| June 1, 2006 | Friday | Jumadi-ul-Awwal 4, 1427 |
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Leave Clifton alone
PCB affairs
Islamabad the beautiful?
All in good faith
Looming massacre in Lahore
The whole truth
Lower car beams
Local call zone
Kot Diji fort
Atta-ur-Rehman and the Royal Society
Protesting Da Vinci
A SENIOR US official, Mr Burns, while speaking at a seminar in Washington about the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, made some observations (Dawn, May 18).
1) “We have the largest law-abiding country... (India) outside and a major violator (Iran) inside the NPT.”
2) He rejected the criticism that the accord would let India use a bonanza of nuclear fuel and technology to boost its nuclear weapons arsenal.
3) “India is clearly seeking a peaceful, stable and friendly future with China and Pakistan,” he said. “And we think we know that is going to happen.”
One can cite much evidence to disprove Mr Burns’s contentions. A report prepared by Joseph Cirincione of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace noted that India took out fuel rods from the (CIRUS) reactor it had received from Canada, extracted the plutonium from those rods and detonated its first nuclear test in 1974 (Dawn, March 15).
Thus, India had resorted to nuclear proliferation very early by violating the Canadian ban on using the reactor for bomb-making; which resulted in discontinuation of Ottawa’s cooperation.
The heavy water provided by the US had been similarly abused, though it is another matter that Washington wilfully ignored it.
In another report. Mr David Albright, a physicist and former UN weapons inspector who heads the Institute for Science and International Security in Washington, revealed some Indian proliferation activities of the late 1980s and the early 1990s. According to it, a key member of the Khan network based in South Africa had organised the production and delivery to India of flow meter units that were specifically designed for a uranium- hexafluoride application, implying their use in a gas centrifuge programme (Dawn, March 15).
Mr Albright also said he had “uncovered a well-developed and secret Indian programme to outfit its uranium enrichment programme and circumvent other countries’ export control efforts” (Dawn, March 14). Further, that India actually leaked N-secrets by allowing prospective suppliers to buy blueprints and manufacturing instructions for a particular item.
Company officials could then sell the item or related technology to other customers. So much for India being a “law-abiding country”. Indeed, as far as the NPT goes, by working on the development of tactical nuclear weapons for use as bunker busters, etc., Washington, too, is breaching the treaty.
Ironically, another news report appearing in the same issue of Dawn belied the second assertion of Mr Burns. According to that, negotiations and a bilateral nuclear cooperation agreement between India and France have stalled over the French condition limiting the proposed cooperation to “peaceful, non-explosive purposes,” similar to the Canadian restriction about CIRUS. Indian negotiators refused to include this phrase in the final document, which shows New Delhi’s real intentions.
Several American analysts have been cautioning Washington against providing India with nuclear and missile technology because they believe that some day New Delhi will turn its guns upon the US if there is a clash of interests between the two nations.
India’s betrayal of Iran (and, on a few occasions of Russia as well) may be a matter of comfort for America now, but it proves the analysts’ point.
Z.A. JALALI
Karachi
I love nature; I love to watch waves, listen to the winds and gaze at the sky. As a resident of Karachi, I never paid for this God-given facility. Neither did my parents or my forefathers, who lived on the shore of the Arabian Sea.
All this is being changed now. Both the never-elected, all-powerful DHA and the elected but powerless city government make it a point to make life miserable for the common folk. A long ugly wall has been built from the KPT fountain to the end of the Sea View to block people’s view of the vast, glittering Arabian Sea.
This is wholly unfair and unjustified. In the past whenever people would disembark from bus No. 20 on the stop where the helipad was, they could easily see the waves of the Arabian Sea. This view has been snatched from them. Now there is a high wall to block the beautiful sight.
Similarly, the DHA in its wisdom built a wall along the seashore. Now if anyone is driving, he/she has to go inside the parking area, pay the fee and then enjoy the luxury of looking at the waves.
From time immemorial people in this area had the luxury of enjoying the Arabian Sea and its numerous bounties.
The DHA and the city government have no role in creating the Arabian Sea and its shore. They have no right to destroy it in the name of beautification.
The beauty of the beach is the winds, the sands and the clouds which are fortunately available free.
I beg the authorities to return the beach to me as it was; I don’t want development. Those who are well-to-do can board a plane and go to Bali or the Bahamas. Please leave Clifton alone. I have fond memories of Clifton; my mother used to love to go to Clifton.
She would sit on the sands and enjoy the waves and the winds. I met the girl I later married at Clifton. Now our children relish Clifton. This is the only place that various generations can identify with. Please leave Clifton alone.
YOUSUF KHAN
Karachi
THE World Cup is scheduled to be held in March 2007. All cricket-playing nations have already finalised their plans, strategy and finalisation of their one-day squads. The foremost consideration is to have sufficient number of young players, who meet the fitness criterion and skills required for one-day matches. It is a highly competitive field and fitness is the key factor in the tight schedules which are a feature of the World Cup.
