Iraqi prisoner abuse

This refers to your editorial "Iraqi prisoners' abuse" (May 7). Defence Secretary Ronald Rumsfeld, in his public testimony before the US Congress on May 7, said at least a dozen times that the "US government recognized that the Geneva Conventions apply in Iraq." But he forgot to instruct his army on the rules of the Geneva Conventions.

I am afraid Mr Rumsfeld has also forgotten Brigadier-General Rick Baccus of the Joint Task Force 160, who was the commander of the Guantanamo Bay detention camp in 2002.

According to a news article of June 21, 2002, at the US Department of Defence website, he said: "As to the detainees, the task force must ensure they're treated humanely within the spirit of the Geneva Convention. Humane treatment means we have to provide them clothing, food, shelter and allow them to practise their religious beliefs."

Being a good soldier, he had tried to live up to his words for the next three months. In his loudspeaker addresses, he began speaking with the words "peace be with you" and finished with "may God be with you."

He also authorized putting up posters supplied by the International Committee of the Red Cross around the camp. The posters remind prisoners they need only cooperate as required by the Geneva Convention on the rules of war - name, rank and serial number.

Brigadier-General Rick Baccus refused to soften up the detainees for interrogation purposes. Eventually, he was relieved of his duties on October 9, 2002, for being "too nice" to prisoners. In addition to that, he also lost his appointment with Rhode Island National.

Whatever happened at Abu Ghraib is an offshoot of the shameful removal of Brig Baccus who had tried to treat prisoners with minimal human dignity and eventually lost his job.

Prosecuting and blaming a dozen low-ranking soldiers and guards is implausible. The responsibility lies at a much higher level in the chain of command.

It is every encouraging that Americans, including the leadership, have condemned the horrific events of Abu Ghraib. However, they still owe an apology to the detainees of Guantanamo Bay. Irrespective of their crimes, they do deserve a fair trial and chance to defend themselves in a court of law.

IMRAN KHALID ARAIN

Ontario, Canada

(2)

This is with reference to the news report (May 6) that says President Bush has admitted prisoner abuse by US troops in Iraq. But the question arises: is mere acceptance enough? Lately, America has assumed the role of the world's policeman and is dictating its terms to the rest of the people.

On the basis of alleged human rights' abuses by Saddam Hussein, the US invaded Iraq. The hapless country was torn apart and thousands of people were rendered homeless and displaced. Now that the 'saviour' has turned out to be the perpetrator, it should be treated like one.

Justice will be done if the US offers a formal apology to the Iraqi people and compensation in cash or kind to those affected.

MISBAH NOMANI

Karachi

(3)

The torture, humiliation and immoral acts inflicted on the unfortunate prisoners of Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq put to shame the so-called advanced civilization of the West.

To disrobe prisoners, apply electric shocks to their private parts and force them to adopt unseemly postures and to urinate over the faces of tied-up prisoners display..... behaviour.

If this is the price of democracy and freedom that Iraqis have to pay in the form of sub-human treatment at the hands of their captives, then they could have done without such freedom.

DR M. YAQOOB BHATTI

Lahore

Killings in Macedonia

Shocking, hideous, condemnable, heinous and diabolic are no words to express the grief and sorrow for the premeditated murder of six Pakistanis by the Macedonian police two years ago (Dawn report, May 2).

It was revealed by the police themselves through spokesman Mirjana Konteska last Friday (April 30) that those Pakistanis had been smuggled from neighbouring Bulgaria, kept in Skopje and then gunned down in cold blood. These extra-judicial killings were apparently meant to spruce up Macedonia's image as an ally in the war against terrorism.

What is more tragic is the situation Pakistan is faced with. In the desire to please the US or to line up with it, the Macedonian police chose Pakistanis to kill as terrorists.

Pakistanis, who have been fighting against terror themselves, have been branded terrorists. This is a gross injustice. It is a propaganda by the vested interest against Muslims and especially Pakistanis which has cost Pakistan dearly.

I suggest that Pakistan should react swiftly and sue Macedonia in our apex court, as well as in the International Court of Justice in The Hague. The plaint should seek compensation for the bereaved families and a defamation cost to the government of Pakistan, together with a public apology to Pakistan whose image has been tarnished by branding those six Pakistanis as terrorists.

S.M. KAZIM NAQVI

Karachi

Army housing scheme

There was an open space behind the National Stadium of Karachi, just across the road. We believed that this was meant for future expansion of the stadium and provision of sports facilities for this city, which is being deprived of open spaces. Then the news came that we were under a wrong impression. A board was placed outside the entrance, announcing that it is Phase II of the Army Housing Scheme.

There were some citizens burdened with a civic conscience who raised some sound and fury which, ultimately, signified nothing. The work on the scheme continued unabated. We were informed that the military authorities had obtained this piece of prime land in the heart of the city through a court order. So, legally speaking, they were in the right. However, the question still remains whether a legally correct action is morally right too.

