| 12 March 2004 | Friday | 20 Muharram 1425 |
Mocking misery
BJP and Muslim voters
Road-widening setbacks
Let cricket win
Offering prayers
Former pilot's case
Hockey team's performance
Mosquito attack
Be careful with words
Misplaced priority
Water shortage
Maulana Kausar Niazi
Ghosts at work?
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Shakespeare puts the lunatic, the lover and the poet together as being "of imagination all compact". In each of us, all three sides exist in varying degrees. There is in us a certain energy which finds expression in action which is not inspired by reason and can manifest itself in passionate love or in passionate hate.
In Pakistan, or for that matter in India, a pseudo -democracy and a semi-industrialized society have atrophied the artistic impulses and so imprisoned the love instinct of people that they can no longer be generous, free and creative. Life for them is either stuffy or furtive. Control has been applied to the very things which should be free, while envy and cruelty abound.
We tend to thwart the lives of our supposed rivals and further our own interests. Such an approach runs counter to the development of creative impulses.
In fact, it promotes negative thinking in the name of competition and patriotism. True morality would do the exact opposite. Our dealings with those whom we love may safely be left to instincts; it is our dealings with those whom we hate that ought to be brought under the dominion of reason.
We deceive ourselves into believing that acts which are based on hatred are committed out of love of justice or some other lofty motive. We must, therefore, develop a sceptical attitude to tear the veils which hide the truth from us.
Only then can we develop a new morality and realization that other human beings are a help and not a hindrance and that the madness of envy and restriction is required to be cured.
It is incumbent on the leaders of Pakistan and India to realize by looking at the history of over 50 years that they have not acted wisely. If this internalization is undertaken, emergence of truth as a result thereof could lead to durable peace in the subcontinent, which the people on both sides deserve and so dearly desire.
AN OLD FORMANITE
Lahore
Mocking misery
Two girls, both under the age of 10, were allegedly raped and murdered. Their savaged and dismembered corpses were recovered from the Gadap area dump. Police officers suspected of the crime were incarcerated (are they still in custody or have they been let loose?)
An opposition MPA who represents the area and who has made much noise about the two murders is then himself murdered. He and his driver were shot dead on a public thoroughfare in broad daylight. The assassins as usual escaped. The party in opposition suspects that a militant party in power had a hand in the crime.
The leader of the militant party resides in London. The British have considered him fit to be granted British citizenship. He speaks to his followers from London, issuing telephonic warnings and edicts.
The Lyari and Malir areas are in turmoil. People cannot move around freely without fearing for their lives. And a Dawn headline on March 8, dateline Lahore, has it that "Law, order situation improving".
The government APP wire message underneath tells us that acting president and former governor of Sindh Mohammedmian Soomro informed the press that "we are fully aware of the situation and I must say here that we are making all-out efforts to make the law-enforcement agencies more efficient," and that the government is fully committed to taking those responsible to task.
Rather than making inane and irresponsible statements, the 'high-ups' who are supposed to govern this country should hang their heads in shame. They are the ones responsible for this deplorable lack of law and order and they should know that the buck stops right at the government's feet.
Let them remember Jinnah's words: "... the first duty of a government is to maintain law and order so that the life, property and religious beliefs of its subjects are fully protected by the State."
ARDESHIR COWASJEE
Karachi
BJP and Muslim voters
It appears that Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee is using the peace process between India and Pakistan to woo the Indian Muslim voters for the upcoming elections.
The Bharatiya Janata Party's Hindu hardline image is well on record. The VHP, RSS and Bajrang Dal which are extremist and virulently biased against the Muslims are considered the soul and spirit of the BJP. They want to turn India into a Hindu Rashtra (state) by destroying one of the most important features of its constitution, i.e. secularism.
Once the BJP gets a two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha, it could amend the constitution. The deputy premier, L. K. Advani, is toeing the line of Mr Vajpayee by urging the Muslims to vote for his ruling party. It is time the party changed its mindset.
The BJP rule abounds with communal riots - destruction of the Babri mosque in 1992 and the Gujarat carnage in 2002 where more than 2,000 Muslims were killed, women were abused and houses and shops were burnt.
These acts of violence and terrorism were condemned the world over. Even a cosmopolitan city like Mumbai was targeted and atrocities committed there.
Is the Bharatiya Janata Party sincere in its peace move with Pakistan and settlement of all outstanding disputes, including Kashmir, or is it just trying to buy time till the elections are over?
The Muslims of India should urge the BJP leaders to give a written commitment to the effect that they will not turn India into a Hindu state and will maintain the secular status of the country. India's Supreme Court should also rise to the occasion and, if need be, should declare that the basic structure of the constitution cannot be changed.
The majority of the people in India and Pakistan have pinned great hopes on the current peace process. As to the Kashmiris' right to decide their own destiny, India and Pakistan have to accept it, whatsoever their volition.
