| 18 February 2004 | Wednesday | 26 Zilhaj 1424 |
Jail reforms: some suggestions
DHA problems
Road travellers' ordeal
A deed of heroism
Steering Pakistan on right path
Separate electoral rolls
Non-transfer of shares
The triumph of evil
Air route
Traffic hazards
Hinglish?
Education
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The last Islamic summit held in Malaysia in October 2003 decided at the suggestion of President Musharraf to review the functioning of the OIC in the light of its failure to play the desired role in promoting security and economic and political interests of the Muslim world.
It was also understood that a special summit would be held in Pakistan towards the end of 2004 to consider the recommendations of the OIC group set up to consider the restructuring of the organization.
At the last summit, President Musharraf also proposed a two-pronged strategy, suggesting, on the one hand, pursuance of enlightened moderation and suppression of extremism by the Muslim world, and on the other adoption by the world community of measures to resolve the problems faced by Arab and other Muslim peoples struggling for their legitimate right of self-determination.
Regrettably neither of these two prongs, which are inter-related, have come into play and pressures and threats afflicting the Muslim world have increased. A few stray examples will suffice here: on two successive days during the last week, 100 Iraqis lost their lives at the hands of elements resisting US occupation; 16 Palestinians were killed in one day alone in Gaza by Israeli forces and a comparable number in Indian-held Kashmir; and Afghanistan too continues to be in the throes of heightened violence and instability.
In the worsening situation facing the Muslim world, the D-8 summit under way in Tehran brings together the leaders of the eight most populous Muslim states in contradistinction to G7, the conclave of seven advanced, industrialized states. D-8 consists of Egypt, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia and Nigeria.
Although D-8 was launched by former Turkish prime minister Erbakan in 1997 primarily for promoting economic cooperation and a coordinated stance on global economic issues on the part of major Muslim states, the Tehran summit provides an opportunity also for re-assessing the multiplying pressures on the Muslim world and for activating the fundamental review agreed upon by the last summit for imparting effectiveness and credibility to the Organization of Islamic Conference, as proposed by President Musharraf.
D-8, although comprising only eight states, accounts for three quarters of the population of the independent Muslim world. The group encompasses a significant portion of the technological, economic and professional expertise available in the Muslim comity of nations and is well equipped to act as a catalyst in coordinating development strategies in the national and international fields.
Most D-8 members are engaged, with varying degrees of success (or failure), in the task of running a representative system of government - presidential, parliamentary or a variant.
If D-8 is to achieve any concrete results and not to go the way of other Islamic forums, the Tehran summit will have to demonstrate the political will at the highest level to establish mutuality of economic interests in important fields without which the desired cooperation will not take off.
D-8 will also be expected to affirm clear support on the basis of international legality for the legitimate rights of the Kashmiris and the Palestinians, for the independence and integrity of Iraq and Afghanistan and for the recent UN-sponsored peace moves on Cyprus.
MAHDI MASUD
Karachi
Jail reforms: some suggestions
The age-old slogan of jail reforms has reappeared in the wake of reports of maladministration and corruption in Sindh jails for which the Supreme Court has appointed a committee headed by the attorney-general to recommend prison reforms.
The need for reforms appear justified, but it was rightly pointed out in your editorial (February 1) on jail reforms that implementation of the comprehensive plan of reforms prepared by the committee would be possible by the jail administration of each province.
I know from my experience of 34 years' service in the department, right from assistant superintendent to superintendent, that it would be a futile exercise in view of the declining calibre of jail staff.
Mainly it is the lower staff such as warders, head warders and chief warder who are in perpetual contact with the prisoners' warrant to be corrected. Their links with the prisoners for personal gain remain unrestrained and undetected, ultimately resulting in occurrence of serious incidents like the Sialkot jail episode.
However, incidents due to gross negligence by the staff cannot be ruled out, as happened in Machh Jail where seven condemned prisoners escaped after serving intoxicated meals to the staff.
The decline in discipline is another factor affecting the control exercised by the administration. The prison rules clearly enjoin army-like discipline, which can only be achieved by a proper training institute.
It is also unfortunate that the uniform force department is being governed by efficiency and discipline rules instead of the executive staff punishment and appeal rules that are a part of the Pakistan Prison Rules.
These rules have an immediate accountability provision and equip the officers with summary punishment powers like the army's. The application of E & D rules is nothing short of putting the cart before the horse. Also, the entry of the non-departmental inspector-general of prisons has not benefited the department, having served under them in Balochistan. They are misfits and their appointment violates the rule 888 of the Pakistan Prison Rules.
I request the committee to give serious thought to the aforementioned issues.
SHAIKH G. MURTAZA
Superintendent Jail (Retired), Balochistan
DHA problems
On his farewell visit the outgoing corps commander exhorted the Karachi DHA officials to have a "50-year vision" in the development of DHA projects. Fifty years is half a century, and the DHA is unable to professionally tackle day-to-day problems, with the result that it is fast turning into the most expensive slum in South Asia.
Recently a friend started construction of his house on Khayaban-i-Saadi. The trauma, hassle and harassment he had to suffer at the hands of various DHA and civic authorities has totally shattered him physically and financially.
