| April 11, 2006 | Tuesday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 12, 1427 |
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Closure of cinemas
Peace treaty offer
Aid to Palestine
Non-stop flights
Way to progress?
Revamping Karachi’s old rail system
Hazardous cargo
Stopover in Madrid
‘Don’t go on, love’
PTCL rescue
Cricket
Composite exams
Award for govt dept
Dug-up road
Road block
IN A a recent statement, former US president Bill Clinton lamented that the world had wasted a ‘phenomenol’ opportunity for a global debate on religious differences after the publication of the anti-Islam cartoons (Dawn, March 29).
He is right in that much of the misunderstanding between the followers of various religions and the resultant friction could be avoided by acquiring a basic knowledge of each other’s beliefs. Some people from amongst the Muslims and the West have been advocating this after the turmoil created by the blasphemous caricatures but with little success.
Until more formal projects can be taken up, one would like to make a humble contribution by recommending a remarkable and handy little book. It is The Sayings of Muhammad, by Sir Abdullah Suhrawardy, which provides a brief introduction to Islam and the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), followed by a collection of over four hundred of the Prophet’s authentic sayings, along with a short glossary.
The hope, tolerance, mercy and many other attributes of the message brought by the Holy Prophet are well elucidated. To quote some examples:
*If the unbeliever knew of the extent of the Lord’s mercy, even he would not despair of Paradise.
*When the bier of anyone passeth by thee, whether Jew, Christian or Muslim, rise to thy feet.
*He is the most perfect Muslim whose disposition is the best; and the best of you are they who behave best to their wives.
An American judge, Pierre Crabites, is quoted as having said: “Muhammad was probably the greatest champion of women’s rights the world has ever seen ....” Some of the many other merits of this work may also be noted here. Its compiler, Allama Sir Abdullah Suhrawardy (1882-1935), had several doctorates and had founded the Pan-Islamic Society of London as a young student. He brought out this book in February 1905, which was partially revised and re-written after his death by his brother Mr Hassan Suhrawardy in 1941.
It has a foreword by Mahatma Gandhi, a part of which reads:
“I have read Sir Abdullah Suhrawardy’s collections of the sayings of the Prophet with much interest and profit. They are among the treasures of mankind, not merely Muslims ....”
Another thing is that people from many countries had contributed in some way towards its preparation, including Prof Rushbrook Williams and Sir John Murray of Britain as well as J.L. Cranmer-Byng, the veteran editor of the “Wisdom of the East Series’’ of John Murray Publishers, which should broaden its appeal.
Quite presciently, Mr Cranmer-Byng had written in 1941:
“I hope (the books in the series) will contribute to a fuller knowledge of the great cultural heritage of the East, for only through real understanding will the West be able to appreciate the underlying problems and aspirations of Asia today.’’
Apart from that, Sir Abdullah and Leo Tolstoy had entered into correspondence after this book’s publication that lasted until the latter’s death. According to a daughter of Tolstoy, a copy of this collection was found in the large overcoat the Count was wearing at the time of his death.
Yet another thing is that this publication was quoted in many books and journals and parts of it were translated into several European languages, which makes it ideal for western readers. At present it has been published in India by Goodward Books (Rs80) and probably in the US as well, while one has also seen reprints from Egypt and Pakistan (by the late Mr Ali Ahmed Brohi).
KHALID CHAUDHRY
Karachi
THIS refers to the news item titled “Religious scholar calls for closure of cinemas” (April 8). It’s a tragedy that since the MMA government took power, all we have seen are bans and other strict Taliban-like edicts such as the one not allowing musicians to practice freely. This latest call by the khateeb of the Mohabat Khan Mosque, ‘warning’ cinema owners to stop showing films during the month of Rabiul-Awal or face a ‘forcible shutdown’, is further proof of the breakdown of law and order in the country.
Is there a constitutional right that this khateeb is exercising when he threatens the owners of a legitimate business with closure? It is very easy to call for a shutdown of such unreligious activities for a month, but has the honourable khateeb paused for a moment to think about the livelihood of workers that rely on cinema to earn a living for themselves and their family?
Rather than impose their own interpretations of Islam on society, our religious scholars should look at the whole picture before making such reckless recommendations. As Muslims, all of us have a tremendous respect for this holy month, but rather than closing cinemas, why not utilise these facilities for a better purpose?
One suggestion could be screening of films about Islam such as ‘The Message’ or the documentary ‘Islam: Empire of Faith’ and arrange visits by school children to these screenings so that they learn an unbiased version of Islamic history. In the hands of a skilled surgeon, a knife can work to do good; but in the hands of a careless or ignorant person, it can cause great harm.
SHAFIQUE UR-REHMAN
Kent, UK
GHAYOOR Ahmed’s op-ed article “India’s offer of peace treaty” (April 8) was disappointing because it repeated the tired old line of Kashmir being the root of all troubles between India and Pakistan.
