| 11 May 2004 | Tuesday | 20 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425 |
Rumsfeld's testimony
Our house of mummies
Urdu as Punjab's mother tongue
Waiting for CNIC
Killing of Chinese engineers
Preparing for rain emergency
Regulating traffic
High voltage
Mumbai and Karachi consulates
Custodial death
PU location
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This refers to the article by Mr Ardeshir Cowasjee, titled "The evil of jirga justice" (May 9). Mr Cowasjee is one of the most visible and ardent supporters of the rights of citizens of Pakistan.
His latest article paints a gloomy but true picture of the sorry conditions of law and order our nation endures. He rightly says: "Normally the buck is said to stop at the desk of the highest in the land - and that is the general himself."
I remember how the dream of M. A. Jinnah came back to life for many when the general ousted the corrupt but democratically elected Nawaz Sharif. Passions soared for some when he said in his first interview, "Let us see now what I can do for Pakistan."
Newspapers excitedly reported how army trucks were seen heading towards houses of loan defaulters after the general's proclaimed deadline date passed. The NAB apprehended many, even those belonging to the elitest of the elite class. A 'tax culture' was envisioned. The Agra summit was a hit. Things looked good.
Four years down, the government is full of sycophants who want him to stay in uniform for the 'good of the country'. We have had an election and a referendum, both rigged to the hilt by the agencies at our leaders' behest.
And even then the assemblies have failed to pass a single useful law or annul a single bad one. Political deals are made through the same NAB which promised transparent accountability.
National pride suffers as we are described as America's toadies. Our allies sometimes shoot our soldiers from across the Afghan border in 'friendly fire' or cross into our territory, search shops and houses before departing and claiming they did not know they were in Pakistani territory.
And then this nation suffers those who satisfy their urges through jirga-sanctified-raping of women. They know the nature of the government, the police and politicians. They have no fear of a punishment, because none has ever come before. Under the general's rule, our government can only 'protest' strongly or take 'strong notice' of events but never 'act strongly' for the citizens' benefit.
DR MUBASHIR KHAN
Indianapolis, IN., USA
(2)
Mr Ardeshir Cowasjee in his column 'A first step' (May 2) has again lambasted "honour killing" or "karo-kari". But this time he is pleased, as I am too, that a historic judgment by Justice Rehmat Hussain Jaffery of the Sindh High Court, Sukkur Bench, has banned trials under the repugnant jirga system.
The judge has also banned the assembly of jirgas which undermine the provisions of the Constitution of Pakistan. After this crucial judgment, the jirgas will have no authority to order honour killing or karo-kari, the reprehensible practice so commendably called a "cancer in our society" by Ms Sassi Palijo, the Sindh MPA.
I agree with Mr Cowasjee that the declaration of this damnable practice to be unlawful in Sindh be extended to the whole of Pakistan. Other provinces are home to this abominable custom.
I support the writer's desire that the police should, after this landmark judgment, be duty-bound to prevent the holdings of jirgas in their jurisdiction.
S.M. KAZIM NAQVI
Karachi
Rumsfeld's testimony
Donald Rumsfeld's testimony before two standing committees in the United States Senate, along with the comments of certain Republican senators, show that the neo-cons have yet to realize the gravity of the situation caused by the crimes committed by US soldiers and military contractors in the Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad.
They have failed to realize that the shortest straw has been pulled by the appearance of photographs revealing torture of Iraqi prisoners by US troops and that there is only so much the people of the world will tolerate from any nation even if it is the United States of America.
The US will find the path from a hero to a pariah in a very short time if its policies or its policymakers don't change. Exalting the nation's greatness during a hearing concerning such despicable acts and claiming that this process of accountability shows the greatness of American democracy are sickening displays of arrogance, stubbornness and sapience, none of which are hallmarks of greatness.
The US needs to do a lot of soul-searching. It has lost what credibility it had left in the eyes of both the Muslim and the western world. Unlike what Mr Rumsfeld claimed in his testimony, such actions as were seen in the Abu Ghraib prison are not isolated in the extensive history of America's military conflicts.
