| November 08, 2006 | Wednesday | Shawwal 15, 1427 |
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Saddam Hussain’s trial
Bajaur massacre
Against car imports
Non-PhD professors and HEC
Prince Charles’ visit to N. Areas
Crimes against journalists
PIA’s troubles
Dream cruise
Gold medals
Army men as VCs
Children’s playground
Cell phone gambling?
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
I HAVE read some of the ugly comments flying about following the ICC Trophy matches. Although based in England, I have followed Pakistan cricket with considerable interest since the 1962 tour to England and would like to comment as a sympathetic outsider. It seems that with the prodigious talent available, Pakistan has often underachieved in the Test and One-Day arenas. There are undoubtedly many reasons for this, but I would like to mention an important one, namely a fundamental lack of trust in that talent.
This is well illustrated by the case of Imran Farhat. Aged just 24 he has been in and out of the national team since he was 18. Despite all the cynicism, his ability is beyond doubt. He has tasted personal success at the highest level, scoring his maiden test century at age 21. Any English opener with that in his C.V. would automatically become a fixture! In the fated Oval Test last August, Farhat made a sumptuous 91, single-handedly wrestling the initiative from the English seam attack on what had been shown until then to be a seamer-friendly wicket. As someone one who was actually there, sampling the moment, it was Farhat who turned the tide as few can, and he who would have been principally instrumental in a Pakistan victory, had the Hair ego not obliterated all else.
In the ICC Trophy Farhat top-scored in a fabulous win over Sri Lanka, something which is apparently now forgotten in the wake of the South African debacle. He was afterwards out twice playing ‘that’ shot to third man. To read some of the remarks one would think he had committed a crime. Who writes those comments? Do they have any understanding of the game? Anyone who has played cricket at any level knows there is always a very thin line between glorious success and abject failure. Those shots would have won praise had they rocketed to the boundary through cover point as intended, or even if the contact had been thinner, and they had flown over the slips for fours.
Is anyone naive enough to think that they were not attempted on instructions from above? We live in an age of total professionalism, and when you are making your way, as are Imran Farhat and others, part of the package is to follow management’s orders to the letter. When things succeed, the management happily accepts the accolades, but as a rule weak management soon distances itself from those who have failed on the field in attempting to do their public bidding, and that seems to be what has happened here.
Who would be a professional cricketer? They are expected to perform perfectly every time, and never make a mistake like the rest of us. Most armchair critics seem to forget that cricketers also have lives and families and concerns on and off the field. They are entitled to have occasional “off days”. True supporters will keep faith despite these.
If Pakistan cricket wishes to remain an also-ran, then all that is needed is to keep listening to the pundits who regularly call for wholesale change, thereby destroying the self-belief of its rising stars. Just keep on trashing and squandering those young talents. The other cricketing nations will be delighted.
However, if Pakistan is serious about making a challenge for future domination in the sport, then venting frustration on the players will not help, whereas additional investment in young men like Farhat most probably will. Allow him to play the way he was born to play. Let him know his position is, for the time being, secure and that he is valued for his unique talent. Place trust in these young players, and give them a decent run. Freely forgive them occasional lapses on the field, knowing they will reward you many times over in the future for your present support. Encourage them to be become the future ambassadors of Pakistan cricket, and not its lost generation.
For the sake of Pakistan cricket, and its rising young players, I hope that the general tenor of the recent knee-jerk criticisms in the media is not taken too seriously, but is recognised for what it really is: a significant part of the existing problem, and in no way any part of a future solution.
CHRIS RALPH
Wiltshire, England
THE verdict to impose the death penalty on Saddam Hussain by an Iraqi court may be correct but the process of his trial defies all norms of legality.
The court was set up by influence of an external force in form of United States which holds no accountability for the upheaval and mayhem in Iraq. Instead it has a free hand in transmitting same levels of disruption and violence for which Saddam Hussain was tried.
The death of Saddam Hussain would end an era but it won’t pacify the situation in Iraq because he was the villain of the last century.
AHMED HASAN
Karachi
THE tragic saga of Saddam Hussain should serve as a wake-up call for all Muslim leaders who bend over backwards to satisfy their western masters. Some of them facilitate exploitation of their own country’s resources in exchange for presidency-for-life jobs, while others like Saddam alienate their own people by brutal military campaigns. But in the end they will all meet the same fate and will be discarded when they have lived out their usefulness.
They are unlike Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi or even George Washington who selflessly gave up their offices for the good of their nations. Shame on the spineless Muslim sheiks, Emirs and self-declared life-time presidents who sell their countries pit on the false presumption of gaining life-time office guarantees!
Is there any wonder why there is so much extremism on the streets of the resource rich but paralysed and stagnated Muslim world?
