| 16 January 2005 | Sunday | 05 Zilhaj 1425 |
UN Security Council expansion
PPP and its followers
Unequal equivalence
'Honour' killing
Kashmir: a historical perspective
Compromise on Islamic values
Bahawalpur library
Car black marketing
Trafficking in humans
Departure of CEC
Cricket debacle
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No one can disagree with you when in your editorial "The Sui situation" (Jan 13) you counsel "restraint and wisdom" to the government and the Baloch leaders as the situation is "tricky" in Balochistan.
However, it would be instructive to recall that in the 70s Baloch nationalist leaders raised the banner of Marxism while at the same time keeping the Baloch people in a state of servitude.
They took to the mountains when former prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto tried to challenge the Sardari system and bring about a socio-economic change in the province. The very same leaders are now threatening rebellion at a time when President Musharraf has undertaken some mega development projects in Balochistan.
In the intervening period of over 30 years between Mr Bhutto and Gen Musharraf, Baloch sardars were content to stay in a state of hibernation since no government challenged the status quo in their province.
Therefore, when you advocate a political solution to the problems in Balochistan, what it in effect means is that the status quo should not be disturbed or any meaningful effort made to put an end to the exploitation of the common people by the sardars.
AZIZ AHMAD
Islamabad
(II)
It is most unfortunate that the Sui gas field and its pipelines have become the target of relentless terrorist attacks in which modern rockets are used. As a result of last week's attacks, the main artery pipe supplying gas to Punjab was blown up.
Supply to Sindh was also affected. No person or group is daring enough to attack the facilities of national importance unless ordered or supported by tribal elders or an enemy of the country.
In a series of earlier attacks on small gas pipelines in Sui, Loti and the gas field in Pirkoh in June 2002, not only were some pipelines and transmission centres destroyed but also hopes of laying a 3,000-mile gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to Pakistan through Afghanistan.
Another project of a pipeline from Iran to India through Pakistan is also under study but India voiced its concern on Jan 8 that the security of the pipeline through Pakistan was uncertain.
So this multi-billion-dollar project, which should have been beneficial to Iran and India as well as to Pakistan, is also in the doldrums. These persistent attacks on gas fields pose a threat to our economy and social life.
Obviously the gas company, and ultimately the government, will suffer losses. But who will gain? Either these attackers are enemies themselves or they are playing into enemy hands.
If these attackers are operating independently, they should be dealt with as the Wana terrorists have been taken care of - as they seem to be in cahoots with them.
S.M. KAZIM NAQVI
Karachi
UN Security Council expansion
Pakistan's position that it will not support any country demanding a permanent UN Security Council membership is untenable and ill-advised. It seems Pakistan's strategy is limited to denying India a permanent Security Council seat.
As such it is a negative posture that will cost it the friendship of both Germany and Japan, both of whom have asked for Pakistan's support in their bid to become permanent Security Council members.
Pakistan's foreign office should remember that Japanese aid to Pakistan is around $500 million annually. It is not easy to say no to the Japanese and remain a recipient of such aid.
Pakistan must put forth its own candidacy for the Security Council. The US will back its candidacy as a moderate, democratic Muslim state and as being representative of the interests of the Muslim world. These interests would otherwise not be represented in an enlarged Security Council.
Pakistan could then agree to support India's bid in exchange for India's support for Pakistan's bid for permanent Security Council membership. With both countries being represented, Pakistan's strategic dilemma would be resolved.
OMAR MIRZA
New York, USA
(II)
America, China, the UK, Russia and France played leading roles and made huge sacrifices during World War II. No wonder they became permanent members of the UN Security Council. But in a world looking forward to democracy it was indeed unfair and unjust that they should have arrogated to themselves the power of veto.
What are the international credentials of India for desiring permanent membership of the UNSC? Nothing as compared to the present permanent members of the UNSC and Germany and Japan which have been playing an active role in extending financial and other assistance to the less fortunate nations of the world.
What is worse is that India has treated its common people, now about 600 million, as if they do not exist and has been denying them economic uplift. And this is to devote billions upon billions to its unproductive defence budgets to keep at an upper hand over Pakistan and retain occupied Kashmir against the wishes of the Kashmiris by employing an occupation army in the region.
During the 15 years of the Kashmiri intifada, the Kashmiris have demonstrated that they are not going to give up their struggle until they get their right of self-determination, which has been recognized by the UNSC in its relevant resolutions.
To deserve permanent membership of the UNSC, India should cooperate with the UN for holding a plebiscite in Kashmir or, the next best thing, resolve the Kashmir dispute to the satisfaction of the Kashmiris.
JALAL AHMED
Karachi
PPP and its followers
Something amazing about the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) is that its followers consider the Bhutto clan to be made up of saints. One wonders what service Benazir Bhutto did to the nation by introducing private power plants which increased the electricity tariff by 400 per cent.
Similarly one is surprised why the millions of dollars were wasted on appointing Cotecna and other foreign companies to 'inspect our export consignments'. To my knowledge, no major development projects were implemented during her two terms in office. Yet, they consider her a very competent prime minister.
