| 19 February 2004 | Thursday | 27 Zilhaj 1424 |
Bahria town scam
A country and its heroes
'An undue levy'
Helmets for motorcyclists
Our pseudo-intellectuals
'An affair to remember'
Kashmir: a proposal
Ufone service
Election fever
PSO 'Loyalty Card'
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Apropos of the letter by Mr Mehmood Khan Macci (February 2), I would like to say that the finance ministry played the role of an aggrieved party while making an undated representation to the president against the ombudsman judgment, which is contrary to the clarification given on page 4 of the ombudsman's annual report 1995, with the intention to debar only the pre-1986 retirees from getting 35 per cent dearness increase in their pension.
The old pensioners are the sufferers as it is they who have been deprived of the increase allowed with effect from June 1, 1994, to all government employees, including the military personnel (to be paid from the defence budget), and also the people from autonomous and semi-autonomous bodies.
In the above ruling it has been stressed that the right of making representations is for a person who has not been granted relief by the ombudsman for limitation of law or otherwise.
It is unclear how the finance ministry has become an aggrieved party so as to make a representation to the president to create discrimination among the pensioners.
The statutory provisions on page 3 of ombudsman's annual report 1995 says: "Recommendations of the ombudsman are required to be implemented or reasons for non-compliance to be given under article 11(2)."
The president's directive, dated 20-09-1990 (page 4 of the above report), says: "Grave concern has been felt by the president that findings/recommendations made by the Wafaqi Mohtasib are at times not implemented promptly by some ministries/divisions."
i) Recommendations/findings of Wafaqi Mohtasib should be implemented within the stipulated time.
ii) Tendency of defying or delaying implementation of the ombudsman's recommendations should be avoided. Unjustifiable defiances of the Mohtasib's recommendations shall be recorded in the personal file/character roll of the public servant under Article 12(2) of P.O. 1 of 1983.
The prime minister's directive, dated 14-11-1995 (page 5 of the above report), says:
i) To strictly follow both in letter and in spirit of the directions of the president.
ii) To have recourse to Article 11(2) of P.O. 1 of 1983 before making representation.
iii) Compliance shall be made promptly in respect of cases involving pension, gratuities or benefits arising on retirement.
Rule 32 of P.O. 1 of 1983 provides an exclusive legal right to the aggrieved party by the order or decision of the Mohtasib to file a representation to the president.
The finance ministrywas obviously not justified in becoming the aggrieved party in the case, as the ombudsman's orders were to maintain the status quo by also allowing to pre-1986 retirees the said dearness allowance increase which had been extended to all other persons.
Thus, the president's orders, dated 09-02-2000, debarring the old pensioners from the grant of the said dearness allowance increase on the ministry's representation against the ombudsman's orders, dated 21-12-1994, after five-and-a-half years' lapse, was against both natural justice and the spirit of Article 32 of P.O. 1 of 1983.
This is quite against the spirit of rule 32 when the mention of a date is a "must condition" to ensure that the complainant has represented within the prescribed limit of 30 days.
The ministry of finance has adopted discriminative policy against the old pensioners, despite the fact this has been declared violative of the Constitution by the Supreme Court of as detailed on page 73 of the Ombudsman's Annual Report of 1994.
On behalf of my association I urge the finance minister to order payment of 35 per cent dearness raise to the aggrieved pensioners.
M. MAZHAR-UL-HAQ
Hony. Secretary, Pakistan Pensioners Welfare Association, Karachi Branch
Bahria town scam
With reference to the letter "Bahria town scam" (February 6) by "A victim", I would like make the following points:
- The writer has genuinely suffered because, as a patriotic Pakistani, he equated the housing projects with the same zeal, fervour, and emotional feeling that we all have for our valiant armed forces.
- He had this notion that the housing projects periodically announced by the three foundations of the armed forces would be as safe, sure and secure as our nation is due to the alertness, readiness and devotion of our universally acclaimed brave armed forces.
- The writer invested his precious financial resources probably with this idea in mind that since the power base is in Islamabad, he and his children would be in a vantage position by being in close proximity to the corridors of power.
- I am sure there are many more who have been induced to invest their hard-earned money due to the forceful infomercials being aired daily on the electronic media.
- What the writer did not comprehend is that there are certain forces in this nation that have the wherewithal and the influence to prevail upon nearly every powerful authority in the country to dance to their tune. The same is the case with the Bahria housing projects.
- The writer should have taken time out and read the fine print in the agreement. He would then have known what was originally planned. Therefore, he has now two choices: lament and wail in the news media or fork out the "exorbitant additional development charges" that the real promoters are "arbitrarily demanding".
- Let this be a lesson to "A victim" and others like him. Forget about investing in housing projects, shares, and other such get-rich-quick schemes. In the end, you will always suffer because the law is definitely on the side of people who are more equal than others.
- Remember Islamabad's New City? Watch out for the upcoming land scam in Karachi that is being touted by ministers, officials and certain foreigners as Textile City.
- It is proposed that a law be enacted in parliament that will forbid any company or organization from using the words "Fauji", "Askari", "Bahria" and "Shaheen", except the armed forces.
