| 07 January 2005 | Friday | 25 Ziqa'ad 1425 |
Democracy & national psyche
'Anti-India bias in Bangladesh'
GHQ briefing of the opposition
Indo-Pakistan detente
Religion column
VIP culture
City govt and old Karachi
PR public relationing
Herbal treatment
Flag colours
Partition of Kashmir
Increase in petrol prices
The flying prisoners
ECO and Saarc
SLIC officers' woes
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This refers to "The rush to produce PhD degrees" by Anis Alam in the education section of Dawn (Jan 2). He has rightly said that "through a PhD programme, independent researchers are produced, who can investigate a problem and suggest a solution for it.
A country that possess a large number of PhDs but produces very little knowledge will lag behind another which may not have that many PhDs but still manages to produce new knowledge to overcome problems of economic and social underdevelopment".
Unfortunately, despite the incentives offered by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to produce PhDs through an indigenous programme and promote the culture of research in the country, proper results are not forthcoming.
Monetary and status benefits to seek academic credentials do not auger well because those who follow that direction are unable to seek and apply knowledge in their particular fields.
In Pakistani state-owned universities and various academic institutions, one can see the erosion of basic ethics while seeking a PhD degree, publishing research papers in various journals or seeking an academic position.
Instead of producing original research after getting a PhD degree, in most cases they prefer seeking monetary benefits either by teaching in other places or by entering into politicking in order to get promotions and various monetary benefits.
Dr Anis Alam says: "In Pakistan, a PhD degree is not necessarily a guarantee that the proud possessor will also be a productive researcher and a problem solver. A PhD degree is a symbol used for prestige and a necessary requite for promotion at least in academic and research institutions."
The HEC must take notice of the growing unethical methods being used to get a PhD degree. It should provide incentives to those who are genuinely engaged in research and are above the culture of nepotism and dishonesty.
Most important, the authorities concerned, apart from ensuring transparency while giving a PhD degree, should also make sure that the candidate continues with his/her original research instead of deviating from the academic path.
PROF (DR) MOONIS AHMAR
Karachi
Democracy & national psyche
In his Jan 4 letter "Democracy and national psyche", Mr Shakeel Nizamani asks the question: why are Indians doing well under democracy while we are described as unfit for the same system of governance?" In answer, I would like to say that for one, discrimination is not an integral part of the Indian Constitution.
Recently India gained a monumental status in the annals of democracy, something that has not been achieved even in solid and old democracies like the US and the UK, when a person belonging to a minority religion became the country's chief executive.
This materialized at a time when the office of president of India was already occupied by someone belonging to another religious minority. India truly deserves the praise of those who love democracy and believe in the concept of equality of all citizens.
Democracy means the rule of the people, all the people of a country, regardless of religion, race, gender and all such other factors. Pakistan's Constitution does not allow its non-Muslim citizens to seek the nation's top jobs. How then can one even raise the kind of question Mr Nizamani has raised?
The reaction by Pakistan's religiously insecure elements over the long overdue step towards the goal of equality of all citizens, i.e., the removal of the religion column from the newly-designed passport, indicates that the country needs to cover a lot of ground before it can even get on the path to true democracy.
SIDDIQUE MALIK
Louisville, KY, USA
'Anti-India bias in Bangladesh'
I have read with great interest the article "Anti-India bias in Bangladesh" (Dec 25) by Mr Kuldip Nayar. The unequivocal Indian support and the sacrifices of their soldiers during the 1971 war will always be remembered with deep gratitude by the Bangladeshi people.
The concern of the writer about the present situation as regards the insecurity of minorities, especially Hindus, is true to some extent. But to call it an alarming situation or to brand it as "Talibanization" is not proper. Members of the Hindu community started leaving East Pakistan right after 1947 and many who left with others during the 1971 also did not return.
There is another side of the story also. Bangladesh has the highest percentage of minorities in government jobs compared to other countries of the subcontinent. Further, 12 per cent of the minority population, predominantly that of Hindus, has a larger share of employment in the private sector, particularly in NGOs.
The struggle for independence by the people of the then East Pakistan was never about any undue favour. It was about self-determination and freedom from economic, political and cultural exploitation.
Tranquillity in freedom and the prosperity of all nations of the subcontinent largely depend on maintaining communal harmony. When Jawharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of India, was asked about the danger of communism in India, he said it was not the danger of communism but the danger of communalism that we must be careful of.
ABUL SHAMSUDDIN
Toronto, ON., Canada
GHQ briefing of the opposition
This refers to the report "Opposition MPs decline to attend briefing at GHQ" (Jan 5). It says ARD senators on the Senate standing committee on defence and defence production have declined to attend a GHQ briefing scheduled for Jan 15 and have asked GHQ officers to come to parliament.
