| 20 March 2004 | Saturday | 28 Muharram 1425 |
Unnecessary criticism
The death of two little girls
Posting of trade ministers
PTV and cricket matches
Waziristan on fire, again
Villagers seeking assistance
Healing Gujarat's wounds
Degree for animal husbandry
Yousaf Youhana
Survival of the fittest
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The presentation and responses by President Musharraf at the India Today conclave aired on March 13 constituted a signal service to the promotion of the peace process underway.
While he utilized much of the time given in reiterating clearly and at length the immense dividends available from the peace process for India and Pakistan, he was also provided with an excellent opportunity by some of his interlocutors in the distinguished audience to disabuse the Indian public mind of any misconceived illusions about the basis on which the peace process was set in motion.
While repeatedly reaffirming Pakistan's support for the Pakistan-Indian declaration of January 6, which he accurately described as the basis of Indo -Pakistan detente, the president forthrightly informed a former (Indian) foreign secretary and a couple of others who sought to trivialize the Kashmir issue that if there was no movement towards a solution of the Kashmir dispute, everything would slide back to square one.
He made it clear that there would have to be a linkage/simultaneity between CBMs and a composite dialogue and that the CBMs could not outrun a composite dialogue on Kashmir and other substantive questions.
The president's aforementioned statement was most timely in view of the prevailing impression in large segment in India that Pakistan had called it a day on the issue of the right of self-determination for the Kashmiris and that while the negotiations on Kashmir as part of the composite dialogue could be stretched out indefinitely as a sop to Pakistani susceptibilities, the rapid change in ground realities, resulting from the numerous CBMs and exchanges in many fields, would effectively consign the Kashmir issue to the dustbin of history.
Although the president had earlier also stressed the need for a linkage between the CBMs and negotiations on Kashmir and other substantive issues, it was apprehended in many Pakistani quarters that the desired linkage would be overtaken by the disparity between the rapid pace of developments in other fields on the one hand, and the (apprehended) foot dragging by India with regard to a Kashmir settlement, on the other. The president's emphasis on a linkage between forward movement on CBMs and progress on Kashmir was, therefore, timely and called for.
While both parties had made adjustments in their postures, a significant shift was made by Pakistan. It relaxed its earlier tight linkage between initiation of the CBMs and progress on Kashmir by allowing the CBMs to get off the ground on the understanding that timely steps would be taken for a just settlement of the Kashmir issue.
Pakistan also declared a unilateral cease-fire on the LOC, without tying this to "the mutual lessening of violence in the Indian held Kashmir" which Pakistan had earlier proposed. The president also offered to "set aside" the traditional insistence on the UN resolutions if reciprocity was forthcoming from India, keeping in view Kashmiri aspirations.
The clarity with which President Musharraf has dispelled any misconceptions in the Indian public mind about the basis of the detente should in fact serve to strengthen Prime Minister Vajpayee's hands in moving ahead with the composite dialogue.
Lasting peace can be based only on an honourable and just settlement which will ensure uninterrupted priority to economic and social development, the overriding concern of the peoples of India and Pakistan.
MAHDI MASUD
Karachi
Unnecessary criticism
Recently, a local TV channel telecast a panel interview about the current state of cricketing affairs in Pakistan. The emphasis of the participants was on the selection committee and the manner it works in different circumstances.
With the exception of one participant, Munir Hussain, the editor and publisher of a Urdu cricket magazine, the knowledge of the rest of the participants was quite impressive and they offered balanced views on the cricketing matters of Pakistan.
But Mr Hussain was far below the mark and bitterly criticized Sultan Rana who has been recently appointed as a member of the selection committee. Mr Hussain was of the view that Mr Rana should not have been appointed a member of the selection committee because he had never played Test cricket for Pakistan. This observation made by a seasoned journalist leads one to believe that Mr Hussain is not aware about what is happening all around the cricketing world?
As a matter of fact, there are so many selectors in different cricket boards, but they have never been Test cricketers at all. For instance, in Pakistan there have been non-Test playing selectors like Dr Zafar Altaf, Hasan Jamil, Masood Iqbal (late) and Yawar Saeed.
So is the case with other cricket-playing countries. For example, David Gravenay, the chief selector of England, and Graham Halbish of Australia never played Test cricket for their respective countries.
In fact, it is not necessary that a good Test player would also make a good selector. In order to be a good selector, what is important is that he should have an in-depth and vast knowledge about the game. Sultan Rana has a vast experience of national and international cricket. He has played nearly 200 first class matches.
In addition to that, he toured Sri Lanka with Pakistan A and played a number of times against visiting foreign teams. At present, he manages Pakistan junior teams at home and away tournaments. Of late, he was the manager of the Pakistan cricket team which won the under-19 World Cup at Dhaka. So, there's no harm in appointing a person as selector who has such a vast and rich experience of cricket.
RAFAT MAHMOOD ANSARI
Islamabad
The death of two little girls
Ms Zubeida Mustafa has rightly depicted in her article "The death of two little girls" (March 17) the pathetic state of affairs in the country and the indifference of its people to such serious issues as the gory murder of two minor girls in Malir, Karachi.
