The Balochistan crisis

THE unprovoked attack on the FC convoy headed for Sui was another indicator of the intentions of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti and some other nationalists. His response to the earlier allegation by the government that arms and ammunition worth Rs500 million had been smuggled in through Afghanistan shows upon analysis that it was meant to mislead the nation. His stand was a) Afghanistan is hundreds of miles away, so how could containers with such huge quantities of weapons be transported from there? and b) that the weapons that exist are those that were supplied during the Afghan war against the Soviets. At times he has claimed confidently that the insurgency in Balochistan is being carried out by the so-called Baloch National Army, as if he was in the know of it, but when a government leader suggested he would be asked to identify them, he changed his stance and professed ignorance.

People aren’t so naive as not to realize that if weapons and drugs could be brought in from the northern neighbour through the NWFP a thousand miles away down to Karachi, why can’t the same be done in Balochistan? A containerized cache could be divided into smaller lots before transportation.

Regarding the argument of leftovers from the Afghan jihad, there was a rebellion in the 70s as well, years before the conflict next door. Where had those arms come from?

There are a few other factors as well. First, the reported use of paramilitary FC uniforms by Bugti fighters during the recent clashes, which shows the whole thing was pre-planned. Second, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain’s statement a while back that some forces inside Balochistan were creating obstacles in the political resolution of the crisis. His assertion was further borne out by the attack on the constabulary on the day a crucial meeting of the Balochistan committee was to take place in Islamabad. The third is the setting up of roadblocks and digging of trenches by the Bugtis.

Admittedly, the government’s statements are, in general, sometimes untrue, but this is clearly not one of those occasions. Quite surprisingly, many of our political leaders have hastened to accuse the government of launching a military action while completely ignoring the simple fact that a group of 40 FC men — or even of the army — could, by no stretch of imagination, be expected to attack hundreds of armed tribesmen strategically perched on the mountains. However, it must be ascertained whether the troops overreacted, and anyone found guilty must be disciplined.

The centre must do everything in its power to remove all the genuine grievances of our Baloch brothers and continue with development work in the province. However, those intent on destroying the federation must be sternly dealt with.

Great care must be taken to counter the propaganda war being waged by vested interests and all casualties should be accounted for, including those of the Hindu community, to prevent exaggerated account before the international community. Special efforts must be made to protect all innocent persons, particularly women, children and the minorities. The BNA must also remember that those being blown up in trains and elsewhere are equally innocent.

A word about the unfortunate Dr Shazia Khalid. It is most shameful she had to leave the country. Justice must be done to her by tracing and punishing the real culprit. It would be a most felicitous day for Pakistan and a giant step towards enlightenment if Dr Shazia Khald, feeling justice has been done, decides to return home.

S. QADRI

Karachi

Pakistan’s trial by US media

PAKISTAN, a leading partner of the US in its war against terror, is a victim of the US media that every now and then raises suspicion against it instead of being thankful. When I listen to senators’ interviews on the CNN I am surprised when they try to scare Americans by giving a negative impression about Pakistan and its nuclear command. This topic is too delicate to be discussed in the media. At the behest of Indian groups, some former and current senators raise a hue and cry against Pakistan. A recent article by Mr Larry Pressler in the NY Times made one think how people who attain such high positions forget the sacrifices of Pakistan. Indian scientists were also involved in transferring nuclear know-how to Iran, but India gets a mild reprimand while Pakistan has to face the brunt.

The reason put forward by the senators for a harsh policy towards Pakistan is that there is a rise in anti-America sentiments in Pakistan. Doesn’t that mean that America should do some soul-searching why this is happening? Pakistan has been betrayed several times. Pakistan paid for 28 F16s in 1989 but never got delivery due to the Pressler Amendment in the 90s. When Russia went out of Afghanistan and in American eyes Pakistan became useless, lots of sanctions were imposed. America has to realize that the policy of sanction backfires.

Whenever the US needs help, Pakistan has always obliged. But unfortunately no gratitude is ever shown. President Musharraf is patted in the public by US officials. The word “Pakistan” is not mentioned but instead they say President Musharraf is a friend. No matter what Pakistan does, it gets a lecture to “do more”.

Pakistanis are being seen with suspicion at the borders and at the airports in the US. At times they are ill-treated. This is not the America I knew. I lived in New Jersey for about nine years. I feel more like I am home whenever I visit the Garden State.

American senators should do some reading about Pakistan and also visit it to understand its people, and only then make a policy. If America wants to be respected, it has to adopt an even-handed policy.

SHAH AFFAN

Toronto, Canada

Allotment of Clifton beach

THIS has reference to the rejoinder of the PRO, DHA, Karachi, to the letter “Allotment of Clifton beach” by Mr V. A. Jafarey (March 24). The DHA is a statutory independent body but does not mean that whatever it does is divine wisdom. I will strongly urge the DHA use its “statutory independence granted through presidential ordinance” with prudence. The PRO has claimed that because of the beach plan “the citizens of Karachi will soon see a real qualitative change in their lives and in their concepts of relaxation, style and fun”. I found this contention regrettable because a large number of DHA residents face hardship and agony due to shortage of water. Doesn’t the PRO see the Rangers-controlled NLC water tankers plying on DHA roads and do the residents buy water from these water sellers for fun? I wish the DHA executive board had realized that beauty lies in meeting the basic needs of its tax-payers.

