| 02 April 2004 | Friday | 11 Safar 1425 |
Lawmakers and gender discrimination
Outsourcing under attack
Auto industry
Reuse of mineral water bottles
Remembering Abdullah Murad
Eliminating sectarianism
Moral turpitude
Non-Nato ally status
'Doctor's death'
An opportunity for Ijazul Haq
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It was very interesting to read the views of Mr Siddique Malik from the US on March 14 in response to the letters earlier printed in these columns concerning the recent bomb blasts in Iraq. Mr Malik says: "To make accusations against the US government is one thing but to accuse the American people of insensitivity towards the loss of innocent lives contravenes all norms of fairness."
Absolutely no one can accuse an entire nation of an act of inhumanity committed by a few men in power. This is totally unjustified. We have seen on a number of occasions demonstrations by American people against their government decisions.
However, when Mr Siddiqui speaks of "respect for life entrenched in America's psyche", people living in countries under the US's feet have reservations. About two-thirds of the Americans approved of Bush's job performance at the time the US went to war in Iraq.
In the UN, the US does not ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The UN, as a result of defying the UN human rights agreement, removed the US from the Human Rights Commission. The present American administration is one that:
- Shot down a Chinese plane in China's sky with its spy plane.
- Bombed Afghanistan (and has so far not been able to find Osama bin Laden).
- Waged a war against Iraq in which 10,000 civilians are believed to have died so far, and none of the alleged WMDs have been found.
- Constantly threatens Syria and Iran, preparing the world for its next targets/victims.
- Continues its support for Israel, helping the Israeli army against innocent Palestinian civilians. And this is just a short, incomplete list.
I do not have any proof to say that the US was behind the bombings in the holy cities of Karbala and Kadhemiyeh on Ashura day. But how can anyone deny that once the US has occupied Iraq - and today its armed soldiers are wandering freely on Iraqi streets - they don't have the responsibility of making sure that Iraqi people are safe and protected? If the US had no idea of how it was going to control the situation in post-war Iraq, why did it attack the country in the first place? Why, if they did not have any plan sketched for controlling the country, did they try to take over Iraq if it wasn't for oil and rooting themselves well in the Middle East?
Ever since the US has occupied Iraq, there has been a chaotic situation in the already poverty-stricken country. On August 29, 2003, top leader Ayatollah Baqar Al-Hakim was killed with 120 others in Najaf in a bomb blast. Earlier in August there was a suicide attack killing top UN envoy to Iraq Sergio Vieira de Mello. Iraqi leader Abdul Majid Al-Khoei was shot dead on April 11, 2003. It seems a never-ending story of bombings, killings and humiliation of the occupied Iraqi people.
Shouldn't we accept the fact that the US invasion has left Iraq and its even poor people without security, dignity and rights, and nobody is out there to safeguard them? When I was in Iraq last December, as a pilgrim to the holy places, I found a young Iraqi explaining their plight: "With Saddam, it was a constant fear, loss of basic rights, but the country was in order. With the US, it's the same for us, but with chaos reigning everywhere."
SYEDA AASIA BATOOL
Mirpurkhas
Lawmakers and gender discrimination
This refers to the news report "Religious fervour blocking moves against gender discrimination" (March 31). According to the report, religious fervour broke though political alliances in the National Assembly to confront moves for more rights for women and protection from customs such as honour killings.
It is indeed unfortunate that graduate legislators from both the government and the opposition have refused passage of a bill which seeks repeal of discriminatory laws such as the Hudood ordinances against women.
The bill also aims at ensuring women's protection and empowerment. But lawmakers do not wish to enact laws for the protection of women against domestic violence, honour killings and other crimes. It in indeed a pity that even the female legislatures cannot muster enough strength to take steps to protect the rights of women.
While denying an incident of Karo-kari at Mirpur Mathelo in Sindh, parliamentary secretary for interior Sanaullah Khan Mastikhel said that such complaints were inspired by foreign-aided non-governmental organizations and that Pakistan would follow its own traditions.
I wonder what traditions he wishes to follow. Does he want the people of this country to follow the harrowing customs of Karo-kari, beating and abusing women, domestic violence and keeping the womenfolk uneducated?
It is indeed shameful that leaders of the country have the audacity to say that honour killings are not committed in our society. President General Pervez Musharraf envisages Pakistan as a moderate Islamic country, but with clerics and feudal lords dominating the assemblies, it is perhaps wishful thinking.
ANIL KHAN LUNI
Karachi
(2)
This is with reference to the news report "Religious fervour blocking moves against gender discrimination". Parliamentary secretary for interior Sanaullah Khan Mastikhel, during a discussion on the issue of honour killings, is stated to have said: "We have to run our country according to our own traditions rather than American or British traditions." He must be made to clarify his position. Is he trying to imply that honour killings are a justified because they are part of our 'traditions'?
It is sad that we have in the parliamentary opposition people belonging to likes of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, who have denounced equality of rights to women and minorities in the legislatures of our country. Now we have to bear with a parliamentary secretary supporting their views as well.
