| 04 October 2004 | Monday | 18 Shaban 1425 |
Is America's reproof real?
'Hostage-taking crisis'
Spread of deadly diseases
Mirpurkhas-Munabao railway
Traffic rules violation
Power shortage and DHA's obligation
Firecrackers
School uniform
Kofi Annan
Indian films
Foreign TV channel
Partitioning music
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Mr M. P. Bhandara, like many others, finds the Kashmir issue an unnecessary impediment in the way of good neighbourly relations between India and Pakistan and a great hindrance to the economic development of the two countries. In this, any fair-minded person would agree with him.
In his article "Kashmir: a possible solution" (July 4), Mr Bhandara begins by rightly condemning and lamenting the murder of Mushtaq Ahmad, the uncle of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and justly praises the latter for his moderation, wisdom and representation of Kashmiri interests "as opposed to the real estate claims of India and Pakistan".
Then he immediately proceeds to rubbish everything that Mirwaiz Umar Farooq represents by reducing it to a religious issue rather than a political one, and declaring the idea of independence untenable because it is not acceptable to India or Pakistan, Kashmir is not a homogeneous state and because an independent Kashmir would not be viable economically. Although Mr Bhandara's ideas are welcome as debating points, they do not stand up to close scrutiny.
Jammu and Kashmir is certainly not homogeneous, nor is India, Pakistan or any other country (with the possible exception of a couple). The struggle for independence in Kashmir has been wholly indigenous and wholly political. In the post-Afghan war, 'jihadis' and other religious zealots have muddied the water by trying to turn it into a religious war. But they have not succeeded.
Now again the struggle has reverted to its original political character and nature. I was happy to note that last week at a press conference in New York President Pervez Musharraf reiterated the point that the Kashmir problem is a political and not a religious issue.
Before Mr Bhandara and his consorts start a piecemeal chopping off of Muslim Azad Kashmir, Buddhist Ladakh and Hindu Jammu, I propose: let there be a fair period of peace during which all parties put their case to the people of Jammu and Kashmir without interference from India or Pakistan, and let this be followed by a free and fair referendum.
If the majority of people reject an independent state which guarantees freedom of religion and protection of human rights of all its citizens, I, like many other Kashmiris, would accept that verdict, however unpalatable.
Economic viability has never been the determining criterion for wanting to obtain independence. Were that so, not many countries would have been independent today and, least of all, Timor, the most recent addition to the pantheon of independent nations.
Economic viability follows rather than precedes independence. It is achieved by honest and hard work and judicious use of a nation's resources - most important of which are its people.
City states such as Singapore, small countries such as Belgium (where I currently live and work) and many others have made themselves economically viable after becoming independent. That with the goodwill and help of our neighbours, China, India and Pakistan, we can also do that is "plain to see" for any unprejudiced eyes.
Economic viability is often used as an independence-rejecting argument because it sounds so rational and so objective. That this is disingenuous is also plain for all to see.
For, desire for independence and freedom and love for one's land are founded in emotions and are, therefore, subjective. But this does not invalidate them any more than being poor (and, therefore, economically unviable) disqualifies one from the right (this is the operative word) to (a free) life.
Mr Bhandara asserts that there is a "unanimity between India and Pakistan ...that independence for Kashmir is the worst of all for peace in South Asia". Mr Bhandara is perhaps privy to some insider information, though the logic of this statement would escape any fair-minded person. "We" also "do not agree", Mr Bhandara.
PROF ZAHUR ZAMAN
Leuven, Belgium
Is America's reproof real?
President Bush in a surprising development has mildly admonished Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and said: "Israel should impose a settlement freeze, dismantle unauthorized posts and daily humiliation of Palestinian people, and avoid any actions that prejudice the final negotiations. And world leaders should withdraw all favour and support from any Palestinian leader who fails his people and betrays their cause."
This follows on the heels of a $319-million deal for the sale of 5,000 smart bombs to Israel. The actual intent of the double speak of Bush is, therefore, not clear. He is reprimanding Israel on the one hand and strengthening its lethal arsenal on the other.
It appears that he is following a three-pronged strategy of pacifying the Islamic world, fortifying Israel and simultaneously sending a strong signal to Tehran. Some light on this strategy is shed by the following mission statement released by the Pentagon:
"The bombs are meant to maintain Israel's qualitative advantage, and advance US strategic and tactical interests." Among the bombs the Israeli air force will get are 500 one-ton bunker busters that can penetrate two-meter-thick cement walls, 2,500 regular one-ton bombs, 1,000 half-ton bombs and 500 quarter-ton bombs.
US government sources have said: "The bomb deal, one of the largest weapons deals of recent years, did not face any political difficulties, despite the use Israel has made of US-made F-16s in some of its assassinations in the territories."
The sources have also said: "Israel will not be asking for any new weapons systems or purchases until after the upcoming November elections. On October 12, delegations from the two countries meet for their regular six month session for strategic cooperation."
America's soft rebuke to Israel should, therefore, be viewed in the light of the above. It is clear that it is merely a ploy to pacify the Islamic world. The real intent is to build up Israel's military power qualitatively to a level that it can "advance US strategic and tactical interests" in the Middle East unhindered.