The DHA executive board undertakes “transparent” evaluations while totally ignoring the hardships faced by the residents due to water scarcity, overflowing gutters, open manholes, broken roads, reeds growing in every vacant plot and providing a good breeding place for mosquitoes. The large vacant space between Khayaban-i-Shujaat and 26th Street on Khayaban-i-Shamsher is lush green and gets irrigated with overflowing gutter water from a nearby manhole. Occasionally, the stagnant sewage is drawn from this manhole by a tanker. At many places the gutter lines are not connected to the main sewerage line.

Discharging its responsibilities towards the residents is the prime responsibility and should be the DHA’s first priority.

A RESIDENT Karachi

(II)

THIS has reference to the letter by the PRO, DHA, Karachi. An arrogant attitude was noted, depicting the DHA as almost a superpower.

The DHA, it seems, has an insatiable desire to sell beaches by building ordinary buttresses and filling the area with sand. Phases VII and VIII are on reclaimed land. Now the DHA has Clifton beach in its sights. With the mention of foreign buyers the beach may have already been sold. If this is the case, in the near future, it may be possible to walk to the oyster rocks.

The sea has a habit of returning to the original coastline unless shields or dykes are constructed. A recent example is the devastation caused by the tsunami waves which resulted in death and destruction in hundreds of miles of extended beaches.

We request the DHA to leave the poor man’s beach alone and look for greener pastures elsewhere.

RAFI ADAMJEE

Karachi

Clash of civilizations?

IN the aftermath of 9/11, the editorial pages of newspapers in America were filled with articles, op-ed pieces, letters to the editor, and countless commentaries on television that Islam is a violent religion and the spread of Islam in the world was a bloody and violent affair. Prof Samuel Huntington’s forecast in “The Clash of Civilizations” that in the post-Cold War environment the next round of conflict would be between Islam and the West presents a challenge to all Muslims. Moderate Muslims must put their heads together and work for not only the rejection of extremism by a minority of Muslims but also chart a strategy to modernize their community. The latter demands a recognition for the need for reform and a revived, enlightened mindset.

How do Muslims adopt modernity? They must dress, live and conduct themselves with the changing times without sacrificing either the basic tenets of their faith or modesty in their dress code. They must not hesitate to adopt science and technology in modernizing their calendar. In Muslim Pakistan, they must root out social evils like bribery, “honour killings”, and lavish weddings with dowry.

Minorities in Muslim lands must be protected to the extent that they feel at home. And in countries where Muslims are a minority, they must be loyal to those countries. Muslim men must continually remind themselves that women are their mothers, wives, daughters and sisters, and therefore must be accepted as different but equal.

To counter the accusation of the ignorant that the spread of Islam was a violent affair, Muslims can quote Yale Professor Maria Rosa Menocal’s work on mediaeval Muslim Spain where “an enlightened vision of Islam had created the most advanced culture in Europe” and where all faiths “prospered in a culture of openness and assimilation”.

The peaceful spread of Islam in Indonesia is another example Muslims can cite with pride.

The process of Islamization of the Indonesian archipelago went on for centuries; trading contacts and the role model Muslims presented played an important part in the conversion of the archipelago to Islam.

These role models were based on the emphasis on the worldwide community in which all believers, regardless of their creed, were brothers and

sisters.

Islam shares common roots with Christianity and Judaism. In recognition of this common history, the Holy Quran refers to Christians as “men devoted to learning” who are “not arrogant” and are “near to Muslims in love”. And Jews historically found refuge in Muslim lands whenever others persecuted them.

Is there then an ideological basis for a clash of civilizations?

KHWAJA A. HASAN

Indiana, USA

Human rights violation

I INVITE your attention towards the severe violation of human rights in Mirpur, Azad Kashmir. My husband Professor Zahid Hussain Mirza was arrested under section 295-C (blasphemy law), in Mirpur in June 1999. The case was filed against him nearly six years ago by a cleric with the help of some fundamentalist groups, on the false charges of writing a book “Status of prophethood (concept of Islam & Jahilliat)”. Prof Mirza is accused of blasphemy. The aforementioned book has been declared as correct in all respect by more than 100 theologians and scholars of the Muslim world. Some of these scholars include the Imam of Kabah and scholars of the Muslim World League, Rabita Alam-i-Islami.

The prosecution could not produce more than one witness in this case. Whereas we have more than 20 prominent theologians and scholars who have appeared in court as witnesses in support of our case.

