| August 06, 2006 | Sunday | Rajab 10, 1427 |
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Kalat’s accession to Pakistan
Shortage of potable water
The loan write-offs
Case for a South Asian union
All the president’s men
50-paisa coin
Renewal of American passport
Iqbal and Muslim state
NOT only is the silence in the wake of the crisis in Lebanon deafening, but one is dumbstruck at the Muslim world’s inability to give a matching response to out-of-proportion aggression by the great oppressor in the Middle East. As Israeli planes fly freely into the Lebanese territory, one longs for an air force on the other side of the border to engage them and shoot them down or, at least, chase them away and also carry out raids on the other side.
One also hopes against hope that there are thousands of armed forces massing up to defend the Lebanese border so that not even an inch will be occupied by the aggressor again. The question we need to ponder over is why the Ummah is so weak militarily that the great oppressor can ride roughshod over Muslims at the slightest provocation, and the Ummah has no option but to go by the definitions of ‘terror’, ‘extremism’, and ‘root-causes’ laid down by the mighty of the world.
For how long can verbal challenges to Israeli injustices help? Not for long, and not until it is backed by economic and military strength. Meaningful strategies are conspicuous by their absence in most of the Muslim world. A hapless Ummah running for shelter is not something one wants to see for too long when a matching blow to the great oppressor is long overdue.
Dr MAHNAZ FATIMA
Karachi
THE entire world watches in horror the death, damage and destruction carried out by the ‘chosen people’ in Lebanon. It is not an earthquake, tsunami or hurricane that has brought about this destruction but the attitude of Israel and its lust for power and control of the Middle East.
Israel is not an energy producer. It has no oil and has to import all its needs. Therefore, more than the UN, EU, UK and even the US it is OPEC that can stop this war. The organisation of Oil-Producing and Exporting Countries should impose an embargo on oil exports to Israel.
S.U. ELAHI
Dubai, UAE
ISRAEL has been asking the Lebanese to move to the north for their own safety. Why not shift Israel to Texas, the safest haven of all?
American tax-payers will be saved from the over $5 billion a year grant they submit plus unlimited lethal arms as the US sent half a dozen planeloads of bombs and other weapons to its closest ally in the Middle East.
SAEED KHAN
London, UK
THE United States sends laser-guided bombs to Israel and milk, medicines and condolence for the Lebanese civilians who have been massacred by Israeli bombardment.
Shame on America for its hypocrisy. Innocent civilians are being killed, the latest in Qana where 37 children were among the 57 dead. Condoleezza Rice wants to remodel the Middle East on Israeli likings. Shame on America for its brutality.
ALTAF BHOJANI
Karachi
I AM not sure why all the writers and analysts are painting the current conflict in the Middle East as a war against Muslims.
It is a war against the entire Lebanese nation, not just Lebanese Muslims.
Approximately, 40 per cent of the Lebanese are Christians. We will do well to consider this as an assault on humanity, rather than just Muslims.
NUZHAT AZIZ
Lahore
THIS is with reference to Mr Rizwan Yasin’s letter ‘Kalat’s accession to Pakistan’ (July 16). The writer has quoted Instruments of Accession of Kalat to Pakistan, but he has not fully added paras 7 and 8 of the Instrument of Accession, which are being reproduced hereunder:
“7. Nothing in this instrument shall be deemed to commit me in any way to acceptance of any future Constitution of Pakistan or to fetter my discretion to enter into arrangements with the Government of Pakistan under any such future constitution.
“8. Nothing in this Instrument affects the continuance of my sovereignty in and over this state, or save as provided by or under this Instrument, the exercise of any powers, authority and rights now enjoyed by me as ruler of this state or the validity of any law at present in force in this state.”
According to para 7, Khan of Kalat was not obliged to accept the constitution of Pakistan and section 8 authorises the Khan of Kalat for continuation of sovereignty in and over his state. This question was agitated in 1954 but legal aspect of the relationship between the acceded state and the federation of Pakistan in future constitution was said to be a major political question.
The Basic Principles Committee discussed the question for over three hours and adjourned ‘sine die’ without taking any decision (Dawn, June 22, 1954).
Mr Yasin is unaware of the position of Nawabs and Khans. In three states, i.e., Kharan, Mekran and Bela, there were Nawabs not Khans and there is only one Khan, i.e., the Khan of Kalat. In 1952 when Balochistan States Union was formed, the Khan of Kalat was declared as head of the all states.
As regards sending of troops to Jewani, Turbat and Pasni, it may be pointed out that the Khan of Kalat had sovereignty over these areas in Farman Nos. 49 and 50 issued on August 1, 1940. The Khan of Kalat has invested customs officers of Jewani and Pasni with powers of civil courts.
It may also be pointed out that the Quaid-i-Azam was the legal adviser to the Kalat state. In 1943 when a murderous assault was made on the life of the Quaid-i-Azam, it was the Khan of Kalat, Mir Ahmed Yar Khan, who provided guards to him till the creation of Pakistan. It was also the Khan of Kalat who weighed the Quaid-i-Azam in gold and offered the same to him. The scale is still in Kalat. The position of the Kalat state is quite different from other states of India, because the Kalat state was never conquered by the British. After independence, the position of Kalat was like that of Nepal.