Worse was seen in Vietnam and the situation in Guantanamo Bay too does not say much for America's regard for human rights other than that of its own people. Such acts are not isolated even in America itself: a multi-billion-dollar pornography industry, 200,000 annual cases of child physical and sexual abuse and the fact that the second and third leading causes of death in American teenagers are homicide and suicide, all speak for themselves.
America should take a long look in the mirror before pointing fingers at anyone and before embarking on any missions of liberation. Mr Rumsfeld also stated that "people all over the world are lining up" to get to the states because they respect American values.
He probably knows the simple fact that this immigration is largely due to economic reasons and not due to any supremacy of morals or human values on the part of America.
Since America's economy flourishes - owing to one war after another - at the expense of others, it is not surprising that people want to go there.
KHWAJA SHAMAAS
Lahore
Our house of mummies
There are three points raised by your columnist Mr Ayaz Amir (May 7). First, the retired officials, be they bureaucrats or generals, never speak or pen about any excesses committed by the rulers. They inhabit the same city, some time the same block and good neighbourly relations are not to be soured.
Even when writing, they save on truth lest they embarrass their colleagues, ex-bosses or endanger their pension. I found only Lt-General Faiz Ali Chishti bold enough to tell all, naming names.
For that he had to get printed in India. Power-yielders do not want us to hear, say, read or write the truth. Ex-diplomats are to a man tedious, long-winded and endorsing everything the "boss" does. They can talk anyone to death with their endless drone.
Second is the high command's refusal to cede power back to politicians. I remember the words of Ayub Khan in 1952 that "the army would not allow politicians or people of Pakistan to get out of hand". He held self-righteous views about politicians and people of Pakistan whom he termed and treated as no more than "a herd that can bleat but responds to a stick" (Ayesha Jalal's "State of the Martial Rule").
The military high command from the beginning had been overly concerned about politicians. "The Deputy C-n-C of Pakistan Army Lt. Gen. Nazir Ali confessed during the 1953 martial law in Lahore that he was more worried about the action of the politicians than he was about the Indian Army" (Ayesha Jalal). Over half a century on, it is still true.
Isn't it ironic that one army chief made a (long) career out of producing jihadis while the other one thrives by taking them out? Pakistan has become a good laboratory for such experiments.
Third point, that of toeing blindly the pro-US line, was carved in stone long ago. After getting politicians out of the way, the military-bureaucracy combine hitched the wagon to the US through Seato and Cento. The credo laid down by the first interventionist is blindly adhered to by his successors.
Mr Amir is wrong about our preserved ones. Egypt may have the mummies; we have the zombies.
ASLAM MINHAS
Karachi
Urdu as Punjab's mother tongue
This is with reference to the Literary round-up: Urdu as Punjab's mother tongue by Mushir Anwar published on May 7. It is not Arminder Singh but many Punjabi writers, intellectuals and teachers including Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Ahmad Nadeem Qasmi, Hameed Nizami, Prof Sirajuddin, Dr Muhammad Ajmal and Safdar Mir who have introduction of Punjabi as the medium of instruction at the primary level since the 1960s.
They have demanded that Urdu should be replaced by Punjabi at the primary level (see Education Policy Number of monthly Punjabi Adab). This did not mean degrading the national language but only that the mother tongue can better serve as the medium of instruction during the early stages of education.
What Fateh Muhammad Malik and Mr Mushir Anwar want to suggest is that Punjabi is an underdeveloped form of Urdu or it is just a dialect of Urdu. If Urdu is a developed form of Punjabi, why are Baba Farid, Bulleh Shah and Waris Shah not included in the Urdu textbooks being taught in Punjab and elsewhere? If the older version of Urdu (Deccani) has been made part of Urdu teachings, why are Heer Waris Shah and Kafian Shah Hussain not treated as a part of Urdu literature? Punjabi literature was created much before Wali Deccani, Mirza Sauda, Ghalib and Insha. Shah Husain and Waris Shah were senior to them.
