| 05 January 2005 | Wednesday | 23 Ziqa'ad 1425 |
War against terror
Car premium issue
Increase in fuel prices
A locality in ruins
Safe road crossing
Waiting for appointment
Cricket team's performance
Curbing cell phone snatching
Asian tsunami after-effects
Unified fatwa
PIA flight schedules
Writing off Sindh?
BMW case
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Religious elements ideologically opposed to nationalism kicked up so much dust after the creation of Pakistan and during the long reign of Gen Ziaul Haq that the ideals and vision of the Quaid-i-Azam for the country got totally befuddled.
The word secularism came to be translated as 'la deeniyat" in Urdu, and a small but vocal minority through street power and acts of violence insisted on the practice of Islam in a most pristine form as the state religion.
The same mindset propelled some Pakistanis staying in the West, which they labelled as darul kufr and therefore unworthy of their participation in any aspect of its system, to clamour for a fanatical and extreme introduction of religion against the will of the people in Pakistan while they enjoyed the material benefits of living in the 'darul kufr'.
To make the avowed goal of the introduction of the 'Sharia law', a concept unacceptable to the creator of Pakistan, its proponents and their fellow travellers assumed the politically astute posture of presenting themselves as champions of democracy.
However, it should be quite clear by examining the policies and practices of countries like Saudia Arabia, Iran and the vanquished Taliban that a theocracy is incompatible with democracy.
As the dreadful legacy of the Zia regime is slowly being replaced by more open and enlightened attitudes, the Pakistani populace will come to realize that secularism does not mean antagonism to religion but the freedom to practise one's own religious beliefs to the fullest.
No country in the 21st century is an isolated village which can impose its own laws in contradiction to universally accepted concepts of human rights, and Pakistan is not in a position to defy the United States or the World Bank which some countries may be able to.
A sensible approach to religion will go a long way in putting Pakistan on the road to prosperity, advancement and progress.
MASOOD HAIDER
New Jersey, USA
(II)
Ayesha Khan's letter (Dec 22) on the very welcome deletion of the religion column in our passports contrasts strongly with the opinion so vividly portrayed in the photo (Dawn, Dec 19) of our religious stalwarts holding up copies of old and new passports.
I have as many as six expired passports issued on various dates between 1965 and 1988. In none of these is there any column for religion, while on the cover only the words "Pakistan Passport" are inscribed in English and in Urdu. This has merely been restored in the new format.
Apparently, it was only in the early '90s that the need was felt to tell the outside world that we had indeed become an Islamic Republic and were Muslims to wit. The format too was changed, opening from right to left, perhaps to add emphasis to identity.
A passport is intended for travel in foreign lands where, after 9/11, presenting this document in its Islamic regalia is like showing a red rag to a bull at any immigration counter. The government should be hailed, not castigated, for restoring the old format and facilitating, not impeding, foreign travel.
S. ASIF MAJEED
Karachi
War against terror
The purpose of writing this letter is to mention some of the strange omissions and consequences of the war against terror.
- The US investigated "terrorist training camps" in Afghanistan before it attacked the country. Does anyone recollect the US ever telling us what it found or destroyed at these camps? Why?
- Do you really know how many Arab Mujahideen were killed fighting the Soviet war in Afghanistan? Just 44. Draw your own conclusions about the massive adverse publicity that the Arab fighters are getting till date.
- The first national elections in Afghanistan were held in 1986-87 under Soviet military occupation and not in 2004 as claimed by the US.
- The US and other western countries count their dead in Afghanistan and Iraq but decline to do the same for locals.
- In spite of the fact that the US has possession of Al Qaeda record, it has so far failed to let the world know anything about the organization, including its office-bearers, board of directors or address but expects the world to declare war against it.
- After 9/11, nearly 15,000 Muslims have been detained indefinitely, mostly in the US and UK jails. The two countries have failed to prosecute even one per cent of the prisoners in the last three years.
- The Rumanian government, a few months after 9/11, framed a law disallowing any child to be named Osama. It was done when a Roman Catholic woman gave birth to a son and made a request that he be named Osama on the registration form.
Z. A. KAZMI
Karachi
Car premium issue
This has reference to the two months' notice the ministry of industries has given to car manufacturers to resolve the premium issue. Since it is the car-makers whose reputation is being damaged by investors charging premium, should it not be they who should be demanding immediate resolution of this problem?
The fact is that while the manufacturers have already undertaken capacity expansion, increase in production units (which would be the result of double and extended shifts) and high volumes of investment, these efforts go in vain as the middlemen still continue to buy, hoard and resell automobiles at a higher price.
Therefore, premiums cannot be controlled by manufacturers alone who have been taking strong measures to help the government, ensure timely delivery, discourage investors and promote sales only to genuine buyers at the cost of greater sale volumes and revenues.
