| June 30, 2006 | Friday | Jumadi-ul-Sani 3, 1427 |
To send a letter to the Editor
Click here
Revisiting nuclear tests
No parking zones
Budget: pros and cons
Apex court judgment on PS
Muslims in Sri Lanka
Flights to New York
Karachi’s woes
Phone complaint
Water charges but no water
Society in peril
THE world today is at the crossroads with a variety of destinations on offer; from self-annihilation to peace and prosperity for all. Indeed it was for the latter possibility that a bruised and brutalised humanity set up the United Nations after World War II. Not unjustifiably, its success was predicated to unanimity amongst the Big Five.
The present mess that we are in is because this pre-requisite never came to pass. 9/11 made things still worse. The uni-polar, overbearing reality only compounded things. Amidst all this chaos the UN has to choose a new secretary-general: a responsibility of crucial significance. This time around the choice may well be more critical than ever before.
Therefore, to facilitate an informed debate it is imperative to pause and reflect on the anatomy of the job. In addition to Article 100 of the Charter, the main purpose of the job would be to facilitate the achievement of global interests by catalysing consensual effort on the part of UN member-states (191) within the framework of the UN Charter. The job has huge, diversified and extended dimensions in terms of budgets, funding, assets, human resources including tangible and intangible operations requiring sound planning, and proficient management.
The accountabilities it would inescapably subsume would be equally stringent. The more important ones would be: (i) to ensure the cost-effective utilisation of its gigantic budgets; (ii) to ensure the proactive planning and management of its peace and humanitarian operations; (iii) effectively harmonise diverse viewpoints of member-states on world issues; (iv) provide equal access to member-states to voice and be helped in realising their legitimate aspirations; (v) ensure that the Charter is ipso facto respected in all of its features; (vi) ensure that the collective will of member-states arrived at democratically is given tangible shape; (vii) ensure that all major organs of the organisation are given full play to achieve their originally envisaged roles particularly the International Court of Justice (ICJ); (viii) ensure that world disarmament moves from the mere rhetoric to the more implementable to restrict proliferation of all kinds of armament; (ix) to gestate a culture at the UN which unremittingly demands sound and durable solutions to world issues and with dispatch.
Inevitably some challenges would be inherent in the job, and they would possibly be, (a) restoring and enhancing the credibility and stature of the organisation; (b) a sharper focus on the imperative need for mutuality of collaboration of the First and the Third World; (c) the palpable addressing of the question of universal disarmament; (d) the dissolving of negative macho propensities to usher in positive caring attitudes in world affairs.
Now the question is who can fit the bill? Not an international bureaucrat with a long association with the organisation but perhaps somebody of world renown with appropriate operating experience at a much higher level.
M.J. As’ad
Karachi
THIS is with reference to the letter ‘Revisiting nuclear tests 1998’ (June 28) by Brig Mahmood. The writer is trying to distort the facts by giving example of military bases in Japan, Germany and South Korea, forgetting that we also have US military bases in Pakistan. The same place where some journalists were caught filming and then disappeared for three months.
By giving examples of Abu Gharib and partition of 1947 the writer is trying to generate fear among people as a means to justify military spending. If we look at our history, we see that it’s our own army who has marched away with more of our capital than anyone else. As far as safety in Karachi is concerned, I have lived in Karachi most of my life and also for a few years in London and Stockholm. No doubt for a brigadier, even a retired brigadier, Karachi is more safe than London. But I bet if the writer travelled by public transport in Karachi for a month, he will change his mind.
ZAHEER KHAN
Boras, Sweden
I AM disappointed by the misleading response of Brig Mahmood. The writer complains about the “withholding” of Pakistan’s “share of money”. It was because of the prevailing atmosphere and the chaos. I am sure Pakistan would have done the same.
