| 18 April 2005 | Monday | 08 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1426 |
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Israel and Zionism
Splitting Hyderabad
‘The heart of the matter’
No alternative to democracy
OPF Girls College affairs
Semester exam
An apple a day
Passport ordeal
Bazid Khan
Indo-Pakistan friendship
NBP pension dues
Problem schools
FOR quite some time I’ve been reading various opinions about peace between India and Pakistan.
“If only India and Pakistan would resolve their differences over Kashmir, think of the great impact on their economies. Think of how powerful and huge a market it would be, if the two countries began to trade with each other. Think about the impact on poverty, if the two nations stopped spending so much money on defence. Why don’t they worry about development instead of hostilities toward each other?”
A tempting argument, and probably true in the case of Pakistan. But is it really true in the case of India?
Take the market. Yes, India and Pakistan together would have a market of 1.2 billion people. But a billion of those are already there in the Indian market. Adding an extra couple of hundred millions from Pakistan is neither here nor there.
And defence spending? Yes, India and Pakistan spend a lot of money on defence. But would the defence budget really shrink if India and Pakistan were friends and allies? Perhaps not. Pakistan has borders with Afghanistan, the Indian Ocean and Iran too. India has borders with China, Mynamar and vast coastal lines opening into the Indian Ocean where fleet of the American, Chinese, Russian and other big navies move around. There are a number of other threats, and in any case, a nation purporting to large area and large populations would need to maintain a certain military strength.
The real impediments to India’s and Pakistan’s economic growth are probably internal, and the remedies are also internal. For decades, progress was held back by bizarre economic policies. Liberalization of the economy has helped the economies of both the countries to realize their full potential, but only partially — there are still crucial pieces of reform that must be pushed through. However with established democracy, comparatively good governance, consistent economic policies despite change in governments, India is becoming the hub of the world. On the contrary, Pakistan is still in the process of addressing these issues.
However, the overall growth rate of both countries is good. There is essentially one way in which growth in South Asian can be affected. This would be if there was an actual war. Then all bets would be off, especially if the war turns into a nuclear one. It is logical to assume that the war could not last beyond a few days. However, once the war is over, India will be in better position diplomatically. The pre-war stronger economy will help limping India return to normalcy sooner. But are we economically strong enough to face even a conventional war?
Considering the present economic indicators and trends, for Pakistan the challenge is far more complex. India can flourish even in the absence of peace on the subcontinent. Pakistan will find it hard to do so. And that’s why it is for Pakistan to figure out how it can make peace and resolve the Kashmir issue sooner. Perhaps, this need is understood well within the Pakistan think-tanks and they insist on discussing the Kashmir issue first during any dialogue with India.
We need to be more innovative in solving Kashmir and should not help delay the process to India’s advantage. We should not let it become a flashpoint.
BARKAT GANI
London
IN CONTRAST to the humane and pacifist teachings of the late Pope John Paul II, some evangelists have been arguing ad nauseam that the establishment of the current Israeli state is an act of fulfilled prophecy by pleading that the Jews now living in or who have migrated to Israel are “Biblical Jews”.
Prehistorically, Israelites were descendants of the early Hebrews who were but one of nine Semitical people to inhabit the Mesopatamia Valley and the Middle East. Other descendants of Shem included: Assyrians, Chaldeans, Babylonians, Amorites, Arameans, Canaanites, Abbyssinians, and the Arabians. One of the oldest names for the land they occupied is “Peleshith” and “Phillistia” both of which are derived from Phillistine. The Palestinians of today are descendants of these ancient Phillistines.
The citizens of ‘Biblical Israel’ were carried off in various captivities including the Assyrian campaign of Shalameneser and Sargon in 722 B.C. and the Babylonian captivity under Nebuchadnezzar in 550 B.C. Other conquests and captivities occurred under the Egyptians, Romans, Muslims, etc. The only two remaining tribes of Israel to occupy the land at the time of Christ were fully dispersed throughout the world with the destruction of Jerusalem by Rome in 70 A.D.
In 74 A.D. Khagan Bulan, ruler of this area then known as Khazaria, was converted to Judaism and the masses of the Khazarr tribe followed his example. Khazaria fell to the Mongols in the 13th century, and the Khazars fled and were later taken by Genghis Kahn northwest to become progenitors of “Ashkenazim Jewry” (Russian, German, Baltic, and Polish).
In fact, the word “Zionism” was coined in the 19th century which intended (with the support of British Imperialism) to occupy the land of the Palestine or to “reestablish Palestine” by the Jews as the old state of Israel. This is known as ‘Political Zionism’. Primarily, those desiring a “Jewish state” did so from political motives, although a minority envisioned a restoration of the old ethical life as recorded in Psalm 15. Their philosophy was known as “spiritual or cultural Zionism”.
