| 01 December 2004 | Wednesday | 18 Shawwal 1425 |
World Year of Physics
'Politicians against politics'
Wedding feasts
Treatment of 'bad democracy'
Diplomacy and poetry
Condoleezza Rice
Narrow bridge
Validity of passport
A blueprint on Kashmir
Constitutional amendments
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Anger, outrage, bewilderment and trepidation are mild words to describe the feelings of the people of Sindh at this juncture of history. They are anxious as important decisions affecting their present and future generations are being taken without consulting them, and their concerns and voices are being ignored.
Look at the Greater Thal Canal (GTC) issue. Sindh questions its legitimacy and feasibility. The provincial assembly has passed unanimous resolutions against it and the people have spoken through massive rallies and strikes.
All that has fallen on deaf ears and the work on GTC is continuing unabated. One appeals to the government and the people to consider the following facts and help avert a great tragedy in making:
- Everyone knows it and Irsa, Wapda, the Punjab government and other GTC proponents agree that the country is facing a severe water shortage. That is the reason for non-compliance of the 1991 Water Accord. Where will water come from for this gigantic project? Isn't Sindh justified in its apprehensions that it will lose more water if the GTC became operational? History provides the answer.
- The GTC is to irrigate over 1.5 million acres of desert lands that will require more water compared to already irrigated lands. It means that a larger area under cultivation now will turn into desert in the southern province.
- The GTC will further strain the water-deficit irrigation system creating acrimony between provinces. How good is that for the already divided country?
- It denies the law of precedence and is at odds with the British Raj decision to disallow the construction of the canal on the plea that it would affect Sindh's water share.
- For a water project it is required to secure a certificate from Irsa to the effect that water is available for the project. Also for such projects PC-1 is prepared and necessary approval is obtained from the CDWP and Ecnec and then administrative approval is obtained, money is released and work is started. But this is what happened in the GTC case: the president laid the foundation stone and work started on Aug 16, 2001. The CDWP cleared the scheme on Feb 8, 2002. Ecnec approved the project on Feb 28, 2002.
Irsa issued the water availability certificate, over Sindh objections, on May 7, 2002. All these approvals were secured in six to nine months after the start of the work on the project. So much for good governance.
- The GTC command area comprises a fragile ecosystem. It will cause silting of the main canal, distributaries and watercourses due to the movement of sand dunes, difficulties in irrigating the command area gravitationally due to uneven topography, huge cost to level the sand dunes and very high seepage losses due to sandy soil.
- According to a report published in this newspaper on July 15, 2004, the World Bank has also questioned the economic viability of the GTC along with Reini and Kachhi canals. The bank has pointed out that either sufficient water is not available or better alternatives could have been pursued both on technical and economic sides.
- Thal, Kachhi and Reini canals are billed as flood canals to operate for 75-90 days only. However, the fact is that none of them is a flood canal as Thal and Kachhi are to operate during the whole 'Kharif' season and Reini will operate during the whole 'Kharif' season except 20 days of April. Again, where is the water for all of them?
Aren't we creating monsters that will soon feast on us?
AZIZ NAREJO
Via email
World Year of Physics
The year 2005 marks the centenary of a remarkable year in the history of human thought. In 1905 Albert Einstein, then an unknown minor functionary of the Swiss state, wrote four papers which revolutionized the way in which we now think about very fundamental concepts: space and time, matter and energy.
It is thus fitting that Unesco has designated 2005 as World Year of Physics. We in Pakistan should also appropriately join in this celebration of thought and scholarship. Some possible ways are described here.
1. Each month of 2005 may be named after some famous physicist, including Muslim scientists, e.g., January may be the month of Dr Abdus Salam, February the month of Khwarizimi and March of Galileo.
This will not only be just for the sake of naming, but will also determine the theme of the month. Thus, in January there should be discussion on the structure of matter, starting from the work of Greek philosopher Democritus through Dalton, Brownian/Einstein, Ruther ford/Bohr and Hahn/Strassmann/Meitner, and culminating in the Salam-Weinberg standard theory.