Dr Tariq Rahman in his article 'The Lingo Power', published on March 21, said: "The major languages, according to the census of 1981 are: Punjabi (spoken 44.15 per cent); Pushto (15.42) Sindhi (14.10) Urdu (7.57); Seraiki (10.53); Balochi (3.57) and others (4.66).
Since Seraiki, Punjabi, Hindko, Potohari, Pahari, etc. are mutually intelligible, they may be regarded as constituting the varieties of a great language spread out from the cities of the NWFP up to Delhi."
S. U. KHAN
Lahore
Waiting for CNIC
My sister applied for a computerized national identity card on December 31, 2003, bearing Form No. KE-0002245, at the Nadra swift registration centre, Gulshan-i-Iqbal, Karachi. On my visit to the centre I was informed that a CNIC, bearing No. 4210168738878, had already been dispatched on January 19, 2004, through courier service and I would get that shortly.
On a subsequent visit to the centre I was told to contact a courier company on 111-151-151. A number of calls were made but of no use. Finally, I got the reply from 111-786-100 that the CNIC had already been delivered.
I wonder who was delivered the CNIC as my sister still has the original receipt with her and waits for her CNIC. I request the higher authorities at Nadra to solve this problem.
LATAFAT ALI
A-50, Block 9, Dastagir Society, Federal B. Area, Karachi
Killing of Chinese engineers
As a lifelong advocate of Sino-Pakistan amity and cooperation, I feel profoundly shocked and grieved by the sad news of the killing of three Chinese engineers in Gwadar.
China has rendered immense economic and military help to Pakistan since the foundations of Sino-Pakistan concord and cooperation were laid in 1956-57, thanks to the far-sighted leadership of prime minister Zhou Enlai and Chairman Mao Zedong.
When the historic Karakoram Highway was being built, some Chinese personnel died in road and construction accidents. Their names are inscribed on a memorial stone tablet on the highway.
It will be an act of historical significance if the government of Pakistan arranged for the deceased Chinese personnel's families to visit the Karakoram Highway and see this magnificent achievement of Sino-Pakistan cooperation.
Pakistan should associate the Chinese in the investigation of the killing of three Chinese engineers in Gwadar. The possibility of a foreign hand in these crimes cannot be ruled out.
The security arrangements in Gwadar, especially in the construction area and access roads should be improved like a cantonment and a special paramilitary force be created for the Gwadar port area. Some of the local tribesmen have festering grudges. They say they have been denied their due share in the building works for the new port.
Pakistan should take the initiative in improving Pakistan's publicity in China and tell the young Chinese more about the historical background and achievements of Sino-Pakistan friendship.
In the 60th commemorative session of UN Economic Commission for Asia and the Pacific which I attended on April 22-28, the Chinese foreign minister literally echoed prime minister Zhou Enlai's clarion call in the 1955 Bandung Conference to the nations of Asia and Africa to cooperate in all fields of national development to shake off the adverse effects of European colonial rule.
China is today Asia's biggest economic power-house and Pakistan's cooperation with China must be continued, expanded and Sino-Pakistan amity should be the bedrock of Pakistan's foreign policy.
QUTUBUDDIN AZIZ
Karachi
Preparing for rain emergency
The unprecedented rains last year created havoc and paralyzed the communication system in Karachi and suburbs/catchment areas, the billboards (advertisement board), the road infrastructure, sewerage nullahs, stormwater drains.
The CDGK is only restricted to certain areas as there are many other stakeholders like the KPT, Civil Aviation, Pakistan Steel, Port Qasim Authority, Cantonment Board and Railway, each one is responsible for maintaining and looking after its own area of responsibility specially during the rain emergency. Therefore, each one of us should perform rain emergency duty religiously.
The monsoon season is fast approaching, therefore, keeping in view the last year experience, we all should evolve a well-thought-out plan to meet the rain emergency.