I can't help but present historical precedents for the treasury, the military and the opposition. One crude quote came from Gen Zia who in an interview with Keyhan International, Tehran, said politicians would on cue come running wagging their tails.
Next Mr Roedad Khan bemoaned the fact on the eve of Aug 17, 1988, Senate chairman Ghulam Ishaq Khan was called to the GHQ and given his purple of acting presidency instead of the other way around as it was his constitutional right to assume presidency without loss of time.
But the news was held up for three hours in the GHQ. During that period the country was without a president and the army without a chief. (Pakistan, a dream gone sour by Roedad Khan, OUP)
The power plates are shifting in the country. Politicians had never in the past realized their superior political role and had acted submissively. The centre of power are the people and their representatives.
Other organizations, including the police, army, judiciary and legislature, are there to serve the citizens to the best of their capability. A slow but sure change is in the offing.
ASLAM MINHAS
Karachi
Indo-Pakistan detente
One is amazed at the sudden change in Pakistan's foreign policy vis-a-vis relations with India. How come all at once India has become a cherished neighbour? Is it not the same India which deployed its military forces on our borders recently? Is it not the same India which directly or indirectly wants to choke our rivers? Is it not the same India which, despite its demand for bilateralism, refuses to resolve disputes across the table? And are Kashmiris not being killed in order to prevent them from demanding the right to self-determination? Is it not manifest to all that other than American pressure nothing has happened to justify an about-face in our foreign policy?
What is surprising is that many elements have emerged with the freedom to espouse everything Indian which creates the impression that most people of Pakistan always wanted good relations with India but were being held back by their government.
What is worse is that under the aegis of Indo-Pakistan concord, a vicious propaganda is being spread. How can a few 'intellectuals' and 'opinion-makers upset a national consensus on Kashmir that has been around for 57 years?
Let us keep in mind what deadly results followed when Gorbachev dismantled an empire in order to please the West and establish himself as an emancipator.
HAMID ALI SAROHEY
Lahore
Religion column
It was certainly a step in the right direction to exclude the religion column from new passports. It is, however, very unfortunate that the government appears to have given in to the demand of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal to reconsider its decision ("Cabinet committee on passport formed: issue of religion", Jan 6).
It was only after technical and international considerations made it unpractical to retain the column that the government agreed to drop it. But now it has formed a five-member committee to prepare a report on the issue. This shows how the government is still held hostage by religious parties.
Religion is a personal issue. We do not need to have this identify on our passports. It does not make us lesser Pakistanis if we are or aren't Muslims. Can the MMA, for a change, please stop being the self-proclaimed guardians of morality and instead focus their energies on something productive and beneficial to the people?
ABBAS HAIDER
Via email
VIP culture
It started in the early 1960s. The late "Field Marshal" Ayub Khan was visiting the then East Pakistan, and Chittagong Port operations were stopped. The labour and staff were told to go to the roadside and wave flags. All of them were actually cursing Ayub Khan.
The "Field Marshal" was asleep in his saloon at Rajshahi and (being the junction) all train movement was stopped for the night. The reaction of thousands of stranded passengers was obvious.
In the 1980s Mr Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, as caretaker prime minister, went to lay the foundation stone of some major road out of Karachi (which was never built).
On the instruction of the then communications secretary, officers and staff of the ministries concerned were driven to the Super Highway to cheer Mr Jatoi. What they were cheering could only be observed and listened to by those sitting in the audience.
Why are millions of rupees and time are spent on these functions? This money can be used for some other useful purpose? Now in 2000 the VIP culture has improved vastly.
Even the chairmen of corporations have riders, hooters and flashlight. The result is obvious - every Tom, Dick and Harry has either a hooter or a flashlight installed.
It is understood that the security of the rulers is important but do they realize the reaction of the hundreds and thousands of people stranded in their vehicles for hours? Ways and means can be found to avoid this misery. Probably power has blinded the rulers and like some of their predecessors they are taking the easiest way to become unpopular.
CAPTAIN KAMAL ABBASI
Karachi
(II)
Apropos of the correspondence on VIP movements, one of the main reasons for lawlessness in our country is that law-enforcers are themselves the lawbreakers. They behave as though they were above the law. It is said that good people do not need laws to tell them to act responsibly while bad people will find a way around the laws.
AFZAL RAHIM
Islamabad
(III)
The number of police cars that escort the president on his Karachi visits exceeds 50. Over 4,000 policemen are deployed for his protection while thousands of vehicles are diverted as the police block roads to facilitate the VVIP movement. If this is a sign of good governance that was promised to us in 1999, one would have none of it.
