‘The Black Book’

Senator Farhatullah Babar, a PPP parliamentarian, has moved a bill to establish what he calls ‘The Black Book’ or the book of shame and horror (Dawn, March 8). He wants the names of those who have subverted the 1973 Constitution of Pakistan to be included in the book. Nations must undertake such exercises to learn from their past. However, I am afraid the proposed book may not be that concise and may not contain only those names that Mr Babar seems to have in mind.

When this book is finally composed (by the future historian, if not by the present parliament), the senator may be dismayed to see the list and may regret his earlier zeal for the project.

Those who organized and led a CIA-orchestrated civil disobedience type movement against the legally elected government in 1977 may be the first ones (next only to the rulers who got themselves ‘elected unopposed’, thereby paving the way for such a movement) in the long list.

The ones who sabotaged government-opposition talks (nearing an agreement) may be the next. Calling on the army to take over and perform ‘their constitutional duty’ may come next. Those collaborating with the dictator and entering the corridors of power from the backdoor by paying the ‘small’ price of signing the death warrant of the founder of the Constitution may be awarded a prominent place.

Those who met in London to launch a movement against the national army shall not be forgotten. Those who compromised on principles to accept power on terms of the agencies instead of sitting on the opposition benches and exposing the damage done by these elements are quite eligible for inclusion.

Those who offered BMWs to the army generals to make them join in the ‘loot’ are no less. Those approaching US presidents and governments to intervene in their country’s affairs will surely have to be included in the list. Those welcoming the military take-over and praising the new ruler as ‘a commando and chief of military operations’ and offering full support shall not be forgotten. Those going to India and giving statements against their country’s interests and Kashmir policy shall be mentioned in bold letters.

The list may go on and on until the senator is horrified.

And let us not forget that the history of ‘subversion’ does not start from the Constitution of 1973. This Constitution was created on the debris of the largest Islamic state. Already historians have started to pinpoint the major cause of the wreck: the boycott of the National Assembly session at Dhaka by West Pakistani legislators.

Still want to press the bill, Mr Senator?

MALIK MUBASHIR A. MAJOKA

Sargodha

Appeal to president

This is about the Sir Cowasjee Jehangir Institute of Psychiatry (formerly Mental Hospital, Hyderabad). According to a news item (Jan 8), the Sindh health department has handed over a good chunk of land free of cost to the College of Physicians and Surgeons. A previous move by the CPSP to acquire land in the Civil Hospital, Hyderabad, was rejected by a former chief minister.

The Pakistan Association for Mental Health (PAMH), an organization which has more than 40 years’ history of promoting mental health and the cause of the mentally ill, is extremely disturbed. Almost 150 years ago Sir Cowasjee Jehangir, a philanthropist engineer, donated a piece of land and its structure to mentally-ill patients. The asylum (Giddu Bunder) was renamed as Mental Hospital, and Prof Hyder Kazi elevated this facility to the Sir C. J. Institute of Psychiatry and also equipped it for teaching and training purposes.

Brain research in the last 40 years has changed the practice of psychiatry. It is now appreciated that 50 per cent of all patients attending any medical practice suffer from psychological, psychiatric, psychosomatic and / or somatopsychic disorders.

Health behaviour research has proved that stress and its unhealthy lay-management techniques are the cause of major psychological and even physical illnesses.

It is, therefore, expected that sooner or later the Sir C. J. Institute is going to play an important role in health promotion and disease prevention. Doling out precious land at a time when this field is likely to take off will definitely hamper future expansion. The transfer of land by the Sindh government to the CPSP is unfair because it is in contradiction of the terms of trust at that time and now.

We have written letters of appeal to the Sindh chief minister, minister and secretary of health, and on Feb 22 appealed to the president of Pakistan. There has been no acknowledgement. Through these columns we would like to send a reminder to all, on behalf of the silent sufferers of mental illness and the Pakistan Association for Mental Health, to intervene in the matter.

More than 100 years ago a philanthropist realized the ordeal of mentally ill and set up a mental hospital in Hyderabad. Today when the quantum of mental illness has reached 25 per cent among the population, this is an amazingly retrogressive step. This is the only major facility in Sindh and an asset belonging to the mentally ill. This will also be a beginning of further invasion by elite specialties and the end of the psychiatric facility.

PROF S. HAROON AHMED

President, Pakistan Association for Mental Health,

Karachi

Corporal punishment

Corporal punishment is an important issue that has not been taken up comprehensively by civil society so far, though a circular of the education department has banned it. Corporal punishment is rampant throughout the country. It occurs in madressahs as well as in the “so-called elite private schools” and government institutions, workshops and commercial establishments where child labour is commonplace.

The hapless child is subjected to severe beating by heartless maulvis, incompetent teachers, employers and the so-called ustads on the pretext of correcting him. I would, therefore, suggest that all parents and law-observing citizens organize themselves to initiate a campaign to stop corporal punishment altogether.

