| March 30, 2006 | Thursday | Safar 29, 1427 |
To send a letter to the Editor
Click here
Where is our nationalism?
Setting up of new cotton institute
‘Centenary celebrations’
Dwindling image of jail department
‘Terrorist attack on Varanasi’
Mohammad Ali
Illegal construction
Ban on a pain killer
Afghan convert
A FEW days ago I read in your esteemed paper that the Model Town administration is planning to commercialize the link road area and plans are being sent to the registrar, cooperatives societies, for approval. As a visiting town planning consultant, I am appalled to know that such important decisions are taken by administrators, without involvement of town planning experts. After reading this news, I can understand, now, why our towns and cities are in such a mess. It seems that nobody knows what town planning is about.
The planning is about improving quality of life and quality of places. Town planners are not the people who divide land into plots and make housing schemes only. They are there to help develop and build towns and communities. They are trained to help to mould the future.
First, the administration should get its master plan revised which was prepared some 80 years ago when the vehicular-traffic was, almost, non-existent. After that it should follow the approved plan. One has to visit the existing central commercial area (near the central park entrance) to find out the state of the affairs about ‘planning’ in Model Town. They have ample land and should not make mess of the existing plan. The Model Town Society needs to work on the lines of a local planning authority. We must appreciate the efforts of those people who implemented the original plan (before independence).
While revising its plan, the society should keep in mind the following points: (1) to see how the other areas around are being developed and how the revised plan fits into these developments, because when the original plan was implemented, nothing existed and the whole area was under agriculture, (2) to reduce cross-roads in residential areas and give some sort of grading to roads, i.e., main roads, secondary roads, local roads and cul-de-sacs so that policies could be evolved according to the existing/expected traffic on these roads, (3) to make only one main shopping area where people park cars and then do their shopping. The society can learn from the examples of other developed countries, (4) to keep the rapidly increasing car ownership in mind and adopt policies accordingly, (5) to develop a policy about ‘density’, meaning how many houses per hectare/acre are to be allowed while allowing subdivision of plots, and so on.
May I say that similar is the case with the LDA commercialization of 56 streets/roads of Lahore. In a recent report it was said that on these roads no neighbour consultation would be required, whereas in the current town planning practice more public participation (consultation) is done. In Britain and other developed countries, every planning application, even if it is a small extension to a house, requires consultation with the neighbours and their comments carry much weight while reaching a decision on the proposed development.
On major projects, such as an erection of a commercial building, almost whole of the street or area is consulted. Again, in the UK, very recently a Town and Country Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 has been implemented. This Act makes consultation a legal requirement and gives details how more consultation should be done.
In normal circumstances planning permissions for the change of use from residential to other uses are not granted across the board for the whole streets. Every site is checked on its own merits, i.e., how it is going to affect neighbours, whether it can support the new, increased, traffic, how it is going to fit in the surroundings, privacy and overlooking matters are to be considered, etc.
If the authority thinks that there is an urgent need to amend the existing development plan, it should follow the proper procedures. Such important decisions ought not to be taken by a single person (DG, LDA or some other such person) because the fate of the whole city is involved in such decisions and once things are built, these cannot be undone easily.
PROF AKHTAR KHAN
Lahore
WE celebrated our Republic Day on March 23. It reminded us of one of the memorable days in the history of our motherland. This was the day when a resolution for establishment of Pakistan was passed. The desire for a separate state was already cherished by Muslims, but they hardly evinced or verbalised it before this day. The afflictions and tyrannical policies of the Congress ministries made the demand for Pakistan indispensable.
The two-nation theory, originally expounded by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and subsequently substantiated by Allama Iqbal, was one of the other underpinning of the Pakistan resolution. At last the struggle, coupled with sacrifices of our forefathers, culminated in emergence of Pakistan on Aug 14, 1947.
After Pakistan was achieved, there were numerous speculations and predictions advanced from different corners regarding the survival and sustainability of this country. Those whose heart was scalded by the reality of ‘vivisection of Bharat Mata’ went on to remark that the new Muslim state would meet its end within 10 years.
