| 31 October 2004 | Sunday | 16 Ramazan 1425 |
War casualties in Iraq
PIA affairs
Musharraf's Kashmir proposals
PCB chief, coach
WB loan for CBR
Bulletproof cars
Unruly traffic
Foreign dignitaries
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The honour killing bill passed by the National Assembly recently is just another example of how the government continues to do just enough to hoodwink the rest of the world into believing that they are trying to bring about a change in society and fight the conservative practices in Pakistan. Watching and reading just the proceedings of the recent National Assembly session, people living outside Pakistan would find the actions of the opposition inexcusable and their shenanigans to boycott the session an endorsement of the anachronistic ideas of the tribal elements of society. I, for one, fell into that trap for a brief moment but a little research on the issue helped to correct that.
What is really appalling is that the government and members of the opposition could not put aside their party differences and debate bills drafted by the opposition on the issues of the Hudood Ordinance and honour killing. The honour killing bill had the support of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and the Aurat Foundation, the two organizations which provide help to women and hence have a working knowledge of the system which is exploited by men who get away with murdering women.
So why has the government drafted and passed a bill that has so many loopholes? Why were the laws of Qisas and Diyat not expunged? There is one fact that I know of: if the roles were reversed and if women were committing karo-kari in respect of their husbands, fathers or brothers, these same legislators and politicians would have taken greater interest in the Hudood, qisas and diyat laws.
FARANGMEHER GHADIALI
Dallas, TX., USA
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In view of the passage of the bill regarding karo-kari killings, Mr Ardeshir Cowasjee's synopsis of the situation ("Rooted in dishonour", Oct 24) needs to be applauded.
The lack of both appropriate laws and implementation of the existing ones, as well as the knowledge that this barbaric custom could be used and abused for selfish gain, constitute the main reason why people have felt that they can defy morality and humanity by committing such crimes.
According to reports by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, more than 850 women were killed under the karo-kari custom in 1999-2000, 450 in 2002 and over 600 in 2003. Official statistics suggest more than 4,000 people have been murdered in the name of honour.
The government has set out to make this crime severely punishable and impose a law which will serve as a deterrent. We can only hope that this version of the law now included in the Pakistan Penal Code will be sufficient in the face of ignorance and open defiance of the laws by communities that practise this barbaric custom.
If such a law can be strictly imposed, then it calls for more decisive action to be taken regarding crimes such as rape and abuse and misconduct of children and women. The high prevalence of such crimes in all major cities and small towns of Pakistan is a harsh reflection of the immoral state of our society and the belief amongst people that crimes like this can escape punishment.
ZAINAB MAHMOOD
Wimbledon, London
War casualties in Iraq
This refers to a news report (Oct 29) quoting a survey which said that the number of Iraqi civilian casualties was more than 100,000, which is far higher than the previously estimated number of between 10,000 and 30,000 Iraqi deaths.
The research, led by experts from the Johns Hopkins University and carried out by teams of Iraqi doctors, attributed most of the deaths to military action by the coalition forces. It says that mostly children and women were killed by American air strikes and shelling and other coalition actions against Iraqi forces.
In an interview Dr Gilbert Burnham, an associate professor at Johns Hopkins, said: "We're probably talking about buildings collapsing on people, the direct effects of explosions, burns and shrapnel."
The authors of this survey said they if deaths in Fallujah were counted, the death toll might cross 200,000. They further said that they had not obtained their figures from any official source or agency but had gone door to door to find the number of casualties. They were appalled by the method in which urban areas were bombarded.
This shows most Americans believed a president who used scare tactics to invade Iraq start. Moreover, anybody who tried to criticize President Bush was labelled unpatriotic. He left no room for dissident when he said either "you are with us or with the enemy". This was the reason why the American mainstream media as well as its politicians did not dare to question this illogical war.
