| November 30, 2005 | Wednesday | Shawwal 27, 1426 |
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AWACs deal
Cellphone theft
Streetlights
Teacher’s odyssey
Dr Yusra’s death
‘Caring for animals’
Maulana Qadri’s visit
Wrong on Sharon
Karachi varsity teachers
Bans all the way
Self-respect
ALL EXPERTS by implication (Opinion Nov 13 & 16, Letters Nov 17, 19, 26) seem to agree that most children in all provinces in Pakistan start with a serious handicap when it comes to learning. They are taught in one or the other ‘foreign language’ from the very start. Here by a ‘foreign language’ what I mean is any language that is not one’s mother tongue — the language in which one does not dream.
The natural link between the identity of a person and his mother tongue can never be replaced by any foreign language. Therefore, the act of thrusting any alien language, and hence culture associated with that foreign language, on another group which has its own linguistic/literary, social and cultural traditions creates a sense of confusion, alienation and an inferiority complex. It is especially true when the targets are small children who at some stage in their life are bound to discover the truth.
Unfortunately, the issue of language has been politicized from day one of the short history of Pakistan. That the language can be used as a tool for gaining control and superiority in order to extract undue material benefits has undoubtedly hurt educational, social, cultural and economic well-being of the country and instead has created an environment of pseudo-superiority/inferiority complex that divides and hinders national unity, harmony and real progress. Education is the worst hit sector as is evident from abysmal performance of educational institutions and the quality of graduating students.
The rejection of the natural right of learning in one’s mother tongue of a group of people by another sister group in a nation is equivalent to denigrating that whole group as inferior, insignificant and unimportant. Real or perceived control or deprivation of one group of a society vis-à-vis ‘the other’ is certainly not good for anybody and most definitely is not in the larger national interests of the country. It is only responsible that those who enjoy some level of maturity and controlling position look beyond little and immediate benefits in the larger interest of true and lasting national interests.
Why go on depriving all children of their opportunity of learning in their mother tongue in all provinces of Pakistan? Let naturally developing neural networks of their brains make them what they naturally are and not confuse them about what they can never be by misdirecting neurons in their brains at such early stages of their mental development. We need to stop this land from playing cuckoos’ nest and must help it produce its own chicks.
Responsibility demands the recognition of the natural human rights of all. This way all are bound to benefit.
DR. MUHAMMED AFZAL SHAHID
Via Email
IQTEDAR A. Khan in his letter (Nov 23) has defended the AWACs deal finalized by the government with Sweden. Giving various reasons, he says: “A well-equipped and armed country is always in a stronger position.” I ask him, at what cost should a country become armed and made stronger? Most of our population is illiterate, and has little or no access to adequate health facilities, poverty is on the rise, law and order is dismal, and prices are soaring. What benefit has all the fancy weaponry, purchased at enormous cost (with even bigger kickbacks) given us ordinary citizens, the wretched “civilians” as we are called?
When the earthquake hit us, did the nuclear arsenal help, or the F-16s, or the bullet-proof cars bought for our VIP’s, or the mansions that they live in? No it was the volunteers, the wretched “civilians” who made the difference.
If only our so-called leaders(who in fact are the servants of the public, because we pay for them just as we pay for our domestic help), start thinking logically. We don’t want war with anyone, not even India, because there are also human beings living on the other side of the border. We need to sign peace treaties with our neighbours, we need to stop interfering in the affairs of other countries, and divert the resources thus saved to provide health and education to our own people. That is the only way we can truly become strong.
People who hold such views only try to fool others into believing their misconceived ideas of how Pakistan can become strong. The fact is that Pakistan’s strength lies in its people, not in weapons.
KHADIJA KHASHE
Karachi
I LOST my brand new mobile phone, two days after buying it, on July 20. First I called the mobile phone network and got my SIM blocked and then in accordance to CPLC’s instructions, I called the CPLC Karachi to formally lodge a complaint. I was given a complaint number (13135) on the same day after providing them with my IMEI number. In the last four months, I have called the CPLC several times to find out if my mobile phone has been recovered but have been told that no one has contacted the CPLC yet to lodge a complaint against the blocking of his “new” SIM or cell phone number.
If the CPLC is not in a position to recover lost or stolen mobile phones, then why have they asked people to register a complaint with the CPLC office? After a lapse of four months, I am of the opinion that registering a mobile phone-related complaint with the CPLC is just a waste of time as the CPLC is only interested in maintaining a data on how many mobile phone sets are lost, stolen or snatched at gun point in the city everyday. The tall claims made by the CPLC are just an eye wash to prevent people from making a hue and cry against the worsening law and order situation in the city.
ABDUR RAHEEM
Karachi
It was after a struggle lasting several years that in May streetlights were installed by the Gulshan Town administration on the double-track road running between Blocks 1 and 15 in Gulistan-i-Jauhar.
