| 13 February 2005 | Sunday | 03 Muharram 1426 |
Democracy in Middle East
Park in Malir river-bed
Basant celebrations
'Raking up the past'
Visa-seekers' ordeal
Low forest coverage
Fatima Jinnah's car
Rice's statements
Annual exams in May
Privatization of KESC
Sui rape victim
To send a letter to the Editor
Click here
It is shocking to discover that three prime ministers spent a total of Rs43 million of the taxpayer's money in performing Umrah along with an entourage of family members and friends last year.
Abuse of power and misuse of public funds are known characteristics of Pakistan's ruling establishments. What bothers me is their assumption that not only can they hide such practices from the people of Pakistan (which they almost always are able to do), they can also hide these from Allah.
What is the point in going to Umrah when the money used in getting to Makkah is not one's own?
Where are society's self-declared custodians of morality who have taken it upon themselves to ensure that no woman's scarf slips from her head, no one can play music or dance to a tune? What do they think of some people using other people's money to go to Makkah?
It is truly saddening that it almost always happens that the moment one enters the halls of power in Pakistan, he starts to believe that the norms of decency and ethics, and the requirements of the law and the Constitution do not apply to him. Pakistan desperately needs to improve its apparatus of accountability and its ability to apply the concept of administrative checks and balances. Otherwise, even angels will turn into demons.
Meanwhile, it will be most appropriate if the prime minister reimburses the treasury and asks his predecessors to do the same. Once, a train, on a routine run through the British countryside, hit a cow. The British minister of transportation of the time promptly resigned. What we have now is a wanton act of abuse of power. Surely, this should be a serious matter in an "Islamic Republic".
SIDDIQUE MALIK
Louisville, KY. USA
(II)
This is apropos of the news item (Feb 10) about how the present and two former prime ministers squandered public money with impunity and with utter disregard for morality on performing the Umrah. Not only did they themselves violate the public trust; they had the gall to take along their kith and kin who have no connection with the government whatsoever.
This should not be taken lightly or forgotten as one more act of wrongdoing on the part of our so-called government 'servants'. The matter should be discussed at all forums, including the print and electronic media.
All the three dignitaries should be made to reimburse the expenses. They are anyway so rich; the sums involved would be peanuts for them. I was also sorry to see the name of Abrar-ul-Haq as one of the beneficiaries. This event has reduced his stature in my eyes. Incidentally, why is the MMA silent on this issue or is it that they feel that fulfilling a religious obligation with public money is a sacrament?
I must commend Dawn for writing an editorial on this issue and publishing an article by Mr Ayaz Amir (Feb 11), condemning it in appropriate words.
Ironically, in the same issue there is a wonderful and thought-provoking article on Hazrat Umar (RA), the second caliph of Islam. Maybe our prime minister and president will read that and learn a lesson or two from it.
IMRAN MAHMOOD
Karachi
Democracy in Middle East
Mr Hasan Shakoor ("A tale of two elections", Feb 11) apparently belongs to the school of thought which believes that Muslims around the world, particularly so in Pakistan should stand behind Muslim rulers and defend them vigorously no matter how autocratic they may be.
America has attacked both Afghanistan and Iraq. As regards Afghanistan, there can hardly be any doubt that only enormous good has resulted from this action - not only for Pakistan which was living under the dark shadow of the brutal Taliban regime but for the betterment of the Afghan people as well. Afghan women can now breathe freely like human beings, educated females are no longer forced into begging on the streets of Kabul and laughter is no longer a punishable crime. One would think this is progress.
The matter of Iraq is not as clear-cut. The premise on which America launched an attack on a sovereign country rightly dismayed the rest of the world. However, the elimination of one of the worst dictartors of our time who brought incalculable suffering to the Muslim world hardly merits the shedding of any tears. The wholesale destruction which has been wrought in the aftermath of the attack on Iraq has been primarily the work of the insurgents.
The so-called Ummah did absolutely nothing to change the state of affairs prevailing in Iraq. Now that the defranchized are getting their rights through an election, howsoever imperfect and whatever the motivation for holding them, it cannot be derided as another imperialist plot.
MASOOD HAIDER
New Jersey, USA
Park in Malir river-bed
Karachi Nazim Naimatullah Khan had indicated about a year back that he intended to convert the 36-kilometre dry Malir river-bed into a park. He is now talking about developing pockets of small man-made forests in the city to bring about a climatic change in Karachi.
He has successfully managed to convince Karachi-based, state-run organizations to invest in the city's development. KPT, Steel Mills and PIA are already doing their bit in this direction.
We should involve our schools and school children in the city's development activities. They can be asked to plant trees. It will help them realize the importance of forest conservation, wildlife protection, etc. Recently, the World Wildlife Federation (WWF) Pakistan arranged a school competition on a similar subject at the PAF museum.
Topics like mangrove protection, flowers of Pakistan and birds of Pakistan were given. This was very well participated in by a number of schools and the competition was fierce. Children made beautiful stalls and gave equally effective presentations on these subjects.
