| 18 February 2005 | Friday | 08 Muharram 1426 |
Higher education
Illegal barriers
Lack of consensus
A Pathan Odyssey
Umrah trips
Draft bill on dancing
PIA service
Books in Sindhi
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Rain hard hit the poor and backward people of Balochistan. A number of villages were washed away as two small dams burst in Pasni tehsil and Turbat district and the death toll rose to over four score in different parts of Makran division.
Hundreds of people are reported missing in Suntesar near Gwadar. Six villages having population of over 3,000 were completely inundated. Several hundred more people are marooned following floods in Hingol, the biggest seasonal river of Balochistan.
Many bridges were washed away, heavy rainfall continued in the catchment areas of all major rivers - Balochistan-Kech, Nihing, Basol and Shadi Kaur, and other seasonal rivers - causing flooding.
The president visited Makran and said: "Those who are against the army are sitting in their houses. They should now come forward and help the people. Jawans of the Pakistan Army have come forward to rescue and rehabilitate the affected people."
Such political remarks in the context of a natural calamity affect confidence-building measures. In reply, nationalists point out that it responsibility of the state to manage relief work because the state is well equipped to meet catastrophic challenges as compared to individuals.
This is not a time to score political points but to initiate quick relief efforts. To avoid future dam bursts in the wake of torrential rain,we must find out the root-causes.
According to experts, the original design of the Shadi Kaur Dam was defective, possibly because of an incompetent designer. Another point to investigate is the non-release of water from the dam when it had filled up to the danger limit after the rains.
It is time we found out the causes of the dam burst. An effective contingency response would enable us to avoid future damage to the infrastructure and save precious lives.
IMRAN UMAR BALOCH
Karachi
(II)
Nawab Akbar Bugti, secure in his heavily-guarded mud-walled fort, deep in the Balochistan desert, runs a state within a state. While he claims that Baloch land and resources are being snatched away from the people, on numerous occasions he has struck deals with successive governments to ensure his dominance over his people.
Today as the overwhelmingly backward province of Balochistan is witnessing economic development, the tribal lords fear that their control over their people will be loosened, and have upped the ante on government installations in the region.
The sardari lashkars are being abetted by elements hell-bent on stalling the Gwadar port project. It must be remembered that 30 years ago what had started as shoot-and-run irritants had ended up into a full-fledged conflict.
The ordinary people of the expanse will again be the greatest sufferers. The government must act swiftly to halt this. The unity and prosperity of the Baloch people and the entire country depends on a speedy resolution of the issue.
TAIMOOR T. MALIK
Islamabad
Higher education
Previous governments had concentrated on improving the basic literacy rate and ignored the acute need for PhDs, which resulted in a country of over 15 million people having only a handful of PhDs. The Higher Education Commission (HEC) recognizing the deficiency of scholars, offered scholarships for higher education abroad, as well as within Pakistan.
However, the steps taken towards the betterment of advanced studies by the HEC have become somewhat controversial, as some people have questioned the existing HEC policies and blamed them for admitting PhD candidates through inferior testing mechanisms in under-rated universities abroad, flooding local universities with access funding, and encouraging the academia in generating fake research articles in world research journals.
The qualifying exam which critics have mentioned as substandard is based on GRE, which has been praised by the same people. Very few out of thousands of candidates cleared and were selected for the offered scholarship.
Now with the existing criticism on the in-house test, the HEC has decided to base its scholarships on GRE. The action doesn't seem to be required but only to satisfy the critics.
As far as the foreign university status is concerned, obviously not all students will be admitted into the Ivy League schools. The universities selected by the HEC are actually well reputed, equally recognized by the foreign countries as well as by the government of Pakistan.
The PhD programmes within Pakistan certainly require lots of resource allocation and infrastructural developments to improve the standards within the country, for which the HEC has come forward with open arms and generosity. This is a step in the right direction.
Some of the budgets of foreign universities in the developed countries are higher than the total budget allocations of some underdeveloped nations. Instead of discouraging the HEC, local universities should demand more resources for research and development.
