| 08 June 2004 | Tuesday | 19 Rabi-us-Saani 1425 |
Sale of PIA shares
Iraq: sovereignty a must
Repealing Hudood ordinances
A taxpayer's ordeal
Medical universities
Closures of RCD Highway
President's English
Dignity
Commuters' problem
'Remembering D-Day'
'Time to stand up'
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This refers to the news item (June 4) regarding the curfew imposed in Gilgit and protests against the syllabus. In what seems to be an overall rationalization of the textbooks produced by the provincial textbook boards in Pakistan, the Northern Areas, which is administered by Islamabad through the ministry of Kashmir affairs and Northern Areas (KANA) under the UNCIP resolution 1948, has been locked in a sectarian battle on this issue for the two years.
Surprisingly, it is not the zealots or 'terrorists' who are at each other's throats; it's the government machinery which has acted against the basic rights of the people to protect their beliefs and to be treated as equals.
For the past many years, the people of the area had found common grounds to address issues of common concern through discussion and through accommodating plurality of views as expressed through various institutional, political and civil society initiatives. It is not clear why the government wants to create a new discord.
Four years ago, well before 9/11 and all the talk of the American conspiracies we hear in Pakistan about re-writing textbooks and censoring jihadi tones from these books, the Islamiat textbook for classes IX and X was re-written, perhaps by the Punjab Textbook Board, which is officially prescribed for the Northern Areas. What was the motive or drive to do so is still not known.
The protesters claim that the changes made in some parts of the book are a distortion of their version of Islamic history, and hence constitute discriminatory action and an action against the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution.
Therefore, the protesters say that after four years of fruitless discussions they have reached a stage where sacrifice is required to protect their faith.
Last month when the MMA staged a show in Gilgit - Solidarity with Kashmiris - and when the speakers at the public gathering were divided on whether Gilgit-Baltistan should be part of Azad Kashmir or Pakistan or there should be self-rule for the region, it was those now protesting who announced their objection to making this region the fifth province of Pakistan.
We need to promote the pluralistic views in Gilgit and Baltistan. In whichever geo-political setup this pluralism is enhanced and protected most, we must opt for that option: whether self-rule, as the fifth province of Pakistan or as part of Azad Kashmir.
The current standoff between the government and the people must end immediately. If it's about protecting the faith of the citizens and the freedom to peacefully manifest religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance, both in public and in private, it's the duty of the government of Pakistan to deliver, because the KANA administration is under obligation from the UN to promote and protect the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in this region.
The Northern Areas should have its own textbook regime, say, a Karakoram Textbook Board, responsible for the job. Intellectuals and ulema of the Northern Areas know their own context better and have the ability to live together.
G.A. BEG
Islamabad
Sale of PIA shares
Ms Zainab Sayeed Noman's letter of June 5 has raised certain issues that need clarification for the comfort of investors, as well as for the general public.
First, the Offer For Sale Document for the issuance of PIA shares published in the national press on May 31 very clearly states in Section 2.12 that the interim dividend announced by the PIAC Board for the year ending December 31, 2004, will not be admissible to the new shareholders after the end of subscription on June 9.
The reason being that the period of book closure - 18-6-2004 to 2-7-2004 - that has already been announced by the PIAC management does not allow sufficient time for the finalization of the list of new allottees, which is expected to be completed on June 19, 2004.
Second, about the issue of shares to the government at Rs10, I would like to state that these shares were issued in 2001 as a result of financial restructuring when the shares of the national carrier were trading much below its par value of Rs10.
At that time, the airline was experiencing financial problems and needed to be bailed out by its present owner. The government had then agreed to inject new equity to finance the acquisition of new aircraft.
Now when the airline has managed a turnaround due to the fiscal discipline and the pragmatic and forward-looking policies adopted by the present management, the government like any other investor is entitled to reap the benefit of its investment.
It may also be noted that the offer price has been set at a discount to the present market price in order to pass on the benefit of privatization to the general public.
Normally, the market itself adjusts a share's price considering factors such as break-up value, earning per share, price-earning ratio and dividend yield.
In the PIAC's case, a benchmark market price was already available and it could be treated as the fair value of the share. Therefore, it was used as a benchmark and the offer price was set at a discount to it.
The government could have divested the shares directly through the stock market but it chose to pass on the benefit of the difference in price to the general public.
TAHIR PARWAZ
Director Media, Privatization Commission, Islamabad
Iraq: sovereignty a must
The US is on a damage control exercise. It has handed over power to a so-called interim Iraqi government that would be headed by its nominee; has decided to punish some of its 'errant' soldiers for the crimes they committed at Abu Ghraib; replace its top general in Iraq and demolish the prison itself.
But will such acts pacify the feelings that have flared up in the hearts of every conscious man and woman against the US? No, they won't. For they have only proved that the policy of attacking and invading Iraq has been totally wrong; it has proved that the US is no better than the regime of Saddam Hussein.
