| September 12, 2006 | Tuesday | Sha'aban 18, 1427 |
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Don’t romanticise Bugti
‘Forgotten PAF officers’
Act of sedition?
Analyse this
Citizen activism
Perks and privileges
Consumer rights
Signals at flyovers
More questions galore
Landing in Peshawar
Learning from the West
Readers are requested to restrict their comments to a maximum of 400 words. We reserve the right to edit letters for reasons of clarity and space. Letters, including those by e-mail, should carry the complete postal address of the sender. The views expressed in these columns do not necessarily reflect the views of the newspaper.—Editor
THIS is with reference to the article “Punjab again on trial’ by Mr I.A Rahman (Sept 7) There are a few aspects of this article that need to be taken with a pinch of salt.
Punjab has been on trial from day one. Its motives have always been doubted. There is even a strong belief in some circles that Punjab did not take part in the struggle for Pakistan, yet it enjoys all the fruits of independence.
Never mind the loss of one million Punjabi Muslim lives, the molestation of 75, 000 Punjabi Muslim women and the giving up of several Muslim-majority districts to make Pakistan possible. Every act of the state of Pakistan has been laid at its doorstep.
The facts, however, are different. Mr Rahman accuses Punjab of sanctioning the current round of violence against Balochistan. This is not correct as those enjoying supreme power today and who sanctioned the violence are not from Punjab.
The top posts in the army command belong to those not from Punjab and similarly majority of the core commanders are not from Punjab. This is a fact. Two years ago when the operation in Balochistan started, the entire intelligentsia of Punjab as well the political class opposed it. Even the establishment’s own poster boys Syed Mushahid Hussain and Chaudhry Shujaat tried their level best for a peaceful solution, and in fact managed to set up a committee in the parliament for that purpose. But who stopped that committee? Not Punjab.
Punjab’s culpability in current round of violence in Balochistan is restricted to the extent that most of the foot soldiers doing it belong to it. But the higher command calling the shots is not from Punjab. The writer forgets that these same soldiers did not flinch when ordered to arrest and topple a prime minister from Punjab who had a two-third majority in Parliament. Did they disobey orders coming from top then? The entire intelligentsia from Punjab including Ayaz Amir, Irshad Haqqani and Nazir Naji had opposed use of force against Nawab Bugti.
Mr Rahman mentions the events of 1971, and again blames Punjab for crushing East Pakistan when it asked for its rights. He forgets that then as now, the generals ordering the operation were not from Punjab. The leader of the Pakistan People’s Party - which played the role of the king’s party at that time - was from the province of Sindh.
In Pakistan it is individuals who matter not institutions. Punjab’s culpability lies in the fact that its people are very docile, so much so that they even allowed a military operation against landless peasants in Okara, in the heart of Central Punjab.
If Punjabis could not stop that, they can hardly stop bigger operations elsewhere. Yes it is true that Punjab needs to get over its habit of docility before every conqueror. This could be justified in the medieval times but not in the 21st century. There is no excuse for not rising to stand for justice when it is being trampled by the powers that be in other provinces; to that extent Mr Rahman is correct.
AMNA NASEER KHAN
Lahore
MUCH as one would regret the death of a person, the end of a seditious tribal chief who has been the architect-in-chief of Balochistan’s present medieval state cannot be deplored. I was born in Sibbi, Balochistan. I studied in the government high school in Quetta.
I have first hand knowledge of how the so-called sardars and nawabs of Balochistan have kept the people illiterate and poor for centuries. My parents took the wise decision to move from Quetta to the Punjab with their children for its higher standard of education and progress.
Akbar Bugti (may his soul rest in peace) lived by the strength of his nuisance value. He extorted favours, cash payments, licences, Sui gas revenue and you name it from the central government at the point of the gun. But he never spent a penny on educating his people and pulling them out of the Middle Ages.
