| September 23, 2006 | Saturday | Sha'aban 29, 1427 |
To send a letter to the Editor
Click here
Indo-Pakistan relations
Hygiene providers
Punjab bans TV channel
To proud Pakistanis
DHA waterfront development
Paternal state
Safeguarding citizens
No longer fixed
Priceless
KESC’s special target
Motorway yet to open
‘We want to be friends’
Fewer divisions
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 has reference to Mr Anil Khan Luni’s letter ‘Islam in the eyes of western media’ (Sept 21). The punishments that he cites regarding women and other crimes are not mentioned in the Quran. For example, the blasphemy law is contrary to the command given to the Prophet (peace be upon him) in numerous surahs that the judgment of those who denounce Islam is for Allah alone to mete out.
Similarly women are allowed to divorce; and where does it say in the Quran that women cannot be a judge or head of the state? Even the rule of two women witnesses is only in matters related to finance, not in every thing.
The greatest misfortune of Islam has been that around same time when the laws were being made the ijtehad was banned and so we are stuck in laws that make very little sense in these times.
The assertion by so-called ulema (of which there is no shortage) to brand these laws as Quranic decree is a tactic to mute the illiterate public. The Islamic laws created by ulema a few hundreds years ago have to be re-evaluated and modified based on the social practices of the present age.
Muslims should take stock of what we practise and how we behave and correct it. For, as the Quran says, Allah never changes the condition of people unless they change it themselves
SANOBER Q. HAIDER
Princeton, US
IN his letter, Anil Khan Luni seems to make the point that Islamic laws are incompatible in today’s world, and due to them Muslims have become the victim of western malignity.
This is right to some extent but the way he has elaborated different arguments in support of his thesis displays his lack of understanding about Islam.
He regards the death punishment for apostasy and half testimony of women in cases of Hudood as the actual teachings of Holy Quran.
However, these are only interpretations by the Muslim scholars of the past.
For instance, how could Allah allow the killing of a person simply because he changes his faith when He treats the killing of an individual — except as punishment for murder or spreading nuisance in the land — as the murder of whole mankind (5:32)? Similarly there is no mention of a woman’s testimony being worth half of a man’s in the cases of Hudood in the Holy Book.
Accepting an interpretation of Islam as the real Islamic stance instead of encouraging the logical and moderate view is unfair. The reason why Muslims are derided time and again by westerners is because we do not dare reform our vacuous thoughts.
How is it possible to present a true picture of Islam to the world when people like Anil Khan Luni make innuendos about the honourable teachings of Islam?
NAUMAN YOUNIS LODHI
Rawalpindi
ON Sept 8 the Malegaon town of Maharashtra state in India was struck with bomb blasts. This time the Indians were sane enough not to blame Pakistan, as had been their usual practice in the past.
It was perhaps because of the Indian prime minister’s agenda to have talks with the Pakistan president on the sidelines of the non-aligned movement (NAM) conference in Cuba and to recommence the bilateral peace dialogue with us which was suspended by the Indian side after Mumbai blasts in July.
Incidentally, it will not be rationale to repose hopes in the resumption of the negotiations as there has been hardly any outcome of Indo-Pakistan talks spread over the last two-and-a-half years.
There seems to be hardly any chance of success on any of the disputes between the two countries even if the negotiations continue for even a century because the Indian mindset is that of hegemony with the small neighbours and it will not resolve any issue with them. One can, in this context, cite the instance of the Farrukha Barrage issue between India and Bangladesh which continues since the creation of that country.
To come up with terms with India on any issue, it is imperative that the other party is at par with or stronger than it democratically, economically and politically. The Indo-China bilateral relations are an instance where India has since conceded to the Chinese occupation of Tibet.
When India and Pakistan succeed in building up confidence (CBMs) to a certain degree, a time is reached when India could face pressure from the international community for the resolution of the outstanding disputes which it does not want in any case.
So, the appropriate course for India at that point of time inevitably becomes to sabotage the success in the CBMs achieved. This we have witnessed in the past and at the present when the talks were suspended by India on the pretext of Pakistan’s alleged involvement in the Bombay blasts.
So, the right course for us would be to stop running after India for the settlement of the disputes and make the country truly democratic and stronger economically/militarily so that a stage is reached where our voice is really heard by the Indian leadership and the public.
GHULAM MUHAMMAD
Karachi
Local government institutions are an integral part of the health delivery system, a fact none can deny. These institutions provide a means of waste disposal, which if not working properly, punctually and regularly may expose many people to a number of diseases and ultimately disable them.
In local government institutions the group of workers which may be labelled as the “real hygiene provider” is that of the sanitary workers who perform the job which is unacceptable to others.
The job that sanitary workers do is cleaning and clearing of waste water drains containing contaminated water, mixed with human excreta, clearing of the house waste material stored in dustbins and cleaning of the streets manually. That is why sanitary workers always remain ‘at risk’ of contracting a disease, whether bacterial, viral and fungal.