In spite of all this, my husband has not been granted bail. Furthermore, he is now suffering from stomach cancer which was diagnosed nine months ago. After a major operation and chemotherapy, doctors have advised a six-week course of radiotherapy, which should have commenced in December 2004. This facility however is not available in the hospital where Professor Mirza is admitted in Mirpur. Being in police custody, he is not being admitted to the hospital where radiotherapy can be done.

To date there has been a delay of 12 weeks in crucial life-saving therapy and yet no decision for allowing further treatment has been made by the administration.

The case proceedings are on hold due to the illness of my husband. The sentence for blasphemy in Pakistan is the death penalty. Either way his fate is sealed. We only hope and pray that we have the opportunity to give him the care he deserves and cherish every moment he is left with, spending with his family and friends in his own home.

I request President Pakistan Gen Pervez Musharraf, the government of Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and all other authorities concerned to end this case as soon as possible to save the life of an innocent man.

SAKINA TASNEEM MIRZA

Mirpur, Azad Kashmir

‘Issues about the economy’

DR Shahid Javed Burki, in his article “Issues about the economy” (Dawn, March 15) has discussed the “most frequently asked question” about the Pakistan economy: whether the government’s claim about GNP growth rate of seven per cent for the current year is correct and acceptable. According to him, “If the prime minister has said that he expected the economy to expand by seven per cent in 2004-05, that is what is likely to happen.” He also maintains that “the fact that the Pakistan economy was booming was quite evident” even to a visitor like him.

Having committed himself to these non-professional statements, he says that “in order to achieve rates of growth of seven to eight per cent a year, Pakistan will need to increase its rate of investment by about 50 per cent from the current 20 per cent to somewhere near 30 per cent”, and then asks: “Is this feasible?”

May I ask him how he reconciles the two statements? How is Pakistan likely to hit a seven per cent growth rate in the current year without having increased its rate of investment by 50 per cent? Is it a miracle or an illusion?

ATHER ZAIDI

Islamabad

ID delays

I WOULD like to draw the attention of the NADRA chairman in Islamabad towards delays in issuance of National Identity Cards for Overseas Pakistanis (NICOP). I am at present living in Ottawa, Canada. I applied for an NICOP in June 2004 for three of my family members (including myself). I received my identity card and that of my son sometime in September 2004. However, my spouse’s ID card has not been issued yet. And I have plans to travel to Pakistan very soon. I fail to understand why a card that should officially take two to four months to get issued can take such a long time. As expected, the Pakistan high commission in Ottawa appears helpless.

If Pakistani embassies/high commissions can issue a passport, why can’t they issue an NICOP? This would save both time and money.

DR AZFAR HASSAN

Ottawa, Canada

Show of force

MY head hangs in shame at the recent use of force by the Frontier Constabulary on the Bugti tribesmen and the huge number of Bugtis killed in the attack. What necessitated such a drastic show of force by the army against its own people? As if the military operation in South Waziristan was not enough, the army has decided to unleash its wrath on the Baloch as well. What will it take to make the military realize that acts of violence perpetrated by the state only give impetus to brewing conflicts and resentments among increasing marginalized sections of society?

AYESHA SALMA KARIAPPER

Lahore

Standard of education

I AM a resident of the United Kingdom and at the moment completing my master’s in computing and Internet application. I feel very sad when I see that the system in Pakistan instead of working properly is hurting students. One example: my cousin is a student of the International Medical College, Abbottabad, that was expected to get affiliation quickly but this did not happen. Two senior batches have been waiting for two years for the results of their examinations. The college charges Rs1.2 million per student. Now it is seeking Rs25,000 from each student to enable it to pay the affiliation fee.

Such a state of affairs will badly hurt the country. What will happen to the middle class who can barely support their children for the MBBS or other degree qualifications?

AAMIR EHSAN

University of Luton,

UK

Karachi incident

THE US embassy would like to correct for the record some egregiously inaccurate reporting in a news item in Dawn on March 23 and a related editorial on March 25, regarding a security incident in Karachi on March 22. Due to suspected surveillance and out of due concern for security, and not because they were slowing traffic, the Karachi police, at the request of the US consulate, questioned a driver and his passenger in Karachi on March 22. The men were interviewed at the Artillery Maidan police station, and released a short while later.

The driver and his passenger were not dragged from the vehicle but exited it normally, and they were not beaten “allegedly acting on the orders of the consulate official,” as your editorial accuses. As noted above, they were questioned at a Karachi police station; at no time were they taken to the US consulate.

It is unfortunate that a reporter would file such a story without checking the facts with the embassy or the consulate-general. To base an editorial on an erroneous article, again without verifying the facts, is inexcusable.

ANDREW STEINFELD

Counsellor for Public Affairs,

US Embassy, Islamabad

—A The story was filed only after efforts to contact US consulate officials in Karachi were unsuccessful, as is clearly mentioned in the story itself. It appeared in the Dawn issue of March 23 (as well as other newspapers), and there was no clarification from the US embassy or consulate the next day, March 24. That the incident had taken place was confirmed by the city police chief. The editorial, based on the uncontradicted story, appeared subsequently in the issue of March 25. —Editor