| September 29, 2006 | Friday | Ramazan 5, 1427 |
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Muslim conquest of Spain
Academic freedom
Paternal state
Wrong fishing policy
Plea to NBP chief
Hyderabad rains
Importance of library
Free ride
Unfair charge
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
THOSE who place Gen Musharraf In the Line of Fire for writing a book about his personal life and challenges as president of Pakistan must remember that the greatest achievement of Gen Musharraf’s rule has been the freedom of speech that is evident in print and electronic media.
This is particularly uncharacteristic of dictatorships. Isn’t it then fair that we as a nation give him the same freedom of speech he has fostered in Pakistan?
This means of earning one’s wealth is in line with the methods used by heads of state of developed nations. While it is true that people like Bill Clinton wrote their books after their term in office was completed, one cannot hold Gen Musharraf to the same ethical standards. Not because he does not posses them, but because rulers from our part of the world are not always granted an after-life to their presidency. So his only sure chance to tell his story is while he is still in power.
Writing an autobiography while still in office is so much better than setting up large factories from government-loaned money, granting subsidies to preferred industries, awarding foreign contracts or receiving personal kickbacks from large military purchases.
Hopefully Genl Musharraf will honestly pay his income taxes and keep most of the foreign exchange in a Pakistani bank.
OMER DOSSANI
Austin, Texas
THIS has reference to President Musharraf’s book In the Line of Fire which was recently launched in the United States.
On the one hand our president tells an American interviewer that “I am popular among the masses and I will win the presidential election if I contest” and, on the other, he has launched his book in the United States while ignoring his own country.
I would like to suggest to the president that had this book been published in Quetta, the people of Pakistan would have been much happier.
RAFIQ-UR-REHMAN BALOCH
Islamabad
I DON’T visit Pakistani websites very often, but the great media hype that has accompanied the release of President Musharraf’s book prompted me to read Dawn online in order to learn the reactions of people in Pakistan to this controversial book.
There are reports that the book is selling like hot samosas in India, notwithstanding the fact that it is encountering hostile reception from practically all sections of society.
However, the tone and tenor of letters to the editor that I have read in Dawn on the topic have surprised me no end. I was under the impression that the press in Pakistan is not free and people do not get to know the truth or have the liberty to criticise the ruling elite.
This sure is a good sign for the future of Pakistani society.
M. K. BAJAJ
Haryana, India
With reference to Ms Huma's letter (Sept 27) pointing out the errors in dates in President Musharraf's book In the Line of Fire, I may add one more. On page 16, the author writes, "Lord Louis Mountbatten, the last viceroy, persuaded London that Britain could not hold on till then (June 1948) and had the date moved forward to August 1947. This was announced in April 1947." That is wrong. It was the June 3 plan (1947) that announced that India would be partitioned and the British would withdraw from the subcontinent.
President Musharraf is also reported to have defended in New York his move to write his memoir while in office. He says this is not unprecedented and cites the example of Nelson Mandela. The president would be well advised to revise his history. The Long Walk to Freedom was written earlier and published in mid 1994. South Africa's first all-race elections were held in April 1994.Mandela was inaugurated as the president of South Africa on May 10, 1994. That is the cut-off point for the book. He didn't write any book while in office.
Akber
Karachi
THIS has reference to the statement by Mr Jose Maria Aznar, former Spanish prime minister, published in your esteemed newspaper on Sept 24. Mr Aznar has asked Muslims to apologise for their conquest of Spain.
Mr Aznar has not displayed the truth which was expected of a former prime minister.
Instead of demanding an apology from Muslims, he should have expressed gratitude to them in pulling out Spain from darkness of ignorance and heresy. Let me narrate the circumstances which lead to Muslim conquest of Spain:
a. The daughter of a Christian chieftain of southern Spain, Count Julian, was raped by the king of Spain (Roderic). For ensuring allegiance to king, regional governors and chieftains were ordered to send their daughters to spend time in the palace of the king. The king, three times the age of the innocent daughter of Count Julian, raped her against all morals and code of conduct.
The daughter told this to her father when he visited her in the king’s palace.
b. Outraged and ashamed, Count Julian approached Musa bin Naseer, governor of North Africa under Umvi caliphate. Count Julian told him the tyrannies which were committed on ordinary Christians and Jews by the king and his coterie of chiefs and about the rape of his daughter by the king.
c. There were very heavy taxes, and ordinary citizens were living a life of serf and hermit. The clergy of Spain at that time were corrupt, indulging in amassing wealth and persecuting ordinary Christians in religious matters.
d. Musa bin Naseer sought guidance and permission from Caliph Walid bin Abdul Malik to invade Spain and to free the ordinary citizens of Spain from tyrannical and morally corrupt king of Spain. Musa bin Naseer sent Tariq bin Ziad with a force of only 12,000 soldiers which landed on shores of Spain called ‘Gibraltar’, actually ‘Jabal-ut-Tariq’, and defeated the army of Spanish king totalling more than 100,000 soldiers.
e. Mr Jose Maria Aznar supported American invasion of Iraq on the plea that they were liberating people of Iraq from tyrannical rule of Saddam Hussein minus the difference that Saddam has never been blamed to have raped young daughters of his chieftains.
f. Carthagians, Phoenicians, Romans and Vandals also invaded Spain before Muslims. Why does he not demand apology from their descendants?
g. Under Muslim rule, Spain enjoyed religious freedom, no forceful conversions to Islam. In Muslim Spain scholars like Ibne Rushd, Mohayyuddin Arbi, Ibne Tufail, surgeon like Qasim Zahrawi, Abu Bakar Razi lived who revolutionised social and medical sciences and established institutions from which whole Europe benefited.