What gets in the way of achieving peace is the lack of trust between the two nations. No agreement can ever be reached on Kashmir or any other vexing issue as long as the state of distrust remains. I agree with Mr Ahmed that the two countries ought to enact a mechanism to maintain peace, and commit themselves to respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of the other. This is consistent with Dr Manmohan Singh’s offer of a peace treaty. But there is more in his offer. By establishing a vibrant relationship based on shared culture and languages and common ancestry, the people of India and Pakistan will discover vast areas of commonality, and yes, trust.
Perhaps the Pakistani rulers can learn from the example of China and India which have decided not to let their border dispute get in the way of furthering ties.
The process has been fruitful, and now they are starting to address the border issue in an amicable spirit. After 59 years of bitterness, heartbreak and wars - all flowing from the insistence on the centrality of Kashmir - isn’t it time to try something different?
Dr. SARDUL SINGH MINHAS
California, USA
THE European Union has stopped financial aid to the Palestinian government labelling it as a terrorist regime. The Palestinian government is an elected government and is not involved in any terrorist activity. It has announced its readiness to hold talks with Israel and live with it in peace provided it returns the occupied territory. Their demand is right and based on principles.
The western countries are always biased towards Muslims, their governments and their just demands. On one hand they claim that they are democratic and love democracies but, on the other, they suspect all democratically-elected governments in Muslim countries. This is evident in Algeria, Turkey and Palestine. They are not for democracy but for their own interests.
Pressing an elected government, that has won elections in spite of all odds and negative propaganda is a proof of the voters love for “democracy” and “justice”. Instead of condemning Israel, which has occupied Palestinian territory by force, the West is punishing Palestinians who are victims of Israeli high-handedness.
MUHAMMAD RIAZ
Thana Malakand Agency
I WAS a passenger on PIA’s flight PK722 on April 6 from New York to Karachi. I was already in possession of a ticket for Emirates Airline but when told that PIA was flying non-stop to Karachi, I preferred this option.
However, when I reached the airport I was told that the flight would in fact stopover at Manchester due to shortage of pilots. After boarding the aircraft, I heard the pilot on his cellphone trying hard to convince the management to let the flight go non- stop.
He argued that the two pilots required for a non-stop flight were available. When the management finally accepted his point of view, I was told that because there was not enough food on the plane for such a long flight it would still have to stop at Manchester.
If PIA does not have the resources to fulfill even the basic requirements of an international airline, why did the management decide to start non-stop flights?
YOUSAF A. ALEN
Karachi
(Resident of New York)
THIS refers to the letters of Mrs Sidra Tauseef Ali and Mr Muhammad A. B. of April 1 and the two rejoinders (April 6).
In “Food for thought,” Mrs Ali had narrated an incident in a fast food restaurant where, in response to her request to an employee to change an obscene music video with something more acceptable, a male customer started behaving rudely with her, alleging that such ‘backwardness’ was spoiling the country’s image overseas.
The first thing one wishes to point out is that the primary purpose of visiting a restaurant is to eat something we enjoy, not to watch soft-porn.
She was right in arguing that a video to be screened at a public place should be such as not to offend anyone’s sensibilities. If that man was so keen to watch such stuff he should have done it at home.
In his letter, “State legislation and religion,” Mr Muhammad A.B. has argued for the separation of state and religion in Pakistan.
He also wants the First Amendment of the American constitution to be incorporated into our Constitution.
In Islam there is no such separation.
M. MUSLIM
Karachi
IT has been correctly claimed in The Review (March 2) that quick fixes like flyovers and underpasses offer no lasting solution to the mega traffic problems of a city of 15 million like Karachi.
The planners, while building the port in the 1860s, also planned a rail mass transit system, including four tracks up to Pipri, and a network of diesel trams from the Cantonment Station to all destinations in the city.
The trams were uprooted in 1975 instead of being upgraded to metro level to connect the planned large surface KCR and the outer radial colonies, fixing the limits of Karachi in the first master plan of 1952.
The 1974 master plan also added a metro spine from the City to North Karachi via Saddar, which was not viable and required improvement by rail experts.
The federal MOC RT Cell improved the alignment from Tower to Sohrab Goth via Saddar and Jahangir Road with a Liaquatabad-North Karachi branch via Nazimabad, with 25 route miles of two-car trolley buses at a cost of Rs1,300 million to serve the entire city. This was presented to the CII, which ordered a review by foreign experts. It went into the cold storage after the 1977 change. However, its report did warn of a major crisis by 1985, if no action was taken.
The crisis did occur in 1985, after serious traffic accidents, leading to another study by World Bank experts who, in 1990, recommended, an 87-km network of six busways convertible to light rail.
