| September 17, 2006 | Sunday | Sha'aban 23, 1427 |
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Shame
Ideology of Pakistan
Air cargo services
Payment of benevolent fund grant for life
Beggars are choosers in Bangladesh
Of an elite club
Hyderabad remains filthy
Leasehold right for pugree-holders
Cardinal sin
Pakistan needs more provinces
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
POPE Benedict XVI stepped into a controversy when he quoted the words of 14th century Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus, “Show me just what Mohammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached”. The Pope concluded by saying “Violence is incompatible with the nature of God and the nature of the soul”.
It is important to understand that Pope’s argument stems from the typical Christian understanding that Christian God is God of mercy and love. Whereas God of Judaism as well as of Islam is a vengeful warring God. Therefore in Christian literature there is frequent reference to Jesus Christ’s teaching, “Do not resist one who is evil. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. (Holy Bible, Matthew 5: 39).
However none of the Abrahamic faiths are toothless religions. I suggest the Pope read the history of Crusades when the Church used the sword to further its cause citing these words of Jesus Christ, “As for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them before me (Luke 19: 27). And we know that thousands were put to sword during the infamous Inquisitions.
Jesus also said that we should “first take the log out of our own eye and then we shall see clearly to take the speck out of our brother’s eye” (Matthew 7; 5). In a time when the relations between the Muslim and the Christian world are immensely tense, the Pope’s statement may add fuel to the fire. Therefore, it is important that we all stand to reason and be respectful of each other’s religion.
DR MOHIUDDIN WASEEM
Karachi
THIS refers to Pope Benedict’s remarks about the Prophet of Islam and the religion of Islam as reported in the press.
I have great respect for all the religions of the world and I know that making any comment about Pope Benedict will hurt the feelings of millions of my Christian brethren.
I don’t want to hurt anybody. But I am sorry to say that the Pope has not shown the maturity that is expected of his position as a leader of millions of Christians, especially in the current volatile situation in the world.
I regret his selection of words and shallow understanding of Islam. Perhaps he has not also read about the violence and crimes committed by leaders and soldiers who were followers of his own faith in the two World Wars.
MEHDI RIZVI
Pickering, Canada
I BELONG to the Protestant branch of Christianity, and for most of us the Pontiff’s words are worthy of respect. However, his recent statement lacks seriousness and reasonability. St. Paul told Christians that all their efforts were meaningless if they lacked love. He explained that love is kindness and patience, not proud, rude or self-seeking (Corinthians 13). How could the Pontiff, being the epitome of the Christian faith and manifestation of this unspeakable love, hurt the feelings of more than a billion human beings?
When we look into the history of the Catholic Church, we see that early period of Christianity lacks any example when violence was used as a means to spread the faith. However, its later history is not short of such examples; particularly the suppression of heresies has a long notorious chapter of unspeakable misery.
The fact is that neither the Old Testament nor the New Testament shows openness for other faiths the way the Quran does. Probably no other book of any other faith shows love for Christians as the Quran, “and nearest among them in love to the believers wilt thou find those who say, ‘We are Christians’, because amongst these are men devoted to learning and men who have renounced the world, and they are not arrogant” (5:82).
We should perceive this appreciation as grounds for dialogue between the two faiths, and both faiths should search for what is common among them.
ASIF AQEEL
Lahore
I RECENTLY watched the Mukhtaran Mai documentary ‘Shame’ at the Toronto International Film Festival. The movie made me wonder about how many more women will face the same fate after the Pakistan government recently bowed down to the MMA and toned down the amendments the PPP fought to bring about.
Yet again the mullahs win. Yet more women will be sacrificed under the garb of the Hudood Ordinance which is a mockery of Islam.
Yet again Islam and Pakistan’s name will be tarnished in the foreign media in regard to women’s rights. Gen Zia initiated the erosion of women’s rights and Gen Musharraf has perfected it. Growing up in a military family I grew up believing that the army protects the citizens of the country. Apparently that is restricted to males only. The recent deal with the MMA has taught me to believe so.
I held President Musharraf in high esteem. Now I think otherwise. I thank my stars I left the country before my son could grow up in a country where men use religion to subjugate women and the government supports that. There is hope, however, in women like Mukhtaran Mai who come out and talk about their ordeal and help bring change. They may one day bring down the Hudood Ordinance. After all, Islam teaches us never to lose hope and always be optimistic.
AISHA THORNTON
Mississauga, Canada
THE recent tug-of-war between the government and mullahs over the Hudood bill makes one wonder that who is directing these plays on the national stage. After bickering for a while they have compromised on the amendments that directly affect women, and women will keep on suffering for sins they have not committed.
The government’s compromise with the mullahs makes it crystal clear that these dramas are created in order to divert the attention of the general public from the real issues, in which mullahs, nor the government, are interested.
Where is the enlightened moderation of President Musharraf?