The diseases more commonly sanitary workers can get are hepatitis (all types) through direct contact with contaminated drain water (in medical practice this may be synonym for orofaecal route of transmission), contaminated needle pricks, lacerations from broken glass pieces, fungal skin diseases (air-borne/allergic diseases) which they are sweeping. These may include allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma and many other diseases.
Being ‘at risk’ of contracting diseases, they may become a risk for others.
So to avoid all these, necessary measures should be taken to save a large number of people from disabling and fatal diseases.
All sanitary workers, therefore, should be immunised against hepatitis B. All sweepers should be provided face masks to avoid bronchial asthma and other dust-oriented diseases.
It is the duty of government institutions through the health department to provide necessary funds for this.
DR KHALID HUSSAIN BHANGAR & DR AZIZULLAH TALANI
Jacobabad
THE ban placed by the Punjab government on various ARY channels has exposed just how ‘free’ the media is in Pakistan. One had hoped that after the Pemra Ordinance the media would be allowed to operate free from the control of the government.
However, the recent developments have shown beyond any doubt that no matter how many laws are drafted, the government will wield more power than it is allowed to constitutionally.
One fails to understand the reason why the chief minister deemed it necessary to undertake such a drastic measure. Banning the channels and that too without any authority is a shameful act on part of the Punjab government and one that is unlikely to bear the results that it wants.
The sooner the Punjab government accepts that it has acted outside its jurisdiction and tries to undo the injustice that it has committed, the better.
How is the media expected to perform its duty unless and until it is free from the control of the powerful? What use is legislation when it will always be overlooked by those who themselves promulgated the laws in the name of press freedom? When will the time come when those in power will be aware of the fact that their authority also has limits?
A. AHMAD
Lahore
THIS is in response to Hamza Gulzar’s letter (Sept 19) regarding the status of women in Pakistan. Mr Gulzar seems to be quite satisfied with the status of women in Pakistan and continues to state that “while there had been a number of cases of cruelty against women, however that does not represent the nature of men in our society”.
He criticises Aisha Thornton for being ignorant of the ground realities and further accuses the people living abroad of ’assuming’ things about our country.
Let me first tell Mr Gulzar that I am also a Pakistani and I have never been out of the country. Having said this, I would like to add that the cruelty and discrimination against women in this country is much higher than what the people living abroad can ‘assume’.
According to police data, a number of honour killings by ‘Pakistani men’ has increased by 78 per cent during the last four years (that is, from 758 in 2000 to 1,349 in 2004), though a large number of cases go unreported. No matter how hard some people try to hide the facts, the ground realities are too disastrous to be ignored. And the Musharraf regime (about which Mr Gulzar seems to be so optimistic) has been unable to pass a women’s protection bill.
It’s a shame that proud Pakistanis are still supporting the present regime. SIDRA ALI SHAH
Karachi
THIS is with reference to the letter titled ‘DHA waterfront developments’ (Sept 6) in which the DHA spokesman has aired his thoughts. His argument goes like this: “The DHA took full cognizance of environmental protection, coastal conservation and town planning according to stringent national and international standards” and “the plan envisages maximum beach-front area to be accessible in its improved yet pristine form to the general public and shall be inclusive of the facilities that beckon entertainment to the poor classes”.
The purpose of land utilisation by the DHA is for residential and commercial purposes. The DHA spokesman says that otherwise this land would be encroached upon or degraded. He states that the DHA has resolved to proceed ahead with the strategic waterfront plans taking positive cue from the intent and content of the detractors” Well, this is the DHA side of the story.
As a member of Shehri and a concerned Karachi citizen, I wish to point out the following to the people who love the Karachi city and the marine environment. How can the DHA spokesman call “the Tasman Spirit oil spill that affected and polluted 14-km-long Clifton beach development area (with gray / black sand) as ‘pristine’?
On the one hand, the DHA PRO talks of full cognizance to environmental protection and coastal conservation and, on the other hand, from Clifton beach, Sea View Township, DHA Golf Club, DHA Marina Club and right along Khayaban-i-Ittehad up to the point where the wetlands once met main Korangi Road near Qayumabad, the DHA has been on a rampage for many years. They have reclaimed not only beach area facing the sea but also marshy land in the vicinity.
Thousands of acres of prime natural wetland area (sanctuary for a large variety of wild birds like flamingos, cormorants, plovers, snipes and waders plus and hatchery for loads of marine life, fish and fauna) has been reclaimed without much fuss by the DHA in the name of development at the cost of marine habitat and biodiversity.
Can someone from the relevant DHA department show the citizens of Karachi a copy of the EIA (Environment Impact Assessment) for the areas under discussion? How can the DHA talk of town planning on stringent national and international standards when Karachi’s ecosystems is currently experiencing a massive degradation of its coastline by the DHA themselves for the building of luxurious mega projects for the rich at the cost of the marine environment, which is God’s gift to the citizens of Karachi. By the way, Bhundal Island facing the DHA Marina Club has also been sold out. It’s about time the citizens of Karachi woke up from their slumber. ‘Jago Shehri Jago.’
