| February 5, 2006 | Sunday | Muharram 6, 1427 |
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‘Standard of education’
Central cotton committee
‘The uniform issue’
Bus route
Post-graduate medicine in UK
Abolish provinces?
Corruption
Transparency
Malir housing scheme
Ibn Battuta
WESTERN governments used to believe that free and fair elections provided absolute legitimacy but then came the Palestinian elections and Hamas. Reading all the diatribes from Washington, London and other EU capitals after Hamas’s crushing victory has got one thinking — how do they do it keeping a straight face?
Do what, you ask, how do they actually maintain a straight face while consistently contravening their very own principles? But don’t they have a point, you ask: surely a party which has now been elected to government must eschew violence and renounce its belief in regime change.
The irony of such fallacious arguments fails to be appreciated by supporters of George Bush’s neo-conservative Republican Party who have done nothing but engage in perpetual violence since 2001. Nor is it really credible to complain about regime change in Tel Aviv while simultaneously working to initiate regime change in Tehran and Damascus. Of course, the fact that Israel has violently swept the unitary Palestinian state that existed in 1948 off the map is neither here nor there.
However, the above points aren’t the key ones; what is more serious is the ubiquitous depredation of principle we are seeing these days, whether its Google’s surrender to China, the ethical vacuum in Washington or the rollback of fundamental values in the ‘war on terror’. This is important because the key strength of a principle is to gauge its resilience when faced with difficulties and challenges, the acid test being that a principle is only a principle if its inconvenient to apply it.
Principles that constantly have to be diluted are a barometer of the parlous state of a particular way of life. As each day goes by in the ‘war on terror’, more and more cherished cows are now being slaughtered on such a regular basis that it is difficult to know what to do with all the beef.
Western governments used to believe that people had a right to a fair trial but then came Guantanamo Bay.
Western governments used to believe that people should not be subject to arbitrary arrest but then came extraordinary rendition. Western governments used to believe that the rule of international law was sacrosanct but then came the unilateral invasion of Iraq. Western governments used to believe that people should not be subject to torture in any circumstances but then came the outsourcing of prisoners to Egyptian and Syrian dungeons.
Western governments used to believe that prisoners of war should not be subject to inhumane treatment but then came Abu Ghraib. Western governments used to believe that individuals had the right to privacy but then came unauthorised wiretaps and surveillance. Western governments used to believe that individuals had the right to be told what they were charged with but then came 28 days pre-charge detention.
Western governments used to believe in the freedom of speech but then came the planned offence of the “glorification of terrorism” and the proscription of non-violent groups. Western governments used to believe that people could defend themselves if they were invaded but then came the labelling of Afghan and Iraqi resistance as terrorist. Western governments used to believe that civilians should be spared the horrors of war but then came the use of white phosphorous and depleted uranium. Western governments used to believe that nuclear non proliferation was for all states as contained in the NPT but then came mini-nukes and missile defence shields.
To repeat, western governments used to believe that free and fair elections provided absolute legitimacy but then came the Palestinian elections and Hamas.
Of course, there are an ideal or two still left — the pursuit of expediency over principle for instance.
SAJJAD KHAN
Via email
THE Karachi City Police recently started but later cancelled a drive against cars with tinted classes. According to a report, 207 cases were registered and 228 people were arrested. A total of 78 cases were registered by the Clifton Police alone. Although the drive was necessary, it was reportedly abandoned at the intervention of some higher-ups as those checked included some influential people.
Before launching such drives, the government should look into the merits and demerits of an issue. In this case, it should first be ascertained why people use tinted glasses in their vehicles. It is believed that some do so to keep the sun out. Some assume that tinted glasses form some kind of a status symbol. They should see everybody and nobody should see them. The police might also be right in their assessment, that vehicles with tinted glass can be used in kidnapping for ransom cases.
Initiating drives in fits and starts is counter productive. The authorities should educate and train staff about how to behave with the public during such campaigns and the purpose for which they are undertaken.
Moreover, when other serious traffic violations are being committed with impunity, why are the traffic police focussing on minor issues? It would be desirable if the home minister ordered action against the use of tape-recorders and pressure horns in minibuses in the city and other traffic violations. Every problem can be tackled but by seeing it in its right perspective. Meaningless drives will bring no relief.
ZAHEER AHMED KHAN
Karachi
I REFER to the letter from Mr. Tahir Mehmood Malik (February 4) under the caption “Standard of education”. We appreciate the positive comments made by Mr. Malik about the functioning of the Higher Education Commission (HEC). However, Mr. Malik has wrongly attributed the creation of new universities in various provinces to the HEC. The charters to the new universities are given by the different provincial governments and not by the commission.
The matter of mushrooming of sub-standard universities was considered at a meeting of the federal cabinet held in February 2002 and it took serious note of the situation and decided to give a five-year grace period to these institutions to meet certain minimum benchmarks failing which their charters will be withdrawn. The deadline expires on February 26, 2007.
