| 05 October 2004 | Tuesday | 19 Shaban 1425 |
Investigating the 1965 war
Visa liberalization
Of diplomacy and poetry
Increase in LPG prices
DHA development charges
'Enigma of promises'
Hospital hygiene
Catching the robbers
Driving licence test
'Generational attitudes'
Sialkot carnage
Foreign TV channels
Courier service
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This is with reference to Mr Kuldip Nayar's article "One-upmanship game" (Sept 25). He has recounted the favours done to Pakistan by India in the matter of the former's entry into the Asean forum and the revival of its membership of the Common wealth, and has demanded in return Pakistan's favour for India's entry into the United Nations Security Council as a permanent member with veto power.
Endeavouring to allay the fears of Pakistanis that by becoming a permanent member of the UNSC, India will influence decisions on Kashmir, he asks the question: what can India do after becoming a UNSC permanent member when America is firmly behind Pakistan? He has also mentioned that even Russia does not have anything against Pakistan for India to exploit.
Mr Nayar's assertions represent an oversimplification of matters, besides a distortion of both facts and history. He has tried to draw parallels between UNSC permanent membership for India and Pakistan's entry into the Asean forum and the restoration of the former's Commonwealth membership.
These two issues are not comparable. The Commonwealth is a useless organization. One fails to understand why the Pakistan government was so anxious to get its membership restored when, in similar circumstances, a small African country decided to quit the organization instead of accepting a humiliating and conditional re-entry.
As for the Asean forum, Pakistan has not been granted membership of the organization envisaging economic benefits. The Asean forum is in fact a platform to exchange views about fighting terrorism (a term which has not been defined by the UN yet) and it will more serve American interests. The Indian support for Pakistan was thus on cosmetic issues.
Permanent membership of the UNSC is a very big advantage which will put India on a par with the big global powers and reinforce its hegemonic designs in Asia in general and in South Asia in particular.
The assertion that America is standing firmly behind Pakistan is mere illusion. America is firmly behind India as the two countries are now strategic partners in the matter of regional, as well as global, hegemony.
America's relations with Pakistan are representative of the current needs in Afghanistan and Iraq. As soon as these expediencies are over, Pakistan will find itself left out, as in the past.
However, this time American expediency seem to last considerably longer. What can Russia do? Mr Nayar may not have forgotten the 'vetoes' exercised by it on many occasions in the past over the Kashmir issue at India's requests.
GHULAM MUHAMMAD
Karachi
Investigating the 1965 war
No one can disagree with Mr Muhammad Nawaz Qureshi's demand that the 1965 war should be investigated (Sept 17). He does not have to wait for some historian to unravel the truth about the war. Some people who took part in that war are still alive. They can give us some facts.
Mr Qureshi already seems to believe that it was Pakistan's mistake and that its political leaders hatched a conspiracy against the people. Still let me give him a formula to determine the truth.
For any disagreement, dispute or war, we can form four teams of expert researchers: two teams from the combatants themselves, one team consisting of friendly countries, and the last a UN personnel as an impartial observer who could provide his findings from UN records.
These groups should submit within a timeframe their findings to a select committee of experts formed under Asean, in which there should be no influence of the five big powers.
The findings should not be influenced by partiality. The material thus gathered should be agreed upon and signed by each group to make it an authentic research document.
Now some answers to his assumptions are in order. President Ayub Khan's reply that 'please do not touch me on the fatal point' (for starting the war) was not actually admission of any mistake. What this reply implied was that he was close to winning the war but, sadly, it was snatched from his hands.
The question 'why Pakistan had decided to take on an enemy several times bigger' is itself the answer that Pakistan being a small country did not, rather could not, start the war.
As for the question why it was assumed that India would not cross the international border, the answer is embarrassingly simple: the Pakistani leadership naively thought that the fight in Kashmir would remain confined to that internationally accepted disputed territory. Perhaps they did not know the Indians well enough.
S. M. KAZIM NAQVI
Karachi
Visa liberalization
Following the easing of the visa regime by India as a confidence-building measure, your editorial "Visa liberalization" (Sept 21) advocating, among other matters, the cause of senior citizens (over 65) is most welcome.
It is hoped that the Indian high commission will take due cognizance of the editorial and ensure facilitating measures in this regard. In the spirit of confidence-building measures, I would like to suggest that the spouses of senior citizens may also be accommodated even if under 65 to avail themselves of the same facilities as are available to their husbands.
In order also to have their visa applications speedily processed, the Indian high commission may do well to authorize Indian Airlines to receive visa applications in Karachi for onward transmission to Islamabad until India's visa offices are reopened and start functioning normally.
USMAN KHAN
Karachi
(2)
Of all confidence-building measures, great emphasis is being laid by Pakistan and India on people-to-people contact. The ground realities, however, leave much to be desired.
