| 28 December 2004 | Tuesday | 15 Ziqa'ad 1425 |
Status of women in Islam
Plight of Muslims
Death penalty for juveniles
UK senior citizens in Pakistan
Parties and their leadership
DHA development charges
Miandad's media onslaught
Traffic & VIP movement
Transporters' strike threat
Why staff cars?
Lata and Asha
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I would like to share my experience in India when I visited that country recently with my new machine-readable passport (MRP). On the immigration counter, I saw the officer holding on to the passport as if he had seen nothing like this in his life.
I was fearful that the officer may refuse entry since this had happened a few days earlier when some MRP holders were sent back from Dubai on the grounds that the immigration authorities there had not been informed by the Pakistan government of the new travel document.
Instead, what I saw was that a number of immigration staff came over to see the passport and then they asked me how I had received it. When I told them that there were no application forms involved and that the passport office had issued this on the basis of an old passport and my CNIC, they were really impressed.
In the words of one officer, this technology was not seen on many western passports. I must say that these are one of the few occasions when I felt proud to present my passport at an immigration counter outside Pakistan.
ATAR REHMAN
Hyderabad
(II)
It is rare for Pakistan to come up with something of international standard, and one can see that the new machine-readable passport is in fact above the usual international standards set for many countries. However, instead of appreciating this fact, the MMA has decided to gain political mileage from the deletion of the religion column in the passport.
Given the nature of our government, there is a good chance that this column will soon be inserted by the relevant authorities. Instead of bowing to this unfair demand, what we should have seen is more debate on this issue in the media, which is mostly missing.
If one is to take the MMA's argument that this omission will allow Ahmadis to visit Saudi Arabia, one needs to understand that most Ahmadis do not live in Pakistan and they usually carry foreign passports which do not carry the religion column either.
The MMA needs to understand that if this is their worry, they should rest assured. The Saudi government has in place its own system of checks and balances to ensure that people it wants to restrict from performing Haj are prevented from doing so.
SYED INAM-UL HAQ
Karachi
(III)
It is ironic that the Pakistan Muslim League, which was once headed by Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, a staunch believer in a secular Pakistan, is today fighting for the retention of the religion column in our passports.
PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif argues that since all Pakistanis are not Muslim, this column has to be included. This argument is faulted especially because most countries, including Muslim ones, now do not have this information on their passports.
While the world is going forward, the MMA and Mr Sharif want to take Pakistan two centuries back.
ASAD AZIZ KHAN
Lahore
Status of women in Islam
Mr S. G. Jilanee in his article "Status of women in Islam" (Dec 17) says: "Islam takes note of the perils inherent in excessive gender interaction, because, despite all their masculine achievements, women remain vulnerable." This gives an impression as if Islam has granted certain "concessions" to women, which other religions do not give.
In fact, Islam does not distinguish between the moral and social praxis of men and women, holds them to the same standards and judges them on the basis of the same criteria.
There is no suggestion that men and women, because they are biologically different, are in any way unequal. The Holy Quran differentiates between human beings on the basis of taqwa, as is evident from the following verses:
"For Muslim men and women - for believing men and women, For devout men and women, For true men and women, For men and women who are patient and constant, For men and women who humble themselves, For men and women who give in charity, For men and women who fast, For men and women who guard their chastity. And for men and women who remember God often - for them God has prepared forgiveness and great reward." (33:35)
The pairing of men and women shows that the Holy Quran expects both the sexes to live by the same principles and views them both as being equally capable of doing so.
At the core of the Holy Quran's view is the idea that every human, whether male or female, can attain faith and taqwa and that every individual, whether man or woman, is responsible for himself or herself.
The Holy Quran neither links moral individuality to gender differences nor suggests that, because women are biologically different from men, they are also morally or socially unequal, deficient, weak, inferior to or less than men.
FAQIR AHMAD PARACHA
Peshawar
Plight of Muslims
Two tales about the miseries of Muslims appeared in Dawn on Dec 11. The first was narrated by Mr Kuldip Nayar ("Modi's plan takes shape", Dec 11) who said: "Modi's experiment has succeeded to the extent that both Hindus and Muslims have been segregated.
They live in separate localities. A sense of insecurity haunts both of them. So much so that a Muslim judge of the high court has preferred a congested Muslim habitation to a sprawling government-allotted bungalow."
The second tale was told by Eric S. Margolis in his article "No respite from US torture" (Dec 11). The writer says: "The US has been sending high-level anti-American suspects to Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and, reportedly, even to Pakistan where they are brutally tortured with violent electric shocks, savage beatings, drowning, acid baths and blow-torching - the same tortures ironically ascribed to Saddam Hussein."
As for the first tale, our political leaders were recently in India to attend a The Hindustan Times conference. They must not be unaware of Ms Zahira Sheikh's retraction in the Best Bakery carnage case.
