| October 19, 2003 | Sunday | Sha'aban 22, 1424 |
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Extradition pact with US
Residents’ grievances
Minister’s logic for staying in power
Blackmarketing of cars
Distortions galore
Case against cricketers
Unfulfilled promises
UN vote on Iraq
Pope John Paul II
Violence at QAU campus
‘Not above the law’
Cortisone in toothpaste
Praise of the West
THIS is with reference to Mr Mansoor Alam’s letter “Persisting political impasse” (Oct 4).
It appears that Mr Alam belongs to that vocal but narrow band of cynics who, in the name of pragmatism, are prepared to scuttle the just and democratic cause of the Kashmiris to which Pakistan is historically, politically and morally committed. His views are basically flawed.
For Mr Alam the UN Security Council resolutions of 1948 and 1949, providing for an impartial plebiscite in Kashmir; the presence of 700,000 Indian troops in that disputed territory, and their record of heinous crimes which have resulted in the death of over 70,000 innocent Kashmiri men, women and children; their 13-year-old heroic struggle for freedom — all this does not constitute the “realities” of the Kashmir issue. At least, there is no mention of this in his letter.
The rather facile and oversimplified solution which he offers is that “the Kashmiris should be encouraged to transform armed insurgency into a peaceful civil disobedience movement.” In this context he quotes the example of Gandhi who, in his words, “used it effectively in India.” This is a grave misconception. Rather, it is a myth which needs to be demolished. Michael Edwardes, a well-known authority on the British Raj, in his book, The Myth of the Mahatma, has done just that. He has observed that “the British felt that they had little to fear from Gandhi. As long as civil disobedience remained non-violent it did not greatly worry the government ... So the government obliged Gandhi by treating him with considerable respect — jailing him occasionally to keep up appearances.”
There were other, more powerful, forces at work which hastened the demise of the British Raj. Gandhi’s movement of civil disobedience and non-violence was regarded by the British as a minor irritant, at best. To recommend the Gandhian model as an example to follow in the case of Kashmir would, therefore, be counter-productive. On the contrary, it will only embolden India to further tighten its grip on the occupied Valley.
The lack of “international support” for Kashmir (which has been quite rightly pointed out by Mr Alam) is not because Pakistan has a weak case. On the contrary, we have a very strong case, and no one knows it better than India. But we have miserably failed to project it effectively in the international press and on the electronic media.
For this serious lapse the foreign office must bear a major responsibility. Also, our diplomats abroad, from ambassador downwards, have not been able to present our point of view effectively and forcefully to the higher authorities in the countries of their accreditation. This sorry state of affairs must be remedied.
I also agree with Mr Alam that we must put our house in order. Political stability and economic strength are the essential prerequisites of a progressive and a dynamic society. Without these, trying to implement a successful foreign policy becomes a well-nigh impossibility.
SALAHUDDIN K. LEGHARI
Lahore
THE extradition pact with the US was signed by Pakistan last July which our prime minister would have ratified by now.
The pact ensures the surrender and transfer of each other’s nationals and military personnel for any purpose without recourse to any court of law, a condition which appears to be out of step with international laws for extradition of locals or foreigners.
At this point should not we remind ourselves that the “transfer of each other’s nationals” would prove to be a consolation prize for the weaker of the two?
Islamabad has given, after a lapse of two months, a desultory explanation for signing the pact, one being to avoid adverse effects.
Another reason for entering into the pact is that the US has already signed ‘such’ bilateral agreements with five of our neighbours: India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, the Maldives and Afghanistan. Do these agreements have the same purpose like ours? To a prudent mind, no.
Take the case of India. It has entered into the agreement purely for domestic political advantages. The agreement being a message for the Kashmir freedom-fighters and other separatist elements to stop their activities or else they would be consigned to the American jails, never to be heard of again for the foreseeable future. In fact, America has signed the agreement, unlike us, to help ease India’s internal problems.
The same is true of the Tamils of Sri Lanka and Maoists of Nepal. We all know that these problems are a generation old. One may think about the reasons for the sudden American involvement now with these problems. I have no comments for the Maldives as I do not know and also for Afghanistan as all of us know.
Z.A. KAZMI
Karachi
WE are residents of Block 6 Extension, PECHS, Karachi. Our area is surrounded by encroachers and despite the ombudsman’s orders, these encroachments have not been removed as yet. There is no cleanliness, no street lights and no proper drainage system and almost all roads are in a broken condition.
Besides this, the nullah water flowing from Sindhi Muslim Society through Sharea Faisal towards Gulistan-i-Zafar has been diverted to Block 6 Extension. This has become a source of health hazard for the residents.
During the recent rain this played havoc with the area. In this connection we have already submitted our appeal to the city nazim but so far no action has been taken.