The current procedure for granting visas by both the governments is cumbersome, particularly for the elderly. The following measures may be considered to make visa acquisition easy:
(1) Submission of applications and delivery of visas should be entrusted to courier services.
(2) Multiple visas may be granted for five years and the fee should be increased accordingly.
(3) The requirement of police reporting and presenting visa forms at immigration should be dispensed with.
SABIH UDDIN AHMAD
Islamabad
Of diplomacy and poetry
This is with reference to the exchange of Urdu couplets between Mr Tariq Aziz and Mr J.H. Dixit in their recent meeting in which the latter made the point that the Kashmir talks would yield no result in a hurry.
The present process of composite dialogue has been facilitated by the US which has its own axe to grind. It wants Pakistan's devoted service on the Afghan-Pakistan border to achieve the given targets.
India wants to hide the Kashmir dispute under the smoke screen of prolonged talks using all suppressive means to crush the Kashmiri resistance/freedom movement and by annihilating the remaining Kashmiri youth.
It wants to complete the three-tier electrified fence on the entire LoC with US blessings and thereafter exercise Indo-US pressure and blackmail on Pakistan to accept the LoC as an international border.
Other objectives of trade, tourism, cultural relations are normal matters of governance which have no nexus with the Kashmir issue, but they will be used as a sign of friendship and peace.
This reminds us of the 1962 Bhutto Swaran dialogue process which was also prolonged till the achievement of the Indo-US purpose of completing large-scale delivery of arms to India after the Indo-Chinese war and restraining Pakistan from taking any military steps in the Valley.
After these objectives had been achieved, India shut the door on negotiations and the US and the UK who had sponsored the talks remained unmoved and did not raise even a little finger.
KHWAJA MUHAMMAD BASHIR BUTT
Bahawalnagar
Increase in LPG prices
This refers to the report (Sept 29) on an increase in LPG prices by 62 per cent in the past nine months. Petrol and diesel prices have not been raised in line with the increase in crude prices owing to the government of Pakistan's decision to forgo various taxes on petrol and diesel, such as the development surcharge, in order to protect consumers from the price shock of the rapidly-increasing world prices. This situation cannot last very long as international crude prices are hitting record levels and those of LPG as a by product will automatically go up.
Higher crude prices (and LPG prices) are here to stay, and Mr Iqbal Z. Ahmed, chairman, LPG Association of Pakistan, is right in suggesting that there is a need to find a long-term solution.
Unless Pakistan has major oil or gas finds, it is highly unlikely that it will be able to produce enough LPG over the long term to meet its demand. Even today Pakistan's consumption of LPG per capita at four kilos per annum is the lowest in the region.
It is, therefore, advisable to let prices rise to international levels over the next few months, otherwise imports will remain unviable and consumers will continue to face shortages and pay black market prices.
If the government does not allow full and final deregulation, no investment in the LPG sector infrastructure is likely to come in Pakistan. Investment in the LPG infrastructure is the need of the hour if Pakistan is serious in bridging its energy gap and preserving whatever little forest resources it has been left with.
SOHAIL IQBAL
Karachi
DHA development charges
It was good to see a letter-writer taking up the cause of thousands of affected residents of Karachi's DHA (Sept 22). The DHA executive committee has to be stopped from taking draconian decisions.
Development charges at Rs110 per sq yd were first imposed on Phase VIII which were final. Then on October 30, 1999, the committee imposed what it called "enhancement" of rate of escalation charges with effect from July 2000.
No development was done by the DHA in Phase VIII which is still a desert. This time the executive committee has imposed "additional development charges" at the rate of Rs1,000 per sq yd which for a 500-yard plot come to half a million rupees. The DHA will earn billions by this move. Who will stop it for imposing similar charges again at Rs10,000 per sq yd?
MUSHTAQ AHMED
Karachi
'Enigma of promises'
This refers to the article "The enigma of promises" by Mr M. Ziauddin (Sept 30). He rightly says that the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal is held to ransom by their "sanads" and the Patriots are bound by their yet-to-be-paid loans.
The MMA vote bank is depleting fast as they are seen as edifiers of Gen Musharraf's position as army chief and as president. Opposition parties too are looking down upon the mullahs.
The MMA wants to change and is now looking for closer ties with the ARD. It may as well get ready to put everything on the line to win back its mass appeal. If that happens, it will be bad news for the maintainers of the status quo and good news for the country.
The biggest question is: why should any general be interested in democracy? They come to bide their time, initiate unnecessary conflicts, plan for their next 10 generations and, when the time comes, leave behind a messy heap higher than the K2.
Was Ayub sincere in his democracy? First, he rigged the 1965 indirect elections so that Ms Fatima Jinnah was defeated. Then he kicked his own BD system and handed the charge to another general. By so doing, Ayub got all his acts of commission and omission indemnified by a new set of generals.
Gen Yahya's sincerity to the democratic process can be gauged from the fact that he refused to hand over power to the majority leader. The less said about the democratic credentials of Zia, the better. Gen Musharraf's problem too seems to be to retain power.