The matters was reconsidered at a meeting of the Chancellors Committee on May 11, 2004 which was chaired by the president of Pakistan and attended by the prime minister, the four governors (who are chancellors of the provincial universities), the president of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and others. It was unanimously decided by all the chancellors that no relaxation would be given and all public and private universities which did not meet the minimum cabinet criteria would have their charters cancelled and they would be converted into affiliated colleges.
The Higher Education Commission has been publishing full-page advertisements in all major national newspapers alerting the public about this situation. The commission is thus doing everything possible under the law and working closely with the provinces to enforce high quality standards and shutdown third rate institutions, which are causing a huge damage to the higher education sector in Pakistan.
PROF ATTA-UR-RAHMAN
Chairman, HEC, Islamabad
THIS is apropos of the letter (Feb 4) by Mian Iftikhar Afzal, former vice-president of the PCCC, whose illustrious father, Mian Muhammad Afzal, the top cotton researcher of the country, was instrumental in the establishment of the committee in 1948. I am grateful to Mr Iftikhar Afzal for raising his voice at the great injustice done to the PCCC.
This shows that the country’s ministry of agriculture, to which the PCCC is attached for administrative control, could not resist the pressure of the KPT and the land leased to the PCCC for more than 50 years is rumoured to have been released to the US consulate for its relocation there.
The country’s apex research organisation has been out to be housed in Hussain Plaza, a commercial highrise building on the main Sharea Faisal, which is noisy and congested.
Such deliberate cases of injustices deserve to be investigated to bring out the facts before the well-designed and well-built-building is demolished.
M. SHAFIQUE AHMED
Karachi
AS a small cotton grower, having some acres in Sindh and living in Karachi, I am shocked to read in your paper that the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC) and its laboratories with their paraphernalia have been ejected out of their building on M.T. Khan Road, Karachi, and they have taken shelter in a plaza, originally built for commercial purposes.
Why has the PCCC been made to so surreptitiously vacate its building and laboratories located at an ideal place?
I fully endorse the suggestion that the PCCC may be restored to its old building and funds not be wasted on its relocation.
ABDUL RAZZAQUE
Karachi
THANK you for taking us through the khaki history of Pakistan in your editorial of Feb 1 — too bad that the target subject won’t read it as he so dismissingly mentioned once that he doesn’t bother to scan local papers. And now the Punjab chief minister and the information minister wish him (“on popular demand,” no doubt) to go beyond 2007 in fatigues and the prospect seems so daunting for this nation. Under the circumstances, your editorial, though right on the money, is gentle and innocuously mild. This language is no more understood in the power-pit of Islamabad.
Since various constitutions so far devised and framed by both generals and politicians have failed to prevent the intrusion of armed forces into politics, the Alliance for Reforms and Democracies in Asia (ARDA) has recently called for amending the very Army Act that would forbid any army chief to go beyond his tenure and engage in politics. (Dawn, Jan 22).
It is not a bad idea. Perhaps the prospect of field court martial will act as a permanent deterrent for future Bonapartes. So far constitutional and civil methods have failed to keep the general out of politics.
ASLAM MINHAS
Karachi
TRANSPORT facilities in Karachi’s Shadman Town areas like 14-A, 7D/1, 7D/2, 7D/3 and 7D/4 are scanty, putting residents to great trouble. Only the U-route minibus comes from Sakhi Hassan Chowrangi to Habibia Chowrangi (Anda Mor). No other conveyance is available from Sakhi Hassan or the Five-Star Chowrangi.
I would request the transport minister and the Karachi city nazim to look into the matter and issue instructions for extending the bus route of 2-K, which now ends near Sakhi Hassan, to cover Qalandria Chowk, Habibia Chowk, Shah Muhammed graveyard, etc.
NISAR AHMED
Karachi
NUMEROUS letters have been published regarding the post-graduation programme undertaken by doctors from Pakistan in the UK. The one by Dr Faisal M. Siddiqui “Post-graduate medicine in UK” (Jan 30) describes the grim situation which graduates from Pakistan fail to realize.
There was a time when the UK needed doctors to fill its health needs. The situation is more like an overflow of doctors there now. With the commencement of the foundation programme, many young doctors are leaving their house jobs here in Pakistan to join the F1 programme. What the graduates don’t simply seem to understand is that the foundation programme has been made to adjust local UK graduates.
With severe competition arising amongst UK and overseas graduates, entry into F1 will be tough. Once the doctor who has left his house job here and gone to the UK and doesn’t get a job he will land nowhere. The most he will be able to do is locums, which are not approved for post-graduate training from the royal colleges. He will not be able to join any post-graduate training in the UK because one needs a valid house job certificate to appear for the FCPS examination. This vicious cycle will leave the Pakistani doctor in the midst of nothing. He will not be able to join any training in the UK nor in Pakistan. The best way to handle this issue may be to:
1. Complete your internship (house job). This is your back-up for Pakistan. Even if you land up nowhere, you will always have something to cheer about once you return to your homeland.
