| July 11, 2006 | Tuesday | Jumadi-ul-Sani 14, 1427 |
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‘Russia: cuckoo in the nest’
Military ranks
Smoke-emitting vehicles
Bold leaders
Overcoming power crisis
Passport for dual nationality holders
Bridge on railway crossing
Travelling on rooftops
Pakistan Railways
Impeachment option
Condemning North Korea
Vani and swara are totally non-Islamic practices; they existed before the advent of Islam. Vani is when a girl, held by her wrist, is handed over to a panchayat by the elders. Swara means a girl is given as compensation to the aggrieved family in a murder committed by either her brother, father or even an uncle.
Human rights groups and educated people have long been pressing the government to legislate against vani and swara but due to the feudal attitude of our lawmakers these laws were not allowed to be implemented.
When our democratic institutions are thronged by feudal chiefs and sardars who themselves conduct jirgas in their localities, how can one expect that they will legislate against these vices as they would ultimately restraint their own powers and influence on the poor people. According to a report, more than 80 per cent of National Assembly members are feudals while the remaining 20 per cent reached the assembly at the behest of the feudal class.
Now that our judicial system is acting proactively, there is a ray of hope at the end of the tunnel. Education among the people plays an important role in reaping the full benefit of this judicial activism. Poor and down-trodden uneducated people often fall victim to such kinds of atrocities, while an educated person can challenge the verdict of the jirga. Secondly, it is also the need of the hour to strengthen the lower judiciary so that the people’s confidence in it can be restored. The lack of access to justice is the prime reason people turn to panchayats and jirgas in the first place.
In the end, I’m sure that the jirga system can be eliminated if the media plays its role responsibly as it did in the case of Mukhtaran Mai. Credit goes to the press and electronic media who brought that episode to light so that the accused could get the punishment they deserved. The media should continue to highlight these injustices to bring it to the notice of judiciary as the parliament cannot be expected to legislate against jirgas.
TAHIR MEHMOOD PANWAR
Multan
GWYNNE Dyer’s article ‘Russia: cuckoo in the nest’ (June 29), in which the author looks worried about the Russian democracy rather ‘controlled democracy’ by President Vladimir Putin.
Russians have turned down the so-called Boris Yelstin-era democracy and rule of law for two reasons: one, they want their pride back and, second, they want food to eat and other daily needs which the Russians were deprived by the privatisation of all state resources. There is no doubt that Russians remained under the iron curtains, but they were not worried about their daily needs.
In 1998, I had a chance to study one summer semester in law at Moscow State University, where I met many people who were concerned about their world power status and growing poverty level in Russia. President Putin tried to make reforms, that is why his approval rate is 77 per cent. Although, President Putin has said he would not run for the third term as it is barred under the constitution, no one knows what Russian people would like.
The constitution can be amended as provided by the constitution and allow to run Putin for the third term.
Russian sources have been looted in the name of privatisation and global economy. The Russian global role has been undermined; its borders from Central Asian States to Ukraine to Belarus are being tightened. President Putin gave his political agenda highlighting these issues; the Russian people are supporting him and Russia is gaining power in world affairs.
I think the world should give a chance to Russia to stand on its feet and treat Russia as equal partner, not a junior partner, otherwise the seven thirsty crows will remain in the cuckoo’s nest.
The writer should not worry about democracy in Russia, the Russians are Europeans and, according to the writer, they are very educated, they will turn to real democracy. They practise civil law, they will respect vote and count votes, they will not go to the Supreme Court for counting and not counting the votes.
MUHAMMAD S. TAHIR
Rahimyar Khan
THIS refers to the letter by Naval Cdr. M. Ali where he implies that the armed forces are the ones ‘defending’ the borders. Let’s call a spade a spade. We are the ones who initiated all the wars with India and then ran to Washington to broker peace when faced with defeat. This has recently been corroborated by some of our ex-armed forces chiefs and esteemed journalists.
The armed forces have purposely initiated the Kashmir campaign as it is the golden goose that keeps one in power. It goes to the credit of our neighbouring country that they have not crossed the border during the last 35 years, and they have no intention of doing so in the near future as they are busy developing their nation.
Pakistan would have solved all its problems long ago if our armed forces were not power-hungry and had allowed democracy to prosper. Please retain your ranks, but do not try to portray that Pakistan is in peril without the armed forces. Pakistani civilians are just as hardworking as our military elite.
WELL-WISHER
Toronto, Canada
THIS is with reference to Naval Commander M. Ali’s statement that the nation should be thankful to the armed forces since they are the defenders of the country.
I think Mr Ali is oblivious of the fact that Gwadar is the only addition to Pakistan’s territory which transpired in September 1958 due to the endeavours of a non-military leader.