This was taken as challenge by the brave sons and they exerted their everything for the prosperity and progress of their motherland to confound the foes. The force that gelled the ethnically and linguistically diverse people to work for single cause was nationalism. That is why the period of the 1960s is regarded as the golden period in Pakistan history.
Next year we will be completing the 60th year of our independence — but where do we stand? Is it the same Pakistan as envisioned by its forefathers? Have we followed the Quaid’s ideas?
Leave alone Pakistan’s international standing or internal political condition and virtual military dictatorship. Let us see the state of nationalism that is symbolic of the unity of a nation. Our nationalism has either gone faint or completely dissipated. This spirit appears all over in the nation as well as in the rulers. Here’s an example to highlight the scene.
First, Pakistan, a sovereign state and nuclear power, was attacked on its tribal agency Bajaur by US troops, stationed in Afghanistan. The attack resulted in the killing of 18 innocent people and many injured. The attack was carried out without information and the reason belatedly forwarded was the target of Al Qaeda terrorists hiding there.
Our rulers neither registered agitation in the UN nor seriously talked about it with the attacking US. And what about the nation: as silent as grave. No wide range of demonstrations were witnessed. In its 59 years of life, Pakistan fought three wars, faced war-like situation in Kargil and escalation in 2001-02, this glaringly epitomizes bravery, courage and valour of our armed forces.
The Bajaur incident rendered our sovereignty to sheer joke. Why is there the silence on the part of both the ruler and the ruled? Where is our nationalism: in slumber?
ASLAM PERVAIZ
Shikarpur
A NEWS item in your esteemed issue says that a new cotton institute is being set up at Multan (March 21). Here, it may interest you to know that there are already more than four cotton research institutes functioning very well at Faisalabad, Multan, Rahimyar Khan and Bahawalpur. These institutes/research stations were established by the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC), Punjab government and the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC).
In addition to these, we have an excellent Textile Institute at Faisalabad established by the All-Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) and a fibre-testing laboratory provided by the Pakistan Standards Institute (PSI) at Rahimyar Khan.
Sindh has also got one cotton research institute at Sakrand (Nawabshah). There is also one cotton research section of the Sindh government and cotton research apace at Tandojam funded by the PAEC. The PCCC is also supplementing cotton research at Tandojam, where the provisional work is in progress.
Sir, mere establishment of new research institutes is not enough to spur cotton research unless the existing institutes/stations are removed of their handicaps like working under-staffed, lack of foreign training and the inadequate equipment. Moreover they have to be provided with congenial working conditions and are not shunted from one place to another.
Recently, the PCCC and its laboratories located on land leased by the KPT on M.T. Khan Road has been forced to leave its location with all its laboratories, as the land occupied by it has been re-leased to build the US consulate at its place. The PCCC and its laboratories have been pushed into a commercial plaza on the main Sharea Faisal, Karachi, after leaving its impressive structure of the 1950s. The majestic building of the PCCC has been razed to the ground for the new lease to come.
Cotton is one of our foreign exchange earners. The existing institutes need to be bolstered with full sanctioned staff and equipment needed with training abroad. Setting up of new institutes, I am afraid, would amount only to duplication and add nothing new.
M. SHAFIQUE AHMED
Karachi
THIS has reference to your editorial ‘Centenary celebrations’ (March 22) in which you have pointed out that “an authentic history of the Muslim League has not yet been written”, though Pakistan has reached the point of celebrating 100 years of the Muslim League in the year 2006.
You have also pointed out that “some scholars or group of scholars will undertake the vital task of writing an objective history of the Muslim League from its founding till this day”.
In this connection I would like to point out that Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada’s “Foundations of Pakistan: All India Muslim League Document: 1906-47 (two vols.) were published by the National Publishing House Ltd, Karachi, in 1967-1970. The third volume of this work was published by the Royal Book Company in 1990. This is the primary work which covers most of the proceedings of annual sessions and working committees/ council meetings.