The Malir river-bed afforestation project can be assigned to the schools of Karachi. It has a covered area of about 400,000,000 square feet. If we assign a shady tree a space of 400 square feet, the river-bed would need about 1,000,000 trees. The student population in Karachi must be around this number if not more.
One tree per student will convert the barren Malir river-bed into a forest. Elsewhereabroad they have planted trees for all the people who laid down their lives for the country. Their families look after such trees and do not allow them to die. Our children would do the same.
S. NAYYAR IQBAL RAZA
Karachi
Basant celebrations
On Feb 6, once again the city of Lahore was caught up in the throes of a hectic, violent and destructive Basant. All the previous evening and night well up to three or four in the morning, and despite inclement weather conditions, a large part of the population was indulging in a senseless orgy of noise and chaos which continued throughout the day.
Due to the damage to electricity lines, in the heart of the Gulberg area, we suffered some 10-12 power breakdowns. Loud music and the screeching of motorcycles and bangs of fireworks systematically destroyed all peace and quiet. Casualties will finally occur, and at what cost?
It was especially poignant that the previous day, Feb 5, was Kashmir Solidarity Day and no one was to be seen in public places. It was just another holiday, a good opportunity to finalize preparations for Basant and to spend extravagantly in last-minute shopping for kites and finery to display in various rooftop 'competitions' throughout Lahore.
When one sees all this expenditure on this trivial and increasingly disturbing festival, one wonders if all this money, time and effort might not have been spent in more constructive, useful ways? Leaving aside all that might have been done in Lahore itself or in Pakistan generally, one also thinks about the victims of the tsunami devastation in the Far East and the efforts being undertaken the world over to help in the reconstruction of the affected countries.
Once again, the 'festival' has proven to be entirely repugnant and an exercise in meaningless loss of life, money and time.
I look back with nostalgia to the Basants that Lahore used to have, with simple and restrained expressions of joy, before materialistic concerns and excess became the norm.
MRS S. SALIM
Lahore
'Raking up the past'
Mr Anwer Mooraj's article "Raking up the past" (Feb 7) rekindled memories of times not far back when forbearance and acceptance held our society together and bigotry was in hiding, or on the fringes, not really touching anyone's life.
Pakistanis were regarded as amongst the more urbane citizens of the world and needed no visas for most countries.
Business visitors from foreign lands rated Pakistan as a favourite destination in the region for the openness they found here and the forthrightness and humour of Pakistanis.
There were no wall chalkings (or were too obscure to be noticed) promoting intolerance or hatred. None asking Pakistanis to 'Love Islam, Hate America' or declaring 'jehad' against the rest of the world. None also exhorting the faithful to join this or that "lashkar" and be led by it to 'martyrdom', much as the Taliban were led by their leaders.
There were loudspeakers in mosques but all one heard was the aazan and not whatever else the maulvis now choose to stridently proclaim. The aazan sounded beautiful and inspiring in the graceful way it was called.
The nation's walls have become an important tool in the hands of the zealots to project their message of hate. The loudspeakers or amplifiers are another tool. If the law which governs their access and usage is enforced strictly some of the steam from the misplaced zeal of the zealots might be taken out.
S. KHALID HUSAIN
Karachi
Visa-seekers' ordeal
I endorse the observations made by Sumaiya Zaidi (Feb 4) as I have seen the situation myself. I would like to add that many elderly and sick people also seek visas and they need to be cared for by some family member. My wife visited the US embassy in Islamabad for an interview on Dec 22, and our son who was accompanying was stopped outside the main office building despite him showing his own passport and other papers for security purposes.
For a genuine visa seeker, the rejection of a visa application after travelling to Islamabad and spending all that money on fares, hotels and taxis and of course the visa / handling agent fees, is a great torture. My wife is a person who never wanted to go to the US even for a visit. She intended only to see and comfort our son, a third-year resident in internal medicine working at Wayne State University Hospital, who had an unfortunate accident and got his knee joint fractured. Our son lives there alone and naturally needed love and care from his mother. Her visa application was rejected for the reason: "Section 214 (b)... You have not shown that you have strong family, social or economic ties to your place or residence to ensure that your projected stay in United States will be temporary". Very surprising - as she was not provided the opportunity to do so.
My wife owns the house where the family resides besides some other property in the city. Two of our three children are here; one doing a permanent job and the other is a regular student of the IBA. Moreover, she had sufficient funds in the joint account that we maintain. She was carrying documents to prove all this but the visa officer at the window rejected her application within minutes, returned the passport and left his seat and would not come back to see the documents despite her request.
I wonder why everybody is called for an interview when 80 per cent of the applications are rejected. Why are necessary documents not taken along with the application and examined before calling the applicant for an interview?
MANSOOR KORAISHY
Karachi
Low forest coverage
Talking about the recently inaugurated biodiversity park in Rawalpindi, Mr Kim Hak Su, executive secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission, has expressed concern over the low forest coverage in Pakistan.
It is said that while the international standard demands a minimum 25 per cent forest coverage, in Pakistan it is as low as five per cent.