When we approached the civic agency concerned and the PECHS authorities for taking remedial measures in order to improve the general condition of this area, both the authorities have showed a negative attitude and did try to pass on their responsi-bilities to each other’s shoulders.
The civic agency concerned said that they could arrange maintenance only when the society handed over the area to them. On the other hand, the PECHS authorities said that only when the encroachments are removed will they arrange everything for this block. The residents of this block continue to suffer because of the indifferent attitude of the two authorities.
We draw the attention of the authorities concerned to come forward and do everything possible to improve the living condition of this area.
RESIDENTS OF BLOCK 6 EXTENSION, PECHS,
Karachi
THE interior minister’s statement (Oct 8) is quite amusing. Replying to a question about the opposition’s demand for his resignation following the murder of Maulana Azam Tariq, he said he saw no need for that, and added that former prime minister Benazir Bhutto had not resigned when her brother had been assassinated in Karachi.
To add to the example, the PPP interior minister did not resign when extrajudicial killings were taking place in Karachi. Nor Gen Niazi was tried after the surrender in East Pakistan; instead he got a high position in the civil administration later. The terrorists who killed former governor Hakim Said or Maulvi Saleem Qadri of Ahl-i-Sunnat are yet to be arrested and tried, but the interior minister or any minister of that regime never resigned.
I admire the minister’s courage to live up to the example of his predecessors. Thanks to our system where there are no checks and balances, i.e., no democracy, we are free to do what we want to do, though next door a prime minister was tried and banned from politics while some of its ministers and chief ministers tendered their resignations when it was time to quit according to the dictates of conscience or regulations.
ENGR. M.Y. CHOHAN
Karachi
IT has been rightly stated by Mr S. H. Naqvi (Sept 29) that it is about time the government took steps to solve the local car industry’s problems to end blackmarketing of cars.
This situation has become very serious for the past two/three years. There have been general complaints that the period between the booking and delivery of cars has been very long. The longer delivery period leads to charging of premium by the dealers.
Today the rate of premium has swollen from 10 per cent to 15 per cent of the control price, along with unabated price increase by the local automobile assemblers. According to market reports, the black market price of one new model has soared to Rs350,000. The black marketing or premium (money paid in addition to get early delivery of new vehicle) is being paid by customers for each and every brand of new car assembled in the country.
The local industry and the ministry have virtually failed to control the menace of blackmarketing of new models despite the assemblers’ tall claims of rolling out new cars at a much faster pace. I request the president, the prime minister and the NAB high-ups to intervene in this matter to end the menace.
QASIM TARIQ QURESHI
Karachi
I REFER to the article by former ambassador Mansoor Alam in Dawn of Oct 9. He alludes to a TV presentation wherein some self-professed stalwarts of Islam aired their views on what Mr Jinnah had in mind with the creation of his nation.
These so-called political analysts said that Mr Jinnah wanted the nation of Pakistan to be modelled after Madina and to be Shariat-compliant. Now, in no address of his did Mr Jinnah give even an inkling of this orientation. On the contrary, all his speeches pointed toward making Pakistan a progressive, modern, secular and economically strong country. Unfortunately, these sons of the era of the Mard-i-Momin, Gen Ziaul Haq, are somehow bent upon modifying the message of the Quaid to their own convenience.
Kudos are due to Mr Alam for such a bold piece. As an aside, I heard him on a TV show recently and was impressed with his overview of the global situation and our needed role in it.
MOHSIN HAFEEZ
San Francisco, California, USA
A CASE has been lodged against Shoaib Akhtar and Shoaib Malik for “hurting” religious feelings of the people by attending a fashion show on Shab-i-Barat.
When are we, as a nation, going to mature? Can’t we just mind our own business and let people take care of their own religious duties? If the Shoaibs were out on Shab-i-Barat, it is strictly their business.
ASIM
Texas, USA
IT is heartening to note that Karachi City Nazim Naimatullah Khan has promised to present shortly a gift to the people in the shape of a flyover at the Qayyumabad roundabout.
If readers’ memory is not short, they will remember that he had made a similar promise when the governor performed the ground-breaking ceremony of the road between Qayyumabad and Korangi Crossing on May 12, 2002. The estimated cost of this road was Rs47.39 million. He asserted in a very strong tone that no extra time would be wasted on the project and it would be completed within the stipulated period. He also said confidently that he would fix a deadline and complete the work within that.
I request the city nazim to fulfil the previous promise before making a new one. Three million deprived people of Bhitai Colony, Ibrahim Haideri, Allahwala Town, Darus Salam Society, Lucknow Society, Korangi and Landhi are looking forward to the promise he made to them. Their sufferings are unlimited on account of this unfulfilled promise. Please come forward and try to live up to your words. We expect many good things from you.