Now, the scheme is going on at full speed as all projects followed by our armed forces do. What is new is that the footpath skirting the boundary of this plot has all of a sudden shrunk in size. The old boundary wall has been demolished and a new wall is being erected, leaving barely any space for pedestrians.

Perhaps the authorities concerned think that the word 'foot' in footpath refers to the 'unit of linear measure equal to 12 inches' (COD). Or perhaps it is a signal to us commoners, civilian mortals, that the area is no more open to pedestrians. And now we are persona non grata in a part of our own city.

A PEDESTRIAN

Karachi

Emergency OT at JPMC

This refers to the letter (May 1) by Dr A.K. Soofi regarding my remarks as a coordinator of the JPMC EOT project. A few of the comments made by the correspondent may be partly correct; however some of his remarks about me must be contested.

No one would disagree with the writer's comments that the fund allocated for health care is inadequate, however his comment that I "lack courage" is uncalled-for. I was speaking in the capacity of a coordinator of a welfare project, primarily thanking the donors for their generous contributions.

My comments should not be misconstrued to imply that the government can be absolved of its share of responsibilities. I do admit my ineptitude in financial matters, especially the prioritization of the government's allocations. I wish Dr Soofi had spelt out what in his opinion should be considered an 'adequate' budget for health.

Let us look at the ground realities as they exist. The current federal health allocation of Rs4.37 billion if spread over a 150 million population gives us a figure of 10 paisa per person per day.

If we consider spending the total defence allocation of Rs160 billion (giving the writer the liberty and latitude of his imagination), the same calculation gives us a figure of Rs2.9 per person per day.

With 10 paisa, one cannot purchase a tablet of aspirin and with Rs2.90, one cannot buy a single dose of an antibiotic. Within these constraints, what kind of health service can be planned remains the key question.

I am sure most would agree that slogans like "free health for all" are good slogans which may be kept as targets for the future, but they appear to be far removed from the current harsh realities of life, especially in the developing world.

So what options do we have? Should we keep blaming others for not doing anything about it, or should we take up the cudgels and pool all our resources and do something about it together? Maybe this is what the currently coined terminology of 'private-public partnership' is about.

For uplift in the social sector, we have seen a number of very successful projects, supported by philanthropists, which are providing very good services to all, especially the underprivileged. This work must go on till such time that we have progressed to the level of a developed country.

PROF HASAN AZIZ

Karachi

Robbers on the prowl

Robbers have lately been having a field-day in 'N' Block of North Nazimabad, Karachi. A gang of three or four sturdy persons comes in a car, which is parked on the main road.

They prowl in the area and on finding the door of a house open, they storm into it and take the inmates by surprise. The inmates are threatened if they fail to hand over keys, cash and jewellery.

Even wrist-watches, mobile phones with chargers, cameras, transistors and other small electric gadgets are also taken away. In some cases iron grilles are also cut and low walls are scaled to get into and open the door for their fellow-robbers.

Robberies are committed not only at night but even in broad daylight when most men are out at work. The residents of Street No. 13 (west) feel most insecure. Robberies committed recently have not been reported to the police because of serious threats hurled by the robbers.

The area SHO is requested to increase the day-and-night patrolling in Block 'N' with special reference to Street No. 13 (west).

A VICTIM

Karachi

Easing people's sufferings

Dr dorothy Rowe, in her best-seller The Real Meaning of Money, writes: "Saints often love humanity but neglect the needs of individuals just as a country with a growing economy can be devoted to progress while its people are suffering."

The foremost duty of any state is to care for the poor by ensuring that prices of essential goods are not increased by cartels. Unfortunately, the government has given free rein to hoarders in the last two years.

If it were limited to autos, cement, steel and real estate, one would say that market forces are determining prices as these things affect the rich. Unfortunately, price manipulation of items like wheat, rice, spices, pulses is increasing. With the magistracy virtually disbanded by the NRB, people have been left at the mercy of carpet-baggers.

Despite the improvement in the economy with the booming stock market accompanied by all-time high foreign exchange reserves, the majority of Pakistanis is unmoved as the economic czars have forgotten that the people of Pakistan need relief.

Economic stability should now allow the government to provide relief to ease people's suffering as inflation has gone sky-high, prices of fuel increase every fortnight, and unemployment is rampant.

Large sections of society, including pensioners and widows, are finding it difficult to survive because their incomes have decreased with the lowering of NSS profit rates.

This reminds one of the story of the rich man whose family was poor because all his money was hidden and they lived in poverty. Until economic prosperity filters down to ordinary people, it does not matter how high the reserves rise. To convince the people that the country and the people are on the path of prosperity, the economic planners must take the following practical steps:

1. Use some of the money in the state coffers and establish a social security network to look after the financial needs of the needy and unemployed. Initially, Rs5 billion should be used and a fund on the pattern of social security systems in western countries should be set up.