Luckily, one American newspaper managed to expose to an American audience human rights violations and torture at a US prison outside Baghdad. Now the US media is exposing Bush's stupidity. Newspapers such as The New York Times and The Washington Post have apologized to their readers for not telling the truth at that time. But look at the audacity of the Bush and Cheney team - they are still claiming that the war in Iraq is a success.
People who are fighting against American occupation are termed insurgents, but the fact is that they are ordinary Iraqis who are fighting for their freedom. For a moment, suppose if America was invaded by Germany or France, what will Americans do? Sit and relax, or fight the invaders?
Bush and his team are guilty of horrific war crimes and should be brought to justice, more so when so many people have died.
SHAH AFFAN
Toronto, Canada
PIA affairs
This is with reference to the report "President criticized for 'bailing out' PIA" (Oct 28).
Certainly not all is well in PIA and a lot of questions remain unanswered, particularly with regard to the recent purchase of three Boeing aircraft. Along with some other members I had requisitioned a meeting of the standing committee of the Senate on defence in May/June to raise these issues. On asking some questions we were promised that the relevant documents would be provided to the committee for examination. However, the documents were never provided.
Meanwhile the chairman of the committee was inducted into the federal cabinet and no further meetings of the committee can be held without the chairman. For some unknown reasons the Senate chairman has not taken steps to hold elections to this office and the committee lies moribund. Left with no option we have now requisitioned another meeting of the committee specifically for the purpose of holding elections to the office of chairman and to take up PIA' affairs.
The Dawn report also mentions questions raised about the profitability of the Boeing project. In reply to a question the Senate was told that the three Boeings had been purchased for nearly $360 million. It was also claimed that it would fetch a profit of over Rs414 billion over the life span of the project.
Thus it is claimed that an investment of $360 million (or Rs21.6 billion) will fetch a profit of Rs414 billion over a period of 25 years which according to the minister of state is the life span of the project. In other words an annual profit of Rs16.6 billion is claimed over an investment of Rs21 billion. This is almost a 79 per cent of annual return on the investment.
When PIA makes such claims without substantiation, it raises more questions than it answers. When General Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz go out of the way in defending PIA's purchases, such questions are bound to be asked even more vigorously and with greater frequency.
SENATOR FARHATULLAH BABAR
Islamabad
Musharraf's Kashmir proposals
President Musharraf's remarks on Oct 25 initiating a process of debate on options to resolve the Kashmir dispute is both timely and challenging. He talked about options such as demilitarizing all or some regions of Jammu and Kashmir and handing them over to the joint control of India and Pakistan or to the United Nations. He also talked about the option of making the Jammu and Kashmir regions autonomous and independent.
This is for the first time that Pakistan's head of state (in uniform) has presented the options on resolving the Kashmir dispute while deviating from the established position of Islamabad that the issue needs to be resolved according to the UN Security Council resolutions on Kashmir.
So far these options have drawn a mixed response. The Indian government has argued that the proposals should not have been made through the media and that such matters should be discussed at the official level. The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has rejected them, so have the opposition parties in Pakistan. A majority of Kashmiri groups have welcomed them.
One can foresee several benefits if a logical and meaningful process of debate is launched. While keeping in mind the key interests of Pakistan, the complicated nature of the Kashmir dispute, the adverse consequences of maintaining the status quo and the sufferings of the people of Jammu and Kashmir in decades of bloodshed and violence, the proposed debate should not be restricted to Pakistan but should also involve a cross-section of people from Kashmir, India and other countries of South Asia. A solution of the Kashmir dispute based on a win-win situation for all concerned will benefit the people of Jammu and Kashmir in particular and the people of India, Pakistan and South Asia in general.
PROF (DR) MOONIS AHMAR
Karachi
PCB chief, coach
Mr Salahuddin Ahmed's comment (PCB chief, coach not helping Pakistan cricket's cause) appearing in your edition of October 28 is yet another in a litany of vicious articles in your journal aimed at undermining the PCB and a deliberate distortion of facts.
