| May 27, 2005 | Friday | Rabi-us-Sani 18, 1426 |
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Baglihar Dam
Bhurban declaration
‘A rare education programme’
Balochistan problem
Turkey’s EC membership
Division of captaincy
Distribution of exam papers
Assaults on women
Taj Mahal
Water scarcity
THE idea of criminology was seeded by academicians and police professionals initially in the form of a master’s programme in public universities, mainly the University of Sindh and the University of Karachi. These universities have produced several batches of postgraduates in criminology, exceeding 200 in number. Criminology is the youngest discipline in the social sciences (master’s degree), combining core courses such as fundamentals of criminology, criminal justice system, Islamic perspective of crime, research methodology, juvenile delinquency and female criminality, criminal psychology, terrorism and violence, penology civil rights and liberties, criminal investigation methods, and policing and research dissertation.
Postgraduates in criminology have been completely forgotten in the past while advertising for jobs. The departments/organizations creating vacancies do not mention criminology as a preferred qualification even while announcing jobs in law-enforcement, investigation and similar areas. Sociologists, psychologists and law graduates unjustifiably fill vacancies in Pakistan which genuinely belong to criminologists. Recently, the Punjab Public Service Commission advertised the post of a criminologist as trainer for the Sihala Police Training College in which a master’s degree in sociology rather than criminology was required. Besides, the Sindh Public Service Commission advertised posts of probation and parole officers in lower grades without specifying criminology as the required qualification.
When the rights of criminologists who are dedicated in pursuing their careers and have self-financed their education are usurped, the pain they feel is exactly like that of professional doctors who are neglected where quacks are preferred by society. It is the government that ultimately is tasked with determining the course for criminologists as professionals in crime-prevention
How much is it professionally justified to recruit an assistant superintendent of police through the Federal Public Service Commission without the candidate having any relevant qualification, but belonging usually to professions like medical science, engineering, arts, etc.? The same goes for police investigators serving at higher cadres in criminal investigation. The security sector, public as well as private, must adjust criminologists and utilize their expertise.
Let the government and other organizations know the potential and worth of criminologists as positive stakeholders in making peace and restoring order in society.
N. B. NAREJO
Lecturer, Department of Criminology, University of Sindh,
Hyderabad
IN an interview with me, “Baglihar Dam — Pakistan’s concerns carry weight, says Indian expert” by Sabihuddin Ghausi (Dawn, May 21), I am reported as saying that the neutral expert was expected to give weight to objections raised by Pakistan and ask India to make changes in the design. Let me state categorically that I expressed no opinions about the merits of the dispute. I merely explained the position under the treaty and indicated where the difference over Baglihar has reached. I referred to the Indian and Pakistani positions without comment. What I said was the following:
The Indus Treaty allocates the western rivers to Pakistan but does allow some limited uses by India, including run-of-the-river hydro-electric projects. The conditions and parameters governing that use are specified in the annexures to the treaty. Differences tend to arise between India and Pakistan over those technical details. That is what has happened in the Baglihar case. Pakistan says that the Indian proposal does not conform to the conditions and parameters laid down in the treaty, whereas India says that it is in full conformity. A neutral expert has been nominated by the World Bank and accepted by the two countries. He will go into the differences and give findings on the points referred to him, which will be binding on both parties. His findings could be in favour of the Indian position or the Pakistani position or somewhere in between, or he could fail to give a finding and say that this is a “dispute” within the meaning of the treaty. The matter may then have to go to a court of arbitration. All this is action under the treaty. The treaty continues to work.
That was what I had said in my speech at the parliamentary forum held by Safma at Bhurban and I said exactly the same thing in the interview.
A comparison of the above with the report in Dawn will show how wide of the mark the report is.
RAMASWAMY R. IYER
New Delhi, India
— Sabihuddin Ghausi writes: In his interview given to me in Bhurban, Mr Ramaswamy R. Iyer did explain the three possible positions that could be taken by the neutral expert appointed by the World Bank to arbitrate on the construction of the Baglihar Dam. His focus was on the third possibility in case the expert rejected both the Pakistani and Indian positions on the issue. This was “somewhere in between’’ in which Pakistan’s concern on Baglihar could be addressed to and given consideration by India by changing the design of the dam. Mr Iyer went on to elaborate that Sindh’s concerns on the construction of the Kalabagh Dam were by and large the same as those of Pakistan on Baglihar.
THIS refers to the declaration of the five-day Bhurban meeting of South Asian parliamentarians (Dawn, May 19 and 21). Two participants, Professor S. D. Muni of the Jawaharlal Nehru (JNU) University, New Delhi, and Mr Iqbal Hyder, secretary-general of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, put forward proposals for establishing a South Asian parliament and the adoption of a South Asia human rights code. Both proposals were adopted.