Khayaban-i-Saadi exists in the mind and perhaps only in the files of the DHA, the ground reality is that it is a mud track, overgrown with bushes and leftover rubble of previous structures that were bulldozed when plots were carved out by the DHA.
This track was dug up to lay a sewerage line, but a water pipeline, a KESC underground cable, a PTC optic-fibre cable and a SSGC gas pipeline were not considered part of the development process; for which excessive charges were collected from plot owners.
Every plot owner has to approach the DHA, KESC, SSGC and PTCL with copies of letters issuing permission to build by the DHA, along with copies of the DHA lease and the ID card, before these basic facilities are provided.
Water essential for construction was not available and after suffering long waits in queues, the DHA decided to compensate for its failure to lay a water pipeline by providing two 1,000 gallon tankers weekly. This was inadequate and had to be supplemented through the tanker mafia, at rising costs.
The area remains undeveloped and there is no sign of DHA activity to construct Khayaban-i-Saadi. Just alongside is Khayaban-i-Ittehad fully developed, carpeted and leading to the DHA Creek and Marina Clubs; it's anyone's guess as to when, if ever, the DHA will fulfil its moral and legal obligations to the plot owners of Khayaban-i-Saadi.
Recently the DHA collected millions of rupees from hopeful subscribers for its Creek City project. If the development or rather the lack thereof of Khayaban-i-Saadi is anything to go by of DHA's vision for 50 years, good luck to those whose millions are now safely tucked away in DHA bank accounts.
KHAAB
Karachi
Road travellers' ordeal
My grandson took a Multan-bound bus at 2.30pm on January 20 from a G-9 bus stand in Islamabad. At about 4:30pm he asked the conductor to stop the bus at the next service station on the motorway as he needed to go to a lavatory.
The bus crew flatly refused the request and replied that the bus would stop only after the Pindi Bhatian exit. After that two service stations passed but the driver did not make a stop.
Some other passengers were also getting restless and badly needed to visit a restroom. However, the driver and the conductor did not care about their extreme discomfort.
Eventually, when the driver did not stop even at a roadside restaurant after Pindi Bhatian, the passengers forced the driver to turn around and stop at the restaurant. This happened about four hours after the departure from Islamabad.
Such highhanded, criminal behaviour of transporters towards the commuters is very wrong and unacceptable. Why do they not stop on the motorway to enable passengers to relieve themselves? In any case, they cannot be allowed to maltreat and torment travellers, including old people, women and children.
I believe orders already exist to regulate the conduct of drivers/conductors in respect of travellers' privileges. If transporters are made to display them inside their vehicles, it will improve the situation.
A chart should be displayed permanently inside all vehicles and at all bus and wagon stands specifying rules regarding stops and their duration, speed limits, etc.
I am sure the officials are competent and can devise and implement measures to alleviate the suffering of the commuters.
S.A. KHALID
Chenab Nagar
A deed of heroism
The unfortunate and embarrassing episode of Pakistan's unofficial role in the proliferation of nuclear technology seems to have ended. But the episode has left behind a number of questions in its wake that will surely be discussed for a long time and many of them may never be answered. The following are some of the questions:
1. If Dr A. Q. Khan and his associates have sold secrets about nuclear technology for personal gain, is it not because of a failure of the nation to amply reward its heroes?
2. Isn't it disgraceful that our "rogue" politicians and members of the establishment who siphoned off billions of dollars of public money, thus bleeding our country and its poor people white, have never been made to apologize before the nation?
3. While developing an effective command and control system for our nukes, shouldn't we be developing a system that rewards our outstanding scientists so handsomely that they don't have to look elsewhere?
Irrespective of whether Dr Khan and his associates are actually guilty or they have been made a scapegoat in the national interest, the fact is that by apologizing publicly Dr Khan has come out with another unprecedented deed of heroism.
DR M. SHAHAB ATHAR
Karachi
Steering Pakistan on right path
The treatment meted out to the two great scientists produced by Pakistan in our times has compelled me to write these few lines. In our neighbouring country India, the BJP coalition government has placed a Muslim scientist, Mr Abdul Kalam, as the third Muslim president of the biggest secular democracy of the world.
On the contrary we shabbily treated our only Nobel laureate Professor Abdus Salam. He came to Pakistan with many scientific proposals and schemes which could benefit his motherland.
He met the then president, General Ziaul Haq, and explained his plans to him. General Zia praised him immensely for his achievement but expressed his inability to say the same words in front of the press.
Crestfallen and disappointed, Professor Salam went back to his adopted country. Later when on his death his body was brought to Pakistan for burial, there was no representative from the government side to pay homage to this great son of the soil.
Another scientist, Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, who turned Pakistan into a nuclear power and compelled India to talk to us with respect, today stands stripped of all honour and has been made to apologize publicly for his certain acts.
These unfortunate things happened because there is no true democracy in Pakistan. Economically, we are bound under heavy foreign debts and have no real industrial base while our agriculture is suffering under the feudal system. We are at the mercy of the big powers.