There is in fact a ready example. Has Pakistan paid a penny to Bangladesh after 34 years? Brigadier Mahmood should know better as to who started the war in 1965. He must have read the book by Altaf Gauhar in which he clearly says that the 1965 operations were a big mistake and how Ayub Khan was mislead by Bhutto to start them. It has been further confirmed by Ayaz Amir and many others. The letter writer may have been a junior officer at that time.
India has never spent six billion dollars on lobbying. Indians are conservative in spending and have not spent even six million dollars. His claim about Hyderabad is just his opinion and nothing more. There were Hindu-majority states ruled by Muslims and Muslim-majority states ruled by Hindu rulers. We are still undoing the consequences of the unjust peace that was enforced.
Brigadier Mahmood should know that Pakistan, by its own claim, hosted four million refugees while India was flooded with 10 million Bangladeshis. Today there are 20 million Bangladeshi refugees living in India but they have been assimilated into the mainstream.
Nuclear weapons are welcome on both sides if they help prevent another war. After the deterrence has been reached, we should concentrate on development and improve the lives of our citizens.
SURINDER PURI
Washington, USA
THERE are areas around the PIDC House and opposite the Caltex petrol pump on Zaibunnisa Street, Karachi, which the traffic police have designated as ‘no parking’ areas. Perhaps the police themselves are not aware of the limits. No signs appears anywhere.
A few days ago my driver went to the Caltex petrol pump site to pick up my son who works in State Life Building-II on Zaibunnisa Street. As the driver stopped the car, a policeman appeared and started to write a challan. My driver protested that there is no sign prohibiting parking. However, the policeman continued writing the challan when my son appeared. He also protested but to no avail. A fine of Rs100 was imposed to be paid in any branch of the National Bank of Pakistan. This was even a harsher penalty since there is no area where one could park his car near the PIDC House. So, my driver had to go to Khayaban-i-Rahat branch of the NBP in the DHA, a few kilometres away, causing loss of time and money.
On June 23, I went to the ABL branch in the PIDC House and my driver took the car away for parking. He found an empty place at the end of Beaumont Road opposite the police station well over half a kilometre away from the PIDC House. As he came out from the car, a car lifter appeared and started to pick up the car. My driver protested that the area is not marked as a ‘no parking’ zone and, besides, there are several cars already parked there. The lift driver said: “They have special permit”. So my driver followed the lifter to an unmarked compound by the side of the petrol pump on Ziauddin Road. A fine of Rs200, including the lifting charges, was imposed. Since the driver did not have Rs200 on him, he came to the Allied Bank where I was waiting for him. I went to the area where it seemed a wedding feast arrangements were being made and two traffic cops were sitting under a canopy. I protested against this arbitrary action since the area was not marked as a ‘no parking’ zone. The cop said everybody knew that this was a ‘no parking’ area. So, I paid the fine to retrieve my car.
This is another example of the tyranny of the law. When enough hatred accumulates, it explodes. Something better be done to avoid this situation.
S.A. BILGRAMI
Karachi
REFERENCE to the letter “Budget: pros and cons” (June 24), the correspondent has made a few suggestions on the new budget regarding pension and tax on bank transaction. I would like to make some suggestions regarding the money being expended on each MNA’s salary, concessions, expenses, expenditures, etc.
One will be surprised to know that the salary and government concessions for a member of the National Assembly amounts to Rs32 million per year. The breakdown is as follows:
— Salary per month: Rs120,000 to 200,000.
— Expense for constituency per month: Rs100,000.
— Office expenditure per month: Rs140,000.
— Travelling concession (Rs8 per km): Rs48, 000.
— Daily BETA when assembly meets: Rs500.
The benefits and concessions are as follows:
— Charge for first class (A/C) in train (all over Pakistan): Free for any number of times.
— Charge for business class air travel (with spouse or PA): Free for 40 trips per year.
— Rent for government hostel anywhere: Free.
— Electricity costs at home: Free up to 50,000 units.
— Local phone call charges: Free up to 170,000 calls.
