| 22 December 2004 | Wednesday | 09 Ziqa'ad 1425 |
MMA's predicament
The Perth debacle
Still in the colonial age?
Screening visitors
DHA development charges
Law and order failure
Uniform vs NSC
Religion column
What about college teachers?
Rear-end collisions
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There is an alarming piece of news says that Sri Lanka may be drifting back to war. Sporadic violence occurred in some places shortly after the public security minister vowed in parliament to strengthen the military to meet any threat to national security (Dawn, Dec 9).
But a former air force chief has cautioned that the rhetoric could push the country away from Norwegian-brokered peace talks and closer to war. The sticking point in the resumption of parleys - suspended in April 2003 - is said to be some pre-conditions set by the Tiger rebels.
The minister also said Colombo was ready to discuss Tamil Tiger proposals to establish an interim self-governing authority (ISGA) granting them virtual self-rule. But it must be accompanied by talks on a final deal to end the ethnic conflict. That sounds very reasonable.
Sri Lanka's main opposition party which favours peace talks has said the stumbling block was the JVP Marxist coalition partner of the government that opposes any concessions to the Tigers, but the JVP has denied this.
The LTTE had already threatened to resume fighting unless Colombo agreed to promptly revive the talks based on a rebel blueprint for self-rule (Dawn, Nov 28). But President Chandrika Kumaratunga herself had rejected the Tigers' ISGA proposal unveiled over a year ago as a stepping-stone for a separate state.
Another new development that follows the recent defence deal and a proposed defence pact between India and Sri Lanka is a book written by Anton Balasingham, a LTTE political adviser.
The book reveals that in 1987 the then Indian PM, Rajiv Gandhi, offered to the LTTE chief to enter into a secret agreement regarding the formation of an interim government in the Tamil region.
The LTTE would also get Rs5 million per month and, on the question of decommissioning of their weapons, Mr Gandhi had advised the guerillas to carry out only a 'mock' laying down of arms. However, Mr Prabhakaran refused because he did not believe India would implement the agreement.
Even now the LTTE are wary of New Delhi's renewed involvement in Sri Lanka, calling it a 'mistake'. Given the great complexity of this situation, the following suggestions may help:
- Norway is a distant land, free from ethnic strife (fortunately) and, despite its praiseworthy efforts, appears to have reached an impasse. India isn't seen as an honest broker by the LTTE.
The Chinese are famed for their wisdom. They are South Asia's neighbours and may even be joining Saarc soon enough. Besides having common Asian values, they have an invaluable experience of dealing with their own ethnic minorities. Thus, China's mediation seems ideal.
If invited to assist, the Chinese friends could begin by inviting the ailing LTTE leader for treatment through their remarkable acupuncture or herbal medical systems and by requesting the JVP Marxists to remove misgivings about their stance.
To our Tamil friends one can only emphasize that every country treats its territory as sacrosanct and wouldn't tolerate secession. They can learn from India's inability to quell the uprising in Kashmir and the north eastern states. The best solution is for all to resume negotiations sincerely. If everybody's rights are respected, there will be nothing left to fight about.
Over 60,000 Sri Lankans have perished in the fighting since 1972. That is very tragic. All human souls are interconnected and, if one person gets killed anywhere, the loss is universal. It isn't by killing or depriving but by loving and sharing that real bliss is found, which is true for every country.
KHALID CHAUDHRY
Karachi
MMA's predicament
The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal and Gen Pervez Musharraf entered into an agreement according to which the general was supposed to shed his military uniform by Dec 31 in return for the former's support for the 17 Amendment.
The Alliance for Restoration of Democracy accused the MMA of betraying their cause while the MMA insisted that it was providing a "safe exit" for the army. The army has always been considered the godfather of the mullahs, so the endorsement of the 17th Amendment by the religious alliance did not come as a surprise.
The general's decision not to shed his uniform has now embarrassed the MMA which is having a hard time explaining to the public that such a move by the general was unexpected and that no covert alliance exists between them and the military.
They cannot even approach the court to enforce their agreement as Section 27 of the Contract Act, 1872 says: "Every agreement by which anyone is restrained from exercising a lawful profession, trade or business of any kind is to that extend void." The word "profession" may be interpreted by the courts to include service in the armed forces.
The MMA is in a predicament and is contemplating its next move. The only good news for it is that its leaders have come up with a new issue, i.e., the removal of the religion column from the passport, to divert the attention of the people from the uniform controversy.
They never fail to bring up such trivial issues and are able to convince the uneducated masses that such issues should be given preference over other problems, however important, such as unemployment, poverty and the deteriorating law and order situation.
Tougher times lie ahead for Pakistan. We have to prepare ourselves to face the challenges of the WTO regime when only the fittest will survive. If immediate steps are not taken, Pakistan will become only a trading place and there will be no industrialization in the country.
We need political stability to attract investment. It is hoped that a compromise will be reached between all political parties and the strengthening of institutions will take place. Unless we have strong institutions, we will never be able to remove uncertainty which unfortunately has been a part of our history.
