| 28 October 2004 | Thursday | 13 Ramazan 1425 |
Ensuring mosque security
C'wealth, democracy & uniform
Rangers and fishermen
Traffic jumbles
Dental council
Posthumous trial of Mountbatten
Villagers' woes
Appeal to Sindh CJ
Mother's blessings
Number of judges
Roti, kapra aur makan
Highway rules
Edhi's concern for animals
Laser lights
Iran's case
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God has created man and woman as for continuation of the human race, and has defined the roles of both.
Being physically stronger, and the woman being physically weaker, it seemed only natural that the latter would need the former to look after her and her offspring. Thus the institution of marriage started, though from it a patriarchal system arose. Marriage is an institution found in all societies and faiths. Some societies, such as ours, favour arranged marriage, though in some instances that is now changing as well.
Since all people are not equally capable or do not get the same kind of socio-economic opportunities, different strata of society evolved over time. What happened was that a class system was created under which people of higher status did not like to associate with people of lower status. This affected marriage possibilities as well with people preferring to marry into families of similar social standing.
Honour killing is the product of this status conscious society. Women came to be considered by some men as mere commodities, a symbol of their and their family's prestige and honour. With this, reprehensible customs like karo-kari evolved. Hundreds of women have been and are being killed every year under this gruesome tradition, especially in the province of Sindh. In most cases, the killers happen to be their own male family members, usually brothers. Something like even talking to a man is considered inexcusable behaviour. In many cases, women who leave their husbands and come to their parents' home find themselves leading a very restricted life. If they try and befriend a man who is outside their immediate family, they can risk being killed in the name of so-called honour.
In this context, a woman, physically and emotionally, is considered a property of the male members of the family. Clearly, such an attitude is inhuman since both men and women are created equally by God. No religion, especially Islam, approves of killing another human being for whatever reason. While the rest of the world has made huge strides forward, our society is still beset by such social evils. It is time we discarded these cruel and retrogressive customs because they have no place in a progressive and enlightened society.
Such killings must be regarded as murder, and the killer must be awarded an exemplary punishment. It is good that the National Assembly passed a bill on Oct 26 to do exactly this.
MRS TANVIR KHALID
Senator, Islamabad
Ensuring mosque security
Initially a complete ban was imposed on religious gatherings other than Friday and taravih prayer congregations. Next came an advisory to keep the public away from mosques. The latest step is the entry passes made incumbent upon people entering mosques for prayers.
Sindh Madressahtul Islam Principal Mohammad Ali Shaikh has introduced entry passes for outsiders wanting to offer prayers in Hyderi Masjid on filling in a prescribed form, giving all relevant details, including their occupation, and a one-time payment of Rs50 (Dawn, Oct 25).
The system is said to have been introduced for the security of people in view of the bomb blast in the mosque on May 7. Three security cordons - watchmen, security guards and policemen - have been placed to check passes when people enter the Madressahtul Islam premises.
Other mosques in the city and possibly all over the country will follow the three-tire system. A better solution would be to motivate volunteers to guard the places of worship.
Long-term vigilance is at the cost of liberty. An ever-lasting yet simple solution to stamp out sectarian feelings, however little, is to bring ulema, scholars and religo-political figures on one platform and have them renounce the prevailing segregation in mosques. Peace will then prevail soon.
Pakistan's religo-political parties, Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal members in particular, are preparing to launch a movement to persuade people to turn out against the present regime. They want to make a fortune at the peril of common people's lives.
Likewise the Pakistan People's Party (Parliamentarians) is employing the usual political lingo to re-enter into the mainstream politics for the third time.
Political differences may be settled progressively without personal prejudices. In the larger public interest they must lend a helping hand to the government to get rid of violence as well as corruption from the country.
LT-COL (retd) SYED AHMED
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
C'wealth, democracy & uniform
Commonwealth Secretary-General Don Mckinnon was discreet in his remarks (Dawn, Oct 23) on the bill passed by the National Assembly to allow President Musharraf to keep the offices of chief of the army staff and president. He said it was "short of expectations" and confused the press by saying that he was not in Islamabad to endorse the government. In fact, he is the person who makes a report whether or not a country is eligible for becoming member of the Commonwealth.
A delegation of the Alliance for Restoration of Democracy, led by its chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim, met him and complained to him that the government had bulldozed the bill and that there was no democracy in the country as a general was ruling the nation.
Makhdoom Sahib is perhaps following the style of his leader, Benazir Bhutto, who is also very fond of complaining to the rulers of foreign countries about Pakistan's affairs while sitting abroad and when she is out of power. She was PM of her country twice and each time she was removed for alleged misrule. I wonder if she ever mentions in her talks about her discussions abroad the reasons for removal from the prime ministership before completing her full term.