Our recent performance against the touring Indian team in the one-day series was pathetic. In spite of such frivolous performance, the PCB management, or the part-time selection committee, has not taken any positive remedial measures. Our average age of one-day players is amongst the highest in the world. Past performance of icons alone does not justify their continued domination of a team or its selection. Nobody is indispensable, especially in the field of sports. Current form and fitness alone should be the criterion for selection. A word of advice for the selection committee: ensure that the best combination for one-day squad is given top priority. We have witnessed that the present board management is hostage to pressure from key players, most of whom are over the hill and cannot last till the World Cup.
The fault does not lie with the chairman, who has no knowledge of cricket affairs, but with the authorities who have appointed such a person for an assignment which requires specialised skills. This is all the more important in a country like ours, where people succumb to pressures in selecting a team, which alone decides the fate in the arena.
Inzamam is no doubt a great cricketer like Javed Miandad and Imran Khan, but his age is telling. He is frequently seen absenting himself from the field due to backache even in a 50-over match. It would not be a bad idea to seek his replacement before it is too late.
We have a weak selection committee whose head is a senior key executive of the national airline, which itself is in a crisis. It is too much for the man to handle. We need to remember that the last time we lost the World Cup in South Africa, both the manager and the chief selector were axed. The irony is that they are both now at the helm again. The president of Pakistan, a great follower of cricket, needs to take the initiative for appointing full-time professionals on the board.
IRFAN BUTT
Sheffield, UK
TWELVE years ago when I first came to Islamabad there was greenery everywhere. It was never hot in Islamabad. Whenever there was some heat, it was immediately replaced by a cold wind and some time with shower late in the evening, even during the months of June and July. The roads seemed to be extra since there were fewer vehicles that travelled on these roads.
The situation today is very different. The trees which once were considered the beauty of Islamabad. are being cut down brutally so that roads can be enhanced. As far as traffic is concerned, one finds a signal four to five times when one is driving either going to office or home.
All these show the lack of planning and strategy. No doubt like other cities the population of Islamabad is increasing day by day and there is need of more vehicles but the way this is being handled is deteriorating the situation.
There is need for proper planning. Cars are being issued on lease without any policy on behalf of the government. Which, besides mobilisation of money in a non-productive area, is creating problems for traffic. The policy should be made more viable. Keeping in view the capacity on roads, there should be quota of vehicles which is allowed to be sold or leased.
IMTIAZ AHMED KHAN
Islamabad
LT-GEN (r) Javed Ashraf Qazi (former federal minister for railways), Lt-Gen Saeeduz Zafar (chairman of Pakistan Railways) and Lt-Gen Butt (general manager, administration and public relations), these three officials were facing charges of buying 69 locomotives from China on supplier’s credit at a cost of $98 million (Rs5.9 billion approximately) without even trying to know that the locomotives could not operate in Pakistani conditions.
The deal was struck in 2002 and the locomotives were brought to Pakistan, only to become inoperative within a couple of years.
Some of the recent deadly rail accidents occurred due to the Chinese locomotives and bogies as they could not run on Pakistani tracks.
After hearing the arguments a retired colonel, who was heading the subcommittee of the Public Accounts Committee, exonerated the two officials by saying that “though there was misconduct in the procurement of locomotives, the then administration had made the deal in good faith, therefore, this issue stands settled.”
The former federal minister of Railways, after having put almost 10 million passengers (estimated annual traffic) at risk due to these locomotives is now entrusted with the responsibility of shaping the future of our nation by being rewarded the education ministry. God help us if he does any more misconduct in good faith.
MASOOD
Karachi
IN a press release (Dawn, May 20) the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) notified the public that it is doing Lahore, and indeed Pakistan, a great service by cutting all eucalyptus trees planted along Lahore’s canal because each tree consumed about 200 litres of water a day. This news is shocking.
The Punjab government has decided to chop down thousands of beautiful trees lining the Lahore canal to make way for expansion of the road, when over half the existing roads in the city are in bad condition. And the billions needed for construction of a new road could be better utilized for providing the other much needed infrastructure.
And even there, an existing plan that is already available with the city government, envisaging removal of the footpaths on both sides of the canal, carpeting the shoulders (kutcha portion) on either side to create room for an additional lane,and moving the footpath behind the tree line.
Sadly, it has become the hallmark of successive Punjab governments that have become allergic to greenery, especially one that has been planted by our forefathers to provide shade to the coming generations.
So be it the canal road, the majestic Mayo Gardens or the lush green forests of mountainous slopes around New Murree, the hatred of our decision-makers is directed against the trees with full fury.
Hundreds of trees that were axed during the construction of underpasses during the past six years have not been replaced. So much for the PHA’s love of a greener Punjab, and a cooler Lahore.