In a way Pakistani politicians are right in condemning President Musharraf for getting rid of Akbar Bugti; instead of killing him, he should have followed Z.A. Bhutto’s policy by bribing him with office.
ZIA REHMAN
Georgia, USA
SINCE his death Akbar Bugti has been praised by many as a champion fighting for Balochistan’s rights, a hero for the locals and a man of honour. In reality he was none of these things, but is now being romanticised by the opposition for political mileage.
Bugti’s profile as a wanted criminal might overshadow Billy the Kid’s. He murdered hundreds of people, expelled thousands for dissenting with him, running a militia that is numbered in thousands. He had his own court, his own personal jails and torture cells. He ran a state within a state.
After his rift started with the government in 2004 he was able to broker a ceasefire with them. Details of that ceasefire only gave his family more royalties out of Sui gas. This hypocrisy shows that he did not care about the rights of the Baloch people because all he wanted was more power and money for himself. So much for the champion of the Baloch.
Recently he was held accountable for number of blasts in Balochistan which killed a number of people and damaged government property. Bugti doesn’t even qualify as a terrorist – at least terrorists fight for a political ideology – he was fighting for power and self interest.
Whether the death of Bugti will be blessing or curse is something that depends on the government.
If the government realises the mistake of over half a century, grants provincial autonomy and gives Balochistan what it rightfully deserves, then I guess that this death may well turn out to be a blessing.
But if the government again turns a blind eye to this province then it might very well have to deal with another “Bugti” somewhere down the line.
OMER MAJEED
Lahore
THIS is with reference to the letter by Tyrone Tellis titled ‘Forgotten PAF Officers’ (Sept 9) in which it has been mentioned that the Pakistan Air Force does not remember or recognise the services and sacrifices of its Christian officers.
I think the perception forwarded by the worthy writer is contrary to facts. I will mention a few examples to prove the point. Group Captain Cecil Chaudhry was awarded Sitara-i-Jurrat in 1965 war for the courage he demonstrated during the air raid on an Indian airfield in which Sarfraz Rafiqui and Younis Hussain embraced shahdat.
Every year on September 6 Group Captain Cecil Chaudhry gets significant media focus for his gallant services. On September 6, 2004 he was guest of honour in an ISPR show on PTV. This year he was the guest of honour in a show on a private TV channel.
In the same show a full segment was reserved to acknowledge the services of PAF’s Christian officers with special mention of Middlecoat, Eric G. Hall, M.J. O’Brian, Peter Christy, Wladyslaw Turowicz and many more.
Mrs Peter Christy, who was present on the show, was invited to the stage and interviewed by the compere. Mrs Middlecoat was also invited but due to her poor health she could not come. On Aug 14, 2006 during a special ceremony, a plaque was unveiled at PAF Museum in Karachi in memory of the invaluable services rendered by Air Commodore Wladyslaw Turowicz.
In short PAF remembers its heroes and acknowledges their services irrespective of caste, creed and religion. Mr Tellis may wish to apologise for fuelling a misconception that is prejudicial to interfaith harmony.
Air Comdr SARFRAZ A. KHAN
Director Public Relations,
PAF
PRIOR to the armed forces’ search operation in Kohlu area in which Bugti was killed along with his 27 companions, three sardars of Balochistan — namely Ataullah Mengal, Khair Bux Marri and Akbar Bugti — had been declared rebels by the government.
Now after the removal of Akbar Bugti the first two still have to be dealt with. Since they talk of sedition, treason and separation, why have they not been searched out and taken into custody?
If an FIR is needed to take them into custody (and I am sure some reports must have been lodged with Balochistan police), I would suggest that the statement made by Attaullah Mengal on July 14, 2006 (as reported by Dawn on July 15) and also referred to by Mr Khalid Naqshbandi in his letter “Conditions of F-16 sale” (July 30), should be considered in itself an FIR.
