| 27 June 2004 | Sunday | 08 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425 |
'In response to allegations'
Plight of old pensioners
Pharmacy graduates
Savings certificates
Environmental impact assessment
'Enlightened moderation'
Waiting for passport
'Undeclared war'
Killing of a S. Korean
PTV's jackpot
Languishing in jail
Dying junipers
Age relaxation
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The MMA nominee on the National Security Council has now raised the issue that no constitution of parliamentary democracy provides for any security council.
The nation wants to know whether the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal had read all conditions before reaching an agreement with the ruling party regarding the Legal Frame Order that has been made a part of the Constitution. Section 58-2 (b) does not find a place in the constitution of any country working under parliamentary democracy. It is only in Pakistan that the president has unlimited powers to dismiss the prime minister and dissolve parliament, thanks to the agreement of the MMA with the king's party.
The MMA leadership has of course made a cosmetic amendment that the president's action will be referred to the Supreme Court within 15 days, which will deliver its judgment within a month. Now to repeal these vexed provisions, a two-thirds majority is required, which the opposition will find very difficult to have under the present Constitution and the system in vogue.
The Jamaat-i-Islami joined Zia's government during the martial law days. Mahmood Azam Farooqi and Professor Ghafoor Ahmad were appointed ministers, but they had to quit, blaming the their secretaries for not obeying their orders. History has repeated itself in the 17th Amendment now.
The electorate in Pakistan would like to know as to why the MMA signed the deal and also what led to the passage of the 17th Amendment. Does the MMA have other plans for when the general quits as COAS at the end of this year? May I ask our friends in the MMA as to why it was necessary for them to agree on General Musharraf being the president of Pakistan in the uniform of the army chief till the end of 2004?
The MMA's mind and heart do not seem to be in unison; while its mind is with the ruling party, its heart is with the opposition. That is why, in spite of the 17th Amendment, the MMA still claims to be in the opposition.
None should forget that civil society continues its struggle by using its most effective weapon. It has denied legitimacy to the LFO. A time will come when civil society will seek retribution from history. The need of the hour is sincerity bereft of any urge for power and pelf. ALI ASRAF KHAN
Karachi
(2)
This is with reference to the editorial "MMA's boycott of NSC" (June 25) which says that if the very coming into being of the NSC constituted a violation of the basic norms of constitutional government - as the ARD and all liberal sections of opinion thought - then the MMA should not have voted for the 17th Amendment bill. But having done that, the MMA has chosen to boycott the NSC. One is at a loss to understand this contradiction in the MMA's policies.
If one were to accept that an alliance between mullahs and the military exists, it would be quite easy to understand the policies of the MMA. The MMA voted in favour of the 17th Amendment and one of the conditions for it was that President Musharraf would shed his army uniform. Now what its leaders are doing is that they are giving President Musharraf an excuse for not giving up his army uniform.
The president has accused the MMA of breaching the accord and it would not come as a surprise if he uses this excuse for not giving up his army uniform. Thus, President Musharraf has got what he wanted - passage of the 17th Amendment and an excuse for not giving up his uniform. Does one still doubt that there is a covert alliance between religious parties and the military?
ANIL KHAN LUNI
Lahore
'In response to allegations'
This has reference to the article "In response to allegations" (June 10) by the chief of the Jamaat-i-Islami, Qazi Hussain Ahmad. He refers to religious parties without defining what religious parties mean. In my opinion, all main political parties are 'religious' because they have in their name 'Muslim' or 'Pakistan' or terms which indicate their association with religion. Hence, it is better that no political party calls itself a religious party unless it wants to invoke religion for the purpose of politics.
Invoking religion for doing politics is not right because politics is said to be a 'dirty business'. In politics, generally there are practices like double standards, corruption, meaning or saying one thing and meaning or doing another (i.e. cheating) to get public support, lying, self-interest and greed for power and wealth. There is no such thing as fair politics, just as there is no such thing as fair cheating, fair lying, fair bribing, etc. Religion and politics are opposite.
How bad politics is can be gauged from the article of Mr Hussain Ahmad. Expressing opinion on the issue of religious subjects' inclusion in the syllabi is one thing, but levelling unsubstantiated allegations against a non-political and reputable organization is another which creates hatred.
Qazi Hussein Ahmad probably realizes how disappointing his coalition parties' performance has been to the public, when they wasted an opportunity to do something worthwhile in solving the problems of poverty, illiteracy, healthcare, housing and related issues for the poorest of the poor in the NWFP and Balochistan, and instead indulged in trivial matters such as music, dance, cinema posters and fixing the gaze on women, as against, for example, what is being displayed at present by the Higher Education Commission and many other institutions.
Exploiting religion will not lead anyone anywhere, as was seen in the case of recent India's elections. The same goes with the policy of hatred, violence and arrogance. What is needed is a broad vision and focus on a mission to achieve results with good governance and leadership. It is hoped that all political parties will this for the good of the country.
