AKU exam board debate

This refers to the current debate on whether or not giving the task of holding school examinations to the Aga Khan University Examination Board (AKU-EB) to improve the quality of secondary and intermediate education in Pakistan will be a good decision.

The arguments, both for and against, so for have only created more confusion. It might become clear when we know what the system is about and what the people at the top of the opposing front choose for themselves.

The purpose of the proposed system is to bring modern examinations in both English and Urdu at affordable cost to a much broader section of Pakistani society, providing parents and schools an option in the style of education they desire from classes IX to XII. Until now such a choice had been confined to the very few who could afford O Level fees.

The new system draws on the British education system of O and A levels. O levels are designed for students from 14 to 16 years old and are aimed at preparing them for academic progression and equipping them with skills necessary for employment.

A Level is designed to prepare them for university and other professional fields of study. Both levels emphasize broad choices of subjects, covering the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and other creative technical and vocational qualifications.

On what grounds, then, has the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) leadership come up to oppose the new system? If the opposition is based on the fact that the new system draws on the educational policies of a non-Muslim country, then what about the millions of British Muslims who go through the same O and A levels and then study in British universities? In my four years of educational career in the UK, what I have experienced is intellectual freedom and honesty in contrast to indoctrination and politics that I had experienced in Pakistan.

If the opposition is due to the fear of political dominance of a group, then it should be clear that the Ismailis comprise make less than one per cent of the population of Pakistan.

In no type of government, (the one that the MMA envisions, rule by stick of the generals or the democratic one which still remains an unrealized dream since the creation of Pakistan) can a sensible person think about such a miracle.

Accepting the possible shortcomings of the new system in face of social issues such as poverty and feudalism, one might also ask the MMA if they have any alternative to what they oppose. If not then should we conclude that the present system is working well, and there is no need for reforms?

ALI SHER KHAN

London, UK

(II)

This refers to Zain Mankani's letter "AKU- Exam Board" (Feb 1). Will Mr Mankani elaborate as to what he meant by saying that "it is not the competence of the AKU that is being questioned, but rather its impartiality in matters of religion"?

The AKU Board has already clarified that the syllabus is prepared by the government. The AKU is only required to conduct the examination.

ROHENA SADRUDDIN

Karachi

Sui assault case

May I seek the courtesy of your columns to express the deep distress and grief felt by the Pakistani community in the US at the alleged rape of a female doctor in Sui?

Other South Asians in the country share our disgust and shame. The Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America has appointed a task force to look into the tragedy.

The head of the task force has talked to the victim and is in touch with the Pakistan Medical Association and human rights organizations in Pakistan, seeking justice for the victim and to keep the matter from being covered up.

This is not an isolated incident. Panchayat sanctioned rapes, honour killing - a euphemism for murders committed to keep property in the family - dowry murders, disfigurement when a woman's parents are not able to provide dowry to the satisfaction of the groom's family and marriage to the holy Quran are frequent occurrences.

The Quran does not demand share in property, so it is quite safe to marry daughters and sisters to the holy book. This practice is quite common in feudal families some of which are prominent in national politics.

Most of the rapes are not even reported. There is such a stigma attached to sexual assault in South Asia that a victim would rather commit suicide than talk about it.

These heinous crimes affect us personally. We have lived in the US for a long time and have been welcomed here professionally and socially. Most of us are US citizens and others intend to apply for it as soon as they are eligible.

We have to hang our heads in shame. Our fellow citizens empathize with us. But we are apprehensive that we may lose hard won status and respect in our communities.

We would like to know why successive governments have failed to tackle the issue. Why have these heinous acts been allowed to be used as tools for suppression of women's voice and rights?

Amnesty international and other human rights organizations have submitted well-documented and detailed reports on such outrages to the government. They should be acted upon.

The Sui incident victim should be interviewed by the judicial commission in strict privacy with an Amnesty International member or another human rights activist should sit in with her consent.

A full and impartial inquiry must be conducted and its report made public immediately after submission in its entirety without any deletions or omissions. The culprits must be apprehended regardless of their rank or status and exemplary punishment permissible under law given to them. The agencies employing the miscreant must have punitive damages awarded against them.

S.M.A. EHTISHAM

Secretary General, Develop In Peace, Member, Appna Task Force, Bath, NY., USA

Not on the right track

This refers to Mr Omar Haq's letter (Feb 1) in reply to my own (Jan 28) on the news item 'Musharraf unhappy with performance, in discipline' (Jan 25). I agree with the suggestion the correspondent has made, though not entirely, as a few points need to be clarified.

I would like to remind him that the president happens to be the patron of the PCB and I specifically mentioned this in my letter. Therefore, he has a responsibility if not the right to question PCB affairs, and that is what he actually did in light of the 'consistently bad performance' of the team on this tour. As for watching the game on TV, this is more of a personal matter.

The president was right in calling the PCB boss in to ask about certain issues that are being faced by the PCB right now, and obviously he did that in his capacity as the PCB patron and not owing to his personal interest in the game.