The contention about people sending fake research clearly depicts the mistrust not only on the Pakistani scholars but also on the foreign research journals. Getting an article printed in foreign research journals is not a piece of cake. Once the article goes to the journals, it is sent for review to various subject experts, who then decide whether the paper is worthy of publication or not.
The relentless criticism of the HEC seems to be coming from the insecure feeling towards the changes which the HEC is committed to institute. A nation which concentrated on improving the basic literacy rate to make a literate Pakistan forgot that the real strength of a country lies in its experts, who can focus the nation's attention on the critical developmental areas.
All developed nations have emerged through seeking the guidance of experts in science, politics, and in the social realm. The HEC must carry on its struggle and the resistance of a few should not divert its direction.
FAISAL AFTAB
Islamabad
Illegal barriers
No sane, sensible and law-abiding citizen of this once 'City of Lights' would disagree with the contents of Mr Ali Murtaza's letter captioned "Illegal barriers" (Feb 6) and the pertinent queries raised by him.
But, unfortunately while such citizens are a rarity, neither the city district government of Karachi (CDGK) nor other civic agencies seem to have the authority to rid the lanes of Karachi of the growing menace of illegal and unauthorized street barriers and barricades.
Mr Murtaza wanted to know "who controls" the public roads of Karachi? It is the same irresponsible lot of lawbreakers who have also encroached upon the footpaths and erected lawns, planted trees, constructed cement platforms, built garages, set up wayside hotels and shops (and on top of it enclosed them with iron grills), leaving no space for pedestrians.
It causes people great inconvenience and mental torture as they are constrained to walk on the streets 'at their own risk'. Old people, women and children are most hard hit.
Encroachment on footpaths and unauthorized barricades on public roads and streets have, in fact, disfigured the beauty of this metropolis, pushing the impressive flyovers, imposing multi-storeyed buildings and posh commercial offices, public service centres, parks, gardens and other development works of the CDGK into the background.
The CDGK, it obviously appears, has 'legalized' such encroachments and barriers. Or else, these encroachments don't get constructed overnight. For instance, for a 40-feet road between buildings, the respective town planning law prescribes that an eight-foot wide footpath space should be left on both sides of the streets, so the buildings actually have straight roads of 24 feet between them. But it seems roads are being built in a haphazard way so as not to disturb the encroachments already existing on the footpaths.
If the CDGK and other authorities concerned sincerely discharge their duties according to the law, and make sure that the citizens of this metropolis can walk freely and comfortably on the roads and streets, or drive their vehicles or travel in various public vehicles without encountering any barriers or barricades - as is seen in other civilized countries of the world - they would be laying down the foundation of a law-abiding nation. And this would be the first lesson in respecting the laws of the country.
SYED IQBAL AHMAD
Karachi
Lack of consensus
In my childhood I read a story in my school library book about a group of monkeys living in a jungle. Every time it used to rain in winter they started howling.
The author says that they cried every rainy night and used to pledge that they will build a shelter for themselves so that they might save themselves from rain the next rainy night. But in the morning when it stopped raining, they started their usual frolics and forgot their miseries. There was a new pledge on the next rainy night and the same forgetfulness when the rain stopped.
These days we are having nature's blessings in the form of heavy rains and heavy snowfall, but where will this water go? Certainly into the sea, and we will do nothing except seeing the flowing waters over which we will have no control because we have no dams to store this blessing of nature.
In today's scenario, India's stance on the Baglihar Dam is an eye-opener for us. India is constructing a disputed dam on disputed waters on disputed land, i.e. Kashmir. And we Pakistanis have failed to achieve a consensus on constructing the Kalabagh Dam on our own waters and on our own land.
YASSER
Via email
A Pathan Odyssey
Aslam Khattak's book, A Pathan Odyssey, was launched on Feb 10. According to press reports, the book "is packed with interesting historical facts" (Dawn, Feb 11). One point that needs immediate correction is about the dismissal of Dr Khan Sahib's ministry and "installing Khan Abdul Qayyum Khan, who did not have a majority".
