HEC affairs

THIS refers to two letters on the issue of Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy and others commenting on the HEC (August 2). I have a bitter experience of the HEC. A year ago I was awarded a PhD fellowship in economics but have got into multiple problems since. I had to pay nearly 30 visits and write more than 50 letters to the HEC regarding the indifferent attitude of their officials but in vain.

Even after a year I have yet to get my case cleared. One candidate was told after spending eight months in a university as a PhD student that he was short of a single number in his matriculation examination. The student had come from Sialkot having spent thousands of rupees to stay in Islamabad. Eight HEC fellows in the International Islamic University got letters after six months of their admission to the School of Economics from its DG that the school was no longer capable of letting them go forward to complete their PhD, and when they got admission to another university, the HEC is now asking the scholars to refund the funds which it paid to their previous university.

If the HEC cannot resolve a pending issue in one year, what more can one expect from them?

ZAFAR-UL-HASSAN
Islamabad

AMID all the specific and critical issues raised by Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy in his critiques of the HEC and Dr Sohail Naqvi’s replies, one should not fail to appreciate the larger issues at stake.

First, it is commendable that such criticism can be publicly voiced despite all that we hear about the stifling atmosphere of public sector universities. While Dr Hoodbhoy’s intellectual honesty is to be respected, I cannot believe that there isn’t some element of good in the otherwise mediocre public sector university governance that allows Dr Hoodbhoy to keep his job. Trust me when I say that even a modicum of what Dr Hoodbhoy writes would have little chance at any private university in Pakistan, even the so-called prestigious ones.

Second, it is sad to see the state a good, solid academic is reduced to when he stumbles into the murky corridors of power in Pakistan typically disguised as “administrative” positions. The situation becomes comic (for casual observers like me) and tragic (for the poor academic stuck in such positions) when an outstanding academic like Dr Naqvi finds his misplaced intellect and training a prime candidate for abuse. Sadly, most such individuals, perhaps enamoured by the trappings of power, fail to notice the irrecoverable loss of reputation.

Finally, one hopes that Dr Hoodbhoy recognizes that despite his often unnecessary swipes at anything remotely religious, he acts in the finest traditions of Islam when he champions the causes that he does.

WASIF M. KHAN
Lahore

Nuclear CBMs

THIS refers to the news item, “Accord on nuke hotline, missile tests with India” (Dawn, August 7). As a result of the Indo-Pakistan talks on nuclear confidence-building measures (CBMs) held in New Delhi, two important decisions were made. First, setting up of a nuclear hotline between their foreign secretaries in September and, second, pre-notification of flight-testing of ballistic missiles.

Held under the framework of the composite dialogue, talks on nuclear CBMs are meant to strengthen mutual trust and confidence between India and Pakistan on the issue of ensuring maximum safety of their nuclear weapons. Since May 1998, when India and Pakistan tested their nuclear devices, the world has been disturbed over the threat of the eruption of an accidental nuclear war or the causing of nuclear accidents. The Lahore Declaration of February 1999, issued as a result of the then Indian prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s visit to Pakistan, also talked about minimizing the risks of accidental or unauthorized use of nuclear weapons. Since then, New Delhi and Islamabad have made significant progress in reassuring the world about the “responsible” nature of their nuclear arsenal and behaving as responsible nuclear countries.

An accord on establishing a nuclear hotline between the foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan and giving pre-notification of flight-testing of ballistic missile has been reached at a time when the Indo-US nuclear deal has caused a negative reaction in Islamabad and periodic missile tests by India and Pakistan underline the menace of nuclear arms race. As long as India and Pakistan are unable to reach an agreement on establishing a nuclear restraint regime for South Asia and they fail to control the nuclear and missile race, the question of giving permanent stability to Islamabad-New Delhi nuclear relations may not arise. It is true that the P-5 countries have accepted the nuclear status of India and Pakistan (minus giving them de jure recognition), but the need is to compel the two South Asian nuclear rivals to take more steps in order to further reduce the threat of an accidental or planned nuclear exchange against each other.

Both sides have expressed some maturity in dealing with their nuclear weapons programmes by signing an agreement not to attack each other’s nuclear installations, but what is required is further building of mutual trust and confidence in order to reduce, if not eliminate, the use of their nuclear arsenals against each other.