MUHAMMAD AZHAR KHWAJA
Lahore Cantt
Rangers and fishermen
The Rangers are reported to be harassing fishermen in the coastal belt area and robbing them of their only means of livelihood. Press reports (Oct 27) say the Rangers have indulged in highhandedness, attacking and arresting villagers, entering their homes and manhandling people and disallowing them from fishing even in creeks, let alone lakes or the sea.
These deplorable actions have created a grave and exceedingly volatile situation especially in the Badin district. The fishermen and the local population are up in protest. They have sent an SOS to the government, the political and NGO leadership and the media. Hopefully someone will listen to them before a catastrophe befalls them.
It must also be realized that the overall situation is becoming very bleak and gloomy for many among us. Civil society is becoming extremely worried and anxious to see that there is nothing left for the common citizens except ever-increasing poverty, helplessness, sectarian and ethnic terrorism, crime, law and order problems and insecurity. It is asking relevant questions: are there any limits to corruption, use of force, violence, injustice and usurpation? Will the situation ever change for the better for the ordinary folks?
AZIZ NAREJO
Via email
Traffic jumbles
Saidpur Road is one of the busiest roads of Rawalpindi. It is wide enough to allow a smooth flow of relatively thick traffic round the clock. But of late the local administration has brought about some changes so that wagons are also allowed on the road.
This decision has considerably increased the traffic volume on the already busy road. Moreover, right from Siddiqi Chowk to Kali Tanki there are at least four traffic signals which invariably remain out of order. With the traffic signals not working and wagons not following traffic rules, one often finds traffic in chaos. This chaotic situation has led to frequent accidents and quarrelsome incidents. In order to facilitate smooth running of traffic on this road, the local administration must take remedial measures.
In the first place wagons should not be allowed to use this route. If at all this is not possible, then the authorities should ensure that the traffic signals remain functional. Last but not least, the traffic police should always be there to enforce traffic rules and whoever breaks the law must be taken to task.
RAFAT MAHMOOD ANSARI
Islamabad
Dental council
The recently-held press conference by the local organizing committee of the Asia Pacific Dental Congress, which was covered by Dawn, discussed a few issues that raised quite some eyebrows.
It was interesting to note that although the Pakistan Dental Association (PDA) was referred to as the host in the press release issued by the local organizing committee, neither the president of the PDA central council nor the president of its Karachi branch was present at the press conference.
The organizers need to shed light on this issue to establish their credibility with regard to organizing this mega event and elaborate on the actual role of the PDA.
DR RAJAZZ NAQVI
Karachi
Posthumous trial of Mountbatten
Apropos of "Posthumous trial of Mountbatten" by Khawaja Muhammad Bashir Butt (Oct 23), the complicity of Lord Mountbatten, the last viceroy and first governor-general of India, in the present-day predicament of the subcontinent has long been an established fact. Primarily, even the appointment of Sir Cyril Radcliffe, a barrister by profession, who had never been to India before, for the uphill task of demarcating boundaries of the nascent states within a short period of 40 days was designed to achieve the desired results, as later events proved.
In February 1992 (45 years later) Christopher Beaumont, who had been secretary to the Radcliffe Commission, disclosed that Mountbatten, under pressure from Nehru and the Maharajah of Bikanir - whose state bordered Ferozepur - persuaded Radcliffe, whose deliberations were meant to be impartial and free from all political considerations, to alter the award to place Ferozepur and Zira, despite having Muslim majority population, in India, though in the original award these were given to Pakistan. Similarly, three out of four tehsils of Gurdaspur district, north of Amritsar, were also awarded to India, though two of them had significant Muslim populations. Ferozepur had a canal headworks and an Indian army arsenal, but Gurdaspur had something just as valuable: the road from India to Kashmir.
According to Noel-Baker's report to the prime minister, Radcliffe had admitted that "he showed the first draft of the proposed award to the authorities in Delhi and that on further consideration he made the award in terms which departed from the first draft".
Field Marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck, commander-in-chief in India, 1943-47, in his biography squarely blamed Lord Mountbatten for the horrendous mayhem these nascent countries suffered subsequent to partition as evident from his following dispatch to the Viceroy on Sept 13, 1947:
"I have been thinking over our talk yesterday afternoon and, even at the risk of wasting your time and of interfering, which is not my business, I feel I must tell you of my fears about the present situation. I see in today's newspapers that the ban placed on Kirpans has been virtually withdrawn. I feel that the general public, here and all over India, can place one interpretation on this action, which is that the government does not really mean or wish to grasp these problems of asserting its authority over the forces of disorder. The inference is that it is afraid to deal with the Sikhs as they should be dealt with. As we agreed yesterday, everyone is unanimous in placing the blame for the actual shedding of blood on them, whether it was planned by them or some one else. They are the physical user of force against the defenceless in Delhi and this force was used after careful and extended reconnaissance - there is no doubt as to this."
