| August 26, 2005 | Friday | Rajab 20, 1426 |
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HEC affairs
Parliamentarians’ assets
Pope’s call for tolerance
Al Qaeda: a bogey?
Interviews at the OPF
Old people’s homes
Massive problem
MR Umad Mazhar in his letter (August 18) says that the confusion regarding Mr Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s vision of Pakistan arises because of the two roles he played for achieving Pakistan: as a political leader who struggled for a separate nation state and as head of the new-born state.
As a matter of record, in his countless speeches, statements, and messages before and after the establishment of Pakistan, the Quaid-i-Azam emphasized the role of Islam as an all-embracing code of life standing for non-discriminatory social justice, fairplay, democracy, equality of manhood and welfare of masses as a whole.
For example, during the Allahabad session of the All-India Muslim League in 1942 he was asked as to what type of state Pakistan would be. He replied: “It will be an Islamic state on the pattern of the Medina state with human rights, liberalism, democracy and complete tolerance and freedom of conscience to all citizens without any distinction of colour, creed, language, and race as granted by the Prophet of Islam (peace be upon him) to Christians, Jews, idol worshippers and all others. Justice, brotherhood, liberty, equality and fraternity will reign supreme.” (Dawn, Sept 6, 1997)
What was the pattern of the Medina state referred to by the Quaid-i-Azam? The Medina state was run on the basis of a document known as the Constitution of Medina (Messaq-i-Medina). This document, prepared under the instruction of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), dealt with the rights and obligations of the citizens of Medina including Muslims, Jews and all others. Through this document the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) made a friendly agreement especially with the Jews and established them in their religion, property and occupations and declared them as one community (ummah).
The tolerance and goodwill shown by the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) in Medina and elsewhere became established as a basic principle of state policy in Muslim countries. Note, for example, the following charter of freedom given at the time of conquest of Jerusalem to Christians and others by the Second Pious Caliph Umar bin Al-Khattab: “In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate. This is the security which ‘Umar’, the servant of God, the commander of the faithful, grants to the people of Elia. He grants to all, whether sick or sound, security for their lives, their possessions, their churches and their crosses, and for all that concerns their religion, their churches shall not be changed into dwelling places, nor destroyed, neither shall they nor their appurtenances be in any way diminished, nor the crosses of the inhabitants nor aught of their possessions, nor shall any constraint be put upon them in the matter of their faith, nor shall any one of them be harmed.” (Arnold, The Preaching of Islam)
The non-discriminatory and humane tradition of the Constitution of Medina and Hazarat Umar’s Jerusalem agreement was literally followed by the Quaid-i-Azam when he addressed Pakistan’s Constituent Assembly on August 11, 1947 thus: “You are free; you are free to go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other places of worship in this state of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed – that has nothing to do with the business of the state”. What the Quaid obviously meant was that state had no business to discriminate between citizens on religious or any other basis.
It is interesting to note that three days after this speech the Quaid-i-Azam spoke again on the inauguration of Pakistan’s Constituent Assembly on August 14, 1947, re-emphasising the central theme of his speech of August 11, making the following observation in response to Lord Mountbatten’s reference to Emperor Akbar: “The tolerance and goodwill that the great Emperor showed to all the non-Muslims is not of recent origin. It dates back 13 centuries ago when our Prophet (peace be upon him) not only by word but by deeds treated the Jews and Christians, after he had conquered them, with the utmost tolerance and regard and respect for their faith and beliefs. The whole history of Muslims, wherever they ruled, is replete with those humane and great principles which should be followed and practised”.
It is apparent that the Quaid-i-Azam’s speeches of August 11 and 14, 1947 bear close similarity, in both letter and spirit, to the Constitution of Medina. This constitution was neither secular in the prevailing sense of the term as the Islamic state of Medina was not a secular state, nor was it based on the concept of papacy, an institution which does not exist in Islam. Further, it recognized the existence of Muslims and Jews as separate entities, though bound together as citizens with mutually agreed obligations and duties. It is also pertinent to note that the Quaid-i-Azam’s speeches of August 11 and 14, read along with his pronouncement at the Allahabad Session of All-India Muslim League in 1942, clearly point to the fact that there was remarkable consistency in his pre-independence and post-independence thoughts about the pattern of state in Pakistan.
One does not find any difference between the role of the Quaid-i-Azam as a political leader and as head of the state, as observed by Mr Umad Mazhar.
DR RAFIQUE AHMAD
Lahore
REFERENCE to Mr Amin Jan Naim’s letter ‘HEC affairs’ (Aug 24), it is based on incorrect information. The HEC has already replied to the allegations mentioned in the letter. However, a point-wise response of the HEC is as under:
Dr Saadia Chishti’s case: It is incorrect that Rs5.8 million has been given for the project. Only Rs0.4 million was released for the project in July 2004. Later, the HEC got the progress report of the project evaluated by experts. The project has been terminated as recommended by the evaluators. It is clarified that while processing the case, the HEC procedure of a rigorous peer review by top experts in the field, which is in line with international norms and practices, was strictly followed.