ANIL KHAN LUNI
Karachi
The Perth debacle
The Pakistan cricket team lost to Australia in a humiliating manner on a bouncy Perth wicket, the same wicket where the Aussie batsmen punished our bowlers. The result was widely anticipated much before the series began, keeping in view the current form of our team, but there was hope that our players would at least put up some fight, but that was not to be the case.
Now who is responsible for this debacle? The PCB, the team management which consists of so-called foreign experts and analysts or the highly paid 'cricket stars'?
Winning or losing is in not a big deal but the style in which we lost was very mortifying. First of all, our bowlers allowed the Aussie batsmen to get away with the initial advantage and then our batsmen played without any responsibility.
They never applied themselves and there behaviour was clearly indicating that they were not serious enough for this big game. The foreign coach and the analyst with a laptop cannot help when the players themselves are not willing to perform. The problem with this team is not new; it has been going on for years and instead of improving, our team is getting worse day by day.
It will be interesting to see whether the PCB has any new solution in its bag or it will just end up sacking the coach and the captain, as has been the case in the last decade or so. Former Australian captain Steve Waugh was absolutely right when he said last year that the Bangladesh cricket team is better than the Pakistan team.
The president, who is also patron of the PCB, should personally look into the matter and take some remedial measures so that our cricket is prevented from complete destruction like hockey and squash.
ARQAM TARIQ
Islamabad
Still in the colonial age?
Like all other proud Pakistanis, I'd have thought we'd put our ugly colonial past behind us. But, alas, I'd to reconsider my opinion on receiving the application blanks for my long delayed pension.
To begin with, these blanks took nearly three years in landing at my door. I was inclined to be charitable and overlook this inordinate delay, considering the fact that I was living thousands of miles from Pakistan.
But I couldn't believe my eyes when I started reading the myriad entries on the forms I was required to fill in. Take, for instance, Form 'A', Computation of Civil Pension, which has two entries at numbers 5 and 6, asking the applicant to state whether he was drawing his pension "in a colony" and, if so, to quote the number of the "Colonial Warrant".
The comedy of errors doesn't end there. Entry number 8 on the forms asks the applicant to state whether he is claiming "non-Asiatic domicile" and, if so, "indicate the evidence on which you base your claim".
This is simply appalling and shameful for a country supposedly free of its colonial yoke for no less than 57 odd years. I find it degrading to my dignity to be identified with a colonial baggage that I thought we'd sunk in the Arabian Sea on August 14, 1947.
But, no, the colonial mindset is alive and kicking with our finance gurus. Had it not been so, they should have suitably edited the archaic language of these pension blanks a long time ago. But they seem to treasure it like the family silver.
KARAMATULLAH K. GHORI
Toronto, Canada
Screening visitors
Lately, a number of proposals have been made by India and Pakistan to relax travel rules to facilitate communication, dispel misconceptions and increase bilateral trade.
There is no denying that these measures are the demands of the present time and important for the very survival of the two countries. But we should not be overzealous about improving ties with India.
Our national security calls for a cautious approach. Since 1980s when the first HIV case was discovered, there has been a sharp increase in the number of HIV carriers in India.
According to the UNAIDS 2004 report on the Global AIDS Epidemic 2003, there are around 5.1 million children and adults living with HIV/AIDS in 2003. Globally India is second only to South Africa in terms of the overall number of people living with the disease.
Due to the stigma attached to the disease and the scarcity of resources, the measures taken by the Indian authorities are counterproductive, causing this scourge to spread undeterred in one of the world's poorest countries.
The security of a nation is not confined to safeguarding its physical frontiers; preserving moral values is also necessary. Pakistan would, therefore, be justified in screening visitors from India to curb the spread of AIDS in our country.
Also, Pakistanis who frequently travel to countries such as South Africa should be subject to compulsory HIV testing so that we can avoid being labelled as prejudiced to visitors from India.
MISBAH NOMANI
Karachi
DHA development charges
This is in reference to various letters (Sept 22, Oct 1, 3, 5 and Nov 19) and the DHA administrator's interview (Dawn, Oct 25). The DHA administrator failed to justify the exorbitant additional development charges of Rs1,000,000 on a plot of 1,000 sqyds. I wish to set the record straight:
Initially development charges were Rs20 per sq yd. In 1988 these charges were raised to Rs45 and Rs65 per sq yd for filled and unfilled plots, respectively. In letters dated March 24, 1991, and Nov 28, 1992, issued to plot holders, the DHA had finalized development charges at Rs110 per sqyd for residential and Rs175 for commercial plots, respectively.
The two letters stated that these were final charges fixed at actual cost of works. The subjects of both letters were: Finalization of development charges for Phase VIII".
In the March 24,1991, letter, signed by the DHA secretary, the words "final development charges" were repeatedly used. I have reproduced its relevant portions, which prove that the charges fixed in 1991 were "final":
PARAGRAPH 4: After a lengthy and careful deliberation (the) governing body approved Rs110 per sq yd for residential and Rs175 per sq yd for commercial plots of Phase V111 as final development charges.
PARAGRAPH 5: The above final development charges will increase annually due to general escalation, but it will not affect those who clear their complete development charges before Dec 31, 1991.
