| November 28, 2005 | Monday | Shawwal 25, 1426 |
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Auto finance
Outrageous incident
Vets need a U-turn
Fairy tales
Reach the remote areas
Beggars
Rule of law
Opposition’s politics
Transport dilemma
GHQ project
Wedding meals
Faisalabad Test
Waste of resources
Public toilets
THIS is with reference to Shahid Shaik’s letter “Language issues” (Nov 22). I agree with his views regarding the teaching of English at the primary level. Being a language teacher, it’s my experience that the age factor is very important in learning a language.
One cannot get mastery over a language after teen age. One can only be well versed in a language if one starts learning it from an early age. So the idea of teaching English at the primary level should be appreciated and encouraged.
The importance of English can neither be denied nor ignored. We should accept the importance of English as the language for mutual communication. English is the language of science and technology. Being our official language, it is a pre-requisite for almost all good jobs.
It is also the medium of instruction and expression in many educational institutions. In spite of these facts, what do we gain by teaching the national or a regional language in educational institutions. True, these languages have their own importance for communication at the local and domestic level. For that purpose children pick up these languages at home. But these languages have no role in the development and progress of the country and nation.
We have no option but to teach English at the primary level and adopt it as the medium of instruction and expression in all government and private educational institutions throughout the country. The majority of our students suffer after matric due to the sudden change in medium and even intelligent and bright students fail to get admission to professional colleges.
We cannot excel in the field of science and technology until we learn English — the medium of modern scientific knowledge. So ,in the present scenario, realizing the status of English as lingua franca it would not be exaggeration if one says that “English is the key to success”.
TAHIR ASLAM
Rawalpindi
DOES the government or the State Bank check the auto finance business by banks? We booked a car in August. After verification and complete check, we were told by the bank to make the payments. We made the payments, that is, the processing fee, down payment and 60 post-dated cheques.
After, one month, we were told to arrange for the quotations from a dealer, which was arranged.
On Oct 25 we received a call from the dealer to make payment of on-money required for arranging the booking of a vehicle from the manufacturer.
The company has appointed dealers and they must be paying them commission. Then why did they ask the buyer for extra money and that too just for booking a car?
This is intriguing. Are the bank staff and dealers making extra money on these sales over and above their salary and commission? You are forced to pay because nobody is there to check this malpractice.
The State Bank must check the bank, and the manufacturer must monitor their dealers so that people should not be charged extra.
Has a manufacturer authorized its dealer to take extra money on booking of vehicle and then on the delivery of the vehicle?
The government allowed the import of cars not only to cut the price but also to check this mafia. But it seems it has failed. Pakistan is a no-man’s-land where no law exists. The rules that are there are for making money.
NAYAR ANAM SIDDIQUI
Karachi
THIS is with reference to your editorial, ‘Sangla Hill outrage’ (Nov. 15). One cannot agree more with your analysis, especially when you say: “The attackers in such cases have never been brought to book”. That is the horrible truth; horrible because taking no legal action against heinous crimes is the best way to ensure their recurrence.
This seems to be the policy of the federal and provincial governments, the agencies, the intelligentsia, and, above all, the fourth pillar of the state. Do they all think that the fire which was allowed to be ignited by them will one day not reach them or their children?
They are grossly mistaken if they believe so for it is just a matter of time. Once the genie of lawlessness is out of the bottle, it destroys society almost indiscriminately.
On the heel of the aforementioned editorial came the news that the Punjab government had withdrawn the case against the attackers of the Gujranwala mixed marathon.
Almost immediately afterwards came the news that the NWFP government had withdrawn a case against the attackers of a Hindu temple in Nowshera. And the press is, by default, a party to this unholy alliance of powers that be, for it does not follow up or highlight these cases till their logical end.
To the best of my knowledge, no newspaper has written any editorial on the withdrawal of these cases. One is amazed at this callous and insensitive attitude that is tantamount to the collective suicide of society.
MALIK MUBASHIR A. MAJOKA
Sargodha
WITH the advent of mutating “bird flu” strain on a global scale, our veterinarians, especially university scientists, ought to ponder over the mode of meeting the challenge.
The recent findings in the Scientific American journal of December 2005 that the 1918 pandemic flu virus had jumped directly from avian species to humans and was not a combination of avian and human flu strains is ominous.
It has been further reported that H5 N1 strains of avian virus (not yet in Pakistan) might also do the same as the resurrected 1918 flu virus but with greater pathogenicity.
As to be forewarned is to be forearmed, the veterinarians need to equip themselves fully with the requisite education on poultry diseases in a milieu of intensive production.
Unfortunately, the recent downgrading of DVM degree on veterinary side to include only 50 per cent of veterinary courses, i.e., of 2-1/2 years, duration in the wake of five years composite degree for all problems would not be able to meet the challenge of “bird flu”.