Mr Yasin has wrongly stated that on Aug 15, 1947 the Khan of Kalat issued a ‘farman’ declaring the independence of his states, but it was Aug 11, 1947 and Mr Mohammad Ali Jinnah signed the proclamation of Balochistan’s sovereignty under the Khan of Kalat.
A CITIZEN
Quetta
THE problem of availability of potable is getting serious with every passing minute in Pakistan. The majority of population is affected. The city of Lahore is one place where drinking water is hard to come by. The city has been growing in all dimensions and directions and shortage of drinking water is becoming acute as time passes.
The reason for this shortage is the age-old water supply system through tube-wells. The underground water level in Lahore has gone down to 200 to 300 feet or may be more while earlier it used to be at 30 or 40 feet. Every house in Lahore used to have a water pump or a well to draw the drinking water which was gradually replaced with the municipal water supply system.
The reason for depletion of underground water is the shallowness of the Ravi river. Previously the river was continuously recharging underground water because of the river flow and it was also carrying away the sewage of Lahore before it reached Balloki.
Since our neighbour India has diverted the Ravi river into their Bias basin project for power generation and irrigation system, the Ravi has become shallow and has ceased recharging water under Lahore. Day by day water-table under Lahore has been going down.
If by some way water recharging under this city re-starts, hopefully water-level will come up to its previous level. Pumping water from 100/150 feet will save on electricity consumption, and quality of water will also improve.
One of the methods of raising the water-level in the Ravi river is to erect a bund/barrage some four/five km downstream the old Ravi river bridge to store water in the river and raise the level of the river. By this way a huge lake will be created stretching up to many kilometres upstream. Once the barrage is filled with water in the monsoon season, water will start flowing over the barrage and the lake will remain filled throughout the year. Recharging of underground water will start raising the level of underground water in the Lahore area.
The lake created by the storage of water will provide ample opportunities for water sports for Lahorites and plenty of fish to supplement the protein diet. All this is not very easy as there will be a lot of opposition from the land mafia who are occupying rich fertile lands between the bunds without paying a single penny to the government.
At least the land between the bunds belong to the river and the occupants have grabbed this land for their self-interest. Only the president and the Punjab chief minister can do this and solve the water shortage problem in Lahore. Hopefully, if this project is undertaken, many other towns like Lahore situated on river banks can be converted into abundant water cities.
MIRZA KHALIL AHMED
Karachi
THIS refers to Dr Abdul Karim’s article ‘The loan write-offs’ (Dawn Economic and Business Review, July 31). The article is well written giving the detailed inside of the matter.
It is stated that loans written off from 1985 to 1988 were of Rs16.6 billion, during 1999-2003 Rs23.5 billion. Five major banks have written off loans to the extent of Rs23.3 billion in 2005.
It is expected that Rs25-30 billion of defaulted loans would be written off during the next three years.
As it is understood by a layman, a loan is written off when there is no movable/immovable property left and that all legal processes for loan receiver have been exhausted and that the debtor has been declared insolvent — a pauper.
But here the situation is quite different. The defaulters belong to the elite class rolling in luxury. They are above the law and beyond the reach of NAB.
The State Bank guideline for loan write-off is there but not so stringent and easily flouted by the vested interests.
Now let us look at the banks’ performance. All the listed banks have earned 99 per cent profit in 2005 (Dawn, March 21), or according to the State Bank governor, the banks with the assets of $60 billion, made profit of $90 billion in 2005 (Dawn, Mr Sultan Ahmed’s article, May 19). But the banks give a raw deal to the depositors whose money they dole out and on the contrary they are very generous in writing off loans of their cronies and influential clients.
As it appears, it is yet another scam involving the bankers and influential clients. The State Bank of Pakistan may take notice to stop the loot and plunder of the public money. It is also a fit case for superior courts to take suo motu notice of the situation.
ABDUL SAMAD KHAN
Karachi
MR Kunwar Idris, in his article ‘Case for a South Asian union’ (July 23) has advised the president that Pakistan should form part of South Asian Union since “Pakistan is a part of South Asia and that is where its future lies.”
He then suggests to President Musharraf that “his natural allies in achieving this aim would be the secular elements of Sindh, Balochistan and the NWFP and liberals of Punjab and Karachi. If he must cut a deal for the 2007 election, it would be with them. (Doesn’t he find any seculars in Punjab and Karachi and any liberals in other provinces?)
In other words, he wants that Gen Musharraf should align himself with the PPP, the MQM and nationalists of Sindh, Balochistan and the NWFP whom he considers secular. He appears allergic to the MMA, Muslim Leaguers and other rightist elements. No doubt the electoral alliance proposed by Mr Idris would be the dream of Indo-American bloc. But it is not possible since without the PML-Q and its allies Gen Musharraf cannot survive and vice-versa.
Before giving the above advice, Mr Idris has raised some points that deserve examination. He has defended the Indian government’s decision to break off the talks with Pakistan after the Mumbai train blasts in these words: “It is difficult to blame India for postponing the scheduled talks in the wake of Mumbai massacre.”