This is how it goes. When everyone around Gen Zia was egging him to give up his uniform, he told Gen Mirza Aslam Beg that his reluctance in 1985 and again in 1988 to returning to a full-fledged democracy was that he feared the consequences.
A president is a symbol of unity of the federation. By his political deals, by keeping the real representatives out, and going back on his word on the uniform issue, Gen Musharraf has widened the gap between the federating units. The fact that the NWFP and Balochistan reject his rank beyond December 31 should be enough for him to go by the code of an officer and a gentleman.
ASLAM MINHAS
Karachi
Hospital hygiene
I Fully agree with the views expressed by Mr Saleem Nooruddin (Sept 30) regarding the unhygienic state of the Civil Hospital, Karachi, (CHK). I also visited the hospital recently and found its wards in a deplorable state.
The most shocking thing was the presence of stray dogs not just within the hospital compound but also in one of the ward corridors. Cleanliness in any hospital is a basic requirement for both patients and their visitors and doctors and medical students who work and receive their training there.
The hospital administrator must take notice of the state of the CHK which happens to be one of the oldest teaching hospitals of Pakistan. As the city government is planning to launch a drive against stray dogs (Dawn, Sept 26), may I suggest that the campaign should start from the CHK?
MRS SOOFIA JAVAID
Karachi
Catching the robbers
I have been a resident of Chaklala Scheme III, Rawalpindi, for some years. Recently my house was burgled and the robbers took away cash and jewellery worth quite a handsome amount. I was later told that similar robberies had been taking place in the area for quite some time.
Residents have appointed street guards on a self-help basis but they too seem helpless. Despite seeking the help of the police in this matter, no arrests have yet been made. In other words, a thing once stolen is lost for ever.
It is highly likely that one gang of robbers is active in the area. Use of some modernized equipment such as finger printing and wireless system, aided by a little intelligence and interest in the performance of duties by our police officials, can easily bring the culprits to justice.
I request the authorities concerned to look into the matter and ensure security for the residents of our locality.
MRS AZHAR ALEEM
Rawalpindi Cantonment
Driving licence test
I had a learner's licence and drove for one year before I applied for a permanent licence some time back in Karachi. To my shock, my examiner failed me in my oral test.
She asked me about road signs which are hardly seen in the city, such as kerb-zebra crossing and triangles having a cross insignia in between. She told me to come again for another test.
After 15 days I went again and she showed me certain signs which I was able to recognize. But she tried to confront me. Suddenly I realized that I should have come through an agent.
I must thank another licence official who asked me to appear again in the test. I did so and got a licence. I request the authorities to streamline the working of the licence staff.
SAIMA AZAM KHAN
Karachi
'Generational attitudes'
This is with reference to Mr Shahid Javed Burki's two articles "Generational attitudes" (Sept 21) and "Third generation imperatives" (Sept 28). He has explicitly graded the various generations, their development and preferences.
His reasoning is thought provoking and every citizen should ponder on the failure of governance by the second and third generations. No country can survive if it fails to throw up leaders to represent the needs and aspirations of every class and generation of population.
In my view, the problem of lack of leaders was present at the time of independence also, which was the cause of a big vacuum after the death of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Remember Mr Gandhi also died in January 1948, but an array of leaders guided India to a sustainable democracy.
I consider this vacuum in Pakistan as a serious shortcoming of the system of which many non-representatives of people have taken advantage and ruled the country on their own whims and fancy.
P. RASTOGI
Toronto, Canada
Sialkot carnage
The carnage in a Sialkot mosque (Dawn, October 2) has saddened us - Pakistanis living abroad. We have never tried to determine the cause of the barbarity that has crept into a once peaceful society.
The state also has its part. The very fact that we call Pakistan an Islamic state with little of Islam in governance sows the seed of hatred among people. Every state is an Islamic one if it is run on the basis of justice. I think this is one thing which is missing in Pakistan.
The government should form a commission to study the causes of violence in Pakistani society and make recommendations to curb it.
ABDUL MALIK
Pleasanton, CA., USA
Foreign TV channels
This is with reference to Mr Usman Naeem's letter on the above subject (Sept 30). What you watch in the privacy of your own home should be controlled by you and not by any regulatory body. If one does not like the contents of these channels, one can switch off the TV or disconnect the cable. Why penalize cable operators?
Also note that these 'embarrassing' programmes are repeated late at night, so you can watch them without your family members.
KHURRAM HASHEMY
Karachi
Courier service
It is amazing that there is no courier service office in Karachi's Lyari which has a population of over 1.2 million. In the absence of a courier service office, residents are facing lots of difficulties and are forced to go far to send mail.
It is suggested to the authorities concerned to immediately open courier service offices (both private and public) in Lyari Town for the benefit of its residents.
IMRAN KHAN SIAL
Karachi
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