When Spain invaded central and South Americas in the early 16th century, the population there was given two options — either become Christian or get massacred. Mr Aznar should tender an apology to central and South American population.
. Mr Aznar should apologise to Miss Florenda (victim of rape), Count Julian, Jews and ousted Gothic princes who supported Muslim conquest of Spain to free them from the merciless rule of King Roderic and a group of clergy of Spain.
Prof (Dr) EICE MUHAMMAD
Rahimyar Khan
RECENTLY a seminar on ‘Promoting the culture of discussion in our society’ was organised by Dr Moonis Ahmar of Karachi University. It was followed by your editorial, ‘Freedom of speech and action’ (Aug 31).
Dawn is right when it says that the days of sending professors to prison for expressing their opinions that challenged the establishment’s point of view are not forgotten.
Although like in the 1980s the academics are not being incarcerated, some of them still face harassment at the hands of the university administration. Sindh University is a case in point.
Here the thrice army-appointed retired bureaucrat vice-chancellor, in understanding with syndicate members holding multiple additional charges, has made life of some of us difficult.
Since October 2004 four of us are being harassed in various ways, such as denial of NOC to go abroad for attending seminars, adverse remarks on annual confidential reports, etc. One of us has been sent on two months’ ‘compulsory leave’, a penalty not mentioned in the University Act of 1972.
Our sin is that two years ago, exercising our academic freedom, we wrote an open letter to the then president and vice-president of the Sindh University Teachers Association in which we had stated that the ‘non-PhD lifelong leader’, who was then the dean of three faculties, and his associates in the syndicate, holding multiple charges, and a weak university administration, susceptible to their pressure, have caused a marked decline in the standards of education and management of this university.
If we were wrong, ‘the leader’ should have issued a rebuttal or sued us, or the administration should have sought an explanation from us.
But since ‘the leader’ had majority in the syndicate (and his successor still retains it), we were straightaway charge-sheeted in violation of the University Act of 1972 and the ruling of the Federal Shariat Court barring a member from attending the meeting of the syndicate in which he had been declared a party.
In the second charge-sheet my article (‘Crisis of higher education’, May 9, 2005) and a letter (‘Sindh University affairs’, May 9, 2005) published in Dawn, were also mentioned as “offensive matter liable for removal from the job”.
How poor of the administration and the vested interests. But the support I have received at home and from abroad against this high-handedness is a great consolation for me.
To sum up, I would say Dawn is quite correct in asserting that “a strong parliament, independent judiciary and accountable executive are the guarantors of freedom of speech and academic freedom”.
These conditions are still missing in our country, therefore we are facing hardship. So let us wait for the dawn of true democracy in the country, which appears to be not far away.
DR MEHTAB ALI SHAH
Jamshoro
I WAS dismayed by Saeed Gul’s letter ‘Paternal state’ (Sept 23).
Mr Gul advises Ms Shehla Ahmed to visit the US at a time when gasoline prices are rapidly rising and not just when they are falling in order to understand how much oil prices can vary.
The example of gasoline prices skyrocketing in the wake of Hurricane Katrina is a glaring exception; the likes of which are rarely witnessed by Americans.
My colleagues and I remember when gasoline at the local station sank to $0.76 in 1999 as well as when it jumped to $5.90 in 2005, but we know very well that we will probably not see such extremes for years to come.
However, Mr Gul may still insist that Ms Ahmed visit the US when it does happen.
The so-called petroleum subsidies in Pakistan are so well crafted that the price of gasoline was approximately $3.60 per gallon when crude oil prices were at $72 per barrel and approximately $3.50 per gallon when crude oil prices sank to $61 per barrel.
If the government sets such high ‘subsidised’ prices, then it is obvious that gasoline prices will not fluctuate much in either direction.
Mr Gul’s comments about the Pakistani government with reference to Mariyah Moten’s participation in the Miss Bikini Universe 2006 pageant were unwarranted.
The government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has no problem with a former citizen participating in such a pageant.
It has a huge problem with a former citizen participating in such a pageant as an entrant from the Islamic Republic of Pakistan as it goes against the religion, culture and tradition of this nation.
If examining it purely from a legal aspect, she could only have entered as an American but then she would have faced intense competition from other Americans in getting a spot. Passing as a Pakistani citizen made her entry one hundred times easier.
