| December 5, 2005 | Monday | Ziqa’ad 2, 1426 |
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National drainage programme
The decaying of Karachi
KPT fountain & KPT pensioners
Container appeal
Maulana Qadri’s visit
Soldier’s pension
Congo virus
Iraqi withdrawal
Quaidabad flyover
Indifferent police
THIS IS with reference to the editorial “Ensuring judicial probity” (Nov 22) in which the SJC has given an approval to probe allegations of misconduct against judges. While this is a welcome aspect, there are some other aspects of our judicial system, which have to come under increasing public scrutiny.
There are concerns that are being voiced in some quarters about the delays in disposal of cases and the consequent backlog that has built up over the years. There is concern about the cost of litigation and the cost of obtaining justice; about the number of under-trials in our prisons and last but not least, about the conviction rate in criminal cases in some sections of our judiciary.
Delays in the judicial process also add to the costs of justice. Equality before law does not translate itself into equality in the real sense of the term unless there is equality of access to legal processes.
Increasing the costs of dispute settlement tilts the scales in favour of the better endowed. The SJC needs to be alert to this phenomenon and efforts must be made to reduce the backlog of cases, the time taken for disposal of individual cases and also the costs of litigation.
The problem can be addressed in two ways. One is by reducing the load on courts and judges. The other is by improving the productivity and efficiency of our courts so that they can process more cases and in a faster manner.
The two approaches, if combined, could lead to a dramatic improvement in the situation as it obtains at present — as opted by different developed countries. Computerization of case records with facilities for e-filing and hearing through video-conferencing, digital signatures and other hi-tech methods are needed for cutting delays. For its part, the ‘judicial family’ must consider the ills that face our judicial system with concern and find quick solutions for them.
Any further delay in finding such solutions will only jeopardize the effectiveness of our judicial institutions. A mechanism for accountability, conceived and implemented by the judiciary itself, is the surest way to ensure judicial independence.
UMER MUMTAZ
Rawalpindi
Pakistan has over 37 million acres under irrigation and five million acres are salinized and another 10 million are partially affected. Twenty-three per cent of the country’s land is affected by varying degrees of salinization or waterlogging, and annually 100,000 acres are lost to this menace.
To arrest the deterioration of land a national drainage system was considered necessary. Initially, along the left bank of the Indus the construction of an outfall drain canal (LBOD) running through Sanghar, Nawabshah, Mirpurkhas and Badin districts was launched with the hope of permanently solving the problem of salinity and waterlogging, but it failed to generate the desired results because of structural defects at the tidal link region of Badin district. A similar exercise is being carried out along the right bank of the river Indus (RBOD).
The end-result of this project doesn’t appear to be any different. The ultimate destination of these canals is the sea where damage due to transfer of salt to the bay and estuary has yet to be determined. Otherwise these canals have proved to be the catalyst of transferring salt from one place to another, often non-salinized or waterlogged. Sindh, unfortunately, geographically a sink for the whole Indus River valley, bears the brunt not only of the LBOD and the RBOD but all drainage projects.
A case in point is the drainage scheme of Cholistan where the subsoil water is as saline as sea water (salt contents 30,000 ppm average). It is pumped out and drained through canals to evaporation ponds scattered over a vast area. Just at Sadiqabad eight pumping stations are installed, four of which are operated at a time in the direction of Daharki.
These effluents have caused considerable loss. The biological potential of the soil has seriously been eroded, its water quality degraded, habitats lost, socio-economic and environmental conditions altered, crops yield decreased and the death of animals have occurred due to drinking of saline effluents. Even Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority has taken serious note and asked for the pumping to stop. This may create an inter-provincial standoff.
To put it simply, the national drainage programme calls for a serious review and re-formulation, taking into consideration the national interest of all the land of Pakistan. Let it be pointed out here that the construction of dams and an effective drainage programme are the two sides of the same coin, because dams would stop what should be drained by the river sediments, floodwater and salts.
PROF (DR) M.Y. KHUHAWAR & PROF
(DR) M. RAFEE ARAIN
University of Sindh, Jamshoro
WHENEVER a period of relative calm begins to settle in Karachi providing residents with a feeling that the situation has taken a turn for the better, a rude shock is inevitably administered to them, recently in the form of a bomb outside PIDC house on Nov 16. The mystery about such events is that one cannot point to a triggering circumstance in these cases which one can do with terrorism related incidents that occur in other parts of the country. For example, the burning of a church in Sangla Hill is reportedly an act of retaliation to the alleged desecration of the Holy Quran by two Christians.
If we were rational people we would be most concerned about maintaining peace and order in Karachi and not just for commercial reasons. Until the early seventies Karachi was a city which vibrated with feverish economic activity which provided jobs for both professionally qualified people as well as skilled and semi-skilled workers.
The city had the potential of becoming another Bangkok, if not Hong Kong or Singapore but unfortunately things took a turn for the worst. The number of international flights touching Karachi began to dwindle, the public transport system deteriorated, the Circular Railway ground to a halt and the city lost its capacity to generate employment for the growing number of its young population. Today, the city presents a picture of almost total neglect, despite the several recently constructed flyovers.
