| June 05, 2006 | Monday | Jumadi-ul-Awwal 8, 1427 |
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Loadsheddings
Tree cutting drive
Protesting Da Vinci Code
Akhtar Shirani’s Baharistan
Release of fishermen
Leave Clifton alone
Cricket history
Personalised number plate
Economic risk
Juggernaut
Smoke-emitting vehicles
SOME US lawmakers who are apparently paranoid about Dr A. Q. Khan and Pakistan’s alleged involvement with nuclear proliferation have engaged in making largely unsubstantiated accusations and bashing this country (Dawn, May 27).
The father of Pakistan’s atomic bomb has been under strict home confinement ever since the activities of the Khan network came to light. There is no way he could have indulged in any undesirable activities during this time. Nor should Islamabad be considered foolhardy enough to carry out nuclear proliferation because, as also hinted by Gen Colin Powell during his tenure as the US secretary of state, it understands the consequences of doing so. Therefore, it is a calumny on the part of the three American legislators to say that the Khan network was far from closed or that the Pakistani officials were involved.
The lawmakers and the witnesses and others who are thanklessly bashing Pakistan must remember that had it not been for our whole-hearted help, it would have been impossible for the US and its western allies to succeed in making the Soviet Union not only retreat from Afghanistan but also disintegrate. The recent developments in Russia and the near-revival of the Cold War should make it easier for the Americans to appreciate Pakistan’s indispensable support for the US from the 50s to the 90s and again after 9/11.
Even now, as recently admitted by a former CIA in charge of the Al Qaeda desk, Pakistan has done more than any other American ally, including Nato, in the war against terrorism. He also very rightly pointed out that this has greatly imperilled the country by creating a real danger of a civil war resulting from the resentment among the Pashtun people of the NWFP.
These Americans must understand, just as the Bush administration, too, has correctly assessed, that pressing Pakistan about granting access to Dr Khan will cause enormous unrest over here because the people still regard him as their hero.
They are grateful for his having checkmated the threat of nuclear annihilation by India and trying to end the nuclear apartheid regime foisted by the western nuclear powers to keep the Muslim countries from acquiring a nuclear capability.
Apart from that, Libya has already given up its nuclear programme while Iran and North Korea can be encouraged to do the same.
This could be done by displaying genuine friendliness; fairness and using a diplomatic approach, not by hurling threats and not by supporting or even turning a blind eye to Israel’s atrocities against the Palestinians. And, they should not add to the woes of the US by turning the Pakistanis towards the religious hardliners by pestering them about things they do not wish to do, otherwise the support for the US war on terrorism will end and opposition to it creep in.
SALIK
Karachi
IT is very distressing to read about the plight of the helpless people of Karachi, including my ageing mother, due to frequent and prolonged power cuts.
Although I have been a resident of the UK for the last 46 years, I maintain a small apartment where my wife and I stay during our annual visits to see my ailing mother. No doubt there are many elderly citizens like my mother who suffer severe discomfort due to power cuts.
The most galling fact is that huge billboards and neon-signs found all over the city are given priority over the old and the sick, and the little babes and students. I retired from the British Gas Corporation over 10 years ago where most commercial contracts to supply energy had written into them what is known as ‘interruptible supplies’.
This meant that supply of gas to factories and other commercial organisations would be suspended while there was any reduction in the supply whereas domestic customers, hospitals and schools would continue to be supplied without any interruption.
The appropriate government department should ensure that all utilities match standards of service people in other countries are provided by their public utilities. .
MAQSOOD A. ZAMIR
U.K
SLEEPLESS nights and workless days are routine now due to unscheduled and unjustified load shedding by the KESC. Before the KESC was privatised the situation was not as bad as it is now. When it was being sold out, we were told by the government that after privatisation people will be rid of loadshedding but has not been the case.
People who have been badly affected by loadshedding are showing their anger by coming out on the streets. In Liaquatabad and Gulbahar the situation is so bad that the law and order situation is under threat.
Old people, students and patients are suffering and they want the issue to be resolved once and for all. It is the government’s responsibility to resolve the issue of shortage of electricity so that people will find relief.
QAMAR ABBAS
Karachi
OFFICIALS of the Metropolitan Corporation Lahore (MCL), the (Lahore Development Authority (LDA) and even some elected officials in the Punjab government are developing the city of Lahore in such a way that they are killing all the trees and any sort of vegetation. In their place they are putting up ugly concrete structures. They are attacking our gardens, parks and precious open spaces.
On a drive along the canal that runs through Lahore I saw more than a thousand trees with a red cross drawn on them. This means that these trees will be hacked off on the excuse that the road is being broadened. I fear that many trees have already been felled.
Environmentalists have already made the government aware of the alarming increase in the level of pollution in the city. With the cutting down of more than a thousand trees, one can only imagine how much higher the pollution level will rise. The officials of the MCL and the LDA seem to be experts in concrete but not agriculture.