SAIFUDDIN E. CONTRACTOR
Karachi
Road-widening setbacks
It is extremely difficult for vehicular traffic to move along major arterial roads in Karachi's city centre because of traffic congestion.
The citizens of Karachi must be informed that we have written to Syed Zaigham Jaffery, the EDO of the Master Plan Group of Offices, about a complex which is proposed to be built on plot 71, N. I. Lines, in the Karachi cantonment, asking him why the city government has not stopped this upcoming project whose plans have been approved by the KCB (Karachi Cantonment Board) without observing the 37-foot road- widening cut-line for Garden Road. The road lies between the CDGK (City District Government Karachi) and the KCB jurisdiction.
The road-widening cut-lines to cater to increased traffic were planned by the KIT (predecessor of the KDA and the CDGK) in the 1950s, when the population of Karachi was less than 1.5 million.
How is it possible not to implement the same when the population of the city has increased 10-fold, especially on a critical intersection where traffic and parking is chaotic?
We have requested Mr Zaigham Jaffery to immediately take up this matter of road-widening setbacks before hundreds of innocent people book shops and flats in the project.
We have also asked him to tackle the KCB on the arbitrary change of zoning carried out by them in the city centre, where 1:6 plot-ratio commercial projects are approved overnight on former residential bungalow plots, without conducting any technical town-planning exercise, and without providing the necessary enhanced utilities, infrastructure and amenities.
We have also asked the Sindh governor and the chief secretary, the city nazim, the DCO, the additional DG, ML&C at Rawalpindi, the director, ML&C at Karachi, and the cantonment executive officer, KCB, to save what little is left of the built environment of this city.
SHEHRI
Karachi
Let cricket win
The India-Pakistan cricket series will begin tomorrow. I urge all Pakistanis to behave in a manner that wins high praise for the country. Let us prove to the world that we can conduct ourselves in civilized way. Let us view a series for what it really is: a cricket series between two extremely gifted teams. Let us support the team that plays well and offer our best wishes for the future to the team that loses.
Cricket after all is just a game. It should be seen that way, with passions and emotions kept to a minimum. I sincerely hope the crowd does not conduct itself in a manner unbecoming of a host nation.
We should extend all hospitality to our guests, the Indian cricket team, and show them so much love and understanding that they go back to their country with nothing but praise for us. This will go a long way in removing misconceptions between the two nations and the politicians of the two countries.
Cricket is a game in which one team has to lose and the other win. We have to understand and realize this, and although we want our cricket team to win, at the end of the day we should reward and support the team that works hard and gives its all. The winners and the losers of each game should be provided with ample support from the public as we must realize that they are trying their best.
Let the glorious game of cricket be the winner at the end of the day.
NABIL HOODBHOY
Karachi
Offering prayers
This is with reference to the article "The case of the folding stool" (Sunday Magazine, February 22). Three cheers for the writer who withstood the (SSM) 'stop the stool movement' intelligently and patiently.
Unfortunately, common Muslims have conventional knowledge about religious affairs, which is either based on hearsay or on the exposition of semi-literate preachers.
Islam does not confine acquisition of religious knowledge to any particular group or class. Every Muslim has to acquire knowledge and has the privilege of direct access to the sources of religious knowledge.
The sick, the disabled, the infirm or the physically retarded can undoubtedly use a stool, a chair or a bed, under medical advice, to offer prayers, as far as possible in the original and symbolic form.
The philosophy of Namaz is to maintain spiritual contact with the Creator and Sustainer in the form preached and practised by the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him). Its rules provide exceptions and concessions in prescribed form and means to cope with all eventualities and compelling situation, so that this fundamental spiritual connection is regularly maintained.
Some of the instances are: combining and shortening of prayers by travellers; advancing prayers on rainy/ stormy days, offering delayed (Qaza) prayers; exemption of women, sick and travellers from Juma prayers; concession of dry ablution or Tayammum in place of ordinary ablution in particular conditions.
In a particular state of health or situation, prayers can be offered by using alternative means and with symbolic actions and gestures. Every Muslim must at least have working knowledge of a religion.
Some of the concessions and conveniences provided by the Shariah have been amply dealt with in a booklet entitled "Ehkam-i-Nimaz mein Sahulatein aur Reaayatein".
In Islam, it is one's real intention which evaluates one's acts. God does not put man in trouble or unusual pain to perform rituals. As a perfect law commensurate with human nature, Islam provides due exceptions, concessions and alternative means. Our religious scholars should join their heads in proper ijtehad to find out solutions to present-day problems and contingencies.
KHAWAJA MUHAMMAD BASHIR BUTT
Bahawalnagar
Former pilot's case
During the last six years. I have spent a great deal of my time trying to rectify an injustice done to an ex-PAF pilot, Mohammad Akram Awan.
After being arrested on a charge of spying in 1988, he was tried and sentenced to 14 years' rigorous imprisonment by a field general court martial in 1991.
Mr Awan has maintained his innocence all along, claiming that he was framed. After 15 years in prison, he is still positive in his outlook and longs for a chance to vindicate himself.
