| 20 November 2004 | Saturday | 07 Shawwal 1425 |
Sindh police website
Should US supply F-16s?
Computer operators
A pensioner's plea
Zakat system's working
Inflation & wages
'Honour crimes'
Musharraf's job
Disruption in PIA schedules
Massacre in Fallujah
Saving Karachi
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This refers to the letter "Kashmir - possible options" (Nov 7). A president in uniform could have the courage to deviate from a well-established position. The proposals by Gen Musharraf have created a great deal of interest. Some die hards have termed it a betrayal of the national interest.
I personally feel that the only alternative to plebiscite is a division of Kashmir on the rivers/ethnic lines as proposed by Sir Owen Dixon and Mr Z.A. Bhutto. Mr Bhutto had discussed this with Mr Swaran Singh, the then Indian foreign minister, in the 60s. India cannot think of an independent Kashmir, as it is faced with numerous secessionist movements in its northeast. The LoC as an international border will never be acceptable to any Pakistani.
Independent Kashmir, the so-called third option, does not suit us, nor does it suit our trusted friend China. The Valley, controlled or administered by the three involved parties, would become a hotbed of intrigue, thereby creating problems for the locals and tension between Pakistan and India: two cooks spoil the broth, three would make it highly unpalatable.
Our leaders, hopefully, know the geography of the region. Pakistan is faced with an acute water problem and all rivers that irrigate our lands flow out of Kashmir. The Quaid had described Kashmir as the jugular vein of Pakistan and it cannot be left at the mercy of those who, despite the Indus Basin Treaty, are building a dam on the Chenab. The proposals can only be discussed in both the houses of parliament when a decision is to be taken.
We, possibly in our obsession to solve the dispute and befriend India, have been giving too much to India, ignoring its uncompromising attitude. The possible reason for the failure of the Agra summit, besides others, was open diplomacy - Gen Musharraf's address to the media.
I wish a more serious occasion had been selected by the president for the announcement of a major policy initiative. The moot question is whether or not India is sincere about resolving this dispute or is just placating world opinion. This problem will be resolved only when pressure is put on India by the world community.
KHAN A. SHAMSHAD
Karachi
(II)
The peace process between India and Pakistan is making headway and progress can be identified in all areas but Kashmir. The two countries have forged a good relationship by succumbing to pressure from the international community. This has been successful to some extent in that trade has been resumed, travel restrictions are being eased and the deep-instilled hostility is undergoing reform.
At all meetings, the leaders recognize the need to resolve all differences and outstanding issues. But it is apparent that they have adopted a bargaining orientation with respect to Kashmir which has become very much a prestige issue.
In a situation like this where there is lack of mutual trust, communication is distorted and both sides seek to use power and influence and a compromise appears to be a far-fetched outcome. As a result, Kashmir has become restricted to a vicious cycle of talks and dialogue.
The Indian leaders are trying to dodge the issue switching back and forth between voicing readiness to look for a solution and then going back on their words. By initiating a peace process that pretends to resolve the Kashmir issue, the Indians attempt to keep the Pakistanis in good humour. Meanwhile, Kashmir, once known as the Switzerland of Asia, and its people continue to live in oppressive circumstances.
MADEEHA AKHTAR
Karachi
Sindh police website
The inspector general of police should see where is the bottleneck in completing the under-construction official web site of the Sindh police on the Internet.
At the moment, the website http://www.sindhpolice.gov.pk only contains some telephone numbers and the email addresses of some senior police officers, but the Sindh police should develop its website in a way that ordinary people are able to benefit from it. It should include:
a. Names, designation, location of office, telephone numbers of office/residence, including the cell phone numbers of all senior police officials, right from the IGP up to the area SHO.
b. Display of all telephone numbers that may be required by an ordinary person in case of an emergency.
c. Search system of vehicle identification, where people should be able to verify the status of a vehicle at the time of purchasing a car or a motorcycle from the open market, by checking the registration number, chassis and engine number, whether a vehicle stands "clear", reported "lost" or "stolen", or is wanted by the police in a "criminal case". At present this data is available with the CPLC and can be shared with CPLC liaison offices.
d. Photographs/information about the most wanted people by the police in Sindh.
e. Swift registration of FIRs.
f. Registration of complaints against corrupt police officials. These complaints should be submitted to the anti- corruption department of the police department.
g. Complaints about missing persons or a child.
h. Registration of complaints about street crimes.
i. Registration with uploading facility of photographs of domestic servants.
j. Bridging the gap between police officials and the citizens through "community policing".
By hoisting a website at an early date, the Sindh police will not only enhance the working of individual police stations, but will also provide access to the ordinary people of the province, who are reluctant to file a complaint by going to a police station.
A special Internet reporting cell should be formed which should be headed by a DIG, who should also be made responsible for the Internet frauds of credit cards and should closely coordinate with the IGP for expediting matters on a daily basis.
SYED A. MATEEN
Karachi
Should US supply F-16s?
