| June 29, 2006 | Thursday | Jumadi-ul-Sani 2, 1427 |
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Iraq: finding a way out
Needy ex-bureaucrats
Mental Health Ordinance
Violation of women’s rights
Spoiling army’s image
Classification of workmen
Witness to intolerance
Solutions needed now
Three cheers for MPs
Entrance tests for medical colleges
Food for thought
Retirement age
Charter of Democracy —-or the MOU between the PPP and the PML-N — has received lukewarm support in Sindh; and the PPP study circle now seeks society’s input on the document. Since the so-called charter was developed and finalised in Islamabad, with no conscious effort made to capture the sentiment of the small provinces, it cannot deliver on at least four counts.
First, it is silent on issues pertaining to Indus basin water resources’ management, including judicious distribution, construction of mega dams, adoption of guidelines for operating link canals and existing water storages as recommended by the Technical Committee on Water Resources.
Second, it makes a simplistic pledge that a new NFC award shall be given. This is not sufficient, because it evades commitment on multiple indicators and a lower federal share from the divisible pool.
Third, the abolition of a concurrent list does not mean anything in itself. Unless there is a reasonable level of clarity on economic domain and other associated issues of provincial autonomy, there cannot possibly be any genuine democracy in Pakistan.
Finally, bringing the defence budget to the parliament is a non-issue now that it has been reviewed by the National Assembly during the federal budget session. People in small provinces, and specially those in poverty-ridden rural Sindh, would be much more interested in the rationalisation of defence and other non-development expenditures; as well as in the numerical strength and provincial composition of the armed forces.
People in Sindh have had a bitter experience of the past two PML-N tenures during the 1990s. Accepted as the least favoured option, the 1991 Water Accord remains controversial even today. The NFC 1997 reduced the share of provinces to a ridiculous 37.5 per cent as against 80 per cent of the 1951 Raisman Award. Article 245 was also invoked by the Nawaz regime to bring in a puppet government and a military governor in Sindh.
We cannot, therefore, endorse the Charter of Democracy in its present shape. We also cannot trust the secret understanding among mainstream leadership on critical issues of Sindh.
There should be an on-going dialogue and amendment to this document if it is really intended to serve as a concept paper for any future constitutional changes in Pakistan.
DR RAJAB ALI MEMON
Hyderabad
When the US illegally invaded Iraq in 2003 the world did not know what to make of it. As the events over the last three years have unfolded, it is apparent that neither did the Iraqi people. Many had envisaged the day Iraq would be free of Saddam and his war-hungry mentality. Unfortunately, when the moment arrived, the Iraqis failed to grasp it.
Whether or not the American-led invasion was right or wrong, it does not matter. It is too late. What matters are the consequences. To single out the Americans for blame is wrong.
Equal if not a larger blame lies with the people of Iraq. They should have grasped the opportunity and turned over a new leaf. Instead some of them chose to destroy their own country.
If the Americans were wrong, so are the so-called insurgents who seem hell bent on destroying everyone and everything in the very country they are trying to rid of occupation. Their strategy points to their frame of minds and raises questions about their real motive. Bombing Iraqis on the streets, in buses and mosques makes little sense as an effective anti-occupation strategy.
By remaining silent and not rising en masse against this massacre the Iraqi people are an accomplice to this destruction, as are we Muslims who are allowing this barbaric bloodshed to continue. If we couldn’t stop the American infidels, perhaps the so-called ‘Muslim freedom fighters’ would make better listeners. Instead we stand by and become accomplices of the Iraq destruction by bestowing martyrdom on these insurgents.
The day will come when the Americans will pack up and leave. Muslims the world over will rejoice and distribute sweets, as we did when the Soviets left Afghanistan and the Americans fled Somalia. Then a few years down the line we will forget the war just as we forgot about Vietnam and Somalia. But will the Iraq people move on? Will they choose the path of Afghanistan and Somalia or the path of Germany and Japan? The choice is theirs; your guess is as good as mine.
NASIR SIDDIQUE
Karachi
A LIST of former chief secretaries and inspectors-general of police (IGPs), Punjab, was published in a press report on June 19. The list included of people who have applied to the Punjab chief minister for lifetime financial assistance because of their inability to meet various expenses with their meagre pension.
The chief minister has approved life-time financial assistance to these officers despite opposition from some quarters.
Most readers of various national dailies are only aware of the top bureaucrats retiring with fabulous wealth through various means, both fair and unfair, and many of them settle in the US, Canada and the UK for a retired life with far better health, education and other facilities of life.
But the financial plight of the former chief secretaries and IGPs presents an entirely different picture. In fact, the federal government should acknowledge its failure to look after the once proud top CSP and PSP officers of the federal service being financially compelled to beg the Punjab provincial government to grant them financial assistance out of the provincial funds which are short even for the poorest of the poor in Punjab.