- On behalf of "A victim" and others who too are victims, I can only hope that President Musharraf, General Aziz, and Admiral Karimullah will look into this blatant sell-out of the Bahria name and bring succour to the affected Pakistanis whose only crime was that they trusted and believed in the Bahria logo.
MUHAMMAD GANI
Karachi
A country and its heroes
The president's press conference of February 5 was important because of the context in which it was held. He handled the conference deftly and showed confidence, spontaneity and up-to-date knowledge.
General Pervez Musharraf said that the country stood at a crossroads and while one correct step could lead the people to prosperity, one wrong step could doom them forever. He was widely acclaimed when he allayed popular apprehensions by saying that he stood between Dr A. Q. Khan and the world community.
His emphatic "no" in response to a foreign journalist's question "whether Pakistan would like to place its nuclear installations under UN supervision" would long be cherished by the nation.
However, the president's remarks that "Dr A. Q. Khan has been my hero, too, but when it came to choose between the hero and the country, I was for Pakistan" require a bit of elucidation.
A hero of a country is the crystallization of the collective mood of that country. It is simply not possible to choose between a hero and the country he belongs to. The two are inseparable and concomitant. To choose between the two is like choosing between the ice and its coldness.
Conferment of the title of hero is decreed only by the public at large (i.e. by a group, a community, a society or even a whole nation, as the case may be). Mostly this title is conferred posthumously and, thus, there can be more than one hero. Very rarely a nation decides to have a living hero.
A hero does not guide his people because that is the job of a leader. In a hero, people only find their identity. Thus, a hero represents the emotional unanimity of his people.
The entire human history bears testimony to this fact that a nation survives till its heroes survive and a hero survives till his people betray him.
Bordering with a bigger and nuclearized adversary, the nation had no option except to go nuclear. But 'who will bell the cat' was a haunting question. It was Dr A. Q. Khan who once said, "I will do it", and he accomplished that. Dr Khan had to sail against the wind to make the impossible possible.
MOHAMMAD WAQAR ASLAM
Quetta
'An undue levy'
This is with reference to the editorial "An undue levy" (February 11) in which the need for providing healthy recreational facilities to the public in the form of parks and playgrounds by the civic/governmental agencies has been very appropriately highlighted.
However, while analyzing the elusive issue, the assumption that the Defence Housing Authority, Karachi, levies high charges on its residents in the form of property tax and other levies is not correct and needs to be seen in the correct perspective.
The factual position is that the DHA does not get any tax/fees from the residents in any form whatsoever. It is the Cantonment Board, Clifton, which is authorized, as per the Cantonment Act, to levy and collect all types of taxes from the residents and to independently utilize them for development and civic works in the area.
The DHA as a progressive and dynamic housing enterprise in the country is, however, committed to provision of neat, clean and aesthetically vibrant living environments to its residents.
Beautiful public parks providing healthy recreational and entertainment avenues are lavishly spread all over the DHA. The authority charges from those visiting the parks a token entry fee, solely for smooth regulation of the entry and for meeting the charges incurred on regular maintenance and upkeep of the parks and to keep the parks generally restricted to the DHA residents.
It is emphasized that getting entry fees from the residents does not amount to charging them twice. The only one-time charges the DHA gets from the residents are the development charges recovered from allottees at the time of allotment of plots.
The DHA allocates a substantial amount of funds in its budget for provision of all types of recreational and sport facilities to its residents. The present arrangements are functioning smoothly, and there are no undercurrents or resentment on this account prevalent among the residents.
RAHAT NAQVI
PRO, DHA, Karachi
Helmets for motorcyclists
In most countries it is mandatory to wear a helmet while riding a motorbike. In our country motorcycle riders are only encouraged to wear a helmet to avoid any head injury.
Owing to the cold weather these days, one can see quite a few motorcyclists wearing helmets. But the traffic police should see that all motorbike riders are wearing helmets and all motorbikes have wing mirrors and indicators.
Moreover, motorcyclists jump lanes, drive on the right lane which is for fast-moving vehicles and zigzag to the traffic lights through the narrow space between two vehicles.
In Lahore, specially on The Mall, I have noticed that motorcyclists have to use the extreme left lane. The traffic police have to look into this issue so as to save lives, both of the motorbike riders and the other motorists.
M. TAZAM SHAIKH
Karachi
Our pseudo-intellectuals
During the press conference by President Musharraf, after Dr A. Q. Khan's admission, the president deplored, among other things, the tendency of some Pakistani journalists/columnists to indulge in irresponsible, negative and often damaging criticism. He called them pseudo-intellectuals.
We have quite a few of these in our midst. They rarely miss an opportunity to run down their own country, or to tarnish its image.
The media, particularly the print media, has a very important role to play in any democratic set-up or, for that matter, in any country where the government of the day is seriously engaged in efforts to build democratic institutions, traditions and values which may have eroded over a period of time, or through prolonged periods of bad governance.
