Jinnah and Nehru

I SEEK the reader’s indulgence for inviting attention to my letter ‘Jinnah before and after’ (Dawn, June 29). The letter had challenged Mr M. J. Akbar’s contention in his article “Jinnah before and after the 1920 Congress session” (Dawn, June 14) that the Cabinet Mission plan of 1946, that would have kept India united and which had been accepted by both the Congress and the Muslim League ‘collapsed inexplicably’.

In my letter I argued that the Congress had accepted the plan with disabling reservations and by putting a disingenuous interpretation of its own, in line with Mr Gandhi’s thinking. So, it was Gandhi and the Congress leadership who were squarely responsible for the collapse of the plan and that there could not be any two opinions on the subject.

My argument was based on documentary evidence produced by eminent Bombay jurist A. G.Noorani in one of his articles from which I quoted fairly extensively. I was hoping that Mr M. J. Akbar or some other Indian from amongst Dawn’s vast Internet readership would respond to what I had stated. But there has been no response at all. As I had referred to in my letter, Nehru told the Cabinet Mission categorically, on June 10, 1946 that the “Congress was going to work for a strong centre and break the grouping system and that they did not think Mr Jinnah had any real place in the country”. In this context, even more revealing information about Nehru’s attitude to Jinnah has come to my notice recently. Mr A. G. Noorani, in his article, ‘Punjab and Pakistan’, in Frontline of March 12-25, 2005 has quoted what Nehru wrote in his prison Diary on Dec 28, 1943: “Instinctively I think it is better to have Pakistan or almost anything if only to keep Jinnah far away”. On this, Noorani has commented: “His aversion to Jinnah was as visceral as was the Congress’s to power-sharing. When it wrecked the Cabinet Mission scheme finally in December 1946 (after the London conference convened by the British government), Jinnah had no option but to acquire a ‘truncated’ Pakistan established in rancour. No alternative was in sight nor was one even offered.”

DR AFTAB AHMED
Islamabad

Chaudhry Rehmat Ali

THE questions raised by Mr Aamir Aqil (August 4) regarding Chaudhry Rehmat Ali, his opinion of the Quaid-i-Azam and the creation of Pakistan are valid and well supported by relevant quotes. However, as author of “Now or never” which documented the word “Pakistan”, Chaudhry Rehmat Ali deserves a respectable mention in our history.

It is a fact the final partition plan was the best possible compromise as stated by the Quaid-i-Azam himself and it did adapt the word “Pakistan” for the first Muslim majority state of the subcontinent. It is about time that we started behaving as a nation which acknowledges that we have had a history full of various peoples with different opinions at different times.

Pakistan is a reality which was not possible without the Quaid-i-Azam, and it cannot be threatened by honouring Chaudhry Rehmat Ali for coining the word “Pakistan”. The remains of Chaudhry Rehmat Ali must be buried in the homeland so that history and future generations can find the author of the word “Pakistan” where it belongs.

What should be left to “impartial historians” as mentioned by Mr Aqil is to discuss and study the ideas of Chaudhry Rehmat Ali on the creation of a Muslim state in British India and weigh it against what eventually happened and why. This exercise will be more beneficial in measuring the true significance of what Mr Jinnah and his comrades did by creating Pakistan in 1947.

DR HUMAYUN BASHIR
Canterbury, UK

ANYBODY who witnessed the funeral of King Fahd could not have missed its austerity and Islamic simplicity. We do not worship graves.

There is no point in bringing the remains of Chaudhry Rehmat Ali from England to be reburied in Pakistan.

He was a man whose name will always be remembered and who deserves a more befitting memorial to commemorate his services.

Setting up a library or a museum of history in his memory will be the best way to remember his services.

FAQIR AHMAD PARACHA
Peshawar

‘A Pakistani manifesto’

THIS is a comment on Mr Ayaz Amir’s “A Pakistani manifesto” (July 29), and its subsequent affirmation by Ms Sadia Siddique Pechuho (August 4). The proposal for standardization of the education system through elimination of the Cambridge syllabi and examinations, in the hope of removing “social schisms” and engendering greater “national pride” among our youth, appears overly optimistic and ought to be afforded the benefit of what Ms Pechuho considers to be Mr Amir’s sarcasm and scepticism.

With the public education system staggering under the administrative load of a little over half of our student populace, the remainder being catered to by the private sector, one questions Mr Amir and Ms Pechuho’s faith in the capacity of our government to enforce reforms throughout the education system. Any attempt at regulating the entire system would, no doubt, afflict private schools with the same bureaucratic malaise which has prevented any improvements within the public sector. It would, furthermore, condemn both the lower and middle classes to mass illiteracy, and reinforce the social schism which is currently being bridged by these very private institutions providing internationally recognized and standardized education within the country to our middle classes who are financially constrained from sending their children abroad for education, allowing them a degree of parity with the foreign qualified upper classes.

