| June 9, 2005 | Thursday | Jumadi-ul-Awwal 1, 1426 |
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Consumer rights & protection
Advani’s resignation
Karachi violence
Catching the ‘fleeting moment’
Talks on Siachen
Power failure
Hyderabad park
Madressah reforms
Mixed marathon
Announcement of strike
The other day, I was at one of the banks located on I. I. Chundrigar Road to cash a cheque. The teller informed me that as there was no electricity, the system was down. I returned with my cheque uncashed.
FOR many euro-protagonists, the French and Dutch voters’ “no” regarding the future European Constitution would have dealt a great blow to their hopes for a common European legal structure. It is a unique development in the 58-year history of the European Union (since the treaty of Rome signed by the six founding members in 1957) that two of its prime members (France and the Netherlands) have so clearly distanced themselves from the “dictates and ideals” of the European Union policy.
Currently, 11 states have decided to hold a referendum on the EU Constitution. The question is still undecided in eight member states, while in five countries it seems to be unlikely that a referendum will be held. The parliaments of Lithuania and Latvia have recently ratified the constitution. Denmark, Ireland and Luxembourg have yet to hold a vote.
Furthermore, a number of member states had constitutions that required referendums if the European constitution were to be adopted. In fact, resentment against the European Union had been building up for some time: the pay and other emoluments of politicians and officials were blatant examples of rent-seeking. There were serious allegations that these common political practices had slipped into corruption and crime. Harmonization was not used to overcome the holdout tactics of some member states (its original rationale), but to impose uniform standards across the whole of the union. Poland, in its opposition to the constitution, in effect spoke for all the former communist countries whose only possibility of catching up with the richer European countries was to offer much less restrictive regulations. Some countries, especially Germany, were anxious not to give a competitive advantage to the new states. The seemingly German focus is on an eastward expansion of German commercial, political and strategic interests.
The present developments are ominous for the future unity of the European Union (the club of 25 European states). To many Europeans, the need for a united European constitution is justified yet they see the present constitution as a “tapestry of Anglo-American interests”. The Euro-sceptic Britain has already postponed the scheduled referendum in the aftermath of the French and Dutch “noes”. The European leaders should realize that many just don’t share their elitist ambitions. However, the rejection of the constitution should give pace to the concept of a “multi-speed” Europe centred on “core European values”, but where member states can join or refrain according to their respective interests.
In fact, the solution to Europe’s problems was right in front of the constitution-makers’ eyes — Switzerland. It is the only genuine federal country in the world with considerable powers retained by its component units — the cantons. The Swiss have resisted every move toward closer involvement with Europe, despite the blandishments of their federal politicians who are no doubt motivated by the rents they will capture if the country were to join the European Union. It is remarkable, but not surprising, that the Swiss experience had absolutely no influence on the European constitution-makers. The Swiss system for closing the democratic deficit will not at all be welcome to the Euro-fanatics; it is not the sort of popular control that they have in mind.
S. Q. AFZAL RIZVI
Karachi
WE welcome the recent announcement by Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan that the government is establishing a consumer rights committee (CRC) to protect the rights and interests of consumers.
The governor has promised consumers that the CRC will be formed on the pattern of the Citizen-Police Liaison Committee (CPLC) and will be fully activated soon and would take effective measures to check prices, adulteration and various consumer-related issues.
At the same time, Sindh Ombudsman Yousuf Jamal Khan has announced that consumer courts will be established under the Consumer Protection Authority (CPA), which would include elected representatives and eminent citizens. The CPA would curb institutional and departmental malpractices and protect consumer rights in Sindh.
Proposals were submitted to the governor and the ombudsman at various seminars on consumer rights and protection, together with the need for a consumer’s ombudsman, three years ago.
However, so far no effective consumer protection body has been established. And in the absence of a consumer protection law, consumers are being poisoned by substandard, adulterated and counterfeit products and blatantly cheated by glossy, misleading advertisements.
However, both the CRC and the CPA will only be effective if they are not politicized and are managed independently by citizens and not government officials, otherwise both will be misused and become another tool for the administration to harass the business community, at the cost of consumers.
In the meantime, the attention of the governor is drawn towards the Consumer Protection Ordinance, Sindh, which he had signed on August 12, 2004, but has lapsed as it has still not been presented to the Sindh Assembly for legislation.
Unfortunately, some political parties have raised objections relating to the ordinance and it has become a political tool, as each party is unwilling to endorse the bill presumably because each of them wants to take the credit for the ordinance. In the meantime, the consumers continue to suffer.
We sincerely hope that the CRC and the CPA will not meet the same fate and will come into effect as soon as possible and ensure that consumer rights and consumer protection bodies are established in Sindh without further delay.
CONSUMER PROTECTION COUNCIL (HELPLINE TRUST)
Karachi
INDIA’S opposition leader L. K. Advani, visited the Quaid’s mausoleum and recalled that Mr Mohammad Ali Jinnah, had declared on Aug 11, 1947 in the Constituent Assembly that Pakistan would be a secular state.