ENGR A. RAHIM
Troy, Michigan, USA
Plight of old pensioners
In the 1980s the then finance minister, Dr Mahbubul Haq, announced that the government would annually remove the disparity between the pensions of old and new pensioners in three stages. The first he implemented but the remaining two were forgotten by his successors till October 1, 1999, when the prime minister announced elimination of the disparity between old pensioners of over 70 years of age and new pensioners. However, this was not implemented and now even the current 'progressive enlightened government' we hear so much about has not done anything in this regard.
The finance minister should realize that the vast majority of old pensioners are living below the poverty line. Surely, shortage of funds is an overplayed excuse as we have seen how lavishly the legislators and others have been granted perks and benefits. Had the finance minister done a simple arithmetical exercise before increasing pensions by only 16 per cent, he would have found that in the case of old pensioners of 70 plus, this in real terms further increases the disparity as the following example shows.
An old retired brigadier will now draw a pension of Rs9,976, an increase of Rs1,376 as against a newly-retired brigadier who will now receive Rs24,219, an increase of Rs1,794. And unbelievable as it may be, a senior and old retired federal secretary (seniormost civil servant) and a major-general will now get Rs11,136, which is less than the pension of a newly-retired army captain which is Rs12,420. Isn't this outrageous? With this sort of treatment can one blame corruption in the government? Since most of the retirees are ex-military men, it is surprising that service headquarters have not taken up this disparity with the ministry of finance.
I hope it is still not too late to rectify this situation.
REAR ADMIRAL (retd) S. Z. Hasnain
Karachi
Pharmacy graduates
To become a pharmacy graduate takes six years after matriculation - the time taken in other fields of arts and science to do one's master's. A bachelor in pharmacy is eligible for the post of a hospital pharmacist, a drug inspector, a pharmaceutical chemist and a junior analyst in the federal and provincial governments.
Initially, all these posts were in B-16, but with the passage of time they were all upgraded to B-17 in the federal and provincial setups except in Sindh where also all the other categories were raised to B-17 while the only four posts of junior analysts in Drug Testing Laboratory, Karachi, remained in B-16. In spite of repeated representations and all justifications by the departments concerned, these four posts have not been upgraded. The matter needs prompt attention and decision.
Likewise, the issue of stipend to FCPS Part II students in the CPSP is accepted by the federal and other three provincial governments but not by the Sindh government due perhaps to mistreatment of candidates as regards admission, training, examinations and results by a lobby dominating the affairs of the CPSC. This results in apathy by the Sindh health department. The CPSP authorities should also try to lessen communal and territorial disparities among their students.
This might solve the problem of establishing their regional centre in Hyderabad. Although it will be more appropriate if this centre is established at LUMHS, Jamshoro, as the atmosphere at Jamshoro is more academic with a medical university, a P.G. centre, nursing college, paramedical school, all fully equipped with relevant libraries and audio-visual arrangements. The regional centre of CPSP, in addition to its library, etc, can benefit from neighbouring facilities.
DR NOOR MUHAMMAD MEMON
President, Pakistan Medical Association Sindh, Hyderabad
Savings certificates
The State Bank has prohibited all banks from selling special savings certificates. This order automatically precludes the possibility of certificate holders reinvesting amounts earned by them from their previous investments, and they will be thus deprived of the reinvestment bonus which banks used to pay to the investor if he reinvested the full amount upon maturity of their certificates.
One is unable to fathom the wisdom behind banning banks from issuing any savings certificates. It is clear that this order is a device for cheating the investors of the four per cent bonus which they earned if they chose to reinvest the original invested amounts.
The Nawaz Sharif government cancelled foreign currency accounts, even though his government had given the public an assurance that it would not touch such accounts. His own cronies were of course given advance warning of this, enabling them to withdraw billions of dollars from their accounts.
How does one maintain any faith in a government which keeps squeezing the taxpayer and takes all possible steps to the detriment of its citizens?
ABDUL MALIK
Karachi
Environmental impact assessment
Mr Roedad Khan ("Cable car for Islamabad", June 19) has reminded the CDA that environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the proposed project is mandatory under the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act.
EIA is a study which identifies and quantifies the benefits as well as the adverse effects of a project. It also recommends mitigative measures to minimize the adverse effects. EIA is, in fact, a tool for the competent authority to facilitate his decision. It is for the competent authority to decide whether the residual adverse effects after mitigation are acceptable.
Readers would be surprised to know that EIA has not been carried out even for large projects of national importance. For example, it was not done for the Kalabagh Dam project along with the feasibility studies, and Wapda, on its own, proceeded to the final design stage.
The correct procedure would have been to have carried out EIA along with the feasibility study and placed the same before the political decision-maker. Final detailed design should only have been started after obtaining a decision from the government. But Wapda not only did not do this, but always cornered the government with only one project on the pretext that study of another site would take at least 5-7 years. This went on for 20 years. If Wapda had completed the study of a second site along with its EIA, both the options would have been available to the government and a decision would have been made long ago.