They missed to give louder expression to their views on the miseries of Muslims, perhaps because of the fear that the subject related to the host country and not to Pakistan.
Regarding the second tale, we do not know whether our president is aware of the plight of Muslims at the hands of the American authorities. Maybe he has preferred to side track the issue.
GHEEWALA A.G.M.
Karachi
Death penalty for juveniles
A full bench of the Lahore High Court on Dec 6 revoked the Juvenile Justice System Ordinance (JJSO), reportedly finding it "unreasonable, unconstitutional and impracticable".
This decision has been criticized by human rights and child rights organizations and advocates of justice for children, including Amnesty International,
The AI has asked Pakistan to abide by its commitments under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and take immediate action to appeal to the Supreme Court to review the judgment and stay its implementation.
The JJSO, which was enforced in July 2000, abolished the death penalty for people under 18 at the time of the offence, in most parts of the country. However, the ordinance was not extended to provincially- and federally-administered tribal areas.
Sher Ali was executed in Pata in November 2001 for a murder committed in 1993 when he was 13 years old. To Amnesty International's knowledge, no other juvenile has been executed in Pakistan since 1997.
In October 2004, AI welcomed the extension of the JJSO to Pata. Fata, Northern Areas and Azad Jammu and Kashmir remained outside its ambit. The high court judgment could mean that juvenile courts will be abolished and children will once against be tried in the same system as adults can be sentenced to death.
NAFEES GHAZNAVI
Director, Amnesty International Pakistan
UK senior citizens in Pakistan
Mr Muzaffar Ali's letter (Dec 9) should serve to awaken over 10,000 British senior citizens (BSCs) to their rights and privileges denied to them. Britain is part and parcel of both the Commonwealth and a member of the European Commission.
The BSCs living in Pakistan hold British/European passports and are at liberty to return to England at any time of their choosing and avail themselves of the rights and privileges denied to them in their country of origin.
The question arises: are the BSCs rightly deprived of those rights and privileges to which they would be entitled in England, when they have been contributing equally towards social services?
The gift of œ200 from the Queen to BSCs, as pointed out by Mr Ali, was apparently baksheesh in principle, an award, a bestowal that should be equitably available to all BSCs without discrimination as to their place of residence. The total amount of foreign exchange lost to the country owing to the discrimination spread over 10,000 BSCs amounts to œ,2000,000.
I suggest the Pakistan high commission in London should consider taking up this issue with the British social security authorities concerned, and the British high commission in Pakistan may as well throw some light on the subject.
AKBAR KHAN
Karachi
Parties and their leadership
In normal circumstances, our politicians derive their power from the leader of the house, but now they look up to the presidency for their share in power. In this set-up where the president is in uniform and the prime minister seeks his guidance from the President's House, it is understandable that the ruling party passes resolutions in assemblies to request the president to remain in uniform.
The lack of popular leadership hampers the process and pace of democratizing the state and society. Unlike the Indians, the privileged class in Pakistan, i.e., the feudals, manages to enter the assemblies where they represent themselves, not the masses, and where they make laws to protect their own interests, not the interests of the masses.
There is no visible change in the attitude of politicians and political parties towards democracy. Mainstream political parties have lost their strength as they are not organized and voters attach more importance to personalities rather than to political parties.
SOHAIL KHALID
Toba Tek Singh
DHA development charges
This is apropos of the letter on the above subject (Dec 15). The Defence Housing Authority, Karachi, as a residential enterprise, made a humble beginning in 1956, with a mere 76 acres of land which is now DHA Phase I. The authority has since then expanded phenomenally and what were once acres of wasteland are now the most sought-after stretches of land.
Over the years the civic infrastructure of the old phases of Defence has become old and worn out. The DHA has embarked upon refurbishment and upgradation of old phases in a phased programme at an estimated cost of Rs1.2 billion. Within the next three years the residents will see a dramatic improvement in community services and infrastructure .
Recently the DHA has taken a decision to levy additional development charges on open plots in Phase VIII and Phase VIII and Phase VII Extn as it was the only alternative to carry out development of land with provision of all services and open it to construction. This will include charges on account of development of an underground distribution system for provision of electricity as well.
The above two phases were lying undeveloped for want of funds; they will now be developed within three to five years. Khyaban-i-Saadi, a part of Phase VII Extn, is being developed accordingly. Residents should soon see an improvement in the level and quality of civic amenities in the area.
The assumption that category 'A' members who are the original allottees of plots (armed forces officers) are exempted from additional development charges is misleading; it is lease 'A' holders, having permission to start construction, who have been exempted.
The criticism of PRO Bono Publico on the inconvenience borne by their grandchildren living at Khyaban-i-Saadi is understandable, but it would be in fairness of things to see the entire picture in its perspective.