Considering the above, the estimated total cost for each MNA, per year, equals Rs32 million. I suggest that this expenditure should be shown in the budget separately for all the MNAs. Also, the free concessions as given above should be withdrawn and the MNA should bear these from their own income. All these incomes should be taxable. Since the workload of each MNA is not commensurate with the cash payments being made, and since there is more than 30 per cent poverty in the country, the amount of this payment should be considerably reduced. In fact, it should be reduced to the level of a person holding a BA degree which is the minimum qualification required for an MNA.
A. RAHIM
Michigan, USA
THIS is in response to Mr Anil Khan Luni’s letter ‘Apex court judgment on PS’ (June 27). The writer alleges that valuation was actually carried out by a front of Arif Habib Securities Ltd (AHSL), namely M/s Global City Marketing (Pvt) Ltd. The fact is that the Privatisation Commission (PC) had appointed Citigroup as the financial adviser, and, pursuant to the mandate, the information memorandum/valuation was prepared by Citigroup Global Markets Ltd, UK. AHSL is in no way connected with either Citigroup or M/S Global-City Marketing (Pvt) Ltd. The writer is at liberty to investigate this matter further.
AHSL is a financial services company with diverse interests. Had the investment gone through, our share in PS would have been 15 per cent of its outstanding equity, the rest being owned by GoP, MMK and AlTuwairqi. If by any stretch of the imagination it was to be conceived that AHSL’s interest was in real estate, how could we have influenced valuation given our minority position?
All that we expect is a balanced view of the privatisation of PS as we participated in the spirit of fairness and equity and abided by the rules of the game. We agree that if there are any kinks in the privatisation process, it should be streamlined but in no way should it be used as an opportunity to question the integrity of any of the participants.
ARSHAD HASSAN
SVP-Investments, Arif Habib Securities Ltd Karachi
THIS is with reference to Mr Abdul Aleem’s letter ‘LTTE threat to Muslims’ (June 8). I thank Mr Aleem for his concern about Sri Lankans, including Muslims. Although the LTTE, through one of its frontal organisations, issued an ultimatum of 72 hours to the Muslims living in the eastern town of Muttur, the government prevented the LTTE from forcing the civilian population to flee Muttur by ensuring adequate security.
No one takes LTTE denials seriously, as it never owned up its crimes, including ethnic cleansing of Muslims and Sinhalese from the northern province. This week too President Mahinda Rajapaksa reassured eastern Muslims that the government would do everything in its command to prevent the LTTE harming them. Despite continued serious provocations by the LTTE, the government is not wavering in its commitments to find a negotiated solution, without dividing the country.
Not even when, just the other day ,due to a huge bomb blast by the LTTE, over 60 civilians, including children, were massacred in the Anuradhapura district.
As a matter of fact, I would like to emphasise that the LTTE never engaged in negotiations, in good faith, with the government of Sri Lanka. The facilitator of the peace process, namely the Royal Norwegian government, has squarely blamed the LTTE for refusing to sit with Sri Lankan delegation in Norway last week, after initially agreeing and travelling from Colombo all the way to Oslo.
The government of Sri Lanka provided an air force helicopter for the LTTE delegation to travel to Colombo, while the Royal Norwegian government facilitated their travel from Colombo to Oslo. In the meantime, the government reiterated that it still wished to negotiate with the LTTE to find a political solution. I wish to highlight that an advisory committee has been appointed to work out the formalities for a lasting solution to the ethnic conflict, comprising learned persons from all three communities, as decided by the fifth all-party conference presided over by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on June 2.
What we need at this point of time is the continued support and the backing of the international community, such as shown by the EU recently by branding the LTTE as a terrorist organisation, to the government of Sri Lanka in its endeavour to bring the LTTE to the negotiating table. The government of Sri Lanka appreciates that several foreign governments, including the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, Malaysia and India, have banned the LTTE thereby restricting free travel and movement of overseas funds of the LTTE. Therefore, we do not see any role, other than this, for the international community, including the UN Security Council or the OIC, in Sri Lanka’s internal affairs.