February may be the month of mathematical astronomy, starting again with the Greeks, through Khwarizimi, Copernicus, Newton, Einstein and others in the 20th century. March should be the month of gravitation, highlighting Newton and Einstein.
July could herald Einstein and the concept of relativity through the ages and so on. What should be the form and forum of these discussions? Some possibilities are specialists' workshops, public seminars in major university towns, discussion groups on radio and TV, articles in newspapers and magazines, etc.
2. A physics train may be arranged, starting in July in north and completing its journey in south. Demonstrations in wagons will include replication of historic experiments and also some simple college level experiments, computer simulations and short- clipboard presentations of concepts and ideas in physics. Two or three good teachers should be on board all the time (by rotation, of course).
3. A web page may be designed and pasted on the Internet, entitled World Year of Physics in Pakistan. This should present some background information about the world year, the role of physics in cross-fertilizing other disciplines, enlightening society and development. In addition, there should be a section - updated every month - about a physicist of the month and simplified elaboration of a theme of the month.
4. All-Pakistan essay competitions in English and Urdu may be organized at the level of high school and college students, every three or four months. Selected essays may be included in a well-produced and illustrated commemoration book which should also have thoughtful articles by eminent scholars and specially commissioned paintings by known Pakistani artists, etc. This book should be published in December 2005 to round off the year.
DR M. JAMEEL
Karachi
'Politicians against politics'
I read in your newspaper ('Politicians against politics' by Anwar Syed, Nov 28) a few thoughts of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru about Kashmir, as explained in his secretary's book.
Mr Nehru was perceptive enough to foresee the future. He anticipated it and prepared India for that eventuality when India would become strong and could not be threatened by others.
India has been fruitfully served by visionaries like Nehru and Rajiv Gandhi. It was Nehru who invested heavily in industry and education, and it was Rajiv Gandhi who should be given full credit for computerization in India.
In spite of established education centres, Lahore and Karachi, and a vastly developed agricultural base, Pakistan could not outperform India in any field because of lack of vision on the part of its leadership. Mr Anwar Syed has rightly put the blame of economic failure and the failure of democracy in Pakistan on its leaders who mostly belong to the feudal class.
The first thing Mr Nehru did was to abolish the zamindari system. As rightly mentioned by the writer, it takes time for the elite to understand the reality of losing control, but given the time, democracy takes its roots and the judiciary and election commission of India have already set an example of independent functioning.
I totally agree with the writer when he says development of democracy is conditional upon development of trade and industry. The ruling elite of Pakistan is also aware of it and as it doesn't suit them, they come out with Kashmir and religion as other priorities.
I wish both the countries well as our children do not carry the baggage of partition and as parents it is our duty to channel their energies toward education and social development.
P.RASTOGI
Toronto, ON., Canada
Wedding feasts
The Pakistan Supreme Court's decision banning wedding feasts received prominent display in some of India's top newspapers such as The Hindustan Times and The Times of India.
At home, however, it is receiving flak, mostly from the agents of marriage hall owners and poultry farmers. Most of them are dragging Islam into it. But the fault is not with them; it is in the hypocrisy of the claim that Pakistan is an Islamic state which it has never been.
Many decades ago, Yusuf Afghan, editor of the Illustrated Weekly of Pakistan, compared Mumbai with Karachi and India with Pakistan in his weekly "Page Six," under the title "A Tale of Two Cities", observing, inter alia, that "India is Hindu, calls itself secular; Pakistan is atheist, calls itself Islamic."
One can cite the Holy Quran even to justify abstaining from prayers, for the Book says: "Don't go near prayers" (La taqrabus salat). All one need do is forget about the caveat "when you are drunk" (wa antum sukara). It's as simple as that.
In the instant case, valima is at best a sunnah. It is not obligatory (farz). Many people skip the sunnah in their daily prayers. It's no sin. Another point to note is that wedding feast supporters mention only valima, which is given by the bridegroom's side.
This is the only tangible expenditure they have to incur. So they can be lavish. They cleverly suppress any mention of the feast given by the bride's side. That is the party that suffers the real brunt of the event.