Van de Graaf accelerator: It is incorrect that the HEC has spent ‘hundreds of millions of rupees’ on the purchase of the Van de Graaf accelerator. In fact, no money has been spent. A committee of scientists has been constituted to determine the type of equipment required for teaching and research.
It is to be noted that top scientists of the country in the discipline of physics were involved in the preparation and submission of the project to the HEC. It was prepared by Dr Riazuddin, director of the National Centre of Physics, reviewed by Dr Samar Mubarakmand, chairman of NESCOM, and submitted to the HEC by Dr Ishfaq Ahmad in his capacity as chairman of the board of governors of the National Centre of Physics.
PhD programme: While criticizing the HEC for its PhD programme the writer has surprisingly ignored the measures taken to ensure quality of PhDs produced in Pakistan, particularly the minimum criteria laid down by the HEC for PhD degrees. These include the passing of a university entry test equivalent to GRE for admission to MPhil/MS leading to a PhD, completing 30 credit hours out of which 24 credit hours should be reserved for course work before being admitted to the formal PhD programme, having a minimum CGPA of 3.00 or first division in MS/MPhil/equivalent degree for admission to PhD, passing the subject GRE (international) test prior to admission in PhD, and additional PhD level course work of at least 18 credit hours followed by a comprehensive examination along with thesis defence.
It is also required that there should be at least three PhD faculty members in a department to launch a PhD programme, and a PhD dissertation must be evaluated by at least two experts from technologically-advanced countries. Acceptance/publication of at least one research paper in an international HEC-approved journal is essential before the PhD thesis can be submitted for evaluation.
The maximum number of PhD students under the supervision of a full-time faculty member is restricted to five, which may be increased to eight under outstanding research supervisors in teaching departments.
The HEC has instructed universities to strictly comply with these criteria and it will recognize PhD degrees of only those universities which will follow the minimum criteria approved for PhD programmes.
The HEC has a gigantic task before it and efforts made by it to reform the higher education sector in the last three years have received tremendous appreciation at local and international levels.
SPOKESPERSON
HEC, Islamabad
ACTING Chief Election Commissioner Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar has asked the members of the Senate, National Assembly and provincial assemblies of Punjab, Sindh, NWFP and Balochistan to submit to the election commission yearly statements of their own assets and liabilities and of their spouses and dependents by September 30.
The CEC has drawn the attention of the members of parliament and provincial assemblies to the provision of Section 42A of the Representation of the People’s Act 1976 and Section 25A of the Senate (Election) Act 1975. Under Section 25A (4), where a member submits the statement of assets and liabilities under Sub-section (1) which is found to be false in material particulars, he may be proceeded under Section 62 for committing the offence of corrupt practice.
Under Section 25A (2), the statement of assets and liabilities submitted under Sub-section (1) shall be published in the official gazette and copies thereof can be obtained on payment of prescribed fee. Under Section 25A (3), the commission shall, by the 15th day of October each year, notify the names of the members who fail to file statements of assets and liabilities within the period specified in Sub-section (1) and by an order, direct that such member shall cease to function till such statement is submitted.
One would request the CEC that while the statement of assets and liabilities of the members of parliaments are being published in the official gazette, a copy should also be forwarded to all leading newspapers of the country so that the people of Pakistan should also know the assets parliamentarians have made every year and what sort of liabilities they have after their election.
SYED A. MATEEN
Karachi
THIS refers to Pope Benedict XVI calling on Muslim leaders (Dawn, August 21) to fight the rancour and intolerance which he said was at the root of the terrorist violence seeking to poison ties between Christians and Muslims. This call can be a milestone on the road to peace. A series of such meetings and discussions are required to solve misunderstanding.
The pontiff and his followers should also realize the need for understanding the problems faced by the Muslim world and what causes them. Indeed, the international game of domination has defaced the world. International injustice, imposed wars and inequality among nations have made this world barbaric. The present intolerance is a result of international injustice. The problems that confront the world today deserve serious thought. Any correct appraisal of the issues involved is not possible unless we look at the background of events first, and try to understand the politico-historical perspective and the forces at play behind the scenes.
All Muslims and Christians face new challenges daily and they will be happy to find a solution. It would be indeed the height of folly for the two sides to believe that those who are responsible for injustice can bring justice and peace. One would request the pontiff to exert his influence on US policies of war and to initiate an open dialogue around the core issues related to the development of poor nations. There is a need to promote a cultural, economic, political and power balances leading to tolerance and co-existence.
NASIR FAROOQ
Karachi
TO believe Bush, Blair and Sharon almost any carnage in any part of the globe (except of course that caused by the American and British forces in Iraq or Afghanistan, for instance) can be traced to Osama bin Laden. The media blitz launched and constantly reinforced in support of this claim is highly effective. Claims of Osama and his Al Qaeda being involved in all such disasters are accepted without question. No proof is considered necessary. Thus, a convenient handle is all the time available to Bush with which to beat off all voices of reason. Quite forgotten, it seems, is the fact that the mother of all lies, nurtured and raised with great care, was the claim that weapons of mass destruction were present in Iraq and that Saddam posed an immediate threat to countries as far away as England and the US. Quite unabashed, the proven liars start perpetuating new lies to further their ends.