On the other hand, the armed forces of the Pakistan have only lost territory. For example, the 5,500 square miles lost on the western front during the 1971 war. The letter writer should take pride only when the outcome is positive.
MUHAMMAD JAWAD TARIQ
Islamabad
THE campaign recently launched in Karachi against smoke-emitting vehicles has fizzled out. Earlier also, a half-hearted campaign was launched during the time of a former IG Sindh, Syed Kamal Shah, but it failed because of pressure and blackmailing.
The irony is that laws and judgments from courts do exist but there is no will to implement these, be it smoke-emitting vehicles, ban on kite-flying or manufacture/sale and use of fireworks. Half-hearted efforts are doomed to fail and add to further abuse by culprits.
As per medical experts, smoke pollution diseases include asthma, lung cancer, lead poisoning, respiratory/chest diseases which are on the increase and add to medical bills of people already suffering due to high rate of inflation.
Noise produced by vehicles, particularly rickshaws, is more harmful than smoke pollution because it ends up in nervous and mental diseases like lack of tolerance, irritation and frequent bouts of headaches. Not only there are roadside workshops in every locality which, while testing the engine capacity, produce more noise than normal decibels.
Let me add that here in Muscat the normal speed of cars is 80-120km but there are no smoke, no noise and, above all, no police on roads like in our cities. They won’t pass a vehicle to ply even if a screw is missing. So the fault lies in our system.
Privatisation of vehicles’ fitness will not help either. We have seen and have been experiencing a painful result of privatisation of the KESC — the atomic plant was destroyed in advance and now unending loadshedding.
HAJI ASHFAQ
Muscat
A majority of people living in the Third World were thrilled when they saw the presidents of Iran and Venezuela being greeted with gusto on their arrival at the venue of the African Union summit held in Banjul, Gambia.
As we are aware that prophets will no more be descending on this planet to lead the masses against tyrant rulers, therefore someone amongst us will take the gauntlet to protect the impoverished population from the modern-day pharaohs. Time and again western countries have proved through their dealings that they are the real owners of the poor nations’ natural resources. Anyone opposing their hegemonic attitude is dealt with as a rebel and a rogue.
When declared nuclear states do not hesitate to prostrate before the might of the West, the struggle for Third World freedom by the nations having only conventional military power shows true courage. Their efforts confirm the divine message that “God helps those who help themselves”. It reveals that courage comes from within, even without being nuclear.
The appearance of Pakistan’s president or prime minister in this august gathering of world leaders would have strengthened our relations with Third World nations. If the country had a leader like Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, things would have been quite different.
S. BUKHARI
Karachi
IT is not only Karachi that is facing acute ‘power crisis’ as one reads many power problem reports in newspapers covering most of Pakistan. Since this particular phase of power crisis is in summer, there are two definite factors affecting power generation and consumption.
One, due to high summer ambient temperatures there is general de-rating of power plants but for gas turbine-based combined cycle station, the loss of power (compared to winter rating) could be as much as 30 per cent. What has Wapda done to increase the summer capacities of combined cycle stations at Kot Addu and Kotri? They could have installed combustion turbine inlet conditioning to get most of ‘lost’ power at only one-third the cost of ‘normal’ power plant extension.
Can you imagine getting extra 500-600 MW at around $200 per kW increased rating if both combined cycle power station had these ‘wonder’ installations. Many part of the world, including South America (similar to our conditions), are utilising this technology to get peak power (and as a bonus, at highest efficiency) during summer months when you need maximum power. Even Saudi Arabia (not very well-known for economics and efficiency improvement) has two major installations, resulting in considerable increase in summer power capacities.
In our country, the prime minister has to issue directions to Wapda to use all possible options to increase power generation (Dawn, July 7) instead of Wapda taking timely action.
It is typical to allow the country to suffer because Wapda was not permitted to install a new thermal power plant but who could have stopped Wapda if it had proposed to increase summer power production in a big way and at only $200 per kW of additional power.
Similarly for the KESC, ‘possible option’ should have been immediate conversion of most inefficient Bin Qasim power plants to combined cycle, in stages. Getting 50 per cent extra power from each conventional steam power plant without any extra fuel and at 50 per cent of ‘normal’ price should have been initiated immediately after the KESC’s takeover because it was ‘agreed’ that new owners would invest $600-700 million to solve Karachi’s problems and, of course, also make money due to much lower generation costs.
Second, power consumption is increasing due to enormous sale of airconditioners and it is common sight (both in TV news and ads) that people are clothed/covered for winter in this poor country of ours so that airconditioners lower the temperature (much below any sensible temperature setting) to suit the winter clothing.
It is really unfortunate that we have no energy conservation concept in the country and worst even public leaders have no concern whatsoever. How can conservation culture develop if one sees and experiences lavish environment at taxpayers’ expense?