But our mullah-maulvi-dominated nation, as our good old Ardeshir Cowasjee calls it, declared a verbal jihad against secularism, considering it un-Islamic. Had it been un-Islamic, the Quaid would not have opted for this system. He had fought for a separate country for Muslims, an Islamic country, remember? Secularism has nothing to do with one’s social or religious beliefs.
You have to understand the meaning of secularism. It is a belief that matters of state or country pertaining to the present world should be independent of religion which is an individual’s personal affair. The state or country is of the present world, and not the world hereafter, which falls in the domain of religion.
You must demarcate the boundaries of state affairs and religious beliefs. I agree that thousands of years ago the world was not so complex; therefore, the Muslim rulers, considered by their subjects to be divine personages, ruled with a mixture of religion and politics. Now the world is different, we have to devise new systems of governance. The need to separate religion from state affairs cannot be overemphasized. This needs to be pondered over with enlightened moderation and not to be ignorantly negated.
The Quaid lived for only one year and a few days after the creation of Pakistan. During this period, as governor-general, he ran state affairs according to democratic and secular values.
S.M. KAZIM NAQVI
Karachi
MR Lal Kishan Advani’s resignation from his position as the BJP chief following strong opposition from the Hindus, especially those in his party and its allies, on his soft remarks on the Quaid-i-Azam simply demonstrates that: 1. Many Hindus continue to hate Pakistan and its founder with the same intensity even after 58 years despite the so-called current atmosphere of peace by self-styled moderates. 2. Unlike Pakistani leaders, Indian leaders respect the sentiments of their people. 3. Indian leaders refuse to be dictated by other countries which our leaders try to please continuously by handing over Muslims and opening our land to foreign military and intelligence agencies. 4. Hindu religious sentiments in India are much stronger than Islamic sentiments in Pakistan where many people, especially those in power, feel shy of calling themselves practising Muslims. This is because we have betrayed the cause for which Pakistan was founded. 5. Despite thousands of people slaughtered in India on religious grounds, it has marketed itself as a secular country whereas Pakistan having a better record of communal harmony is branded a fundamentalist and even terrorist state. This is because of a lack of proper presentation of facts by our media, leaders and the diplomats.
It is time that we realized the ground reality and stopped living in the unnatural style dictated by the US and our western godfathers whose prime motive is to promote their vested interest at the cost of Pakistan, its rich values and its people.
ZAHID HUSSAIN AWAN
Doha, Qatar
IN her letter (June 5) Sadaf Siddiqui and many of your readers have condemned the sectarian violence and brutal murders in Karachi and elsewhere. While it is heartening that most people oppose violence, I am very much worried that these people are missing the fundamental issues involved. Sadaf Siddiqui asks: who are we to judge whether the other person is a kafir or “momin”? In other words, we should tell the other person: “We spare your life because we are not sure about your being a kafir.” As if we were sure, the murder would have been justified.
It is true that one cannot judge whether a person is a kafir or a momin but the other person’s faith is quite irrelevant. Even if it is proven that someone is a kafir, nobody has the right to take his or her life. Even if someone deserves death, he or she should to be tried in a court of law after being provided with full rights and facilities for defence. And even if a court awards the death sentence to someone, they have a right to appeal in higher courts.
It is, therefore, extremely worrying that our society has forgotten that justice can only be dispensed in a just and fair manner with proper procedures. Every person is trying to become the accuser, prosecutor, judge and executioner at the same time while claiming that all this is being done in the name of religion. In other societies, the death sentence is the maximum penalty but we consider it as the “minimum” penalty for the crime of having a different opinion.
The silent majority is content with putting the blame on “external” enemies. Organizations like Lashkar-i-Jhangvi and Jaish-i- Mohammad are spreading the creed of hatred. With friends like these, who needs enemies? Our jihad should be fought against hatred — that is our enemy within.
KHALID AHMAD
London, UK
YOUR editorial “Catching the ‘fleeting moment’” (May 22) is a timely warning. To assess your optimism about confidence-building, we have to look a century and a half back.
After the first Sikh war (1845-1846) the East India Company was faced with the problem of collecting a large indemnity placed on the Sikhs for the cost of the war. At the recommendation of Henry Lawrence, a solution was reached to sell the Afghan province of Kashmir, with its largely Muslim population, to a Hindu.
The much-coveted vale of Kashmir was ruled by governor Shaikh Imamuddin and the neighbouring Jammu by the Hindu ruler Gulab Singh under the tutelage of the Sikh Darbar at Lahore. He now offered to pay two-thirds of the Sikh war indemnity in return for the title deeds to Kashmir, an offer that was quickly accepted.
In July 1846 John Nicholson escorted Gulab Singh to Srinagar to claim his new kingdom. There was resistance and Maharaja Gulab Singh’s Dogra troops staged a fast and undignified retreat over a mountain pass back to Jammu, barely escaping capture, along with Nicholson. A force of 10,000 men of Khalsa Dal was sent from Lahore to remove Sheikh Imamuddin. The Kashmiri people suffered their first defeat and one hundred years of cruelty and sufferings.
