| August 03, 2006 | Thursday | Rajab 7, 1427 |
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Hudood laws and non-Muslims
Dog-bite treatment
Overcoming our disadvantages
MQM standoff with government
United Bank’s pensioners
Wasteful expenditure
‘Ex’ marks the spot
Who is to blame?
Civic problems
IT is quite obvious that the US is encouraging and supporting Israel in its ongoing attacks on Lebanon, which is done under the guise of war on terror: Hezbollah being the major mitigating factor. This is for very obvious reasons, i.e., if the war continues, the next countries to get involved would be Syria and Iran, which are already in the axis of evil as purported by the US.
This would give the US a chance to indirectly carry out its vendetta against Iran and Syria, which is to stop Iran from enhancing its nuclear capabilities and to get a foothold in Syria.
It seems that the agenda is not to stop Iran from increasing its nuclear capabilities but is to somehow control the oil in the Middle Eastern region. The US already controls the outflow of oil from Iraq and Saudi Arabia to a major extent.
If we look back at the history of the Middle East, the US is exactly playing the role as Britain and France played with Egypt in encouraging Israel to attack Egypt in the 1950s during the Suez crisis. The British and French entered into a secret agreement with Israel to attack Egypt. The plan was that once Israel attacks Egypt, the British and French would come in as peacekeepers to control the Suez canal.
If the US desires to play a role of a peacekeeper in the present crisis, it can do so by not giving any logistics and technological support to Israel, as did president Eisenhower, though for his political reasons, during the Suez crisis. The United States at that time refused to allow the International Monetary Fund emergency loan to Britain until the latter called off the invasion. It further played a major role through the UN demanding a ceasefire.
If the US wants, it can call for an immediate ceasefire and invite the parties to resolve the conflict through amicable means by joining hands with other members of the Security Council and passing a resolution. The intentions of the US, however, seem to be quite opposite.
President Bush has so far resisted calls for an immediate ceasefire and also avoided criticism of Israel. It seems that it is for these reasons or some other hidden agendas which might be a part of the bigger game that the US has held back its peace initiatives and continues to support Israel.
KHURRAM HASHMI
Islamabad
I AM neither a politician nor an economist but I have an idea. Sometimes a simple action results in an extraordinarily powerful reaction. All the Middle Eastern oil-producing nations announce that they will stop exporting oil and oil-related products to western nations and the US for 30 days and during this time a peaceful settlement is discussed and secured between Palestine and Israel starting from UN Resolution 242 and other subsequent resolutions on the subject.
If the issue is not resolved during this time, then there should be another 30 days extension of the boycott. Like they say, no guts no glory.
M. NASEEM BATLA
San Antonio, USA
TWENTY days into the Middle East war and the situation in Lebanon has gone from bad to ugly. The Qana massacre was glaring evidence that the Ummah at large and the rest of the world in general have failed the Lebanese civilians.
Immediately after Israel’s horrific air raid in Qana, several heads of state issued statements condemning and disapproving the attack. But these statements were just rhetoric. Watching the horrific war unfold from the sidelines, and simply mouthing instructions for a ceasefire will not help the situation. Such meaningless statements won’t ease the trauma of the Lebanese people.
Muslim nations have to act now and act fast to get a grip on the heinous onslaught by the Israeli forces.
I request President Musharraf and the heads of Muslim state to shed off their nonchalant attitude and immediately come to the aid of their Lebanese brothers, lest the Israeli forces create havoc in the entire Muslim world.
NADIA SIDDIQUE PECHUHO
Karachi
Hezbollah or no Hezbollah, Israeli actions against Lebanon are an unprovoked act of aggression on a neighbouring country. It is a violation of international law, a slap in the face of human rights charter and a war crime.
America’s unconditional support for Israeli war crimes is not a surprise; however, it is shame to watch Tony Blair align the UK with the greatest aggressors of the 21st century.
DR HUMAYUN BASHIR
Canterbury, UK
NON-Muslim Pakistanis have suffered tremendously and are the hardest-hit under the rigidity of the Hudood laws, which discriminates against them.
Non-Muslims have time and again demanded that these laws should not be applicable when minorities or non-Muslims are put on trial. All non-Muslims facing charges under Hudood laws and awaiting or undergoing trial should be tried according to laws applicable and acceptable to all.
The recent debates and the inclination of the government to amend the Hudood laws have been applauded as a step in the right direction. However, non-Muslims have not been called upon to express their opinion. They as citizens of Pakistan should be permitted to contribute towards the proposed amendment of a law that has directly subjected them to years of injustice and brutality.
The committee established by the government to seek suggestions from various political and religious leaders on the proposed amendments has no non-Muslim representation, clearly disseminating the message that non-Muslims in Pakistan are considered, de facto, second class citizens.