I would appeal to the prime minister to direct his inspection team to ascertain assets of these hapless retired federal service officers, including those in the names of their wives and children, to determine the quantum of lifetime additional financial assistance to each of these financially-starved top bureaucrats, before they start approaching other provincial governments where they served as chief secretaries or IGPs.
RAJA M. AFZAL KHAN
Gujjar Khan
THIS refers to a news item on the metropolitan pages on May 6 about the implementation of Mental Health Ordinance 2001.
Mental health is a problem which extends beyond schizophrenia depression and mental retardation. The joint family system accommodates mental health problems in a hush-hush manner. Some family members may be caring while other members show revulsion or indifference.
The severe cases labelled as ‘insane’ are the ones who are handed over to the mental health institutions as ‘items’. Immediate families do not even bother to know what the patient’s rights are. If they take the trouble to find out, they might find their task easy. Instead they have a resigned attitude that what difference is it going to make to the patient anyway. This is particularly the case if the patient is hostile towards the family.
This is precisely the point which favours the prompt implementation of Mental Health Ordinance 2001. Till this happens, citizens should be informed in simple language about the rights of mentally ill people and how can they be protected.
Any citizen, whether or not a family member of the mentally ill, can point out any mental cruelty being meted out to the patient (irrespective of whether the patient is oblivious of the wrong being done) and have it legally redressed.
DR. FAWZIA USMANI
Karachi
THE incident which took place in the Sindh Assembly on June 21 is most unfortunate. It reflects the mindset of the so-called graduate assembly. If our MPAs get involved in eve-teasing and start harassing their colleagues, what can one expect from a common man on the street? Moreover, the leader of the house, instead of condemning such acts, held women responsible for their harassment and asked them to dress up in such a fashion that nobody looks at them.
What kind of rulers are these who are so conservative and disrespectful to women. How could the leader of the house forget that the same MPA harassed an MMA woman member who was covered from head to toe? Besides, how women dress up and carry themselves is a matter of personal choice.
In Pakistan women are generally decently dressed and it is nobody’s business to admonish them.
We will follow our own standards and the men should clear up their fuzzy minds. In the next elections women should not vote for men who are disrespectful, conservative and violate women’s rights.
ANIS HAROON
Karachi
A NEWS report (June 17) said that an improvised explosive device hit a military vehicle from an army convoy near Miramshah. Although there was no casualty, the troops responded by resorting to indiscriminate firing, killing four tribesmen on the spot and injuring another.
This is shockingly similar to the American soldiers’ behaviour in Iraq and the surest way to create hatred for the army. Such behaviour will also give rise to ethnic discord and start a civil war. Our rulers’ desire to please Washington by doing its bidding, in order to stay in power, is likely to harm the nation.
This incident must be investigated and the personnel who breached army discipline and engaged in such brutality must be given an exemplary punishment. Also, compensation should be paid to the victims’ families as is being rightly done in the case of the unfortunate journalist Hayatullah Khan.
A PAKISTANI
Karachi
AS per the Finance Bill, 2006, contract worker has been included in the classification of workmen in Standing Order I of the West Pakistan Standing Orders Ordinance, 1968, and defined as workman who works on a contract basis. The contract labour term was for the first time used in the Indian Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act, 1970 for the two types of workers and was later also used in the same sense in the ILO’s documents. In Pakistan it is used in the same sense for the two types of workers.
Besides, a worker employed by a job contractor has already been treated as workman under Section 2(f)(iv) read with Section 2(i), while a workman employed through a contractor has been treated as workman under Standing Order 20 read with section 2(i), of the WP Standing Orders Ordinance, 1968, all of them being entitled to the benefits of the said Ordinance.
There was, therefore, no need for including them in the classification of workmen through a separate provision.
The use of the words ‘works on a contract basis’ in the definition of contract worker is important. If the words used were ‘employed on a contract basis’, then the term contract worker would have carried a different connotation. It could have been interpreted in two ways. One, with reference to the nature of employment, meaning employment more or less akin to casual employment of the past. But that interpretation could have been contradictory to the definition of a permanent workman which leaves no scope for employment of a casual worker for a job of permanent nature.
It was for this reason that a casual workman who used to be employed for both permanent and temporary jobs with periodic breaks in service was excluded from the classification of workmen. The other way could have been interpretation with reference to the nature of work implying work that is usually done on a contract basis like piecework.
But the words ‘works on a contract basis’ in the definition of a contract worker are susceptible to one meaning only, i.e. implying work usually done on a contract basis. This could obviously be piecework the rate and the manner of performance whereof is usually settled through contract. Thus the only possible interpretation of the term contract worker as defined in the Ordinance could be that it means a piece-rated worker who has been brought within the net of the classification of workmen in the Ordinance. He will be an employee for all intents and purposes and entitled to all the benefits under the ordinance subject to the condition laid down for each benefit. He will also be entitled to become a member of a trade union concerned with the establishment.