IMRAN KHAN
San Jose, USA
THE government has failed to justify their action in Bajaur and a result, the following can not be denied:
No warning was given to the so-called terrorists nor was any order given to evict the premises. No military, paramilitary or police forces were sent to the said place/spot in order to make arrests. The brutal killing is not only violation of the constitution but is also against the basic principles enshrined in criminal laws.
The government claims that terrorist activities were carried out in the place which was wiped out in the attack but it has not provided any credible evidence in this regard. The provincial government was not taken into confidence in this respect.
Time and again, both law makers and the superior judiciary have said that until a person is found guilty of a crime, he is presumed to be innocent.
By taking such extreme measures, the government has proved itself as authoritarian.
Its brutal action also proves that we are still in the dark ages where only might is right and the law of jungle prevails.
NASIR KAMAL YOUSAFZAI
Mardan
Wouldn’t it be nice to lodge an FIR against Bush, Musharraf, and Orakzai for killing 80 people in Bajaur Agency? I believe the national and international human rights groups can play a much bigger and better role in this regard.
MUHAMMAD AYUB
Sydney, Australia
I AM unable to comprehend the government’s objective in liberalising car imports to such a magnitude that our indigenous automobile industry is almost at the brink of disaster. This liberalised import policy is doing nothing but clearing the way for Pakistan becoming an international dumping ground of substandard used cars.
Rather than being utilised by the common man, the transfer of residence scheme and personal baggage and gift schemes are acting as tools to be openly misused by car importers for personal gains.
Furthermore, on a macro level, the exchequer is suffering by billions in deficit in terms of evaded sales tax. Scores of people who are either directly employed by auto industries or indirectly in the vending industries are in danger of losing their jobs. Investments in the auto sector are becoming scarce and foreign exchange in terms of billions is being thrown away to fund imports.
The recent decision at the ECC meetings brings some hope as a further reduction in duties for CBUs was rejected. I think now is the time to immediately implement a long term auto policy, safeguarding the interest of investors who have put together their resources for the development of the local auto industry.
In addition, the government should also ban the import of used and reconditioned vehicles to render support to the industry.
AFSHEEN ATIF
Rawalpindi
TO improve the quality of education in the country HEC has established a set of rules for the promotion/appointment of teachers in different cadres in the public universities of Pakistan. The rules clearly state that for a teacher to be appointed/promoted as a professor the requirements include a Ph.D. degree, along with the prescribed teaching experience and the number of publications. Even for the post of associate professor a teacher must have a Ph.D., or at least be enrolled in the degree.
In spite of that, one comes across professors in public universities who do not have a Ph.D. Not only that, some of them, who otherwise would not even be associate professors, also hold important administrative positions like department chairman.
Now that the government has upgraded the posts of university teachers, these non-PhD professors would also be upgraded to Grade 21. Is this in conformance with the HEC criteria?
ABID KALEEM
Lahore
PRINCE Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall recently visited the northern areas of Pakistan on the invitation of His Highness the Aga Khan. They travelled to Skardu and Hunza to see the historical forts which were restored and renovated by the Aga Khan Cultural Services Pakistan. It was expected that these segments would bring tremendous improvements in the economy of the northern areas in particular, and in the country in general, because the area has great tourist potential.
I hope the government can take a leaf from these wonderful examples of preservation, renovation and restoration of the historical buildings and resorts and do the same for other sites in the country.
This would contribute to the development of social sectors, and provide job opportunities to the jobless youth. It will also add to the GDP of the country.
SHARIF KHAN
Gilgit
THIS is in reference to Anwer Mooraj’s article “Crimes against Journalists” (Nov 6). Unprecedented incidents of violence against journalists have been reported under the present regime. There are already over 50 such cases in 2006 alone including the killing of four journalists; even journalists’ brothers were killed in three cases.
Journalists have been targeted both by militant groups as well as by the intelligence agencies. The journalists who have recently been freed have accused intelligence agencies of physical and mental torture. This includes reporter Mukesh Rupeta and cameraman Sanjay Kumar of GEO, Saeed Sarbazi, senior sub-editor of Business Recorder and Joint Secretary of Karachi Press Club, Member Executive National Executive Committee of APNEC, Mehrdin Mari, reporter of leading Sindhi daily Kawish.
Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists has been raising these issues and has even suggested measures for the protection of journalists. We have conducted workshops on “conflict reporting,” but the role of the media organisations is very important.
What should be done to prevent these incidents particularly in the tribal areas? There is not a single journalist working in the tribal areas or in interior of Sindh, who is a regular or even a contractual employee of newspaper organisation. It is important for organisations to have full time professional journalists on board, particularly those working in conflict areas.