They are not aware of the value of greenery in cities and they do not want to be told that they are doing the wrong thing. They only want to earn an extra buck by hook or by crook. I think it is best to relieve them of their duties and instead employ those who will work for the good of not only the people but also the environment.
FR. ABID HABIB
Lahore
APROPOS of ‘Protesting Da Vinci Code’ (letter, June 1), the writer equates the reaction of Italians to the film The Da Vinci Code to that of Muslims after the publication of the cartoons against the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him). It is worth noting that the book on which the movie is based, has already sold 43 million copies without stirring any violent reaction and the response to the release of the movie has been equally tepid.
Although Catholics, in particular, and other Christians, in general, are quite disturbed by this attack on their religion, there has been no resort to violence, or mass disruptive demonstrations, or efforts to ban the movie. Christian groups have organised ‘teach-ins’ and educational programmes to refute the portrayals in the movie and have organised isolated peaceful protests.
This is in sharp contrast to the reaction of the Muslim world to the publication of the cartoons about the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him). It is true that the Muslim sensibilities differ markedly from those of Christians, particularly in European countries where religion has been relegated to the dustbin, yet it is difficult to justify the undignified response by the Muslims to the provocation.
An economic boycott and peaceful demonstrations would have have been more effective. It is also unconvincing to suggest that the affront was staged totally deliberately as a conspiracy against us.
MASOOD HAIDER
New Jersey
DURING his short life, Akhtar Shirani, besides writing poetry, edited a number of prestigious literary magazines, including Humayun, Baharistan, Khayalistan, Rooman and Shahkaar. Baharistan was his first venture which he brought out in 1926 at the age of 20. The magazine was acclaimed by critics, as well as by readers, as a valuable addition to Urdu literary journalism.
The Baharistan closed down in 1927 due to poor management. On its pages lies buried a veritable treasure of prose and poetry.
Its contributors included such luminaries as Khwaja Hassan Nizami, Nawab Naseer Hussain Khyal, Ahsen Lukhnavi, Khaleeq Dehlvi, Mir Baqar Ali Dastango, Hasrat Mohani, Fani Badayuni, Yaas Yagana and Jigar Muradabadi.
Some enterprising publisher should reprint the Baharistan, in two volumes each for 1926 and 1927. Besides preserving the valuable literary heritage which otherwise would be lost forever, it would serve as an authentic source material for researchers on the origin of Akhtar Shirani’s love poetry because Baharistan was the medium of communication between the poet and his beloved legendary Salma.
SYED AFZAAL HUSAIN ZAIDI
Islamabad
THIS refers to the article ‘Pakistan and India swap fishermen’ (Dawn, May 30), which mentions that India released 59 of our fishermen on May 29, and we will release 71 of theirs on May 30. The detainees’ only crime was that they had ‘strayed across the maritime border’ for which the Indian fishermen spent three years in Pakistani jails and the Pakistani fishermen spent between eight months and two years in Indian jails.
The fishermen are poor, so they do not have any sophisticated navigational aids to tell them which side of the maritime border they are. When they are out fishing, they cast out their nets, which can sometimes get carried to the wrong side by the ocean currents. The fishermen then stray across when bringing in their nets. The boats that are captured by either side are cannibalised by their captors — motors, nets all taken away to be sold. This leads to the economic ruination of the fishermen. There are today scores of captured Indian boats that are rotting in the channel opposite Baba Bhit islands. The captured boats have been parked here by the authorities, creating navigational hazards for our local fishermen using the channel.
The fishing community is marginalised by society and, therefore, so little concern is shown for securing their timely release. They end up spending years in jail, cut off from earning any source of livelihood for their families far away. The unlucky ones, such as 50-year-old Pakistani fisherman Abdul Rehman, who was shot dead by an Indian patrol boat close to Kajar and War Creek (Dawn, March 21), are gone forever. An indication of how marginalised the fishing community is in the eyes of the government can be gauged from the fact that although the boat captain lodged an FIR at the time, the Pakistan foreign office did not lodge a protest with India till three weeks later (Dawn, April 10).
In January, there were around 170 Indian fishermen in Karachi’s Landhi Jail. One hopes the remainder are released, and the Pakistan authorities make all-out efforts to immediately secure the release of all captured Pakistani fishermen. One hopes steps are taken by the authorities to provide our fishermen with navigational aids, and in the intervening period a quick reporting mechanism is evolved so that captured fishermen do not end up spending years in jail on the other side.
SOHAIL OSMAN ALI
Karachi
This is with reference to Yousuf Khan’s letter ‘Leave Clifton alone’ (June 1). As much as I admire him for writing such a masterpiece, I consider it my moral obligation to make him realise something very important.
He should be thankful to the DHA and the government of Karachi that they allowed him to have the pleasurable moments in the past which he can now cherish. I would never dare go with any girl to Seaview now for the fear of a demanded ‘nikah nama’ by the dutiful police. My mother cannot even imagine walking on the seashore alone for the fear of being mugged.