S.M.H.BOKHARI
Rawalpindi
'Hostage-taking crisis'
Dr Iffat Idris's diffuse and rambling analysis of the predicament of innocent men and women taken hostage in Iraq is deeply flawed ("Hostage- taking crisis," Sept 30).
Surprisingly, it is the poor hostages themselves, and their governments, whom she blames for the ordeal they continue to undergo at the hands of their heartless captors. "Why are they crazy enough to be working in Iraq?" she demands and then answers her own question: "To make a quick buck."
Perhaps so, but is that a reason for beheading them? Surely the Italian aid workers could not be accused of being mercenaries. Maybe that is the reason why they were set free - and not, as rumoured, in exchange for a reported ransom of a million euros.
Moreover, are ordinary people taken hostage answerable for the foreign policy decisions of their democratically elected governments, especially when not everyone has voted for the party, or parties, currently holding office? Certainly not.
Hostage taking as a lever to force shifts or reversals in the foreign and national policies of the several governments of the coalition forces is a mistake. It may temporarily frighten weak governments into compliance, but there are no long-term gains, or even medium-term ones for the hostage-takers.
Were the poor schoolchildren of Beslan and their parents, held hostage for three days in appalling conditions, in any way responsible for the Russian government's stand on independence for the Chechens, or even in agreement therewith? Can any government be forced to cave in on important concerns such as a nation's integrity through such blackmail? And even if it does, will it not seek to reverse such a decision, taken under duress, as soon as the pressure eases?
It is the United Nations that should press for the evacuation of the coalition forces from Iraq and resolve the Chechen issue among other things. Because the UN has abdicated responsibility, the hostage-takers have moved in to fill their place. Wake up, Mr Kofi Annan.
ASAD SIDDIQI
Lahore
Spread of deadly diseases
This refers to the letter "Spread of deadly diseases" (Sept 25) by Dr Shahana Faqeer. The two-pronged strategy proposed by the writer will indeed substantially reduce the use of spurious syringes in our country.
However, the chances of success in this war against deadly diseases may increase manifold if we address the motivation for people to buy spurious syringes. People buy low quality and cheap polypack syringes because they are trying desperately - even taking chances with their lives - to make ends meet while the cost of living is increasing without fail.
If good quality syringes are available in plenty at cheap prices, people who are aware will purchase them. However, the ministries of health and finance have imposed almost 50 per cent cumulative duties and taxes on the import of syringes. This is one major factor that the cost of good syringes is high.
In India there is no duty or taxes on life-saving medical products. Since we all know the role that spurious syringes are playing in the spread of deadly diseases in Pakistan, it should not be too difficult for the government to remove all or some duties and taxes on life-saving drugs so that good quality blister-pack syringes are available in plenty and at cheaper prices. This cost reduction will check the making of spurious syringes in poly pack.
This should be an important element of the health ministry's strategy, in addition to the actions proposed in the above-referenced letter, to stop the spread of deadly diseases, including HIV, hepatitis B and C.
COL (retd) IFTIKHAR H. MIR
Islamabad
Mirpurkhas-Munabao railway
I would like to back the views expressed by Justice (Retd) Salahuddin Mirza and Mr S.M.H. Rizvi in their letters (Aug 30, Sept 29). I have also observed the train MG 6/5 regularly operating between Mirpurkhas and Khokrapar.
Besides carrying goods and passengers, this service supplies drinking water to railway stations along the 126-km route. The Pakistan Railways website http://www.pakrail.com/steam.asp briefly describes the journey through the Thar desert.
The existing meter gauge railway track may require some make and mend for which abundant of resources should be available with the Pakistan Railways as a result of the conversion of the Jacobabad-Kashmore and Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas sections into broad-gauge during the 60s.
Visualizing the political environment in the subcontinent and the volume of traffic on the Mirpurkhas Khokrapar Munabao section, the existing meter gauge railway is good enough.
Technically also the meter gauge is more suitable for sandy terrain which requires approximately the width of a bicycle path, lighter rolling stock and is 60 per cent cheaper to operate as compared to broad gauge.
For the present we don't have to buy anything from India except some wooden sleepers which might have been misappropriated or eaten away by termite/white ants. Upgrading can be considered only when peace becomes firmly ingrained.
LT-COL (retd) SYED AHMED
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Traffic rules violation
This refers to the letter (Sept 24) by Ms Sarah Salman on the above subject. She has correctly pointed to a problem most of us face when we stop at the red light and find people behind honking as if we were breaking the law.
The writer attributes the problem to the general public's lack of awareness and impatience and suggests increased police control particularly in the streets of Karachi's Defence, where significant intersections are being provided with signals.
Being a professional traffic and transportation engineer and having designed hundreds of intersections in the US for over 10 years, I would put a major portion of the fault with designers and the authorities concerned for implementing a traffic control system which is unresponsive to the actual traffic demand.
Intersections, particularly those on the outskirts of a city, which have uneven demand on different approaches, must be designed as traffic actuated in order to be effective. In other words, timings and phases must vary according to the tidal flow.