The Abu Ghraib torture has exposed the designs of the US against the Iraqi people. It's not there to liberate them but to humiliate them, and keep them in subjugation and bondage.
The TV clips of jubilation that we saw when Baghdad was invaded were not for the occupiers but for the ouster of a tyrant who was brought to power with the help of the same occupiers.
With each passing day the opposition to the US occupation grew stronger and stronger. There have been many acts of violence since then.
All this makes us think why the US had opposed the establishment of the International Criminal Court and later refused to acknowledge its authority. The purpose, as evident now, was to save the skins of its 'criminal' soldiers from being indicted an international forum. In fact, it would have made the top US administration officials liable to prosecution.
The US must understand that Iraq is not a security problem, it's a political one. If it wants to get out of the mess that it has created, it should immediately hand over authority to the UN, which should hold elections for a constituent assembly in Iraq within six months.
What Iraq needs is a constitution that gives due share to all the ethnic groups and religious sects in the government. It would be up to the lawmakers to choose the best system of government in Iraq, whether it be federal or confederal, parliamentary or presidential. Only complete sovereignty will usher Iraq into an era of peace and democracy.
KHURRAM MUSTIKHAN
Karachi
Repealing Hudood ordinances
Dr Fazalur Rahman ("Repealing Hudood ordinances", April 23) says that "justifying abolition of the Hudood laws by maligning them as barbaric, primitive and uncivilized reflects a diseased mindset and a morbid sensitivity wrongfully inclined in favour of the perpetrator of the crime, unjustifiably feeling more sympathetic and soft-hearted towards the wicked and unscrupulous culprit towards the wretched victim of the villainous atrocity".
The correspondent has tried to explain away a very serious matter through rhetoric instead of discussing the various aspects of this complex issue more convincingly.
Crimes punishable under the Hudood Law are murder, armed highway robbery, adultery, fornification, false accusation, theft, drinking alcohol beverages, treason and apostasy. The Holy Quran prescribes punishments against the above crimes. The Holy Quran, however, does not term these punishments as Hudood.
Hudoodullah, or God's limits, are mentioned in verses 2:187, 2:229, 4:1-13, 9:112, 58:4 and 65:1. All these verses in which God has set His limits (Tilka hudoodullah) pertain to women's rights in marital relationship, divorces, inheritance and general moral conduct for Muslims.
I will request Dr Fazalur Rahman to throw light on the term "Hadd" used in the Hudood laws. How and under what authority were these punishments termed as Hudood and whether this implies the upper limits of such punishments?
The writer may also look at framing and implementing various laws for the rights of women, orphans and the destitute.
FAQIR AHMED PARACHA
Peshawar
A taxpayer's ordeal
For some reason unknown to me, the government asked me to pay my annual income tax in advance of the tax submission dates in July 2004. Understanding that my government must be needing the money, although we keep hearing of economic growth, I complied and raised the required funds.
Wanting to pay up immediately, I went to the National Bank branch in Clifton, only to find that the cashier had not come that day, so no tax could be paid. I enquired about who else could possibly take the money but only got one response: "Try tomorrow." I looked for the bank manager high and low, but he was "not in his seat".
I reached the National Bank at 9am the following day so as to avoid long queues. Others, who were already waiting for the cashier's window to open, and I were informed by a guard that it would take some time before the window opens.
I went to the manager who informed me that they were not able to open the vaults of the bank due insurance reasons. He refused to accept my request to put up a sign outside the bank, informing customers that they should not come to the bank before 9.30am as the bank would not be able to serve them.
I did manage to pay my tax that day, but am, once again, left baffled about the value we have for time - our own and that of others. It is when we begin to admit to ourselves that we ought to respect time that we be aware of our abuse of it. Otherwise, we will continue to remain in denial.
SHIREEN ADIL
Karachi
Medical universities
This is with reference to the letter on medical universities by Dr Shahid Malik from Lahore (May 8). His facts are not correct. The Liaquat Medical College was identified for an upgrade to university status in the National Education Policy of 2000 by the federal government.
Before that, the syndicate of the University Sindh passed a resolution for making the LMC a university. A team of the - then University Grants Commission visited the LMC and recommended that it be upgraded to medical university status.
The King Edward's Medical College in Lahore was also identified for an upgrade in the same education policy.
Hence the role of retired generals and governors in creating universities cannot be criticized. Hakim Said gave a charter to two medical universities in Karachi. The Aga Khan University was chartered by President Ziaul Haq as a private medical university in the 1980s.
It is the first medical university in Pakistan to provide a model for universities in the public sector. The Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences has 126 highly qualified and foreign-trained teaching faculty of professors, associate professors and assistant professors and an equal number of lecturers.
This is also true of the Health Sciences University in Lahore and the Dow Medical University in Karachi.
These colleges and cities have their independent needs for medical universities. General Ihsan Ahmed was a graduate of the LMC, so he had affection for his alma mater and processed the already recommended work for final decision to upgrade the college to a medical university.