Let us assume Osama is really behind all the carnage he is accused of causing. It follows that he must have an effective, lethal network with a strong presence in countries as far away as Spain, Indonesia, the UK, the US, Iraq and Afghanistan, to name a few of the countries that have been in the news in this connection at one time or another. He must have effective deputies overseeing “international operations”, country “godfathers” directing operations in their respective countries, an inexhaustible supply of dedicated planning teams, bomb-makers and daredevil suicide bombers. The network must link all together in such an effective way that the bombings of the type seen in the UK can be carried out with clock-like planning and precision.
Assuming such to be the case, how come the US with its gigantic communication network and with the best surveillance equipment man has invented to date and with topmost sleuths operating it, is still not able to apprehend the mastermind? Again, with hundreds of hapless men interrogated (read tortured) in the most effective ways known to science, in Cuba and elsewhere, how come it has not been possible to produce a single witness before the world to date to testify in support of Osama’s involvement in any of the terrorist acts between September 9, 2001 in the US and July 7, 2005 in the UK inclusive?
Strange as it may seem, the true story behind the West’s machinations may well be publicly revealed by the West itself — but not before some 25 years have passed. We will then learn how the US under a different generation of rulers used the bogey of Osama bin Laden to further its policy objectives of sitting astride the world’s energy resources and furthering Israel’s interests to keep the Muslim world in subjugation. This is the way the West attempts to clear its collective conscience periodically and appears to acquire thereby renewed energy to start all over again on another adventure as sinister as the one to which it has eventually and belatedly confessed.
This is not an idle thought. Let me give a potent example. In a real life, historical documentary film series called “End of an Empire”, produced in the West and also shown on PTV some two decades ago it was revealed just how decisively, in the 60s, CIA was instrumental in the downfall of Iran’s popular prime minister Dr Mosadegh (a man with socialist leanings and therefore anathema to the US of the time) who had dared to do the unthinkable in nationalizing the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company and had to face the combined wrath of the governments in the UK and the US. It was candidly revealed in the film how strongmen in the pay of CIA broke up popular street demonstrations in favour of Dr Mosadegh, leading to the reinstallation of Reza Shah Pehalvi, who was otherwise flying out of the country to escape popular wrath. The scene in the film shifted at this point suddenly to show a large group of heavily-set, muscular men exercising in a gymnasium. The commentary revealed that these men were in the pay of the CIA and were required to be ready to use their brawn in support of whatever task the master set them, which they did at this critical juncture in the history of Iran.
Strange are the ways of Allah: for all their pains and machinations, in place of the secular, modern and popular Dr Mossadegh, with whom Americans and the British could well co-habit, they eventually had to face Khomeini and the aftermath.
WAJID NAEEMUDDIN
Karachi
THE Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) recently conducted tests for the post of assistant director. I personally witnessed the entry test conduct by the OPF at Peshawar while accompanying my niece who appeared in the test. Her father was a registered overseas Pakistani and a doctor by profession who died in an accident in Saudi Arabia some four years ago.
The way the OPF conducted the written test was a total deception. The authority had made pitiable arrangements. No document checks were carried out before seating the candidates. I myself witnessed two brothers (among them only one was a candidate) sitting together and appearing for the test, while taking advantage of the poor arrangements and lack of vigilance by the OPF. Similar conditions were witnessed during the interviews throughout which the interviewers were receiving telephone messages and references from different influential ministers and high-ranking bureaucrats to influence the recruitment of “their candidate”.
One would advise the OPF authorities that instead of coming under pressure of politicians and bureaucrats they should prefer giving some weight to the genuine children of overseas Pakistanis and should not further tarnish their organization’s image after what they have done so far with their mishandling of housing schemes and remittance transfer schemes, etc.
COL (retd) ASMATULLAH KHAN AFRIDI
Via email
ONE fully agrees with Ms S. Baber’s views (Aug 22) about having homes for senior citizens. It is our responsibility to take care of them. A selfish culture has set in and senior citizens are treated by the young as a burden.
This is a very important issue and wants our attention. Can philanthropists help to establish homes for old people and give a house or a piece of land to construct such homes?
MAHMOOD GHAZNAVI
Karachi
THERE is not a single place in Karachi where you can stop a car without being bombarded by a crowd of beggars. It is a continuous source of irritation for people, who feel that they should refrain from giving money as it will only encourage the beggars to continue begging. While this may be a practical way of looking at the situation, many Karachiites feel guilty at not being able to help the poverty-stricken people, and often wonder how the latter have ended up on the streets.
Recent statistics show that a vast majority of Pakistan’s population is illiterate and uneducated. This in itself is a massive problem that the government.
True, many government schools have been set up in various underdeveloped localities, but these buildings are often dilapidated and do not have proper facilities. In fact, many of the buildings remain empty most of the year as there are no teachers.
It is the duty of the government to make a bigger effort towards educating the poor. They should support the many organizations set up to help this cause.
SIDRA SAIYED
Karachi
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