Air Commodore (retd) Jamal Hussain has asked the question: "Should the US supply F-16s?" (Nov 8). It is just over a year ago that President Bush told President Musharraf at Camp David that an aid package of $3 billion during the next five years would be available to Pakistan but "no F-16s".
On Oct 24 this year, the US-India forum held a conference in New Delhi in which the members protested against the sale of these fighter aircraft to Pakistan. Another protest came on Oct 29 from the Indian American Forum for Political Education (IAFPE) in Washington whose members told President Bush that support for him would be withdrawn if the US went ahead with the sale of F-16s to Pakistan. The question has been revived after Pakistan acquired the MNNA (most-favoured non-Nato ally) status.
A report has just come through Washington that Robert Black will, President Bush's assistant adviser for military affairs, has assured Indians that F-16s will not be supplied to Pakistan. He is the same diplomat who acquired notoriety for his anti-Pakistan statements during his ambassadorial assignment at New Delhi.
American administrations from the Kennedy era to date have followed similar policies. They develop good relations with Pakistani heads of state but do not demonstrate any goodwill for the people. This makes the people wary of US intentions.
Since Pakistan is a US ally and a key figure in the coalition fighting global terror, America would do well to manifest its commitment to a long-term relationship with Pakistan. It will be in the interest of the US itself to supply the first batch of these warplanes which have been manufactured to Pakistan specifications.
S.M. KAZIM NAQVI
Karachi
Computer operators
The Sindh University of Jamshoro is one of the largest universities of Pakistan and enjoys a distinct position, specially in Sindh. In May 2004, it appointed 24 new employees as Internet/computer operators-cum-programmers on a regular basis in BPS-11.
All of them are master's in computer science/IT or equivalent. They got the post after a tough competition in which hundreds of candidates appeared for the written test. Out of these, only 37 could qualify at the test, and finally 24 candidates were selected after interviews conducted by a panel of experts.
All other universities appoint computer operators in grade 16. Even according to the service rules of the Sindh University, as shown in the Sindh University Service Code Book, the qualification required for the post is bachelor in computer science and the grade reserved is BPS 16.
In the light of the above, it is unjustified that these computer operators in Sindh University are in BPS-11, instead of BPS-16, even when they possess a higher degree than the one required for the post.
Furthermore, these computer operators are involved in professional projects of software development, database development and web designing, in addition to their routine office work.
Justice should be done to these computer operators by awarding them grade 16 with effect from the date of their joining, according to the service rules of Sindh University.
IMDAD ALI KHASKHELI
Jamshoro
A pensioner's plea
I retired from the Karachi Port Trust on super annuation in 1973. The KPT followed the federal government's pension rules. It, therefore, allowed me an increase in pension according to the announcements of the federal government from time to time.
On Sept 1, 1990, the KPT framed its own pay and pension rules for its employees and "de-linked" them from the federal government. But those rules applied to current employees and not to retirees before Sept 1, 1990.
Accordingly, the Karachi Port Trust allowed increases in pension according to the federal government rules in 1990, 1991, 1995, 1997 and 1999 (five times) since it promulgated its own rules.
However, after applying federal government rules for nine years after its own rules had already come into force, the KPT abruptly stopped giving me an increase in pension from 2001. It has denied me pension increases allowed by the federal government on the plea that federal government rules do not apply after Sept 1, 1990.
But when it was requested to apply its own rules, it said the rules did not apply in my case because I had retired before the date on which they were promulgated. It is like heads I win, tails you lose.
The case is simple. Justice would demand that the KPT must apply either the federal government rules or its own rules. At present it has written me off totally by denying me pension benefits, both under the government and its own rules.
S.G. MOHIYUDDIN
Karachi
Zakat system's working
This is to draw the attention of the government to the fact that since its introduction in 1980 the Zakat and Ushr system in Pakistan has not been able to solve the problems which it was meant to tackle.
Introduced as an Islamic measure by the military dictator Ziaul Haq, with little prior home-work, the system came to differentiate between Muslims by their sect, and exemptions were provided from payment of Zakat.
The main burden of collection of Zakat was conveniently transferred to the banks, without considering the fact that the acquisition of an exemption certificate was an incentive for corruption. A very large number of persons who filed exemption certificates for not paying Zakat from their savings accounts did so often on the advice of their bank managers.
Simultaneously, with the Zakat system a Baitul Ma'al was also set up and funds were collected. The entire Zakat fund administration continues to be carried out by a federal Zakat committee and at the provincial level by the provincial Zakat committee.
As the system progressed, Zakat funds were transferred from a centralized deposit account to the provinces and the provincial Zakat committees then appointed district Zakat committees to disburse funds among the 'mustehqeen' through the union council Zakat committees.
From the Zakat fund a provision was made to provide every district chairman of the Zakat committee an office, a clerk at least and a transport with provision reportedly for 50 litres of petrol or diesel per month.