Such indifference reflects the moral decay and intellectual corruption of our society that, if not immediately checked, will ultimately lead to its destruction.
The mutilated bodies of Hajra (8) and Sassi (5) found in the premises of a veterinary hospital speak volumes of the murderers' barbaric mindsets. One was shot and the other was killed with a deadly blow. Just reading about the incident made one shiver with fear and anger.
Whoever has committed this crime must be dealt with severely, be they the suspected police officials. They should be given an exemplary punishment so that no one ever dared to commit such a crime.
Ms Mustafa is so right when she says: "Today respect for human life and liberty depends on the social status and political standing of the person whose life and liberty are at stake. If he is a nobody and has no social or political influence, he will find himself isolated with no one to stand up for him. He would depart unwept and unsung."
She argues that such injustice by the state against poorer sections of society and outright discrimination between the influential and the downtrodden will lead to protests and chaos. I am not sure if this will take place "very soon".
What is, however, clear is that the apathetic attitude of people towards problems, the failure of political parties and their leaders and widespread corruption from top to bottom will continue to stoke up the desperation and hatred in the hearts of the underprivileged. Only time will tell how long it will take this desperation to explode and engulf the whole society.
KHURRAM MUSTIKHAN
Karachi
Posting of trade ministers
The government has recently announced the names of 18 officers for posting as commercial counsellors and trade ministers abroad. As an exporter I feel that it is very important that the best officers of the relevant departments of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) should be posted to these important places.
I want to share two of my experiences abroad where the performance of our embassies was poor. In October, the EPB sent a delegation to Moscow where, among many fiascoes, the worst was that the embassy had arranged a meeting between a top exporter of sportswear with a tractor tire manufacturer.
Then at Hiemtex in January 2004, we were sitting without packing materials on the last day of an exhibition, when the halls were emptied and closed down because the commercial counsellor had forgotten to send us boxes and tapes. I had to ask a German couple to help me and they were kind enough to give me some of their cartons and tapes.
The people at our embassies are supposed to help us, not make us a laughing stock. In a tough competition that will come next year after the quotas finish, those selected for trade jobs in the embassies will not be able to cope at all, because they don't know exporters in Pakistan.
They are all from customs, interior and DMG departments and not to mention the Lyari Project. Why have these people been selected and what are their qualifications? Is there in the country no transparent process of selection of officers to these important positions abroad?
As a taxpayer I would like to know at what level the decisions were taken and who will be responsible when there are mistakes and failures.
IMRAN MAQSOOD
Lahore
PTV and cricket matches
It is very disappointing to watch PTV's coverage of the India-Pakistan cricket matches. Advertisements were shown in an uncontrolled way. Around 30 per cent of the TV screen is littered with advertisements all the time. Most of these advertisement are animated and they pop up every so often.
Some of them flash several times before dying out, disturbing and distressing the viewer. While the live commentary is going on, in the backdrop jingles are played frequently with to advertise a product. When a wicked falls, the advertising frenzy increases.
This is enough to turn a PTV viewer into a rebel. In the end, only those powerless people like myself resignedly continue to watch PTV as they do not have any other option.
Perhaps people at the helm have no understanding as to how to strike a balance between advertisements and live events. They wish to continue to run PTV like other government bureaucratic organization in which the customer is browbeaten and bullied and disrespected.
MEHMOOD AZIZ NAVIWALA
Karachi
Waziristan on fire, again
I read with great anxiety the article by Mr Roedad Khan under the headline "Waziristan on fire, again" (March 15).
While appreciating the contributions of the tribal people and their elders towards guarding a long and mountainous frontier with Afghanistan, the writer has rightly said that after the British had left the subcontinent, Pakistan had reason to be glad that "it had inherited a secure North West Frontier".
The founder of Pakistan, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, consequently decided to reverse the British policy, withdrew regular troops from Waziristan and entered into fresh agreements with the tribes.
In this context, the speech of the Quaid-i-Azam delivered on April 17, 1948, on the occasion of an All Tribes Jirga at Peshawar may be recalled, the relevant and significant portions of which were: "Keeping in view your loyalty, help, assurances and declarations, we ordered, as you know, the withdrawal of troops from Waziristan as a concrete and definite gesture on our part that we treat you as our Muslim brethren across the border.
"We want to put you on your legs as self-respecting citizens who have the opportunities of fully developing and producing what is best in you and your land. You know that the Frontier Province is a deficit province but that does not trouble us so much.
Pakistan will not hesitate to go out of its way to give every possible help, financial and otherwise to build up the economic and social life of our tribal brethren across the border."
All successive governments of Pakistan, both civilian and military have, however, failed, as well as neglected, to fulfil the Quaid's promise. On the contrary, when called upon by General Zia's military government, the tribesmen and thousands of people from other Muslim countries, at the behest of the US, offered themselves for waging "jihad" against the Soviet Union and its occupation of Afghanistan in 1979.