As for Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, the PPP followers project him as the father of Pakistan's nuclear programme, which he was not. The plan was launched by Field Marshal Mohammad Ayub Khan.
Serving in the ISI Directorate then, I bear witness to it. Mr Bhutto helped in its progress as everyone else in power did. They (PPP followers) add, "Bhutto's slogan of roti, kapra and makan' had embraced a whole philosophy of life.
May I ask if Bhutto and his daughter who ruled the country for more than a decade, made any effort to provide the promised necessities of life to the common people? It just remained a hollow slogan. Most important of all, we lost half of Pakistan because the Bhutto-Yahya clique failed to handle the crisis in 1971 with wisdom.
RAFI NASIM
Lahore
Unequal equivalence
We, students of A and O levels, want to know: why is it that when GCE O and A level marks are converted for equivalence, they are decreased instead of being increased or taken as they are even though the education standard of the GCE system is far better than ours.
Secondly, why aren't all subjects considered while working out equivalence? Due to this discrimination, deserving students suffer and students who pass using unfair means benefit.
Thirdly, the Inter Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC) has its own formula for working out equivalence. It does not use the percentages given on GCE mark sheets. If a student gets a B grade at 89 per cent marks, even that is considered 75 per cent according to their formula.
Every single mark is important for students. It can make or break their careers. The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) should accept the equivalence of local universities, i.e., universities to which a particular college is affiliated.
The GCE O and A levels' system is expensive, yet parents put in a lot of effort and somehow manage to pay the fees to provide their children with a better education.
Schools should have councillors who can guide students and their parents and tell them that the O/A level system will only benefit those who plan to study abroad.
The equivalence problem gives rise to malpractice and forces people to use unfair means, i.e., get fake equivalents, result sheets, etc., made. I hope some immediate action will be taken in this regard as students are depressed and confused about their future.
HIRA NIAZI
Karachi
'Honour' killing
This refers to your editorial (Jan 10) on the above subject. I think you have alluded to an important point but stopped short of saying it. The point is that whichever way one looks at it, honour killing is in reality murder.
Rather than passing special laws to deal with it, the government should have delinked this kind of killing from 'honour'. The garb of 'honour' is a perverse post-rationalization of a crime that has roots in intolerance.
This is as bizarre as saying that the Spanish inquisition was about Christian evangelism and not religious bigotry. Whatever the motive, a murder is a murder and there are already laws in Pakistan to deal with this crime.
What we must do is ensure we investigate, apprehend, charge, prosecute, convict and sentence to punishment individuals who violate substantive criminal laws, no matter how well-connected they may be.
If we are swift in the dispensation of justice and apply the law equally across the country, irrespective of class, creed, ethnicity, gender, etc., it will go a long way in making people think before killing anyone in the name of honour.
MURTAZA MANKANI
Manama, Bahrain
Kashmir: a historical perspective
After Lord Mount batten arrived in the subcontinent in 1946, Nehru once said to him, "Kashmir is written on my heart like Calais which was written on the heart of Queen Mary".
This sentence speaks volumes for the Kashmir problem. Nehru was the brain behind India's policy on Kashmir. He created this problem with the blessings of Gandhi. His successors have religiously pursued his policy and have perpetuated the problem.
Former Prime Minister Ch Muhammad Ali who was Secretary- General of Pakistan in 1947, narrates a historic incident in his book 'The Emergence of Pakistan'. He says: "On November 8 (1947), I accompanied Abdur Rab Nishtar to Delhi for a meeting of the Joint Defence Council.
After the meeting Nishtar had an exchange of views with Nehru about Kashmir, and returned to Pakistan. Mount batten asked me to stay on for further discussions. I worked with Ismay and V.P. Menon to find a solution for states whose accession was in dispute.
The only manner in which the dispute could be resolved was by reference to the will of the people under conditions guaranteeing a free vote. In the evening, I was told that Mountbatten and Sardar Patel agreed to such a plan, but not Nehru, and I was advised to see him.
I had a long discussion with him and came away convinced that Nehru was resolved to hold Kashmir by force and had no intention of allowing the people of Kashmir the right to determine their future.
My argument that a fair solution of the Kashmir dispute was the best guarantee of friendly relations between India and Pakistan, and was therefore in the best interests of both countries, left him cold.
He talked only in terms of power politics, and said again and again that in matters of state, no sovereign independent power could be trusted. If Pakistan had to be, it must never have the strength to be a possible threat to India.
I pointed out that Kashmir's accession to Pakistan could not pose a threat to India because of the mountainous barrier between Kashmir and India. On the other hand, India would by occupying Kashmir and commanding the heights of Pakistan and controlling its lifeline of rivers flowing from Kashmir.
I found no trace in him of his attachment to Kashmiris, by virtue of his family's origin in Kashmir. The fact that in a prolonged struggle over Kashmir, its people would be the worst sufferers, did not move him in the least. What mattered to him was that Kashmir's accession to Pakistan would strengthen Pakistan."