This will also have an impact on the players' performance as their morale is also involved. When a player understands why his boss has been called by the high-ups in reference to his performance, he will try to do better next time.

Secondly my suggestion to look for alternatives does not only include local coaches but to hire a mix of both as the need may be. In the past, hiring of Richard Pybus also did not work out for us and we had to drop the idea of hiring any other foreign coach at that time.

The Pakistan cricket team's highest achievement was winning the World Cup 1992, and at that time the coach was from within, Mudassir Nazar. My suggestion is basically to hire a specialist batsman coach for the batting line-up to bring about the depth needed to play five-day game, and better plan strategy according to conditions.

The PCB, according to Mr Haq, is 'finally on the right track'. Now there is a dire need for our team to be on the right track as well, i.e., fighting every game, no matter whether they lose or win.

The Inzamamul Haq and Bob Woolmer combination has not been able to click so far and it is, as per some media reports, a 'losing combination'. One hopes they will improve as a 'winning combination and do better in the finals of the VB series as well as India.

ANAS A. KHAN

Edmonton, AB, Canada

Prospects for Karachi rail

The KCR was an adjunct of the Karachi Central Station, a single terminus in the city of passenger trains on the right bank of the Lyari River. Most of the land acquired for it has been either gifted or encroached upon, leaving only the Gilani station at the site.

It was opened as Phase I on Nov 28, 1964, and Phase II, six years later on Nov 19, 1970. It was never circular as the length between the Karachi City and Drigh Road stations of the main line constructed on May 13, 1861 served as its major portion.

This portion, which was built a century before the rest, is still the main artery of the PWR network and was so when the KCR was finally closed down on Dec 15, 1999 after having functioned for only 35 years.

A single terminus for inter-city passenger trains is still the most essential need of the metropolis. The alternative site selected in front of the Karachi Cantonment station on which crores have been spent was the height of folly. The best site for it now is the Faisal Air Base.

Chinese engineers, who are now the PWR's main contractors, are most suited for its construction as a terminus for high-speed trains. The main route of the city's internal traffic should be in the east-west direction on land released by rail line between Drigh Road and Dawood Centre from which branches may take off in a south-north direction. Inter-city mode of transport should be separated from the city's own.

H.A. HAJI

Karachi

Tackling transport troubles

The transport muddle is just another name for the Punjab metropolis of Lahore, as also for the cosmopolitan port city of Karachi. The traffic mess that both these major cities of Pakistan are in has now assumed astronomic proportions, and it can be said, without fear of contradiction, that if steps are not taken immediately, it will soon become unmanageable.

This mess can be attributed to the lack of interest on the part of the government functionaries concerned. One past regime opened the mouth of the exchequer to distribute funds for the purchase of taxis and wagons among those it deemed fit and deserving by its own standards.

The result was mass purchase of cars of all makes and models for the personal use of near and dear ones. Some time back, the franchise bus system was reintroduced in Lahore but the timing and service have turned out to be no better than that provided by the wagons which are as overloaded with passengers as before.

As for these buses, only company names may sound foreign but not the culture. There is no check on overloading and one can see passengers packed like sardines. The only solution to handle the present heavy traffic is provision of a respectable means of transport to the masses so that those who are forced to maintain cars or motor bikes due to non-availability of adequate public transport at the right time (and price), can ultimately feel comfortable without them.

With the increasing number of vehicles due to easy car financing, and the resultant fast-shrinking parking space in major cities, the people will certainly prefer to use buses provided they are comfortable, respectable, and move on schedule to reach destinations at pre-set timing.

This is not possible the way wagons and buses are being made to ply at present. In fact, such a system is possible only if wagon operators are forced to form large cooperatives in the private sector.

The management of these cooperatives can, in turn, plan and control the movement of wagons centrally by getting rid of the present rat-race for collecting more passengers per trip.

Furthermore, wagons are difficult to control because in most cases they are owned, as is commonly believed, by police officials and thus acquire immunity to traffic rules and regulations.

Animal drawn carts are another menace. It is a pity that even in the 21st century there is no planning to get rid of this 5000-year-old transportation mode. The number of these carts, instead of going down, has been on the increase, thanks to the illegal gratification system in vogue.

Concern has been voiced at all levels - metropolitan, provincial and national - for the construction of new roads, widening of the existing ones, provision of footpaths and cycle lanes coupled with scientific remodelling and installation of traffic lights at all crossings.

Steps also need to be taken for reduction in the present variety of transport for better traffic control. At the same time, more emphasis is required on mass education about transport management. Until now, all public demands seem to have been in vain.

But then every cloud has a silver lining. In the deluge of congestion, environmental pollution, and the resulting suffocation, a ray of hope and light was visible a couple of years ago in the proposal by the government of two mass transit projects, though very modest in size.

