| August 16, 2005 | Tuesday | Rajab 10, 1426 |
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Muslim airmen and freedom
Immunity from laws
Government helplines
PIA fare increase
Karachi loadshedding
Technical education project
Old people’s home
SPSC exams
London blasts
Child abuse and NGOs
Priorities
ACCORDING to a report by the Voice of America, the US appears to be losing ground in the fight for public opinion in Pakistan (Dawn, July 29).
One US embassy official in Islamabad has been quoted as attributing this to false allegations against the US, as an example of which he cites the reports of desecration of the Holy Quran at Guantanamo Bay.
This is adding insult to injury. The reports were first published not by the local press but by the British media and more recently by Newsweek which retracted its story partially only after coming under pressure from Washington, exerted much before the inquiry was even completed. Several former inmates in Afghan and Cuban prisons such as the British-Pakistani gentleman Moazzam Begg had given eyewitness accounts of incidents of desecration — Mr Begg had done so under oath (Dawn, May 18).
An American sergeant, Eric Saar, who was a member of the US military intelligence and had served at the Guantanamo camp, has made some shocking revelations in his book, Behind the Wire (Dawn, May 19). He mentioned an incident in which a military policeman had dropped a copy of the Holy Quran to the ground and ‘the detainees went nuts’. He further said that the brutal, degrading treatment meted out to the prisoners over there changed his attitude towards his country.
The truth is that the US military did not conduct a transparent inquiry into the sacrilege despite international pressure, otherwise it would have invited these inmates and western and Muslim human rights workers to join the proceedings. Nobody believes their cover-up. And what about Abu Ghraib and Afghanistan where some Americans themselves had confirmed the abuses committed by their fellow Americans? The disinformation pedalled by the US officials cannot win anybody’s hearts and minds.
Take another example: “Thousands of emotionally charged tribesmen raising anti-US slogans, buried on Saturday 24 suspected militants killed inside Pakistan by US forces operating from across the border in Afghanistan” (Dawn, July 17). The story further quotes unofficial reports as saying that the coalition forces had hit a group of tribal volunteers carrying bodies of 10 comrades who had been killed during an overnight clash on the other side of the border.
A few of those killed were foreigners while most belonged to Waziristan. This trigger-happy approach of the US forces has understandably caused tremendous anger.
Pakistan’s leaders, instead of putting ‘Pakistan first’, see their own hold on power as more important. For this shortsighted policy they try to please the US by all means, even if it alienates the people and seriously risks turning the NWFP into another Afghanistan.
The irony is that after doing all this, the Americans make it appear as if Pakistanis and other Muslims are unreasonable people. If Washington really wants to improve its image it should, above all, correct its policies towards the Muslims, stop aiding Israel in its persecution of the Palestinians and hold a transparent inquiry into the Guantanamo Bay incidents. It must also find a way to restore peace in Iraq and Afghanistan acceptable to the citizens of these countries and to the Muslim world.
A PAKISTANI
Karachi
THE Muslim airmen in the Indian air force played an important role in the struggle for freedom. They left no doubt that they were whole-heartedly loyal to the Quaid-i-Azam and all that he stood for. They regularly contributed ‘silver bullets’ to the Muslim League fund and looked for any opportunity to demonstrate their dedication to the sacred cause.
On March 20, 1946 on arrival from Delhi by air at RAF station, Lahore Cantonment, the Quaid-i-Azam was accorded an enthusiastic welcome by the airmen of RAF, Harbanspura and Lahore Cantonment.
I had the good luck to present him with ‘silver bullets’ as a humble token of our unflinching loyalty to him and the national cause.
On or about Aug 20, 1946 Muslim airmen of RAF, Ambala, assembled to openly express their loyalty to the Muslim League and their undaunted determination “to respond to the call of the Quaid-i-Azam for ‘Direct Action’.
A Hindu Congress government will not be tolerated...We charge the British government and the Viceroy with breach of trust by putting the Muslims at the mercy of the Hindu Congress...This unholy alliance can rest assured that it will not be tolerated by Muslims (Dawn, Aug 23, 1946).”
The commanding officer of RAF depot, Harbanspura, a major equipment depot in the region, wanted to transfer equipment worth Rs200 million to India, undermining the interests of Pakistan.
We brought this to the attention of two provincial ministers of the Punjab but without success. Eventually, we met the late Mian Abdul Bari, general secretary, Punjab Muslim League, in his office.
He readily agreed to do everything possible to stop the loss. The next day newspapers carried this news prominently. His efforts awakened everyone. The movement of stores was immediately stopped. Eventually, the RAF personnel left for the UK after handing over the depot to the Pakistan Air Force.
The men in uniform had helped to hasten the departure of the British Raj.
SQDN-LDR (retd) M. IQBAL MALIK
Chakwal
THE Pakistan Army’s commercial pursuits should not be a matter of concern in this fast-changing world, when public and private organizations are rapidly adapting to new roles.
However, it is alarming to see personnel of defence organizations involved in commercial activities enjoying immunity from civil laws. There is no justification for allowing this special treatment to organizations such as the FWO and the NLC involved in activities usually undertaken by civilian firms.