KAUKAB LASHARI
Karachi
City govt and old Karachi
The old city of Karachi comprises Lyari, Chakiwara, Kharadar, Mithadar, Jodia Bazaar, Nawabad, Boulton Market, etc. All these areas fall within the limits of Saddar Town of the city district government, Karachi, headed by the nazim.
It seems he or his deputies have no plan to provide civic amenities to these localities. All roads and streets are full of potholes etc. Manhole covers are missing and drainage overflowing.
Water and streetlights are not there. Even the majestically-built KMC and Mere wether Tower buildings have now a deserted look. The KMC building, where the mayor used to sit, has been deserted by the nazim who has preferred to have his office in the Civic Centre.
From the reports of the activities of the nazim appearing in the newspapers, it can be safely said that he is exclusively devoted to the posh areas of Karachi, i.e., North Nazimabad, Nazimabad and of Central, East and West, parts of the expanded city. The southern part - the old city - seems to have been written off.
GHEEWALA A.G.M.
Karachi
PR public relationing
While the world is making efforts to concentrate on information technology, the Pakistan Railways seems unaware of the importance of public relations. While on a visit to Lahore, I went to the public relations department of the Pakistan Railways at their headquarters there. I came back in vain because the director of public relations was on leave and there was no other officer to sign in his place.
In all departments every section has alternative officers but there has been no such person in the public relations department of the Pakistan Railways for the last six years.
Officers are posted on deputation or on contract and they never ask the organization and its senior management to improve the condition of the department. It is learnt that posts of assistants are vacant but are yet to be filled. I hope the railway authorities will do something in this connection.
YAQOOB SALAWAT
Rawalpindi
Herbal treatment
The seeds of meetha kadoo (cucurbita maxima) are attributed curative properties and are recommended in 'Tibb-i-Unani' for patients experiencing prostate and urinary problems. Incidentally, the use of herbs in medicine is gaining ground as it has no side-effects like some drugs in allopathy.
Through these columns I would like to request the practising herbalists or the scientists of the medicinal plants to offer their comments on how far kadoo seeds can be relied upon to cure urinary problems.
This is welcome news for those prostate patients who cannot afford the cost of surgery or hesitate to undergo it because of dripping problem.
A PATIENT
Karachi
Flag colours
The flag which is hoisted at all governmental and non-governmental institutions, including the one displayed in Pakistan International Airline's new livery, is dark green whereas our national flag colour is parrot green. The authorities should act quickly to rectify the situation.
ALI MUJTABA
Islamabad
Partition of Kashmir
Manmohan Singh's and Natwar's statements that there cannot be a second partition are surprising. The second partition was when India created Bangladesh, the third partition was when after the 1971 war the borders in Kashmir were changed, and the fourth was when India annexed parts of Siachen.
When so many partitions have already taken place, why can't there be another partition (of Kashmir) for the sake of peace?
LUQMAN ALBUQRAQUE
Islamabad
Increase in petrol prices
I highly appreciate your editorial in the Sunday edition of Dawn (Jan 2) in which you have criticized the latest increase in petrol prices by the Oil Companies' Advisory Committee.
One cannot understand the rationale behind reviewing petrol prices after every fortnight. The system has also increased the cost of living as it causes the prices of daily use commodities to go up.
This being the case, the government's claim about poverty alleviation sounds nothing more than the usual political slogan that we have been hearing for the last 50 years. The government is requested to revert to the old system in which the petrol prices were reviewed and revised in the annual budget.
MAHBOOB KHAN
Karachi
The flying prisoners
"The US has been sending high-level anti-American suspects to Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and reportedly Pakistan where they are brutally tortured," writes Eric S. Margolis (Dawn, Dec 11). We knew the torturing of such suspects by the Arab countries since 9/11 but our name has come to light now.
It appears that the US is taking advantage of the fact that the rulers of these countries are not accountable whereas it is impossible to get away with anything like this in the US which is an open and democratic country.
Z.A. KAZMI
Karachi
ECO and Saarc
This refers to Mr Sultan Ahmad's article "Is ECO more feasible than Saarc?" (Dec 28). The writer attributes to Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, minister for privatization and investment, the position that the ECO has more potential than Saarc.
This is not the view of the minister. If such a view has been attributed to him, it is based on an erroneous report. The minister believes in the separate and equally important potential of both these regional economic groupings. Both these organizations have a vital role in their respective regions. There is no need for an unnecessary comparison between the two.
TAHIR PARWAZ
Director Media, Ministry of Privatization & Investment, Islamabad
SLIC officers' woes
On behalf of more than 1,000 families of officers of the State Life Insurance Corporation I want to point out that the annual increment and other perks have not been disbursed to these officers, though this was due on Jan 1 last year. I appeal to the relevant authorities to look into the matter and do the needful.
M. YOUSUF
Karachi
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