PROF (DR) MOONIS AHMAR
Karachi

Kalabagh Dam

THIS is in continuation of the ongoing debate resulting from Mr B. A. Malik’s letter (July 14) regarding availability of 38maf of surplus water (flood water) going waste into the Arabian Sea.

At this moment the following projects of Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan are in progress under Wapda’s “Vision 2025” programme:

1. Greater Thal Canal (capacity 8,500 cusecs) at a cost of Rs30 billion to provide irrigation water to 1.53 million acres of land in the districts of Bhakkar, Leiah, Khushab and Jhang of Punjab.

2. Rainee Canal (5,150 cusecs) costing Rs18.5 billion to irrigate 400,000 acres of lands of Ghotki, Sukkur, and Khairpur districts of Sindh.

3. Sehwan Barrage with three left-bank feeders (15,000 cusecs) and three right-bank feeders (30,000 cusecs) which would cost around Rs50 billion to provide irrigation water to 2.4 million acres of lower Indus region of Sindh.

4. Kachhi Canal (6,000 cusecs) costing Rs32.5 billion to irrigate 700,000 acres of land in districts of Dera Murad Jamali, Naseerabad, Bolan and Dera Bugti of Balochistan.

All these projects are based on flood water apportioned between the provinces under the Water Accord of 1991. These canals will become perennial after construction of the dam, as and when it may be. If there is nominal outflow, as claimed by some of the writers, where would these 65,000 cusecs of water come from to feed these canals? It appears that the figure of 38maf quoted by Mr. B. A. Malik is not wide off the mark.

Conspicuous by its absence is a similar project for the NWFP to enable it to utilize its flood share to irrigate about 500,000 acres of land of D. I. Khan district, which would also become perennial after construction of the dam.

A decision on the bigger issue, whether to construct the dam or not, rests with the political authority and would be based on the overall view including the report of the technical committee.

FAQIR AHMED PARACHA
Peshawar

Law courses

THE announcement by Punjab Governor Khalid Maqbool (who is also the chancellor of universities in the province) that law will now be taught under a five-year semester system is commendable. The upgrading of the law course from two years to three years and finally five years, bringing it at a par with engineering and medicine, will certainly inculcate more professionalism among students. Previously, owing to its short duration, students and teachers had to miss or skip many important subjects.

Another good decision is to allow a student to pursue his LLB honour’s degree after doing his intermediate and doing away with the arduous admission process through an entry test, etc. Reduction of seats, though criticized by some quarters, is also a positive step forward.

But there are still some shortcomings that leave a lot to be said, the most crucial being the “dual system” under which the three-year course will run parallel with the new five-year one. The older system should be withdrawn immediately as graduates from both systems will have different skills, with students attending the five-year course having an edge over those from the previous one.

Again, much more needs to be done with the curriculum as the current one just covers theoretical aspects of the subject but misses out on the practical side that a student needs to be a practising lawyer or judge.

TAHIR MEHMOOD MALIK
Multan

Chaudhry Rehmat Ali

THIS is with reference to Mr Aamir Aqil’s letter (August 4) on Chaudhry Rehmat Ali. A similar letter was written by Mr Kanwar Idrees (August 24, 2004), immediately after the decision of former prime minister Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain to bring the remains of Chaudhry Rehmat Ali to Pakistan.

Capt Abdus Salam Khan’s letter from the USA was published on August 28, 2004, followed by that of Mr Qutbuddin Aziz on December 4, 2004, as rejoinders to Mr Kanwar Idrees’s letter. My own letter was also published on December 5, 2004.

I would request Mr Aamir Aqil to read Mr K. K. Aziz’s books “Chaudhry Rehmat Ali” and “The History of Idea of Pakistan” and the recent research papers of Mr Nisar Ahmed Kisana titled “Mutalba-i-Pakistan and Chaudhry Rehmat Ali”. Mr Kisana’s book has been approved for educational institution libraries. A book by Muhammad Sharifuddin Baqa of London on Chaudhry Rehmat Ali is also worth reading. A detailed chapter on Chaudhry Rehmat Ali’s services has been written by Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada in his book “Evolution of Pakistan”.

