| 16 May 2004 | Sunday | 25 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425 |
Deportation of Shahbaz Sharif
Power problems
Curriculum controversy
Privatization of national assets
Fire-fighting system
Mideast: 'breaking the deadlock'
HBFC loans and villagers
Ban on jirga system
Troops for Iraq
Rumsfeld in Iraq
Arms & hunger
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Defying all odds and the consensus of pollsters, the Congress Party of India has ended the election marathon with a stunning victory. Much has been said about India's amazing accomplishments during the last five years - an economy growing at almost a 10 per cent annual rate, a thriving silicone valley, a destination for outsourcing by a multitude of US corporations and the pre-eminence of its educational institutions which western analysts rate as good or better as the most elite institutions in the United States.
Despite all this, there was a palpable unease not only among the beleaguered Muslim minority but among a very significant segment of Hindus at the infusion of religion in the body politic of India. Among other reasons, the rejection of the 'Hinduization' of India by the electorate ranks as a significant factor in the beating that the BJP has endured. For redeeming the promise of secularism that Mahatma Gandhi and Mr Nehru held dear, the Indians should be justifiably proud of themselves.
Quaid-i-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah and the two leaders of India had similar visions of a tolerant and open society where religion would not be the business of the state. Both countries wandered away from this vision but after a few years of flirting with Hindutva, the Indians have reverted back to the ideal of secularism.
In Pakistan, not only has the legacy of Ziaul Haq endured, society has become much more intolerant and violent. It may be too much to hope that Pakistan may also follow India's example in returning to the Quaid's ideals by at least discarding some of the most shameful reminders of the Zia era.
M.HAIDER
New Jersey, USA
(2)
This is with reference to your editorial (May 14) on the Indian elections, titled "India's stunning poll results".
It is clear that Muslims did not vote for the BJP in the previous elections as well. The reason the BJP lost the current elections is not because it lost the Muslim vote, as your analysis seems to suggest, but that the non-Muslims felt repelled and frustrated by the horrific events in Gujarat and that the poor felt left out of the growth process.
You do mention the latter factor but ignore the former, i.e. the inherently secular mindset of the non-Muslim vote which tipped the scales. This is what makes Indian democracy worthwhile.
SANJIT
Leicester, UK
Deportation of Shahbaz Sharif
On March 7, 1977, general elections were held by the then prime minister, Z. A. Bhutto. This was the first time in the history of Pakistan that an elected prime minister had held elections after the National Assembly had completed its term and been properly dissolved under a procedure ordained by the Constitution.
At the time, India was under a state of emergency proclaimed by the then prime minister, Indira Gandhi, because she had anticipated a loss of power at the hands of a political movement that had been gaining momentum. The state of democracy in Bangladesh was in dire straits, too.
On the above-mentioned day, Pakistan emerged as the only country in South Asia in which the wheels of democracy turned. This point duly noticed by the international media enhanced Pakistan's prestige in the world.
Fast-forward a little over 27 years: it is Tuesday, May 11, 2004, and the time is just past 6pm. A plane, coming from a foreign country, and carrying a particular citizen of Pakistan among other passengers, lands at Lahore airport. As the plane comes to a halt after taxiing, security forces surround it. As the citizen in question, who, just like any other citizen, has an unalienable right to enter his motherland, disembarks, he is forced into boarding another waiting airliner and is whisked out of the country.
Approximately 40 hours after this episode, the results are announced in India, of general elections that, for weeks, had been taking place in the world's largest democracy. The sitting prime minister concedes defeat to the opposition party and asks to be driven to the official residence of the president of India.
In a majestic bow before the will of the people, the prime minister tenders his resignation to the president who under the mechanism of democracy was, a few months earlier, nominated to the ceremonial but extremely prestigious and constitutionally pivotal office, by the outgoing prime minister himself.
This is an extraordinary achievement for a country that houses hundreds of millions of uneducated people who live in abject poverty.
The behaviour of the supposed guardians of democracy was as derelict in Pakistan on May 11, 2004, as it was in India and Bangladesh on March 7, 1977.
SIDDIQUE MALIK
Louisville, KY, USA
Power problems
In your editorial "Power problems" (Dawn, May 9), you told the readers that "Karachi's residents are experiencing the hottest weather of the year, with power outages compounding everyone's problem". Moreover, it has adverse effect on the industrial estates.
You mentioned in the editorial that there is a shortfall of 1,000 MW. This may be true. But the question is: why is attention not being given to alternative energy sources like solar energy, wind energy or bio gas in Pakistan?
A few days back, the day temperature in Nawabshah (Sindh) was registered at 48 degrees Centigrade. We in Pakistan have the most excellent conditions for the installations of small solar collectors on the roof of every house. They can be integrated into the design of a house. It is a question of aesthetics and money. They would provide the cheapest energy for small household for radios, fans, warm water, simple cooking, refrigerators, etc.
