| 26 December 2004 | Sunday | 13 Ziqa'ad 1425 |
Religion column's deletion
Foreigners in Iraq
Plots for retired servicemen
Teachers' housing
Seeking foreign investment
Route numbers
Ban on turbaned visitors
Wedding meals
The declining rupee
Faulty altimeter
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The US declared Pakistan its major non-Nato ally. What this means in terms of economic assistance, military cooperation and guarantee of territorial sovereignty only time will tell. President Bush has been at pains to express his gratitude to and appreciation of President Musharraf for his support in the war against terror.
Significant and far-reaching decisions were taken after 9/11 and this opened the way for resumption of economic and military assistance to Pakistan from the US and other nations. Pakistan has benefited from the financial assistance and rescheduling of its loans on lower interest rates. President Bush expects President Musharraf to play a role at the international level with particular reference to Palestine and Iraq. America now supports Pakistan and expects it to play its role as an ally.
The US is lukewarm about democracy in Pakistan, and only recently the State Department described President Musharraf's decision not to step down as chief of army staff as a "lack of move towards democracy".
Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto expected a stronger reaction from the US, but the State Department declined. It endorsed the plan for holding elections in 2007 and expressed its intention to continue supporting the electoral process scheduled to culminate in the elections in 2007. However, the State Department clearly stated that elections in Pakistan must meet international standards and include the full participation of all political parties, and this is what the US will continue to work towards.
The US and Pakistan have generally had a good relationship, except when the US felt that it had no further need or use of Pakistan. We have seen these instances in the not-too-distant past. If we only carry out US bidding and are rewarded for our actions, the possibility of disruption of the cordial relationship when US purposes have been achieved cannot be ruled out.
Our relationship with the US as the sole superpower is vital to our economic development, stability and prosperity as the US exercises great influence because of its close trade ties with India. We must, therefore, structure our relationship in a more constructive and integrated manner and not base it only upon our support to America in the war on terror as this may result in a backlash or an ultimate disruption or downgrading of the relationship which is at present based on US need.
I would like to reproduce a relevant part of a speech made by Mr Mohammad Ali Jinnah when the first ambassador of the US presented his credentials to him as governor-general of Pakistan:
"... Though Pakistan is a new State, for well over a century now there have been many connections of trade and commerce between the people of Pakistan and the people of the United States. This relationship was strengthened and made more direct and intimate during two World Wars and more particularly and more recently during the Second World War when our two people stood shoulder to shoulder in defence of democracy. The historic fight for self-government by your people and its achievement by them, the consistent teaching and practice of democracy in your country had for generations acted as a beacon of light and had in no small measure served to give inspiration to nations who like us were striving for independence and freedom from the shackles of foreign rule.
"As you have discerned already our infant State has been confronted with grave and dangerous issues and problems from its early days. Though as a new State we have to face a serious situation, we have no doubt in our own minds that by our united will and determination to live as a free and peace-loving people, we shall overcome them successfully.
"I also deeply appreciate your confidence that our traditions and our past will help us to fulfil the hopes and ideals of our people. In return I can assure Your Excellency that after having emerged from an eclipse, which lasted over a century and a half, the people of Pakistan desire nothing which is not their own, nothing more than the goodwill and friendship of all the free nations of the world. We in Pakistan are determined that having won our long-lost freedom we will work to the utmost limit of our capacity not only to build up a strong and happy State of our own but to contribute in the fullest possible measure to international peace and prosperity.
"I am glad to learn that Your Excellency and the great country and people you represent will give your cooperation to us in order to advance our economic and cultural relations for the mutual benefit of both the countries. I am hopeful that good relations and friendship already existing between the peoples of America and Pakistan will be further strengthened and the bonds of friendship between our two countries will be more firmly riveted."
LIAQUAT H. MERCHANT
Karachi
Religion column's deletion
I agree with the views expressed by Dr A. A. Laghari (Dec 21) and Ms Ayesha Ijaz Khan (Dec 22) on the deletion of the religion column from the passport.
The deletion of the religion column will not in any way adversely affect us or our religion. I would, however, not go to the extent of agreeing with the latter's suggestion that even the column as regards the name of father or husband should also be deleted, as in my view this column goes to fix up the identity of a person more definitely. There are countless people with the same name.
The religion column only serves the purpose of satisfying our ego and our urge to parade our religion in season and out of season. It should be our conduct and behaviour and our intercourse with other human beings which should show, nay, proclaim that we are Muslims and the followers of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) who taught us to treat all human beings with compassion and love and to bear no ill-will towards even our opponents.
JUSTICE (retd) SALAHUDDIN MIRZA
Karachi
(II)
The religious parties' concern about the removal of the religion column from the passport as a step towards secularizing the country may seem "absurd and ridiculous" to Mr Mirza Imran Ahsan Karim (23 Dec), but it doesn't to me.