Thus, the PHA press release is a smokescreen to pave the way for the chopping of these over 10,000 trees, that provide shelter to millions of birds, give shade to countless thousands of cyclists and motorists during sweltering summer days, and allow fruit sellers to delight people by offering tantalising seasonal fruits under the coolness provided by these denizens of Lahore, besides releasing much-needed oxygen in this polluted city.
And to add insult to injury, it is not only eucalyptus trees that are to be chopped down but also fruit-bearing trees.
I challenge the PHA to prove that it has marked the eucalyptus trees only, because the entire tree stock has been marked for destruction.
By the way, the roots of these eucalyptus trees soak up the excess water that seeps through the canal, and prevents the excess moisture from damaging houses and buildings built on both sides of the canal.
The widening of roads to ease traffic congestion has never been a solution to the problem. We can look at the havoc that was wreaked on the trees on Ferozepur Road, without the resultant benefit. Traffic on that road is among the most dangerous in the city.
I appeal to the Chief Justice of Pakistan to please act to protect something that is vital to the citizenry under the ‘doctrine of common good’.
These trees belong to the citizens, and should remain with them for generations to come.
M. ABRAR AMEEN
Lahore
THIS is with reference to the letter ‘The whole truth’(May 24). Complainers should keep in mind that the president of Pakistan is not their electricity manager. The problems we are facing in Karachi now are the corrupt policies of previous local and provincial governments.
The never- ending miseries of citizens are the results of sins of past rulers who filled the coffers they are now enjoying in Dubai, London and New York. The fruits of the good or bad policies of the present civil-military government will be reaped over the next five to 10 years.
Instead of responding to calls for strike, citizens should help the present nazim’s efforts to alleviate the enormous problems faced by Karachi.
Help build Karachi with a positive attitude towards cooperation and tolerance. Point out corruption where you see it and get involved in rebuilding Karachi.
AHMED J.
Karachi
I would like to point out a serious matter to all car drivers. I have observed that most of the drivers of Toyota Corolla models 2002 and above tend to drive with high beams in the evenings.
This causes serious discomfort for other drivers, especially those driving in front of them or coming from the opposite direction. Toyota Corolla drivers are requested to refrain from driving with high beams to help avoid fatal accidents.
FATEHUDDIN
Karachi
I LEARN from the news (Dawn, May 25) that a new price war has been triggered on long-distance calls within India. The state-run Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd launched its long-distance service between New Delhi and Mumbai bringing down call charges for its landline customers to a mere Rs1.20 for a three-minute call.
In Pakistan, on the other hand, the local call charge is about Rs2.20 or more. PTCL officials should consider bringing down calling rates within Pakistan and overseas. FAIZAN IQBAL
Karachi
The Kot Diji fort is a historical monument, located about 25km from Khairpur city. Scores of people visit this historical place every day.
It is very disappointing that there is no restaurant or rest house in the area to provide any refreshment. Neither the PTDC nor the district government has looked into this. In the absence of such facilities visitors suffer much hardship.
DR PERVEZ SHAR
Khairpur
IN announcing Dr Atta-ur-Rehman’s membership of the Royal Society, his spokesman has made Dr Rehman’s distinction look singular by emphasising that he is “historically the first from the Islamic world having been elected on the basis of researches conducted within an Islamic country” (Dawn, May 27).
To verify the substance of this claim one has to check the records of the Royal Society over the last three-and-a-half centuries. It is regrettable that the spokesman has tried to belittle the three other members of the Royal Society from Pakistan before him by observing that Abdus Salam and M. Akhtar were elected for contributions in the UK and Saleemuzzaman Siddiqui for contributions in India.
Scientific research is not confined to a territory. The distinction lies in adding to the sum total of human knowledge. It should take away no credit from Dr Siddiqui just because he conducted research when India and Pakistan were one country. And the spokesman should not have failed to mention Abdus Salam’s unique distinction: at the age of 32 he was the youngest scientist ever elected to the Royal Society since its founding in 1660.
Incidentally, my neighbour Dr. I.H. Siddiqui (he lives in England but spends a few months in Pakistan every year) told me that he is also a member of the Royal Society — the only one living besides Attaur Rahman. Like Dr Atta-ur-Rehman he is also a chemist. The omission by the spokesman, one would like to believe, is unintentional.
KUNWAR IDRIS
Karachi
IN Italy protesters have called for a boycott of the movie ‘The Da Vinci Code’. They say it is blasphemous and that both the book and movie seek to reduce Christianity to a Hollywood thriller. They organised a public burning of the best-selling novel.
When Muslims protested over the blasphemous cartoons of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), they were discouraged by the whole world. Where is the freedom of expression now? Why the protests?
An Italian minister went as far as printing the cartoons of the Holy Prophet on shirts and distributing them among people to encourage their right to free expression.
Why are Italians now protesting against a film? Why have they burned copies of the novel? Have they forgotten all about their right and freedoms? They should be reminded of a famous proverb: practise what you preach.
SUNDUS ANWAR
Karachi
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