists and not the victims of terrorism.

GHULAM MUHAMMAD

Karachi

Prices of local cars and their delivery

A LOT of letters have been appearing in the press on the issue of local car manufacturing. The letters are from people who have to wait inordinately for delivery of their cars at the normal price.

I purchased my car, locally assembled, in 1998, at the normal price, without any delay and till today I am still using it. It has done 126,000km without a hitch, and I still have the same locally-manufactured tyres on it. I would like to add over here that we Pakistanis should take pride in local products which are of good quality. I think I have got full value for the money I spent. However, when I tried to get a new one to replace it, the waiting period is almost seven months, but on premium a car was available straightaway. It is the middlemen who are the cause of this delay.

I would request the government to ensure that all new cars should be registered in the name of the persons who booked them and no one should be allowed to sell for at least six months. Take the middlemen out and the prices will tumble and so will a certain portion of the demand.

JAWAID AMIN

Karachi

Sectarian killings

IN Pakistan we are still occupied with the issues of LFO and Islamization of an already Islamic nation that is rife with sectarian conflict. Everyone, these days, talks about the killing of Muslims in Kashmir, Palestine and Iraq, etc., but who cares about them when Muslims are being killed in Pakistan in the name of religion?

Pakistanis should adopt a policy of live and let live, and focus on economic progress. I want to see Pakistan as the next Malaysia and not as the next Afghanistan. Sadly, I have little hope.

FAWWAD SHAFI

Karachi

Social laws to protect women

THIS refers to “Dateline Islamabad” by Aileen Qaiser (Sept 22) about the need for social laws to protect women. I fully agree with the writer that the general attitude of men towards women in our society should be considered a very serious social problem, which needs to be corrected. Women are faced with many social problems.

Social laws should be forthcoming in this regard but we need to do something as individuals to change society for the better. To change the general attitude towards women I suggest that we should create awareness by discussing not only in the print and electronic media but also in our social circles problems faced by our women when they are outside their homes.

Another suggestion is that we should publicize Quranic verses on respect for women.

We all need to play our part in eradicating social menaces and the sooner awareness is created on this score the better for our society.

KASHIF NAWAZ SHAIKH

Karachi

SPSC’s working

SOME candidates are not able to sit for their examinations because of the carelessness of the Sindh Public Service Commission, Hyderabad.

The commission has chosen the ordinary postal service as a means to inform the candidates of the exam schedule. It is common knowledge that our postal service is not very efficient and as such a large number of letters do not reach their destinations. If this happens to a candidate, he/she has no way to appeal.

The SPSC people throw the entire blame on the postal service. But this is no excuse. The authorities concerned should send such letters through courier or urgent mail service.

SHAHID HUSSAIN MAHER

Karachi

Scholarship programme

ON June 12 and 13, the Higher Education Commission announced an Overseas Scholarship Programme for MS/MPhil/PhD for which applications were invited by July 10. According to the HEC website, this programme has not been approved by the government of Pakistan as yet and the approval process may take some more time.

Once our government finds time to approve it, the candidates will have to appear in a GRE-type test which may also take a couple of months. Most of the universities in the United States and the UK start their semesters from January. Even today not much time is left for prospective candidates.

I request the relevant authorities to approve this programme as a top priority.

SYED SAJID ALI

Karachi

Research & teaching

THIS refers to a letter (Sept 24) Mr Nasiruddin Khan about research and teaching. I agree with him that research and teaching should go hand in hand to develop an efficient system of education.

Conducting research has yet to become a culture in our country. The much-needed research culture can be popularized and developed if the following steps are taken:

First, research areas should be extended from the universities to the colleges.

Second, at graduate and post-graduate levels a compulsory subject, purely related to research, may be introduced.

Third, promotion and increase in salaries of teachers, at all levels, should be linked with the research work they do or guide.

Fourth, the universities must encourage the maximum number of research scholars from all fields of life and should take more steps to provide research facilities to intending candidates.

ZIA AHMED DOGAR

Multan

Tax on mobile phone cards

I WOULD like to draw the attention of the authorities concerned to the 10 per cent withholding tax on cellular phone cards of some companies.

They have been deducting 10 per cent amount as withholding from every card purchaser, but no tax challan or any certificate has been given to the consumer or card buyer. As withholding tax is adjustable, how can someone adjust his or her tax?

I request the relevant authorities to look into the matter and do the needful.

M. NADEEM SHAIKH

Karachi

Parking fee

RECENTLY contractors on The Mall and Anarkali in Lahore have started charging Rs10 as parking fee, which represents a 100 per cent increase. They claim they are doing this with the approval of the Lahore district government. If it is so, it is most unfair on the part of the local government authorities.

Will the officials concerned of the CDG please clarify?

R. R. ALVI

Lahore

Small cotton farmers’ plight

OVER the years one has grown accustomed to tolerating inaccuracies that regularly permeate the daily cotton market, but there can be a limit to one’s endurance.

This week it has been widely reported in the press that cotton prices “have soared to a 55-year high”. That may be true in strict rupee terms but the true picture is altogether different. In the past 10 years, as far as the international market is concerned, a higher mark was achieved in 1995 when cotton prices crossed the barrier of one dollar per pound. That price will today translate into over Rs4,750 per maund of cotton lint (as opposed to this week’s Rs3,300).

Thanks to revitalized US farm subsidies in 1996, cotton prices collapsed, sinking to their lowest level of under 30 cents in 2001. In recent days, largely due to reports of a poor crop in China the estimated international crop size has drastically been trimmed downwards, thus boosting the international price to 70 cents.

In Pakistan, the farmers suffered some losses owing to flower shedding caused by unusually heavy rains late in the season. The sudden increase in humidity introduced a new peril. These initial losses were greatly exacerbated by a severe bollworm attack by both American bollworm (American Sundi) and Army bollworm (Lashkari Sundi). The severe intensity of the bollworm attack caused a shortage of specialised pesticides that target these particular insects. In the critical last fortnight of September there was little or no pesticide available in the country for the increasingly desperate farmers who watched their incomes erode in front of their eyes.

Despite protestations of officials who insist that this year’s cotton target will be achieved, there is a great deal of uncertainty about the size of the current crop which has severely been damaged; hence the panic among the textile mills owners who seem to be picking up everything they can lay their hands on. This has led to a dramatic increase in the local price. But despite this price hike, and taking freight into account, it is still cheaper for the textile mills to buy locally than to purchase cotton in the international market.

While we can expect shrill bleating from the habitually “impoverished” members of APTMA for the rest of the season, please do spare a thought for the small cotton farmer who has seen his yield suffer drastically. He has to feed and clothe his children as well.

Finally, may I suggest that your newspaper daily highlight the New York Cotton Exchange rate (along with its current rupee per maund equivalent)? It will give everyone a clearer picture of what the true cotton market is all about and not just have to rely on the KCA/APTMA version of it.

SHEHRYAR MAZARI

Karachi