After arranging for the bride's dress and ornaments and dowry, the expense on a wedding feast is back-breaking for most people of limited means. And while the bridegroom's people are free to choose the valima menu, they often dictate the menu to the bride's side.
It is the latter that must heave a sigh of relief and thank their lordships. Besides, the verdict is also in full consonance with the spirit of the Holy Quran and Sunnah which denounce ostentation and lavishness.
S.G. JILANEE
Karachi
Treatment of 'bad democracy'
This refers to Lt-Gen (retd) S.M.H.Bokhari's letter "Letting Musharraf do his job" (Nov 26). Out of respect for the general, though embarrassed, I skipped on purpose comments on his first letter (Nov 13) about the army rushing on Gen Musharraf's call to repair Sukkur Barrage.
As implied by him, the army's reaction would be different or delayed if Gen Musharraf were not the serving chief. I used to think the army was a national institution and that it would have reacted in double quick time under any chief even if a Shaukat Aziz would have ordered it.
Gen Musharraf has not acted on his advice to woo the real representatives, though Gen Bokhari has the right to be solipsistic about it (Gen Musharraf shrugged his shoulders when asked if he reads the local papers - reference "Driving into past" by Mr Anwar Mooraj, Dawn, Nov 22), but his action was based on the exigencies listed thankfully on the other side of the op-ed by Mr Ayaz Amir.
The general's power is being eroded faster than he thought it would. An ARD leader declined Gen Musharraf's offer of dinner (reference an Urdu daily's article "60 saal qaid", Nov 24.
The writer quotes Gen Musharraf as saying: "How can I talk with them? I invited Amin Fahim on dinner and he refused."). The MMA twice in a row refused to attend the NSC meeting.
Now the opposition wants to steal his uniform and drive him out of two offices. He is alone among his 'atmosphere people' (paid extras put in a film scene to create reality). Both the NWFP and Balochistan are simmering.
Sindh too is seething under coerce-cobbled minority mismanagement. These implosions are the direct result of applying military methods to political problems. Gen Musharraf was not receptive when the entire press and the world were asking him to interact with the real people. Now with street agitation on the horizon, he has come around.
Pooh-bah afflicts all power-grabbing generals with no exception. One ageing Spartan leader, when chided by his wife for leaving but little power to his heir, said: "Nay, greater because more lasting."
Increased foreign reserves and improved financial parameters listed by the general (means with no end) will never reach the poor as this self-serving-elite-oriented system is on a treadmill.
According to the latest Standard and Poor's report, our debt rating has improved but one-third of the population is run below the poverty line and, without the political stability, the numbers can go red in no time. In 10 years Gen Ayub's reforms trickled down to 22 families only. And of what use are fancy figures, Sir, if my country is yanked again?
Good to know that they take votes in the GHQ; still Gen Musharraf owes his position not due to any election but selection by a civilian prime minister. On uniform, he should go by his word (so much reminiscent of Zia's word on 90 days) and the ruse of "extraordinary demands of the times" that has been paraded around to justify their tenures is shorn of reason.
For the last paragraph, I say that treatment of bad democracy is more democracy and not a general. Generals have corroded the political system of this country by constantly meddling in it.
The country took a direct hit from generals when they splintered national political parties and turned them into local entities. Next agitation against dictatorial policies by a provincial or ethnic party can easily turn into a demand for independence which may get out of hand.
Please look beyond the nozzle of the gun. The stark reality is that politicized generals have become the biggest impediment in the development of political institutions and national coherence in Pakistan.
Civilians may have brought the country to the brink of bankruptcy but disintegration of the country took place under a man named Yahya Khan and, if I have my history right, he was a serving general. Generals got us into mindless wars that we never wanted and as a consequence we are left poor, illiterate and violent.
For gruesome territorial-deficit-details, Ayub lost Kargil, according to the "The American Papers" compiled by Mr Roedad Khan, (which Gen Musharraf tried to take back with disastrous, for us not him, consequences; a good tactic, a bad strategy) and Zia Siachen (reference "Problems of leadership in Pakistan" by Let-Gen Jahandad Khan, OUP) as instead of indulging in defence, they were trying to be subversive, political, accumulative and peddlers of the dead horse known as national interest.