The Daily Telegraph of September 9, 1935, the Irish Independent dated October 26, 1935, journalist Khalida Adeeb Khanam’s book “Inside India”, the German newspaper Walkishier Beobatcher dated December 2, 1937 and Nawab Sir Muhammad Yameen Khan’s book “Nama-i-Aamal” are also referred for reading.

It also pertinent to mention that on March 1, 1939, Dr Sir Ziaudddin hosted a lunch in the honour of the Quaid-i-Azam, Sir Zafarullah Khan and Sir Muhammad Yameen. Barrister Syed Muhammad Hussain of Allahabad unfolded the Pakistan scheme of Chaudhry Rehmat Ali, which was seriously criticized by Sir Zafarullah Khan while the Quaid said “Why should we not adopt this scheme?”

Dr Jehangir Khan, the father of the famous cricketer Majid Khan, writes that “the Quaid-i-Azam had already written 17 letters to Chaudhry Rehmat Ali. The Quaid-i-Azam sent a telegram to Chaudhry Rehmat Ali and invited him to attend the All India Muslim League’s historical session at Lahore to be held on the 21st, 22nd and 23rd March 1940 but chief minister Punjab Sikandar Hayat banned the entry of Chaudhry Rehmat Ali to Lahore.”

As regards criticism against the Father of the Nation by Chaudhry Rehmat Ali, no criticism can tarnish the image of the Quaid-i-Azam. It was only a disagreement because the word “Pakistan” was coined by Chaudhry Rehmat Ali after the famous speech of Allama Iqbal in 1930 at Allahabad.

If Chaudhry Rehmat Ali criticized the Quaid-i-Azam, it was only the Quaid who had the prerogative of rebutting the criticism but the Quaid was conscious of the fact that Kashmir under the conspiracy of the British and the Hindus was severed from Pakistan.

After the death of the Quaid-i-Azam, Chaudhry Rehmat Ali went to Lahore on April 6, 1948, and his arrival was not only reported by The Pakistan Times but the newspaper also paid him tributes in its issue of April 30, 1948. His interview was also published in the same newspaper on May 20, 1948. While in Lahore, he also sent an appeal to the UNO on Independence Day in 1948 to look after the minorities of India. Chaudhry Khaleequz Zaman met him in Lahore. Chaudhry Rehmat Ali complained that the CID was always hounding him and he was receiving threats from high-ups that he should leave Pakistan, otherwise he would be arrested under the Safety Act. Upon the death of the Quaid-i-Azam, Chaudhry Rehmat Ali’s condolence messages were published in the dailies Zamindar, The Pakistan Times, Kohistan, Imroze and “Ahsan”.

This is also to bring on record that Chaudhry Rehmat Ali never preferred to live and die in the United Kingdom. After World War II, six boxes of his books were dispatched to Pakistan and in the year 1950, according to Amjad Khan and Masood Khaddarposh, Chaudhry Rehmat Ali planned to settle in Lahore and he announced his intention to return in February 1951 but he died on February 3, 1951, and was temporarily buried in the UK.

India’s Udham Singh had a mission to kill General O’Dyer who was responsible for the massacre of Muslims at the Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar. He completed his mission by killing the general who was living in London after his retirement. The remains of Udham Singh were brought to India during Indira Gandhi’s regime.

Similarly, Jamaluddin Afghani was buried in Turkey but the Afghan government brought his remains to Afghanistan. Instead of quoting Wolpert, a foreigner, Mr Aamir Aqil is requested to read books written by Pakistani scholars. Chaudhry Rehmat Ali was educated in Lahore. He formed the “Shibli Society” in Lahore. He was appointed as a lecturer in Lahore. Allama Iqbal gifted one of his books with his autograph to Chaudhry Rehmat Ali. If his remains are brought back, heavens will not fall; it would be tantamount to recognizing his services.

AZAD BIN HAIDER
Karachi

‘Life after death’

APROPOS of Mr Ardeshir Cowasjee’s column “Life after death” (Dawn, August 8), one would like to say that the columnist should see the arbitrariness of the governments of some western countries and their Muslim client states behind the expulsion, deportation, or refusal of entry to some prominent figures.

