| June 24, 2006 | Saturday | Jumadi-ul-Awwal 27, 1427 |
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‘Crying will not help’
Budget: pros and cons
KESC and kundas
Zakat deduction
‘Liberalism revisited’
Two sides to any story
Price hike
Dam political fodder
City nazim’s promises
All eyes on Pakistan
Touting statistics
History being demolished
Federal service tribunal
Role model
NOAM Chomsky, professor of linguistics and philosophy at MIT, is also a well-known critic of US foreign policy and a powerful voice of dissent that is hard to ignore.
In his article ‘Defusing Iran crisis’ (reproduced in Dawn on June 20), he makes a strong case for dealing sensibly with this crisis, the onus for which he has put fairly and squarely on the United States. His proposal for defusing the crisis consists, essentially, of three steps.
First, the US and Israel should “call off the very credible threats that virtually urge Iran to develop nuclear weapons as a deterrent.”
Second, the proposal put forward in 2003 by Mohammad ElBaradei, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, should be implemented. This proposal envisages that all production and processing of weapon-usable material be under international control, with “assurance that legitimate would-be users could get their supplies.” According to Chomsky, so far only one state has accepted this proposal – Iran.
Third, the 1993 UN resolution for a fissile material cut-off treaty (or Fissban) should be fully implemented. In November 2004 this resolution was rejected by the US in the UN committee on disarmament — the vote count was 147 to 1 (US), with two abstentions, Israel and Britain. Last year a vote in the UN general assembly was 179 to 2, Israel and Britain again abstaining. The two negative votes were those of the US and Palau.
Chomsky further argues that the nuclear weapon states should live up to article six of the NPT, which obligates them to take ‘good-faith’ measures to eliminate nuclear weapons, a binding legal obligation, as determined by the world court. Chomsky asserts that none of the nuclear states has lived up to that obligation, “but the United States is far in the lead in violating it.”
It should be mentioned, as stated by Chomsky, that in May 2003 the reformist government of Mohammad Khatami had proposed “an agenda for a diplomatic process that was intended to resolve on a comprehensive basis all of the bilateral differences between the United States and Iran.”
These included “weapons of mass destruction, a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the future of Lebanon’s Hizbullah organisation, and cooperation with the UN safeguards agency.” The Bush administration turned down the proposal.
It is of utmost importance that this crisis between the US and Iran is resolved peacefully. Chomsky’s proposal makes imminent sense, and should be pursued vigorously and in good faith. If matters come to a head, the implications for regional stability and world peace will be disastrous indeed.
SALAHUDDIN K. LEGHARI
Lahore
Mr Ardeshir Cowasjee’s column ‘Crying will not help’ (June 4) is a weighty interpretation of the state of politics and politicians in the country.
Pakistan has paid a colossal price for its failure to make a democratic beginning with a constitution, an elected legislature and an elected government in the first few years of its founding.
Politics in Pakistan thereafter has been like the Afghan game of buzkoshi, in which players on horses snatch and grab a sheep carcass from rival riders. In Pakistan’s case the difference is that the trophy is not a sheep carcass, it is the country. And to the ‘winner’ seems to also go the right to plunder it.
As sometimes happens in buzkoshi, in the din and furore of the game the carcass is torn apart. This happened in Pakistan in 1971 when the game ended with the two champion teams each holding one half of the country.
In buzkoshi the team holding the head is declared the winner. In the case of Pakistan, however, it is a knotty question which side in the 1971 conflict held the head and which the rump. The captains of both teams came to a sad end.
Why has politics in Pakistan always been like a game of buzkoshi? The answer lies in the fact that Pakistan has never had real politicians and, therefore, no real politics.
What Pakistan has always had, and continues to have, are claimants to power. It is these claimants from the deeply-embedded hubs of power who consider power their birthright and have held Pakistan hostage since the country’s founding.
What has gone on in Pakistan in the name of politics is one continuous game of buzkoshi. Since power devolves within certain groups, the same people, like bad pennies, keep coming back in any ruling dispensation.
Politicians and parliamentarians are no angels. This has been proved over and over again, all over the world, by their carryings-on.
But in only a few countries has the greed and behaviour of those who pass for politicians been as consistently disruptive to the building of democratic political traditions as in Pakistan.
S. KHALID HUSAIN
Karachi
I appreciate the government, especially the finance team including Shaukat Aziz, Umer Ayub Khan and Salman Shah for presenting the best budget possible in the prevailing circumstances. The cause of appreciation includes the following steps taken by the government:
1. Imposition of 2 per cent tax on the real estate business which will reduce the number of transactions in the real estate and result in reducing undue increase in the property rates.
2. Five per cent taxation on rental property. This is justified because those who earn money should contribute towards the exchequer.
3. Increase in the salary of government employees and enhancement of conveyance allowance to the officials in grades 1 to 16. These will definitely reduce the misery of low- income employees. Also increase in the pension of the retired government employees.