For the appointment of uninformed Radcliffe, misusing authority in getting the original draft of the award amended, delaying its announcement, withdrawing the ban on Kirpans and not dispatching forces to avert impending violence in Punjab, UP and Delhi despite clear warnings from the C-in-C, Lord Mountbatten is answerable to history.
MANZOOR H. KURESHI
Karachi
Villagers' woes
Butt Serai is a thickly-populated village in UC Tharari Muhbat, Mehar taluka, Dadu district. It does not have basic facilities, though other villages in its suburb are enjoying the facilities of gas, telephone and water. The people of Butt Serai are therefore restless and dejected due to this sense of deprivation. We urge the higher authorities to also provide these facilities to us.
ALI ASGHAR JOYO
Dadu
Appeal to Sindh CJ
I appeal to the chief justice of the Sindh High Court to intervene to stop the deteriorating situation at the CNS (Control of Narcotic Substances) Court Number One, which has been lying vacant since July 5.
Hundreds of cases are pending, some in their final stages, and more are pouring in. The honourable judge of the CNS court number two is also helpless and is only acting as a link-judge to issue release orders and to listen to bail applications at the direction of the apex court.
The new government, headed by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, constituted a full-fledged narcotics ministry, which has failed to kick off for lack of interest on the part of the designated minister.
There is no likelihood of any improvement in the present situation. In these circumstances all the cases pending in CNS court Number One may be transferred to the court of Special Judge (Customs & Taxation) so that speedy justice is provided to the affected people.
The worst affected are those languishing in jails for years, without any trial.
UNDER-TRIAL PRISONER
Karachi Central Prison, Karachi
Mother's blessings
You have published on the front page of your issue of Oct 17 a photograph showing the Indonesian president-elect kneeling and respectfully kissing his mother's hand and seeking her blessings. The photograph is indeed moving and a person who can show such love, respect and obedience to his mother indicates he is going to lead his nation likewise.
I hope we in Pakistan can show such respect to our parents and elders. Unfortunately in Pakistan disrespect is shown to elders and that too in such a brazen manner that one feels sorry and ashamed at this behaviour.
Let us pray that like the president-elect of Indonesia, good sense will prevail among us.
MAHER H. ALAVI
Karachi
Number of judges
In the United States, there are approximately 107 judges for each million of population. The population of Karachi is estimated to be around 15 million. Thus, according to US standards, there should be around 1,500 judges in the city but the total number of judges in Karachi are estimated to be around 150.
The reason why the number of judges has not been increased is that justice is one of the lowest priorities of the government. It has been more than five years since General Musharraf took over and we have yet to see any conspicuous change in the judiciary.
Will the president and the prime minister let us know how "real democracy" can flourish in the country where the population is deprived of justice?
ANIL KHAN LUNI
Karachi
Roti, kapra aur makan
Roti, kapra aur makan was the slogan for the masses in the 70s. In the 21st century, the slogan has changed to roti, pani aur bijli.
SAIRA HABIB
Karachi
Highway rules
All highways are required to have a belt of 220 feet on either side of the road. This practice is followed internationally as a safety precaution so that no residential/commercial buildings are made and no casualties take place due to traffic plying on the road.
In our environment except for the Islamabad-Lahore Motorway and on some major roads in a few towns, this practice is violated. As a result, some roads and highways pass through the middle of towns and cities, resulting in enormous traffic jams.
Can the standard practice be adopted and encroachments removed for the safety of public and property?
LT-COL (retd) IRFAN HAIDER
Karachi
Edhi's concern for animals
In the Dawn issue of Oct 12 I read the report "Edhi's concern for animals" which reminded me of an incident which occurred many months back.
A dog savaged a stray kitten. My wife scared the dog away but damage had been done and she was in tears. So I rang Edhi people and offered to pay their charges if they sent an ambulance. They answered that they were sending an ambulance and that I would not be charged for the service. True to their word, they sent a gentleman, all the way to Gulshan-i-Maymar, on a late winter night and the way he handled the kitten showed that he really cared for animals.
S.R.H. HASHMI
Karachi
Laser lights
It is a headache to drive at night in Karachi these days. Hundreds of people have had their car headlights converted into laser lights and have had their glasses tinted. Both of these constitute a violation of traffic rules. The police look the other way while such cars are driven on city roads, particularly in Defence and Clifton, and blind drivers coming from the opposite direction.
Several letters have been written to the DIG, traffic. I delivered two letters personally to his office begging him to take action and start a campaign against this new traffic nuisance. The DIG has chosen not to respond or take action.
SHAHZAD RAZA
Karachi
Iran's case
"Powell says Iran's case may be sent to UN," says the headline of a Dawn report.
It appears that the Americans have not learnt any lesson from the "first case" they sent to the UN. God bless the United Nations.
MIR TABASSUM MAIRAJ
Islamabad
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