First, Mr Salahuddin's snide remarks about nawabs and ambassadors reveal an attitude replete with angst and prejudice. As regards his reference to 'half a dozen foreign experts', allow me to correct him by stating that we have a foreign coach (Woolmer), a trainer (Stevenson) and a physio (Lifson) on our permanent staff, no more than the component any cricketing country employs.
From time to time, foreign experts like Greg Chapell, Barry Richards and Daryl Foster have been temporarily engaged not to coach the national squad but to advise the PCB on setting up our national and regional academies, our coaches training centre, preparing our coaching manual and teaching our existing coaches the refinements of coaching. Since our coaching and training methods and our fitness levels have, so far, been less than rudimentary, it is vital that a proper coaching, training and fitness culture be instituted in Pakistan. Since we do not have this expertise in Pakistan, the PCB employs short-term experts whose contribution is well worth the money spent on them.
As regards reforms, Mr Salahuddin must surely be aware of the 14 categories of posts that have been advertised in the newspapers, including the post of senior executive. Some appointments have already been made and others are in the immediate pipeline, the majority to be announced before Eid after selection committees have reviewed candidates for every post.
The delay is due to the fact that some independent members of the selection committees are not readily available for interviews and I am sure the Mr Salahuddin would be the first to accuse the PCB of nepotism and favouritism if senior appointments were made by the PCB in house selection committees. Mr Salahuddin has conveniently failed to note that for the first time in the PCB's history all officers' posts are being filled through due and transparent process.
Mr Salahuddin's well-worn accusation that I have employed my 'septuagenarian friend' and a diplomatic colleague on astronomical salaries is as vicious as it is false. Neither is my friend. Nor are they on astronomical salaries. Both have delivered in an outstanding manner - Riaz Mahmood supervising a record income for the PCB during the Pakistan-India series through a transparent process that has placed Pakistan on a pedestal of transparency and financial probity throughout the cricketing world. Abbas Zaidi's outstanding public relations and protocol qualities saw Pakistan's hospitality during the Pakistan-India Series 2004 praised to the skies.
No single person was more responsible for lifting Pakistan's image with distinguished visitors like Dina Wadia, Ehsan Mani, Priyanka and Rahul Gandhi, Ranjan Madugalle and numerous foreign guests than Abbas Zaidi. I can state without hesitation that none of my adhoc decisions - and there were many during the Pakistan-India series as we had only 18 days to organize the most momentous tour in Pakistan's cricket history - have been so completely vindicated as the appointments of Mr Riaz Mahmood and Mr Abbas Zaidi.
I am separately sending Mr Salahuddin the comments by important visitors to the series as also the summary of our successful efforts to market the Pakistan-India series which he has deliberately ignored. I am also sending Mr Salahuddin the questionnaire on the constitution that Justice Karamat Ali Bhandari has circulated to district associations, Test cricketers and administrators. By reading the questionnaire, Mr Salahuddin will realize the seriousness and urgency with which the constitution commission is addressing its task.
Mr Salahuddin's blame for the team's lack of success and his accusations of constant change is manifestly untenable. One of my first decisions as chairman was to make Inzimam captain for a year rather than adopt the previous series-to-series approach. Bob Woolmer and his team are contracted till the World Cup 2007. The selectors and management have also not been changed quixotically after every series defeat. No one can rightfully accuse this board of lack of consistency and continuity.
Of course, the board recognizes the team needs improvement in several areas. Knowledgeable and fair-minded cricketers recognize that there is definite improvement in discipline, fitness levels, wicket to wicket bowling, fielding and team building. However, our batting is vulnerably and will take longer to improve. The performance graph is gradually moving upwards but there will be occasional losses and it is therefore utterly wrong and destructive to blame the coach and management after every defeat.
For Mr Salahuddin to refer in such disparaging terms to Mr Woolmer, his staff and to the 'holiday coaches' reveals an unbelievable prejudice. Woolmer is recognized internationally as an outstanding coach with proven credentials. Experts with better qualifications than Mr Salahuddin selected him as the ICC's high performance manager from where he took up the challenge of harnessing Pakistan's talented side for a salary well below what he could have earned in the market.