However, no proper feasibility was prepared for any LRT corridor, clearly indicating realistic cost benefits and indirect subsidy required to make these financially viable on a BOT basis at an affordable fare for the average commuter.
This is the crux of the problem why several attempts at implementing the LRT have so far failed and are likely to fail till such a feasibility is prepared, clearly identifying the concessions to be offered to BOT bidders, to make the project viable without further subsidy by the state.
It may be added that the travel demand on most of the corridors has already far exceeded the handling capacity of any conceivable modern busway system tried anywhere in the world, no matter what bus marketing experts may claim.
Therefore, the only scientific way to implement the mass transit system in Karachi is to finalize the feasibility report suggested above, before inviting BOT bids, besides reviewing the RT Cell’s plan.
S.M.H. RIZVI
Karachi
APROPOS of Tariq Raza’s letter (March 27) in which he has expressed concern about the transportation of compressed gas in large tankers on public roads, it must be clarified that he is in fact referring to LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) and not CNG (compressed natural gas) as only LPG is at present being transported by tankers in Pakistan.
In the future LNG (liquefied natural gas) may also be transported if its import and sale become feasible.
Still, the transportation of LPG and LNG by road in large tankers is extremely hazardous. Only rail transportation of LPG and LNG should be allowed to prevent a potential catastrophe.
QASIM IQBAL KHAN
Lahore
THE prime minster along with a team of 40 people, including three ministers, six MNAs, his staff and some media peoplehas gone in a chartered plane to attend a one-day meeting at the United Nations.
Their objective is to study how the UNs operational work could be carried out more effectively.
When the masses are reeling under sky-rocketing prices of sugar, milk and cement, spending millions of dollars on such a visit is nothing but sheer waste.
Interestingly, on the way back home the team will have a stopover in Madrid, Spain. They probably need the chance to relax after attending such an important meeting.
MANSOOR UL HAQ SOLANGI
Karachi
IN the closing lines of his fascinating article, “When assets turn into liabilities” (March 24) F.S. Aijazuddin has appealed to Benazir Bhutto, Nawaz Sharif and General Musharraf to follow the precept of Margaret Thatcher.
While facing a revolt from within her own party in her third term as prime minister, she was advised by her husband Denis Thatcher: “Don’t go on, love”
The chances of this advice being followed by our politicians are, of course, none. This is no surprise as none of them has an adviser as honest as Denis Thatcher was to Mrs. Thatcher.
M. SALEEM CHAUDHRY
Karachi
I WANT to draw the attention of PTCL to my telephone line which has been faulty for over three months. I have made several automated complaints on the 18 number almost every day, but in vain.
Every morning a PTCL man calls and asks how my phone is working, I tell him that there is constant interference in the line and it is crossed by another phone number due to which I hear many voices and receive wrong number calls.
But there has been no response from the people at PTCL and nothing has been done about my many complaints.
SHAHID HUSSAIN ABRO
Larkana
I AM shocked that Muhammad Sami has been omitted from the team announced for the next two ODI matches.
I agree with Imran Khan that the Pakistan cricket team needs a bowler of Sami’s capabilities. There is no justification for choosing Rao over Sami.
ABDUL R. MEHKARI
Toronto, Canada
THE will of students, teachers, parents and other stakeholders has prevailed and the Sindh governor has been assured by the president and the prime minister that the examinations for Class IX can be conducted according to the prevalent system.
The federal education minister, Lt-Gen Qazi, has, through his unilateral, unwise and dictatorial approach, caused months of mental agony to hundreds of thousands of students of Classes IX to XII by trying to impose the composite examination system and stands proven wrong.
A KARACHIITE
Karachi
LAST year, we were glad to know that the Punjab labour department’s centre for improvement of working conditions and environment (CIWCE) had been awarded the Knight Ridder Equality Award. More than one year has passed but no other department has been encouraged with such appreciation.
I would like to suggest that all governments, provincial as well as the central government, may give annual awards to best workers (labourers) so that they may be encouraged to increase productivity. India’s ministry of labour has already initiated such awards.
AMARNATH MOTUMAL
Karachi
I WOULD like to draw the attention of the authorities concerned to a road that leads to GOR-II, SMCHS, Karachi, from the corner of Gulistan-i-Shah Abdul Latif School Road towards Mehran Clinic, which was dug up by the roads department a year back, i.e. in March 2005, but till today has not yet been carpeted or levelled.
Road users specially schoolchildren and GOR residents are put to great hardships.
It is hoped the road work will be complete at the earliest.
NISAR AHMED BROHI
Karachi
THE annual exams of SSC II of the federal board of secondary education commenced in Karachi on April 5. On April 7, which was also the 8th of Rabi ul-Awwal, the road leading to the examination hall was blocked due to a religious processions.
It was very difficult for children, including my nephew, to reach their exam centres. The government should change the timing of processions to accommodate students.
ZUBEIDA TAHER
Karachi
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