MUBASHIR KHAN
Indianapolis, IN., USA
Outsourcing under attack
This is in response to the article "Outsourcing under attack" (March 30) by Mr Shahid Javed Burki.
While a lot of jobs are being outsourced to China and India from the United States, those going to India are under attack, not the ones being outsourced to China. This is because jobs going to China are usually blue-collar low-paid jobs, whereas the ones being outsourced to India are mostly white-collar jobs - jobs that have a median income of around $65,000 per annum. The jobs being outsourced to China mostly offer a very low income and do not require much skills.
Our fascination and friendship with China makes us include China in all reports, and we start comparing it with India. I am not belittling China for their achievements, but if you stay in the US, you will soon realize that China gets low-paid manufacturing jobs.
India is getting all high-paid jobs that require good skills, good education and good experience. The highest-paid jobs are those of information technology, followed by accountants, radiologists, law document preparation and the lowest in call centres.
If you go to cities like Bangalore and Hyderabad in India, you will see thousands of such professionals in outsourced jobs taking home very good salaries.
A project manager in an IT company gets more than Rs100,000 per month and a call centre employee without any special skills or education gets around Rs15,000 per month. All these are middle class jobs that have fled the US to India, and it is these jobs the American voter is worried about.
This is also precisely where Pakistan can score. While Pakistan may not be that good in IT, it certainly is not bad for running call centres. Pakistan would certainly do better by following India's lead in these areas. We should not allow emotion get in the way of common sense.
SHAUKAT ALI
Chicago, IL., USA
Auto industry
Pakistan began the assembly of cars back in the 1960s and with over 40 years of experience one would expect that by now we should have been into indigenous production of cars. However, the name of the game has been windfall profits with minimum investment, and on this count nothing has changed.
As usual the burden has been borne by the consumer who has very little say in the matter. In the absence of reliable and comfortable public transport, a private vehicle is an absolute necessity.
It is also a fact that an automobile is the most prized possession after a house. Whereas those who are privileged are not deprived on either count, they are indeed responsible for laying the maximum burden on the proverbial 'common man'.
Some of the official mansions and private homes in our country make Beverly Hills look like low-cost housing in comparison, and the fleet of government owned top-of-the-line Mercedes limos would make a visiting German feel positively deprived.
For the ordinary, the same set of wheels has been slapped with a prohibitive tax package of 250 per cent. An essential component of this racket is our local car manufacturer. To begin with, other than a few low-cost components, the complete car is being imported in CKD condition, modestly taxed, and then put together locally.
Non-adherence to the delineation schedule is a clear testimony to this fact. It may come as no surprise that the so-called vending industry is also owned by the major assembly plants.
One does not expect that the government is going to take to heart the concern of the majority of this benighted nation any time soon, but, for all that its worth, at least the record should be put straight.
JAVED KHAN
Haripur Hazara
Reuse of mineral water bottles
With reference to the various letters appearing in these columns on the above subject, we wish to inform consumers that we have raised this issue, which is a serious threat to the health of consumers, especially schoolchildren, through debates and discussions in the Consumer Watch programme on PTV.
In our meetings with Dr (Prof) Atta-ur-Rahman, federal minister of science and technology, Dr Khaqan Hasan, director-general, PSQCA, and leading bottlers, we have been assured that old bottles are not being used by the bottlers of leading brands of beverages.
However, the danger exists with the bottling and marketing of spurious and counterfeit bottled waters and beverages, which are being filled in old and used bottles, which are not even cleaned properly.
We advise the consumers to protect themselves from counterfeit products, to puncture two holes on the top of all plastic, tin and other containers, including cooking oils and shampoos, so that they cannot be reused to fill spurious products.
CONSUMER PROTECTION COUNCIL
The Helpline Trust, Karachi
Remembering Abdullah Murad
I was busy on the internet when my son came running from upstairs to inform me about the gruesome news of Abdullah Murad's murder. I was shocked. It was unbelievable. The tall handsome Baloch was no more with us.
I thought of the relentless struggle he had waged to reach the position from where he was forced to leave us for the eternal abode. Winning the provincial election was not the hallmark of his life, but obtaining the party ticket was certainly a moment of triumph for him. We all knew that he would win the elections. But his journey from an ordinary citizen to a popular political leader was not easy.
I had known Abdullah since 1994, when we both were made municipal councillors in the advisory council of the KMC. He was a builder and I a banker. With his amiable manners and sharing a lot of zeal for the People's Party, we hit it off immediately.
As we were both newcomers to the PPP, our first and prime aim was to create a place for ourselves within the party. There were hurdles and obstacles everywhere. The local and senior leaders would not give newcomers space to stand. Anyhow we managed to get party tickets for elections to the National Assembly in 1997 at a time when everybody was avoiding a contest.
He contested from district Malir and I contested from district East. We both lost, but Abdullah managed to score better than me. Yet his efforts went unrecognized. The place he wanted was not easy to come.