These mullahs make non-issues like deletion of religious column from passport seem like a big issue. Meanwhile, problems like lack of democracy and rule of law, poverty and abuse of women and children remain unresolved. But why should the MMA be interested in real democracy in the first place? It will slight their importance in the political arena and mullahs can see a threat to their survival in a real democracy.
The MMA would do a great favour to the country and its people if they put petty issues on the back burner and confront issues which really do matter to the common people.
SHAKEEL NIZAMANI
Newfoundland, Canada
THIS has reference to Dawn’s front page report (Sept 13) on my Private Members Bill calling for the removal of words ‘ideology of Pakistan’ from Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution.
The report gives full coverage to the patriotic sentiments of members against the Bill, but none were able to agree on what constitutes our ideology. In this frenzy of patriotism the reasons given by me for this serious Bill were drowned.
Strangely the words ‘ideology of Pakistan’ only occur in Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution and nowhere else in the Constitution; these refer to the qualification and disqualification of a member of parliament.
This phrase does not occur in Article 2A (Objective’s Resolution). The parliamentary affairs minister’s statement on the floor of the house that the upholding of ‘the ideology of Pakistan’ occurs in the oath of office taken by the president of Pakistan, prime minister and other high dignitaries is incorrect.(The words of the oath of office are: “I will strive to preserve Islamic Ideology which is the basis for the creation of Pakistan)”.
What I stressed in my speech on the floor of the house was, “if each and every word of the Constitution is sacrosanct”, then why this amnesia or ambiguity on definition?
Article 260 defines about 35 words or phrases, including the definition of a ‘Muslim’ and a ‘non-Muslim’; missing from this list is the ‘ideology of Pakistan’. I am all for the ‘ideology of Pakistan’, but I have a right to know what it is! And if it cannot be defined by parliament, then there is little justification for its retention in Articles 62 and 63 only.
It is not inconceivable that someday there may be a fascist government in Pakistan and a like-minded judge may disqualify members of parliament on grounds that his or her subscription to the ‘ideology of Pakistan’ is weak.
I doubt if there is any room today for including in any definition ‘the ideology of Pakistan’ in the Quaid’s speech of Aug 11, 1947.
Today, thoughts of our Founder no longer live with us; our Founder is reduced to being a painting on the wall.
Do we have the courage to look at ourselves in the mirror of time?
Since writing the above I have read a statement of Mr B. D. Avari, in the Urdu press, who claims to represent 2,300 Parsis of Karachi, condemning the above bill. I have only two comments: one, the number of Parsis in Karachi is not 2,300 but around 1,800 persons and, two, Samuel Johnson’s saying “patriotism is a last refuge of the scoundrel” is well-known among the literate.
M.P. BHANDARA
Rawalpindi
PAKISTAN is a country with abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables for export to Gulf states, the Middle East and Europe.
We are amongst the leading suppliers of surgical tools and sports products which are made in Sialkot.
Our handmade carpet industry still has the capacity for export. What is surprising is that while airlines from all over the world beeline to Pakistan to carry cargo, our own aviation industry has neither the capacity nor plans to attain such a capability.
This has an adverse effect on our high value export trade, which requires prompt and regular delivery. As compared to passenger traffic, cargo airlines do not have to provide catering, nor face the consequences of mishandled passengers. There is no need to provide separate check-in counters for VIPs either.
This is primarily the reason why airlines do not rely solely on passenger sales revenue. Revenue generation from cargo comprises almost 45 per cent of the yields of airlines making profits.
The government needs to step in to make sure we have the capacity for air cargo carriage which can serve as backup logistics support in times of emergency, like the recent earthquake and other sensitive operations.
ANEELA CHANDIO
Hyderabad
BENEVOLENT fund was set up by the federal and provincial governments in 1988 for the benefit of their employees, who are declared by the prescribed medical board to have been incapacitated physically or mentally to discharge the duties of their employments and retired or removed from service for that reason.
Besides grants made by these governments and donations made by private individuals, as well as by institutions, sums at prescribed rates are also deducted from the pay of every government employee and credited as subscriptions to the benevolent fund. In this way burden on a government establishment or an establishment paid from local fund is reduced to the minimum.
Invalid and incapacitated retired employees belong to the weakest and the most neglected category among pensioners. Despite the facts stated above both the governments have framed discriminatory rules and have divided them into the following three categories:
Category I: Those who retired before Sept 4, 1988 were allowed monthly benevolent fund grant for 15 years only or up to the age of 65 years, whichever was earlier. Now there are some invalid and permanently incapacitated retired employees, including my son (Mr Akhter Azim, ex-tracer, BS-5, discharge division, irrigation department, Lahore) who after 15 years does not get anything from the benevolent fund.
Category II: Those who are retired on or after Sept 4, 1988 are allowed monthly benevolent fund grant for life.
Category III: Federal employees who are retired on or after Dec 1, 2003 have also been allowed monthly benevolent fund grant for life. Moreover, they get the grant at the highest rates, while those in category I availed the grant at the lowest rates for 15 years only.
