| 24 January 2004 | Saturday | 01 Zilhaj 1424 |
'Parallel system of justice'
Drug sales without clinical trials
Problems of paramedics
What America stands for
Sanctity of parliament
Remembering Kundan Lal Saigol
Body and soul
Incomplete project
Small savers
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A growing number of articles and analyses by Palestinians and their supporters are warning that the "two states for two peoples" option is fading, and the goal of Palestinian state should be exchanged for the establishment of a bi-national state.
As a matter of fact, the proposals for a common Jewish-Arab state in Palestine have existed since 1920s. In 1925 journalist Robert Weltsch established Brit Shalom (Covenant of Peace) to promote Jewish-Arab understanding in Palestine, which functioned until 1933, stood on a platform creating "a bi-national state in which two people will enjoy equal rights."
Proponents of a bi-national solution to the conflict advocate a common state in historic Palestine shared between Jewish and Arab populations. All occupied territories in the West Bank and Gaza would be annexed to Israel, with their Palestinian Arab inhabitants given citizenship and equal status to the Jewish and Arab citizens of the present-day Israel. The new state would have a secular character rather than being dominated by Judaism or Islam.
Four years ago Professor Norman Finklestein defined colonial conquest as implementing any of the following four strategies: extermination, expulsion, encirclement and exploitation.
In Palestine, David Ben-Gurion's vision of Zionism, which was similar to the white man's "manifest destiny" of conquering North America, gave way to the strategy combining extermination and expulsion in 1947-1948. This was consistent with Zionist solutions starting with Theodore Hertzl through the numerous plans to ethnically cleanse Palestine of Palestinians - a policy that continues through such means as the confiscation of Jerusalem ID cards from Palestinians.
Tony Judt, a Jew and director of the Remarque Institute, New York University, in the essay "Israel: The Alternative", offered his vision of a future Israel (Palestine) - a bi-national statehood. This means the Israelis and Palestinians living together under one roof, a democratic IsraelPalestine. Not only is this the best choice for Israel, it is the "inevitable" harder choice; and every other alternative approach is "far, far worse". He glimpses at Israel's place in the world, a world "that has moved on, a world of individual rights, open frontiers, and international law," and declares that Israel is an anachronism. Not only is this an anachronism, "but a dysfunctional one". It means the dismantling of Israel as a Jewish state
The former Israeli prime minister and current finance minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, told a gathering in the town of Herzliya that the 1.3 million Israeli citizens of Palestinian origin (rather than the Palestinians in the occupied territories who can simply be fenced in) represented the true "demographic threat" to the Jewish state, and that if this population grew from its current 20 per cent to 35-40 per cent, Israel would become a "bi-national country".
Ariel Sharon reaffirmed in Herzliya his bankrupt scheme for "unilateral separation," which in practical terms translates into apartheid for the Palestinians who will be allowed, as was said of the South African Bantustans, "to police themselves and administer their own poverty."
Palestinian Authority representatives recently presented a document suggesting the surge of settlement and infrastructure development in the West Bank has eliminated the possibility of establishing a viable state in the shrunken, diced-up territories, so they have to reconsider the two-state option.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon meanwhile declares that he is sticking to President Bush's "vision of a Palestinian state" - obviously under conditions dictated by Israel.
PROFESSOR (DR) P. NASIR
Gujrat
'Parallel system of justice'
This refers to your editorial "Parallel system of justice" (January 15).There are a number of instances where the heirs of a slain person were compelled to pardon the culprit(s). In the case of denial, those who pursue the case are eliminated.
On the contrary, sometimes the heirs of a victim also try to get financial gains out of it. In Lahore a retired brigadier killed his doctor wife. The post-mortem report, carried out within 24 hours, said the accused had fired twice, one bullet close to the belly, negating the plea of the accused of accidental fire, while cleaning the gun. How ridiculous that a retired army officer does not know how a gun is cleaned!
The police wanted to get a complaint from the parents of the woman for registration of a case. The delay in settling the terms between the two parties took about a week, after which a case was registered. During the period of the occurrence of the murder and the registration of the case, the accused remained in the hospital, pretending to be a heart patient. Immediately after the registration of the case, the father of the slain lady appeared in the court of sessions judge to assist the accused in getting bail before arrest, which was granted.
Some three months later, the parents of the slain woman appeared before the senior police officers for getting the case activated (as the accused had failed to oblige as per settled terms and conditions).
Though a lot of good evidence had been wasted by then, the SP concerned took personal interest in the case. He submitted a strong case with documentary evidence in the court of sessions judge. The accused was sentenced to life imprisonment by the judge. However, he was set free by the high court mainly due to the inconsistent attitude of the parents.
Had the old system under the British law been in vogue, the parents would have had no option of settling terms. Instead, they would have immediately gone to the police for registration of a case, and the accused would have been put behind bars. In that case the parents would have used all their efforts in getting him punished. Of course, the parents pursued the case vigorously, but then it was too late.