Sometimes, the problems between states and their subjects cannot be resolved within state boundaries. There are regional and global mechanisms for resolving them. The European Union had long ago adopted a European Code of Human Rights.
There is a European Court of Justice, and, of course, a strong European Parliament, where violations of human rights by national governments are also discussed and remedies proposed to help the aggrieved parties.
There is a need for such mechanisms in South Asia, where governments, including Pakistan’s, despite utterances about “enlightened moderation”, frequently violate human rights.
Here the police mishandle human rights activists in Lahore. In Badin, representatives of fishermen, while staging a peaceful demonstration for their livelihood, are arrested.
On flimsy charges, preparations are under way by the Sindh University administration for sacking four teachers for writing an open letter in which they expressed their views about the declining standards of Sindh University.
If there is a common South Asian human rights code, and if there are regional institutions like a South Asian parliament and a South Asian court of justice, then the regional states and semi- governmental organizations will be restrained from violating human rights.
DR MEHTAB ALI SHAH
Sindh University, Jamshoro
PROF Anwar Syed’s nostalgic rendition of the Fulbright programme, “A rare education programme” (Dawn, May 22), was an excellent depiction of its purpose, achievements and its moving spirit — Senator J. William Fulbright.
Though comprehensive in many respects, the article fails to mention his legendary performance as chairman of the foreign relations committee of the US senate where he vociferously opposed American involvement in the Vietnam War and also asked the US administration to adopt an even-handed Arab-Israel policy.
The American Zionist lobby ganged up against him and he was defeated in the subsequent senate elections by one of his students. He was a man of resolute conviction who never bartered principles over expediency — a rare breed in politics. As a beneficiary if his programme (1965-68) I am joined by several in their undying gratitude to him for his vital contribution to higher learning at a global scale.
We got an opportunity and success on pure merit — a rare phenomenon in our own land of “sifarish” and nepotism
ABU SAEED A. ISLAHI
Lahore
NAWAB Akbar Bugti and other nationalists in Balochistan object to the development of Gwadar port and other such projects because they say this will bring in “outsiders” to Balochistan, thereby making the Baloch a minority.
Being in a federation means that people of the federation are allowed to live anywhere they choose to. If there are no qualified Baloch left, then people from other parts of Pakistan should be given jobs in the Gwadar area.
One cannot stop people from moving to Gwadar even if there are a large numbers of jobs available and very few qualified people. Pakistan is one country and the people are supposed to move about freely.
Also, Nawab Bugti and other Baloch nationalists say that they own the natural resources of Balochistan, and Pakistan has no right over them. If that is the case, then Balochistan should get no water from the Indus and the other five rivers, and should not get any food items produced outside that province.
FAWWAD SHAFI
Lahore
IT seems very surprising that while Bulgaria and Romania are being offered membership of the European Union as early as 2007, Turkey has been asked to wait for another 15 years for entry into the EU. This is unfortunate to say the least.
Turkey, as we all know, played a significant role against communism as a major ally of America and European countries in Nato. Much earlier during World War II it was Turkey which did not give passage to the marching German army. For more than one month Turkish soldiers remained stationed at the border facing German soldiers and some Turkish border cities had to endure blackouts.
This non-cooperation and resistance on the part of Turkey forced the Germans to launch an almost suicidal offensive against Russia. This adventurism led to Hitler’s fall, though 25 million Russian soldiers had to sacrifice their lives for this.
Whatever Turkey did during World War II, its European allies got the benefit because it gave them time to prepare themselves for future offensives. Despite this, today all sorts of conditions are being thrust on Turkey to delay its entry into the European Union. Only because it is a non-Christian state.
Bulgaria and Romania are comparatively very small while Turkey occupies a dominating position on the Black Sea. When the war against communism was at its peak, Turkey was forced to act as a frontline state in the interests of the European countries.
Turkey is now being penalized just because it is a Muslim country. Leaders of the European Union apparently fear that 70 million Turks will dominate the European Union and will be an economic burden.
Turkey has several times given assurances that it is a self-sufficient and economically fast-growing country and will not be a burden on the European Union. The situation in the western world demands that we should present Islam as a progressive religion.
We should also try to make Pakistan a modern and enlightened country. This will also make things easier for our Muslim brothers in Turkey. I am sure Turkey’s entry into the EU will bring an era of religious unity. We all want to see this happening in our lifetime.
It may be relevant to mention Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayeb Erdogan’s speech which he delivered recently at the European Council summit held in Warsa. He said: “The time has come to uproot the ‘Hate Islam Campaign’. We have been misled by racial discrimination and enmity of foreigners and now Islam has also been dragged into it.
“Unfortunately, this anti-Muslim phobia is engulfing the whole world and a time has come to eliminate it. We all are disturbed over such incidents. Muslim hatred is spreading and Islam is being linked with terrorism, although Islam is a religion of love and peace. Especially after 9/11, the gulf between various religions and cultures has widened and there are organized moves to spread it, which needed to be checked.”