The book's author has called it "undesirable" and "constitutionally incorrect". "The move", he says, "was like opening a Pandora's box of corruption and electoral manipulation that contributed so much to our subsequent chequered history."
Facts belie the claim. Dr Khan Sahib became the premier (chief minister) after the 1946 election, having the support of 30 MLAs in a house of 50. Out of these 30 members, 12 were minority MLAs - unprecedented weight age given to the Hindu minority, who though only six per cent of the population had been given 24 per cent representation. Hence 12 members. Of the remaining 18, two belonged to the Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind. Congress had won only 16 seats out of a total of 38 Muslim seats.
Soon after the election as the Pakistan Movement gained momentum, support for the Khan brothers started waning. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad acknowledged this in his book India Wins Freedom.
He writes: "The actual position in 1946 was that the Khan brothers did not enjoy as much support in the Frontier as we in Delhi thought (p183). "Their influence had waned after the agitation for partition started (p211)."
The viceroy's Report No.2 (April l9, 1947) says: "Governor Caroe had recommended fresh elections to ascertain, beyond any shadow of doubt, to whom power should be transferred after we leave."
The Congress, instead of agreeing to this, started insisting on Caroe's removal from office. This was an unfair demand to which Mount batten yielded and forced Caroe to proceed on leave till Aug 15, and General Lock hart was given officiating charge only about a month before the transfer of power.
But then, according to Maulana Azad, "they could not possibly refuse the plebiscite - it would be an admission that they did not enjoy the support of the people. They returned to Peshawar and after consulting their friends, they raised the slogan of independence for the Frontier (p212)."
Again the viceroy's Report No.15 (Aug 2, 1947) admits: "The Congress ministry has refused to resign in spite of adverse results of the referendum. Dr Khan Sahib, the premier, originally indicated that he would be prepared to resign if the referendum was decisively against him, but possibly on instructions from the high command he has withdrawn this decision and now says he sees no reason why his ministry should resign until there is a general election or he is defeated in the legislature, in which Congress with the weight age of the minority has a majority.....
"I informed Lock hart that I would take the advice of the provisional government of Pakistan on this issue and make them take the major responsibility for the decision.
The advice they gave me at this morning's Pakistan cabinet meeting was that I should direct the governor to ask the ministry to resign and if they refused, to dismiss them...
"I was urged to admit that unless a change was made soon the Muslim League would inherit chaos in NWFP on Aug 15... "I was assured by the experts that it was constitutionally correct."
Yet he stalled the decision, and on Aug 14 a Congress ministry was in office in the NWFP, the premier of which refused to participate in the flag-hoisting ceremony in the Governor's House.
Yet the Quaid-i-Azam did not dismiss the ministry and waited for one week till 11 of his minority members went across the Wagah border to turn his majority in the legislature into a minority.
On Aug 22, 1947, only Lala Kotu Ram, MLA from Bannu, was left in Pakistan. Besides these 11 members, the two Jamiat members had already disassociated themselves from the Congress ministry after the referendum and so had Congress members Mian Jaffar Shah from Nowshera and Faqira Khan Jadoon from Abbottabad.
It was on Aug 22 that the governor was asked to dismiss Khan Sahib's ministry. The gazette notification was published on Aug 23, 1947. The same notification appointed Khan Abdul Qaiyum Khan (the name as spelled in that notification) as chief minister and Khan Muhammad Abbas Khan as minister for revenue.
How does Mr Khattak compute 15 as Dr Khan Sahib's majority in a house of 39 and join the ranks of the Quaid's critics in declaring his decision "undesirable and constitutionally incorrect"?
AMINULLAH KHAN GANDAPUR
Ex-minister of NWFP
Umrah trips
Paul Martin became the first Canadian prime minister in more than 130 years to publicly testify before a judicial inquiry the specifics surrounding a sponsorship scandal.