This book is so important that it is one of the primary sources not only on the All-India Muslim League but serves as a source material for writing a history on the Pakistan Movement. In this connection I may also point out that the following works are under preparation by the National Institute of Historical and Cultural Research, Quaid-i-Azam University, which are shortly to be published:
1. All India Muslim League and Creation of Pakistan, a Chronology: 1906-1947
2. Proceedings/Resolutions of Council/Working/Action Committee Meetings of All India Muslim League 1907-1947 (4 vols.) 3. History of All-India Muslim League 1906-1947 (2 vols.)
I agree that despite the fact that more than 58 years have passed since the creation of Pakistan, we have not been able to produce most of the records available in the Freedom Movement Archives or the National Archives of Pakistan, Islamabad.
PROF (DR) RIAZ AHMAD
Quaid-i-Azam Univsersity
Islamabad
THE recurrence of jail riots at Central Jail, Sukkur, where prisoners took control of jail, made staff hostage is highly deplorable. Another disturbance at Central Jail, Khairpur, culminating in tussle between jail staff and the police over escape of two under-trial prisoners from the Civil Hospital is disturbing.
Escape of nine condemned prisoners from the Central Jail, Mach, after serving intoxicated food to the guard on duty appears to be a joke. Hardly a year after this incident six dangerous prisoners escaped again by scaling over the perimeter wall, over which are fixed live wire. Loss of lives of judges in the District Jail in Sialkot still, under probe, is a glaring precedent of weak accountability.
The following factors, according to my observation, appear to be the cause of dwindling image of the jail department. First, the lower staff, i.e., warders, head warder and chief warder, who are in persistent contact with prisoners do not command control over them. The prime reason being their indulgence in giving undue concessions to prisoners in exchange for cash or kind considerations. It weakens their hold and corrupts the administration.
Second, the upper staff, i.e., superintendent and deputy superintendent blindly rely on the reports of the chief warder, holding the charge of entire administration of the jail. No counter-check on his activities is employed, which gives him free hands.
Third, the main gate of the jail is not properly protected. Gatekeepers pass on prohibited articles in exchange for money during night. Due to lack of check on them, even weapons get entry in the jail.
The deputy superintendent, being the chief executive, holds official responsibility of care and control of prisoners and the jail. Being overloaded with office work, he gets little time to know what is happening inside the jail. He too depends on the reports of the chief warder.
Excessive night duty hours of guarding staff make them lethargic and prone to sleep during duty hours. To maintain their physical alertness, reduction in night duty hours is essential.
The ‘bhatta’ system is widely prevalent in Sindh jails, causing loose grip over prisoner. Moreover despotic behaviour of the staff, treating prisoners as lower class human beings, acts as a breeding ground for riots.
Also, the non-departmental IG, prisons, lacks experience to have up-to-date information about the performance of jail officers. His announced visits do not help him to be aware of the inherent drawbacks in the set-up. Not a single IG, prisons, has ever made a surprise visit of jails. I will recommend that the IG should pay surprise night visits to jails to watch the activities of prisoners and the staff on duty.
In order to retrieve the dwindling image of the department, the remedy lies in adhering to a selection of staff on merit, training on an army-like pattern as contained in rules, replacing E and D rules with rules contained in PP rules in posting of departmental IG, prisons.
SHAIKH G. MURTAZA
(Ex-superintendent of jails, Balochistan)
Karachi
M. J. AKBAR’s article “Terrorist attack on Varanasi” (March 21) was not very high on accuracy. It surmises that the tragedy of Sankatmochan temple was either due to so-called Kashmir terrorism or Gujarat-style militant communalism. He praises India’s forbearing and tolerance, but ignores its Machiavellianism.