As such, we need to focus essentially on combating livestock and especially poultry diseases, including “bird flu”, in our higher education. Do our veterinary policymakers have the courage and foresight to meet the challenge of “bird flu” or do we have to close our eyes like a pigeon on seeing a cat?
DR M. YAQOOB BHATTI
Lahore
I WANT to contest the following with Syed Riazul Hasan (Nov 24). Gen Jehangir Karamat is a thinking general, he realized that he had transgressed his authority. No army chief can criticize the government in public. Even Gen Douglas MacArthur was dismissed when he took on the president.
This was the man who saved America’s neck by keeping the whole of the Far East from going communist. But for him there would be no South Korea today.
Without the army chief committing an overt act of some magnitude, it is not possible for a Pakistani prime minister to dismiss an army chief. Brigade 111 would immediately come into action. That will be the day when Gen Musharaf would meekly walk out if asked by Mian Nawaz Sharif to do so. Let us not tell jokes.
Gen Musharaf had been gunning for the prime minister and manoeuvring for an in-house change. No prime minister can take this lying down. It is on record in the press that Abbaji had to intercede to persuade Gen Musharraf to back off. Gen Musharraf, of course, did not back off and Mian Nawaz Sharif was left with no choice but to get rid of him by whatever means available, no matter how drastic. His fault is that he did not succeed.
KHURSHID ANWER
Lahore
THE quake victims in far-flung areas not yet reached will die of cold, hunger and absence of shelter. We must reach each remote area before another disaster within the disaster occurs. It is suggested that a special team of volunteer youth under Army guidance may be organized to establish mini relief camps (storing dry rations, milk powder, blankets and tents) at the pre-quake bazaar sites or suitable intervals with a white flag hoisted along the roads and by helicopters where roads are destroyed.
The volunteers can then carry about 15 kg of dry rations/milk uphill, deliver the same to different hamlets and return to their bases the same day. Some first-aid experts can also accompany them.
That way the whole area can be covered for immediate relief. Once that is done, the victims can themselves come down after feeding and regaining some strength to get the food, blankets, tents and other relief material from the mini camps and even bring down the wounded. Speedy action may save each survivor out of reach yet.
SARDAR M. BASHIR KHAN
Rawalpindi
THIS is with reference to the handicapped one sees on the roadside, particularly beggars. Can’t they be trained and rehabilitated? Perhaps some philanthropist can arrange for this in collaboration with Edhi or some other welfare association.
This would be a step forward in an attempt to curtail unnecessary beggary in the hands of unscrupulous persons.
I am sure that such small steps in the right direction by the right people would go a long way in reducing beggary if not completely eliminating it.
MOHAMMED HUSSAIN
Karachi
HISTORY tells us that about 1300 years ago a girl requested Caliph al-Walid for help against the bandits of the ruler of Sindh. The Caliph sent Muhammad bin Qasim with a strong force thousands of miles away to Sindh. The girl got her freedom.
In the 21st century, in this land of the pure, a helpless woman, Mukhtaran Mai, was gang-raped under the orders of a jirga. She received no justice until she came to the Supreme Court. Next a lady doctor was raped in Balochistan. The finger pointed at an army officer. The president went out of his way to declare the officer innocent. The lady doctor left Pakistan to the safety of a foreign country.
Then yet another helpless woman was raped. She named police Officers, including an influential SP of Faisalabad. Inquiry officers were appointed. After a thorough investigation they found strong evidence against the SP. No action was taken against him. The police did not even register an FIR.
To confuse matters, the Punjab government appointed another inquiry officer who gave a biased report against the young woman. She is still clamouring for justice. Those of us who have seen the demise of justice and governance in this country in the last 40 years, particularly under dictatorships, can see the well-connected SP being protected by his godfathers.
After seeing the plight of the helpless woman for months and the disgust of the law-abiding citizens at the attitude of those in authority, the highest court of the land took charge of the matter.
After three honourable judges of the Supreme Court had examined the record and had heard the parties, they found the report of the two inquiry officers initially appointed, Mr Zafar Qureshi and Mr Bharwana, based on evidence. Still no action was taken by the provincial establishment against the accused SP.
The Supreme Court had to order that he be arrested. The court praised the professional competence and honesty of the DIG, Mr Zafar Qureshi. In any fair and honest government such an officer would have an assured career and a bright future. Not in Pakistan.
Recently, Mr Zafar Qureshi was told not to attend his office as his services were not required any more. Honesty and competence have long ceased to be sought after qualities in Pakistan.