4. Fixing minimum pay at Rs4,000. This will help the low-income labourers.
5. Increase in the taxable amount from Rs100,000 to Rs150,000 for salaried persons. This will enhance the number of persons who can pay tax and it will also decrease the rate of tax.
6. Imposition of Rs25 on the cable connection holders.
7. The increase in the rates of the savings schemes.
But as far as other issues in the budget are concerned, I would like to offer some suggestions. It is strange the government has decided to give 20 per cent increase in pension to people who retired before May 1, 1977. Either the rate of increase should be 100 per cent or the cut-off date should be amended to May 31, 1996. Since the average age in Pakistan is 60 years, there would hardly be any retired government employees still living who are over 90 years of age. A 100 per cent increase would be a reward for long age.
Also, the imposition of 0.2 percent tax on a bank transaction amounting to Rs25,000 in a single day is bit harsh. It should be increased to Rs100,000. Finally, the imposition of 0.02 per cent tax on the stock market is also not justifiable. The tax should be on gains from the market and not on the purchase of shares. I hope the finance team will look into these suggestions.
IMTIAZ AHMED KHAN
Islamabad
I do not write this with any bias as an ex-army officer but as a common citizen who has been affected by unwarranted and intermittent electricity breakdowns at home and at work.
To a great extent I agree with Rafik Ahmed on the subject (letter, June 16). However, the foreign CEO of KESC cannot be totally exonerated because of the ‘corrupt KESC staff’. In his capacity as the chief executive it is his prime responsibility to devise a strategy to meet this challenge rather than shying away from it.
I am sure he is not personally affected by the nuisance of power breakdowns but even the top executives in the corporate/ private sector have to bear the brunt since every minute of business lost cost them money. Meanwhile, government servants probably simply close the office and go home.
I sometimes wonder why this catastrophe did not befall us poor citizens when the KESC was being run by Brig Sadozai over the last three years. Does the army have to look after everything? The answer is probably ‘yes’. It is unfortunate part that corruption prevails in every government department, whether it is an autonomous or semi-autonomous body, because of lack of accountability.
I can foresee that the new KESC owners will either give in or, as a last resort, turn to the army for help as the kundas, which had been removed to a great extent, have returned in full force with nobody to check the menace.
MAJ (r) ZAHIRUDDIN BABAR
Karachi
ON March 9, 1999 the Supreme Court recognised the right of a Muslim not to have Zakat deducted through banks. This, however, is only allowed when a citizen signs a judicial affidavit (CZ-50), which requires the Muslim account holder to indicate the exempt Fiqh he or she belongs to.
The State Bank needs to follow the spirit of this ruling and ask all banks to stop deducting Zakat from all customers, barring those who clearly request the deduction.
Application forms for opening an account in banks should require a box to be checked by the person who actually wants the automatic deduction to be made.
The new governor of the State Bank, having arrived from overseas, should recognise the plain logic of this.
Her colleagues insist on making life miserable for the millions of accounts holders, as well as for the bank employees who are required to keep records. Like bad money, these old procedures need to be dumped.
Q. ISA DAUDPOTA
Islamabad
THANKS for the article ‘Liberalism revisited’ by Peregrine Worsthorne (June 22) Hopefully Mr Tahir Mirza will read it as a rejoinder to his ‘Fundamentalist challenge’. Ms Anjum Niaz may also give it a fleeting glance.
Perhaps both cease their warlike rhetoric; one against fundamentalists, the other against the veil. After all, we all have to live together in a pluralist society.
S.G. JILANEE
Karachi
APROPOS of the news item ‘Millions work as bonded labour in Pakistan: US’ (June 7), I am afraid the US State Department is not working hard enough. The artificial candour of the report was a tinge jaundiced.
The report gives a very wrong impression of Pakistan. It would appear that every second Pakistani traffics in women and all parents sell their children for the best price they can get. It appears that someone in the State department has an agenda to follow. The whole analysis lacks any good points about Pakistan to balance it off and as such it leaves a lot to be desired.
If I were in their place I would have said: “Whereas one looks with satisfaction the fact that the press is completely free in Pakistan and a few odd thousand NGOs over the years have emerged, many of which are working for women’s rights and for the elimination of bonded labour, yet the problem is formidable.” I would have further said: “One looks with satisfaction and pride at the revolution in higher education and the emergence of business schools and universities offering BBA, MBA and PhD programmes which gives rise to hope that more and more people will be working for improving society.” My sincere advice to the State Department is to study a society in depth before offering any kind of prescription.
The report, which bracketed India with Pakistan, was rejected by the Indian government as incorrect. They said: “We reject prescriptive and judgmental report by a foreign government.” I think in Pakistan many people will have the same view.
When I went to the US in the early 1990s I saw written on closed shutters of many shops: “Crime is closing down the United States”. Many people were sleeping on the floors of the subway stations. But I also made a note of the good points of the US, the power of the public opinion and the free press to name only two, and mentioned them to many different people on many occasions.