It is time we took bold steps to steer the country on the right path. On August 11, 1947, the Quaid-i-Azam in his speech to the Constituent Assembly gave us some very wise pieces of advice. We may add a few more according to the present circumstances, and with a little concerted effort we can come out of this impasse. The steps in my view to be taken are:
a) Separation of religion from the statecraft.
b) Abolition of the zamindari system plus land reforms on a large scale.
c) Education should be given the highest priority.
d) The Army must look after its primary task, i.e. looking after the borders and should not have any say in political matters.
e) The Ulema should confine themselves to the teaching of good morals to the young generation (no small task).
f) Developing good relations with all our neighbours and abolishing all nuclear weapons.
If we are powerful economically, industrially and politically, we do not need an atomic bomb. Japan, Taiwan, Canada and South Korea are examples before us.
We have to fight illiteracy, disease, corruption and drugs. For these enemies we do not need daisy cutters and atom bombs. We need knowledge, technology, will power and honest citizens.
KARAMAT SHER KHAN
Karachi
Separate electoral rolls
This refers to the news report "Separate rolls for Muslims, non-Muslim voters" (February 15).
The purpose of separate voting lists in the presence of a joint electorate is indeed mind-boggling. The military establishment appears to have given in to demands of the religio-political parties in pursuit of this worthless exercise promoting psychological segregation of citizens of Pakistan (who are supposed to be equal) into two groups: Muslims and Non-Muslims.
Even if we give the religio-political parties the benefit of the doubt and agree that this distinction may serve some higher purpose, the job appears to have been poorly and incompletely done.
The definition of 'Muslim' should not just include belief in the finality of the Prophet (PBUH) but also adherence to other equally important pillars of Islam, e.g. Zakat, Haj and prayers (these are missing from form IV).
MUBASHIR KHAN
Indianapolis, IN., USA
Non-transfer of shares
Reference is made to the letter "Stock exchange companies" (January 4) regarding a complaint of Mr M. Nazakat Ali Khan about non-transfer of shares by M/s Sh. Fazal Rehman & Sons Limited (a listed company).
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan has taken timely action and called the company's management to furnish their comments and, in response, the shares were duly transferred in the name of the complainant. The company also regretted the delay and gave an assurance that no such delay would occur in future.
MUBASHER SAEED
SADDOZAI Joint Director (Law), SECP, Islamabad
The triumph of evil
After U-turns, rigged referendums, controversial elections, national demolition bureaus, national selective accountability bureaus, framework orders, helpless judiciary, defamation of nuclear scientists, one wonders what more is to come next.
The silent majority of Pakistan is advised to heed the famous quote: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing".
SAJID HUSSAIN
Karachi
Air route
The Pakistan and Indian governments should also consider reviving the old air route of Karachi-Ahmedabad. If this route is reopened, it will help those who want to travel to Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
DOST MOHAMMAD BHOJANI
Karachi
Traffic hazards
Traffic problems are fast growing in Karachi due to open violation of traffic rules. Public transport drivers stop their vehicles at unauthorized bus stops, even on busy roads with no indication, to pick and drop passengers. This practice continues unchecked and has also led to fatal accidents.
Traffic jams are seen on every major road during peak hours as the motorists do not follow the traffic rules. They do not stay in their lanes and some of them even ignore the red light signal.
It is observed that motorists continue to drive without turning on headlights even after sunset and nobody checks them. Even motorcyclists and rickshaw drivers do not feel the need to turn on their indicators before taking a turn. Similarly, many vehicles have headlights, brake and reverse lights, that are out-of-order but there is no check on them.
Illegal stalls, bazaars and automobile markets in many areas of Karachi are another cause of major traffic hazards. Saddar, Empress Market, Burns Road, Tower and Lighthouse are the most polluted areas of the Karachi city.
Especially heavy buses in Saddar create traffic jams when their drivers park them right in the middle of the road to pick up passengers. They do not care to give way to others.
The number of fatal road accidents have also increased in Karachi because of speeding and reckless driving.
The marking done on the roads has been washed out, and the roads themselves have also been damaged during the recent torrential rains. The authorities concerned should check on these hazards to ensure that the traffic runs smoothly and accidents are avoided.
FURQAN HUSSAIN ANSARI
Karachi
Hinglish?
A Touch of 'Hinglish' has crept into Mushir Anwar's otherwise excellent review ("Literary Roundup", February 15) of Kishwar Naheed's latest book Letters to an unborn daughter when he, in all seriousness, states that "Kishwar's hurts are still green" (Kishwar key zakhm abhi harrey hain). There is no hint of parody.
Some years ago I pointed out a similar intrusion in another Dawn article where a Lahore-based writer had, in all seriousness, had referred to someone as having "gone to sleep after selling his horses" (ghorey baich kar so jaana).
ASAD SIDDIQI
Lahore
Education
One can imagine the appalling state of education in Pakistan by a single example: Ibrahim Hyderi, situated on the outskirts of Karachi, has only one government-run primary school to cater for a population of 100,000. Need one comment any further on our priorities?
MOHAMMED IQBAL ABID
Karachi
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