| 01 March 2005 | Tuesday | 19 Muharram 1426 |
Jallianwala Bagh incident
Foreign 'experts'
Dacoity in bank
Traffic mess
'Piety at public expense'
DHA Islamabad Ordinance
President's verdict
Medicine packaging
Abuse charges reduced
Tree-axing spree in Islamabad
Housing Society
CPLC affairs
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With reference to the news about the US planning to give F-16s to both India and Pakistan to avoid a strategic imbalance (Dawn, Feb 11) wouldn't it make sense to reach a diplomatic solution with India and not to buy the F-16s? The money can be used for something more productive, like educating our underprivileged children, and helping the Pakistani families that have no access to fresh water and healthcare.
Isn't the whole point behind a stronger national defence to protect the lives of Pakistanis? So who is taking care of those dying of disease and poverty every day?
TAUSEEF RIAZ
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
(II)
A recent suggestion put forth by the US administration is to sell F-16s planes to both India and Pakistan. This is being considered as striking a balance of power in the South Asian region.
The fact is that Pakistan has paid for these aircraft, and successive US governments have been deferring delivery of these planes on one ground or another. In the 1990s the supply of crucial military assistance to Pakistan was halted because we were exploiting our nuclear options.
If acquiring nukes is the criterion, then India, not Pakistan, should have been chastised because it initiated the nuclear race in the region by exploding a device in 1974, long before Pakistan even had any such ambitions. Nevertheless, India always gets preferential treatment when it comes to American military or social assistance. There has been extensive business collaboration and considerable military support between the US and India in recent years. Thus, this latest US move to sell F-16s is to appease Indians.
It is ludicrous to believe that any imbalance will be created in the region by Pakistan's upgrading of its military. India has a much bigger territory and military as compared to us. Also, India has a history of bullying its neighbours, especially Pakistan. Therefore, the need of the hour is to put a curb on Indians rather than aid and abet them. Also, this tilt in the US policy will affect the dialogue under way between India and Pakistan due to the volatile nature of our relations.
MISBAH NOMANI
Karachi
Jallianwala Bagh incident
On Feb 17 British Foreign Minister Jack Straw visited the Jallianwala Bagh memorial and virtually apologized for the massacre of over 2,000 innocent unarmed Indian protesters at the hands of British troops on April 13, 1919.
Mr Straw has done what Queen Elizabeth avoided in 1997. In the visitors' book at the memorial - now a national monument in memory of those gunned down mercilessly on the orders of British Gen Reginald Dyer - Mr Straw expressed his pain at the incident that had taken place almost 80 years ago.
Prime Minister Tony Blair, it must be remembered, had already apologized to the Irish people for Britain's inefficient handling of the potato famine 150 years ago. The Irish famine of 1846-50 took as many as one million lives from hunger and disease, and changed the social and cultural structure of Ireland in profound ways.
I would like to say that a crime committed in continuity cannot be atoned for by saying 'sorry' for any one incident. If Mr Straw, on behalf of the British nation, must say 'sorry', it should be for all the crimes that were perpetrated in the name of holding aloft the Union Jack.
Starting from the days of the East India Company, there are many other crimes for which no apology has yet been tendered. Saying 'sorry' for the death of 379 people (as per the official records of that time) at Jallianwala Bagh cannot atone for the marytrdom of Tipu Sultan.
This half-hearted attempt to wipe out the blood that stains the history of British imperial rule will be more bit effective if Britain also offers its regrets over the killing of Tipu Sultan on May 3, 1799, at Seringapatam.
RASHID ASHRAF
Karachi
Foreign 'experts'
One is sick and tired of Pakistanis who have left home and hearth to settle abroad and yet find time to analyze, criticize and ridicule developments at home. Especially tiresome are those who are based in the US, who find fault with almost everything that is happening in Pakistan and at the same time have neither the courage nor the will to analyze what is happening to their kinsmen in America.
Isn't it surprising that you have all these people who write letters, make documentaries, post articles and generally comment about what is happening in Pakistan and yet do not wish to discuss how they are being treated as second-class citizens in the US?
I am yet to meet a Pakistani who lives in the US and yet has the moral courage to write about things there with regard to discrimination against Pakistanis and Muslims and the horror stories that many have gone through.
These horror stories only emerge they get deported or somehow leave that country. A recent addition are those people who have migrated to Canada. Now we have to be subject to their "expert" advice and opinion.
Most of them arrived on westen shores on a Pakistani passport. In most instances, their initial education was in Pakistan. And the most unkind cut of all is the fact that no matter what accent they adopt or what nationality they claim, the question they are invariably asked is - yes, but where are you from originally?
SAADIA AHMAD KHAN
Lahore
Dacoity in bank
On May 19, 2004, an armed dacoity reportedly took place in Urdu University branch of the National Bank of Pakistan. According to NBP sources, the dacoits decamped with cash (in millions) and jewellery (also worth millions) deposited by customers who had taken loans from the NBP branch.
