| December 12, 2006 | Tuesday | Ziqa'ad 20, 1427 |
To send a letter to the Editor
Click here
Friends and enemies
Law and order
Imran-Nawaz meeting
PTCL Orangi subscribers
Resigning on principle
Indian visa formalities
Doping test reversal
Token system
Situation in Iraq
CMIT to probe Ganga Ram affairs
Karzai’s tears
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
SOME anecdotes from my student days in America in the mid-80s would show that Islam and the Muslims have no difficulty in coexisting with other religions and cultures but ignorance and bias can impede it.
An American professor of mine was a devout Christian, while I was a staunch Muslim, yet we were quite like friends and he would even invite me to his home. Then there was a woman professor -- another committed Christian — and the foreign students’ adviser, who was a wonderful lady, both of whom had been very supportive and kind to me.
I confided in all three of them like I would in a family member. An American couple whose house a Pakistani friend and I had rented told us later this was the first time they had risked giving it to any foreigners. It had been an enriching experience and they would like to visit our country.
Once, while on a long freeway drive, I exited onto a service road to say my prayers. It took me only a few minutes, but within that time a police officer arrived. He got out of his car with a hand on his gun, which is probably their standard practice in such a situation. Finding it a bit scary, I hurriedly started opening my car door.
He had presumably thought I was caught in a difficulty and asked: “Is everything okay?” I replied in the affirmative. Unable to restrain his curiosity, he inquired, “what were you doing?” “When I told him reason, he made a face as if he’d swallowed something unpleasant but said nothing and left. I inferred he was unfamiliar with the Muslims and probably irreligious himself, but a very conscientious and dutiful policeman.
However, a Palestinian friend, who was a very fine human being with a longer beard, got into trouble around the same time. He had stopped to pray in a residential area of a small city. Suddenly, several police cars arrived and the officers surrounded him, with their guns ready, but a search of his car revealed nothing objectionable. He then learned that a Jewish woman upon seeing him pray had telephoned the police to say there was a terrorist in the area.
The recent story of Imams being handcuffed and off-loaded from a plane in the US for praying shows how far this paranoia about the Muslims has gone. I used to have friends and colleagues of both sexes from the major religions and all races and got along with them very well.
The mounting hatred between the western and Islamic civilisations is regrettable. The trouble is not in religions but in the current definition of the “despicable Muslim fundamentalist”. What went wrong? Many Muslim women have been using the veil for centuries, but there was no hue and cry against that and no Jack Straw or other European leaders stigmatising them. Generations of Muslim kids in madressahs have been studying the same subjects but there was no terrorism. If the USSR hadn’t invaded Afghanistan, there wouldn’t have been any western-trained jihadis around and the US would probably still be caught in a Cold War, rather than one on terror.
The problem is not in Islam but with people like Bush, Blair, the other neocons and Zionists, who wish to form the Biblical Israel, destroy its perceived or real enemies, take control of oil and gas resources of the world and prevent any challenges, from the Muslims in particular. It is they who are portraying Islam and its followers as demons that must be subjugated, if not utterly destroyed.
If they had been sensible and an honest broker in the Palestinian-Israel dispute as during the Suez crisis and not interfered in the Islamic world’s affairs, there would have been no further problems.
A MUSLIM
Karachi
WHILE talking to women at the women’s convention in Islamabad, President Musharraf said that the government is planning to bring a few more bills to give women their due rights.
I have no problem with this part of his speech. But I was much disappointed to hear him referring in negative terms to Mukhtaran Mai and her campaign for justice.
His speech also showed his willingness that he would do everything possible to stop people (like Mukhtaran Mai) from going abroad and raising the issue of human rights abuses in Pakistan.
The fact is that whether in uniform or not, the president cannot face the might of the cartels operating in Pakistan. He has failed to achieve any success, so far, in breaking these cartels.
The sugar, cement and banking industries (the list goes on) have been given an open field to play without any restraint on their appetite for money and power.
There is no report from the government regarding the crimes reported in newspapers in which the sons and relatives of the so-called representatives of people are involved. These representatives are still enjoying all the perks as ministers, advisers and members of the National Assembly and provincial assemblies. It shows that the president’s rhetoric is just empty rhetoric. He speaks about a lot of things but these so-called achievements have no real substance.
I would suggest that President Musharraf need to rethink his approach and style of ruling the country as head of the military and president of Pakistan. He needs to start from his own home, i.e., army, and then move to other cartels. He should appreciate people such as Mukhtarian Mai who have been helping him indirectly by raising issues at the international stage and weakening the so-called religio-political parties and cartels.
I support President Musharraf and continue supporting him in all his endeavours and efforts. I hope he will know who his real friends are and who his enemies are.
ASHAR J. KHOKAR
Karachi
LEAVING aside statistics, an average man in the street is faced with astronomical rise in crimes during the past decade, including street crimes and robberies, now exceeding three figures a day. This is clear, from the reports in the media. One wonders if, God forbid, the events in the regions are overtaking us too. Latest reports like ‘Tale of lodging FIR (letter, Nov 2), ‘Wither CPLC?’ and ‘Lack of Security’ (letters, Dec 3) speak volumes on the hair-raising incidents on the subject for the common man.
Kunwar Idris, an old-timer bureaucrat, in his article (Dec 3) appears to feel that, like Ayub Khan’s UCs, the “present LB system might also disappear, when democratic regime reverts.” However, the main problem of law and order, which under the age-old British pattern had checks and balances, is now left without these due to the removal of commissioners, DCs, ACs and others, without giving them a chance, with some vital refinements.