A case in consideration is the use of uniformed Frontier Works Organization personnel at toll plazas on the Super Highway. These armymen have been accused of resorting to excesses against civilians in their bid to make the latter pay the toll tax.
In such cases the police have shown their inability to take action against FWO personnel, as they are not under the jurisdiction of local courts and the police, even though they are involved in a civilian activity.
Without discussing whether it is the fault of the road users or the FWO personnel, would any other organization, if it had won the bid for tax collection at the Super Highway toll plazas, have been allowed to employ armed men to chastise toll tax evaders?
If we do not subject the military’s commercial activities to civil laws, we’ll risk hampering the development of a strong civil society. I hope our leaders are capable of foreseeing the positive and healthy effects of creating a strong civil society in the country.
IMTIAZ BHATTI
Karachi
THE various government organizations have set up websites which are helpful as all information is available free of cost. They have another function too, that of a helpline. The experience with helplines is narrated below:
1. Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan: help was sought in reactivating a defunct company by requesting leniency in the huge penalties it had accrued by not submitting statutory returns. Replies were promptly received, both by email and letter and the matter is being resolved. Full marks to the SECP.
2. Central Board of Revenue: a ruling was sought on whether profits on the investment made out of frozen foreign exchange deposits were tax-free or not. There is conflict between the rulings based on the superseded 1979 tax ordinance, CBR rulings and the Tax Ordinance 2001. A board member called on phone, which is a great thing and understood the query. However in 14 days no ruling has been received.
3. State Bank of Pakistan: a foreign bank charges 3.6 per cent negative interest on foreign exchange deposits in a bid to discourage them. It refuses deposit of foreign cheques and the attitude of the staff is discourteous towards FE depositors. The State Bank’s position on discouragement of dollar deposits was sought for which the helpline promises a 48-hour time-lines. Many more hours have passed without a reply.
Prompt replies make helplines useful. The CBR chairman and the SBP governor may ask for improved performance by their staff.
IQBAL MIRZA NAZAR
Karachi
I WOULD like to share an extremely a nerve-wrecking experience. I travelled with my three under-12 children from Karachi to Islamabad by PK-364 on August 5. After a long wait in the queue, the lady at the check-in counter realized that fares had increased and my tickets issued on July 20 were not valid anymore till I paid the difference of Rs1,150. Unfortunately, I did not have that much cash on me and the ordeal began.
I was asked to go from one person to another, but no one was willing to help or understand and dealt with my queries stone-faced.
Finally I asked the PIA staff to return my luggage and clearly stated that I did not wish to travel, but the staff at the counter had taken out one of the tickets’ coupons and were in a quandary. A gentleman, God bless him, seeing this unfortunate episode offered some cash, which I, left with no choice, accepted. Thus, I travelled to Islamabad where my husband gave me the money to pay back the borrowed amount to the gentleman.
My questions to PIA are:
1. Is two weeks a lot of time for a recently issued ticket for travel on the designated date and route to become invalid for travel?
2. When the PIA reservation staff enter an intending passenger’s telephone contact in their computer system while making flight reservations, is it not possible to inform on phone about any abrupt increase in fares rather than embarrass unsuspecting people like me at the airport,?
3. Is it not rational to adequately advertise such sudden changes in fares, with the dates they become effective, in the press to give passengers some prior warning?
4. Couldn’t that gentleman lending me the cash at the airport have been someone from the PIA staff rather than a fellow passenger who was so considerate and compassionate, or could there not have been some mechanism through which I could have paid the amount on reaching my destination? My luggage, after all, was at our national carrier’s disposal, to ensure the return of any borrowed amount.
I would like to mention that many other passengers on my flight were similarly inconvenienced. Even the check-in staff at the other counters were not aware of the increase in fares till I fell prey to the “efficiency” of one of their colleagues and they had seen the entire episode.
I think PIA has lost me as a customer after this episode, but I thought that this might benefit someone else if they realize their fault and take corrective measures. It will be welcome if they understand that they should warn their passengers adequately, and in time.
MRS SABIHA MEHDI
Rawalpindi
KARACHI suffered eight to 10 hours of power breakdown on Aug 8. The city has been suffering from uninterrupted loadshedding every summer. Power planners have often given information about different schemes to solve the problem. In the 1980s, Wapda’s grid was connected to the KESC system. One of the reasons for the interconnection was that Karachi, a sprawling city with large numbers of industries and an ever increasing population, would benefit from it. Wapda’s power from Tarbela could flow uninterrupted to Karachi and similarly surplus power, if any, from Karachi could flow to the north. However, it did not happen exactly in this way.
Karachi grew uninterruptedly into an even bigger metropolis with the population equal to about 10 per cent of the population of the entire country. Hubco, a power-house of about 1,200 MW generation capacity, was established next door to Karachi in the private sector with a number of similar private projects and Ghazi Brotha in the north, creating almost 900 MW of power surplus in upcountry. Hubco power started flowing to the north but Wapda’s power in the north could not reach Karachi. Reason: bottlenecking at the interconnection at Jamshoro.