Thus started a new phase in his life. Refusing to be cowed down or sidelined by the party seniors, he took up the cause of Asif Ali Zardari's incarceration at a time when nobody would talk about him. He mobilized the party workers and galvanized their support for him.
The Asif Ali Zardari Rehai committee was formed. From one district to another he would urge the people not to get swayed by the establishment's propaganda and to understand the difference between perception and reality.
In party meetings he would never hesitate to express his own point of view. By the sheer force of reason, conviction and determination, he was able to carve out a place for himself as an acceptable leader in the Pakistan People's Party.
Abdullah Murad was a modern person in the true sense. He was always eager to know more and learn more. He had visions and ideas that he wanted to implement. His role in the registration of the kidnapping case of Sassi and Hajra is unforgettable.
He stood there as a source of comfort to the distressed parents. It was only recently that he was elevated to the position of secretary-general of District Malir. His murder is not only a loss for his family but also a loss for the party and his constituency. In Abdullah Murad we have lost a great leader.
FAUZIA WAHAB
PPP MNA, Karachi
Eliminating sectarianism
Sectarianism has been posing a lethal threat to life and property in our country for a long time. This deadly menace has swallowed hundreds of human lives and disrupted economic activities throughout the country. The need of the time is that both the state and its citizens, especially the ulema, should do something practical to eradicate this curse.
In this respect, the first responsibility of the state is to maintain law and order, especially on various sensitive occasions. This could be better ensured by upgrading the police and other law- enforcement and intelligence agencies. Besides, an immediate and transparent policy for de-weaponization of society should be adopted and pursued by the government.
This will considerably prevent sectarian killings and other related crimes. Further, the government should adopt a strict policy for issuing arms licenses, and the ban over public display of weapons should be fully implemented.
Another step towards controlling the problem is to implement madressah reforms. Presently, according to a report, the estimated number of madaris is 5,500. A good number of these is said to have indulged themselves in spreading sectarian hatred.
Implementation of the reforms announced by the president should not be delayed so that the students of these madressahs could be brought at par with those of the public schools. This step, besides checking sectarianism, will also improve skills and knowledge of the students studying in Madressahs.
TAHIR HUSSAIN SANGI
Larkana
Moral turpitude
Employees of various government departments and other statutory corporations who have been either dismissed/removed or compulsorily retired from their jobs on charges of corruptions, fraud, etc., and are involved in "moral turpitude" are not eligible for enrolment in the Sindh Bar Council as advocates.
They are unfit to practise law within the meaning of "moral turpitude" defined in the Black's Law Dictionary (7th edition) which says: "In the area of legal ethic offences moral turpitude such as fraud or breach of trust traditionally makes a person unfit to practise law."
It is a great irony that people who were involved in "moral turpitude" have got themselves enrolled as advocates on the roll of the Sindh Bar Council, Karachi, and joined this noble profession in the various district bars of Sindh, particularly in Larkana district.
I request the chairman of the Sindh Bar Council to take note of the situation and cancel the enrolment of the advocates who were involved in "moral turpitude" within the meaning of the Black's Law Dictionary in order to maintain the honour and dignity of this noble profession.
M. ANWAR CHANNA
Larkana
Non-Nato ally status
US Secretary of State Colin Powell's disclosure that Pakistan is to get major non-Nato ally status means that Mr Bush has decided to use Pakistan as a US military base to control our nuclear and missile arsenal, to contain our close friend China, and also to contain Russia, in future. As in the past, some of the elite will be long-term beneficiaries, but for the people in general there will be no benefits.
NASRULLAH KHAN SHINWARI
Peshawar
'Doctor's death'
This refers to your editorial "Doctor's death" (March 20). Dr Sarwar J. Zuberi was one of the most competent gastroentrologists of the country. Her research findings on liver diseases are a valuable contribution to the medical profession, spanning over 30 years. She took out the first indexed scientific journal of Pakistan and was also its editor. She used to work 12 hours a day and was an inspiration to those who want to serve their country.
Dr Zuberi was given partially-screened and contaminated blood following her free transplant surgery. Family sources had confirmed prior to the surgery that if any blood was required, they would arrange it from within the family. But when blood was needed, no one in the family was informed. As a close relative, I am shocked at the apathy that let to Dr Zuberi's death.
We urge the PMRC to conduct an inquiry into the matter and bring all those to task who play with the lives of people.
TAHIR MAQBUL ZUBERI
Karachi
An opportunity for Ijazul Haq
Mr Ijazul Haq, the son of General Zia, has been allotted the portfolio of minister of religious affairs in the federal cabinet. Now it is for him to decide as to whether he would like to perpetuate the iniquitous laws bequeathed by his father or would like to do away with them.
Mr Ijazul Haq is on record as admitting publicly that his father had used the name of Islam, but actually did nothing to further its cause.
It was his father who introduced the separate electorate which divided the people and downgraded the minorities, when there was no public demand for it. It remains to be seen how Mr Ijazul Haq would avail himself of this opportunity.
MOHAMMAD ISHAQUE SOOFI
Rabwah
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