We were informed of this dacoity a month later through a letter dated 19/6/2004 from the branch. The branch officials assured those (including us) who lost their jewellery in the dacoity that full compensation would soon be given to the affected persons.
More than eight months have passed since the dacoity took place. We have been running from pillar to the post to obtain the promised compensation. We have spoken and written to the branch concerned and their regional officials.
We have also written even to the president of NBP, but to no avail. There is total silence from bank personnel concerned and no written confirmation has been given to any of us as to when the promised compensation would be forthcoming.
Independent inquiries by us have revealed that the matter of compensation is held up due to internal wrangling within the bank. The National Insurance Corporation is still waiting for the surveyor's report to be able to process the NBP's claim for the loss in dacoity.
We are middle class people (some of us are retired) and are going through a very anxious period with no light visible at the end of the long bureaucratic tunnel of the NBP. Can the State Bank of Pakistan or the ministry of finance help us?
AFFECTED PERSONS
Karachi
Traffic mess
I write this to bring to the attention of the Karachi DHA authorities problems faced by motorists. First of all, the idea of placing a traffic light at every intersection of the DHA not a good idea.
Worse still is the manner in which the timing has been set under which the major and minor roads on the intersection share equal time, which in turn leads to problems as impatient drivers jump the red lights and this leads to accidents.
In many instances, a simple stop sign would have been enough. Ironically, these stop signs, which give the motorists an idea of right of way on any intersection, are almost non-existent in the locality.
There are also many areas where the DHA has simply dug up roads and left debris lying about as in front of the Casino. At this point, for several months the DHA, has been trying to construct a roundabout but for some reason changes its mind and then starts afresh. This is a problem that motorists find frustrating.
Upon inquiry I have been told that while the DHA does put up traffic lights, the timing is set by the traffic police. This is a most unsatisfactory situation. I also want to know whether the DHA does, in fact, have a road engineer on its payroll since most of this work should be done scientifically.
SYED GHAUS AGHA
Karachi
'Piety at public expense'
This refers to the editorial "Piety at public expense" (Feb 11). Much has been written about this subject. I would like to add some old, related thoughts. I am reminded of a Pakistani federal minister in the 50s who was accorded the title of "Alhaj" after he performed Haj while still in office.
He wanted to know the difference between a "Haji" and an "Alhaj", and in a lighter vein someone told him that a "Haji" was a person who performed the Haj at his own expense, while an "Alhaj" was one who performed Haj at public expense. The minister issued an order that henceforth he was not to be addressed as "Alhaj" but simply "Haji".
In 1998, I was visiting Pakistan. A young physician told me how commendable the piety of the then president was in the eyes of the nation. He prayed, fasted, and wore a beard, etc.
I did not know anything about the president's record in office, but had heard of one of his official visits abroad with an entourage of more than 60 including friends and relatives at state expense.
Personal piety can impress only if it manifests itself in being fair, humble, ready to help fellow citizens, and being honest and selfless when dealing with the public purse.
PROF (DR) A. HAQ QURESHI
Ohio, USA
DHA Islamabad Ordinance
The promulgation of the Defence Housing Authority Islamabad Ordinance 2005, barely a few hours before the session of the National Assembly, has dramatized how parliament continues to be trivialized to advance the vested interests of some through dubious legal mechanisms.
The ordinance was issued after sunset on Feb 22, just when the National Assembly was to meet early next morning. The 19-page document begins by saying on page 1, "Whereas it is expedient to establish Defence Housing Authority Islamabad," claiming on the same page, "Whereas the National Assembly is not in session," it acknowledges that "the president is satisfied that circumstances exist which render it necessary to take immediate action" before finally announcing that General Musharraf was "pleased to make and promulgate the ordinance". As if to leave no doubt, the document ends with the signature of General Musharraf on the last page.
Was the matter really so pressing that the heavens would have fallen if it had been placed before the National Assembly the following morning? Who were the people in such a great hurry and what were their interests, one may ask?
The protesting MPs will now be told that the ordinance will soon be placed before parliament for validation where it can be debated and improved if needed. What is the big issue, they will be asked? But there are big issues, indeed.
One issue is that it will almost certainly never come up for discussion and debate in parliament, claims to the contrary notwithstanding. The history of two similar ordinances setting up DHAs in Karachi and Lahore is before us.
Just as the DHA Karachi and DHA Lahore ordinances were never placed before parliament, so will this ordinance also not be brought before it. And just as the previous two defence housing ordinances were validated as part of general validation of orders and ordinances issued under military rule, so will this ordinance continue to be re-promulgated till another parliament is asked to validate the orders and ordinances of yet another military rule as the price for reverting to quasi-civilian rule.
