| February 27, 2006 | Monday | Muharram 28, 1427 |
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Muslim anger
Bush and South Asia
Islamic humanitarian law
A painful experience
Pakistan’s defeat in ODI series
Dick Cheney and Noor Jehan
Brain drain
Hudood laws
THE bombing of the Imam Ali-al-Hadi shrine in Samarra (and its tragic aftermath), with ensuing consequences for Islamic solidarity, is a transparent counter to the unity of thought and action, transcending sects, regions or political persuasions, displayed by the entire Islamic world recently in response to the unprovoked publication of the scurrilous caricatures. This solidarity was a main target of the Samarra attack, designed to provoke sectarian passions into channels destructive of Iraqi and Islamic unity.
I cannot help recalling vividly the apprehensions felt by many observers here at the probability of sectarian bitterness being fuelled further by the recent public remarks by US ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, relating to inflammatory sectarian issues. These apprehensions have been borne out so tragically and so soon. Whether the ambassador anticipated or not the possible consequences of his public statements is another matter.
While there have been occasions recently to regret some of the radical pronouncements of the Iranian leadership, the most positive intervention in the context of the current Iraqi crisis has come from Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who accurately described the Samarra bombing as “a political crime”, thus clearly distinguishing it from sectarian motives or hatred. He urged all Muslims to avoid fanning the flames of sectarian hatred, declaring that “any attack on a mosque or other places revered by the Sunni Muslim community is strictly forbidden by Shariah”. Similar exhortations were made by Iraqi religious leader Ayatollah Sistani and by the influential Abdul Azeez al-Hakim. The fact that such exhortations were not heeded by certain elements shows the sacrilegious mindlessness of the reaction to the Samarra outrage. It is ironic that immediate condemnation of the Samarra attack came not from the leaders of the Arab/Islamic world but from others including President Bush, Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw. It is of utmost importance that influential Arab/Islamic leaders (including the current chairman of the OIC) exert all possible efforts, in the face of the recent horrendous happenings, to heal sectarian wounds and to promote national reconciliation. The Cairo conference, sponsored by the Arab League some weeks back, had apparently failed to achieve the desired breakthrough in this regard.
While the Islamic world does have powerful opponents, the fact is that we are our own worst enemies. If the Iraqis now allow themselves to be torn asunder in suicidal, sectarian and ethnic confrontations, this would jeopardise not only Iraq’s integrity as one state, as well as the stability of the Gulf region but would also risk the indefinite continuation of foreign occupation. If the present efforts of UN secretary-general’s special representative in Iraq, Ambassador Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, to bring different Iraqi factions together, bear fruit, this will be a lasting feather in the cap of UN (and Pakistan) diplomacy.
MAHDI MASUD
Karachi
BLOODY demonstrations, riots and mobs in Muslim capitals are hunting for foreign embassies, multinational franchises, banks, hotels, glitzy shops, fast food jaunts, mobilephone outfits, even burning their own buildings, vehicles and assemblies (Punjab Assembly, Lahore).
The key question is whether the demonstrators have love for the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who was an embodiment of love, patience, freedom and peace. Or is there something else behind it? The same question should be put to the for Europeans - whether they do reallly love freedom of expression or are merely practising their double standards.
If the Europeans love freedom of expression, what about the research on the Holocaust? If any comment on the Holocaust hurts the feelings of Jews, then lampooning the Muslims Prophet certainly hurts not only Muslims but also any person who has studied his life.
Muslim expats are laying the foundation of a Muslim Europe, and the Europeans are afraid of this. European ethics, morality, natural sexual life, and the family system are being questioned.
Europeans should think about their real problems, not imagined ones. Their problems are social, political and economic, not religious, cultural or civilizational.