EIA was carried out for Ghazi-Barotha project through project consultants who evaluated its effects on the five villages located on the left bank, totally ignoring 29 villages of the right bank, and concluded that 1,000 cusecs of water would be adequate for meeting the scavenging and washing needs of the five villages. Only time will tell how much damage will be caused by the drying out of the river-bed from Ghazi to Attock.
As regards the Islamabad cable car, it will be another implant on a structured city - a city which is rich and comfortable but without culture, materially advanced but soulless and artificial, assembled not grown, mechanical not organic, graded and compartmentalized not homogeneous and without the vitality of the routed human culture. May Margalla Society enjoy the ride of the cable car.
FAQIR AHMED PARACHA
Peshawar
'Enlightened moderation'
President Musharraf ("Enlightened moderation", June 2) has said: "......the root cause of extremism and militancy lies in political injustice, denial and deprivation."
But his comment creates a confusion in an ordinary mind. Isn't kicking off an elected prime minister and an elected government a political injustice? Similarly, isn't placing hordes of armymen and their relatives in civil institutions denial and deprivation of rights of civilians?
SHEEN AIN
Karachi
Waiting for passport
Having planned a visit to the US to visit my son who is studying there, it crossed my mind that this would be a good opportunity to visit England for a week. I hold valid multiple entry visas for both the US and Canada. I applied for a tourist visa for the UK on May 6 through designated couriers. After waiting for three weeks, on May 31 I faxed a letter to the UK visa section in Islamabad for retrieval of my passport, stating that as much as I would like to visit their country I would not indefinitely put my travel plans on hold. From that day to date I have been trying in vain to get my passport returned.
Every day since then I have been calling the UK embassy in Islamabad, but not once have I been able to get through. My faxes have not been acknowledged - it's like beating your head against a wall. The only way that I could think of to bring attention to this matter was through your respected newspaper.
My vacation period is almost over, my son calls up every day to find out what's delaying us as his vacation is also going to be over soon, and I am, simply put, utterly frustrated. I am not asking for special favours but courtesy demands that I should receive a reply to my queries.
FAUZIA TAPAL
Via email
'Undeclared war'
In his column of June 18, Mr Ayaz Amir draws his countrymen's attention to the root cause of sectarian and other killings. I think this is because Pakistan is under American hegemony, and the process started in the Ayub era. It has been religiously followed by all ruling generals - ruling both directly and indirectly through politicians.
Our governments mortgaged Pakistan to the Americans much earlier. This I assert on the basis of reliable documents which came to my notice 10 years back. Mr Amir or anybody else can get my statement verified through the US State Department's archives regarding Pakistan. One only has to read the Pakistan government's memo No. 845-F-51/10-2747, dated October 8, 1947. It is document No. 6.
GHULAM KIBRIA
Karachi
Killing of a S. Korean
I condemn the killing of South Korean translator Kim Sun-il in Iraq and consider it a heinous crime against humanity. The event has saddened us and I regard him as another innocent victim of the conflict. Such actions can only increase hatred in the world. For the benefit of everyone, the sanctity of life should be respected by everyone, above any reason.
W. A. AHMED
Karachi
PTV's jackpot
PTV seems extremely elated at the prospects of generating billions by imposing its licence fee to be collected through monthly electricity bills. It has also announced through newspaper ads a prize scheme worth Rs30 million. This is bound to encourage gambling practices forbidden by the law and Islam.
A PTV spokesman has mentioned an agreement with Wapda which will claim 20 per cent of the money to be generated. He has also stated that 42 per cent power users in the 0-100 KW bracket will be exempted from the licence fee.
I would like to inform the spokesman that a small quarter with two fans, three bulbs, an electric iron and a water pump use at least 6KW per day. The above exemption will not therefore benefit many people.
The PTV authorities are requested to review this matter, and raise the threshold to at least 200KW.
RAFI ADAMJEE
Karachi
Languishing in jail
Justice delayed is justice denied. I have been languishing in jail for 11 years. I am being tried before a special court (offences in banks), Karachi. This court has no permanent judge for the last one year and under-trial prisoners are suffering on account of this.
The government must appoint a permanent judge to provide justice.
UNDER-TRIAL PRISONER
Central Jail Karachi
Dying junipers
Ziarat, the only hill station of Balochistan, is famous for two things - as a spot liked by the Quaid-i-Azam for its clean, fresh and cool air and for its lush green forest of juniper trees. One of the biggest forests of juniper in the world, Ziarat is now taking its last breath and nobody is worried about this natural treasure.
Two things are responsible for this loss. First, there has been no rain for some time. Second, the forest department is least bothered about the disease afflicting these trees. No treatment has been provided so far. Every time one visits Ziarat and looks at the dying juniper trees, one's heart bleeds.
PROFESSOR JAFFAR
Quetta
Age relaxation
The recent statement of the Sindh chief minister about relaxation of age for jobless youth must have raised the hopes of many. He should now issue a general notification in this regard, without delegating any such powers to his ministers. Ninety per cent of unemployed people in remote areas do get age relaxation directly from the minister.
LALA FAZAL AHMED BELAEE
Hyderabad
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