This system has encouraged crime. Our society is not yet fit for this type of justice. It is time we quickly reverted to the old system where the state is the custodian of its citizens, and not the heirs.
HAFEEZ AKHTAR
Lahore
Drug sales without clinical trials
The news report "Drugs being sold without mandatory trial" (January 6) pointing out the absence of local clinical trials before drugs are marketed in Pakistan is a reminder not only to our health ministry but more so to the pharmaceutical manufacturers of their responsibility to the patients.
As the majority of the drugs produced in Pakistan, whether by multinationals or by local companies, have already been tested and approved by the regulatory authorities in the US, Britain or Japan, making local clinical trials of such drugs mandatory before registration will be a repetition of the same exercise.
However, there exist certain local conditions which impact upon the performance of a drug. For instance, lifestyle, dietary habits, general health, average weight, etc. as compared to the average patient in the West, vary often a great deal, and this variance may affect the performance of a drug, particularly the dosage prescribed for the patients in the West. For these reasons there is a need for the trial of a drug under local conditions involving a cross-section of the patients.
While such trials should be undertaken by all drug manufacturers, including the MNCs, the national companies' products need to undergo trials to ensure that their respective formulations meet the internationally recognized criteria in respect of safety and efficacy. If they were to do so, they would not only fulfil their legal and moral obligations, but also establish their credentials more firmly with the medical profession and the general public in Pakistan, as well in the export markets by offering well-documented products.
The significance of local trials is increasingly being realized by some of the national companies, PharmEvo being in the forefront. Four trials of drugs indicated in the management of diabetes, increasingly becoming endemic and with potential serious consequences, have been completed according to well-designed protocols under the supervision of eminent clinicians. The very useful data thus generated has been published in leading medical journals.
Several other trials are in progress, and the company is committed to continue initiating local trials as a service to the suffering humanity via the medical profession.
DR MUHAMMAD ZUBAIR AYYUB
Product Manager, PharmEvo Pvt. Ltd., Via email
Problems of paramedics
Paramedics are the backbone of healthcare activities such as diagnosis, therapeutics and prevention from diseases. But they have neither a uniform educational structure nor any service structure. This means they do not have any resources for professional growth.
Establishment of a national paramedical council is the need of hour. In 1998 an attempt was made, with the cooperation of the federal health ministry, to put in place such a system, but in vain. New efforts can be made now to form a body of paramedics under the name of Pakistan Paramedical Council on the pattern of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, the Pakistan Nursing Council, etc.
With no service structure in place, paramedical staff are appointed in different basic pay-scales in the federal area, Punjab, Sindh, the NWFP and Balochistan, though they possess the same qualifications and training. Moreover, promotion or seniority rules are not applicable to them, and despite rendering services for 30-35 years, they retire in the same pay-scale.
Most people who would have joined the profession have developed a dislike for it. To reverse the situation, creation of a service structure on the national level is required. It is also necessary to impart standard education to the paramedics throughout the country.
Paramedical staff perform their duties and handle their assignments in such conditions as may pose risks to their lives. A substantial number of technicians have suffered from hepatitis B and C, cancer and tuberculosis. So, all paramedics, without any distinction, should be granted a risk allowance or a technical allowance up to Rs1,000 a month, as well as mess and washing allowances. The government is requested to look into the matter and take necessary steps to ensure a better future for the paramedics.
SHAHID JAN KHATTAK
Secretary-General, All Pakistan Paramedical Staff Federation, Islamabad
What America stands for
Mr Behram B. Atashband in his letter "What America stands for" (January 19) has claimed that America today is busy in the reconstruction of Afghanistan and Iraq. He must answer the question: who destroyed these countries through carpetbombing, using depleted uranium which has exposed the people of both countries to health hazards for decades to come.
If Mr Behram recollects, America also stands for violations of the human rights. He should see the plight of the individuals imprisoned in Guantanamo Bay without any formal trials. He should also recollect the death of thousands of Iraqi children who died of malnutrition and the non-availability of medicines because of the UN sanctions the US got imposed on Iraq.
Similarly, is the curtailment of civil liberties in America through the "patriot" law promoting human dignity and basic rights? Can the treatment being meted out to Muslims in the US these days be justified in any way?
GHULAM MUHAMMAD
Karachi
Sanctity of parliament
This is with reference to an article and a report from Islamabad (January 18) regarding the president's address to the joint session of parliament. I wish you could comment on the slogans and jeers raised by members of the opposition in the joint session of the National Assembly and the Senate.
Is there no reasonable role which the opposition members think they can play for the benefit of this country, apart from beating desks and crying hoarse? They talk of democracy, but which one of their leaders has been a true democrat? If democracy is a system where the majority is allowed to rule, what they really desire is political agitation and instability in the country.
Agitational politics deprived the people of democracy from 1977 to 1985. And what happened subsequently, specially from 1988 to 1999, almost ruined the economy. Who was responsible for all that?