Nehru had the full blessings of Mahatama Gandhi in framing and implementing his Kashmir policy. In fact, both were working together to fulfil India's national aim.
Pandit Nehru admitted this fact in his speech in the Indian parliament on March 8, 1949 in these words: "Throughout those few months before Mahatama Gandhi was taken away from us, I conferred with him on many occasions about Kashmir and it was great happiness to me that I had his blessings in the steps we took."
Soon after the announcement of the Partition Plan on June 3, 1947, Mahatama Gandhi and Nehru stressed on Lord Mount batten to arrange their visits and meetings with the Maharaja of Kashmir.
They had a number of meetings him and also wrote many forceful and urgent letters to him for this purpose. Mount batten told them that it was advisable that he should first visit Kashmir.
Mount batten went to Kashmir, he met the Maharaja and advised him not to declare independence. He assured him full protection for joining India. While he dissuaded the Quaid-i-Azam from going to Kashmir or sending any Muslim League leader there, Mount batten arranged Gandhi's unusual visit on August 1, 1947 to Kashmir.
Gandhi who had never visited Kashmir in his life time before, undertook this strenuous and arduous journey at the age of 77. He won over the Maharaja to accede to India and the steps which he suggested to him were taken systematically after his visit.
KHWAJA MUHAMMAD BASHIR BUTT
Bahawalnagar
Compromise on Islamic values
In an effort to outdo the Taliban, and after wrestling with the imposition of Shariah law and the Hisba Act, the chief minister of the NWFP has come out with a new assertion: no compromise on Islamic values. Is he under pressure to compromise on values, rituals or injunctions considered religious by his faith?
Incidentally, the assumption that the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) was voted in "to protect religious values and bring laws in consonance with Islamic injunctions" is incorrect. It was voted in by devout Muslims, mostly illiterate and ignorant of Islam or its values, who just followed the religious leaders.
Our respected theocratic democrats must know that in a multi- regional, pluralist society religion under political authority can intrude, intercede, impose and supersede human rights that are enshrined in democratic dispensations.
Every citizen has the democratic right to pursue religion according to his or her faith, traditions and rituals. Recall Verse 2:256, which says, "Let there be no compulsion in religion. Truth stands out clear from error."
M. A. BAQI
Karachi
Bahawalpur library
The Central Public Library, Bahawalpur, is a historical and prestigious institution of the area. Its building is a fine model of Italian architecture. Its foundation stone was laid on March 8, 1924, by Sir Rufus Daniel Isaacs, the then viceroy and governor-general of India.
Since then, the library has passed through various stages of growth and expansion. Now it has expanded from a single block to three separate blocks, and each block is serving a separate section of readers.
However, the library needs financial support to maintain itself and improve its services. Philanthropists and the government should step forward.
MUNAWAR OPEL
Karachi
Car black marketing
I fully agree with Mr Muhammed Naim's views (Jan 14) that selling cars over the factory price is black marketing and calling this premium is wrong. Our government institutions are only authorized to check black marketing in groceries and that too during Ramazan.
If a vendor can be arrested or fined for overpricing of flour or fertilizer, why can't a person who sells cars on the black market be arrested or fined?
BILAL IQBAL
Karachi
Trafficking in humans
This is with reference to the news item "Top human trafficking suspect arrested" (Jan 13). The suspect surely got help from some relevant authorities who allowed him to indulge in this shameful trade. We need to clean up our house.
Fortunately, this government is not owned by sardars, maliks and waderas, as past governments were. We hope the investigators will follow the trail to wherever it leads.
SYED SAULAT SHERE
Fredericksburg, Virginia, USA
Departure of CEC
Chiel Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Irshad Hasan Khan retired on Jan 15 after completing his tenure of three years. He has reportedly said he did his job according to his conscience and held the 2002 elections very transparently and fairly.
Not all people will agree with his statement and will be happy to see him go. The happiness is temporary as someone to replace him will again try to do his job "according to his conscience" and we all know what that means for the people.
Chief justice (retd) Ajmal Mian narrates one incident ("A judge may speak") where Justice Irshad Hasan Khan as federal law secretary exerted pressure on him to delay the oath-taking ceremony of one judge to affect his seniority.
As chief justice of the Balochistan High Court, Justice Ajmal Mian went ahead with the ceremony. In plain words, Justice Irshad acted as the establishment's intimidator.
ASLAM MINHAS
Karachi
Cricket debacle
The recent failure of our cricket team in Australia was never in doubt. The Australians were better off. The point to ponder is the way a cover-up to the event is being carried out by the PCB. In plain words, it should accept the defeat and make serious efforts to start plugging the loopholes.
A clear line needs to be drawn between Test and one-day cricketers. Langer rarely plays in one-dayers. He has developed himself as a Test cricketer. At least three players up the order should have Test class while we must have a spinner to support Kaneria.
RAFIQ SALEH
Islamabad
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