All pre-emptive measures, in particular desilting and cleaning of sewerage nullahs, sealing of basement of multi-storeyed buildings, cleaning of stormwater drains, removal of encroachments for smooth flow of rainy water, removal of people from dangerous buildings and improvement of road infrastructure must be done now, as we have enough reaction time to meet the rain emergency.
LT-COL (retd) EHTISHAMUDDIN
City District Government, Karachi
Regulating traffic
The intent of traffic laws is to regulate the traffic rather than trap the motorist. Unfortunately, this is applied to generate revenue by our traffic police. In legal terms and when law is applied, the prevailing practice takes the status of the law and mostly supersedes the written law. So you cannot close your eyes on the minor violations, which are as a practice condoned.
When making a U-turn or a right turn, all cars need to line up on the right side of the road and double line is prohibited. A sign is also in place. But, day in and day out, we see that this law is violated and no action taken. The practice then supersedes the law.
The police should for at least 15-20 days regulate the traffic so that the motorist becomes aware of the law and its application, before stringently and suddenly applying the law.
At the PIDC intersection cameras are installed and traffic police suddenly comes into action and starts applying the law for overstepping the Zebra crossing. Let us study the dynamic of the violation at this intersection.
When you are negotiating a turn it is a practice to speed up and avail oneself of the green signal. The traffic police also signal to move fast. Besides, the flow of traffic also compels you to accelerate.
I regret that the traffic police are not helping to regulate the traffic but are busy innovating techniques to penalize the motorist. Would someone at the police HQ respond, please?
M. IQBAL BHATY
Karachi
High voltage
We, the residents of Block C, Sabzazar, Lahore, invite the attention of the Wapda chairman to the apathetic attitude of the officials of Dholan Wal subdivision, Multan Road. We have been facing an acute problem of high voltage for the last three months. Sometimes it is more than 430 volts, resulting in the burning of our airconditioners, freezers, TV sets and even electric fans.
We have made several complaints to the official-in-charge of this subdivision and other complaint centres set up by Wapda but in vain.
MUMTAZ ALI KHAN
Lahore
Mumbai and Karachi consulates
In opting, rather unwittingly, for the Jinnah House for their consulate, Pakistan has apparently thrown a spanner in the process of negotiations for the issuance of visas from Karachi and Mumbai.
The Jinnah House has been a bone of contention over the years and, besides, this coveted place is situated on the top of Malabar Hill inaccessible by public transport. Those familiar with the city of Mumbai know for sure that all public transport culminates at Chawpati, the last flat ground. Taxis would be too expensive for visa seekers to visit the consulate twice and even three times over.
The most appropriate and easily approachable location in Mumbai for the consulate, I suggest, would be the vicinity of Crawford Market, the hub of commercial activity adjacent to the likely visa seekers.
India is on record as havinsaid that Jinnah House is an India heritage, implying that this contentious and coveted place is no longer negotiable.
In view of the aforesaid, and in order to speed up the process of issuance of visas from both the main cities, Pakistan should drop the demand for Jinnah House and ask for more appropriate location keeping in mind easy accessibility for visa seekers.
USMAN KHAN
Karachi
Custodial death
This is regarding the news item "SHO, two others held for death in custody" (May 8). According to the report, the Deepalpur police have arrested three policemen for detaining and torturing a youth to death who had been arrested in a cattle lifting case.
The reason why policemen are involved in torture is that they are unaware of other ways of solving crimes. They are not to be blamed for this as they are not properly trained, nor do they have scientific technology to carry out interrogations.
The country faces both external and internal threats. We have heavily invested in combating external threats but failed to fight internal threats, the result being that crime in our society is on the rise.
The CPLC has used innovative methods with the help of scientific technology to help solve kidnapping cases. The police can benefit from its experience. However, leaders in our country do not wish our police to be efficient and honest as most of them use this force for their vested interests. They merely want to use the institution of the police to crush down their opponents.
ANIL KHAN LUNI
Karachi
PU location
There is a signboard on Lahore's Mall depicting the location of the Punjab University. The arrowhead on it is towards the museum instead of the university. MUHAMMAD RASHID
Lahore
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