| September 12, 2005 | Monday | Sha’aban 7, 1426 |
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‘When apologies count’
President’s remarks
Karachi traffic plans
OGRA working pattern
Rs5,000 note
NSS profits
Govt jobs
PDF scheme
Public concerns
Power tariff
OUT of 191 UN members, Israel maintains diplomatic relations with 161. Arab states like Egypt and Jordan which border Israel have diplomatic relations with Israel.
On September 9, 1993 Israel and the PLO agreed to recognize each other after 45 years of conflict. Israel and Syria have opened channels for peace negotiations. Turkey, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgzstan have diplomatic relations with Israel.
So, why is Islamabad — over 2,500 miles away from Israel — not at peace with Tel Aviv? When Pakistan established diplomatic relations with the Taliban regime of Afghanistan, it alienated itself from China, Iran, Russia and the US. Pakistan fought three wars with India and India played a key role in the dismemberment of Pakistan by intervening in 1971.
India is still occupying Kashmir but Pakistan recognizes India and maintains full diplomatic relations with it. If India attacks Pakistan, none of the Arab countries will break their relations with India. Politics is not a game of confrontation but of conciliation. Pakistan should follow this maxim in letter and spirit.
The act of recognizing a country is not such a big deal as it is being made out in this case. Muslims and Jews had been living together for centuries in Spain, Turkey, Iran and the North African countries. Even at the time of partition of India roughly 200 Jewish families were living in Karachi. When the Muslims were forced out of Spain the Jews followed suit and settled in the countries of North Africa. In the 16th century the sultan of Turkey allowed 4,000 Jews to come to Turkey.
During inter-faith meetings I have met some Jews who understand the Sharia with great ease and with greater sympathy than their Protestant or Catholic colleagues. These are Talmudists, or Jewish scholars, who also know Arabic.
Jewish scholars were to be found in the court of the sultans of Turkey and made a major contribution to the development of Arabic and Islamic studies in European universities. The Jewish people, unlike their Christian friends, had no missionary ambitions.
There is no permanent friendship or permanent enmity between nations — but what is permanent is the interest of Pakistan. Recognition of Israel is a political issue and should be resolved dispassionately without involving religious emotions. I would like to remind readers that before the 1967 Arab-Israel war, the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza strip were under the occupation of Jordan and Egypt respectively for 20 years but they never considered establishing a Palestinian state.
Some zealots argue that recognition of Israel would be tantamount to making Jews our friends. If we accept this argument then we will have to sever our relationship with all Christian states as well. I would say to President Musharraf that he should muster every ounce of strength and march towards forging ties with Israel.
MAULVI ABDUL HADI SAQI
St Charles, MO USA
(II)
PAKISTAN should take a step forward and initiate diplomatic ties with Israel just like many other moderate and progressive Muslim countries such as Jordan, Mauritania, Uzbekistan and Turkey. Other countries such as Oman, Qatar and Kuwait have trade relations with Israel.
I don’t see any good reason why we should not recognize Israel. Now the world is like a global village. All countries are dependent on each other. We need each other’s support in every sphere. In my opinion, if Pakistan establishes diplomatic relations with Israel it would be in a position to facilitate a dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians.
Our once-arch-rival India has lately come closer to Israel, and thus has become the recipient of military technology and weapons from it. India’s defence is being strengthened and this is a direct consequence of its close ties with Tel Aviv. It has acquired hi-tech airborne warning radar systems and missiles.
Instead of indulging in the futile exercise of making the world turn its back on India, Pakistan should take the bold step of setting up diplomatic ties with Israel. These ties could also play a significant role in resolving the Kashmir dispute.
Pakistan could gain access to civilian and military technology from Israel and it may be able to at least counter- balance the growing Indo-Israeli ties. Israel imports a large quantity of grain from other countries. If we have good ties, we could export wheat to it. The president should take the nation into confidence and tell the people of the consequences that would result if Pakistan remains stuck to its rigid stance of no relations with Israel.
There should be a public debate regarding the issue and the media should play its role in informing the public on this matter. It should also help the general public get rid of the baseless prejudice that seems to have clouded this issue. The only factor that needs to be considered is that what benefits, or not, can Pakistan gain from such a move.
It is about time we in Pakistan realized that by not recognizing Israel we have not been able to affect it even a bit. It stands strong and is progressing day by day, and more importantly it is a very close ally of the world’s sole superpower. In fact, getting into its good books could also help Pakistan in its relationship with Washington since Tel Aviv and Jewish groups in general do have considerable links with and influence over the decisions that are made in Washington.
SHOAIB RASHID Lahore
THIS is with reference to Mr Mahdi Masud’s letter “When apologies count” (Aug 28). Whether or not apologies matter, they hardly do anything to mitigate the grief and sorrow inflicted on the affected people. This has been adequately demonstrated in the recent unrest and demonstrations which occurred in China and South Korea against the Japanese.
I was in England in 1977 when a German regiment was expected to arrive in South Hampton according to reciprocal arrangements. During the course of a visit to a particular place this was severely criticized by a colonel of the British army who thought it was a disgrace to the British soldiers who died in World War II fighting the Germans.