The division of the invalid pensioners into three categories allowing benevolent fund grant at different rates is unjustified for the following reasons:
a. The invalid pensioners in category I were declared by the medical board unfit for further service for their whole life and not for 15 years only.
b. The division and unequal treatment of the invalid pensioners is against the fundamental rights as laid down in the Preamble and Article 25 (1) of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, which says: “All citizens are equal before law and entitled to equal protection of law”.
In the circumstances stated above, it is requested that all existing invalid and permanently incapacitated employees, who retired before Sept 4, 1988 may also be allowed benevolent fund grant for life at the revised rates admissible to those federal employees who retired on or after Dec 1, 2003.
ABDUL AZIM
Lahore
MR YOUNUS, pioneer of micro-credit in Bangladesh and the CEO of Grameen Bank, has given loans to beggars who are now doing honourable business (Dawn, Sept 5). “Beggars in Bangladesh are choosers” and they take a small loan and choose the business they want to pursue.
There are hundreds of beggars in Karachi and their number swells to thousands in Ramazan as they travel to Karachi from all over Pakistan and stay till Eidul Azha, creating serious social issues. Their children also follow their parents and develop the habit of begging. We need to provide them an alternative source of income so that they can become a respectable part of our society. One way is to duplicate what Mr Younus has done in Bangladesh or we can do what Lahoris are doing.
There is a company in Lahore by the name of Green Earth Pakistan which recycles all sorts of plastics and converts them into objects of daily use. This is probably the reason why Lahore looks a lot cleaner than Karachi. Plastic bags end up in the sewerage system, resulting in their choking. The effect of plastic in the drains compounded the agonies of the people during the recent rains
Karachi produces a lot of plastic waste, some of which is burnt creating serious health hazards. This waste can be put to good use if it is collected and recycled. The beggars should be encouraged to start their collection and sale business.
The Defence Housing Authority has invested millions in developing the Clifton beachfront and has ambitious plans for its future. These plans will be no good if the area continues to pile up plastic waste. They can take the initiative and start the waste collection through beggars at the Clifton beachfront and arrange its sale to plastic waste consumers in Karachi or facilitate for it to be sent to Lahore for recycling. The city government can also do the same for areas under their control.
S. NAYYAR IQBAL RAZA
Karachi
There is an open manhole on Dr Ziauddin Ahmad Road opposite to a club whose membership comprises the city’s elite. While driving on this road and trying to avoid having a wheel getting stuck in it, I wonder why those millionaires and billionaires who are the club’s members cannot donate a few hundred rupees to have it covered.
Incidentally, the Chief Minister House is also on this road about 100 yards from the gaping manhole that seems to mock at us.
A MOTORIST
Karachi
EVEN after a week Hyderabad remains the same, with filth and foul-smelling water everywhere. The entire city looks like a slum area. No one from the president or prime minister‘s office has visited the city, no one has sympathised with the people who are suffering due to the incompetence of community service providers.
When there was a flood in Rawalpindi’s Nullah Lai, the army was fully mobilised to vacate schools and other public places through helicopters.
When an earthquake downed a building in Islamabad the president was there, but in the case of Hyderabad the people have been left at the mercy of those who have their own objectives and are not serving the people. Similarly, when rain hit Badin, Thatta, Mirpur Khas, Tando Allahyar and other southern areas of Sindh, there were no special services provided for the people who belong to these areas. Why is there this double standard? Why have the matters involving Sindh been left with representatives who are sitting in London?
MUNEER A. MIRJAT
Hyderabad
I WANT to draw the attention of the authorities concerned to an important problem of the residents/tenants of old city buildings like in Kharadar, Mithadar, Tower, Saddar and Preedy. In spite of spending/depositing huge amounts of ‘pugree’, they are at the mercy of landlords who frequently drag them to courts in false cases of default.
During Gen Zia’s rule steps were being taken to safeguard the interest of tenants who had acquired tenements on the basis of the ‘pugree’ and they were being issued leases but due to unavoidable circumstances the same could not be completed and the matter remains pending until now.
It is hoped the government would pass a bill/law for issuance of leasehold rights to pugree-holders of properties/buildings in the old city of Karachi on humanitarian grounds so that they could be saved from miseries inflicted by landlords.
SYED MUHAMMAD ABDULLAH
Karachi
THIS has reference to Aslam P. Memon’s letter (Sept 13) regarding asking a cop for the bus fare. Are things really this bad in Pakistan? Is anybody watching over or is it free for all? This is another example that separates us from the civilised world.
ABDUL HADI KHAN
Texas, USA
Pakistan needs more than four provinces to maintain provincial harmony. I may quote the example of Nigeria. They had four provinces and one out of the four decided to secede from the federation. This led to the Biafaran civil war in the 1960s. After the war Nigeria decided that if there are only four provinces, each province has a feeling of self-importance.
Soon after the end of civil war, the Nigeria created 12 provinces. Thus the threatening posture of any province was out of question. I feel this prescription would be good for our nation’s health.
KHALID A.
London, UK
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