However, since their installation, most of the lights remain out of order or are not lit from time to time. In the past three weeks I have lodged several complaints in this regard with the relevant KESC customer service centre located in Block 16 of Gulistan-i-Jauhar.
Every time I call the centre (at 4617884) the person on the other side gives an assurance that the lights will be fixed in a day or two, but the promise is not kept. On Nov 18, I visited the centre about 5pm. I saw six people sitting behind the fortified counter, all busy in animated conversation with one another.
First, they remained indifferent to my presence, but on my insistence that my complaint about the streetlights be registered, one of them said the KESC was not responsible for any streetlights. He said it was the city government which was responsible for maintaining streetlights and that I should take my complaint to the union council concerned.
Will the KESC please clarify this matter?
SHAMEEM AHMAD
Karachi
I AM a retired professor who taught sociology at Government National College for 27 years. I retired in 1996 as an associate professor and head of the department and have since translated into English seven well-known religious books. I would like to continue teaching but unfortunately no institution is prepared to avail of my services.
I even managed to see the present governor of Sindh who referred my application for the job of professor to the vice chancellor of Karachi University.
The VC, after a long time, asked the chairman of the concerned department to ask me to become a casual guest speaker which does not offer any remuneration.
Then I went to Islamabad to present my application for the job of a teacher at KU to the president of Pakistan but was denied access as I had no prior appointment.
I managed to talk to the president’s military secretary who told me about the impossibility of meeting the president but asked me to send my application to the president’s camp office which I did.
After several phone calls for about a month I was told to contact the deputy military secretary who told me to resend my application which I lost no time in doing. It took about 20 days to learn that my application was sent to one of the departments of the President House.
It took another 20 days (and several phone calls) to discover that the ill-fated application had been forwarded to the VC of KU, who I should contact immediately. When I approached him, the VC’s adviser told me that my application was being considered and that the VC did not think it necessary to meet me.
After about 10 days I received a letter from the adviser ordering me to accept the same offer of “guest speaker” originally made to me two years ago, which offered no payment. I wrote a letter to the VC telling him the whole story but 20-odd days on, and I have still not heard anything. I have also sent copies of this letter to the president, the prime minister, Sindh governor and the Higher Education Commission chairman, but it is all in vain. Long live our state rulers, mentors and benefactors.
Today a poor teacher and a senior citizen — after bearing the heavy burden of travelling more than thousands of kilometres, having borrowed thousands of rupees — cannot reach the caretaker of his people to get his grievances heard.
PROF MANZOOR AHMAD KHAN
Karachi
ON Nov 20 our beloved friend Dr Yusra Afaq passed away. Since her demise the cause of her death has been shrouded in mystery. Some say it was Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) which she contracted during a visit to Malaysia. She was in Malaysia from Aug. 13-25. Given this information, it seems impossible that she could have contracted the virus overseas.
Yusra fell ill on Nov. 12. The maximum incubation period for any haemorrhagic virus is 21 days. By the time she fell ill it had already been 78 days since her visit to Malaysia, which means that she must have contracted the virus in Karachi. She was admitted to the AKU’s ICU on Nov 16. Doctors at that time suspected that she may have CCHF but later ruled this out on Nov 19. All we know is that she died of a viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) which can be caused by 113 different types of viruses. A proper diagnosis is still lacking.
Lots of cases are still being reported with the same signs and symptoms and many of them have met the same fate as that of Dr Yusra. Have all these people been to Malaysia? The authorities must look into the matter and take necessary action because we don’t want to lose another friend, sister/ brother, daughter/son, wife/ husband, to this deadly virus.
A FRIEND
Karachi
YOU deserve congratulations on your editorial ‘Caring for animals’ (Nov 25) for bringing to public attention a very important aspect of relief and rehabilitation work in earthquake-hit areas of NWFP and AJK.
It has been rightly pointed out that livestock was one of the major livelihood earners for the people of these areas, and that it was the only source of a balanced nutrition for the people living in villages high in the hills. In addition, it was also a readily cashable asset. In the post-quake chaos, surviving animals were under great stress and thus prone to outbreak of disease.
As a livestock professional employed in the Punjab government’s livestock and dairy development department, I would like to share with your readers a bit of the work our department has done. We immediately liaised with the authorities concerned and with field veterinarians in the affected areas, assessed the on-ground situation and threat to the livestock which had survived. On the basis of these real-time reports, a comprehensive veterinary relief initiative was chalked out.
The first phase of the initiative catered to the emergent needs and has been successfully completed.
It included delivery of concentrated feed and vaccines worth Rs2 million, 20 tons of dry forage and necessary technical assistance in establishment of temporary field veterinary facilities.