By any logical standard, Zionism is a man-made philosophy, finding no basis in the Bible other than the word Zion which was used as the name of the Jebusite stronghold on the southern part of the eastern hill of Jerusalem. Later, the term was used figuratively for the whole of Jerusalem.
The most excruciating fact of modern Arab history is that the creation of the state of Israel under the banner of political Zionism has placed the fate of the independence of the Palestinians at the mercy of the Israelis.
S. Q. AFZAL RIZVI
Karachi
THE Sindh government’s decision to split Hyderabad into four districts has sparked intense public outcry in the province. What is very sordid to see is the way the decision was made by the Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim.
It has infuriated the people of the province mainly because no pre-announcement public debate on the proposal of the division of Hyderabad was arranged. The chief minister also did not seek to gain the confidence of the political and nationalist parties over the issue.
Since two diverse opinions now exist and all the nationalist parties except the JSQM have opposed the proposed split, the issue can further aggravate the politico- economic situation in the province.
The people are hardly interested in such deliberately fomented issues raised from time to time to cloak the real public issues. What the general masses expect is redressal of their long-standing grievances and provision of the basic amenities of life.
Given the financial constraints of the present government, increasing the number of districts hardly seems a sane decision as it requires huge funds to build up separate administrative set-ups, offices and other infrastructure. For instance, the newly-created Jamshoro district is there only in the official gazette.
One would suggest that instead of creating administrative tumult and commotion by taking such nasty decisions, it is better to strengthen the existing district set-ups and improve their functioning so that the people’s basic problems could be solved.
MOHAMMAD SALEEM SHAIKH
Karachi
THIS refers to Mr Irfan Hussain’s column “The heart of the matter” (April 16).
I appreciate that Mr Hussain has dared to speak the language of all liberal-minded progressive people of Pakistan and these people definitely form the majority.
It is extremely unfortunate that this majority has to surrender to the inane demands of a clerical polity that is all hatred and violence in the name of religion. The insular and myopic approach of this rigid and unyielding polity holds complete sway over the enlightened moderation of our liberal and secular elements. The government frequently bows down before the retrogressive demands of these zealots.
The point to ponder is that why cannot the government and a majority of the people be steadfast enough to defy the unreasonable minority? What talisman do they hold that the entire government machinery from the lowest to the most authoritative rung is hypnotized and incapacitated by their protest?
It is time the establishment learnt how not to bend before demands of a stubborn minority that endangers the whole fabric of a secular and progressive Muslim nation.
UMAR MANSOOR BAJWA
Faisalabad
SYED Mohibullah Shah in his article “No alternative to democracy” (April 14) has concluded that the only system of governance that has been successfully tested from time to time is democracy. For any future stability and development of the country, this system is indispensable and has no substitute.
For the last more than half a century of independence almost every leader has backed this mode of governance. Some professed to be democrats to the core themselves and some assumed power with the commitment to bring “true democracy.” But the result is what Mr. Shah has correctly assessed, i.e., we are still lurking in the midst of confusion.
So the question as to which option of governance can be availed for the future well-being of the country is well settled but what is that, in the given circumstances, how it disconcerting can be brought to fruition?
DR ALI AKBAR DHAKAN
Chairman, Sindh Development Foundation
Karachi
IN the whole OPF College scenario, what the students, parents, educationists and all those who have a stake in the OPF Girls College affair have seen is that the first casualty is the truth itself.
The college had been working directly under the ministry of labour, manpower and overseas Pakistanis for last several years and not under the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation. This happened under a resolution of the government. It had a separate board of directors, headed by the secretary of the ministry, of course, with the director, OPF, as member. It was only very recently (February, 2005) that OPF took over the college.
The board of the college (not the OPF Board), in its 34th meeting held on October 30, 2002, decided to make the college a degree-awarding institute, if it had sufficient financial resources to be authenticated by the standing financial committee.
The committee, with AGPR as its member, on Nov 6, 2002, certified the adequacy and availability of the funds to allow the college to get the charter to become a degree-awarding institute.
In order to get the charter, the college started preparing a feasibility report, according to the procedures laid down by the Higher Education Commission. After fulfilling all the procedural requirements, and enduring a number of inspections by HEC teams, the HEC recommended the grant of the charter on August 6, 2003. The college was advised to submit a draft charter on the lines of the Federal University Model Ordinance, 2002.
The college had prepared its draft charter and had already sent it to the HEC, OPF, on Feb. 10, 2004, wrote a letter to the ministry that the draft be routed through them. Simultaneously, they wrote to the HEC that “ .. the matter may kindly be pended until the draft act is vetted by OPF and approved by the BoG of OPF.”
The ministry, however, declined the OPF’s request and subsequently the HEC also ignored the plea taken by the OPF. On April 26, 2004, HEC completed the vetting of the charter and sent it to the ministry for onward transmission to the law division and subsequent enactment.
A turning-point came in the whole process when in May 2004 a new secretary took over the ministry and the process was stopped.