HAIDER ZAMAN
Karachi
I LIVE in a hostel and travel home almost every week from Lahore. This time I boarded the bus in Lari Adda, Badami Bagh, I seated myself next to the window and waited for the bus to depart. Hardly five minutes had gone by when, distracted by strange sounds and voices, I had to take my earphones off.
I looked out of the window and saw four young men beating another man of similar physique ferociously. They were yelling insults and using the filthiest language. The man was bleeding from head to toe. In the next five minutes, three men came to the rescue of this man, so soon all eight were bleeding badly. Almost a hundred people watched the ‘show’ with none stepping forward. There was panic at the scene, which was really horrific. At such an important public place there was no policeman to be seen, while there were smiles on the spectators’ faces who spent time afterwards commenting on the fight.
This is not the first time I have seen such a sight. Why do animal instincts rule our lives and yet we want to be called the most civilsed community on the planet. Could our religious leaders teach and inculcate patience, tolerance, use of good language and abstinence from violence rather than playing politics? But for this, they will first have to learn to be tolerant themselves.
DR KASHIF NADEEM
Lahore
THE Karachi Electrical Supply Corporation is facing a lot of criticism from all quarters these days. The KESC spokesman keeps issuing various contradictory statements and still has not been able to pacify the general public. There have been several high-level meetings to sort out the issue, but no practical solutions have emerged. The general public continues to suffer due to power shortage and, apparently, due to mistrust they are not satisfied by the far-reaching remedial measures announced from time to time by the authorities concerned. The public wants an immediate solution to this problem regardless of the complexities faced by the KESC.
I propose, or rather suggest, that the CEO of the KESC hold a press conference and provide all the local journalists detailed information of what is going on and what the plans are for the near future. If deemed necessary, the journalists may be taken on a visit to the various grid stations to have a better view of the problems. This would serve as a confidence-building exercise and clear the mistrust and misunderstandings. Most importantly, ordinary citizens will get a clear picture of what is in store for them.
SYED ABRAR HUSSAINI
Karachi
THE budget has been prepared by the finance ministry and put before parliament to read and suggest any amendments. It seems that parliament has approved the budget without even reading it. Here is an example to clarify this point.
The Behbood savings scheme was introduced to help senior citizens sustain themselves. The increase in return has been suggested as 0.52 per cent (from 11.04 to 11.52 per cent). The inflation rate as claimed by the government is eight per cent (which in itself is absurd).
So in real terms, on an investment of Rs100,000, a person gets an increase of Rs40 a month, which is just enough to buy a kilo of sugar a month.
Why don’t our parliamentarians understand this?
SYED MUSLEHUDDIN AHMED
Karachi
THE National University of Science and Technology (NUST) and the Aga Khan Medical University conducted their entry tests at the Army Public School/College, Warsak Road, Peshawar on April 2 and 9 this year in a very calm, peaceful and transparent manner. The examination was simultaneaously held at many other centres in the country with no complaint of any irregularity. Both the universities have declared their results as well.
The NWFP government is now preparing for entry tests for various medical and engineering colleges in the province, and NWFP seats in other provinces. In this regard, the NWFP governor and the chief minister are requested to ensure that entry tests are fair and transparent. It should be ensured that exam questions are not leaked before the test as happened last year, and due to which many deserving students were affected.
If for some reason the security of papers cannot be ensured, I suggest that NUST be approached for assistance in setting of papers and the tests be conducted strictly under the supervision of the local police. In this case, course books used by the NWFP and BISE should be provided to NUST for paper setting.
IFTIKHAR MARWAT
Peshawar
While eating in a restaurant, especially in Lahore, a common sight is seen where usually a family with small children is eating. The family is often accompanied by a small girl of eight to 10 years. Being a child herself, she is supposed to look after the rowdy children accompanying their parents. when an order for the food is placed, there is none for this hapless girl. The food arrives and all attack in unison. The children are worst throwing food and drinks all over the place.
During all this period the girl is watching silently. Do her masters ever realise what her feelings would be. In all these restaurants, including fast food, people who come are very affluent. Can’t they afford a coke or a burger for their servant? Think over it next time you are dining out. This poor girl accompanying you could have been your child as well.
KHALID RASHID
Rawalpindi
In Pakistan the retirement age is 60 years. In most countries, for instance in the US, it is 65 years. In my opinion the retirement age in Pakistan should also be 65 years. This can be enforced through the courts of law, as well as through the parliament.
SHAMIM ARMED
Karachi
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