Maharaja Gulab Singh, according to William Hodson, “is a bad king, a miser and a liar, detested by the people. His fondness for flaying men alive, cutting off their noses and ears and hands, etc., savours rather of the inexcusable. He was accused of having flayed 12,000 men which he indignantly asserted was a monstrous calumny, as he only skinned three hundred”.
After 100 years, when the British departed, people hoped for an end to tyranny, but the Dogra ruler asked for help. This time the Indian army came from the south to perpetuate a rule worse than that of the Dogra maharajas. More than 600,000 Indian troops are involved in suppressing insurgency with daily killings.
An enlightened western-educated founding father of India promised Kashmiris self-determination on Jan 2, 1952 while replying to Dr Mookerji’s (Hindu Mahasaba) question in the Indian legislature as to what the Congress government was going to do about one-third of the territory still held by Pakistan.
Pandit Nehru said: “Kashmir is not the property of either India or Pakistan. It belongs to the Kashmiri people. When Kashmir acceded to India, we made it clear to the leaders of Kashmiri people that we would ultimately abide by the verdict of their plebiscite. If they tell us to walk out, I would have no hesitation in quitting. We have taken the issue to the United Nations and given our word of honour for a peaceful solution. As a great nation we cannot go back on it. We have left the question for the final solution to the people of Kashmir and we are determined to abide by their decision”.
More than 70,000 Kashmiris have been killed, women raped, holy shrines burnt and for resistance people are arrested and “disappeared”. Instead of peace and promised self-determination, a Berlin wall called LoC, dividing the Kashmiri people, has been erected and guarded by the Indian army.
Dr Manmohan Singh will be a great man of history if he can catch the fleeting moment.
DR A HAYE SAEED
Karachi
IN your editorial, “Sense on Siachen”, about the failed talks, you have rightly regretted the “extreme... stubbornness (that) has triumphed over good sense on Siachen” (May 29).
Actually, the outcome could have been foreseen from the body language of the two defence secretaries visible in the front-page photograph appearing in Dawn on May
27.
Lt-Gen (retd) Tariq Wasim Ghazi stood there smiling at the guest, with both arms extended and a tinge of uncertainty on his face. Mr Ajay Vikram Singh of India was unsmiling, rigid and business-like and gesturing ahead with a stiff hand. He was not even looking at his host. All of this went against common courtesy and diplomatic norms.
This showed the Indian official was not going to concede anything and he didn’t. Unfortunately, the hospitality and good-heartedness of the Pakistanis, as exemplified by Gen Ghazi, mean nothing to those who occupy territories, believe in realpolitik and, when pressed, hold endless talks to pass time in order to consolidate their gains.
S. QADRI
Karachi
The need for electricity in our daily lives is of the utmost importance. The real misery is that when you need it most in summer, you do not have it.
A number of letters have recently been published on this subject, but does anybody care?
SAFDAR ABBAS
Karachi
ASKARI Park, Hyderabad, is a source of entertainment for families and residents of this city. It will be welcome in these summer days, when families like to stay outdoors longer, if the cantonment board makes proper lighting arrangement in the park, as well as provides for dustbins and washrooms.
A water fountain will be an added attraction. Strict security measures must be enforced at the entrance, especially for children. Moreover, a proper car parking lot should be made available.
QAZI NAZIM NAEEM
Hyderabad
IN the present budget more than a billion rupees have additionally been provided for madressah reforms. These funds should go for the betterment of students and the
environment.
It should be ensured that these madressahs become institutions of learning and not recruitment sources for the so-called religious parties and a hotbed of religious extremism.
The madressahs should totally be depoliticized. Most importantly, the funds should not go into the hands of the operators of these madressahs, and their accounts should be audited regularly by reputed audit firms.
TARIQ M. HAIDER
Dammam, Saudi Arabia
WITH reference to the row over men and women running together, and the arrests in Lahore recently, I recall the five-kilometre mini-marathons I participated in Karachi in 1983 and 1984 that were organized to raise funds in support of the Kidney Centre.
The races started early on Friday mornings at Karachi’s Playland and continued to Seaview and back. Women and men ran together, and the former dressed in shalwar kameez or shorts or track trousers according to their preferences.
Everyone wore signs on their shirts sponsored by major multinationals and Pakistani companies. No one noticed and no one made a noise. It was a healthy activity organized for a good cause.
Interesting that the much maligned General Ziaul Haq was president of Pakistan at the time. How things have changed.
AHMED ARIF
Paris, France
MULTICOLOUR posters from the Islami Jamiat-i-Talaba adore the walls of educational institutions these days, announcing countrywide protests and agitation against the Aga Khan University examination board.
I am a little puzzled over this as I distinctly remember seeing a television talk show some weeks ago featuring, among others, Education Minister Gen Qazi and Jamaat-i-Islami’s central leader Liaqat Baloch.
I remember Gen Qazi profusely thanking Mr Baloch and
his party for helping the
government get the Aga
Khan examination board legislation go through parliament, and Mr Baloch not disagreeing with it.
This poses a huge moral question: how can a party support a legislation in parliament and at the same time agitate against it outside?
A. H. NAYYAR
Islamabad
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