2. Ensure that hoarders and profiteers cannot establish cartels to manipulate prices of essential commodities like atta, sugar, rice and pulses, as they have done recently. Market forces can be allowed to determine auto and real estate prices and their like, which affect the rich. However, the state must stop manipulation of prices of essential items, otherwise what is the need of having a state?

3. Pensioners, widows and older sections of society should be offered better returns on their life-long savings so that they can live a dignified life.

The rulers should remember that anguish of senior citizens, pensioners and widows filters down and influences large sections of society, creating further despondency. Large numbers of Pakistanis must feel better off, otherwise no amount of public relationing will change the perception of the people.

AZIZ SUHARWARDY

Karachi

Need for geriatrics medicine

The medical problems of the old require special attention. The absence of geriatrics medicine in our hospitals makes treatment difficult.

There is an urgent need for a full-fledged geriatric hospital or well-equipped geriatric wards in the big hospitals with some beds also in small hospitals.

This can be done at affordable cost with the help of NGOs and philanthropists, who are already running charitable hospitals in the cities and are also sending resourceless patients abroad for treatment for cancer, cardiac disorders, bone marrow transplants and surgical operations, facilities for which are incidentally not available here.

Octogenarians have to keep themselves ready for every eventuality like dislocation, fracture of the hip and other bones, impaired eye vision and amnesia that directly affect the quality of their lives.

In advanced countries, geriatrics was started half a century ago. But it is still non-existent in our hospitals. Young doctors should, therefore, be trained in this speciality to deal with the recurring problems of the old with care, devotion, confidence and love.

DR RAFIQUE AHMED MIRZA

Karachi

Tribute to Radio Pakistan

I am a retired professor of chemistry, Government College, Jallandhar (India), settled in Canada. I was lucky enough to be in Lahore in connection with the Baisakhi Mela with my wife.

Being a son of the soil, I would like to pay tribute to Radio Pakistan for introducing remarkable changes and improvement in its programmes during the last one year. I am surprised that Radio Pakistan, which is considered an official medium, could adapt itself to the changing situation in the region with special reference to people-to-people contact between the two nuclear-power states.

Believe me, while in India, I and my family only switch over to Radio Pakistan to enjoy music, news, Sohni Dharti, Punjabi Darbar and News Hour.

PREETAM SING

Jallandhar, India

Water crisis

Although there is general shortage of water in Karachi, it is felt that the situation is aggravated because of unplanned distribution. Some localities get more water than their needs, while others are short of water supply.

It has been seen that residents of the first category waste this extra supply of water by overdoing their gardens and the front portions of their houses.

I appeal to all residents to conserve water.

SALEEM ATHAR

Karachi

Defence cuts

Fifty thousand soldiers who would be in the midst of their career would be rendered unemployed by the end of this year. Their age factor would block their chances to choose another career. Had such a large number of manpower in any civil sector been rendered unemployed, assemblies would have reverberated and the streets activated with demonstrations.

The least the present regime can do is to absorb this trained manpower in the civil sector.

SAYED G. B. SHAH BOKHARI

Peshawar

Insurance workers' hardships

The insurance industry is doing a business worth about Rs12 billion annually, but regretfully the employees have been facing financial hardships since January 2003 because of the continuing differences among the members of the Insurance Association of Pakistan (IAP) over the restructuring of its central and sectional committees.

The employees have not been getting full salaries, i.e. with fringe benefits, for the last 16 months and now the situation has so worsened that the association does not contribute to pay the salaries, meet its day-to-day expenses, etc.

Both the IAP and its employees are at risk - the former risks its existence and the latter their livelihood. The employees' efforts to convince the association of the need to resolve the issue at the earliest have so far been without results.

Recently a letter was sent to the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) at Islamabad, requesting it to intervene in the matter.

Through these columns we, the employees of the IAP, want to inform all insurance companies and relevant authorities that they should realize the gravity of the situation and take all necessary steps to resolve the crisis to relieve us from sufferings.

MUHAMMAD IQBAL

General Secretary, IAP Employees Union, Karachi

KWSB bill distribution

Every year before June the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board prepares bills but never bothers to get them distributed in a correct manner. A very unwilling person from the tax/billing department of the KWSB is given this important task of distribution of bills to "valued customers", so-called of course.

Literally, bills of millions of rupees are simply thrown away, here and there. In case of multistoried buildings or apartments, this situation is even worse. Bills are left away at the main gates of apartments at the mercy of illiterate chowkidars. This implies that the KWSB does not have a proper and real interest in the recovery of their dues.

Proper distribution of bills by the KWSB in apartments/flats would alone fetch more than 70 per cent of the recoverable dues. Besides, disconnecting the main supply of water to apartments/flats because of non-payment by a few people should be seen immoral and illegal. Why are those who are in good standing in terms of payment of their KWSB dues made to suffer because of others?

SHAMIM ALAM

Karachi