The government has already slashed the local industry's backbone by allowing import of reconditioned cars. Putting the government's inability and inefficiency on manufacturer's shoulders will only frustrate their investment and interest in Pakistan.
The issue will not end even with the two-month ultimatum. The problem lies with the middleman - a investor who is using the car market for personal profit - whereas the car manufacturers are criticized for premiums.
The government must intervene to resolve core issues through workable policies whereby the investor cannot play the role of a middleman.
KASHIF FAROOQ
Karachi
Increase in fuel prices
Ex-depot sales prices of gas in Pakistan hit record highs last month and are expected to go even higher. The prices of other grades of fuel have also been increased. The latest surge in fuel prices will not directly affect factory workers and other common people since they do not possess cars, but indirectly it will break their backs.
The cost of commuting to work and the transportation of goods will increase, so will the cost of commodities of daily use. It seems Gen Musharraf's admini strators are going to snatch another loaf of bread from the poor man's mouth.
We often read that the economy has been put back on track and that it is now moving in the right direction. Will the lives of the 40 per cent of the people of Pakistan earning about two US dollars a day change for the better? The common citizens are least interested in sweet sermons; their immediate needs are food, healthcare, clean water, utilities, conveyance, good schooling for their children and moderate overhead cover and clothes for their families.
It is time the government changed its priorities and paid some heed to what the common people are demanding for themselves.
LT-COL (retd) SYED AHMED
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
A locality in ruins
I am a resident of Al-Mustafa Town Phase-II, Qasimabad, Hyderabad. In the late '80s private builders built this township for low-income groups. Before handing over possession, they had made a commitment to provide all amenities to the allottees.
Construction was completed without giving due regard to ventilation, sanitation, etc. Neither roads were built nor was the sewerage system connected with the main line.
The sewerage generated by a township of more than 2,000 residents is being absorbed in the ground. Especially in the rainy season the problem grows and rainwater accumulates.
On the continuous clamour of the residents, the Hyderabad Development Authority approved funds to connect the gutter lines of the colony with the main line of Qasimabad.
Some excavation was done and pipes were also brought at the site but regrettably work has been left halfway for almost 18 months. We, the residents of Qasimabad, urge the city government to direct the HDA to complete sanitation work at the earliest.
ALTAF HUSSAIN QURESHI
Hyderabad
Safe road crossing
It has often been noticed that after school hours children cross the road carelessly near parked cars, little knowing that their view is blocked by the parked cars and they are exposed to accidents.
Britain's Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) conducted a survey that found that 42 per cent of child pedestrian causalities (0-14 years) involved children going into the road, masked by parked vehicles.
The TRL launched a campaign in May 1979 - of three months' duration - aimed at reducing such accidents. Road safety teaching material was distributed among the children.
Each teaching pack included local accident information and the routine to be followed for crossing roads with parked cars. Our schools should also focus on teaching children how to cross a road.
F. H. MUGHAL
Karachi
Waiting for appointment
We, the four candidates, were selected by the SPSC last June for appointment in BPS-18 in the IT department, government of Sindh. So far we have not been given any appointment letter, nor have we been informed about the correct position as regards our fate.
We have spent our six months in the hope of getting appointed because we had gone through the whole process and selected on merit. Recently we read an advertisement in a newspaper about the same jobs, now on a contract basis. Would the authorities concerned bother to explain the situation in this regard?
AYAZ AHMED, GHULAM MURTAZA ABBASI, SHAFIQUE AHMED MEMON, ZAHID ALI SHAIKH
Via email
Cricket team's performance
What a humiliation for the one-time World Cup winners. It has been proved beyond doubt that cricket is more than just batting, fielding and bowling and that a good team captain is vital to harness the potential of the team. The cumulative performance of a team is a product of the prowess of the team captain and the effort of individual players.
In order to win a series, the team captain has to evolve a comprehensive game strategy for the whole series as well as for each individual match and execute it with skill until the last ball.
He has to know the capabilities of his own team as well as those of his adversaries and has to prepare his team to face their onslaught. He has to optimize the strengths of his own team and exploit the vulnerabilities of the opponents.
He has to carry his team through adversities and boost their morale during and after the match even if it is lost. These qualities have unfortunately not been demonstrated by our team captains in the recent past. Grooming and selection of a team captain is a specialized job and must be entrusted to specialists. Every good player cannot make a good captain.
Imran Khan has been giving valuable suggestions time and again but these have been totally ignored. He has a proven track record and is an acclaimed cricket hero.
He has no vested interest and has only the good of the game at his heart. He has demonstrated how an ably lead team can win the World Cup after suffering initial setbacks. Let's listen to him and associate him with the game irrespective of his political affiliations. He has the ability to reinvigorate our shattered team.
