| September 19, 2006 | Tuesday | Sha'aban 25, 1427 |
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Assault on newsman
‘What will they do?’
Denial of enhanced profit
Natural allies
Escalating prices and city government
Women in Pakistan
Carbonated drinks
Stock exchange transactions
Man about town
Bravado and incompetence
Consulate in Mumbai
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’s remarks are unfortunate, unfounded and callous. At this very precarious time of mounting tensions between all faiths around the globe, such remarks indicate prejudice and ignorance.
The remarks further leave the high office of the pontiff searching for lost credibility and a sense of community and outreach for all peoples of all faiths.
Having said that, it is of paramount importance for all Muslims around the world to remain peaceful and not resort to any and all violence.
Specifically, I would request my Pakistani brothers to show their true worth by refuting the essence of the Pope’s unfortunate remarks.
If we forget the true meaning of our religion and commit violence on people and property, especially on our fellow minority brothers and sisters living as peaceful Pakistani citizens, then we are only extending credibility to the unwise and false allegations of the Pope.
WACAR RIZVI
Gaithersburg, USA
THIS refers to Pope Benedict’s remarks about the Prophet of Islam. The Pope rightly asserts that the remarks were actually quotes from the utterances of 14th century Emperor Manuel II Palaeologus, further adding that the speech was an invitation to respectful dialogue between the two faiths.
The pre-condition of a sincere and meaningful dialogue is the exchange of pleasantries, and not harsh words or quotes.
In the prevailing atmosphere of growing animosity and misunderstanding between East and West and Christianity and Islam, it is especially incumbent upon someone in the Pope’s position to be particularly sensitive, and diffuse rather than aggravate the situation by thoughtless utterances.
NAEEM MEMON
Redbridge, UK
THERE have been extremist popes in the past. Indeed one of them referred to our Prophet (peace be upon him) as the Antichrist. But that was a different time.
More recently the Pope’s office has been widely respected the world over and the previous pope did much to further understanding amongst the various religious groups.
Why this pope has to quote despicable comments made centuries ago is truly puzzling.
Morality aside, doesn’t he care about the consequences including the threat to the welfare of the Catholic community in Muslim lands?
A. AHMED
Karachi
I AM writing in regards to the news report “Minister assailed for assault on newsman” (Sept 15)
I am sickened to read about the high-handedness of Pakistani law makers and ministers like Ghulam Sarwar Khan whose guards beat up a journalist.
Prior to this issue, another employee of the ASF was roughed up by a relative of another Pakistani lawmaker and there have been other incidents involving our elite (on what basis they become the elite is something to be looked into).
After reading about these incidents of violence by the lawmakers (what law are they following by the way?) and their relatives, I just wish that one day these mighty are meted out a bit of their own treatment. I do not think that this will happen in the land of the pure, however, the powers that be should make an example of this gentleman. But then that may be expecting too much from the Pakistani law makers and enforcers.
Nevertheless the fact that the police did not even register an FIR on behalf of Mr Shamsi goes to show how blatant the disregard for the rule of law has become. The esteemed minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan accused “the journalist of using a ‘bitter tone of conversation’ and showing an ‘aggressive attitude’”.
Now where in the world does a bitter tone of conversation lead to manhandling of the other party? The fact that the minister pled ignorance to the manhandling charges should not fly. In Pakistan, the guards of a minister do not act unless told to do so.
It is truly shameful that Ghulam Sarwar Khan and other lawmakers who do such things get off without any punishment. Recently in the US, Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney mistreated a policeman due to a misunderstanding and for that she was not only charged under the law, but specifically apologised to the policeman. On such qualities are nations built, unlike ours where the law of the jungle prevails.
I hope that our lawmakers and ministers will learn to respect the law. I wish I could say here “otherwise the law of the land will come down hard against them”, but had that been the case I would not be writing this letter.
WELL WISHER OF PAKISTAN
Washington, DC
THE government and Taliban commanders in Miramshah signed a peace agreement on Sept 5. According to this foreign militants will not attack security forces and will also refrain from attacking Afghanistan from Pakistani soil.
A 10-member committee, comprising ulema and representatives form the political administration, has been constituted to ensure the implementation and will recommend action against either violator side.
If past experience is any guide, this reconciliatory policy of the government will have far-reaching consequences in the long term. When the Soviet Union attacked Afghanistan in 1979, we with the support of the US and other European nations waged a war against the Soviets and when the Soviets left Afghanistan, the US and other allies also deserted Afghanistan leaving behind the evils of kalashinkovs, heroin, sectarianism as gifts to Pakistani society from the jihad that thrived under the obscurant and oppressive rule of Gen Zia.