It is the prime responsibility of the newspaper establishments to arrange training courses for journalists, covering conflicts in the urban areas, rural areas or in the tribal areas. All journalists must be provided complete insurance cover, given life-saving jackets, additional bonus etc. Photographers and cameramen should be given extra allowances as they are more vulnerable then reporters.
As for those media people who are killed or injured, compensation should be provided by their employing media organisations and not the government, unless he or she is a victim of police or intelligence agencies brutality.
In April, this year a photographer Shoaib lost an eye while performing his duty during a suicide attack at Nishtar Park. His organisation dumped him and there is no one to look after him. He may not be able to continue his work.
The media must fight its own battle. After a long struggle journalists have been able to achieve some freedom of the press, though there are still dozens of black laws confronting freedom of the press and some new laws have been introduced.
But in the case of violence against journalists, the media establishments must take steps for the safety of its employees by adopting measures suggested above and in the article by Mr Mooraj.
MAZHAR ABBAS
Karachi
ACCORDING to an earlier letter, despite being in serious financial troubles, PIA is employing expensive foreigners. It is also losing good people to other airlines. This may be true but PIA’s real problems are due to attitude, nepotism and “sifarish” culture. Specifically PIA staff’s indifferent and insulting behaviour towards passengers is a common phenomenon. Complaints, however, seem to fall on deaf ears as no action is taken against the culprits as they are protected species.
PIA is indeed in a tailspin despite the loyalty support it gets. On Oct 12, 2006, that is less than a month ago, the EU’s CAA gave a “yellow card” to it. Then this month, the EU’s ban on PIA jumbos has added insult to injury to the ailing national airline.
According to a TV programme the ban is related to the maintenance of the aircraft but on the same program according to the airline’s CEO, Mr Kirmani, the ban is because of the airline’s appearance/cleanliness. If that is the case, why were the planes dirty when cleaners are among the cheapest labour available in Pakistan?
M S SHEIKH
London
THE ferry service ‘Dream Cruise’ was inaugurated on the evening of Nov. 4. The intent and the purpose of the service is evident from the minimum tariff of Rs33,500. So is the target customer.
But that is beside the point. Due to security concerns, the port lost an entire day’s work. All the vessels docked at the East and West Wharf’s were instructed to stop work at 1 pm while the dignitaries went joyriding at the nation’s expense.
Ships are meant to maintain schedules as they can miss their berthing windows at the next port. The idling hours of the entire industry are a loss for the country, totaling to at least a few million dollars. But we are told the economy is in better shape than ever before, we are importing everything, even sugar. So who cares?
CAPT S. ARIF SAYEED
Karachi
THIRTY gold medals and a total amount of Rs. 150,000 (Rs5,000 per person) as prize money is all that our education system offers to the 30 best graduates of University of Peshawar which is ranked in the top five universities by the HEC.
Can’t the HEC at least trust the credibility of the first five universities according to its own rankings and offer some leverage to gold medalists in scholarship programmes instead?
KIRAN RAFIQ
Peshawar
I HAVE been following the debate about the appointment of a retired brigadier at Balochistan University and all the mayhem that has rightly been caused by the unfortunate decision. Apart from his totally unjustified appointment in terms of criteria for the said post, I wonder what happened to the brigadier’s sense of dignity and pride? Anyone else faced with such a situation would have resigned immediately. What noble and lofty purpose is being served by having him on that post and making the whole atmosphere in that university dismal and distraught?
One of the meanings of the word “adal” is to place the right man for the right job and this enviable trait is sadly lacking in universities around the country. From Sindh University where a retired civil servant, competent at one time, simply refuses to grow old to Punjab University where the general will not hang up his boots.
What can we expect from our professional academics when they have to bow to men who are in every respect inferiorly educated than them? And since when is expertise in war studies a guarantee to professional management of a public university?
FOUZ KHALID KHAN
Karachi
THE only playground for children between Block D and C in North Nazimabad has been left abandoned by the town government after surrounding the area of almost eight acres by a boundary wall. This ground is in front of the Sharah-e-Noor Jehan police station behind Ashraf Mosque. The wall was build almost a year ago and no progress can be seen since then. The town government planned it to be a water park for families.
We request the concerned authorities not to commercialise the play areas of children and save the future of the nation.
DR SHAIKH T. AHMED
Karachi
DIFFERENT mobile phone companies are sending text messages to their customers in which they ask them to guess the winners of cricket or football matches. They charge their users for replying to these messages, and on answering right, the winning customer is added into a lucky draw, through which they can get different prizes. This clearly amounts to gambling. Pakistan Telecommunications Authority should take notice of this practice.
KHIZAR ALI KHAN
Nowshera
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