2. Complete the intermediate module of the FCPS, then go for specialist training. The UK doesn’t need young graduates; it requires doctors who have some post-graduate experience. If one goes after clearing the intermediate module, he will be at competition with the graduates coming out of the two-year foundation programme.
DR SYED HASNAIN MUJTABA
Karachi
DURING the past six decades of our nation’s history one has become sick of slogans of provincialism, regionalism and nationalism, all aimed at bashing Punjab, whether on the the national finance award or water sharing from dams. The only solution to endless bickering on these issues appears to lie in demolishing provincial boundaries and strengthening district governments.
Let each nazim be called a district governor with his district council members/advisers. Just imagine how much savings can be made with the abolition of all provincial ministers and MPAs with all their perks and allowances.
At the central level we may have a directly elected president and a central legislative body to make uniform laws for the country. The president may appoint his council of ministers from both the elected MNAs and other intellectuals nominated by him. The senate may also be disbanded as only a unicameral house will run the affairs of the state.
DR M. YAQOOB BHATTI
Lahore
THIS has reference to Manzoor Ali Isran’s letter “Corruption: NAB move” (Jan 27). A significant proportion of our growth is consumed by corruption and it has increased since Gen Musharraf took over, NAB or no NAB. The three-pronged attack is really two-pronged pre-emptive and prosecutorial/penal. Monitoring is basically keeping a watchful eye and no more.
The penal approach to accountability has hardly worked — look at our 58 years’ record. It has generated immunity (also to martial laws), but we need to continue with it to attack the sins of commission and hope that something works out.
The nature of the pre-emptive approach is preventive. There is no incentive for this at all as the relevant institutional arrangements do not exist. What is required are administrative courts independent of the judicial system in consonance with our Islamic heritage.
They are in vogue in many countries with excellent results. Such courts have the personnel and budget to look into the sins of omission which have generated infinitely more harm than the sins of commission. May those who guide our destiny understand this; only then we will be able to contain, not eliminate, corruption.
MASOOD HASAN
Lahore
I have been a regular reader of many international newspapers, but the transparency of Dawn needs appreciation. I have never seen such fine editorials even in Indian newspapers.
For example you published in the opinion section of the Jan 31 edition the article “Pakistan is losing ground” by by Shahid Javed Burki. The issue with Pakistan is not lack of talent, but the way it is used. The ruling establishment has to get over the “India syndrome” and try and be itself. For example, it never needed civilian nuclear energy till India started working on it. Instead of cultivating an “anti-India” image (which is what the world now knows it as and nothing else), it should focus on its positive aspects.
Pakistan is a country bestowed with the best of talent, but it is being wasted as a new generation takes over. Newspapers like Dawn can ignite fresh thought processes, so that Pakistan assumes its rightful place in the world.
VIKRAM RATHORE
Toronto, Canada
I AM writing this in response to the Karachi city nazim’s directive for development and handing over of plots of the Malir Housing Scheme to the allottees. This will mitigate residential problems of the middle class/white collar people.
The poor allottees of various other housing schemes now look for similar help and orders from the nazim. About 20 years ago many private ompanies/sponsors floated housing schemes at Surjani Town, Gulistan-i-Jauhar, etc., offering open plots (fully developed) or built-up houses/flats on instalments, which were duly approved/permitted by the then KBCA and on the basis of the KBCA permission many people booked plots and houses.
The allottees have fulfilled their part and paid the amount as per the agreement made at the time of booking but most unfortunately, with the help of corrupt KBCA staff, the sponsors have not fulfilled their obligations. The land is not developed, water-sewerage lines are not laid. No work has been done for gas or electricity and even undevelopd plots are not handed over even if requested.
Likewise, in cases of built-up houses and flats, houses have not been built or if flats are constructed, finishing has not been done and possession is not given although people have obtained loans from the HBFC in the names of allottees who are receiving notices from the HBFC for repayment.
I request the nazim to order the old KBCA staff to provide him all details of housing schemes permitted by the KBCA daring the last 20 years and inquire from sponsors as to why they have not completed the schemes within the schedule as per agreed terms and conditions.
MURTAZA JAMAL
Karachi
MR M.J. Akbar in his article “Somalis take comfort in the past” (Jan 26) has narrated in a very captivating manner the history and culture of Somalia and the once ‘forbidden’ city of Harar, located in the Ogaden desert, southeast of Ethiopia. He has, however, mistakenly mentioned Ibn Battuta as a Tunisian-born traveller of the 13th century.
Shamsuddin Abu Abdullah Muhammad Abdullah, more generally known by his family name as Ibn Battuta, was born at Tangier, Morocco, on Feb 27, 1304. He was thus a Moroccan and lived in 14th century.
As a young man, Ibn Battuta studied law and in 1325 he left his native town first for pilgrimage to Makkah. However, later on he started walking around the world and travelled as far as India and China in the east; traversed almost the entire north of African continent, Spain, Central Asia and also visited Constantinople the capital of the Byzantine Empire. He died on 1368 in a small town of Morocco.
MANZOOR H. KURESHI
Karachi
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