In all this discussion where are the problems of the Muslim world? Out of 57 Muslim countries (OIC members), not even a single country has a vision for democracy. Muslim youth is deprived of education, civil rights and liberties and political freedom. Gender bias, ethnic cleansing, and sectarian killings are the order of the day. Institutions either dont exist or are being demolished by monarchs, authoritarians, mullahs, ayatollahs, or generals.
Behind the Muslim anger, there is a series of deprivations and grievances. Muslim rulers should voluntarily embrace democracy and pass on power to the people. The OIC should stimulate consensus on religious tenets. Civil liberties and civil rights must be conferred on the people to build civil societies. Women must be given their rights to make them the active members of society.
Modernisation with all its aspects should be welcomed by Muslims; otherwise in the war between old and new the new is always the winner.
IRSHAD HUSSAIN
Lahore
YOUR editorial “Bush and South Asia (Feb 24)” makes interesting reading. However, your interpretation of the emerging objective conditions is too wishful, missing the actual implications of the changing geopolitical environment.
You say: “The fact is that in the last few years a triangular relationship has emerged between the US, India and Pakistan which has profound implications for South Asian politics as well as American foreign policy.”
Then you rush to the conclusions: “By joining hands together, they will be able to pre-empt any manipulation of international politics in South Asia by outside powers.”
Fareed Zakaria in his column “Nixon to China, Bush to India Newsweek, Feb 27) says: There has been remarkably little discussion in the US of what is perhaps the major strategic initiative of the Bush second term.
“The administration is pursuing an objective which, if successful, could bear similarities to Nixon’s opening to China in 1973: a proposed nuclear agreement with India. This might sound like an esoteric issue for policy wonks, but it is a big deal, if successful.
“It could alter the strategic landscape, bringing India firmly and irrevocably onto the world stage as a major player, normalizing its furtive nuclear status and anchoring its partnership with the United States.
“The Bush administration has been far-sighted on his issue. With China rising and Europe and Japan declining, it sees India as a natural partner. It also recognized that 30 years of lectures on non-proliferation and sanctions have done nothing to stop, slowdown or make safer India’s nuclear programme. Most important, it recognized that India was a rising and responsible global power — India has never sold or traded nuclear technology — that could not be treated like a rogue state. So the administration has proposed reversing three decades of (failed) American policy, and aims to make India a member of the nuclear club.”
So the under-secretary of state, Nicholas Burns, involved in spadework for Bush’s visit, says: India joined with the majority of the board of the Atomic Energy Agency to censure Iran, including a majority of non-aligned nations — like Brazil, Egypt and Sri Lanka — to vote as it did.
I hope going through all this may open new and realistic vistas of the emerging situation for enlightened citizens of Pakistan without the overload of self-interest and ulterior objectives as well as the usual Pakistani short-sightedness.
M. SALEEM CHAUDHRY
Karachi
SYED Imad-ud-Din Asad’s article on Islamic humanitarian law (Feb 24) is the sort of effort we need in order to project the true image of Islam.
Without using any emotional rhetoric —which, unfortunately, most of our writers do — the writer explained and established the greatness of the Islamic ethics of war in a very logical manner, supporting his arguments with Quranic verses and historical facts.
Indeed, it is due to the lack of awareness about the true teachings of Islam that the West harbours so many misconceptions about our faith. At the same time, the outrageous conduct of certain Muslim factions also causes a lot of confusion about the nature and ideology of this religion.
We need to learn what Islam really stands for and alos tell the West about it.
ASMA IRFAN
Lahore
ON Feb 15, I had a bitter experience travelling to Islamabad from Rawalpindi through Rawal Road. There was a public wagon ahead of us with an army jeep behind it.
By chance the wagon driver stopped his vehicle to take in some more passengers, making the young army driver wait for a few seconds.
The officer got angry at the wagon driver. He swiftly blocked the road in front of the wagon and started shouting at the driver.
An argument followed. The army man pulled the driver, an old man, out of the wagon and kicked him in front of all the passengers. Nobody dared to stop him.