Both the abuse of children and trafficking in women are the bitter fruits of poverty. If one is sincere about eradicating poverty, one should talk about the even distribution of wealth. Distribute the resources equitably and the trafficking of women and abuse of children will reduce in direct proportion. A conference between officials of NGOs, government functionaries of Pakistan, India and the US is desired. I am sure more dimensions of this complex problem will come to the surface.
AZMAT ANSARI
Karachi
THE Economic Survey of Pakistan 2005-2006, which was made available a day Before the new budget was announced, blames ‘extra market forces’ for the unprecedented hike in the prices.
Given the ground realities, hardly anyone in the country will buy such a dim-witted argument.
Extra market forces may be one of the forces, but there are other factors responsible for the unprecedented price increase of essential goods.
Which include the hidden hand of powerful persons, the mafias and cartels but the government does not like to expose them for obvious political reasons.
In any case, if it is supposed that the price escalation was strictly due to extra market forces, then the only question which needs to be answered is, what measures did the government take to ease the situation?
Why could a shortfall in supply not be visualised and averted in a timely manner? The crisis has adversely affected the people and damaged the credibility of the present government.
AYAZ HUSSAIN SHAIKH
Karachi
DURING a recent interview on a private TV channel, Ms Benazir Bhutto said that military dictators are not accountable and can do whatever they please without the mandate of the people.
Yet I have read your report ‘Senators criticise KESC sale’ (June 3) and followed the intense criticism of the privatization of Pakistan Steel in the media. Had the present regime not held itself accountable and suppressed such criticism, construction of the Kalabagh dam would have commenced six years ago.
Ironically, both the previous regimes of Ms Bhutto and Mr Sharif pushed for construction of this but now the opposition is using the dam issue as political fodder.
RAFI AHMED
Karachi
DURING an interview to a private TV channel the Karachi city nazim said that many roads were dug up by the previous city government. Okay, but the present one is in charge now and responsible for completing the repairs and carpeting of the roads.
The nazim must drive from Sir Syed Girls College to Bara board and see for himself the horrible condition on both sides of the so-called road. Pak Colony/Manghopir Road has also not yet been completed despite several promises to do so.
SYED ABRAR HUSSAINI
Karachi
A leading US tech publication Information Week (May 29, 2006) has reported that Wateen Telecom of Pakistan has tapped Motorola to design and launch a nationwide wireless boardband network in an effort to provide Internet access to vast underserved areas.
This project involves mobile WiMAX (802.16e) technology, a new and very exciting technology. WiMAX promises to challenge the existing Wireless technologies and it is based on IEEE Open Standards (unlike CDMA/TDMA or even GSM). Pakistan will be the first country to launch wireless Internet and telecom services using WiMAX on such a large scale. Anyone interested in this latest mobile wireless technologies is going to have their eyes on Pakistan over the coming months.
JAIDEV SINGH
Ontario, Canada
THE deputy chairman of the planning commission has claimed that the poverty gauge is flawed and that poverty in Pakistan has actually decreased to 23.9 per cent. As someone once said: “There are lies and then there are statistics.”
A statistic was touted in the Soviet era when the Stalinists claimed that the potato production in Ukraine had increased by 500 per cent from the previous year’s crop. The punch line was that 500 per cent times zero was still zero.
And of course the ‘mother of all statistics’ was presented during Gen Zia’s reign when it was claimed that thefts had decreased dramatically.
Of course, the statisticians conveniently forgot to mention that instead of thefts, the dacoities had increased exponentially.
JEHANGIR MITHANI
Mississauga, Canada
NEEDLESS to say, I was disappointed, if not distraught, upon reading the news about the demolition of the only Hindu temple in Lahore. I am not a believer in any particular faith but I believe that the past must be protected since all of us own it. I was equally disturbed when the Babri mosque was demolished in India.
We may differ in the ways we pray but the ultimate objective is the Ultimate Himself. May I quote Mirza Ghalib who sums it up so nicely: Iman mujhe roke hai jo khinche hai mujhe kufr/ Kaaba meray peeche hai kalisa meray aage.
RASHNEEK KHER
Budgam, India
THERE are many appeals that are pending for adjudications before the Federal Service Tribunal at Karachi. It has been observed that new cases are fixed scarcely thrice in a year because the older, unresolved cases are waiting to be considered.
A large number of employees are waiting for justice and reinstatement in their jobs, as well as for dues, benefits, etc. It is suggested that the number of such courts should be increased so that employees can get justice briskly.
NISAR AHMED
Karachi
WHILE raw emotions can easily come out when we compare India and Pakistan, the reality is that neither country can be a role model for the other as far as standard of living, environment or infrastructure is concerned. So, next time anyone tries to compare the two countries, we must stop that person from trivialising the issue. If we are looking for a role model, Singapore is a good starting point.
MANOJ
Kolkata, India
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