All laws are subject to the Constitution of Pakistan. Article 227 provides that all existing laws shall be brought in conformity with the injunctions of Islam; however, Article 227(3) declares: “Nothing in this part shall affect the Personal laws of non-Muslim citizens or their status as citizens.” Therefore, the provisions of the ordinances overriding other statutes offend the spirit of the Constitution. It may be recalled that in 1991 a federal statute was promulgated whereby Islamic Shariah became the supreme law of the land. Section 1(4) of the Enforcement of Shariah Act lays down: “Nothing contained in this Act shall affect the Personal Laws, religious freedom, traditions, customs and way of life of the non-Muslims.”
On these grounds, non-Muslims should be exempted from its enforcement on them.
It may be mentioned here that the Council of Islamic Ideology is one of the most important institutions of the country. It advises the parliament and the government on legislation; there is no non-Muslim representative on the council.
It has persistently been suggested by religious minority leaders that an inter-religion council should be constituted, which should comprise representatives from all religions. This would ensure that the rights and religious sentiments of all citizens are safeguarded as guaranteed by the Constitution and the spirit behind the creation of Pakistan.
MICHELLE CHAUDHRY
Lahore
MOST readers are probably not concerned with dog-bite or its worst consequence: rabies. It is usually the urban or rural poor who walk the street, ride a bicycle or children playing outside their homes who are at risk. A dog bite can be as innocuous as a superficial cut on the hand, or as horrendous as a deep gash on a limb, a muscle chewed up, or an ear lobe bitten off. Often a mad dog chases a number of persons with froth dripping from its mouth, eyes wild and tearing and a ferocious desire to chew anything that comes in its way.
The scene is horrifying but real. Our government and a few private hospitals in Karachi alone collectively encounter as many as one hundred cases of dog bite daily. Many others do not seek treatment but use harmful home remedies such as application of oil, spices or crushed leaves. All too often children do not report a dog-bite to their parents for fear of injections. Even adults play down the bite and think that a puppy is incapable of causing rabies which we have found to be not true.
Even if an estimated 10 per cent of bites were rabies virus infected, the dreaded disease will likely occur and no medicine in the world will cure it. Within two weeks to a few months the person gets fever, headache, confusion and in a few days progresses to difficulty in swallowing food or water. Death is the sure end.
The proper way of handling a dog-bite or any animal bite is to immediately wash the wound with soap and water for at least 10 minutes, apply antiseptic and make one’s way to a doctor or hospital familiar with new rabies vaccines immune globulin. The old vaccine still being produced and supplied by Islamabad’s National Institute of Health is obsolete and ineffective and should never be used. In recent months the supply of modern vaccine has considerably reduced in Pakistan and many patients are receiving old, substandard vaccine with horrific consequences.
The Pakistan Chapter of Rabies in Asia (RIA Pk) is a newly-formed organisation of doctors, veterinarians, animal rights group and members of the public concerned .
RIA Pk has identified several issues, the most important of which is dog vaccination and stray dog population control by modern methods. Other issues are poor understanding of the serious consequences of dog-bite and modern methods of rabies prevention among both the general public and health professionals.
Most of all, RIA Pk is a pressure group to remind the ministry of health of its responsibility to the public, and to advocate availability of modern tissue culture vaccines that are WHO-approved, and to eliminate the double standards of providing bad vaccine for the poor and good vaccine for the rich.
We are encouraged by involvement of Director-General of Health Dr A Majid Rajput who has taken serious note of the vaccine issue and has promised to redress it. We hope that the readership will understand the situation and participate in the advocacy.
DR NASEEM SALAHUDDIN RIA Pk
Karachi
DURING a recent visit to Pakistan I happened to visit a friend’s parents in Sheikhupura. My friend’s father had gone to the ‘mandi’, so I decided to go and meet him there. We were sitting at his shop when we heard a mobile phone ring.
One of the labourers (who was sitting at his shop waiting for a job) quickly ran out. My friend’s father called him and asked him where he was going. The man replied ‘saab o cheeday di dukaan ton phone aaya ay. Kam hona ay tay odar challan!’ (Sir there was a phone call from Cheeda [common nickname for Rasheed]. There must be a job, so I am going there).
My friend’s father asked him how he knew that it was him (Cheeda) for he did not even listen to the call nor look at the caller’s id. And the main thing is that he is completely illiterate how could he possibly even read who is calling him without answering the phone call.
To all these questions the labourer simply smiled and replied that it was true that he was illiterate and did not know how to read and write, so he’s figured a way around it. He has asked one of the shopkeepers to set different ring tones for each of the shopkeepers so that whenever he hears a particular ring tone, he knows which shopkeeper is calling him and he can go to him without wasting any time and that he’s been earning more. We were all pleasantly flabbergasted at the response.
I’m not an overly patriotic person but after this incident I certainly believe that if one man is willing to overcome his disadvantages to make progress, why can’t we do the same collectively as a nation?
AZAM ISMAIL
Lorne, Australia
SINCE the military regime cobbled together the present coalition in Sindh, the MQM, which is a partner in the government, has not had cordial relations with any of the Sindh chief ministers. One reason for that is the MQM’s constant demand for more powers and authority.