How dare an army man take the law into his own hands and beat an old man and disgrace him, even if the latter was guilty of flouting traffic rules? I urge the army high-ups to take serious notice of such acts.
KASHIF QAZI
Rawalpindi
WINNING and losing is part of sports. However, when defeat is repeated, it is time to start worrying. The fourth consecutive defeat in the just concluded India-Pakistan ODI series raises a lot of questions about strategy, bad management and poor selection.
Mr Gordan Bethune, the former CEO of Continental Airlines in US, said: “ If you are going to be in the watch business, it helps to know how a watch works”. This is generally the root cause of deterioration in all spheres of business, sports and other matters in Pakistan.
The PCB is headed by a former career diplomat, whose knowledge about cricket is that of a layman. The selection committee works on ad hoc formula because the man who heads it is too busy running the national airline as a senior executive. Cricket in Pakistan is a very popular sport and the PCB is a financially sound corporation, with revenues running into billions of rupees. It requires professional management, which is available on a seven- day and 12-month a year basis. There is no room for ad-hocism.
It is the job of selection committee to select a 15-member squad for international events. Throughout the year, the selection committee has to be actively involved in domestic cricket, by being physically present in the stadium, to look out for fresh talent and closely keeping a watch on the physical fitness of individual players by their presence at net practice sessions. It is a full-time job and requires a professional, well conversant with rules and regulations of the ICC. The captain’s job is to evolve a strategy, decide the order of batting, field placement and type of bowlers to be used. The coach trains individual players, reviews their weaknesses and monitors their game.
The board and its governing body must be headed by experienced professional managers, with tons of experience in cricket management. Unfortunate reality is that the PCB and the selection committee is hostage to a few key players, who take advantage of their professional incompetence, lack of dedication or commitment.
The annihiliation of our national team in every field of the sport by India in one-day series should ring alarm bells. Our batting which was supposed to be our strength collapsed, due to defective strategy adopted by its captain. We need a coach for bowling and fielding. The PCB needs to hire the services of foreign professional coaches, who will not be involved in politics of regional cricket. The president of Pakistan in his capacity as the patron must intervene to sort things out.
T.G. Hassan
Texas, US
After playing greatly in Test matches, why did Pakistan look like minnows in ODIs all of a sudden? Besides the reasons given by Imran in his comments, I would like to mention additional points which the PCB needs to address. First, during Test series India was playing only three left -arm seamers who were not mixing up deliveries. During the ODIs, inclusion of right- arm seamers in team added dimension and variety and our batsmen struggled to adjust to the different lines . Also, the bowlers mixed up all types of deliveries nicely. Indian bowlers had to bowl to only right-handers (Salman getting out very quickly every time) and hence had no problem adjusting line and length. On the other hand, our bowling was one dimensional (only right-hand bowlers) and Indian batting was a mix-up of right and left handers and Pakistan bowlers failed to adjust to left and right combinations and hence were afraid of mixing deliveries.
Secondly, during Test series it was repeatedly shown on TV that Pakistan batsmen were playing mostly square of the wicket on the off side and were not good at playing straight or on the leg side even on the dead pitches of Test series. Indians figured this out and with the inclusion of Kaif and Raina in ODI squad these helped Yuvraj in the offside fielding and Pak batsmen were struggling for runs. Bowlers kept tight and fielders supported them equally and Pakistanis were under pressu re as great scoring shots were going to fielders for no runs or singles. Pakistani think-tank failed to figure their weaknesses in the whole series and they failed to find out the weaknesses of the opponent as well (Yuvraj and Dhoni especially.). Now Pakistan is going to Sri Lanka which has the left-right combination in both bowling and batting and Pakistanis need to find a solution now before it is too late.