There is a need to seriously examine the reasons for Karachi’s overall decay. In one of his recent columns, Ayaz Amir provided some insight on this, saying that shifting the capital from Karachi led to serious implications for the country. Had Karachi remained the capital, the governments over time would have ensured its development.
Planned development of a major city acts as a catalyst for the growth of the country. The growth that Thailand has achieved is in large part due to development in Bangkok. The levels of growth attained by South Korea, Taiwan and Malaysia are due to development of Seoul, Taipei and Kuala Lumpur respectively. Karachi had the potential to play the same role for Pakistan. Perhaps all is not lost yet. A turn around can still be achieved. We should start worrying about the things in our immediate surroundings insted of focussing on situations in Iraq, Iran and so forth. It is high time that we worry more about the situation in Karachi, Sangla Hill, earthquake affected areas, parts of Balochistan and the NWFP.
KHALID IDREES
Islamabad
THE KPT must be congratulated for building the world’s highest water jet (Nov 8). Its eyes are also set on another feat: construction of a 500-foot tall tower with a commercial complex and revolving restaurant on top. It seems that the KPT’s main preoccupation now is commercial ventures and grandiose structures like the above with public money. The development of the port and the welfare of its employees, present and former, is of secondary concern to them.
While the KPT engages in such frivolities, it plans to scrap the KPT employees’ pensions because the poor retired staff members dared to demand an increase in pensions, which have been stagnant for many years. Perhaps these meagre pensions are proving to be “unnecessary” expenditures for the KPT’s management. There are rumours that the present administration plan to pay pensioners off by commuting their pensions in full. They are said to have obtained applications from a few people interested in commuting their entire pensions, and misrepresented the case to the government, claiming that all pensioners want this and that this will help the KPT save a huge amount.
The majority of pensioners are totally in the dark about any such plans. The present chairman, who belongs to the navy, particularly favours doing away with this ‘useless’ burden on the KPT. One wonders if he has requested the navy to also do away with the ‘useless’ burden of pensioners. If the KPT insists on doing away with pensions, it should be made optional at the discretion of the pensioners, present and future.
MUHAMMAD HAYAT
Karachi
THIS appeal is made to all the shipping companies clearing and forwarding agencies, philanthropists and all those who deal in containers or have containers lying around unused.
Take a 10-foot container or a 20-foot container. The 20-foot container can be cut in half to make two 10-foot containers and with a little modification, i.e., windows, doors and a well ventilated built-in steel stove, put fuel, wood, coal or kerosene and dry ration, i.e., wheat flour, sugar, pulse, rice, ghee, say for eight people, sufficient for one to three months.
This container can house and feed about five to 10 persons, get it transported to the northern areas where the Russian heavy lift helicopter is available. All the helicopters will have to do is to sling load this container and just drop it or put it, where it’s most needed, that is in inaccessible areas.
Again with a little modification, say eight steel beds bolted or welded to the floor, these containers will become a mini- hospital, just use your imagination. These containers are only temporary shelters but will save many lives and help our unfortunate brothers and sisters to pass this winter in warm comfort till the summer arrives and help can reach them.
CH. AZIZ WALI MOHAMMAD
Karachi
THIS refers to the rejoinder by Mr Haroon Riaz (Nov 30) to my previous letter. He has contended that it is amusing and irrational to involve religion in formulating policy matters of the state, such as the recognition of Israel.
Maulvi Ajmal Qadri is primarily a religious leader and apparently draws his authority from being an adherent of the Qadri Order (“tariqa”). That the maulana views the Palestinian/Israeli question as a religious one is obvious from the fact that he does not pay yearly visits to Bosnia, Chechnya or Kashmir. My point was how could he go against the precedents set by greater spiritual leaders?
Even as a politician he owes the nation an explanation about the mysterious nature of what he said were secret contacts with Israel dating back to 1971 — a very sensitive and crucial time for us when Pakistan was dismembered.
Apart from that, Muslims, who form about 96 per cent of this country’s population, believe Islam is a complete way of life and the impact of major decisions on our religious well-being is of necessity considered. The one per cent or so secularists appear unconcerned about the fate of the Al-Aqsa mosque but the majority would not want the third holiest site of Islam to be endangered by a Jewish takeover.
Also, religion, not politics, was the major factor in the Indian Muslims’ decision to participate in the Turkish freedom movement led by Ataturk. Our Turk brethren are still thankful for that help and have not even forgotten that many of the local women had donated their jewellery for their struggle.
The contemporary followers of the faith worldwide have been providing moral and sometimes material support to the oppressed Muslims of Bosnia, Kosovo, Kashmir, Palestine and Chechnya for the same reason, though it is not fashionable after 9/11 to say so openly. Many Muslim countries and charities have contributed very generously for the welfare of the earthquake victims of Pakistan.
Finally, can Mr Riaz deny the importance of making the Islamic teachings about, say, “Halal rizq” (lawful earnings), “Huqooq-ul-Ibad” (human and animal rights), acquiring knowledge, having a sound moral character or helping the oppressed non- Muslims and, particularly, the Muslims, a part of our policy at the state and individual levels? There is nothing amusing or irrational about that.