SYED AZIZ AGHA
Member ,Shehri-CBE
Karachi
LETTER writer Shehla Ahmed (‘Still waiting’, Sept 14), who is currently visiting the United States, is extremely impressed that the price of gas here has slipped from $3.10 a gallon to $2.50. She demands similar cuts in Pakistan.
Ms Ahmed was not here when the price of gasoline almost tripled overnight, to almost $6 a gallon when Hurricane Katrina and its successors hit. The US government, in accordance with the free market founding principles of the nation, does not subsidise gas. In contrast, the government of Pakistan, ever paternal, does. This is why gas prices in Pakistan do not fluctuate in either direction as rapidly as they do in the US.
The American people, as they say, “roll with the punches.” They complain to the government when the price rises but ultimately accept it as a function of the market. Pakistanis expect their government to do everything — right down to stopping former citizens from participating in international bikini contests.
If Ms Ahmed wants the full picture, she needs to visit the US at a time when gas prices are climbing rapidly, not just rapidly tumbling.
SAEED GUL
Winston Salem, USA
I ASK the minister of railways: would it not be safe for people who live along the railway tracks, especially in crowded cities, to have the tracks fenced on both sides? The minister needs to review the state of railway tracks in urban Gujranwala as children, and even adults, use the track for social gatherings and playing all sorts of outdoor sports.
People living in the surrounding areas generally have no fear or respect for trains operating on these tracks. I know this proposal may warrant a few pedestrian crossing bridges, but there is so much surplus steel lying about in the form of discarded passenger and goods carriages that can easily be recycled to serve the intended purpose.
RAUF AHMAD
Lahore
OUR office telephone number 3870505 has been out of order for 15 days. The previous month it had also been out of service for 15 days. So should we pay a monthly fixed line rent when the line does not work all month long? The line rent should be charged only for the days that the PTCL is able to provide normal service. Perhaps then telephone faults will be rectified at the earliest.
ATHAR DURRANI
Kotri
SPACE tourist… $20 million.
Woman, Muslim, Iranian, and US national to boot…priceless
MERVYN HOSEIN
Karachi
THIS is to draw the KESC’s attention to the state of power supply in Block 4-A of Gulshan-i-Iqbal. While the power crisis is city-wide, the KESC has been especially kind to 4-A. Even in normal times, when supply in rest of the city is normal, Block 4-A goes dark more frequently and for longer durations than any other area.
During the current crisis, either power is not there or if it is there the voltage is low. Sometimes a bulb of 100 volts is like that of a candle. Fluctuations also damage electrical appliances. For the last 10 days, it has been customary for power to go off at least three times a day.
I would request the KESC authorities to pay attention to the cable fault that every now and then develops in 4-A.
ABDUL NASIR
Karachi
In June I read a statement by National Highway Authority (NHA) chairman Maj-Gen (retired) Farrukh Javed that the Burhan-Rashakai section of the Peshawar-Islamabad motorway will open for traffic in the first week of August, while the Charsadda-Peshawar section will open for traffic in early 2007.
While driving to Mardan in September I was surprised to see that work is still in progress on the said section and it has not been opened for traffic yet. Can someone from NHA inform taxpayers when the Burhan-Rashakai section expected to be opened for traffic and why the NHA could not honour the words of its chairman?
ARSHAD MAHMOOD
Mardan
UNFORTUNATELY the Muslim world fails to differentiate between the American people and the American government.
A majority of Muslims believe that the Americans endorse the policies of their government. But this is a misconception. When I arrived in the United States I found out how tolerant and friendly the majority of Americans really are.
I recently attended the 9/11 plus five summit in Washington D.C. Americans thronged the summit and they were very keen to send a message of love towards the Muslim world. They said they were sorry for the deaths of innocent people in Iraq and the rest of the Muslim world.
One of them said the most beautiful words that I had ever heard. She said: “Please tell your people that we want to be friends with you”. I responded with great enthusiasm, “I will, I will”.
TAIMUR S. KHAN
Virginia, USA
THE deletion of religious column from the passport has been a hot issue for those who had real or imaginative concerns. But no one has yet made any protest over the menace corrupting the young minds within our society in the form of recruitment forms for army-related jobs.
Is there anybody to raise a voice about deletion of the ‘sect’ column from the army recruitment forms?
Here the authorities are themselves responsible for producing more divisions when we are already divided and an unstable nation. I urge President Musharraf to scrap this recruitment form and order a new one.
ABBAS ZULQURNAIN
Lahore
You can also send letters to the Editor
Just send your message to the following address: letters@dawn.com
Make sure you include your full name, postal address, e-mail address, and in the case of Pakistan your day-time telephone number.