Thus, those mujahideen became part and parcel of the US-led jihad against the Soviet Union. They subsequently came to be known with their organizational names of Al Qaeda, Taliban and the like.
The mujahideen were, in fact, the creation of the American administration and had the full backing of the Pakistan government. They were, however, deliberately abandoned after the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Although the US war on terror has strengthened the position of the government here, it has brought death and destruction the world over, including in Afghanistan, Iraq and Spain.
The military operations in South Waziristan at the behest of the American government against the remnants of Al Qaeda and the Taliban is in the same context, but the presence of such elements is disputed by tribal chiefs and MNAs and senators representing Fata. They have accused the security forces of excesses.
In the last few days, the casualty figure has reportedly risen to over 50 on both sides. If the confrontation between the paramilitary troops and the suspected foreign militants and tribesmen continues, things may further deteriorate, making room for American forces to intervene.
It is time General Musharraf's administration, which has alienated powerful tribes in Waziristan and has unsettled Pakistan's western border (which had remained peaceful for 57 years since the birth of Pakistan), as rightly stated by Mr Roedad Khan, took a break at least "in the national interest" and on the basis of "ground reality".
The policy statement of the present Spanish government on the war on terror and the intervention in Iraq by the Bush administration may also be advantageously considered.
SYED IQBAL AHMAD
Karachi
Villagers seeking assistance
We introduced the Punjab Rural Support Programme (PRSP) in our village Dephi Mehtah Sing, Gujranwala, and founded rural organizations with elected presidents and managers to run them.
This PRSP called itself a welfare organization and its workers informed us that the programme was meant to eradicate poverty and promote economic development.
The number of the members of every rural organization was between 10 and 15. They obtained loans ranging from Rs10,000 to Rs15,000 from the PRSP.
In the beginning, the attitude of PRSP workers was normal. But when members could not pay back the debts in time, their attitude towards them started becoming rude. PRSP staff began to misbehave with the members and I was also insulted by them.
Now they come to the village every 15 days and abuse the members publicly. Because of the delay in repayment of the debts, they demand interest on the credit.
The people are poor and they cannot do anything against them. Some have even been taken to private lock-ups to exert pressure on them. One Sanaullah who was their debtor lived near village Nadalah Pekha. The PRSP allegedly harassed him daily as a result of which he died.
Some members have paid the total or a part of their loans. But some are helpless and destitute. They are dying of hunger because of this problem. I request the authorities to write off the loans to enable them to lead respectable lives and rescue them from the PRSP.
SARFRAZ AHMAD
Gujranwala
Healing Gujarat's wounds
This is with reference to Mr Ajay Kamalkaran's letter "Healing Gujarat's wounds" (March 13). I appreciate his analysis and concern over the Hindu-Muslim divide on communal lines in Gujarat, a handiwork of its sitting government which is obviously detrimental to both the communities.
However, I would like to correct his version about the fact that Sultan Mahmud of Ghazna was not an Arab but of Turkic origin. He also did not raid Somnath on numerous occasions as stated. His expedition of the year 1020 was the first and the last.
ALTAMASH MANZOOR H. KURESHI
Karachi
Degree for animal husbandry
It is learnt that recently the degree programme of BSc (Hons.) Animal Husbandry run by University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, has been wound up by the government.
This has apparently been done at the behest of the vice-chancellor of the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, under a misconceived plan of enhancing the four-year course of DVM (doctor of veterinary medicines) by one year to include some animal husbandry courses to name it as DVM composite degree.
The BSc. (Hons) A.H. degree was instituted decades ago after a well-thought-out scheme of the founding fathers of the agriculture university headed by an eminent veterinarian, the late Dr. Z.A. Hashmi, who saw the dire need of developing animal production aspects of livestock.
Unfortunately, later on vested interests of veterinary graduates who wanted all the jobs in the field of livestock production to be reserved for their cadre tried to snuff out the animal husbandry degree course.
This was short-sighted and not in the interest of the livestock profession as animal health and husbandry were distinct from each other and ought to have developed in their own right according to global trends.
Even now, most of DVM students earn their post-graduate degrees in animal husbandry faculties, and it is ironic that the animal husbandry faculties should be robbed of their basic graduate degree of BSc (Hons.). This needs serious reconsideration by the Punjab governor to allow balanced development of animal health and production fields of livestock.
DR M. YAQOOB BHATTI
Lahore
Yousaf Youhana
Mr M.J. Akbar in his article "A vote for peace at the stadium" (March 16) described Yousaf Youhana as a wicket-keeper-batsman. Yousaf Youhana is a batsman and not a wicket-keeper-batsman.
DR ZAINAB RIZVI
Lahore
Survival of the fittest
Our government is constantly reducing the profit rate on national savings schemes. In the prevailing situation, what a poor retired person can say except:
Abb hawaen hee karengi zindagi ka faisla
Jiss deay mein jaan hogi woh dea rehjaey ga.
KARRAR HUSSAIN NAQVI
Islamabad
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