Checking nuclear proliferation

During his fifth visit to Pakistan recently in the past two and a half years, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw welcomed the steps taken by General Musharraf to check nuclear proliferation activities in Pakistan. "Everyone has an interest in ensuring that there is complete security of nuclear facilities, plans, technology and intellectual property."

Answering a question about anti-proliferation activities directed against Muslim states, Mr Straw said the campaign was not directed against the Muslim countries. "Very few Muslim countries have anything to do with the distribution and proliferation of any kind of WMD."

Ever since the dropping of nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the United States in 1945, nations have been breaking into the nuclear club and then trying to shut the door behind them.

Now the nuclear club comprises Russia, Britain, France, China, India, Pakistan and Israel. Sometimes non-proliferation efforts worked, as with South Africa, Argentina, and most recently Libya which has volunteered to scrap its nuclear programme.

Nations that didn't sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) were labelled "rogue regimes". But they were at least governments that one could negotiate with and reward or punish with sanctions to induce them to abandon nuclear ambitions.

But now, as CIA Director George Tenet's recent testimony indicated, we are faced with a new era - the era of a nuclear bazaar where bombs, or components of bombs, can be acquired by terrorists and all sorts of mischief-makers. Daniel Schorr, a senior news analyst at National Public Radio, refers to them as "stateless rogues".

US Secretary of Sate Colin Powell says the break-up of the network that sold nuclear secrets to Libya, Iran and North Korea is a major achievement even if Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, who has been pardoned by President Musharraf, never faces any other charges or punishment.

In a talk with reporters en route from a visit to Islamabad in Kuwait, Mr Powell rejected the notion that the Bush administration had adopted a lenient approach to the proliferation scandal in order to retain Pakistan's support in the war on terrorism and other issues.

The United States has asked India to play the role of a "regional policeman" and stop the proliferation of nuclear material and sensitive defence equipment to "rogue states".

Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha has confirmed that both countries will begin official-level discussions on how the Indian air force and the navy can help the US and its allies stop and search "suspected ships" in the Indian Ocean.

President Bush's Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) aims at the danger of nukes falling into wrong hands. So far, 11 nations - the Untied Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, Australia, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Italy, Poland and the Untied States - have joined the PSI.

Devoid of any UN control, the PSI is now promoting an aggressive non-proliferation policy unveiled by Washington last month. And for good reasons too as "proliferation begets proliferation".

PROFESSOR (DR) P. NASIR

Gujrat

'Deccan chronicle'

This is with reference to Mr Ayaz Amir's column "Deccan chronicle" (March 19) where he has mentioned that Saqoot-i-Hyderabad brought an abrupt end to the four centuries of uninterrupted rule of Muslims in Deccan. I have tried to analyze the period of Muslim rule as under:

The name Deccan is derived from the Sanskrit word Duxun signifying south. It was originally applied to the country lying south of rivers Nerbuda and Mahanudee.

Muslims first entered Deccan in 1294 when Sultan Alauddin Khilji, ruler of Delhi, attacked the fabulous city of Deogiri, now Daulatabad, the capital of the most powerful kingdom of Ramdeo. But the raja was allowed to retain his throne in lieu of tribute.

After the raja's death, the Sultan, on some pretext, sent forces in 1305 under the command of Malik Kafur, a slave, who not only subdued Deogiri but also the Wurangal capital of Telingana.

The conquest of other parts of Deccan continued even during the period of the Tughlaq dynasty. Sultan Muhammad Tughlaq (Juna Khan) in order to hold Deccan under his effective control shifted his capital from Delhi to Daulatabad, the name he gave to Deogiri.

In 1347, four years before the death of Muhammad Tughlaq, Hassan Ganga, an officer of high station in the Sultan's army, headed a successful revolt against his liege lord and established the first Muslim kingdom known as the Bahmanee dynasty. He set up his capital at Gulburga, now known as Hyderabad. The rule of this dynasty extended through 171 years.

In 1512, with the extinction of Bahmanees, sprang the five separate Muslim governments in Deccan: Bijapur, Ahmednagar, Bedar, Berar and Golkanda. But the Mughals after having acquired ascendancy in the north started intruding into the south. Annexation of these once prosperous and powerful Muslim states was finally completed in the last days of Aurangzeb.

After the decline of the central authority of Delhi, the governors of states such as Hyderabad became independent, having nominal allegiance to their liege lord. These states continued to enjoy autonomy during the British period (both Company and Crown periods).

After independence, the Deccan was forcibly annexed with India in 1948. So, Muslim rule in the Deccan virtually lasted almost six-and-a-half centuries uninterrupted (through the beginning of the 14th century to the middle of the 20th century).

MANZOOR H. KURESHI

Karachi

Sheikh Yassin's assassination

Ariel Sharon did what was feared he might do and got Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin assassinated. This was a horrendous crime. There was no condemnation from the US State Department and its spokesman clearly supported the Israeli action by calling Hamas a terrorist organization.