It was only a few months back that the centre averted a full-blown crisis in the province. The situation has come to head again as the MQM ministers and advisers in the central and the provincial governments have tendered their resignations.
Many observers have said the MQM resignations were a ploy to extract a more favourable deal from an apparently weakened Central government. Some news reports suggest that an agreement has already been reached and a meeting has been called to seal a new deal.
The people need to know what that new deal is. They need to know what was the bone of contention and what the MQM has been offered to keep the shaky coalition intact.
It had been reported that the federal government had consulted its constitutional experts before the presidential camp contacted the MQM chief in London. What necessitated the consultation with constitutional experts?
There could be some dangerous moves in the offing that create unrest and strife in Sindh. It may be something that is harmful to the interests of the federation. It is an important that everything be made public. Nothing should be done against the permanent interests of the people of Sindh.
A newspaper columnist wrote that the MQM has demanded that the Sindh government hand over 165,000 acres to the Karachi city government.
It has also demanded that a city government be formed in Hyderabad district. It may be recalled that the Sindh government had earlier divided the Hyderabad district in four districts to give the MQM complete authority to the remaining Hyderabad district. The local people vehemently oppose such moves.
Some observers say the MQM has demanded a greater share in government employment while others say that the MQM wants thousands of the acres of land along the Sindh coast allotted to its people and no intervention in the ministries held by its men.
Whatever the situation and the final agreement may be between the two sides, everything should be disclosed to the public. It is even more important since the party making the demands and the person in a position to concede to the demands seem to be on the same side. It makes everything even scarier.
It must be also emphasised that the present dispensation, in the centre as well as in the provinces, is illegal and unconstitutional. It doesn’t have any right to make any decisions about the fate of the people, the provinces or any other matter.
AZIZ NAREJO
Corpus Christi, USA
THE resignation of the MQM’s parliamentarians is a political drama. The purpose of the resignations is to win back the disgruntled voters because the MQM has failed to redress the grievances of the Mohajirs.
The recent local elections had clearly indicated to the MQM high command that their vote bank is eroding. So now they are using unfair tactics to mislead the masses.
M. MUNAEEM JAMAL
Karachi
WITH the approval of the finance division, vide letter No 17(9) – 1F, XI/77 of 30th November, 1977, a pension scheme was set up in the UBL for its executives/officers in 1977.
The United Bank management repeatedly invited the employees to join the scheme. Many employees joined it and paid cost by depositing in it the amount of their accumulated provident fund.
During 2002 the Privatisation Commission, without taking any precaution and without protecting the interests of the pensioners, clandestinely handed over to the present management the pension fund, the value of which was said to be over Rs5 billion in December 2005.
In this pension scheme, two explicit rules/provisions exist for increase in the pension payments. The first one is available in UBL staff circular No. 192 of 24th December 1977; the second one appears in circular No. 567 of 12th September, 1985.
Both the rules/provisions make it incumbent on the trustees of pension fund to effect increases/revision in pension amounts.
The present management which holds assets worth billions of rupees in pension fund has ignored the above-mentioned rules/provisions so as to jeopardise the interests/rights of pensioners.
The president, the prime minister and the chief justice are requested to help the pensioners, including widows and orphans, to secure their rightful dues.
A.H. JAFRI
Lahore
IT is matter of regret that Pakistan is purchasing upgraded F-16s for $3 billion. If a billion dollars each were spent on education, health and energy, just think of what we can achieve. I wonder if F-16s can defend us against illiteracy, poor public health services and power cuts.
DR RIZWAN QURESHI
United Kingdom
THIS refers to front page news item titled ‘Ex-generals, MPs want military out of politics’ (Dawn, July 23). The prefix ‘Ex’ explains it all.
DR. O.A. FAROOQI
Memphis, USA
BEFORE Pakistan’s tour to England, Jhonty Rodes was employed as fielding coach by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Pakistani players dropped half a dozen catches during the Test match at Lord’s. Does this imply that we are a bad learners or that Rodes trained the team for something else? Rather than improving their fielding, he has deteriorated their fielding.
The PCB spent thousands of dollars to improve the team’s fielding, yet still it goes on giving the same performance in the fielding department. Who is to be blamed for this: the players, Rodes or the PCB?
WAQAS PAI
Karachi
LAST year the DHA, Karachi, sanctioned Rs170 million for construction/repairs of roads and laying new pipelines for drinking water and sewerage in Phase I and Extension. It was also announced that after completion of development works this phase will be a model one.
While laying new pipelines, the existing roads and sewerage lines were badly damaged, as a result of which gutters are overflowing. Specially the condition of 17th East Street is very bad.
After the rain, life has become a hell for the residents of this street. The pace of work which was already slow, it appears, will get slower.
Despite complaints, the administration does not care for the difficulties of the residents.
A. RESIDENT
Karachi
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