Nothing in life is free anymore, so enjoy the view of the glittering sea even if you have to climb the ‘Great Wall’ of Seaview. Who knows when the DHA will disallow citizens from doing that too?
In fact, when I have to wait for long hours in the scorching sun for VVIPs to pass by, I feel more on the lines of ‘Leave Karachi alone’.
ALTAMASH J.LONE
Karachi
I WISH to assure Mr Yusuf Khan that the Clifton projects are not a conspiracy against him or his family, but a continuous process of commercialisation with greed and profit as the prime motivators. The walls are necessary to guard against prying eyes so that the further desecration of the beach and its piecemeal sale cannot be seen. When they run out of land they start reclaiming the sea and sell that too. The sea is not even visible from the recently inaugurated park due to the height of the strategically-built wall.
All those who care about the beach should beware that a huge structure is rising on the coast and will expand to the point where Khayaban-i-Sehar ends. This is probably a restaurant which is sure to be an ecological nuisance and a major eyesore. All of Karachi should request the DHA and Clifton authorities to spare the coastline from further desecration.
A. AHMED
Karachi
ACCORDING to a section of the press, no Indian cricket team has ever won a cricket series in the Caribbean except the one led by Dilip Serdesai against Clive Lloyd’s team in 1971.
Here I would like to put the record straight that Dilip Serdesai was just a member and Agit Wadekar was the captain of the Indian cricket team on that historic tour of 1971. India not only won the series but a new star, Sunil Gavaskar, also gained stardom when he piled up runs in his maiden Test series and played a key role in carving a victory against the hosts.
Similarly, it was not Clive Lloyd but Sir Garfield Sobers who captained the West Indies team against the then touring team of India.
RAFAT MAHMOOD ANSARI
Islamabad
I WOULD like to ask the traffic authorities why the number plate ‘Jatoi’ is allowed on a motor vehicle. A shiny big car with the huge number plate ‘Jatoi’ intercepted mine very rudely the other day. Meanwhile, just the other day a friend of mine was pulled over by the police for driving a car with an ‘Applied for registration’ sign as the number plate. They said he could not be on the road till he got a proper number plate. Do the rich get away with everything in this country? Laws should be equally enforced for all citizens. And then we wonder why this country is a mess today.
S. BABAR
Karachi
THIS refers to the article ‘Pakistan still facing major economic risks’ by Anwar Iqbal (May 25). Such claims do not appreciate the severe conditions Pakistan has faced and is still facing.
These include domestic issues like water shortage, power breakdowns and an unreliable law and order situation. We have suffered a devastating earthquake last year.
Despite all odds and the earthquake, we have managed to keep our GDP at 6.4 per cent, which is still better than a majority of the countries in the world. People who say that Pakistan has missed opportunities after 9/11 should also realise that Pakistan was not treated as special by anyone in the world after 9/11. Whatever improvement we see have been done by people who love Pakistan and are working day and night to prove that we are a responsible nation in every respect.
There have been no economic packages provided especially to Pakistan by any agency in the world. Compared to the aid some other developing countries have been offered, what Pakistan gets is peanuts.
I believe that, yes, it is important to identify the wrongdoings in our system but at the same time it is wrong to negate the efforts being made in the right direction by the government.
KASHIF MASOOD
Karachi
HOW blood-curdling was it for us to learn from Dawn of May 28 that President Bush put in the ears of young graduates of US Military Academy at West Point such phrases as “Muslim radicals of the present day are like the threatening communists of Cold War days” and that “America’s safety depends on an aggressive push for democracy, especially in the Middle East”.
I can now understand why more than 70 per cent of Americans do not have confidence in President Bush as their leader.
I hope someone close to the president will advise him that it is only because of the dictatorial ways of Bush’s allies in the Middle Eastern countries that the radicalism of their public is solidly capped.
Let President Bush repeat his Iraq mistake by attacking Muslim countries one after the other for the sake of democracy, and the present-day juggernaut of Bush-Blair-Sharon trio will be crushed to smithereens by what the president calls Muslim radicals.
Will President Bush be kind enough not to undo the humanitarian work done by the Marshall Plan and USAID for the past 60 years. I think it was American president Abraham Lincoln who had said: “It is better to keep quiet and be guessed as a fool rather than speak out and prove it.”
RAHIM JUNEJO
Hyderabad
THE drive against smoke-emitting vehicles recently launched in Karachi by the city government seems to have faltered without resulting in any visible improvement. One can still see buses and mini-buses spewing black smoke, which adds to the already polluted environment of the city.
When the drive was launched there was hope that the citizens of this city would once again be able to breathe in fresh air, but it seems that the drive has faltered halfway through. I request the city government and the traffic authorities concerned to ensure that the drive is restarted, and unfit vehicles are banned from plying on the city roads.
TYRONE MASCARENHAS
Karachi
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