This action of the Punjab government raises a very serious question. The Supreme Court of Pakistan had praised the professional competence and honesty of Mr Zafar Qureshi. His removal from service within days of the Supreme Court’s order ridicules the findings of the highest court of the land. Isn’t the defiant message that the government is giving to the court as well as to the country is that its dictate is absolute; it is above the law and it can disregard the Supreme Court’s order. Doesn’t this amount to contempt of court?
MUNAWAR AKHTAR
Islamabad
THE opposition’s refusal to cooperate with the government in the task of rescue, relief and rehabilitation of the earthquake victims showed meanness on their part. They instead set up their camps not to boost the national effort but to project their political parties.
This was followed by another unscrupulous act of boycotting the donors’ conference. I consider the opposition’s absence from the meeting in which delegates from all over the world were participating as disloyalty to the country and the nation.
Whatever the opposition may think of President Musharraf, it is the projection of Pakistan as an emerging world power by his government that brought overwhelming international response for help to the earthquake victims.
Again, it was his international stature and personal influence that brought all the big leaders reeling to Pakistan and offering aid to rehabilitate those who survived the disaster.
Hats off to President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz for collecting $5.8 billion from the donors to cover the estimated cost of rehabilitation and reconstruction.
If Qazi Hussain Ahmad, Maulana Ata-ur-Rahman or any of their followers was at the helm of affairs, I am sure we would not have collected even $1 billion.
RAFI NASIM
Lahore
AT present we can see the poor performance of the transport system between Rawalpindi and Islamabad. I have used this and found it to be very unsatisfactory. The operators fill up the buses like they are taking the prisoners to their destination and the bus conductor treats passengers like animals.
The services cause so much inconvenience to the public that they are forced not to avail of it. Transporters are increasing their fares day by day for which the authorities should put into place a proper checking mechanism.
The employees of the transport services should also be given proper training.
M. TAUQEER JAMAL
Islamabad
THIS has reference to your front-page report (Nov 24): “He (the PM) justified construction of GHQ in Islamabad at an approximate cost of Rs500 billion and said the project was being carried out by the sale of the army’s own lands.”
If this be true, why do we need to appeal for $6 billion from foreign donors. (This six billion includes a $4 billion loan, raising our beggar status still higher and our loan-servicing still more painful.) All we need to do is not to shift the GHQ, which seems to be doing fine from its current location.
NAEEM SADIQ
Karachi
THE government has once again slapped a ban on serving meals at weddings, but the adamant find ways of deceiving the law by stating that the said function was a “milad”, “aqiqa, etc. Hosts of upcoming weddings were given a month’s notice but it is evident from the issuance of wedding cards that a proper dinner will be served.
The department responsible for ensuring that the law is followed for obvious reasons keeps its eyes shut, as a result of which the purpose of the law to reduce wasteful spending is defeated.
RAFI ADAMJEE
Karachi
THE second Test match at Faisalabad between Pakistan and England ended in a draw, very much the expected result after England had responded well enough to nearly put up the same total as Pakistan in the first innings.
For Pakistan the key was the ever-dependable Inzamam who delivered tons in each innings; the first one to equal the legendary Javed Miandad’s record of Test match centuries and the second to surpass it.
More importantly, from Pakistan’s point of view, was the timing of both of Inzamam’s centuries during Pakistan’s innings as both were equally important at the juncture his innings took place. Inzamam, I feel, will be the difference at the end of this series that hopefully will conclude with a much deserved Pakistani victory.
The umpiring aspect of the game was one that has once again raised many questions. Although a few decisions did favour Pakistan, umpiring standards have to be set high in the context of the availability of technology and full awareness of applicability and ultimate exercise of decisions based on cricketing laws.
It seems that with Inzamam’s first inning’s decision the third umpire “might be” sent back to school.
Umpire Daryl Hair should also be inquired about his warnings and more so about how consistently he was awarding them.
About the Shahid Afridi incident, I guess he just couldn’t resist “squashing” that “beetle” on the pitch.
SAMEER ALI
Karachi
BIENG a developing country which undergoes frequent power cuts, due to a shortage of power, why is it that the local authorities regard it acceptable to allow the lights of the newly-made beach park in Karachi’s Clifton to remain lit throughout the night (from early evening until 7 or 8am).
It is amazing especially because the lights in the park are not only numerous but they are also of the very powerful variety of lights which consume a large amount of electricity.
When will the relevant local authorities notice such blatant and bizzare waste of our scarce resources?
NAVAID M.
Karachi
THIS is with reference to an article regarding the absence of public toilets in Pakistani cities. Any country or city which lacks in any one of the five Ts — good Teachers, Toilets, Traffic, Trees and Time consciousness — can not be considered to be in the comity of good nations.
Can any one confidently claim that Pakistan is adequate in any one of these Ts? So much for good governance.
FAROOQ DAWOOD
Karachi
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