PARAGRAPH 6: After '91 escalation will be recovered @ 10 per cent per annum of the balance amount of development charges".
PARAGRAPH 8: Members will be glad to know that (the) governing body has approved these final development charges based on actual cost of development works (and) members should avail this offer . . .
The DHA issued a newspaper notice (Dawn,April 28, 2000) advising all members to pay their development charges latest by June 30, 2000, failing which they would have to pay revised charges from July 1, 2000.
In response to this notice most of the plot holders of Phase VIII paid their charges for over 10 years. Thus the charges fixed at Rs110 per sq yd for Phase VIII actually rose to almost Rs300 per sq yd after taking into account the 10 per cent annual escalation from 1991.
Plot holders did this on the understanding that they were paying for the last time. Legally, the DHA cannot levy any additional development charges on people who have cleared their full and final dues with the 10 per cent annual escalation by June 30, 2000.
Moreover, in the DHA notice (Dawn, Sept 1) it was stated that A leased property will be exempted from these additional charges. However, plot holders received a letter that said: A leased property owners have been asked to pay Rs500 per sqyd as electrification charges, which amounts to Rs500,000 for a plot of 1,000 sqyds.
All phases of Defence, as well as other areas of Karachi, have over-ground electric networks. Laying a costly underground electric network at Rs500,000 for a 1,000-sqyd plot is not advisable at this stage.
The administrator has also mentioned income-tax. In a budget speech, Mr Sartaj Aziz, the then finance minister, imposed a 10 per cent tax on all vacant plots. It would be advisable for the DHA to review this unfair decision.
NOOR AHMED
Karachi
Law and order failure
The worsening law and order situation in the country has become a matter of serious concern which is not only impeding economic development but also creating an insecure environment manifesting utter failure of the state machinery.
The recent kidnapping of two judges in Shikarpur and rampant street crime like mobile phone robbery and car/motorcycle lifting and hijacking in all small and big cities are a case in point.
In such a chaotic situation, the government's claim that the law and order situation is under control and economic benefits have started trickling down to the impoverished classes of society seems to be oversimplified and beyond reality.
Instead of tall talk, the government should initiate a strategy to clip the wings of criminals and make the law-enforcement agencies effective so that the public may feel secure.
FAROOQ AHMED SHAIKH
Shikarpur
Uniform vs NSC
The logic behind the establishment of the National Security Council was that it would help ensure that decisions of national importance would be taken with the utmost care and with the involvement of all power players. It was also propagated that it would block the way of martial law.
The president's hesitation to shed his uniform belies both claims. He is still worried about martial law and thinks that, without his uniform, decisions of national importance cannot be taken.
He himself does not trust the wisdom of the NSC. This means that the NSC is just a show-piece without any utility or that the president only wishes to retain power.
MUSHTAQ AHMAD
Rawalpindi
Religion column
The deletion of the religion column from the passport is a welcome change. While we are at it, perhaps we can also get rid of father's name and, in the case of married women, husband's name, which is too absurd a category to even comprehend.
Passports from many other countries simply state a person's name, gender, date and place of birth. It is meant to be an identification document, not some in-depth information dossier. The focus should be on legible writing and an uncluttered format so that visa officers can easily find the basic information that they need.
AYESHA IJAZ KHAN
London, UK
What about college teachers?
Mr Nisar Ahmed khuhro, opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly, has rightly raised the issue of the promotion of doctors in these columns (Dec 19). I agree with him but would like to draw his attention to the plight of college teachers.
The situation is the same with other government servants who are victims of the neglect of bureaucrats as regards their promotion. After all, the mindset of all bureaucrats is the same.
They perhaps feel happy by not doing justice to their subordinates. It has become common practice to prolong the promotion process. It is a government rule to promote an employee from grade 17 to 18 in seven years, but due to red tape it normally takes from 10 to 13 years.
I was appointed a lecturer in the Sindh government through the Sindh Public Service Commission in 1994. I have entered into the 11th year of my service but am still working in the same grade. Even appointees of 1993 are working in the same grade. Our promotion does not yet seem to be on the card.
I request Mr Khuhro to also highlight the issue of college lecturers awaiting promotion when he takes up the matter of the promotion of doctors on the floor of the provincial assembly.
BASHIR AHMED SOOMRO
Lecturer, Allama Iqbal College No. 2, Airport, Karachi
Rear-end collisions
Even though I have been driving since 1965 (mostly in Karachi), I have had few accidents. Most of them have been rear enders, and at times when my car was stationary. Generally rear end accidents are caused when the car in front unexpectedly brakes or when the car behind is speeding and unable to brake in time.
If the car in front encounters an unexpected hurdle, it is bound to brake unexpectedly. If the car behind is speeding when this happens, a rear end collision is unavoidable. But it is the mistake of the driver of the car behind.
According to international driving rules, for each 10 miles per hour increase in a car's speed, both cars must maintain a corresponding distance between each other.
For example, if one car is driving at 10, 20, 30 or 40 miles/hour, the drivers are supposed to keep the distances of 1, 2, 3 and 4 car lengths between each other. This system is well recognized and based on reaction-time theory.
DR S. IFTIKHAR AHMED
Karachi
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