Those foreign Mujahideen who were left with no option because countries of their origin refused to entertain them had nothing to do, and thus they started terrorist activities all over the world.
The government of Pakistan is committing the same mistake by allowing them to live in the country. What will these people do there? As they are used to violence for decades and without any work/positive activity they are likely to engage themselves in terrorist activities.
The government’s previous policy of expelling all foreign militants, including those studying in Pakistani madressahs, was the only solution of the problem but the government kowtowed to the militants for reasons known to them only. It is strange to note that where the government should show flexibility it is not showing it — as in the case of Balochistan it should have resolved the problem politically — and where it was required to show steadfastness and resolve, it has acted otherwise.
GULSHER PANHWER
Dadu
IT is puzzling how some time our finance managers eke out revenue from the already hard-pressed people of this country. This time the squeeze was put on senior citizens, widows and pensioners.
In June last, the government had announced upward revision of rates of return on all national savings schemes with effect from June 5. The increase on Pensioners’ Benefit Account (PBA) and Behbood Savings Certificates (BSCs) was fixed from 11.04 per cent to 11.52 per cent. But it was not clarified that the enhanced profit was applicable to new investors after June 5 and not to the existing ones, thereby depriving the old investors of considerable amount every month.
If, however, they wished to avail themselves of the enhanced rate of profit, then they are required first to encash their investment and, after deductions as a penalty on account of service charges on the principal amount, re-invest in the same PBA/BSC schemes.
This is not only blatantly discriminatory and arbitrary but runs counter to the very spirit of social welfare policy of the government, which is said to be aimed at ameliorating the lot of people. This also involves huge wastage of expensive stationery printed by the Government Security Press as well as loss of many man-hours of the officials in the bothersome process of carrying out disinvestment and reinvestment procedure.
Therefore, for the sake of justice and fair play the government should direct the National Savings Centres to allow equal benefit to all the PBAs/BSCs account holders and refund the penalty amount on account of so-called service charges to all those who were compelled to encash and re-invest their certificates.
MOHAMMAD ALEEM SHAIKH
Karachi
THIS is with reference to President Musharraf ’s recent statement that he has transformed himself from a man of war to man of peace. He said that he fought two wars against India in 1965 and 1971 but now he eschews violence and is working towards Indo-Pakistan reconciliation.
It’s a good omen that Gen Musharraf has decided to eschew violence against India, after all what have we ever got out of fighting them? However, Gen Musharraf needs to disdain violence against his own countrymen too. He is still not ready to put the guns down in Balochistan which have cost a lot of lives, not to mention hatred they created. If Gen Musharraf can make peace with Indians, he can surely make peace with the leader of the Pakistan People’s Party which is the largest mainstream political party in the country.
It is noteworthy that the PPP is ideologically very close to him and always supports his policies to make Pakistan a moderate and tolerant state. Making peace with the PPP will do wonders to national unity in Pakistan, as the PPP commands sympathies of overwhelming number of Pakistanis. The inclusion of the PPP in national mainstream politics would bring a breeze of freshness in the polluted political atmosphere.
KHALID MAHMUD
Atlanta, USA
RECENTLY the city district government of Karachi organised an interactive meeting between wholesalers, retailers and consumer protection organisations relating to the rising prices of essential items and fixing prices for Ramazan.
The price control department of the CDGK usually wakes up from its deep slumber due to public pressure every year just 10 days before Ramazan. This year was the same and we received a frantic phone call from the office of Abid Ali Shah, EDO, city government, Karachi, informing us of a meeting to be held the next day at the Civic Centre to discuss price control.
We have been attending these price control meetings for the last several years and have realised that they are just a waste of time, as the price list is never enforced and the wholesalers and the retailers fleece consumers during the Ramazan without fear of punishment.
Some unfortunate shopkeepers, who refuse to pay bhatta or have no protection from the agencies concerned, are picked up for overcharging to appease the public, but otherwise, it is business as usual. So we informed the young man that we would not attend the meeting as we had better things to do.
However, we were informed that this time the price control list would be effective, as the department had been given magisterial powers to punish those who violate the prices and persuaded us to attend the meeting.
In spite of the battered roads we managed to get to the meeting on time and were actually surprised that the proceedings went quite smoothly. However, no positive results were achieved as no significant price reduction was possible because, according to the importers of pulses, etc., the prices of almost all essential items have increased in the international markets.
If the city government wants these meetings to be effective and meaningful, then information about the meetings should be circulated at least one week in advance, together with the agenda, so that the participants could gather the necessary information and submit recommendations that are meaningful. At present the prices that have been fixed for essential commodities are based on the information provided by the importers and manufacturers.