Regrettably, Israel continues to flout international law and conventions by brutalizing the Palestinian people who are treated like prisoners in their own land. The Israeli government continues to behave the way it does because it has unconditional support of the US.

Although the US and Israelis share the view that, by removing the leader of an organization, they will be able to wipe out the entire resistance movement in the occupied Arab lands, they are sadly mistaken.

They know this fact but do not have the moral courage to accept that publicly due to political reasons. In the world today, the real source of all troubles is the strong sense of injustice and a feeling of alienation prevalent among Muslim nations in general and in all occupied Muslim lands in particular, such as Palestine, Kashmir, Afghanistan Iraq and Chechnya.

Branding (by the US) all the liberation movements around the world as terrorism is ridiculous. It reflects the typical selfish American thinking as it suites them (the Americans) for their own domestic political compulsions for the moment.

The Palestinian-Israeli conflict is just one example where standards of justice are being thrown out of the window by the US. There are so many more examples around the world where Muslims populations are suffering at the hands of occupation forces.

These regions are the breeding grounds for recruiting volunteers for the resistance movement. The US knows continues removing the effect rather than the root cause. The sooner the US understands the difference, the better.

The killing of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin may be perceived by the Israelis and the Americans to be the end of the resistance movement, but it probably is only the end of the beginning.

SAEED WAZEER BUTT

Lahore

US democratization plan

This is apropos of the letter (March 9) by Mr Khurram Haneef regarding my earlier letter "US democratization plan" (February 26). He has criticized me for "degrading" American democratic institutions and the country's human rights' record.

I would like to make it clear that I never meant to degrade American democratic institutions and firmly believe that these institutions are working for the welfare of US citizens. My assertion that "every 50 minutes one American child dies of hunger and more young black Americans are in jails than in universities" was not a commentary on the state of democracy in the United States.

American human rights' record can only be good as far as its own citizens are concerned. But its human rights' record abroad is an altogether different issue. Is not history a witness to the fact that as many as 40 million people of western African were killed by them in captivity (Dawn, August 21, 2000).

We should be happy that both of us agree to the core issue when I said that democracy would be a blessing for the Arabs and when he wrote that the US was introducing it in a bad manner.

Z. A. KAZMI

Karachi

Rising cost of living

Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz recently spoke on TV on prosperity in Pakistan in a language which I just could not understand.

He spoke of things like the GDP and the per capita income rising to $600. The next morning, a meat seller spoke to me in a language which I understood loud and clear.

He said meat prices were up by Rs40 a kilo. The milkman who sells diluted milk spoke of a price rise and the bus conductor charged me more as I stood on the footboard. Even the bun kabab that I eat for lunch from a vendor was priced higher by three rupees because of an increase in the prices of flour and meat.

I have been out of a job for almost eight months and when I return home exhausted after a day of job search, I am very disappointed. Will someone explain to me the lingo of the finance minister in the backdrop of reports that speak of "48.5 per cent people of Sindh" and "one-thirds people of Pakistan" living below the poverty line?

ZAIN NOORI

Karachi

Doctor's death: blood screening

This is with reference to your editorial "Doctor's death" (March 20). Dr Sarwar Jehan Zuberi was an eminent scientist of this country. She kept raising scientific questions all her professional life to improve understanding of diseases and quality of services in the country. About 200 scientific publications in the country and abroad are proof of her scientific endeavour and zeal.

Unfortunately, her death from malaria through possible contaminated blood has again raised the question about the safety of blood, particularly in the context of malaria, the most endemic but neglected disease in the country.

For lack of complete information, it is hard to comment on the quality of services she received and their role leading to her death. Being a blood bank officer, I am always anxious about how to ensure the safety of blood as regards malaria.

Our safe blood bill demands 100 per cent screening of blood for malaria before every transfusion. Therefore, there is no excuse if anyone is not adhering to this practice.

The question is: how can the routine procedure of screening guarantee the safety of blood? In routine a blood film is screened in order to visually observe whether malarial parasites are present or not. This procedure, even in the best centre with well-experienced technicians, has a poor ability to detect contaminating parasites.

Some studies suggest it may miss as high as 40 per cent of malaria-contaminated blood. To have a positive test result, the donor must have at least one parasite in one micro drop of blood.

It is quite probable that a donor may have more than half a million parasites in his/her blood but may not have a sufficient number of them to be detected in a blood film.

Some other alternate approaches to screen blood like serological test have also been introduced in the country, but so far none has proved superiority over the routine method.

Literature does suggest availability of some improved tests in the world, but so far they have not been marketed in the country, perhaps because of a very cost-conscious market. Dr Sarwar Zuberi, as in her life, in her death can teach us the following lessons:

First, never take anything for granted and always follow the laid-down procedures in medical practices to ensure safety and health of the patient. Second, blood transfusion is a dangerous medication and should be considered when all other risks have been calculated and benefits of transfusion overweigh any calculated risks.