And as regards Mr Amir’s counsel for eradicating cleavages of castes and creeds, he fails to recognize that such distinctions are not merely labels endorsed in official documents, which may be overwritten by national consciousness by a mere turn of policy. They represent the social networks to which the greater part of this country takes recourse when the benefits of an efficient public redistributive system are unavailable. Removing such identification from documentation is closing one’s eyes to their root cause, i.e., failure of the state in providing safety networks beyond those afforded by kinship and caste relations.

Rather than seeking to reform the manifestations, we need to address the underlying cause: the inefficiencies of the public administration in guaranteeing an acceptable standard of education and standard of living. Meanwhile, it would be advisable to let the self-regulating private sector be.

SALMA KHALID
Lahore

The crackdown

FOLLOWING President Gen Musharraf’s address to the nation, a crackdown against extremists has started with a flourish. It appears to be on track, subdued but purposeful. One may recall a similar crackdown after the president’s speech on Jan 12, 2002. At that time, out of some 2,200 arrested, only a few persons were sent behind bars. The then head money list had identified 98 criminals with rewards ranging from Rs5 million (Riaz Basra) to Rs0.1 million.

The current crackdown — a necessary step to stem terrorism — has to be different. The government must firmly establish its writ. The president has been stressing the government commitment to root out terrorism.

His reference to Pakistan as the ‘Islamic state of Pakistan’ is absolutely right — it is in the Constitution. The prefix ‘Islamic Republic’ was incorporated into the Constitution some time around 1956, making Pakistan the second country, after Israel, to have a religious identity. Bangladesh dropped the prefix at independence.

Pakistan fully qualifies as a theocracy, where religion has been institutionalized with glaringly visible symbols — the federal ministry of religious affairs, Shariat courts, the profusion of TV coverage of religion and the madressahs for religious education, incubating terrorist youth.

How long these citadels of obscurantism will be allowed to remain unassailed? We must have forgotten the Quaid’s often-quoted keynote speech made during the nascent, formative year of Pakistan, on Aug 11, 1947, or the one delivered on July 14, 1947: “Make no mistake, Pakistan is not a theocracy or anything like it”. This was further clarified on Feb 19, 1948: “In any case Pakistan is not gong to be a theocratic state, to be ruled by priests with a divine mission.”

MUHAMMAD A.B.
Karachi

Copyright violations

PAKISTAN is a signatory to the WTO. One important aspect of the WTO rules is the Agreement on Protection of Intellectual Property Rights. Recently, a few compact disc manufacturers got into trouble for indulging in violating copyrights. Like copycats elsewhere, Pakistan has its share of petty-minded people who attempt to cash in on the reputation, fame, and popularity of others.

A local TV channel had to run a full-page advertisement displaying products of those who were illegally using the channel’s logo. Some years ago, my company faced the onslaught of nearly 50 fabric manufacturers who not only used our brand name but also adopted identical packaging and even the selvedge on the fabric. Their products were shoddy and of poor quality, and soon were out of the market. However, they did do enough damage to the product in the short-term.

It is high time intellectual property rights were made sacrosanct so that not only the citizens of Pakistan but also the international community are protected and the law is strongly and judiciously enforced. Pakistanis are known for being creative and revolutionary. Alas, our disgraceful imitators, uninventive fiends, and cheap copycats are out to destroy Pakistan’s image in the global market.

MAJYD AZIZ
Karachi

Expelling foreign students

ALMOST immediately after the terrorist attack on the London transport system the Pakistan government decided to expel foreign students studying in madressahs all over the country. No convincing reason for this has come from any responsible functionary of the government. Lamentably, little has been done by the media to show that the decision is unwise and unfair.

As indicated by the home minister there are 1,450 foreign students. The process of their education may be incomplete and most of them may need to stay at the madressahs for quite a long time. Some of them are at the tail-end of completing their studies and have to appear for examinations to earn their degrees and certificates. Expelling them means several years of their life would be wasted.

The Pakistan government should not be under the impression that the expulsion of these students will satisfy foreign governments and the news media engaged in fierce propaganda against religious educational institutions. It will only give them the impetus to make further demands. The right course is to keep a watch on the students without harassing them.

PROF MUKHTAR ALI NAQVI
Florida, USA

ASKING foreign students studying in Pakistani madressahs to leave the country is a positive step. A further step that must be taken is to make the madressahs change their system to day schooling instead of lodging and boarding as the latter is a source of many problems.

First, students living in madressah hostels become virtual slaves of the madressah management which can, and does, use them to stage street protests when expediency so demands. They become, willingly or otherwise, full-time political activists of the religious-cum-political party running the madressah and providing them with food and shelter. The hostel system also leads to abuse of minor students, the incidence of which is much higher than is commonly admitted.

Changing the madressah system to day schooling is much more important than trying to change the content of the education these institutions impart, as it allows the indoctrination and brainwashing of students.

AJMAL KAMAL
Karachi

IMAGINE the reaction of the Muslim world if the US government had expelled all foreign Muslim students studying in American colleges and universities after 9/11, saying that they were potential terrorists. What would be the reaction of the Pakistan government if Tony Blair’s government decides to expel all Pakistani students from Britain?

Fortunately, this is not going to happen because both Britain and the US follow due process of law which we in Pakistan don’t care about. In Pakistan, one person at the helm of affairs makes a hasty decision and that becomes law. No review, no appeal.