That all of them are not political figures (Justice Javed Iqbal, Dr Ijaz Hussain, General Yusuf and Dr Israr Ahmad, to name a few) shows how rampant and ruthless ruling regimes can become. All of those who have been “humiliated” (so to say, and so say our media) are not politicos, or maulanas.

Yes, we need to do a lot to set our house in order. But this does not mean that all is well elsewhere — so much so that they should deem it fit to mete out any humiliation to us.

Religion is not the business of that progressive enlightened state, the UAE, Mr Cowasjee notes. Yes, but the prosperous state also does not indulge in other activities as well — like political participation. Yet, in an amazing twist, those who are sought in Pakistan’s courts take residence there. They are not only not deported, but accommodated. Perhaps, because they have “not lost touch with reality”. Shed light on these issues, Mr Cowasjee.

TAHIRA ZEBA
Islamabad

Government help sought

I WOULD like to draw the attention of the Sindh government that the unexpected flood this year has badly hit the following ‘dehs’ of Kandh Kot taluka, Kashmore district, falling in the kutcha track of the Indus between Gudu and Sukkur barrages: Khairwah, Ghouspur, Makhwani, Kumdahro, Dhandhi, Arain, Teghani, Bilhimi, Haibat, Keeti, Davi, Wahidpur, Buxpur, Fridabad, Gulabpur, Jafarabad, Darho, Jangin, Khambri and Khateri.

For about a decade or so the Indus was not in spate. So, the people living in these ‘dehs’ had installed tubewells for growing crops such as cotton, banana and sugarcane.

This year the flood has not only destroyed the livestock and tubewells but also the standing crops of cotton, banana and sugarcane. The affected people now look to the government for a flood relief package to bail them out.

MIR SUNDER KHAN SUNDRANI
Darri, Kandh Kot

Utility bills

THIS is in response to the letter by Mr Shah Nawaz Khan (August 8). At Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), we greatly value any suggestion that may come to us either directly, through our customer facilitation centres (CFCs) or drop boxes placed at 50 locations in Sindh and Balochistan, at our call centre or through the columns of reputable newspapers such as yours.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank your learned reader and inform him that his suggestions are already being followed at SSGC.

Our bills can be paid at designated bank branches, post offices, ATMs and through the Internet.

Payment can also be made by cheque at SSGC CFCs, call centre as well as regional/zonal offices.

Recently, we have signed an agreement with Nadra to allow our customers to pay their SSGC bills at Nadra POS terminals soon to be activated at various locations.

EJAZ WASAY
Head of Corporate Communications SSGC,
Karachi

Kashmir dispute

PRESIDENT Pervez Musharraf’s formula for a region-wise solution of the Kashmir dispute was based on a realistic appraisal of the geographical and historical situation of Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier, Sir Owen Dixon, UN representative on Kashmir, had envisaged region-wise plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir, underscoring the geographical and ethnic division of Kashmir.

It is well known that Jammu and Kashmir is a conglomerate of disparate regions, ethnically, religiously, geographically and historically.

The governments of Pakistan and India should seriously consider the formula offered by President Musharraf to break the persisting logjam.

The most feasible measure involving the least dislocation that suggests itself is to convert the de facto occupation of Ladakh and Gilgit-Baltistan by India and Pakistan, respectively, into a de jure status.

Let the people living in Ladakh and Gilgit-Baltistan feel like free citizens. The have been living under an uncertain constitutional dispensation for half a century for no fault of theirs.

SYED AFZAAL HUSAIN ZAIDI
Islamabad

Savings scheme

ONE fully agrees with the views of Col (retd) Tahir Mashhadi (August 8) regarding the national savings schemes. The recent increase in interest rates on the Behbood savings scheme has left out senior citizens and widows who invested all they had in the scheme just a year ago. Another nine years to go for us to avail this increase. One would like to ask the planners how many of us will be around by that time?

Take my case. I am a 66-year-old widow whose only income is from these savings. With no medical cover when we need it most or any other facility, senior citizens are left high and dry. The solution is to sanction an increase on investments in Behbood savings since the scheme’s inception a year ago.

MRS SHAMSA AFTAB ALI
Lahore