Many years later I visited Germany. My German guide told me of an area where an American base was located in Munich. On the parameter walls were notices saying “Germans and dogs are not allowed”. He also told me how even after the surrender heavy guns were fired on the civil population on the pretext that they could not be unloaded.
Another interesting story was how after military targets were destroyed, civilian habitations were bombarded from the air even in the rural areas. The story about Dresden is now widely known. So, the scars of some insults and injuries continue to irritate.
Mr Mahdi Masud has very carefully avoided responsibility by quoting Nirad Choudhri while incriminating Asoka and Gandhi as far as “incorrigible Hindu militarism” is concerned. An impartial balance-sheet of a man’s character and achievement is made only after his death. Both Asoka and Gandhi are today hailed as champions of non-violence. While Gandhi’s efforts to restore sanity after the massacre of Muslims, especially in Delhi, are of recent origin, I like to quote some facts about Asoka.
He was a great emperor of the Mauryan dynasty (265-238 BC, or according to some 273-232 BC). Asoka believed in, preached, practised, and stressed the importance of honesty, truthfulness, compassion, mercifulness, benevolence, non-violence, considerate behaviour towards all, non-extravagance, non-acquisitiveness, even no injury to animals. He spoke of no particular mode of religious creed or worship. Towards all religious sects, he adopted a policy of respect and guaranteed them full freedom to live according to their own principles.
While it is true that some Hindus hated Muslims, a number of us also hated them addressing them as “kafirs” and hurled all sorts of insults upon them. I have a feeling that my brothers in religion wasted a thousand years by not winning them over and showing them the right path. Just as another group of my countrymen are still busy creating hatred between various sects even among the Muslim communities.
Non-violence as a means of achieving one’s objective in the recent past proved successful in the US where Martin Luther King Jr strived and won rights for the African-Americans. As a student of military history, may I state that use of force only temporarily solves a political problem?
Those individuals and states who in the 21st century believe in violent means to achieve their objectives are divorced from the realities of our times.
BRIG (retd) KHALID
HASSAN MAHMOOD
Karachi
I WAS amazed to read what our president had to say about women when he addressed an international conference in Islamabad on crimes against women. It reflected the generally chauvinistic attitude of the average Pakistani male.
The president said that Dr Shazia Khalid had herself requested that she be sent abroad. Had the president and provided her with justice with rather than publicly exonerate the alleged culprit, Dr Shazia might have never thought of fleeing her country.
The way she was secretly taken from Sui to Karachi, and then sent abroad, is evidence enough of a massive coverup by the military-led regime.
The president also declared that rape was a global problem and quoted figures from the US and France. He also said that women should not “wash their dirty linen in public”.
Well, Sir, being the head of our country, isn’t it your duty to see that the “linen does not get dirty”, and if it does, then the culprits are brought to justice? If nobody listens to us at home, then what choice do people have but to turn to raising the issue abroad?
The president also said that Muslims should see that women have a lot of rights given to them by their religion. That is something most Muslims are already aware of and the question is as to when the government will act to ensure that women are given these rights? Maybe what needs to be done is to hang a couple of rapists in public and see how such crimes go down.
The president also went on to praise his government’s efforts in helping women by passing laws and setting crisis centres. The question here is that are such laws ever implemented? As for the crisis, where are they? Only poor Asma Jehangir or other kind-hearted lawyers give shelter and legal aid. And even for that they are castigated.
Please, Mr President, stop blaming women and the NGOs. What justice has your government provided to Mukhtaran Mai given that her rapists have yet to be punished for their crimes? Who raped Dr Shazia? What will be the result of the ongoing inquiry regarding the alleged rape of Sonia Naz? It is this injustice, hopelessness and mistrust in you and your system that makes us women cry out.
KHADIJA KHASHE
Karachi
THE city authorities of Karachi in a recent meeting reportedly approved plans to add one more lane to each side of Sharea Faisal. This should not be done because the widening will only lead to chaos as evident from the situation on numerous city roads which have all been dug up. Instead, a motorcycle lane should be created on either side of the road.
Karachi perhaps is one of few cities in the world (the rest must also be in Pakistan) where motorcycles travel in all lanes of a busy major road.
In addition to this, the government needs to take note of the fact that entire length of Shahrea Faisal has become a pedestrian crossing zone.
This not only hinders the smooth flow of traffic but can also cause grievous injuries — sometimes fatal — to pedestrians. The pedestrian crossing at Shah Faisal colony should have a signal operated by pedestrians. The department concerned should determine the places where pedestrian bridges are needed.
ARIF MAJEED Karachi
THIS refers to some reports in the media about independence of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority, its tariff fixation process and the rationale of the revision of gas prices. It is clarified that the authority is operating in accordance with the parameters of the OGRA Ordinance and is making efforts to help keep the prices of natural gas at the minimum in spite of increase in the cost of gas and substitute fuels like oil internationally.
As regards the petitions of SNGPL and SSGCL for determination of estimated revenue requirement for the financial year 2005-06, hearings were held at all provincial headquarters. The authority took into account the observations by the public and detailed analysis of the utility’s costs carried out with the help of its professional engineers, financial analysts and legal experts. The prime objective of the authority is to ensure that costs passed on to consumers are justified.