GEN C.S. Weerasooriya High Commissioner, Sri Lanka
Islamabad
APROPOS of the letters ‘Flights to New York’ (June 25) by Syed Noman Naqvi and Mr Mohammed Asim, the correct position is that in 2000 the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA), US, had formally visited Pakistan’s airports and given a green signal for flights to operate to New York.
This situation radically changed in the aftermath of 9/11. Security concerns became a heightened issue. The FAA was merged with the Transport Security Administration (TSA), which came under Homeland Security. Security requirements were enhanced and radically changed. The correspondents must be aware that security is a common concern for both Pakistan and the US. The stringent security requirements taxed the resources, both financially and technologically.
The Civil Aviation Authority, the regulatory body in Pakistan, and the TSA in the US are engaged in a meaningful and positive dialogue and we are very hopeful that soon the matter will be resolved, allowing PIA to operate directly just as PIA is currently operating directly to and from Canada.
We, in PIA, assure our valued customers, both at home and in the US, that we are aware of their needs and requirements, and we are doing everything possible to come up to their expectations of starting direct flights to New York. All we ask for is a little patience from their side.
CAPT HASSAN JAFFERY General Manager, Public Affairs & Communication, PIA
Karachi
THE citizens of Karachi are at present doubly blessed by the powers that be. When they are indoors, thanks to the recently privatised KESC, they are blessed with loadshedding and shortage of water and basic amenities of the kind which they had never experienced before. When they are outside, thanks to the newly-installed CDGK which makes every effort to prove that they are hard at work, they are greeted by dug-up roads, potholes, traffic jams and intense pollution. The citizens of Karachi should be thankful to the federal government for privatising the only public utility for the citizens and to the city fathers for creating a mess on the roads.
The citizens of Karachi have always endured in the worst circumstances, and will continue to bear more of the same.
YUSUF M. MEMON
Karachi
MY PTCL V-wireless telephone 4209954 has not been providing the facility of Internet. Complaints and letters have been sent to PTCL authorities, but all this has been to no avail.
The senior PTCL authorities are requested to look into the matter.
TARIQ RASHEED
Karachi
I WISH to draw the attention of the president of Pakistan to the injustice which is being done to the residents of the DHA, Karachi, in the matter of water supply. The water board includes water charges in their annual bill according to the allotted quota of water supply to the DHA by the KWSB even though water has always been in short supply for the few years.
During the current financial year I had to purchase water from sources other than CCB worth Rs35,000 due to further cuts in water supply which is now once a week, and that too for a short period. The CCB is making huge profits on this account which is unjustified. I request the president to order an inquiry into the water supplied to the residents of the DHA and order a 50 per cent cut in the water charges for the current year.
The DHA has been promising installation of water meters for many years but so far they have not materialised. The water meters could be the only way to estimate the real charges for the water supply by the CCB.
NIZAM UL HASAN
Karachi
IT is worth quoting what the National Human Rights Commission of India said in its petition filed in the Supreme Court in the Best Bakery case: “Whenever a criminal goes unpunished, it is society at large which suffers because the victims become demoralised and criminals encouraged”.
No doubt, no civilised society or its government can afford to pretend to be indifferent to demands of justice; if it does, it does so only at its own peril.
For the same reason, the payment of compensation and the consequential forgiving of the accused become questionable. The apparently aggrieved person may get compensation but the real aggrieved person is society itself, which cannot be compensated by compensating the direct heirs of a murdered person. Will our lawmakers give a thought to this basic evil in our society?
S.M
Karachi
You can also send letters to the Editor
Just send your message to the following address: letters@dawn.com
Make sure you include your full name, postal address, e-mail address, and in the case of Pakistan your day-time telephone number.