We can reduce oil imports up to 20-30 per cent. The installations costs for each solar unit for one household would be between Rs60,000 and Rs90,000 if manufactured in the country. The production of solar collectors and hydraulic units for biogas should be encouraged by the government, because firstly it is cheaper and secondly it is environment friendly and thirdly it would create some 500,000 jobs in Pakistan for engineers and technical workers.
Pakistan has a very long coast. There we can install a few hundred mega wind energy plants as well as solar collector farms in Balochistan. Sindh and Balochistan have the most ideal conditions for the production of solar energy.
In Spain huge solar collector farms are working successfully. If solar energy can be produced in cooler countries like Spain, it can indeed be produced in much hotter Pakistan.
TANWEER HUSSAIN
Darmstadt, Germany
Curriculum controversy
This is with reference to the controversy about school curricula.
I see no justification for the rumpus caused by the obscurantists on issues related to education. They are neither serious about the issue nor do they want academic peace to prevail in the country. They get further strength when the government is cowed, feels guilty and apologetic and go the extra mile to appease them.
Why the education authorities are perturbed over non-issues is not understood. Probably they want to tackle this issue by taking ad hoc measures, based on political expediencies that has become a hallmark of our officialdom.
Our present education system is non-democratic, incoherent and oligarchic. It is not compatible with modern trends. The dilemma is that the students of 21st century are being taught by 19th-century teachers. To add insult to injury, the government has appointed a review committee mostly represented by non-academic people whereas the designing of a curriculum should be entrusted to academics.
My advice to those who are championing the cause of Islam and ideology of Pakistan is that instead of spending millions on mobilizing their street power only for agitation purposes, the funds be allocated for achieving universal primary education.
Have these elements ever given thought to the plight of those deprived youths who gather in roadside cafes and restaurants in the hope of a free meal? If this precious human resource is rescued and taken to school with the promise of a good future, they will contribute meaningfully to nation-building and today's jobless and destitute might turn into better citizens of tomorrow.
CDR (retd) NAJEEB ANJUM
Karachi
Privatization of national assets
This is with reference to the article "Problems of privatization" by Mr Sultan Ahmed (May 13).
The privatization commission has so far sold Habib Bank, United Bank, Muslim Commercial Bank, Allied Bank and partly the PTCL, the OGDC, National Bank, the Sui Southern Gas Company, etc. The sale proceeds amount to Rs135 billion or $2.3 billion.
These assets were not created by the present generation; it only inherited them and held them in trust to be passed on to the next generation to whom they belong. Therefore, the only legitimate use of the sale proceeds should be in the interest and for the betterment of the future generation.
The most obvious objective should be reducing the burden of foreign debt which, according to Mr Sultan Ahmed, amount to $33.83 billion.
The future generation deserves to be relieved of the debt trap to the maximum possible extent.
Education is another area on which a portion of the sale proceeds should be spent. This expenditure would produce an alternative asset.
FAQIR AHMED PARACHA
Peshawar
Fire-fighting system
It is said that a fire can really be controlled if it is contained within the first few minutes after it breaks out, otherwise it can spread.
The city of Karachi, according to its population, should have about 150 fire stations, armed with the latest equipment. But unfortunately due to resource constraints we are much shorter. Therefore, to support and reinforce safety measures, a culture of prevention has to be developed at the grassroots' level, specially in kutchi abadis with wooden and bamboo structures and hutment areas, which are located far away from fire stations.
Incidentally, multi-storeyed buildings and residential areas must also take safety and precautionary measures right at the spot by creating a fire-fighting point, a rescue centre for first aid and a set of skilled people like plumbers, carpenters and electricians to make a sort of helpline centre to react to a crisis situation before the arrival of fire-brigades and rescue elements. There should also be regular testing of fire alarms and fire drills.
This is not a new idea. This concept already exists in many countries. The only need is to enlarge the canvas.
LT-COL (RETD) EHTISHAMUDDIN
Karachi
Mideast: 'breaking the deadlock'
This refers to the article by Mr Henry Kissinger (May 13), titled "Breaking the deadlock".
Mr Kissinger was one of the most powerful US secretaries of state as far as influencing world events is concerned; whether for good or for bad is a very controversial. His name has been implicated in the prolongation of the Vietnam war and killings in Chile.
The writer makes a biased and unconvincing case backing the current Bush-Sharon policy of supporting Israel. He has taken pains to explain the Israeli side of the story and dwells on the Israeli sense of insecurity and their actual desire for peace. All of this may be true. But there is also a Palestinian side of the story he has not mentioned. One must look at both aspects of the story if one is to reach a viable settlement.
To a Palestinian, Israel is an entity which did not exist before 1948. Now not only does it exist, it is the Palestinians who do not have a state. One does not need much imagination to realize who feels more insecure - the Palestinians or the Israelis. Moreover, Israel is the dominant conventional and nuclear power in the neighbourhood.
How can a nuclear power (Israel) which has successively won wars over its enemies in 1948 and 1967 refuse to vacate the illegally constructed West Bank settlements claiming that by doing so it would become indefensible?