S. QADRI
Karachi
ACCORDING to the military accountant-general office letter # 36/AT/Pen/3233 dated 5.9.2005, the new procedure of drawing pension for a soldier has caused deep consternation among the affected pensioners. The new instruction spells out this procedure which runs as follows:
“A pension disbursing office (GPO/S.O) will make payment of arrears up to three months’ period, after due verification, without reference to the accounts office concerned. All cases for more than three months’ arrears will be referred, with non-payment certificate, to CMP/controller concerned for authorization. The controller’s office will dispose of all such cases within seven days of receipt.”
The procedure laid out in the instruction is not only cumbersome but impractical. Most of the soldiers are working in far-flung areas, and it is not possible for them to report to their respective post offices after every three months. Also, it is just impossible for the controller office to dispose of such cases within seven days of receipt. This is called “day dreaming”.
It is reliably learnt that officials of Soldier Board Office are not accepting applications for restoration of pension with arrears. They have been instructed to ask the GPO concerned to process such cases themselves directly.
Since the procedure is impractical, it is suggested that the spouses/next of kin should be authorized to draw monthly pension on behalf of the pensioner after due verification. This is the only logical solution of problem or else the old system should be allowed to continue.
LT-COL (retd) SAFIR
A. SIDDIQUI
Karachi
THE deadly Congo virus is reported to have hit parts of Karachi and a large number of patients are said to have been admitted into local hospitals. The carrier of the deadly virus are the blood-sucking ticks and fleas which breed in mounds of filth, garbage and animal manure. These ticks and fleas then move onto the skins of scavenging animals, rodents, stray and domestic pets and finally onto humans.
Parts of residential blocks of DHA are littered with garbage and animal manure dumps. For example, starting from the edge of Creek Club and leading up to the site of the Sunday Bazaar in Phase 8 are huge dumps of filthy garbage and debris. The horticulture department of the DHA has given permission for a plants nursery right next to the water hydrant on Khayaban-i-Qasim, where a huge mound of stinking animal manure has been collected by the operator. This is the most dangerous health hazard not to mention a potential contaminant of potable water.
Administrations of the DHA, Clifton Cantonment Board, the City Nazim of Karachi and provincial health authorities must recognize their respective responsibilities and obligations by taking notice of this potential epidemic and take immediate action to remove these filthy dumps.
CONCERNED RESIDENT
Karachi
“WHITE House confirms Iraqi withdrawal plan” (Nov 28).
For quite some time President Bush was seen being in a decisive mood to choose between his idea of better name than merely being termed the anti-terror president in history and the wisdom of Cheney, the idioms of Rumsfeld.
The better idea has won — subject to its classified enclosures, if any.
Z.A. KAZMI
Karachi
PAKISTAN Steel has more than 13,000 employees. It has 600 buses to transport them from all over Karachi and Gulshan-i-Hadeed. The National Highway is the only road leading to the Steel Mills and Port Qasim. The city government managed to convince stakeholders in Karachi to invest in the city’s infrastructure. The KPT is already sponsoring two mega projects. It is for this specific reason that the Pakistan Steel also volunteered to sponsor a flyover at Quaidabad.
Work was started about six months back and a few shops were demolished to make way for the flyover. The road shoulders were excavated exposing power, telephone cables and sewerage lines and the debris was not removed fully. Due to the excavation the road width is reduced. The malfunctioning traffic signal, the scarcity of traffic policemen, the rushing wagon drivers, the stopping buses and the presence of hawkers create traffic jams daily. No construction activity is taking place for the last several months.
The Pakistan Steel has thousands of experienced hands who can design, fabricate, construct, and install a steel bridge. If this appears difficult, it can do reverse engineering of the steel bridge constructed by our Iranian friends at Clifton. A steel bridge will take less time and would not adversely affect traffic during the construction period compared to a typical RCC bridge which takes at least a year to be ready.
With the renewed economic activities and higher number of cars on the roads, more and more flyovers will be needed in all major cities, including Karachi. The Pakistan Steel will find no competition in this field and can easily dominate this market. It stands to gain maximum benefits from this particular bridge as thousands of its own employees use it daily.
S. NAYYAR IQBAL RAZA
Karachi
A RECENT incident underscored the indifference of Lahore’s police. A man with no driving licence and no proper driving training hit my mother’s car. My mother angrily asked for compensation and after a long tussle, the man accepted his mistake and agreed to pay. Everything was about to be settled when an unknown man, claiming to be the owner of a nearby building, intervened. He misbehaved and my mother called the police. After waiting for almost half an hour my mother had to resolve the matter herself. Even after everyone had gone, my mother and I waited for the police but no one came.
What kind of democratic country are we living in? A person driving without a licence is not checked by anyone. A stranger behaves in an unacceptable manner in public but no action is taken against him. Our police seem to be disinterested in all matters and the public has no respect left for them.
SANA KAMRAN
Lahore
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