K. MURAD BEY
Karachi
AFTER the successful Indian tour by the Pakistani cricket team, the burning issue of captaincy is finally settled as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PBC) has appointed Inzamam as captain till the Asia Cup 2006.
Inzamam’s captaincy in Australia came under fire due to his calm and quiet role on the field. But in India, he proved to be a different man, silencing all his critics as he demonstrated great maturity and skills as a captain.
Captaincy is a highly demanding job, and it requires instant decision-making on and off the field. Test cricket is especially nerve-testing as teams have become unused to it because of the excess of one-day cricket. My suggestion is that the PCB should consider a division of captaincy, i.e., Inzamam should be captain of the one-day side till the World Cup 2007 as one-day cricket is less demanding. Younis Khan can be employed to lead the team in Test cricket. During the recently-concluded Indian tour, he showed remarkable skills in the field while captaining for short intervals in the absence of Inzamam. He is capable of taking the whole team along and knows the art of knitting the team into a winning unit. He could be tried as captain for the two upcoming home series against England and India.
This will help Inzamam to play Test cricket with more freedom, and also enable him to improve his records in the game. It will also provide him the opportunity to concentrate more as captain in one-day cricket. The whole nation is looking forward to the team lifting the World Cup 2007 under his leadership.
ASIF RIAZ
Islamabad
THIS is to bring to the notice of the authorities concerned that Bahria College on Tamizuddin Khan Road, Karachi, is one of the centres for ongoing intermediate science examinations, but regrettably it is not able to manage it efficiently.
On the second day of the examination, students’ seats were abruptly shuffled and changed. On the first day, they had gone to the centre early to locate their seats. On the second day, they went only a few minutes before the start of the examination, knowing where they had to sit. But they found the situation changed. They lost time searching for their new places. Some of them approached the principal. He was himself unaware of the change, and made arrangements for those who could not locate their places. In this whole process, precious time was lost. The affected students were not compensated with extra time.
On the third day, several students got their papers late. Time was again lost. Will the chairman of the Board of Intermediate Education take note of these lapses?
AFFECTED STUDENT
Karachi
ONE sickens to learn of the unending tragedy of physical abuse that is inflicted on the womenfolk of our nation. Even as one sorry tale begins to fade, another one makes headlines. The latest gang-rape allegedly, if you please, by the guardians of law and order, has taken place in the heart of Islamabad at a police precinct. Once again the president has earned political mileage by showing concern and sounding personally aggrieved. Forgive me for being cynical, but chances are that the crime will not be proved in any court and while the victims will be traumatized, humiliated and ruined, the perpetrators of this most horrendous of human crimes will walk free.
The problem is due squarely to clinging to religiosity and to the double standards practised by our government. Hudood laws were enacted to empower the religious fringe; this has been achieved with remarkable success and the results are before us. In the light of this, talking of enlightened moderation is pointless. For all practical purposes, we may as well legalize rape so that at least womenfolk can be forewarned what to expect if they step out of their homes — not that they are any safer within the confines of their “chaardewaris”.
JAVED KHAN
Haripur, Hazara
IT is gratifying that you have taken up the unfortunate episode of the Taj Mahal editorially (May 20). It is astonishing that even in this age when moderation and tolerance are required, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) cannot come out of its religious bigotry. They are losing no opportunity to rake up groundless issues that can spark communal troubles.
The editorial has rightly asserted “that the Taj Mahal is not a mosque, but a white domed mausoleum built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan” to immortalize his love for his departed Empress Taj Mahal. Why should a temple have been pulled down to make room for this mausoleum? It is only the thinking of VHP leadership that has to be changed. Tomorrow they can come up with claims that the site where the Lal Qila and Jama Masjid are located in New Delhi were also sites of temples.
India should be proud of owning the Taj. It is India’s most famous tourist spot, earning millions of rupees for the country.
It is the duty of the Indian government not only to safeguard the lives and interests of its minorities but also to protect their cultural heritage. Unesco should step in to pressure Indian politicians and government agencies to protect the world famous monument from being unwittingly damaged or desecrated in any manner.
In Egypt, they are still taking care of the pyramids that fetch millions in foreign exchange.
SHAFIQUE AHMED
Karachi
I READ with interest the letter written by one “Affected” (May 18). Karachi’s Clifton Block 7 is not the only block with a water problem. We reside in Clifton Block 4. Previously we used to get water on Mondays and Fridays for about 20 minutes but for the last several weeks this too has been stopped. Our only source of supply consists of the Rangers’ water tankers, but if that service too is taken over by the KWSB, where would we get our supply from? Water from other tankers is not fit for consumption. Can anyone explain why we should pay water taxes?
SHIRIN TAHIR
Karachi
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