OMAR
via email
IN the context of “freedom discourse, one wonders who was more free, Emperor Jehangir’s celebrated Queen Noor Jehan or US Vice-President Dick CheneE . Noor Jehan killed a washerman, not mistakenly but out of pride of her beauty. This legendry tale is beautifully depicted by Allama Shibli Noumani in a poem. Queen Noor Jehan’s castle was a restricted area. A poor washerman mistakenly trespassed it. Out of sheer pride of her beauty, Noor Jehan shot the arrow. And there was lying the body of the washerman.
“Ghairat-i-husn se Begum ne tapancha mara/Khak per dher tha ek kushtai be gor wa kafan”.
In the medieval world of monarchy, Indian Empror Jahangir had to face the music. The washerman’s wife pulled Jahangir’s chain of justice. Jahangir the monarch could not set aside the code of justice. The “mufti” was called in for verdict who ruled that the murderer (cold-blooded or otherwise) will have to face the retributive sentence of death. Finally, the “mufti” allowed compensation to the wife of the washerman, according to the Diyat and Qisas Shariat law.
With a sigh of relief, Jehangir uttered: “O Noor Jehan, gar the too kushta shudee ah men the mee kerden am”.
In Cheney’s case, according to Mr Mahir Ali (Dawn, Feb 22),the matter was hushed up.
Whittington the victim was apparently apologetic rather than the vice-president. Why? Because both of them belong to the “free world”, free to shoot, free to kill and also free to apologise even though one is a victim. His boss Bush hails freedom, “Long live freedom.” Does it mean death to justice?
DR ARIFA FARID
Karachi
OUR leaders often deliver lengthy speeches at seminars on the subject of brain drain, but no positive steps have been taken to arrest this nor have efforts been made to ask Pakistani students to return home and serve their country.
One of the reasons for the brain drain is that when Pakistani students go abroad for studies, they become so involved in their work that it becomes difficult to keep in touch with their loved ones.
Our diplomatic missions abroad also have no knowledge about the exact number of students who are studying abroad. Nor do they bother to register these students in their official records.
In case of any emergency, our diplomatic missions will not be able to extend any help to these students.
Pakistani embassies and consulates should have full knowledge about these students and regularly update their records. When our diplomatic missions celebrate Independence Day abroad, they should make it a point to invite Pakistani students so that they can remain in contact with our diplomatic missions.
Pakistan International Airline also does not offer travel concessions on international routes to Pakistani students studying abroad. It would be wise if PIA could look into amending its existing policy on students airfare so that these students get an opportunity to regularly visit Pakistan.
This will enable them to meet with their parents, relatives and friends and maintain close ties with their country of origin.
SYED A. MATEEN
Karachi
THIS IS in reference to the editorial on Hudood laws (Feb 9) which said that “nobody would object to laws that conformed to the Islamic provisions …… contained in the Holy Quran and Sunnah”. But if that is the case, why should the law be repealed rather than be amended as needed?
What, if ever, has been done to punish the misuse of Hudood and other laws by influentials? What will ensure that the revised laws on the subject will be such that their implementation is done without fear or favour?
Let all factions of our polity remember that the Holy Quran is the ultimate constitution for believing Muslims. As such, laws made in accordance with the Quran and the Sunnah do not have to be in conformity with a man-made constitution, but that all laws made must conform to the Quran and Sunnah.
Speaking of parliaments, those bodies in various parts of the world elected on democratic basis or otherwise have and can pass laws that totally violate the essence of natural laws. An example is same-sex marriages and equal rights for those who engage in these shenanigans. One could go on to state that such parliaments can through a majority vote ask people to eat dog or swine meat, if they so choose. Any form of Islam can never allow such authority to any group of people. The less said about our parliamentarians, the better. They do not qualify under any stretch of the imagination to opine on Islamic laws.
The new Hudood laws or amendments to the existing laws must ensure that no injustice is done not only to women but also to society by the influentials or those abetting wrongs by corrupt means. Heavy penalties must be approved and imposed on those who engage in such dastardly acts.
MOHAMMED HASAN
Karachi
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