The point is that in this "trivial issue", as Mr Anil Khan Luni calls it (Dec 22), even such a slight change is symbolic of a greater change which our government wants to bring about in the country.
The question is: why is it the religion column which must be the first to go? Why didn't the government think of first deleting the column about father's or husband's name, as Ms Ayesha Ijaz Khan suggests (22 Dec)? It apparently shows a change in priorities, which has slowly come creeping into society.
SADAF ALAM
Karachi
Foreigners in Iraq
Iraq was suffering in the past and now is the most disturbed country on the world map. The US-led invasion to root out weapons of mass destruction, which were never to be found anywhere in Iraq, dethrone Saddam Hussein and make Iraq safe for the rest of the world has turned out to be more troublesome for the people of Iraq than was anticipated.
Ironically, in Iraq there is no outright leader which has an unofficial mandate of the people, nor is there any standout who can calm down breakaway insurgents and also the common people to help them stabilize their country. Visits from Rumsfeld, Powell or Bush for that matter are not going to bring any relief to the people.
There is no consensus seen as far as the common people of Iraq are concerned, responsibility of which also falls upon Saddam who suppressed the collective thinking of the masses, who could therefore not see beyond him.
The US is in a dilemma, thanks to Bush and his 'war on terror'. Face-saving is the only option they are working on right now, which includes elections at any cost.
Insurgency in Iraq has its roots within the common people and insurgents think on one straight line: there are foreigners on our land without our consent and we have to scare them away.
It seems the trade between oil and blood will be very costly to everyone and the sooner the US comes out of this dilemma the better. It must not forget that you can rule the land, but you cannot rule the people. Similarly, you can persuade someone to consider options, but you cannot force your views on them, not even in the name of democracy.
ANAS A. KHAN
Edmonton, AB., Canada
Plots for retired servicemen
Under the present terms and conditions, army, navy and air force officers who retired more than 10 years ago are "ineligible" for the allotment of a plot in the defence housing authorities of Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad even if they have not been allotted any plot in any of the DHAs in the past. Also "ineligible" are the widows of officers who died 10 years ago. This is not justified.
It is not good to forget these old warriors of the armed forces just because 10 years have passed since their retirement. Most of them took part in the 1965 and 1971 wars. They are still an integral part of the armed forces because they always came whenever they were called in for the defence of the motherland and will never refuse whenever they will be called in for duty in the future. Good institutions always remember their old servicemen.
President Gen Pervez Musharraf is requested to issue orders for the review of these unjustified terms and conditions. All retired officers of the armed forces and their widows who have not been allotted any plot should be "eligible" for the allotment of a plot in the DHAs and other government housing schemes. A policy of "one officer one plot only" should be adopted. If the number of plots is limited, some quota may be reserved for this deprived lot.
MAJ (retd) MUHAMMED INAYAT
Lahore Cantt
Teachers' housing
The federal government undertook a positive step recently by decentralizing the hiring of residential accommodation and authorizing the respective departments to handle the process of hiring houses for government employees.
Many departments have since taken over the task previously performed by the estate office, and the housing problems of many government employees are being solved by this new process.
Similarly, the federal directorate of education (FDE) was empowered by the ministry of education to administer the hiring of houses for both the teaching and non-teaching staff of all educational institutions under their administrative jurisdiction. But the FDE has yet to take up the new task, and its slackness has left many employees in considerable trouble.
It is requested that the FDE start attending immediately to the cases for hiring houses being submitted to it and relieve the employees of difficulties in this respect.
PROF SYED IZKAR-UL-HASSAN BUKHARI
Secretary-General, Federal Government College Teachers' Association, Islamabad
Seeking foreign investment
It is interesting that the Karachi police have taken note of the snatching of mobile phones but they are not bothered about the snatching of many cars daily in various parts of the city.
During his visits abroad, the prime minister invites foreign businessmen to invest in Pakistan. But has he created a conducive environment for foreign investment in the country? The situation on the ground tells a different story.
Chinese personnel working in Karachi and elsewhere in the country are taken to their workplace under Rangers escort every day, and while they work the police and Rangers protect them.
The prime minister himself goes about in a bullet-proof car under Rangers and police escort. The government is importing bullet-proof cars worth billions of rupees for 'very important persons'. In such a situation how can anyone come and invest in Pakistan?
Ours is a country where you give full payment for a car and get it after eight or nine months; where you start paying insurance premium once you get a loan for a car from a bank and the delivery is made after eight months (you pay for the insurance for a car which is not there yet); where city governments do not pay their electricity bills and water pumping is stopped; where the best locality (DHA) is supplied water in rusty tankers; where no action is taken against those who steal electricity; where traffic lights are frequently jumped; and where even corps commanders are ambushed.
Will someone please do something to help the situation?