In a telling statement Mengal announced: “Read my lips, we will accept arms and ammunition for our liberation struggle even from the devil. We won’t say no even to India. I know very well that we cannot fight the Pakistan army to heel. We are just counting on a foreign country to intervene.
Don’t forget that the Mukti Bahini would not have been successful had they not been aided and abetted by a foreign power”.
Democracy or no democracy, freedom of speech or no freedom of speech this is down right treason.
He needs to be told that his lips are read, his message noted and everybody knows that he and his other accomplices are receiving the arms and weapons from India and the Northern Alliance of Afghanistan.
That foreign power should think twice (or umpteenth times) before intervening in Pakistan’s affairs. Pakistan today is not the Pakistan of 1971 which was forsaken by its allies. Pakistan is now a nuclear power.
AN ANNOYED PAKISTANI
Karachi
THIS refers to Ayaz Amir’s column “Why are gods angry with us” (Sept 7). I expect that columnists would comment on not just the surface realities but perhaps express an opinion after an in-depth analysis. Mr Amir has fallen short of this expectation. His comments on the recent killing of veteran Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Bugti are no better than any drawing room discussion by readers who draw their conclusions only from headlines.
The argument that Bugti’s failings will be erased or forgotten due to the manner in which he died is more sentimental than analytical. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s shortcomings have not been forgotten, contrary to the writer’s assertion. Bhutto and Bugti’s own party men, followers and friends may however continue to revere them as they did during their lifetime. If Osama bin Laden dies in a cave tomorrow, will his crimes against humanity be erased or forgotten too?
Dr OWAIS A. FAROOQI
Memphis, USA
EXTENSIVE damage was caused by the recent rains in Karachi and other parts of Pakistan. This exposed the lack of planning, negligence and mismanagement of the city government and its inability to provide the citizens with basic infrastructure.
The so-called affluent areas of Clifton and Bath Island were also not spared and were also affected. Many families had to vacate their houses because there was two feet of filthy, dirty rain water, mixed with sewerage, in their drawing and dinning rooms, garages and under ground water tanks.
Even seven days after the rains, there was stagnant water in many parts of the city, but the City Government and CCB are in a state of denial and were unwilling to acknowledge that they have failed miserably to fulfil their responsibilities to the citizens and the blame game was in full swing. One would have thought that with such wide spread devastation, the residents of Karachi, the commercial capital of Pakistan, would have come out on the streets in protest and demanded accountability of those responsible for the terrible mess, but that of course has not been the case.
As usual the silent majority has refused to break its silence and any protests have been restricted to interviews and statements on television and in the press.
However, the Federation of Defence Residents Associations of Seaview, Phase II Ext., Phase IV and other less affluent phases of Defence have taken CCB and DHA to task.
They had held a press conference at the Karachi Press Club, where they expressed their anger and frustration at the failure of CCB to take notice of their complaints and grievances, which they have been registering at the Defence Society Residents Association meetings held on the first Tuesday of every month at the CCB office.
They have been repeatedly raising the issues of lack of water supply, storm water drains, open manholes, broken road, debris on roads, non-functional traffic and street lights, un-marked speed breakers, the menace of pye dogs, garbage collection, overflowing gutters, the use of substandard materials and work and lack of maintenance, proper planning and accountability of those responsible.
This act of citizen’s activism by the Defence residents led to a meeting with the Brig Maqsood Hussain, administrator of DHA and Iftikhar Ahmed Mir, CEO of CCB. At the meeting members of Defence Associations Coordination Committee pointed out that the officers of CCB were not taking the monthly DSR meetings seriously and were just paying lip service to the issues that were being discussed.
As such, there had been no significant improvement in the maintenance of the various phases of Defence, specially Phase IV and Phase II Ext. and this was the main reason for the devastation caused by the rains. They suggested that the administrator or the CEO should participate in these meetings, as without their presence positive results could not be achieved.