ASLAM MINHAS
Karachi
Diplomacy and poetry
I am reading with interest the correspondence on the above subject. In this regard I refer to a letter by Syed Afzaal Husain Zaidi (Nov 17). The writer tells us that there were recitals of Urdu couplets by India's J. N. Dixit, Pakistan NSC's Tariq Aziz, Mr Mehdi Masud, India's former diplomat D. P. Dhar and Foreign Minister Kunwar Natwar Singh.
It is heartening to know that diplomats of both sides of the divide are literary people. India's two former prime ministers, Inder Kumar Gujral and Atal Behari Vajpayee, are high- level literary figures, the latter being a Hindi poet of some fame. Literary people, men of letters, the intelligentsia, are good people. They believe in love, peace, beauty, justice and freedom.
Then why are India's 'decent people' - the upholders of justice and freedom - not hearing the cries of the mothers and sisters of those who fall victim to Indian bullets and bayonets in the struggle to free Kashmir? If they hear it and do not do anything about the oppression, then I am afraid they share the crime.
REHANA NAQVI
Karachi
Condoleezza Rice
In a message dated November 26, at 5.01.53pm Eastern Standard Time, tariqakbarahmad@yahoo.com writes: Ms Condoleezza Rice was a child prodigy. She could play the piano at the age of four. By the age of 26 she had secured her doctorate, and at the age of 39 became the provost of the elitist Stanford University.
Is this a background that leads one to wage war on poor nations and annihilate their innocent people? Is she repaying a debt of misplaced gratitude to the white benefactors who made it possible for her to transcend her humble origins and attain the loftiest heights of academic excellence?
ASAD SIDDIQI
Lahore
Narrow bridge
I want to draw the attention of the relevant authorities to the dangerous bridge of Lahore Cantonment's Cavalry Ground. The bridge is so narrow that it cannot cater for the increasing traffic.
Many drivers coming from outside Lahore do not know about this bridge and drive fast, resulting in accidents. I request the authorities to put some road signs cautioning drivers and impose a speed limit to prevent accidents.
SABEEH
Lahore
Validity of passport
Our Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao has said that, with the introduction of machine-readable passports in the country, all previously issued manual passports will become null and void by June 2006.
I got my mother's passport renewed on June 10 this year by paying the passport fee of Rs1,500. The expiry date of this passport is June 9, 2009. Does that mean that I will have to get my mother's passport renewed again in June 2006 whereas the validity of passport is for five years? And to do that, will I have to pay another Rs1,500?
I request the president, under whose order the passport is issued to citizens, to direct the passport and immigration department not to charge a fee from those applicants who got their passports made after June 2004. If that is not possible, the status of manual passports bearing expiry date of 2009 must be retained till expiry.
M. RAFIQUE ZAKARIA
Karachi
A blueprint on Kashmir
I refer to Mr Kuldip Nayar's column "A blueprint on Kashmir" (Nov 6). Mr Nayar is a senior journalist and a former government official. His views, especially on Kashmir, carry tremendous weight.
But unfortunately his proposals this time are nothing more than the premise of keeping the LoC as a permanent feature. That is not acceptable to Pakistan and, more crucially, to the main party, the people of Kashmir.
Considering all the proposals enunciated so far, the most fair and practical option is that the valley and Azad Kashmir should be merged and made an independent entity on the model of Switzerland while the status quo of the rest of the former Kashmir territory should remain as it is, i.e., Jammu/ Ladakh in India and Skardu/ Gilgit in Pakistan.
KASHIF JAMAL
Kheshgi, NWFP
Constitutional amendments
Some time back at a function hosted at the Karachi Press Club by Mr Mairaj Mohammad Khan, Justice (retd) Fakhurddin G. Ebrahim said that it was the Constitution that governed functioning of all institutions of the country and it could not, therefore, be amended at the whim of an individual.
I would say the fundamental character of the Constitution cannot be amended even by a brute majority in the assembly unless there is consensus. Any legislation that conflicts with the fundamental pillars of the Constitution could be declared null and void by the apex court.
SAIFUDDIN E. CONTRACTOR
Karachi
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