As rightly pointed out by a hurt soul on March 15, children, especially boys, feel ashamed to tell their parents of it when they return home. In case the parents come to know of their children’s physical abuse, they are threatened with expulsion of their wards.

I would suggest the formation of an NGO to combat the menace throughout the country. Legislation alone cannot be enough as unscrupulous principals and administrators of schools and madressahs have means to escape retribution. I agree with the hurt soul that the most important reason why parents do not take counter-measures is the start of a vicious cycle by the teacher which includes repeated poor grades and even failure.

I would recommend that child protection should be part of the law to check corporal punishment. Implementation would be the greatest challenge. Steps are required to provide the victim total protection from victimization by the school administration.

DR SHAHID T. SHEIKH

Lahore

‘Vagaries of life’

This has reference to Mr Ardeshir Cowasjee’s column “Vagaries of life” (March 13). The matter of former MNA Begum Salma Ahmed’s arrest was raised by the MQM in parliament on the second day of her arrest by the NAB authorities. It was raised because Ms Ahmed is perhaps (in Pakistan’s 58-year history) the only woman legislator among former and present public representatives to be was arrested on corruption charges.

I was utterly surprised that except for one or two national dailies (including Dawn), none highlighted the argument made in the National Assembly by me. It was said that there were proven corruption charges against women legislators, leave alone their male colleagues, but why was a septuagenarian former MNA, who ostensibly committed some fiscal irregularity two decades back, victimized?

What was more disquieting was that a number of Muslim Leaguers, both men and women, sitting on both the treasury and opposition benches did not utter a word of sympathy for her.

In 1999, just after NAB was formed, a former MNA from Sukkur was arrested, and cases against women of his family were also registered. Before that, in 1997, when a former head of Pakistan Steel was arrested on corruption charges, his daughter was also apprehended by the FIA in Karachi. She was reluctantly released the next day. My argument is why a specific province is targeted, whether it is a woman public representative, the wife of a politician, or the daughter of a bureaucrat.

Mr Cowasjee may be right about the plot allotment story, but there are other factors behind Ms Ahmed’s arrest as well. Her recent book has no doubt unveiled some faces.

Whatever the reason for arresting Ms Ahmed and sending her on a long remand, one thing is clear — NAB has further eroded its credibility.

KUNWAR KHALID YUNUS

Karachi

‘Managing CPSP affairs’

This is with reference to letters from Dr Nadeem Ahmad (March 5) and Mr Ather Hussain (March 8). Attention is drawn towards some important facts:

— Rules regarding FCPS-1 invalidity had been decided

in September 2001, so these cannot be applied in retrospect.

— The CPSP council had placed all trainee doctors into three main categories and for each category the implementation of FCPS-1 invalidity rule was different (reference: page 11 of CPSP regulation 2001 booklet). Now the council and the CPSP president are trying to enforce the same rule on all trainees irrespective of the date they passed their FCPS-1.

— The candidates feel that the CPSP has failed to communicate the rules and regulations properly and, even worse, that some of the officials from the research and training monitoring cell (RTMC) and the examination department had kept reassuring candidates till the end of 2004 — both verbally and in writing — that their FCPS-1 was not at stake.

We appeal to the CPSP president and council members to consider all the facts before rushing to make part-1 invalid and endangering the future of more than 600 doctors.

We also appeal to the president of Pakistan, the chief justice of Pakistan and the federal ombudsman to look into this matter.

FCPS-I ACTION COMMITTEE & CANDIDATES OF FCPS-II

Karachi

Housing scheme blues

The Mehran Town Housing Scheme was announced in 1973 by the Karachi Development Authority (KDA). This was a gift from Mr Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto to overseas Pakistanis. Hundred per cent payment was taken in advance. Those who applied in the late 1970s or early 1980s were told that plots have been reserved for them and were advised to deposit payment. But even after receiving full payment, the KDA issued no allotment letters.

Upon initial enquiry people were told that allotment was subject to balloting. For years no balloting was carried out and the KDA kept on enjoying interest on the deposited amount.

As one of those affected, I approached every possible quarter, right from the Sindh governor to the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF), the ministry of overseas Pakistanis, MNAs and senators and even the president, but nothing happened. One MNA even raised the issue in the then National Assembly. The OPF did nothing to help. In the meantime, the Sindh ombudsman’s office was established. I approached the ombudsman who fixed a date for the KDA to submit arguments. Two days before the hearing, the KDA suddenly held balloting. My name was among the list of those who were successful.

If memory does not fail me in my old age, it was some time between 1988 and 1992 that the KDA demanded exorbitant development charges though no development was carried out. When I approached the Sindh ombudsman again, he directed the KDA to issue me an allotment letter, the benefit of which also went to everyone.

The scheme started in 1973-74. The KDA carried out some development work. In 1978, rain damaged Malir’s giant bridge and this scheme. Within two weeks the Malir River bridge and other areas were repaired, but not the scheme. Since 1978, this scheme remains “physically” the same, although a huge amount has been spent on it.