They also suggested that in view of the poor performance of CCB and to alleviate the suffering and frustrations of the residents, Defence Resident Associations should be given proper and effective representation at the cantonment board level. To his credit the DHA administrator was sympathetic to the grievances expressed by the committee members and assured them that in future the CEO would chair all DSR meetings and DAAC members would be appointed on the cantonment board.
Unless there is accountability and proper planning to ensure that the residents are provided with basic infrastructure, the quality of life of the residents of DHA will not improve and the image of DHA will continue to be tarnished.
HELPLINE TRUST
Karachi
THIS is with reference to Abdul Samad Khan’s letter entitled ‘Perks and Privileges’ (Sept 1). The information given in the letter is an eye-opener and if correct, then there is hardly any room for complaint against the performance of our elected members.
If an ordinary member is given such luxuries that would put to shame the Pharaohs of Egypt, then why complain? Ministers and other parliamentary office bearers must be getting much more.
Leaders of the opposition are also getting the same privileges and benefits. Can they be expected to resign and go home? Are they entitled to pensions after doing so? Are these payments not placing them under undue obligation not to perform honestly on their mandate to their electorate? The answers are too obvious.
M.S. QURESHI
Islamabad
ON Aug 27 I went to a super store in Bahadurabad along with my family for our monthly purchases. Besides other items, I purchased a pack of coffee sachets. Later that evening I found that the batch number and expiry dates on the carton were not right. On close examination it became evident that the original batch number and expiry dates were erased and a new batch number and expiry dates reprinted.
This realisation made me very upset because we have been going to that particular shop for a long time and had developed trust in them over the years. Now I will have to find another place from where I can buy my monthly purchases.
At the same time I would request the owners of the super store to make their purchases from reliable sources as their reputation is worth a lot more and they should be very careful in this regard.
DR ABID ABBAS SHEIKH
Karachi
THIS has reference to Mr Nasir M. Chandna’s letter ‘Signals at flyovers’ (Sept 1). It is correct that during peak hours vehicles are seen stuck at the flyover for at least 20 to 30 minutes without any movement.
This is the only flyover in the world which will cave in due to the traffic load.
The authorities concerned are requested to take some remedial measure to improve such signals and save the time of the public.
MUHAMAMD NAEEM
Karachi
THIS is in response to Lt-Cmdr (r) J. Mannan’s letter (Sept 3). Only an official unbiased commission of inquiry into the Kargil incident will uncover the truth about who started the war, why, and so on.
But the Pakistan government has been silent on Kargil. So we have to rely on secondary ‘experts’ for their views. How do we know that these experts are not putting their own spin on events and drawing their own conclusions?
It is important for the people of Pakistan to know what really happened. So its important to get the truth while the main participants in the decision-making process are still alive.
One question that’s been nagging me: why did the Pakistan government refuse to accept the bodies of about 140 of its dead soldiers? They had to be given an honourable burial by the Indian Army on the slopes of Kargil.
AJIT PATEL
California, USA
AFTER spending a short holiday in Dubai where a flight lands every minute, we reached Peshawar’s international airport on the morning of Sept 5 by Emirates airlines. At that time this was the only flight that had landed at the airport.
On entry to the arrival hall we saw total chaos. Almost all the passengers (approx. 300) were jam-packed in front of only two immigration personnel who were supposed to make note of their arrival.
The speed at which they were entering data was painfully slow; at least 20 minutes were spent per passenger. This agony was hardly over when another was in the waiting. The luggage conveyer belt was out of order and passengers, including women, children and foreigners, were asked to collect their luggage from outside the building direct from the luggage trollies.
By the way, the belt had been out of order for three days. Will the Civil Aviation Authority please take a note?
KHALID RASHID
Rawalpindi
WE have learned from the West how to make an atomic bomb, submarines, all kind of guns, automobiles, malls, food chains and all that one needs to be a part of the modern world.
Can we also learn from them how to make a good road that will last for at least five to 10 years without needing repairs?
TAUFIQ FEROZ
Karachi
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