Unfortunately we in Pakistan have had more than our fair share of bad governance, and now that important steps are being taken to set our house in order, it is incumbent on all of us to contribute our bit to this task of national reconstruction - to stand up and be counted.
The print media enjoys unprecedented freedom today. This freedom should not be abused. Rather, it should be used in a responsible way to disseminate information accurately, to make assessments and analyses on the basis of facts, to refrain from unnecessary speculation, and to indulge in constructive, rather than destructive criticism.
Another important point to note is that our pseudo- intellectuals often quote western critics, or "scholars", in support of their scenarios of gloom and doom which the latter paint of Pakistan.
Now the reasons why the western press and the electronic media portray Pakistan as the fountainhead of every thing that is evil (in contradistinction to India which they regard as the embodiment of virtue, democracy and prosperity) are rooted in history in such theories as the 'clash of civilisation', in political expediency and in "strategic concerns" and alliances, rather than on an objective analysis of the ground realities.
However, our writers and commentators should be sophisticated enough and should be equipped with the necessary analytical skills to distinguish between what is "truth" and what is "propaganda" which is so often dished out against Pakistan by so- called "eminent" scholars of so-called "distinguished "think- tanks".
They would also be well advised to read the excellent article on the subject by Mr Mahdi Masud which appeared in Dawn (December 3, 2003) under the headline "Pride in one's history".
SALAHUDDIN K. LEGHARI
Lahore
'An affair to remember'
This is with reference to the article "An affair to remember & regret" by Mr Anwar Syed, published in your esteemed daily on February 15.
To put the record straight, it is reiterated that Pakistan paid in cash approximately $200 million to purchase intermediate-range missiles technology from North Korea. Not only President General Pervez Musharraf but former prime minister Benazir Bhutto is also on record as confirming this transaction.
Hence, Mr Anwar Syed is not correct in saying: "North Korea is believed to have assisted Pakistan with the development of its intermediate-range missiles in return for the latter's assistance with its nuclear weapons programme. It was an exchange in which neither side gave the other money."
There was no question of Pakistan transferring nuclear know-how or material to North Korea in exchange for missiles.
RASHID AHMAD
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Islamabad
Kashmir: a proposal
I would like to respectfully rebut Mr Fazelbhoy's proposal (February 17) to resolve the Kashmir dispute.
The Aga Khan is a very respectable figure and his endeavours to serve poor and needy people need no mention. His mission, vision and services rendered to people of the South Asian region will no doubt help develop the area. However, this does not justify imposing him on the Kashmiri people as head of the proposed independent state of Jammu and Kashmir.
In the 21st century only those nations will be able to keep their heads high whose ordinary people are empowered through education. It is hoped that sanity will prevail and the ongoing talks between India and Pakistan will eventually lead to much-awaited peace in the region at large.
DR MUKESH DHERANI
London, UK
Ufone service
On October 8, 2003, I got my mobile (# 0333 2285324) service changed to the pre-paid card system at the Ufone centre in Clifton, Karachi, where the centre people told me that the refund they owed me would be remitted to me in about a month.
I waited for two months and then contacted their helpline several times, but every time I was told: "You will get the refund in a week's time."
Now 12 weeks have passed but still their reply is the same. When I visited their Clifton centre, I found out that they did not know anything about refunds.
This shows that the Ufone helpline is either helpless in such matters or just keeps the clients' money as long as possible.
M. SIRAJUL HASSAN
Karachi
Election fever
Mr Omar Kureishi's article "Election fever" (February 17) reminds me of a couplet by Allama Iqbal:
Tuney kya dekha nahein magreb ka jamhoori nizam
Chehra roshan andaroon Changez sey tareek tar
MASOODUL HASAN
Karachi
PSO 'Loyalty Card'
This is with reference to the letter "PSO Loyalty Card" (February 16). The factual position is as under:
- In the event of a card being misplaced or lost, it is incumbent upon the cardholder to immediately inform the PSO Customer Services Department to prevent misuse or abuse of the same. This is a global phenomenon with all such cards.
The moment the service-provider is intimated, the system blocks the card. However, in the interim period, the misuse may occur as it often does. These instructions are clearly printed on the reverse of all PSO cards.
- The PSO performs authenticity checks on high-value transactions after which, as a precautionary measure, the card redemption feature is disabled till such time further clarification is received from the cardholder.
- In this specific case, the card that was apparently misplaced or lost was not reported and hence did not enter the system.
- Additionally, whenever genuine loyalty points accrue on a card, the same are always credited to the cardholder, and the same is done in the event of a dispute of any nature but only after a thorough investigation at various ends, namely the station, the cardholder and the back-office.
The PSO assigns the utmost importance to constructive feedback from its customers, and it is this discipline that helps it to reinforce its image as a truly customer-focused organization always striving to innovate and to add value with each passing day.
Moreover, our Customer Services Department represents the cornerstone of our corporate philosophy, and for this reason we strive to surpass our customers' expectations by offering unmatched services.
Finally, the PSO Loyalty Card, as the name suggests, was launched for this very reason.
SALMAN ZUBAIR
Manager, Customer Services, PSO House, Karachi
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