LT-COL (retd) RAFAT NAQVI
PRO, DHA, Karachi
Miandad's media onslaught
Former cricket coach Javed Miandad twice had the chance of coaching our national cricket team. On both occasions he failed and was justifiably sacked. Cricket fans still remember the debacle of the home series against India under his coaching, and now he is leaving no opportunity to criticize the present coach, Bob Woolmer, and the team who are in their most important assignment.
Javed Miandad is advised not to lose his respect in the eyes of cricket fans by criticizing Bob Woolmer who is an excellent coach. We must give him an equal chance to show his worth in due time.
The Pakistan Cricket Board must do something legally to stop disgruntled elements from misusing the media and tarnishing the image of our country abroad.
HYDERALI EBRAHIM
London, UK
Traffic & VIP movement
Driving in Karachi is a nightmare. One is sandwiched between trucks and minibuses that are recklessly driven. Nobody seems to observe traffic laws. Then there are drivers and youngsters who try to outdo one another on busy streets. People drive regardless of any law.
We have cars with extra-bright laser lights that blind others on the road. We also have cars with tinted glasses. We have motorcycles that drive at night without headlights and we have all sorts of rickshaw drivers driving and swerving in and out of traffic.
Amongst all this mayhem we have the VVIP movements where one is stranded for hours at end and minor government functionaries blare their way and push aside traffic as they move in busy street conditions.
My question is: when will this madness end? We have been promised good governance, but all we see is indifference of the government to this mess. The problem is not the numbers of policemen; it is one of governance.
ISHTIAQ KHAN
Karachi
Transporters' strike threat
It was good to read in a section of the press that the Karachi DIG (traffic) has finally decided to take errant public transporters to task. Their strike threat is an indication that they have started feeling the pinch.
The can-get-away-with-anything behaviour of transporters and owners of various other commercial vehicles has been a sad commentary on the performance of the city's traffic police and the provincial interior ministry for years.
Traffic discipline is an important element of law and order; no jury in the world can deny it. The traffic police must combat traffic terror on the road with all the power and resources they have. They should not allow such transporters to blackmail them and the public anymore.
Racing, reckless driving and overloading must be dealt with sternly. Heavy fines must continue. In chronic cases, the driver's licence and the bus route permit must be suspended at least for three months.
The route number should be exhibited clearly on the front and rear windscreens. Vehicle fitness people should do their job responsibly. Money wasted on cheap decorations can be used in making buses more comfortable for passengers, especially for older people, women and children.
SHAHID SOHAIL
Karachi
Why staff cars?
This is with reference to Mr Hafizur Rahman's article "Why staff cars?" (Dec 8). A military officer gets a staff car after about 20 years of commissioned service at the approximate age of 40.
This staff car is meant for the officer's family and to help him carry out his official work. He is charged a nominal amount when the car is used for the family. This is under the head of amenity and travelling allowance which is Rs600 a month. This system is followed strictly according to the rules and regulations.
I served the navy for 36 years, including 20 years as a commissioned officer, but was not able to afford a respectable car, nor was I able to get a staff car.
Having two private cars seems like a dream, and the same is the case with my son who has so far served for 11 years as a commissioned officer in the navy. Whenever I read articles or see photographs in the media, objecting to the use of staff cars for personal work, I feel that people are being mis communicated.
The only thing that makes these staff cars evident is their distinctive number plates. I am not aware of the rules and regulations of the civil services, but it's clear that when an officer is entitled to a staff car in the armed forces, he is fully entitled to use it for his family as per rules and regulations.
The government is requested to offer locally- assembled cars on easy instalments to all government employees. This will help solve the problem of staff cars being used for personal works.
CDR (retd) FATEH ALI
Karachi
Lata and Asha
The ongoing discussion on Lata and Asha has been very interesting, and valuable inputs have come from Mr Darius Kakalia (Dec 2) and Mr Sultan Arshad (Dec 9, 23).
However, no discussion on the two great singers of our time would be complete without a mention of two remarkable personalities - Khemchand Prakash in the case of Lata and Onkar Prasad (O.P.) Nayyar in the case of Asha. The two took these singers under their tutelage and turned them into what they are today, in addition to the singers' own inherent greatness.
Khemchand provided Lata with the vocal depth she has, and O.P. discovered early that Asha could sing with aplomb geet and ghazal like no one else could, honing her skills with the passage of time. By 1970 Asha was arguably at the peak of her career, thanks to Nayyar, one of the all-time greats of Indian film music.
The new genre of mood music, provided by O.P., which led to Asha's elevation, was soon relegated to virtual secondary place by none other than Asha herself in favour of R.D. Burman for reasons of royalty. No wonder that Asha suffered in comparison to her own elder sister, for such is the nature of the cut-throat competition in the entertainment industry of today.
ARIF A. ABBASI
Karachi
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