The ad-scam pertains to misappropriation of multimillion dollars in tax using Quebec separatist sentiment, the largest pork-barrel project in Canada's history.
The serving prime minister spent about four hours explaining that as finance minister in the 1990s Jean Chritien cabinet, he was aware that money in a special reserve fund was being used to promote community events in Quebec.
On the witness stand, Jean Chritien offered some explanations of how a scandal of that proportion carried on for a long time under the nose of the then finance minister (Paul Martin). Chritien managed to get a few digs at his opponent.
The inquiry is ultimately not about scandals, Chritien's previous governance or Martin's role within it. It is about recurrences of the dry-rot disease that have always accompanied political power.
Reportedly, two former prime ministers of Pakistan, Zafarullah Khan Jamali and Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, and the incumbent Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz spent a total of Rs43.05 million on their entourages comprising colleagues, family members, friends and press representatives during Umra last year.
Chaudhry Shujaat claims to have paid the expenses for his family and friends - others are silent on the issue. A public servant fulfilling a religious obligation is all right, but spending money that comes out of the pockets of hard-working taxpayers is abuse of public funds.
LT COL (retd) SYED AHMED
Mississauga, Ontario Canada
Draft bill on dancing
This is with reference to the draft bill on women's dancing in public moved in the NWFP Assembly. The proposed bill is reminiscent of the late Maulana Mufti Mahmood's legacy.
It is beyond one's comprehension as to why we should seek to impose a ban on women dancing and photographs while an ordinary person has access to watch that and more on TV and in cinemas.
It gives us only one message: either the MMA, having wrapped up all other important issues, has much time and energy to pursue such illogical issues, or perhaps it wants to get applause from the Taliban.
JOHN DAVID
Via email
PIA service
I, with my family (three passengers), was scheduled to travel by PIA's PK603 on Jan 23 at 8:30am from Islamabad to Bahawalpur (ticket # 214-2400316964,5 & 7, computer # DXDKOL). Before going to Islamabad airport, I asked PIA inquiry about the flight, and was told that the flight was on time.
When I arrived at Islamabad airport at 0745 hours, I was informed that my flight has been changed and now I have to travel by PK385 at 09:30am for Lahore and then catch a connecting flight for Bahawalpur. It was all right for me but at 0930 hours, PIA displayed the new departure time for PK385 as 1100 hours, without any explanation.
At 1145 hours I arrived at Lahore and at 1200 hours all the passengers for Bahawalpur were given new boarding cards and we boarded PK603. At 1240, PIA announced that the radar system of the aircraft was not working and after 30 more minutes buses were arranged to take all the passengers back to the lounge.
At 1430, snacks were offered by the ground staff of PIA which were converted to lunch boxes after protest from the passengers. In the meantime, PIA ground staff could not be contacted.
At 1530 hours, I succeeded in contacting the PIA staff outside the boarding lounge where they were talking about arranging a Daewoo bus for the Bahawalpur passengers.
On my protest, the PIA staff agreed to divert Bahawalpur passengers to Multan by PK387, scheduled to leave at 1640 (that left the airport at 1750) and ordered the passengers to arrange their journey from Multan to Bahawalpur on their own.
After another protest, PIA agreed to arrange an air-conditioned coaster for Bahawalpur from Multan. But when I arrived at Multan, we had no better luck. At last, at 2030 hours the passengers arrived at the PIA booking office in Bahawalpur.
M. WAHEED KHAN
Lahore
Books in Sindhi
I regularly visited the Defence Central Library (DCL), Karachi, for over five years. It was a very nice place to study and there were thousands of books on almost every subject. Missing were Sindhi books and and newspapers. Repeated requests were turned down.
When I recently visited the Chicago Public Library in downtown Chicago, I was surprised to see hundreds of books in many languages, including more than 180 books in Sindhi, displayed in their foreign languages section.
DR YOUSAF SHAIKH
Chicago
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