KHALID UMAR CHHURA
Karachi
THE United States may call yesterday’s vote in the UN Security Council a success but in reality it was a reiteration by the member-countries of their erstwhile stand that any future set-up in Iraq should be made under the umbrella of the United Nations.
Had it been a unanimous support, which the US would like to believe, it would have included the economic and military assistance from other Council members that the Bush administration so desperately needs. Bush and Blair paid no heed and respect to the world’s opinion and went ahead with the war on fictitious grounds. No wonder they are left alone to clean the mess of their own making and bear the costs of reconstruction.
However, I feel bad that American people have to foot the bill through their hard-earned money as a result of the wrong policies of their leader. The only solace that Bush and his supporters can get out of this vote is some moral authority they now have to meddle into the affairs of Iraq.
MISBAH NOMANI
Karachi
I WAS surprised that the 25th anniversary coverage of Pope John Paul II, being a great world event, was not accorded the front-page status it deserved by your newspaper.
These are occasions that come once in a lifetime and the present Pope is no ordinary Pope as can be seen from his extraordinary life and example.
TYRONE MASCARENHAS
Karachi
BEING a former student of the Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, my heart weeps to read about the fifth murder at the campus in a short span of eight months.
I never forget the joyful moments while participating in cultural programmes and class trips to nearby tourist sights. I also never forget that saddest moment when I received a bullet injury in an exchange of fire between two student groups. Nothing can be more saddening than the fact that university students, who are supposed to lead the nation, clash over petty matters such as compering in a university programme, becoming class representatives or choosing their friends.
On the basis of my bitter experiences, I suggest to my fellow Quaidians to practise restraint and tolerance and show maturity in their behaviour.
I request members of student unions not to play havoc with the lives of innocent fellow students, and to practise healthy politics by raising themselves above biases and ethnic hatreds.
AN EX-QUADIAN
Shikarpur
I FULLY agree with your editorial “Not above the law” (Oct 18) which criticizes the military authorities for punishing and handcuffing a police constable who was only doing his duty when he stopped the family car of a major-general in a Lahore area for violating a ban on tinted glasses. Even senior police officials, including the area SHO, ASP and SP, were disciplined.
The issue at stake was tinted car windows, which has been termed a security risk. Need I emphasize how quickly every structure collapses when the people are alienated? Yet in our country, top military brass, bureaucrats and rich politicians are still oblivious of their responsibilities in upholding laws and regulations.
SHABBIR ABBAS LAKHANI
Via email
A NUMBER of letters have appeared in Dawn in recent days concerning the use of cortisone in toothpaste by many manufacturers in Pakistan.
While one must be grateful to the Pakistan Dental Association, Karachi, for having broached the subject publicly, one must also state that awareness of the problem has spawned many anxious questions. Does my toothpaste have cortisone as an ingredient? If yes, how much of it is there?
Is this quantity harmful?
What are the risks involved? Should the manufacturers not provide information on the tube/box about the presence and quantum of cortisone if present?
WAJID NAEEMUDDIN
Karachi
AFTER reading an article by Patrick Anidjar in Dawn (Sept 30) under the headline “Khomeini’s grandson accuses Iran of terrorism”, I am surprised to find how things change with time. Ayatollah Khomeini was indeed a great leader and a far-sighted scholar. However, his grandson fails the admirers of his grandfather.
According to the article, Mr Hossein Khomeini accused Iran of being “one of the worst dictatorships”, even worse than what it was under the Shah’s regime, and praised western democracy and its “indispensable” freedoms of thought and of religion.
It seems the young Khomeini is ignoring the days when it was a common practice under the Shah’s regime to murder scholars, teachers and anyone else who would try to enjoy the right of freedom of expression. And the West and its freedoms that he praised are the ones that supported Shah and his bloodstained hands at that time.
He also appears oblivious to the present in which America bans books and any other elements that can be termed anti-Bush, a very good example of which can be the story of how Michael Moore’s best-seller “Stupid White Men” was refused publication by to the American publishers.
It was a shock to read that Mr Hossein Khomeini has said that the US-led Iraq has become a “free country”. Only a few days back, on Sept 23, Dawn carried the news that Iraq’s US-installed governing council had banned the Arab satellite TV stations Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya from covering government activities for two weeks as a warning, stating that these two stations were “considered to have violated the rules and criteria that the media should respect to continue to work in Iraq”. So much for the “right of freedom”.
With a suicide car-bomb attack killing the top UN envoy to Iraq, Najaf car-bomb blast murdering Ayatollah Muhammad Baqar al-Hakim, with at least 120 other people, killing and torturing of cameramen and journalists by US troops, continuous attacks on US and British soldiers, increasing crime rates, turmoil in the country, restlessness among people, can one call Iraq free?
I, like other Muslims, do hope that prominent Muslim figures of times like these will act more responsibly before giving out such statements.
SYEDA AASIA BATOOL
Mirpurkhas
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