DR KHALID BUTT
Karachi
(II)
President Pervez Musharraf and his team are doing an excellent job for the nation. He is trying to visit as many countries as possible to promote trade and commerce which will definitely result in the economic well-being of Pakistan.
However, there is a problem. When foreign investors will arrive in Pakistan, they will face great difficulties in dealing with the country's system. The basic problems include the law and order situation, poor supply of electricity and unsatisfactory phone services. Among the three, the telephone problem seems to be the most important and easiest one to fix. However, the relevant departments have failed to correct the situation.
Gen Musharraf can go around the whole world and try to round up foreign businessmen to Pakistan, but such efforts will not do any good. Foreign investors will soon be fed up with the system and will quit.
I hope the president realizes this and does the needful.
MUHAMMAD S. ALVI
Baltimore, USA
Route numbers
Karachi traffic authorities should make sure that at night the route numbers of coaches, mini-buses and other public transport are visible enough for people waiting at bus stops to see them and board them.
These vehicles make very short stops, making it almost impossible for commuters to figure out their route numbers. Elderly people particularly find it extremely difficult to catch these buses and coaches.
I request the authorities concerned to take necessary action in this regard.
NEHAL ALVI
Karachi
Ban on turbaned visitors
I was surprised to read the letter "Ban on turbaned visitors" by Mr Shah Israrul-Haq (Dec 24).
It is extremely shocking to know that the military that prides itself on protecting not only its people but also the religion of its people has undertaken steps to cause problems.
Where is the freedom of religion? How is it that the commander of that base (Karachi's Malir Cantonment) has given orders to abolish the known religious practice of wearing an amama (turban)?
It is pathetic that I live here in the United States and find more people respecting me for wearing a turban than in Pakistan. In fact, American governing authorities are sensitive to religious freedom. Especially with the war on terrorism and the pain that America and Americans have experienced after 9/11, the people and governmental agencies have become very sensitive (in a good way) to Muslims practising their religion. The war is against terrorism, not against Muslims.
But it seems to me that the military in Pakistan is creating an atmosphere of animosity for its people. Rather than respecting the religious freedom of people, it is issuing orders to systematically strip them of this freedom.
I urge President Gen Pervez Musharraf to seriously think on this issue and ensure that the basic right to religious freedom is not taken away from the people.
NADEEM SIDDIQI
Houston, Texas, USA
Wedding meals
I refer to the letter "Wedding meals" (Dec 16). Of the letters that have appeared on this topic, about 98 per cent support serving meals at weddings. People on the street also agree that our religion allows us to serve meals at weddings. This is a centuries' old tradition. Besides, there can be no proper wedding without meals.
The government should allow the serving of one dish at weddings. There is hardly a family or an individual who would refuse to serve one dish, which is preferable to serving just drinks, the expenditure of both being equivalent.
We appeal to the relevant authorities to lift the ban on wedding meals. Let us save even more by allowing just a one-dish meal. This will achieve the intended thriftiness and at the same time restore all the joys of our weddings.
ASHRAF CHAUHAN
Khushab
The declining rupee
Does it not sound paradoxical that our rupee is fast rolling downwards while we are told almost every day that our economy is improving?
I am not an economist but as a layman I feel that the pecuniary rope is slipping from my hold. We are yelling aloud that the prices are rising but do not seem to realize that it is the rupee that is fast losing its worth and with that its esteem. The numeric value of our reserve may be rising, but is the aggregate value of these reserves not sliding downward?
A similar situation developed in France around the mid-60s. To remedy the situation, the French government revalued the franc by assigning the 10-franc coin the value of one franc. Seen in its true perspective, our 10-rupee note is now actually worth the good old one rupee. Our financial experts would definitely know better if such a redress is viable in our case.
Is it not time we reviewed the real worth of our currency and devised a system that represents a true picture of our economy? In the olden days our coinage was minted in shapes and sizes that could be identified in total darkness. The new two- and five-rupee coins do not meet this essential requirement. The quality of our currency notes also needs to be improved to withstand the rough handling that our currency notes are subjected to these days.
WAJAHATULLAH KHAN
Karachi
Faulty altimeter
This is apropos of the news item "Faulty altimeter may have caused midair incident" (Dec 24).
The incident was hair-raising and more serious than reported. The trauma of passengers and their kith and kin cannot be put into words. A friend of mine was on board PK-309 and his version is horrifying. The loss of two aircraft and their 250 passengers' lives, baggage and cargo would have been colossal. One wonders how the faulty altimeter went unchecked by the engineering department before take-off and, on top of that, how the same aircraft was allowed to proceed to Kuwait.
It is time aircraft maintenance was improved by all airlines and gadgets of airplanes and control towers were revamped and modernized before any disaster takes place. Negligence in such sensitive areas as maintenance means risking the lives of passengers and must not be tolerated.
MIRZA ASLAM BEG
Karachi
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