Power crisis will not be resolved unless we change our basic attitude to efficiency and conservation.
Power professionals need to follow, and further develop, efficiency goals now ‘standard practice’ in most countries, even those earning billions in extra revenue due to high oil export.
We are a poor nation and we have to work harder even to maintain minimum standards. For us, questions relating to efficiency and conservation are of utmost importance. Now that the prime minister has even issued directive, Wapda must use all possible options to increase power generation. And adding combustion turbine inlet conditioning to combined cycle stations should certainly be the first step to gain extra power and higher efficiency which would also reduce fuel costs.
AINUL ABEDIN
Karachi
I APPLIED for a computerised passport on May 22 at the Saddar office. I was told I would receive my passport after 25 days, as it would go to Islamabad for clearance since I have dual nationality.
My passport still hasn’t been issued. I have been asked to inquire in another 15 days to 20 days.
Passports of other members of my family, who do not have dual nationality, were delivered on the 12th day as promised. So why this delay over my passport? Are citizens with dual nationality treated differently?
Why is the process taking so long? The assistant manager at the passport office said to me that I should not have ‘brought this upon myself’ by declaring my dual nationality. So am I being punished for holding another nationality?
I had to attend a friend’s wedding in Dubai last month and because of the negligence of the persons concerned, I could not travel.
I had been to the passport office three times to inquire about my passport. Going there in the nightmarish traffic is punishment enough. Can the authorities concerned please answer me as to when I can be relieved of this wait?
MARYAM ASHFAQ
Karachi
THE second largest city of Sindh, Hyderabad, is encircled by the river Indus in the west and three large canals in the east. The traffic coming from or going towards other parts of the country have to cross these canals at three points; Hala Naka, Lined Channel and Ghangra Mori.
At the Lined Channel point there is a railway crossing and two other roads, each from Hala Naka and Ghangra Mori, join together for the eastward traffic to Tando Allah Yar, Mirpurkhas, Umer Kot, Sanghar and Tharparkar districts.
This railway crossing has become a major obstruction to the normal flow of the traffic to or from the city. Particularly in the afternoon, hundreds of vehicles could be seen forming long queues and thousands of others huddled together causing a complete traffic jam for two to three hours daily.
This situation is extremely awful for travellers, particularly for patients and their attendants in ambulances. Hence there is a pressing need for an overhead bridge on the railway crossing at Lined Channel near Hyderabad.
RASHID AHMAD DAR
Tando Jam
WITH reference to the letter “Travelling on rooftops” (July 7), the letter writer think s that people sitting on bus roofs “give a very bad impression of our living standards”.
In that case, this is only a representation of the lives of 80 per cent of our population. Would Mr Hussaini give some of these people a ride in his car? Or maybe for cosmetic reasons they should be locked away where they cannot be seen and thus stop cramping his style.
R. GHAYUR
Karachi
RAILWAYS Minister Shaikh Rashid has recently told the media that there are 1,000 lawyers working for Pakistan Railways which he wants to reduce to 30-35. It amounts to about one lawyer per 100 employees.
Other steps like dualisation of railway track from Lahore to Khanewal, increasing the number of passengers and goods trains, proposal to increase speed from 105 km/hour to 200 km/hour are also welcome.
It is suggested that the minister should consider dualisation of the train track from Lahore all the way to Lodhran as Lodhran-Karachi is already double track.
By doing so, the time of train travel between Karachi and Lahore would reduce automatically, making it competitive with other modes of passenger and goods transport.
There are examples of efficiently-run state enterprises outside Pakistan, and Singapore Airlines is one of them.
If Mr Lee and his successors could make it happen for Singapore Airlines and Mr Laloo Parsad Yadav can do it for Hindustan Railways, there is no reason why it can’t be done in Pakistan.
S. NAYYAR IQBAL RAZA
Karachi
I AM surprised that till now the opposition has not given serious thought to the impeachment option against the current regime. It can cause lethal damage to the regime at no cost. President Musharraf does not care about his civilian front men in the assembly or the assembly itself. He does not address the assemblies at the beginning of the parliamentary year as laid down in the Constitution.
The opposition should move an impeachment resolution. They should charge him on constitutional grounds for his failure to address the assemblies instead of going after his uniform.
The president will be forced to attend the impeachment session and defend himself. There will be great media attention and the whole world will know that he is under impeachment proceedings. It will leave the current regime deeply enervated and shakier than ever before.
S KHAN
Lahore
FOREIGN Minister Mahmud Kasuri has condemned North Korea for testing a long-range missile. I wonder if this is in reply to North Korea condemning us for a similar act, or just a gesture to please the US. We should be grateful to North Korea in this field.
AURANGZEB
Swat
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