Ariel Sharon was held 'directly responsible' by an Israeli commission for the murder of 2,000 civilians in Sabra and Shatila. To the Palestinians he symbolizes all they hate about Israel. Any attempt by him to enforce a settlement would only be looked upon with distrust.
The Palestinians need to accept Israel now that it is a viable entity (if not out of goodwill towards these 'people of the book' who have suffered anti-Semitism through the centuries), but it is also the Israelis who need to change their minds about electing known murderers as their prime ministers if they are to see a settlement of this issue. With Sharon conducting business, a settlement is virtually impossible.
A final resolution would come when a middle path is taken and both sides are equally satisfied (or equally dissatisfied). It would not be born of a plan which gives Israel command of large areas of the West Bank, disallows the Palestinians from using a seaport or an airport (virtually imprisoning them) and allows Israel to bomb them at will.
MUBASHIR KHAN
Indianapolis, IN., USA
HBFC loans and villagers
Most of our national assets are ruined and exploited and the price of all these negatives is borne by the people. There may be many stories behind the scene. I have one to tell.
The House Building Finance Corporation opened a lucrative business some years back and, I am sure, it is still on, in that it started granting loans, commonly known as Taqqavi qarza, in some rural areas. One such area is the poor, neglected and highly backward area of Murree Hills where thousands of ignorant, poor and ill-informed villagers were extended loans through the HBFC.
The practice works in a very cruel way. A villager is trapped into a net of some agents who get their commission in organizing loans from the HBFC. The persons concerned at their offices benefit from this racket, with the result that the poor villager hardly gets about 50 per cent of the loan he has signed for. There is absolutely no feasible refund source in the picture.
On the refund part of the story, another vicious circle begins. The villager is asked to pay five times more than what he got. In the process, hundreds of ignorant villagers are suffering due to this victimization, exploitation, harassment and so on. Most of these villagers have not seen a rupee in ages. Many of them have since died.
Could the finance minister, the Punjab chief minister and those in authority show some concern and rescue these sufferers from the clutches of organized mafias? Why can't the government look into the plight of these people and give them relief?
N. M. ABBASI
Lusaka, Zambia
Ban on jirga system
It was heart-rending to read Mr Ardeshir Cowasjee's column in Dawn's issue of May 12, where he describes the futility of the recent banning of the jirga system by the Sindh High Court.
It was indeed good news that something so abhorrent to our religion as well as human rights should be stopped. It is bad enough that the ban has not worked and the jirga system is as active as ever. What is worse is the attitude of our ruling parties and, above all, that of General Pervez Musharraf who has abstained from intervention in any human right matter in Pakistan. He backtracked on the blasphemy law, and now he is not doing anything to prevent and punish killings and rapes by the jirga system.
Pakistan was created as a secular state by Mr Jinnah, where every man, woman and child's honour, property and life would be safe, regardless of colour, race, religion or caste. What is safe in our 'Islamic' republic is corruption, crime, terrorism, fire-emitting mullahs and corrupt politicians.
I ask our police, our army and our rulers: how do they sleep at night, with so much blood on their conscience?
DR AZRA MAHMUD
Castleknock, Dublin, Ireland
Troops for Iraq
One could not agree more with your editorial comments on this subject. However, I for one was not surprised by Mr Kasuri's statement that Pakistan is considering sending its troops to Iraq. The day it was made public that America has requested Pakistan to commit its troops for the purpose, I knew the government would go out of its way to oblige and may already have reached some kind of understanding with America.
Our government has repeatedly displayed a propensity to rush to do America's bidding irrespective of the mood of the nation or Pakistan's own long-term interests.
You are absolutely right in pointing out that if we send our troops to Iraq in the present circumstances, it will be seen by Muslim and Arab countries (and by Muslims around the world, if I may add) as collaboration with a most unwelcome occupier of that hapless country, which has fallen from the proverbial frying pan into the fire.
Moreover, the US is desperately trying to avoid loss of American blood, especially in a presidential election year, and would love to extricate itself from the situation at the cost of Pakistan.
WAJID NAEEMUDDIN
Karachi
Rumsfeld in Iraq
I had the misfortune of watching the visit of the US defence secretary to Iraq on the BBC and CNN on May 13. It looked from his actions and mannerism as if he were on a picnic. He was smiling and smiling, and the commentator told the TV viewers that "he is in a jovial mood". No doubt when Muslims are suffering, Americans and Israelis have to be in jovial mood.
When Rumsfeld was speaking to the troops he was still laughing and cutting jokes. At every joke he was applauded, irrespective of whether the joke was worth laughing at. Is this democracy, is this civility?
DR SHAUKAT MAHMOOD
Lahore
Arms & hunger
US President Dwight D. Eisenhower is on record as having said: "Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed."
It could have been a wise and sensible approach in the Oval Office over half a century ago to help eliminate human suffering, but not for the 43rd president of the United States, George W. Bush, who has terrified and terrorized the whole world.
Arms and ammunition worth billions and billions of dollars have turned Iraq and Afghanistan into battlefields where humanity is being humiliated.
TARIQ ANWAAR
Islamabad
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