Most of us who have written in these columns have extensively criticized some of the policies of President Pervez Musharraf in the past. In fact, some of the points were rather personal. It goes to his credit that his government accepted such criticism. How many countries permit such freedom of expression as was allowed in Pakistan during the Musharraf era? Out of about 190 members of the United Nations, the number of countries where the freedom of expression is readily permitted is hardly 10 and does not include any other Muslim country.
There was a time when extracts from the US constitution were quoted to safeguard the democratic process and procedures in the world. But the way the values promulgated by those great men of the 18th century have been trampled upon in 21st century for vengeance, expediency and energy requirements, we can only look forward to another role model: the UK.
From January 15, 1215, when King John signed the Magna Carta, it has been more than 789 years when the democratic process started there. Democracy is certainly an evolutionary process, but we do not have hundreds of years to look forward to for any changes. In the UK, the opposition is ready to take over the government and fights its opponents on the battlefield of election, and respected members present their points of view in a decent and dignified manner and not in an immature and bizarre fashion.
If agitational politics continues, the democratic process will again be derailed. You may cry hoarse and criticize their lordships, but in their judgments if the option is to permit anarchy or a bloody revolution or accept a military government, then perhaps the precedence in the annals of the supreme courts will enable their lordships to accept the "law of necessity".
It is time for the speaker of the National Assembly, the chairman of the Senate and the prime minister to enact certain laws whereby the sanctity of parliament is preserved.
KHALID HASSAN MAHMOOD
Karachi
Remembering Kundan Lal Saigol
Mr Ayaz Amir's article "K. L. Saigol: 1904-46" (January 16) and the letters appearing in these columns with reference to the article give hope that in this world of clashing sounds and tuneless voices, people still value music which makes life beautiful.
Kundan Lal Saigol, I have always believed, was brought into this world to prove the divinity of music. His renditions have made our lives more poignant and sharpened our awareness of all that is beautiful and humane.
I spent my early childhood days listening to Radio Ceylon, and the last song of the 7am programme Purani filmon ka sangeet was as, Ayaz Amir says, always a chosen Saigol. These were, however, the ones which were "hits".
It was only later when I could get hold of audio-cassettes that I heard his Ghalib, and the rare ones such as Kidhar hai tu aey meri tamanna and Mohabbat ke gul haye tar dhoondta hoon, all from the 1945 film Kuruk Shetr.
I wish we had more information on Pankaj Mullick, C.H. Atma and Jagmohan also. Pankaj Mullick scored the music for many of Saigol's songs and some of his own such as Aye katib-i-taqdeer mujhe itna batadae are beautiful too.
NIKHAT SATTAR
Karachi
Body and soul
This is with reference to the news item "Rs30m fixed to energize streetlights: CDA chief" (January 21). The report quotes Mr Lashari as saying that Islamabad is "a beautiful body without soul", and he wants to transform the capital into a lively city.
Having lived in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad I think I can safely tell Mr Lashari that Islamabad does have a soul. Indeed, the greenery and the calm is quintessentially Islamabad.
Islamabad may not be as lively as Lahore, nor as diverse as Karachi, but it definitely has its own and distinct flavour. Developing Islamabad is a good idea, but if in trying to create a pseudo-soul we lose what we have, I think we would have been unjust to this beautiful city.
It would be a great service to Islamabad if development projects retain the character of the city, for instance a bird park to complement the natural beauty or a zoo where we can provide animals with their natural habitat unlike the conventional and animal- unfriendly zoo that Islamabad currently has.
MURTAZA MANKANI
Islamabad
Incomplete project
A project, started some six months back to cover rainwater drain in Clifton's Block 2, near Karachi's Indus School of Art and Architecture, under the Khushhal Scheme, was left half done by the contractor on the ground that his payment cheque was lying unsigned on the table of the signing officer.
The problem does not end there. The area in front of the school is in a bad shape with tons of garbage around and a section of roads in a state of disrepair. The school is a prestigious institution frequented by foreign and national dignitaries. All our efforts to contact the Karachi nazim, Niamatullah Khan, by sending a letter of invitation by TCS to visit the place for first hand information, have so far remained fruitless.
Incidentally, the city government has two top officials with unblemished record of service and the highest degree of honesty and integrity - Mir Hussain Ali, DCO, and Shoaib Siddiqi, EDO (Services and Work). Since the Nazim-i-Aala is holding an elected office and is, therefore, an extremely busy person, I appeal to Mir Saheb and Mr Siddiqi to come to our aid and solve our problem for which the residents of the area would remain grateful to them.
MRS SARA HASAN
Karachi
Small savers
Your editorial of January 19 on small savers' dilemma, especially with reference to national savings schemes is timely and thought-provoking. Upto 94 per cent fall in the first five months of this fiscal year in net investment in national savings schemes is really alarming.
Secretary-General, It may lead to the winding up of the National Savings Directorate, and hence a big source of loans available to the government within the country would dry up. Small savers are already seeking new avenues of investment exposing themselves to risky investment openings. It is time the government economists thought of better utilization of this source for national development.
LATIF QURESHI
Lahore
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