He says: “Since almost every newspaper of the world has been instinctively naming, albeit without evidence, Pakistan’s jihadi outfits, chiefly Lashkar-i-Taiba, as prime suspects in the bombings, the world media can’t be blamed either.”
It is not correct that almost every newspaper of the world pointed its finger towards Pakistan. A section of the press which is anti-Muslim and anti-Pakistan is in the habit of blaming Pakistanis whenever any blast takes place anywhere in the world.
It is regretted that Mr Idris came out to defend the Indian government and foreign media without much justification and against the interest of his own country. He then goes on to blame Pakistan for training Jihadis to fight in Afghanistan and later in Kashmir. He labels all those who fought against Russian forces in Afghanistan and the freedom- fighters in Kashmir as terrorists because in his words: “The world refuses to distinguish one from the other.”
I think we Pakistanis should know the difference between a terrorist and a freedom-fighter and not follow those who are prejudice against Muslims and Pakistan.
“It is also time for Pakistan to extricate itself from the Afghan quagmire,” writes Mr Idris. This allegation is also made by our enemies although Pakistan has refuted it time and again. Mr Idris adds: “Historically, Afghanistan and Pakistan have never been sincere friends, (No, we were good friends during the Taliban regime) they aren’t now, nor can be in foreseeable future.”
Yes, it is so but the main reason for this state of affairs is “growing Indian influence both in Afghan society and in government” as stated by Mr Idris himself. So, India is the source of discord between the two Muslim neighbours. I would state here that India has historically been Pakistan’s enemy and would remain so in the future.
In the end Mr Idris opines: “Pakistan is a part of South Asia and this is where its future lies.” Does he imply that Pakistan instead of having close relations with China and other Muslim countries of Central Asia and the Middle East should look towards India?
We opted out of the Indian union in 1947 and now Mr Idris suggests that we should come under the tutelage of India by becoming part of the South Asian Union. This is the requirement of Indo-American strategic alliance. Once Pakistan joins this union, it “would assuredly bring peace and security to Kashmir.” It may be so as Pakistan’s status would be reduced to that of occupied Kashmir in the so-called South-Asian Union.
Pakistan has a strategic location as all land routes from South Asia to Central Asia and the Middle East pass through it. Our future lies in remaining a strong independent country in the centre of the three important regions of Asia.
BRIG (r) ZAFAR IQBAL CHAUDHRY
Lahore
THIS refers to Brig (r) A.R. Siddique’s letter ‘All the president’s men’ (July 28).
In my view the timing of the letter coincides with the political developments taking place in London. Foreseeing political mileage, the sponsors of the letter have timed it to wash their sins off “the varied roles” played by them from time to time.
Most of them do not have a consistent professional commitment to democracy as they have been working under one military regime or the other. Their views have changed only when they are without job. If they really want to contribute to the nation’s political development and good governance, they should have come up with concrete ideas. Rhetoric has not brought results and invariably brought the army back after an interregnum.
The people of Pakistan are wary of political parties and their methodologies. The writers of the letter should feel the pulse of the people who want an improvement in their lives and not merely a “change of faces at the top”. The same medicine in different bottles have been given for just too long without having an effect on the underlying malaise.
ZAHEER ABBAS
Lahore
THE other day I gave a 50-paisa coin to a shopkeeper to buy a packet of betelnut but the shopkeeper refused to accept the coin saying that it is no more in circulation. I asked him who told him so? He said that even bus conductors were refusing to accept 50-paisa coin while charging bus fares from passengers.
Some years back, when 25-paisa coin was in use, a rumour spread that the coin had been discontinued and nobody was accepting it.
When an investigation was made, it was revealed that it was beggars who had spread the rumour so that they could get a 50-paisa or a one-rupee coin as alms.
The State Bank issued a press note denying discontinuation of 25-paisa coin but people refused to accept the coin and finally the bank had to withdraw the 25-paisa coin.
The same story is being repeated in the case of 50-paisa coin. The State Bank needs to come out with its version on this issue.
M. RAFIQUE ZAKARIA
Karachi
I AM applying for the renewal of my daughter’s American passport at the US consulate in Karachi. The photo requirement for the passport is that the head should not be covered and that both ears should be visible. My daughter is 16 years old and wears a headscarf.
I would like to know how Muslim American women, inside or outside the US, fulfil this requirement when they renew their passports. I would also like to request the American consulate to let me know if there is any provision for ladies who do not wish to have their picture taken with their head uncovered. What choice do we have? Is there anyone who can help me?
RUKHSANA KHALID
Karachi
WITH reference to the letter entitled ‘Iqbal and Muslim state’ by Khawaja Razi Haider, it is important to read the entire section of Iqbal’s address to get his message.
For example, there is an important passage on the next page to the one from which quotations have been made, and it reads as follows: “Thus possessing full opportunity of development within the body politic of India, the North-West Indian Muslims will prove the best defenders of India against a foreign invasion, be that invasion the one of ideas or of bayonets.” (Italics provided).
IZZUD-DIN PAL
Montreal, Canada
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