OWAIS AHMED
Chicago, USA
THIS refers to the letter ‘Wrong fishing policy’ by Murad Bey (Sept 13). The policy of keeping away deep-sea trawlers, regardless of their size, farther away from our territorial coastal waters is in the best interest of the country. Needless to say, it’s not only the size of the vessel which matters but the way it’s equipped.
Given the local conditions and corruption and callousness rampant all over administrative body, it would be disastrous to let deep-sea fishers come near our already resource-related coastal waters.
Let the local fishermen find their subsistence in it and I think they are dong fine with whatever gear and tackle and insecurity to life they have been provided.
Such high thinking as that by Mr Bey is tantamount to ridding our country of its sea wealth faster than doomsday.
I regret to point out that the writer is oblivious to the fact that deep-sea fishing has brought only devastation of our marine resources since the mid-1980s and cannot be given further chance.
It has contributed almost nothing to the national exchequer in the past as compared with the service done by the local fleet. The deep-sea fishers have plundered our marine resources by unchecked ‘fish spillage’, that is, throwing away most of their undesired sizes and varieties of fish back into the sea dead, and carrying away only the larger species to be bungled away outside the country.
Having contributed nothing toward employment and skill, the deep-sea fishers have destroyed rich breeding grounds of fish and ruthlessly wiped out commercially-prized varieties from our ocean. So much so that unable to find more there, they now want to come closer to the beaches.
I may add that, according to latest research, fish spillage has contributed to lowering of fish quality and growth so much so that fish species that used to grow up to 20 kg in a year now hardly grow up even half that weight.
Fish spillage has culminated in reduction of catches and has endangered survival of fish species.
Consequently, there is hardly any reason to allow deep-sea fishers to come nearer our coast and pillage whatever marine wealth that is left for us to cater and that which our local fleet is fully capable of catering to in the existing circumstances.
MAZHAR BUTT
Karachi
TIME and again the media has highlighted the ordeal of so-called senior citizens in receiving their monthly pension under the Employees Old-Age Benefits Act. While the pensions of retired government employees are credited to their bank accounts in the NBP, the others are denied this facility.
After HBL and then UBL, the EOBI has now commissioned the NBP to handle disbursement of pensions. Those in any way acquainted with the maddening rush at the NBP’s Nazimabad Branch can well realise the strain and hardships to which the old and infirm will now be exposed. They will now have more testing time waiting for their turn from morning till noon in the scorching heat.
It will greatly mitigate the suffering of the pensioners if care is taken beforehand and special measures taken in this behalf. Will the president of the NBP oblige us with his personal attention and special directives in this matter?
AHMAD RAZEE SIDDIQUI,
Karachi
IT is a pity to see the condition of Hyderabad after the devastating rains that occurred in the past. Especially the areas of Latifabad and Qasimabad are filled with stinky stagnant water and authorities are really oblivious of their duties. When such situations occurred in Karachi or Lahore, instant action was taken because of the popularity of the cities, but in case of Hyderabad there are still people who have filthy water in their homes.
I hope some action would be taken to look after this small historical city.
BAAIS ABBASI
Hyderabad
THE Library Information Science Department, University of Karachi, celebrated its golden jubilee on Sept 18 and 19.
That was an achievement of the department. Established on Aug 10, 1956 the department was the first institution after independence to offer library and information science course at the university level. Since then it has played a leading role in establishing library education in Pakistan.
The department is proud to have a 3,000 plus alumni who have created a distinction in the library profession and a large number of them are serving at top libraries not only in Pakistan but around the world. The professors and teaching staff must be appreciated for this milestone. Specially chairperson Malahat Kaleem Sherwani deserves appreciation.
We all know the importance of libraries in education, as well as in the development of society. Here this vital role is played by the library information science department. As our thinking and movements largely depend on programmes and achievements, we hope the department would arrange and manage more programmes for the development of libraries and librarians in order to serve the nation.
MUHAMMAD IBRAHIM Librarian, Sindh High Court
Karachi
I’M a student of public policy at George Mason University in Washington DC. Last week I went to attend President and Begum Musharraf’s talk at George Washington University. My excitement about seeing the president for the first time changed into surprise and shock when I saw the entourage of ministers that walked in with the president.
It is sad to know that all of the ‘President’s men’ were enjoying a free ride on Pakistani tax dollars. The free airline tickets, the five-star hotels, the glamorous buffets; all being paid for by the common man in Pakistan. The prime minister’s and the president’s share of foreign tours runs into the hundreds of millions, not rupees but dollars. When will those who govern us learn that it is only by empathy and modesty will they cure the Land of the Pure?
YAWAR A. HEREKAR Arlington,
USA
THE Clifton Cantonment Board (CCB) charges Rs762 for conservancy, which includes sewerage charges, every year from residents of Block 8, Clifton, as this block is controlled by the CCB.
Now the KWSB, after it has started issuing monthly water bills, has added Rs58 per month as sewerage charge to its water bills. The KWSB is not providing any sewerage service in Block 8, Clifton. So, this is not fair. I urge the city nazim to direct the KWSB not to charge for sewerage.
Moreover, the KWSB should be directed to send annual water bills instead of the monthly bills.
FAREED HUSSAIN
Karachi
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