The authority appointments — a chairman and three members (gas, oil and finance) — are made on merit through open competition in which candidates from the private sector get equal opportunity to compete.
OGRA is obliged to take all decisions in accordance with the provisions of the OGRA Ordinance, after providing a reasonable opportunity to all stakeholders to present their views. The decision making is collective and in the event of a difference of opinion, the majority view prevails.
In the past three years it has granted licences to gas companies after consulting the stakeholders, with such conditions that balance the interest of investors and the consumers. The intent of such conditions is to effectively protect consumers’ interest.
On receipt of a petition from a gas utility for determination of its revenue requirement, i.e. revision of prescribed prices of natural gas, a notice is published in the press inviting public requests for formal intervention and comments, which are forwarded to the petitioner for a response, which, on receipt, is passed on to the interveners. A public hearing is then organized where the interveners and commentators as well as any other person can appear and present their point of view on the contents of the petition of the gas utility.
The law requires that OGRA should advise the government of the revenue requirement of gas utilities and propose prescribed prices to generate the same. The government then decides upon the sale prices for various categories of consumers including subsidies for domestic consumers.
This process has always been followed and stakeholders give due representation in the matter. There also exists some misconception in some circles that prices of indigenous gas have to be increased on the basis of oil price increase in the international market. The fact is that gas producers and the government have entered into long-term gas pricing contracts, which lay down the gas pricing formula, linking the producer’s sale price to international oil prices. For this reason, the prices of indigenous gas move with the trend in international oil prices.
However, to protect consumers against windfall gains to the gas producers, substantial discounts on the higher level of oil prices are dedicated, i.e., if the price of crude oil exceeds $16 per barrel, a discount of 50 per cent is applied up to $21 per barrel, a discount of 70 per cent is applied up to $26 barrel and a discount of 80 per cent is applied beyond this level. Consequently, the increase in local gas price is considerably less than the actual percentage increase in international oil price.
BRIG TARIQ MEHMOOD
Secretary ORGA,
Islamabad
THE State Bank governor some time back said that the design of a Rs5,000 note is under preparation and the note will be issued by December. In spite of the public reservations, the government appears determined on introducing this high denomination note.
The latest argument given by it is that the Rs5,000 note is being introduced to reduce strain on the Rs1,000 note. The position in the market is that now it is very difficult to obtain change for Rs1,000 unless somebody purchases goods worth about Rs200 whether he may require these or not. As far as banks are concerned, they generally refuse to give change for Rs1,000 and if they do, they give soiled and torn notes.
I wonder how a common man will receive change for a Rs5,000 note, particularly from small and medium-level shops. To make easy money, Rs1,000 and Rs5,000 notes will go underground and small denomination notes will be available on payment of a discount. Has the SBP considered this aspect?
S.M.A. RIZVI Karachi
THERE has been a spate of letters from retired persons and senior citizens regarding the extension of the enhanced payment of the profit recently announced in the budget on the Behbud savings scheme and the scheme for retired people with effect from July 1.
The savings centres have expressed reluctance to give the benefit of increased profit to senior citizens who have been hit by inflation. The prime minister is requested to issue necessary instructions to the relevant quarters for payment of the increased profits.
M. ALI KHAN Karachi
THIS refers to a news item in Dawn (Sept 1) saying that the Sindh government is going to appoint 20,000 doctors. Prior to this, there was news that 50,000 jobs have been created by the government to ease unemployment. Soon after this, some advertisements inviting applications for jobs appeared. To my knowledge, many unemployed youths applied for the job. Much time has elapsed but nothing yet been heard in this regard.
It appears that the jobs advertised have been hijacked by vested interests.
LALA FAZAL BELAEE
Hyderabad
THE PDF Crorepati Scheme is run by the Punjab government. The Fatmid blood bank once used to have a lottery whose would go to the blood bank to save the lives of children suffering from blood diseases. That good work was stopped by some of our Islamic scholars who called the lottery a game of chance prohibited by Islam.
Where are these scholars now apropos of the punjab lottery President Musharraf says ‘Pakistan First’ and Mr Ejazul Haq, religious affairs minister, says ‘Islam first’. Mr President, let us decide what you and your ministers want to say.
DR KHALID BUTT Karachi
Freedom of the press is said to be one of the basic prerequisites of democracy. In Pakistan’s chequered history, the press has never experienced freedom as now. The government of President Pervez Musharraf has given complete freedom to the Pakistani press.
But such freedom is of no use because it seems that the government does not pay any heed to what is written about it in the press. It also seems that policies that are made do not keep in mind the concerns and wishes of the general public but only those of certain vested interests and pressure groups.
ARSHAD HYDER
Peshawar
COULD one solution to rampant theft of electricity in Karachi be a reduction in the cost of electricity? That is something that needs to be given serious thought, especially considering that one reason for power theft in the first place might very well be that electricity is so costly to use.
In fact, it could even be possible that a reduction in tariff might actually increase the KESC’s revenue because illegal connections would become regularized.
S. K. Karachi
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