Third, a voluntary donor-based blood transfusion can only reduce the risk of blood-transmitted infection. Fourth, unless diseases are controlled in the community, they could not be checked effectively in the blood transfusion services. We need to work more efficiently and effectively to curb the spread of malaria, syphilis, hepatitis B, C and HIV/AIDS in the country.

Fifth, infectious disease consultants should explore the possibility of recommending the prophylactic use of anti-malarial drugs following transfusion of blood in the wake of endemicity and limitation in the available test.

DR SYED ABDUL MUJEEB

Blood Bank, JPMC, Karachi

Journal

I want to bring it to the notice of the Sindh Textbook Board authorities that the practical journal of chemistry for class XI has been out of stock for the last few months throughout the province. We, the students of first year, have tried our best to find out the journal in different markets but in vain.

I request the authorities to ensure prompt availability of the journal in the market to enable the students to get through the practicals smoothly.

AGHA SALAMULLAH KHAN

Ghotki

Water crisis in Sindh

This is with reference to the news report "Low water flow at Sukkur Barrage" (March 20).

I am shocked to read that the Punjab irrigation department have violated the directions of the Indus River System Authority and reopened the Chashma Link Canal within seven days of its closure. This deprived Sindh of its due share and forced it to start a rotation system in canals to meet the challenge of the acute shortage of water.

If we are unable to implement the decision of a high-powered body like Irsa (represented by all provinces and the federal government as well) to get even due share of water, who will guarantee its future fair apportionment if mega projects such as Kalabagh dam and Greater Thal Canal are commissioned? This is a moot point.

IMTIAZ ALI SOLANGI

Karachi

Unhygienic wrappers

The most consumed items - bread (tandoori roti), burger (bun kabab) and betel-leaf (pan) - are being sold in wrappings made from old newspapers or pages of directories.

The items become highly unhygienic after coming into contact with the surface of a piece of paper which does not contain food-grade ink and is not acid- or chemical-free.

The relevant authorities are requested to take appropriate measures to prevent this highly dangerous practice.

M. AZHAR SHEIKH

Karachi

Need for a ferry service

I support your suggestion to open consular offices in Karachi and Mumbai (March 12), which must be considered on a priority basis.

While reopening of the Khokhrapar-Munabao border appears to be a time-consuming process, resumption of a ferry service between Karachi and Mumbai will not need any repair works.

With consular offices in Karachi and Mumbai, the sea link will ease the hardship of the divided families of both countries, particularly those who cannot afford the Wagah-Amritsar route.

S. UNWAN HASAN

Karachi

Cricket

If politics between India and Pakistan can be 'cricketized' for achieving harmony, why not give this phenomenon a try in local politics?

MIR TABASSUM MAIRAJ

Islamabad

Treatment of an officer

Some time back, when an armyman allegedly manhandled a grade 4 police constable in Lahore, it kicked up a storm of protest against the khaki. Only a fortnight ago, a grade 19 DMG officer, executive district officer (revenue), Attock, Asad Aslam Mahini, who was on an official assignment to conduct an inquiry into corruption charges against the Attock police, was manhandled but the event has surprisingly not yet drawn any reaction from any quarters.

Mr Mahini was beaten up, handcuffed, chained and later put behind bars by the SHO of Attock. The officer was meted out this rough treatment while he was on duty to break a smuggling network and end the culture of receiving extortions by the Attock police and the excise staff at the checkpost between the NWFP and Punjab.

Shockingly, this incident followed an earlier incident in which the Attock police checkpost staff had beaten up an inquisitive MMA minister, it was revealed in the NWFP Assembly.

SAYED G. B. SHAH BOKHARI

Peshawar

Working of EPA

A report recently said that a public hearing by the Sindh Environment Protection Agency was abruptly cancelled. Another report spoke of the concern expressed by an IUCN-sponsored seminar about the ineffective working of the Sindh EPA.

The reason for this state of affair is the posting of non-technical officers in the EPA - both the director-general and the director are non-technical persons. How can non-technical officers guide the functions of a technical agency?

For the first time in the history of Sindh, its chief secretary, Dr Mutawakil Kazi, is a technical person. He has a PhD in applied economics. It is hoped that he will take stock of the situation and replace the non-technical persons in the Sindh EPA with technical ones.

MOHAMMAD ARIF

Karachi

Ufone service

I have been using the Ufone mobile service, with number 0333-2217947, for two years. I first opened my account in my father's name. Three months ago I reactivated the VMS (voice messaging service) but since the beginning it has not been working properly.

I have already made two complaints at Ufone's official website (complaint numbers 2858 and 2833), and recorded several complaints with the Ufone "Helpline" representative, but in vain.

The authorities concerned are requested to attend to my complaint.

IMRAN SIAL

Karachi