But one has to give credit to the EDO, who despite resistance from those present, succeeded in getting the representatives of the various wholesalers to agree to price control and also managed to fix the prices of several essential items, including pulses, lentils, chillies, rice, dates and ‘samosas’.
Mr Abid is holding similar meetings to fix the prices of fruits and vegetables, milk, meat, cooking oils and other essential items. These prices would then be published in all newspapers and would be displayed in shops selling the products. He promises that as the department has now been given magisterial powers to punish those who do not observe the price control list, controlling prices will be much more effective this Ramazan. One can only wish him luck and hope that he is successful in his ‘mission impossible’.
HELPLINE TRUST
Karachi
THIS is in reply to Aisha Thornton’s letter (Sept 17) regarding the status of women in Pakistan. I simply do not agree with the statements that the writer has made. The status of women in Pakistan is far better than what the pseudo-intellectuals presume.
Yes there have been a number of cases of women being subjected to cruelty, however that does not represent the nature of men in our country nor does it show that all women are being treated the same way here.
Therefore I humbly request Ms Thornton to broaden her horizon and be less pessimistic.
Unfortunately people living in foreign lands can only assume things about our country. It’s a shame that people are criticising the army and Pakistan for no reason.
I request them to understand the harsh political realities of Pakistan before criticising the army.
I am proud to be living in Pakistan and I know that sooner than later Pakistan will have laws that guarantee equal rights to both men and women.
HAMZA GULZAR
Lahore
I WISH to caution parents to be alert about their children’s habit of consuming soft drinks. A cancer-causing substance called benzene is present in certain soft drink which has led to a famous soft drink company being sued by parents in many cities of the United States. A few months ago there was a write-up by a doctor in this newspaper warning consumers to be aware of the dangers of consuming soft drinks, especially the coloured one as they are harmful to health.
Schools in Lahore have banned carbonated soft drinks in the school canteens, we in Karachi should follow suit. As the educational institutes have re-opened after summer break, I would point out to the authorities concerned to prevent these unhealthy drinks from being sold in schools. Instead fruit juices could be made available.
FAUZIA QADRI
Karachi
I ALWAYS felt shy about stating that I have been involved in shares business for the last 16 years because during this long period I have not been able to understand the market behaviour.
Luckily I had an opportunity to meet an executive of a bourse house who also agreed with me and said that even all research works had failed to determine how the Pakistan stock exchanges behaved. I remember the advice of an ex-president of the Karachi Stock Exchange: “Before making your decision on the profitability of the company, first try to find out the previous record of the management how much they used to pay dividends to the investors.”
For the last one year we have observed one more thing very interesting that on every strike call or major incidents like the Nishter Park tragedy and other similar incidents, when all markets were closed and roads were giving a deserted look, our stock exchanges show heavy buyings and increase in index. I think the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan should explain how this happens and who are the people behind all such dubious transactions.
SYED ALI AHMAD ALVI
Karachi
NADEEM Anthony has severely criticised Mr M.P. Bhandara for relating his personal experiences with Nawab Akbar Bugti and Gen Ziaul Haq (letter, Sept 13).
It is not a sin to have an opinion or to express it. I for one certainly enjoyed and gained from the narratives of his encounters with personalities who have become a part of our history.
It takes a variety of views to complete a picture. The tale of a group of blind men trying to describe an elephant illustrates the point perfectly.
One of them, feeling its trunk, thought it was like a hose; another holding the ear believed it was a fan; yet another likened it to a huge drum; while the one feeling the legs described it as four thick pillars and so on.
It is only when all of the descriptions are put together that we have the complete elephant.
We may not always agree with Mr Bhandara’s views but let no one censor him or discourage him from writing.
Narratives and descriptions of contemporary personal experiences are a rich and valuable source of history and more people should be encouraged to contribute.
We need to appreciate, collect and preserve these for the sake of the future generations as well as for our own benefit and enjoyment.
K. HUSSAIN ZIA
Mississauga, Canada
IN his column entitled ‘Whither Balochistan?’ (Dawn, Sept 14) Kaiser Bengali writes about Gen Musharraf: “He also made a foreign policy U-turn hours after the tragedy of 9/11 and Pakistan shifted from being the most pro-Taliban country in the world to the most ardent ‘terrorist’-busting country in the US camp.”
May I ask Mr Bengali what would he have done at the time had good fortune placed the general’s baton in his hand?
ARDESHIR COWASJEE
Karachi
IN June a friend in India had reported that he had seen on some Indian channel that Pakistan had, at last, selected and purchased a piece of land for its consulate in Mumbai and construction would start soon.
However Pakistani media, both electronic and print, has not reported anything in this regard.
This is welcome news. Let us have its confirmation from our foreign office.
SALAHUDDIN MIRZA
Karachi
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