Loop detectors, installed in pavements, send signals indicating demand on various approaches to a central signal controller and the controller adjusts signal timings and phases accordingly, much like traffic cops manually controlling signals on several important intersections. Since it is not possible to man every signal, traffic-actuated signals are the only other option.
Consider a motorist who passes through, say, 20 intersections every day on his way home and finds that he has to stop at 10 of them even when there is no traffic on other approaches. He/she will be inclined to jump the signal eventually, no matter how conscientious a citizen he/she is.
When we stop at traffic signals in Karachi, drivers standing at the stop line need to know when the signal changes, but they cannot even see the signal in almost all cases.
There may be a small signal located in the opposite median but this gets covered most often when a bus or other large vehicle stops in front of it to make a turn. We have designed and put up beautiful (and expensive) mast arms at almost every intersection but have put these at the wrong side of the intersection, i.e., at the stop line.
Hence the driver standing at the stop line has the mast arm signal above and cannot see it, and therefore has no idea when the signal changes. He can only guess or wait until people from behind start to honk to make his move, hoping that the honking is due to change of signal.
These high mast arms should be located on the other side so that they are clearly visible to the stopping traffic and cannot be obstructed by any vehicle in between.
RAJ K. TEJWANEY
Via email
Power shortage and DHA's obligation
In Karachi, Defence is one township whose administration can provide uninterrupted power supply to its residents, which they deserve for paying a 15-20 kw average bill per household during summer.
The Defence Housing Authority can muster resources to set up a power station with the capacity to help cut down the power cost for consumers. A DHA-controlled generation and distribution power station may start functioning three years from now if the DHA administration realizes its obligation towards the residents and resolves to provide relief to them.
Damage to household equipment due to persistent voltage fluctuations and frequent power cuts throughout Defence is something that the KESC has failed to control. This situation calls for alternative plans of self-generation and distribution of electricity by the DHA.
M. M. KHAN
Karachi
Firecrackers
I want to draw the attention of all concerned to the practice of exploding firecrackers in Karachi and other cities on the occasion of Shab-i-Baraat every year. This year too, on Thursday night, small children and teenagers exploded firecrackers, causing problems for people, including patients.
Asthmatic patients were particularly exposed to the sulphur contained in these crackers. Fireworks have already taken so many precious lives all over the country, especially in Rawalpindi. The government should implement its ban on fireworks.
DR FAKHIR RAZA
Karachi
School uniform
This is about the Mama Parsi Girls School, Karachi. This school has perhaps a unique regulation that enables it to deduct marks from any of its students for not wearing uniform purchased from its own prescribed shop.
Students who wear uniforms not purchased from the school's recommended shop are penalized by having 25 marks deducted from the total marks obtained by them in their tests/exams.
S. ANISUR RAHMAN & OTHERS
Karachi
Kofi Annan
After Iraq has been flattened and thousands of Iraqis - men, women and children - have died, Kofi Annan has suddenly woken up to be bold enough to say that the war on Iraq was illegal. Where was he, when Iraq was invaded?
Who made Annan say the above words? And why? Is anything cooking?
RAHMAT ALI
Karachi
Indian films
The statement by Federal Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed supporting the decision that Indian films would not be allowed in our cinema houses (reported in a section of the press on Sept 17) is regrettable.
The decision is not good for our cinema industry. Cinema houses are largely empty because our films are not up to the mark. People want to see interesting and exciting movies.
Cinema houses are being converted into apartment blocks or shopping centres in great numbers. Cinema houses which screen good English movies are still doing business. People who are fond of films want to see Indian movies. They have become accustomed to Indian movies since the days of General Ziaul Haq when VCRs were introduced in the country.
The point that must be made here is that Indian customs and traditions are there for everyone to see on cable and satellite TV channels. Many cable operators regularly show Indian channels which are banned in Pakistan.
I request the minister to allow the screening of selected Indian movies in local cinema houses because people want to see actors and actresses from across the border on the big screen. This may lead to a competition in our film industry.
FAZAL MAHMOOD
Karachi
Foreign TV channel
This is apropos of the letter "Foreign TV channels" by Mr Usman Naeem (Sept 30). Let us be open minded. We should not take off any gloss from entertainment, specially in the prevailing depressive atmosphere.
Doing and following good is up to every individual. Self-discipline is a must. TV remotes and on/off switch controls are with those who are supposed to be in command of self and near ones. If they are not, then why cry foul?
CH MEHBOOBULLAH
Lahore Cantonment
Partitioning music
Regarding the letter "Partitioning music?" (Oct 1) by Mr Khwaja Muhammad Bashir Bhatt, a correction is in order. The song "Ankhian milakey" (film "Rattan", 1946) was sung by Zohrabai Ambalawali, not Shamshad Begum.
Its lyrics were written by Pandit D. N. Madhok and the music was rendered by Naushad. I have a 33 rpm album of this film. But probably the most lilting song in the same album is "Rimjhim barse badarwaa" sung by Zohra and chorus.
BHAGWAN PRASAD
Los Angeles, USA
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