The two projects envisage construction of an overhead transportation system by the name of Light Rail Transit (LRT) in Lahore and the Mass Transit Project (MTP) in Karachi and it is heartening to note that both the ambitious plans have recently been taken up by the government at the highest level on the directive of President Musharraf.

Let us hope and pray that the government is serious in the planning and execution of these projects and accords them due priority to relieve the masses of the current painful situation.

AFTAB ISLAM AGHA

Lahore

Lawmakers' lifestyle

Luxury cars worth Rs3 billion, increase in ministers' salary to Rs125,000, substantial increase in honorarium and house rent allowance, demand for a modern gymnasium worth millions of rupees and compensation of Rs0.3 million to the heirs of the 62 federal ministers and ministers of state in case of death in an air crash - all these speak volumes for the government's priorities.

The emphasis seems to be lopsided. Whereas the trickle down effect of economic development should have gone to the deprived masses, it seems to be showering bounties on the privileged few who already have enough.

The legislators seem to be in an awesome hurry to accumulate as much as they can within the time and opportunity at their disposal. As rightly pointed out by some analysts, the cost of building one gymnasium for 450 parliamentarians should be enough to meet the basic needs of education and health of several thousand people.

Islamabad is a paradise for walkers and unfortunate are those who wish to confine themselves to the four walls of a gymnasium rather than taking a walk in the picturesque surroundings of Margalla hills. When in Islamabad, our parliamentarians should go for walks on the captivating jogging tracks, breathe some fresh air and think well of their constituents.

S.M.H.BOKHARI

Rawalpindi

Self-praise

The advertisement supplements published in newspapers of Jan 12, glorifying two successful years of democratic government in Sindh, appeared to be nothing more than self-appeasement.

Excerpts were quoted from our governor's address at a public meeting to the effect that the governor "remains awake to let people sleep in peace". This quotation was too heavy to be easily digested by the common man.

Another message was from an adviser to the Sindh government proclaiming law and order to be under control. If the governor and the advisers happen to read the daily newspapers, they would find them full of stories related to police excesses, rapes, kidnappings, killings, etc., which render all such tall claims false.

The only art known to our rulers is how to take the people for a prolonged ride. They believe that people are herds of simpletons to be shepherded according to the whims of the governing class. But the facts are otherwise. People know that there is no control of the government over the situation prevailing in the province. They also know that even the government has no control over the police administration in Sindh.

GHEEWALA A.G.M.

Karachi

Shoaib's departure

Ever since Shoaib Akhtar left the team and returned to Pakistan, the team's performance has markedly improved. The fielding is much better as is the bowling. In fact, in the first final of the VB series in Melbourne, which Pakistan lost, our bowling was very good and we managed to put the Aussies in a very tough spot since they lost their last seven wickets for just 46 runs.

Rana Naveedul Hasan seems to be bowling with much more fire and accuracy, perhaps because there is greater responsibility on his shoulders. Perhaps, this is a strong case, if ever there was one, to keep Mr Akhtar, and his tantrums, out of the Pakistan cricket team for good.

S.M. EJAZ IQBAL

Karachi

Car makers and buyers

This is with reference to Mr Hisamuddin Rustam's letter "Car prices and delivery periods" (Jan 25). Mr Rustam has rightly pointed out that car demand has risen exponentially over the last two years and manufacturers are on a crash programme to increase production capacity.

Car manufacturers are also taking measures to discourage non-genuine customers. Some of these measures have been outlined by the correspondent. No doubt demand for cars, for whatever reason, has lately increased manifold and manufacturers have increased production and are discouraging non-genuine buyers, but two important questions regarding sustainability and affordability need to be addressed by the government.

How many cars are already on the roads and how many more can the infrastructure sustain? Secondly, in order to ensure that the prospective buyer can afford to purchase and maintain a car, the purchaser should be asked to produce his last income tax statement or proof of tax paid by him instead of asking for his NTN.

This would automatically ward off non-genuine buyers or profiteers. This practice is probably in vogue in Singapore.

FAQIR AHMED PARACHA

Peshawar

Politicians' duty

Mr Ayaz Amir (Jan 28) does no justice when he calls the "farce that goes by the name of democracy" as an injury to the people of Pakistan. Injury is a mild term; here is a mortal gash.

In the past, power to civilians was given as a dole and was as easily taken away. Politicians never got it through the people and when they got away from their voters, so did power.

Any political party coming into power cutting a deal would be thrown out unceremoniously as has repeatedly happened in the past. Power remains the preserve of non-representative forces.

Without investment of money and manpower into education, Gen Musharraf's "enlightened moderation" will remain a cliche. His statement "...they won't even know what has hit them" matches Yahya's "I will shoot my way through".

At a book launch in Karachi on Jan 26 for the launching of the book East Pakistan - The end game by Brig (retd) A.R. Siddiqi, the chief guest, Sherbaz Khan Mazari, asked: "Will the generals never learn?" They will if people are made aware of their rights and privileges. It is the responsibility of political leaders and writers like Mr Amir to carry on doing that.

ASLAM MINHAS

Karachi