It may be noted by all of us that our religion puts high emphasis on growing trees and plants.
It is really a disgrace that the Islamic Republic of Pakistan should have such a low forest coverage.
ASGHAR BIN SHAHID JAFRI
Lahore
Fatima Jinnah's car
This refers to the picture on page 18 of your Karachi Metropolitan section on Feb 11 showing Madar-i-Millat Fatima Jinnah's car lying in a derelict condition at the Sindh Archives building in Clifton.
I had written to the Sindh governor a few years ago to let me restore the car to its original condition and the car be put back where it belongs - the Mohatta Palace. The car I am referring to is a 1955 Cadillac Series 62 convertible. It is ironic that when the Sindh government took over Mohatta Palace, the car was dragged out of the garage and towed without wheels to where it is lying now. I have pictures of the car when it was in the garage; all it needed then was a wash, new tyres, battery and minor cosmetic work here and there. It is a pity that people in the say have no idea about protecting our heritage.
I appeal to the government of Sindh to let the Vintage & Classic Car Club of Pakistan restore this car. We will invite sponsors to fund this project or we could perhaps use our own funds to get this back in new condition. It is a part of Mohatta Palace and should go back there.
MOHSIN IKRAM
President Vintage & Classic Car Club of Pakistan Via email
Rice's statements
Scenario 1: Condoleezza Rice on the offensive (Feb 9): "I think the message is there... the Iranians need to get that message... there are other steps the international community can take" (concerning their nuclear programme).
President Khatami of Iran replies (Feb 10): "The Iranian nation is not looking for war, violence and confrontation... we have decided to move toward scientific progress, including peaceful nuclear technology, and we will continue this path."
Scenario 2: The North Korean foreign ministry on the offensive (Feb 10): "We have manufactured nukes for self-defence to cope with the Bush administration's ever-more undisguised policy to isolate and stifle the North."
Condoleezza Rice rather defensively (Feb 10): "The North Koreans have been told by the president of the United States that the United States has no intention of attacking or invading North Korea."
The bottom line message to the rest of the world is: your only ultimate security against "steps by the international community" (the invasion of Iraq being a recent example) is actually having the bomb.
MUBASHIR KHAN
Indianapolis, IN., USA
Annual exams in May
The education ministry has decided to hold annual examinations in May every year.
Karachi has the most cruel weather during May and so also in June. If you collect information about the attendance of school children in the month of May during the last few years, you will find that almost half of the students were absent because of the weather. A couple of years back, the government has announced closure of schools around middle of May because of the heat and humidity that prevail in that month. Why do the bureaucracy and the provincial education ministry want to punish children by conducting annual examinations at that time?
Examinations should be held in March or April. The summer vacation should be in May and June. Announcement of results may be made during the last week of June or the first week of July.
M. ABDULLAH
Karachi
Privatization of KESC
The KESC sell-off is a bitter pill but the government had to swallow it in the public interest. Of late, the performance of the KESC had gone from bad to worse. The corporation was running at a loss. Thefts of electricity, inefficiency of the field staff and corruption were rampant. The new owners, it is hoped, will not lay off the junior staff for a year or so, during which the latter may improve their efficiency, punctuality and honesty to remain in their jobs.
Like KESC, the Karachi Water & Sewerage Board (KWSB) is always under fire from the public, whose complaints are not remedied for days and days. There is not only inefficiency, corruption and highhandedness in KWSB, as the reports appearing from time to time in local papers show, there is also mismanagement, because of which there is short water supply in some areas. Recovery of the water and sewerage tax is also poor, as the residents in highrise flats do not like to pay in the absence of water meters.
Let KWSB be another utility for the government to privatize. Likewise, the Karachi Circular Railways should also be given to some foreign investor for early revival and efficient running. Privatization in some cases is inevitable. It is can be a boon if it can produce the desired results.
M. SHAFIQUE AHMED
Karachi
Sui rape victim
The pathetic attempt by the army and the PPL to cover up the Sui rape case has fooled no one. By making efforts to protect the perpetrators, the authorities have shown us that they are out to bat only for the military. A woman was raped allegedly by men in uniform. It is Gen Musharraf's moral obligation as president of this country and as head of the armed forces to see to it that these men are brought to justice.
It is time to stop pushing issues such as honour killings and the undue authority given to tribal jirgas under the rug. It is time someone from the government made a firm and unambiguous statement against this incident and against those who reportedly called for the killing of these unfortunate women under tribal customs. If we as a country can't push aside such obstacles to our progress as outdated tribal codes and the morally bankrupt feudal system, then the institution of democracy at any level is a total waste of time.
HASAN SHAKOOR
Hershey, PA., USA
(II)
To me, the Sui assault case is more a matter of concern intolerable than the president's uniform. The government must take concrete steps to make all women an active part of our society. For this the government must ensure that the Sui culprits are punished according to the law.
JAVARIA YOUSAF
Rawalpindi
You can also send letters to the Editor
Just send your message to the following address: letters@dawn.com
Make sure you include your full name, postal address, e-mail address, and in the case of Pakistan your day-time telephone number.