Remember, the DHA Karachi was validated at the time of the Eighth Amendment in 1985 and the DHA Lahore validated at the time of the 17th Amendment last year.
An ordinance promulgated at the instance of vested interests acquires overtime a certain character and permanence of its own which no parliamentary debate can overturn easily, particularly by a hamstrung parliament like the present one. Such ordinances create a machinery of their own for implementation by the interest groups concerned. A palpably bad ordinance is thus converted into a bad act.
Bypassing parliament and recklessly issuing ordinances has been cited as a reason for the dismissal of elected governments by presidents armed with powers to do so.
When Benazir Bhutto's government was dismissed by Ghulam Ishaq Khan on August 6, 1990, the presidential charge-sheet read in part: "The fundamental business of legislation was not taken seriously and much of the work was carried on by re-issuing old ordinances".
The ordinance will not come up before parliament because it will be shred to smithereens in a parliamentary debate. It will raise questions of propriety and morality in the same manner as are raised when a ruling political party makes a law to benefit its workers.
SENATOR FARHATULLAH BABAR
Islamabad
President's verdict
It is worrisome to see the president giving his opinion on whether a person is guilty or not even before the judicial process gets underway as we saw in the case of his comments on the main accused in the Sui rape case.
Your editorial (Feb 26) does well to highlight this point. It seems there is a tendency on the part of the president to jump the gun. We see this on his comments on Kalabagh, even before a committee he has appointed comes up with its findings, or in the case of the NFC where the decisions that he announced should have come from the commission and not him.
I am hopeful that the president does take note of the wise words of your editorial and makes sure he does not interfere with the due process which in many cases he himself has helped initiate.
REHAN KAUSAR
Gujranwala
Medicine packaging
It is a known fact that multinationals in Pakistan charge an arm and a leg for various drugs that they produce despite the fact that the same drugs are available at a quarter of the price in neighbouring countries like India and Iran.
One would expect that since this is the case, the companies would add some value to their products here. But sadly this does not happen. Take, for example, a widely used antibiotic marketed by a leading in pharmaceutical company.
Despite the fact that this drug is moisture sensitive, no attempt is made to wrap a pilfer-proof covering on the cap. The cap remains as it is and anyone can take or replace these drugs at will. You simply have to trust the dispensing chemist that the drug is untouched.
Another area where these pharma companies have not delivered is in the fight against fake drugs. It seems that they are not bothered with this problem despite the fact that it takes thousands of lives each year. One can only ask them to pull up their socks.
SHAHID AMIN
Islamabad
Abuse charges reduced
The number of charges against the American woman accused of abusing Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison inmates has been reduced. Lynndie England now faces nine charges, ranging from cruelty to committing indecent acts.
The new charges could see her spend a maximum of 16 years in prison. The US military police officer had previously faced 19 charges that could have led her to face up to 38 years in prison. No explanation has been given for the reduction.
FILZA G. SIDIQI
Wexford, Ireland
Tree-axing spree in Islamabad
The mass tree-axing spree in Islamabad by the Capital Development Authority staff is now a common sight for anyone who either goes to sectors G, I and F series or travels along the Faizabad-Zero Point Road. The strong pain felt by Islamabad is and conservationists on the slaughter and subsequent protests have evoked no response.
And even the civic body's chairman, Kamran Lashari seems unmoved by the mass tree-axing. There is absolutely no objection to the CDA's efforts for giving the city a more beautiful, cleaner yet healthier look.
However, this is simply unacceptable at the cost of disturbing the peaceful, tranquil and green atmosphere of the federal capital that is a distinctive feature of Islamabad life.
Realizing what trees are to human beings, we need to follow in the footsteps of Martin Luther who once said: "Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree."
In a word, the importance of trees can be best realized by considering world without them and this needs to be realized by the CDA as well before it is too late.
USMAN NAEEM
Islamabad
Housing Society
Nearly 36 years ago I booked a plot measuring 600 sqyds in Karachi's Quetta Town Co-operative Housing Society, Scheme # 33. I paid all the instalments and dues and was issued an allotment letter.
But so far there has been no development visible, as the open plots are left at the mercy of the land mafia, and a very large area of this society is still occupied by land grabbers.
Now that a new administrator has been appointed by the provincial government, I would urge the administrator and the newly-elected president of the society to complete the development work and hand over possession of plots without further loss of time.
AN ALLOTTEE
Karachi
CPLC affairs
Little has been written about Citizen Police Liaison Committee affairs in the past year despite the controversial change of its chief. I am sure I am only one of them who have had the honour of having their cars stolen more than once in the span of six years.
In the previous instance, I had the CPLC to hold my hand and guide me through the torturous process of having my car returned after it was recovered. This time round, it seems the CPLC has also developed a thick skin. There was little guidance given after my car was recovered and at one stage a CPLC official also asked me to expedite the process by paying off certain officials.
IQBAL KHAN
Karachi
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