A member of the college board approached the High Court to save the college from the OPF but could not support his stand. In February 2005, the OPF took over the college, subsequent to court’s decision. The ministry which had been supporting the college throughout in the past did not go for appeal against the High Court’s decision for obvious reasons.
Now the question is whether the OPF is capable enough to shoulder its responsibilities and pick up the process where it had stopped it. Simply disowning the whole matter will not be ethical.
The process of granting a charter demands that faculty, infrastructure and other inputs including the students must be in place. The befitting course of action for OPF is to complete the process of getting the charter. The delay caused can be rectified without much damage to the students’ career. In case the students are pushed to a private university, then the government will be responsible for this development.
ZUNAIRA SHUA
Islamabad
THE apathy of the examination department of the University of Karachi causes great hardship to the students taking examinations under the semester system. A period of about three months has passed since the last paper BBA (S-II) paper of the current academic session. The examination forms for S-III are expected to be filled in at any time in the very near future, but the result of S-II has not yet been announced.
How will candidates failing in S-I and S-II get time for adequate preparation?
A. GUARDIAN
Karachi
THE Senate and the OCAC are contemplating a new strategy to adjust POL prices every day. This step would reduce the fortnightly intravenous dose into a daily shot.
In the US, which imports oil at the highest prices, pump rates are $1.50 per gallon which comes to Rs20 per litre. So it seems the government here is taxing upwards of 100 per cent.
The point to ponder is that will the pump owners incur loss when prices are redu-
ced? and, secondly, will the government reduce POL prices when crude rates drop? Or will they continue to give one lame excuse after another?
The government should reveal the table which shows how prices are calculated and what taxes are charged, so that the layman can calculate the expected charges.
Considering the economic impact of this vital fluid it is expected that future prices will be adjusted justifiably and, if possible, the back-breaking petroleum levy will be reduced to saner levels.
RAFI ADAMJEE
Karachi
I HAPPENED to pay a brief visit to the passport office in Lahore recently. I was horrified to see senior citizens, old and infirm ladies and gentlemen, standing in line for hours for their turn to get passports. Some of them were so tired that they had to step out.
In most civilized countries, special arrangements are made to handle senior citizens’ day-to-day affairs in a respectful manner.
I request the President and the Prime Minister to order immediate steps to correct the unpleasant situation.
SHAISTA KHAN YUSUFZAI
Lahore Cantt
ON the Australian and Indian tours the Pakistan batting was under pressure due to the absence of a reliable opening batsman. One after another, Yasser Hameed, Mohammad Hafeez, Kamran Akmal and others have been tried but without success.
Bazid Khan, son of the legendary Majid Khan, has been performing really well and consistently in domestic tournaments, as well as on the present tour of Pakistan A to Sri Lanka. He scored centuries in both the first and second Tests, matches which saved Pakistan A from certain defeat.
It is time Bazid Khan was given a chance and included in the team for the forthcoming tour of the West Indies.
KHAWAJA FARIDUDDIN
Karachi
IN his column entitled ‘Learning From China’ (Dawn April 2) Mr Kuldip Nayar has pleaded for following the Chinese example of freezing border disputes with India and promoting mutual trade and commerce. He proposes that Pakistan and India “should freeze their territorial disputes as China has done, till they have built enough confidence in each other to take up even the most intractable problem like Kashmir”.
Mr Nayar is forgetting that the dispute between India and Pakistan over Kashmir is not a border dispute but concerns some five million Kashmiris. Similarly, the Indus river and its tributaries, the lifeline of Pakistan, flow to Pakistan from Kashmir and there can be no real friendship between India and Pakistan without the resolution of the Kashmir dispute and removing the noose from Pakistan’s neck which India is tightening by trying to control the rivers.
LATIF QURESHI
Lahore
IT is now more than nine months since government employees were granted an eight to 16 per cent increase in their pension. But the retired employees of the National Bank of Pakistan are still waiting for the disbursement of their monthly pension at the increased rates.
The employees of the State Bank of Pakistan were already been allowed an increase in their pension long ago. Undue delay in the matter is causing bitterness among NBP’s rank and file. I urge the authorities to direct the NBP president to ensure payment of retired employees’ dues in accordance with the pension increase.
SH AMJAD HASSAN
Lahore
I WANT to draw the attention of the authorities and of parents towards a problem that I noticed in my area recently. A chain of different schools function beside the main road from Gulberg to Qalandria Chowk, Karachi. At closing time, hundreds of children swarm on main road.
There is no service road, no provision for parking school vans. These vans are parked on the main road which is blocked due to the heavy rush and the parking. To add to this, a number of buses and water tankers also use this road and all this means that the children are exposed to traffic hazards.
The authorities need to force the school authorities to ensure that some arrangement is made for parking beside the school or some system is used whereby the school vans do not clog the main road.
BEENISH ZAFAR
Karachi
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