S.M.H.BOKHARI
Rawalpindi
Curbing cell phone snatching
Hats off to the Karachi Electronics Dealers' Association (KEDA) and the Sindh police for taking the initiative for tracking down stolen mobile phones and bringing the culprits to justice.
I and other numerous users who are on the analogue mobile phone system (AMPS) network mainly on Insta Phone and Paktel would like to know whether we should also put our international manufacturer equipment identification (IMEI) number and other relevant information on their website.
For AMPS supported mobile phones, the IMEI number can be known by dialling *3001#12345#. This tracking system has been launched for GSM networks only, thus depriving AMPS holders of this facility and making them prone to mobile snatching. I hope the KEDA and the Sindh police will take appropriate action.
SYED HASNAIN MUJTABA
Karachi
Asian tsunami after-effects
The tidal wave disaster in the Indian Ocean boggles the mind. Its effects are perhaps the most devastating in the last four decades. Many have lost their lives and thousands have become homeless.
The so-called "lucky survivors" are leading a pathetic life due to lack of clean drinking water, food and shelter. This massive sea surge ashore shows how vulnerable humanity is to the destructive forces of nature. The death toll has already crossed 140,000.
The cyclone-affected victims are highly susceptible to various infectious diseases, which could double the death toll. The polluted seawater is very dangerous for health.
Mosquito-borne infections like dengue fever and malaria could wipe out many survivors. Other communicable diseases include acute gastroenteritis, dysentery and typhoid fever. The contamination of water and food also causes viral infections like hepatitis A, which could be lethal for children.
It is time for WHO, international NGOs and other aid agencies to come into action and help save the survivors from infectious disease outbreaks.
DR A.HAMEED JAMALI
Medical Officer, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission Hospital, Islamabad
Unified fatwa
Denouncing misguided religious fanaticism and terrorism, Muslim scholars and religious leaders who recently attended a major world Islamic conference in Abu Dhabi jointly called for the issuing of a unified fatwa on pressing issues in order to avoid the misuse of religion (Dawn, Nov 27).
This is a most welcome call and it is hoped that all the Muslim scholars of different schools of thought shall come forward to support this move. In the conference a fatwa issued by Muslim preacher from Qatar was referred to.
That fatwa allowed the killing of Israeli pregnant women and their unborn babies on the basis that the babies could grow up to join the Israeli army. The fatwa also allowed killing of all Americans, civilian or military.
The minister of Islamic endowments in Sudan said that anyone reading a couple of verses of the Holy Quran installs himself as an imam and issues fatwas. Our nations are paying the price for it.
A similar situation is obtaining in our country. Besides political fatwas promoting sectarianism, family life is tormented by confirming divorces on the telephone.
GHEEWALA A.G.M.
Karachi
PIA flight schedules
I agree with Mr M. Haider's complaint that he has made in his letter "PIA customer relations" (Jan 1). We too often fly PIA for visiting Pakistan and experience the same diversion from Chicago to Karachi via Islamabad or Lahore though our tickets are for a flight direct to Karachi.
However, this is not the only issue. The airline's schedule for the US-Karachi flight is another problem. From Chicago, the flight leaves at a reasonable time, such as 6pm, but returning to Chicago from Karachi the same flight departs at 3.45am.
You have to be at the airport three hours before the flight's take-off. So there is no way of getting any sleep before a 20-hour flight and little chance of it during the flight. I hope PIA officials will consider changing the schedule for Chicago-bound flights and have more direct flights between Karachi and the US.
ALI SHAMSI
Chicago, USA
Writing off Sindh?
Someone with even a slight knowledge of Sindh affairs can't miss the total despair, discontent and anguish prevailing in the southern province. The federal government's policies of continuously ignoring the concerns of Sindh on water, the NFC (distribution of resources), education, poverty, menace of feudalism, law and order, democratic and human rights, economic deprivation and other important issues are only making the situation worse. Why is that so?
One has a feeling that the powerful lobbies in the country have practically written off Sindh from any future scenario.
AZIZ NAREJO
Via email
BMW case
Four years ago the Supreme Court while setting aside the convictions of Benazir Bhutto and Asif Zardari in the SGS pre-shipment inspection by the High Court observed that the trial judge was biased. "The bias of the judge floated on the surface of the record," the court had said.
Following the script of the unwritten code of honour, the chief justice of the high court (at that time sitting in the Supreme Court) and a judge of the high court who had convicted the two instantly resigned and went home.
Four years down the line, on Dec 29 the Supreme Court in its detailed judgment in the BMW case against Asif Zardari ruled that the case appeared mala fide as it was filed against Mr Zardari only after he was granted bail in all other cases.
"Apparently there is not enough reliable evidence to decline the bail," the court ruled. Will any shining amour in the prosecuting agency follow the script of honour and resign?
SENATOR FARHATULLAH BABAR
Islamabad
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