As for the possibility of Kashmiri involvement in the Varanasi tragedy, history is witness to fact that the Kashmiri freedom fighters have never gone after non- military targets. So listing them as suspects is unfair. It should not have been difficult for a high profile investigative reporter like Mr. Akbar to see the conspiracy behind the blasts when India promptly blamed the now extinct Lashkar-i-Tayeba. Innocent lives were lost to malign Pakistan on the eve of President Bush‘s visit. Increasing the Indian public’s fury against Pakistan was a bonus.
SULTAN M. KHAN
Lahore
THIS refers your editorial ‘Mohammad Ali bows out’ (March 21). It says: “With the passing of Mohammad Ali Pakistan cinema is poorer by another star from its fading galaxy. Trained as a radio broadcaster by pioneers like the late Z.A. Bokhari, Ali rose to occupy the throne of the silver screen and reigned supreme for a quarter of a century.
“However, when mediocrity began to set in in the early 1980s, Ali bowed out with grace, never to return. Together, with his superstar wife Zeba, the couple set up the Ali-Zeb Foundation, supporting thousands of ailing children.”
Mediocrity still exists and nobody cares for an orphan film industry. Ali acted in co-production not only with Bollywood (Clerk) but also with Hollywood (Tiger Gang) and Pakistan-Iran co-production (Jan Pehchan). Ali was the only film artiste who should be called “Pakistani international artiste”. Besides naming the road in Gulberg, where Ali-Zeb residence is situated, after him, there should be a film academy named after Ali-Zeb because of his role in flourishing the Pakistani film industry.
Ali was a modest and disciplined person with the kind heart who was always ready to help anyone in need. He will ever be remembered as a great film artiste and philanthropist.
MUHAMMAD ARIF BUTT
Karachi
FOR how long lawlessness will prevail in our country? How long will foreign investment be deterred by law-breakers and economy will be shattered by a handful of profiteers? Snatching others’ property by hook or by crook has become a norm of the day. Even huge shopping malls and plazas are being built on those lands which have been grabbed from others. Even inherited land is not safe in our country.
If this situation continues, the country will remain a jungle where economic take-off will never become a reality. One such case is Burj Al-Saeed, 99 Ferozepur Road, Ichhra, Lahore, which is under construction and sale despite a stay order granted by a court of law.
This is also a glaring violation of the Supreme Court’s verdict that no construction can be made on a joint property unless all co-sharers are given their due right. The real owners have kept many others under economic duress and forced construction of shops on parking places.
The illegal construction has further damaged a road leading to Shah Jamal, creating hindrance in public movement.
MAJEED AHMAD
Lahore
FIRST came the ‘Vioxx’ from the ‘masihas’ of medicines with a claim that it is an antidote for rheumatic diseases. In Pakistan, I remember, the price of one tablet was Rs80.
After some time their came horrible news from the US that the new drug has been a cause of several deaths in heart patients.
The killer tablet was herewith banned and withdrawn, while in Pakistan it remained on drug counters with a much reduced price. How many patients died by its adverse effects, we shall not be able to know for ever.
A pain killer, ‘Metamizole’ commonly known as ‘Novalgin’ has been banned by our Drug Registration Board with immediate effect (Dawn, March 15).
The drug was on banned list in the US since 1977 for its cancer-like effects on its certain users. The point is where has been our Drug Registration Board for the whole 29 fateful years?
FAIZ AHMAD SHEHABI
Lahore
THE Afghan who converted to Christianity has been released from prison. Perhaps this was the result of the tremendous pressure put on President Karzai by donor nations, which compelled him to intervene and rein in the conservative judiciary.
Millions of Muslims are allowed to practice their religion without any major problems across western Europe and many Christians in predominantly Christian countries such as Italy and the UK convert to Islam.
Imagine the uproar in the Muslim world if a western government had prevented a Christian from converting to Islam.
Dr SHAAZ MAHBOOB
London, UK
You can also send letters to the Editor
Just send your message to the following address: letters@dawn.com
Make sure you include your full name, postal address, e-mail address, and in the case of Pakistan your day-time telephone number.