Wapda is following its programme of rural electrification vigorously, while the sprawling industrial city of Karachi is suffering from agonizing breakdowns and unannounced loadshedding.
Many questions can be asked. Why wasn’t Hubco power allocated to Karachi? Why is Hubco power being used for the rural electrification programme? Why weren’t Karachi power needs established earlier in the past? Should Karachi wait till all the remotest villages in the upcountry are electrified before anybody will start looking into the needs of industries of Karachi? Why shouldn’t the KESC system be disconnected from the Wapda grid making it independent with Hubco, the existing power-houses and new three power-houses of 750 MW? This is how Karachi will be independent of the bureaucratic attitudes of planners. Moreover, why is Karachi being allowed to grow, specially when we do not have sufficient power and water for the existing population?
IQTIDAR H. SIDDIQUI
Karachi
A YEAR-and-a-half ago a number of teachers were appointed through the Sindh Public Service Commission while non-teaching staff was appointed by selection committees at different technical institutions, i.e., the government monotechnic institutes at Hala and Khipro and at Mithi and other institutes located in Sindh.
At the time of appointment, it was understood that a year later the services would be regularized. All the employees were finally regularized by the chief minister last month but to date no notification in this behalf has been issued, nor has the department taken any step for payment of salaries.
We appeal to the chief minister to direct the relevant department to expedite issuance of the regularization notification and immediate payment of salaries.
TEACHING STAFF
Government Monotechnic Institute,
Hala
CARE and respect of the elderly was a hallmark of our society till the new, selfish culture set in. The good news is that the foundation stone has been laid of an old-age home for 30 senior citizens, to be built at a cost of Rs8 million, at the Community Centre Board (CCB), Green Town, Lahore (July 31). The sponsors are to collect 20 per cent of the cost. The balance will be financed by the CCB. But the bad news, in my judgment, is that the chairman “will visit the US, the UK and Europe shortly to raise funds for the project”.
Is it not a shame that we have to go to the western countries with a bowl to beg for ‘khairat’ (alms) for an old people’s home? How regrettable that, on the one hand, we are spending billions of rupees for building ostentatious monuments like the Bab-i-Pakistan and, on the other, we have to seek funds abroad for such projects. The proposed home will be located in an affluent neighbourhood. Shouldn’t funds be raised locally?
B.A. MALIK
Via email
A FEW days ago the Sindh Public Service Commission postponed competitive examinations for the posts of mukhtiarkars (magistrates) and medical officers scheduled for Aug 4, giving heavy rains and floods as the reason.
This news was shocking for students who had made been preparing for months. After receiving interview calls many candidates had already reached places where their centres were located. Some 10,000 people have applied for the 27 posts of mukhtiarkars and 25,000 doctors have applied for 700 posts of medical officers.
It is requested that the examinations be held as soon as possible.
NASARULLAH PIRZADA
Tharushah, Naushehro Feroze
AS a retired Scotland Yard officer I write in response to the letter by Mr Pat Rattigan (August 8) who, it seems, has doubts about the efficiency of Scotland Yard or the Metropolitan Police Service investigating the 7/7 London bombings. Scotland Yard needs no introduction and it is sufficient to say that they are the best in their field of work.
Forming opinions and drawing conclusions without knowing the full facts is potentially dangerous. The investigation into these bombings and subsequent failed bombings is still going on.
The police will not let the general public know everything under investigation and will never disclose any material which may jeopardize their investigations in any way. As a former police officer I can assure Mr Rattigan that the police will not “invent” any material which will be subsequently produced as evidence in a court of law. In this modern age of unprecedented advancements in forensic science and evidence-gathering, the possibility of miscarriage of justice is diminished to a low level.
As for the possible eye-witness mentioned in Mr Rattigan’s letter, one finds it hard to believe that someone being on top of one of the underground bombs could have survived and lived to tell the tale.
My point is that if there is such a witness, please be assured that he will be brought before a court to give his evidence; and please be assured that justice will take its course.
AZFAR BUKHARI
London, UK
THIS is with reference to the article ‘Child abuse and NGOs’ (the Review, Aug 4) by Mr Omar R. Quraishi. The writer has done a commendable job of writing on an issue that is hardly discussed or even taken note of in Pakistan. I am a psychologist and reading the article made me remember a lot of child abuse cases that I was aware of in Pakistan. I thanked God that at least somebody in Pakistan was talking about this menace. Every day I come across children suffering from the trauma of child abuse and it’s not that one did not try to do anything about it. I wrote about the abuses, but all the articles sent to various newspapers were rejected, possibly because names had been mentioned in them.
However, my personal experience aside, this is an issue on which much more needs to be written so that Pakistani society can at least come to terms with the menace of child abuse in its midst.
SAIMA ALI
The Hague, Netherlands
OUR country has the means and capability of producing nuclear technology and procure millions of dollars’ worth of F-16s and defence equipment, yet basic electricity cannot be provided to its citizens.
Just goes to show where our priorities lie.
MOIN ABBASI
Karachi
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