The selection of 'mustehqeen' was done by the local councils and these were paid, on a quarterly basis, a stipend which was Rs300 a month initially and was gradually increased.
There are reportedly over half a million on the lists of persons being paid allowance under the Zakat fund distribution regime. The declared objective of the Zakat fund was to reduce poverty, provide sustenance to the destitute and assist them in becoming productive members of society, where possible.
However, the performance of the system has been most disappointing over the past 24 years. First, Zakat collection and disbursement have not been made transparent, nor actual annual accounts issued except in isolated cases such as when the late Justice Naimuddin headed the Sindh Zakat committee.
Second, no details are provided of the administrative expenses incurred annually on the maintenance of the Zakat distribution machinery, including expenditure on district chairmen of Zakat committees.
Third, no record is provided for the actual entry and deletion of 'mustehqeen' from the lists maintained each year under the Zakat fund. Fourth, the actual usage of the Baitul Ma'al funds is also not made public.
It is time a complete account of Zakat fund collection, its distribution, administrative costs and the annual number of 'mustehqeen' benefiting from it, was issued by the government.
MAHMUDUL AZIZ
Karachi
Inflation & wages
I endorse Mr Sultan Ahmed's views as expressed in his article "Inflation and wages" (Dawn, Oct 28) that when there are too many officials, red-tape increases and files have to pass through too many hands and have to have many rubber-stamps.
The present bureaucratic system and structure puts a heavy burden on the national exchequer and becomes time-consuming in deciding day-to-day issues. The pay and pension committee, formed recently, may not only look into and recommend a rise in pay scales but it should recommend a restructuring of the whole system so that national issues/matters may be solved quickly.
The committee should also give thought to the increasing number of pensioners year by year. It will be worthwhile to recommend 100 per cent commutation on the options given to retirees and retired officers/staff on the basis of their all emoluments.
In this way, overstaffing in every department/organization will be reduced and there will be no demand for an increase in pensions in the future.
DR ALI AKBAR M. DHAKAN
Karachi
'Honour crimes'
The National Assembly recently passed a distorted bill on "honour" killings with deliberate lacunae and failed to remove the provision of compound ability. All know that close relatives mostly commit "honour" killings and in the bill they are given protection as wali through razinama.
It has been rightly pointed out by human rights activists that the bill is only meant to show that the government is serious about eradicating this menace and following a progressive agenda.
The matter is still pending in the Senate and we hope that senators will use their wisdom, act above their class character and protect the masses, particularly our unfortunate women, by removing ambiguities, loopholes and lacunae in the bill passed by the National Assembly.
SYED SHAMSUDDIN
Islamabad
Musharraf's job
This refers to S.M.H. Bokhari's letter (Nov 11) What Gen Musharraf says has lost credibility in the eyes of the nation. To rely on his promises will be tantamount to deceiving ourselves.
The president got one year under a deal with the MMA to give up his army uniform. But he seems about to go back on his words and continue to hold two offices. It would have been a good idea to allow the country to be run in accordance with democratic norms.
SHAHID HABIB
Essex, UK
Disruption in PIA schedules
Pakistani-origin residents in the UK have welcomed the decision of the PIA chairman to reduce fares and make them compatible with those offered by other airlines operating from the UK.
Unfortunately, all the goodwill generated by this offer has been nullified by the last-minute cancellation of a number of scheduled flights. This is unbecoming of a scheduled airline like PIA. No airline can afford to offend its customers.
Although PIA has offered compensation to hundreds of stranded passengers, this fails to satisfy their concerns. An airline that does not offer a reliable schedule, will lose customers.
Compensation worth $500 per passenger paid to passengers holding confirmed tickets is quite an amount. This means $100,000 for 200 passengers denied boarding. PIA is losing money and customers. Change of aircraft like a change from a scheduled Boeing 747 flight to an A-300, means that all the baggage cannot be accommodated, especially if there is excess accompanied baggage, something which is a regular phenomenon. It is time for PIA to set its priorities right.
M. PARVAIZ
Sheffield, UK
Massacre in Fallujah
The US attack on the innocent people of Fallujah can only be termed a naked act of state terrorism. The illegal, unethical and uncalled-for military invasion of Iraq on the pretext of weapons of mass destruction has no justification whatsoever and stems out of Bush's doctrine of "might is right", which history will neither forgive nor forget.
The Fallujah attack will backfire like the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan and shall further alienate not only the Iraqi people but also the entire Muslim world. It's high time people in the corridors of power at Washington DC read the writing on the wall and came back to their senses. Only a complete and unconditional withdrawal by the invading forces from Iraq can solve this problem.
AAMIR A. SALARIA
St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Saving Karachi
Mr Irfan Husain's "A city in free fall' (Nov 6) and Mr Ardeshir Cowasjee's on and off columns on Karachi are good analyses of the destruction of the city. When evil (vested interest) governs, prayers do not help. Let us all get together and save the city.
ALI HAQQANI
Karachi
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