In the second phase, activities such as distribution of poultry units in the quake-affected areas to provide sustenance to the affected people, and arranging donations of veterinary drugs and medicines from pharmaceutical companies are being undertaken in collaboration with the Pakistan Veterinary Medical Association.
Having said that, I agree that this is but a meagre effort in the face of the massive loss and the threat that remains. A lot more needs to be done on a long-term basis.
DR SYED RAFAQAT ALI
Lahore
THIS is with reference to Mr S. Qadri’s letter (Nov 25) in which he talked about Maulana Ajmal Qadri’s visit to Israel and his (the maulana’s) saying that Israel should be recognized. Whatever Maulana Qadri is doing may or may not be appropriate, but as an observer I was amused to see that to prove him wrong Mr S. Qadri was making some irrational points.
Whether or not Israel should be recognized is surely one debate that is raging in our country. But whatever the decision be, it should be made on a rational and pragmatic basis, putting aside any religious or other views, while also keeping in mind the interest of the state and the people. I don’t see how the opinion of any descendent of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jillani is important in this matter.
HAROON RIAZ
Rawalpindi
YOUR newspaper erroneously mentioned in a recent editorial that Ariel Sharon left Likud because he felt that Likud members were ‘not hawkish enough’, implying that hence his new party — Kadima — is hawkish and which will further expand the settlements. This is plainly incorrect.
In fact, the opposite is true. Sharon broke away from Likud because of the hawkishness of its members and formed a centrist party named Kadima. Ariel Sharon is the only Israeli politician capable of reaching peace with the Palestinians, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said in an interview published recently. It can be accessed at http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L27184783.htm.
It would be also good if your editorials also mentioned the mess the Palestinians have made of Gaza. Is their any development taking place in Gaza?
SHAMSHAD ALI
Maryland, US
THIS refers to the news item “KU teachers refuse to soften stand”, (Dawn, Nov 25) and the editorial, ‘Indiscipline on campus’, (Nov 24) about an ugly incident of maltreatment of Dr Mujeeb Ahmed, a KU faculty member.
The way Dr Ahmed has been supported by his fellow academics is commendable. As a member of the academic community, I express my full solidarity with Dr Ahmed and other colleagues of Karachi University.
The hooligans who misbehave with teachers like this clearly have backing from powerful quarters. Sometimes, this backing comes from the rival groups of teachers.
I hope that teachers and administrations of other universities in Pakistan will follow the example of Karachi University in safeguarding the rights of the teachers.
DR MEHTAB ALI SHAH
Sindh University,
Jamshoro
THOUGH not over, it seems that the cricket series between England and Pakistan will be remembered as the worst umpired. Shahid Afridi has been banned because he tried to roughen the pitch. There are several others who must be banned as well. Ian Bell must be banned for claiming an unfair catch. Simon Taufel must be banned for not referring that catch to the third umpire. Steve Harmison must be banned for unsporting behaviour. Darrel Hair must be banned for referring Inzamamul Haq’s evasive reaction to Harmison’s throw to the third umpire.
TV umpire Nadeem Ghauri must be banned for incompetence. Both the captains must be banned for not completing the daily quota of overs. Match referee Roshan Mahanama must be banned for using different yardsticks to judge the same errant behaviour. No comments on Billy Bowden’s decisions — these are already history. How about banning the ICC for nominating incompetent umpires and match referees? This will save us, the cricket fans, from a lot of grief and anguish.
KHALID M. KHAN
Karachi
SHAHID Afridi’s scuffing of the Faisalabad Test pitch is something that everyone should be ashamed of. It is bad sportsmanship. What I cannot understand is that Afridi had already made a blistering 92 in the match and Pakistan had an upper hand until the end of the third day of the test match, so what was the need to do something so silly and dishonest?
What exactly triggered him to do such a thing in front of two umpires, a TV umpire, a match referee and a large crowd of spectators. Also, did he not think that in today’s high-tech era everything that the players do is caught on camera?
Even a layperson knows that when there is a break in the match, the cameras fixed at various positions keep recording footage. At least one is always looking at the centre of the pitch taking live pictures of whatever happens to be going on.
Every player playing for the national team is an ambassador of the country and such acts are not taken as individual acts but as those representing the team as a whole and could tarnish the country’s image. Our players should refrain from doing such things. Pakistani cricketers in the past were also accused of ‘ball tampering’ on more than one occasion which was also caught on camera.
ANAS A KHAN
Edmonton, AB, Canada
Mukhtaran Mai is again in the news after receiving the award in the US. Hats off to the lady who has shown the courage to stand up against dogmatism in our country.
I am surprised that both treasury and opposition benches are quiet about it, so are the ladies in parliament.
The biggest tribute that we, as a nation, can pay to Mukhtaran Mai is to ensure that the culprits in the case are punished. This would help the rest of the world to realize that we are also a nation with respect and can display enlightened moderation.
S. JAMEEL HUSSAIN
Karachi
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