There are medical universities in Bangladesh and Iran. If they can work successfully and carry out research, teaching and training why can't universities here do the same? Some professors or the Pakistan Medical Association have different views on the role of medical universities in the public sector but why are they and Mr Malik silent on the private medical universities functioning in these cities.
I would suggest that the NWFP and Balochistan should set up their own medical universities. This will improve primary healthcare and hospital care. People are in great need of preventive care in view of the onslaught of infectious and non-communicable diseases, which can be stopped/controlled only when community medicine and public health is strengthened.
Our faculty of community medicine and public health is participating in a polio eradication programme and in leishmaniasis (a skin disease) control in Sindh.
DR HUSSAIN BUX KOLACHI
Associate Professor, Community Medicine, LUMHS, Jamshoro
Closures of RCD Highway
It has become a regular practice that the RCD Highway is blocked near the Hub/Mochko checkpost in Karachi's Baldia Town by local people whenever there is a strike call or on other pretexts.
On May 14 the road was blocked on a strike call from 7am till 10am. Similarly, on June 4, again on a strike call, the road was closed from 7.30am till 5pm.
It has been seen during the last four to five years that whenever there is closure of the road, the law-enforcement agencies are hesitant to react. Taking action when half the day is over and the damage done is not helpful.
Hub is a major industrial area where a large number of workers go daily from Karachi. The loss caused to the industries in Hub and to the national exchequer, amounting to millions of rupees per day, remains unaccounted for.
Moreover, such high-handedness adds to the plight of thousands of men, women and children who want to reach their destinations but are stranded for hours.
It is regrettable that we cannot even keep our highways open for traffic. May I request the authorities concerned to seriously consider what they have done so far to curb such lawlessness?
LT-COL (retd) SARFRAZ AHMED KHAN
Karachi
President's English
This refers to Ayaz Amir's op-ed column (June 4). We enjoy the personal opinions of Mr Amir, especially the pungent touch that his column exudes. But I, as a Pakistani, take strong exception to his sarcastic, misplaced criticism of the English that President Musharraf used in his article.
Mr Amir needs to be educated about the fact that English is a foreign language for us. We don't have to seek perfection in its syntax. It is fine as long as we can convey the message through the medium of this borrowed language.
Mr Amir should come out of that slavish mindset and forget about the quality of the English we use. It is a foreign language, not our mother tongue.
ENGR. ZAREEF KHAN
Rawalpindi
Dignity
President Bush's recent address at the War College was about the policies to be adopted vis-a-vis the Iraq imbroglio and mentioned freedom, liberty and security as the lynchpins and targets for the Iraqi nation.
What was, however, glaringly missing in the speech was the word "dignity" for the Iraqi people, which was trampled upon in Abu Ghraib prison at the hands of US soldiers.
Perhaps the concept of human dignity is non-existent in the American mind as even the US constitution does not include the term "dignity" as a basic human right.
DR M. YAQOOB BHATTI
Lahore
Commuters' problem
I travel by bus from Bhara Kahu to Islamabad every day by using public transport. This is route No. 127 which starts from Chattar Park and ends at F-8 Markaz. But it is regrettable that the minibuses plying on this route do not complete their journey from end to end.
For instance, at least as many as 98 per cent of wagons go up to the Aabpara Market and do not touch their last stop at District Courts in F-8. The behaviour of drivers and conductors at times is also unbecoming.
They not only force all passengers to get down at Aabpara Market but are rude in their manners. Above all, they throw all caution to the wind when they get their buses overloaded with passengers and dangerously violate all speed limits.
The front seat near the driver is meant for only two passengers but three passengers are routinely permitted to sit there. Some time they even allow a fourth passenger to sit on the driver's right. They even brush aside all ethics and norms of our society when they allow three women passengers, instead of two, to sit along with the driver.
I would request the authorities concerned to check the glaring irregularities being committed by van drivers and conductors of route No. 127 and ensure the convenience and safety of commuters.
FAZALUR REHMAN ABBASI
Islamabad
'Remembering D-Day'
Eric S. Margolis has come out with some worthy words towards the close of his column "Remembering D-Day" (May 30). The words merit repetition so as to draw inspiration from them.
"The border between old enemies France and Germany, along which millions of soldiers died in three wars, is marked only by a small plaque. There are no security or customs posts, no barriers, no guards.
The old border has simply vanished. You only know you are in Germany when the signs change language. Perhaps one day that is the way the border between India and Pakistan will be: a borderless border."
RANA SHAFIQUE AHMED KHAN
Lahore
'Time to stand up'
The editorial "Time to stand up" (June 2) poses a question: "Can Muslims kill Muslims?"
Would it not have been more appropriate if the word "Muslims" had been substituted by the words "human beings"? The point that your editorial makes with reference to the recent Shia-Sunni violence in Karachi should and does equally apply to all cases of carnage and homicide induced by fanaticism, regardless of the religion of the killers and the victims.
The above-mentioned opening of a sentence eclipses the message that your otherwise excellent editorial portrays.
SIDDIQUE MALIK
Louisville, KY., USA
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