MUMTAZ AHMAD
Vancouver, USA

Cook’s stand

FORMER British foreign secretary Robin Cook was one of a handful of politicians who chose not to be part of an uncalled-for war based solely on assumptions and riddled with contradictions.

The present situation on the ground in Iraq shows how right he was in listening to the wisdom of his heart and by not joining the bandwagon of opportunists and all those who subscribed to war against a country already crippled by sanctions.

Cook set a high standard for politicians. His resignation proved that sensible politicians should not be ruled by their ambition to make it big centre-stage and no circumstance can reduce them to becoming bargainers, that there can be no compromise on principles and that politicians shouldn’t be hypocrites.

And, above all, that a democratically elected representative should listen to his people and should not work for his own selfish consideration. Our leaders and politicians would do well to take a cue from Robin Cook.

AMBREEN SAADAT
Islamabad

Cars for special persons

I AM a resident of Lahore, a mechanical engineer by profession, with my left leg affected by polio. For the last two years I am running from pillar to post for a duty-free car that disabled persons are entitled to. I contacted almost all the relevant and non-relevant persons but couldn’t find a valid reply. Finally someone from the ministry of commerce sent me the details, but reading them disappointed me more than the idea of slipping on the roads while travelling or trying to chase a bus — the only way I can travel in Pakistan as a disabled person.

The rules are very harsh and discouraging for a disabled person wanting to buy a special car. Import, in the first place, is no more allowed. A locally-assembled automatic car is not allowed. A disabled person has to attach large number plates on the front and rear of the vehicle to warn others to “beware of the disabled person”. Only a 10 per cent discount is available on the total cost of the car.

On the other hand, the requirement to import a Mercedes for an MNA needs less inquiries, meetings and suffering. For a disabled person there are a series of meetings, interviews, medical tests and verifications, just to get the 10 per cent discount.

Locally-assembled cars don’t meet the required quality, delivery procedures and pricing. Why is import banned for disabled persons when importing a small automatic car would be much cheaper?

One appreciates the people of the West for being considerate enough to coin a special phrase for disabled people — special persons. But here in Pakistan a disabled person must show others that he is disabled by fixing a sign saying “disabled” on his car in order to keep availing of the huge 10 per cent discount. One feels like telling these policy-makers and politicians to fix sign-plates on their cars saying “mentally unstable”.

UMER INAYAT
Lahore

Hyderabad airport

SEVEN months back Dawn had reported that PIA has decided to restart its flights from Hyderabad airport for Lahore and Islamabad within two months. No such measure appears to be in the pipeline.

The people of Hyderabad, especially the business community, are facing much trouble as one has to either travel by train to the two destinations or take a flight from Karachi.

Will PIA or the CAA clarify their position in this regard?

ASLAM HAYAT
Hyderabad

Iran pipeline project

THE multi-billion dollar ‘peace pipeline’ project, formally called the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) gas pipeline, was conceptualized some 10 years back. The estimated $4.16-billion pipeline will run about 1,115 km in Iran, 705 km in Pakistan and 850 km in India. Pakistan’s investment in the project will be around $1 billion to lay the segment from the Iranian to the Indian border.

At present, the IPI is economically the most feasible option for Pakistan, as in the case of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TAP) pipeline, gas reservoirs are still unproven. Moreover, political instability in Afghanistan is also a hurdle. Importing gas from Qatar is also a costly idea as it entails a pipeline segment passing through deep waters.

Pakistan is going to be an energy-deficient country by the end of 2010 and does not have the luxury of time. Negotiations have been going on for a decade. In these circumstances, when the IPI’s future again seems at risk and the TAP project is also unclear owing to the unproven natural gas reserves in Turkmenistan, Pakistan should tell the US to get a ‘special grant’ regarding the construction of costly gas import project from Qatar or from Turkmenistan to meet its energy requirements.

RASHID ASHRAFKarachi

Clarification

PLEASE refer to the report ‘PJTA demands white badge umpires for national events’ (Dawn, Aug 11). No association by the name of Pakistan Junior Tennis Association is registered with the Pakistan Tennis Federation.

As regards the demand for ‘white badge’ umpires, it was decided at the AGM 2004 that white badge umpires would be present at national tournaments but later, on representations from various associations, the decision was kept pending. The plea taken by the associations was of financial constraints they faced due to lack of sponsorship money.

To overcome the lack of expertise of the associations in the field of umpiring, a Level I course, under the supervision of Asian Tennis Federation-nominated international umpires, was arranged in Islamabad in August 2004. A total of 25 umpires throughout the country attended, who later stood in different tournaments.

At the AGM 2005 held on Aug 6, the matter was again discussed in detail. It was decided that there was no need for ‘white badge’ umpires in tournaments. However, the Pakistan Tennis Federation will impart training/refresher course to umpires at Lahore, Karachi and Peshawar and one of the ‘white badge’ umpires will conduct the training course.

MAJ (retd) ABDUL RASHID KHAN
Secretary, Pakistan Tennis Federation
Islamabad