At the request of the Rt Hon Charles Clarke, (member of parliament for Norwich South), the British high commission in Islamabad has been monitoring this case and recently briefed the parliamentarians' commission for human rights in Pakistan. The members of this commission then visited Mr Awan in Adiala Jail and promised to look into his case.
I hope the legitimate concern now being shown by Pakistani politicians will translate into prompt action by the military authorities and that they will put an end to this unjust incarceration.
May I ask the military authorities to investigate this matter, particularly by giving a fair hearing to Mr Awan's appeal No. 11596, dated August, 6, 2000, made under Section 132 of the Pakistan Army Act, which can authorize annulment of unjust decisions of courts-martial?
DR D. J. R. MASSY
Amnesty International, Caseworker for M. Akram Awan, Norwich, Norfolk, UK
Hockey team's performance
With brilliant support from Rehan Butt, Sohail Abbas helped the Pakistan hockey team win a match (5-3) against India in the Olympics qualifying round played recently. Abbas rolled the ball into the net four times off four penalty corners, scoring another hat trick in his career. That's efficiency.
All through the game, the team never lost the head. That's being calm. As against the Indian squad which showed a sense of urgency to at least equalize the ratio, the Pakistan team kept their nerve and looked confident. That's being relaxed.
It was a rare sight to see such improvement in penalty corner conversions, pass connections and solo efforts. The Indians, evidently missing Dhanraj Pillay, still played well, but the Pakistanis were a little too good for them.
With the same spirit and performance, Pakistan can be on the top again.
S. M. KAZIM NAQVI
Karachi
Mosquito attack
The fast growth of mosquitoes these days due to stagnant water and open drains all over Karachi has made life very difficult in the city.
In the past, such drains were treated with a cheap chemical called "malarial oil" which was light diesel oil of a particular kind, tested and approved for its acceptable surface tension and for spraying over stagnant water/drains, so that the oil film formed on the stagnant water could prevent the mosquito larva from getting oxygen and breeding.
This was once the responsibility of the now defunct Karachi Municipal Corporation which would purchase malarial oil and use it for treating the city's drains.
The authorities concerned should take suitable remedial action in this regard.
NISAR AHMED KHAN
Karachi
Be careful with words
These days I am busy attesting admission forms and documents of the students of an educational institution as its head. I am much disappointed to see admission forms in which there is a question: "Do you belong to the backward areas of Sindh?"
Couldn't we have said 'rural areas' instead? To ensure that self-esteem of a child is not hurt, it is important that we should be careful with our words. Many students shied away from answering that question, and one or two got confused and asked me what it meant and which areas were referred to.
The role of educational institutions is to equip our children with confidence and skills that are essential for success.
SAMEENA ZAHEER
Karachi
Misplaced priority
It is shocking to learn that Ecnec has approved construction of a monument in Islamabad at a cost of Rs427.698 million. This is the type of top economists we have in our country, who have no consideration for the basic needs of about 40 per cent of the Pakistanis living below the poverty line. Like Pharaohs they consider monuments or such luxurious projects in Islamabad essential to be built with the blood and tears of the poor.
It is our misfortune that the president and the prime minister have given a free hand to the two pro-IMF representatives to manage our financial resources and economy as they wish, and our elected parliamentarians are either incompetent or not interested in using their brains in financial and economic management. I wonder if anyone at the helm of affairs is worried about such wastage of tax money in a debt-ridden poor country like ours.
SHAKEEL AKHTAR
Rawalpindi
Water shortage
This refers to Mr Khaled Amir's letter (March 6) in which he has raised the question: why does the KWSB pump over seven million gallons of water daily to different hydrants in the city for which it does not charge any money?
Mr Amir is advised to hold back his demand that all hydrants' owners should be charged for the water they get from the Karachi Water and Supply Board. If water charges are imposed on the hydrants' owners, they will proportionally increase the water rates to maintain their profit margins.
I am a resident of Block H of Defence View, Phase II. We have not received water from the KWSB for a long time. Will the KWSB ensure water for us?
AHSAN-UL-HAQ BUTT
Karachi
Maulana Kausar Niazi
The dead deserve respect because they are not around to defend themselves. I am sad to see my good friend Ayaz Amir refer to the late Maulana Kausar Niazi as "Maulana Whisky" (February 29), though he attributes the derogatory name to the Maulana's "detractors". I can state with authority on the basis of personal knowledge that Maulana Kausar Niazi never even touched a drop of the stuff that keeps some of us going.
KHALID HASAN
Washington, USA
Ghosts at work?
My son travelled by PK209 for Dubai on March 7. On arrival in Dubai, his camera was missing and his shaving kitbag had been fiddled with as the zip was open. All this happened without the suitcase in which the camera was kept being opened at either destination. No visible tampering of the lock of the suitcase was evident. Isn't it mind boggling? Ghost at work?
MEHBOOBULLAH
Lahore
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