Normally, the PCB would not respond to the kind of stuff that Mr Salahuddin has projected except that these personalized articles are part of a sustained campaign of vilification that one expects from the sensationalist press rather than a journal of your standing. The PCB feels that so long as Dawn provides space to the small group of vested interests and frustrated wannabees, the glass will always appear to be half empty.
SHAHARYAR M. KHAN
Chairman, PCB, Camp Office, Karachi
WB loan for CBR
I was disappointed to read the news about the $102-million loan from the World Bank for a tax administration reform project. It is surprising that we need a loan from the World Bank just to improve the organizational efficiency and effectiveness of our revenue administration. Why can't we rely on our own resources to bring about such improvements?
Out of this loan, a sum of $54.3 million will be spent on software development. Why can't we develop a software locally by spending in rupees? Why should we waste the precious foreign exchange of this poor country? It is astonishing the way our bureaucrats squander funds by taking unnecessary loans, knowing fully well that each and every cent has to be returned with interest. One fails to understand why our bureaucrats accept such loans. Just for personal gains and a few trips abroad? We should learn from the example of China which has excelled in every area without taking loans from the World Bank.
The Central Board of Revenue should on its own restructure and improve the efficiency of its departments. Where are our leaders who keep giving sermons on self-reliance? Is this only lip service to satisfy the masses?
I am sure we have the required capability and skill to undertake projects such as the CBR restructuring. We only need to appoint deserving and sincere people at the helm of affairs.
NISAR ALI
Islamabad
Bulletproof cars
Contradictions in our priorities and spending are truly amazing. If we can afford cars costing a mind-boggling Rs100 million each, think how many schools, dispensaries, roads, etc., can be provided by this money to the public.
If these cars are necessary for the protection of VVIPs, will any be allocated to the Chinese nationals working on the Gomal dam, particularly since we sought an investment of $1 billion from China only a few days after one of their nationals was killed in an operation to rescue him and his colleague from their abductors?
K. MUZAFFAR
Rawalpindi
Unruly traffic
While driving on the roads of Karachi one is bewildered by the increase in traffic which, in turn, has led to an increase in traffic irregularities and road accidents. Some of the newly-erected traffic signals in Karachi's DHA and other localities are faulty. When there is no electricity, long traffic jams result.
There is immediate need to streamline the city's traffic system, with long-term measures. Although the city government is endeavouring to improve the system by planning flyovers, underpasses, etc., much is to be done to instil a traffic sense in the people and curb violation of traffic rules through strict checking by the traffic police.
The following should be urgently checked and stopped:
a. Violation of traffic signals.
b. Speeding (speed limits should be prominently displayed on all major roads).
c. Unnecessary blowing of horns.
d. Overtaking on bridges, etc.
e. Cars and buses/trucks emitting smoke.
f. Containers carried unsecured to the vehicles' body.
g. Zigzagging, especially by motorcyclists.
h. Driving at night with full beam.
i. Unlicensed drivers - there are many in the city.
LT-COL (retd) SARFRAZ AHMED KHAN
Karachi
Foreign dignitaries
Our forex reserves look healthier now. More foreign dignitaries are visiting Pakistan. But before the dignitaries leave us, they manage to sell us some product of the other - against cash or on credit. That makes us financially indebted and prevents us from standing on our own feet. In the old good times we had schemes for our own development for the short- and long-term. Granted that we could not possibly become self-reliant in all the fields, but the previous five-year plans did give us a sense of direction.
Now even the yearly plan, which has no sense of direction, is not fully implemented. Dictated by circumstances, we live on a month-to-month basis, changing our policies on a daily basis, begging, borrowing and stealing taxpayers' money.
So we must opt for socio-economic planning to achieve political stability and also to curb terrorism.
ARIF QAMAR KHAN
Islamabad
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