When four years back, in August, I last visited the site, it was difficult to even breathe due to filth, burning waste, smoke and dirt. The KDA site office comprising two to three rooms with broken glass windows looked derelict. However the signboard of a Boulton Market estate agent was shining as good as ever. There were three to four concrete constructions housing traders of animal feed. Upon asking them how they were operating business from there they said the KDA staff never objected to it. Of course they never did; they were never there. The officials in the nearby office of Malir River development project told me they had never seen this KDA site office open.

Since no one had any interest left in this lost story nobody ever cared. I am afraid this scheme is deliberately being neglected. One day the allottees will find it in the hands of someone else.

AFFECTED ALLOTTEE

Karachi

Hazara tribe

This refers to the report “Analysts question sustainability of reform in Afghanistan” (March 3). While expressing his views on Afghanistan at an international workshop organized by the Karachi University, one of the participants referred to the Hazaras as ‘lowly’.

As a member of the Hazara tribe I feel outraged at this description. Is it indiscretion or frivolity? Just with a twist of the pen an entire tribe has been stigmatized.

Beginning from the latter half of the 19th century, the history of the Hazaras is replete with religious repression, systematic massacre, and expulsion from their homeland — all perpetrated by the Frontier rulers in collusion with their mullah hierarchy. Foremost among the rabidly anti-Hazara rulers was Amir Abdur Rahman (1880-1901). Following his success in forcibly converting the natives of Kafiristan in the northeast of Afghanistan, he tried to apply the same methods against the staunch Shia Hazaras in an attempt to convert them to his own persuasion but failed.

Unfortunately, a century later during the Taliban regime the same old tactics were repeated against the Hazaras. This time with the active moral and material support of a rich Middle Eastern country. However, the Hazaras stood their ground.

The only weapons with which the Hazaras have fought against heavy odds are their fortitude, grit, and faith in Allah. For these qualities they deserve to be saluted and not dismissed casually as ‘lowly’.

H. B. ALI

Karachi

CNG price

The growing number of vehicles in major cities has led to significant air pollution, primarily relating to carbondioxide emission. To cope with the situation, the government has diversified resources and the compressed natural gas industry has been developed as an alternative fuel for passenger vehicles.

According to the Hydrocarbon Development Institute, more than 600,000 vehicles have been converted to CNG, and 640 CNG stations are operating, with another 300 in the pipeline. It is estimated that the CNG sector will attract up to $710 million during the next five years. Currently, Pakistan is the third major user of CNG for automobiles after Argentina and Italy. Some time back the CNG dealers’ association had increased the price to Rs27 a kg and shortly that it made a further 50 paisa increase in lieu of service charges.

When the government took notice of this, the president of the CNG Station Owners Association announced a price reduction of 50 paisa/kg. However, CNG dealers in Karachi are still charging the same rate of Rs27.50/kg.

The authority concerned should take prompt notice of this.

RASHID ASHRAF

Karachi

‘Of private schools’

I WRITE on behalf of Bay View High School in response to the write-up in your Karachi Metropolitan section (March 9) entitled “Of private schools and public problems”. Our school was named in the article, and we strongly object to the statements made.

The article portrays private schools generally in a poor light and specifically states that fees are too high and implies that the schools mentioned have draconian policies with regard to non-payment of fees. Among the allegations are that fees are high and when parents have difficulty paying the fees, the child’s name is immediately struck off the rolls. Speaking for our school, in the 11 years since our inception, we have never done so.

It is also said that a substantial late fee is charged without notice. All parents are informed before enrolling their child that one month’s advance notice is given for payment of fees and a nominal late fee of Rs200 is charged. As to parents not being able to afford quarterly payments, we have always offered parents the alternative of paying fees on a monthly basis and many avail themselves of this facility.

It is also said that students are penalized for non-payment of fees. We may point out that we have cases where parents have failed to pay fees for six months and yet we do not penalize the child. We have a parent liaison co-ordinator who personally calls parents and we consider special circumstances and work out a fee-payment plan accordingly.

We never embarrass students and always call parents separately to discuss fees.

Ours is a small school and we have remained that way so that we can provide a personal service and are able to offer quality education. We consciously work hard to accommodate the needs of our parents and students (as far as possible) and our fees are commensurate with the service we provide.

K. C. AHMED

Director of Studies, Bay View High School,

Karachi

US visa ordeal

This is in response to the letter (March 13) by Maj (retd) Syed Rayaz Mehdi. Every now and then we read people writing their experiences of how they ended up not getting American visas. I have yet to read or hear from anyone that they actually got a visa.

So if the American embassy is not issuing any visas they should close their visa section, at least people will stay away from the embassy and avoid hardships.

AHMED ALI MEMON

Karachi

No doctor

I Took my friend to the emergency department of the Lady Willingdon Hospital, Lahore, recently. No doctor was present to attend to her: they were having their tea-break. And the nursing staff behaved ridiculously. I request the health secretary and the MS to maintain discipline in the hospital.

SABA SHAHID

Gujranwala