Perhaps this is due to the fact that elected nazims have not been given magisterial powers, even for price control measures, not to think of law and order. As a result, crime rate has increased. One wonders how the larger neighbour has managed during the past six decades, without inducting any major changes into the old system? This deserves serious consideration.
According to Mr Idris, the experiment here has not produced good results in the matter of law and order, while on the development side it has created “cess pools of competing interests, increasing corruption and wastage.” How far his assessment is correct is for the NRB to judge and find ways to amend, which apparently do deserve some drastic changes to urgently retrieve the law and order, which is the main element of good governance. If this is not done soon, perhaps his prophecy might prove to be right.
S.M.H. RIZVI
Karachi
MR Imran Khan has now met Mr Nawaz Sharif, his erstwhile political enemy.
There was a time when there wasn’t a day when Imran was not hurling abuses at Nawaz Sharif and the PML, not to mention his diatribe against Benazir Bhutto. I vividly recall him labelling them both the most corrupt politicians who looted national wealth.
The question that I would like to ask Mr Khan is: does he still consider them corrupt or he has some new evidence which exonerates them?
In case he has new evidence he should declare the same so that those who believed Mr Khan then can be guided and corrected.
If he still believes them to be corrupt, then why is he joining hands with them?
Has he accepted corruption as part of politics and, therefore, has decided to reconcile with this reality or does he think that corruption and looting are lesser crimes than the uniform worn by President Musharraf?
Imran Khan’s evasive stand on the WPB has also left doubts in the minds of many about his own credentials: starting off as a West-lover, marrying into a Jewish family, divorcing, supporting President Musharraf in his referendum, willing to become PM under Gen Musharraf provided Benazir, Nawaz Sharif, the Chaudhrys were excluded, and then joining hands with the Jamaat-i-Islami and now with Nawaz Sharif.
This is an unprecedented series of somersaults in such a short political span. What happens when he gains power is anybody’s guess.
SHAMS ZAHEER ABBAS
Lahore
THIS refers to the news report regarding ‘PTCL subscribers in Orangi not getting bill on time’ (Dec 9). The complaints regarding non-receiving or late receiving of telephone bills amount to less than 1 per cent of the total number of subscribers in the Orangi area, except Madina Colony, Awan Colony and Mianwali Colony.
To cope with the complaints, a detailed survey was conducted which found that the bills of some customers could not be delivered due to either illegal shifting of telephones or incomplete addresses. It may be mentioned here that these colonies are slums, and houses have been built in a disorderly fashion with no sequence. Moreover, no stranger – not even the bill delivery man — is allowed to enter some areas due to reasons of security and purdah. All bills that are returned undelivered are duly scrutinised and all-out efforts are made to correct their addresses. However, M/s I.C.M was warned to improve its services and ensure proper and timely delivery of telephone bills at the doorsteps of our valued customers. In reply they have set up their camp office in Orangi Town and deputed a number of staff to monitor the bill delivery system, so improvement is expected in the current billing. In the meantime the inconvenience faced by customers is deeply regretted.
SALEEM KHAN PRO STR-III
Karachi
THIS is in response to the article ‘Resigning on principle’ by Hafizur Rahman (Dec 6) and the follow-up letter by Naeem Ahmed (Dec 9). They reminded me of another incident involving the offer to resign on principle, though of a different kind.
In the 1970s I was a rookie second lieutenant in the army. Once I punished a jawan for a not-so-serious offence. Subedar Major Mir Zaman Wazir, who believed officers have no business disciplining the soldiers as it was his job, advised me against it as he considered it unjust and thought a good dressing-down and a one-mile run with a backpack (chota pitthu) were enough.
I had the misfortune of telling him: “Sahib, jo kaha hai woh karein, mujhe na parhaein (Sahib, don’t teach me, carry out the instructions)”, and that too within the hearing distance of an NCO. This was too much for a proud veteran of four wars. He stormed into the commanding officer’s office and, putting his beret on the table, offered to resign if he was to be bossed around by lieutenants “jin ki umar se ziada service ho gayi hai meri”. The CO tried to calm him down and promised to sort me out but he was adamant that I apologise and in front of the NCO. After I had apologised for my behaviour, and rightly so, he put on his beret, saluted and left the office satisfied. It was a timely lesson for me, I must admit. Meanwhile, I am waiting for the MMA to resign ‘in principle’. As I write this, a news report tells us that after deferring his decision to resign, Qazi Hussain Ahmad is asking those parliamentarians who proudly voted for the bill to repent and walk out of the assemblies. I have always relished Sardar and Irish jokes, but the first position goes to Qazi Hussain Ahmad.
TAHIR KAYANI
Jhelum
BESIDES other formalities, the Indian high commission, Islamabad, has made it mandatory for visa seekers to submit all old passports along with application forms.
It seems that getting Indian visa is not only a quite cumbersome exercise but also has tremendous difficulties for general public wishing to visit India.
It is unfortunate that despite sufficient place in the Indian consulate office in Karachi, an applicant is required to submit his visa application at Islamabad which takes three to four months for issuance.
This is ridiculous because no embassy or consulate takes such a long time in granting of a visa. Needless to mention here that people of India and Pakistan are emotionally attached to each other and eagerly wish to see their near and dear ones without much difficulties.
Being neighbouring countries, it is necessary to remove visa restrictions like some other countries in the world.
The governments of the two countries are requested to realise the gravity of the problems being faced by the general public and ease the conditions/ impediments on the issuance of Indian and Pakistani visas.
MUMTAZ
Karachi
THE acquittal of Shoaib and Asif by the PCB is disconcerting to say the least. For a nation up against a formidable task of improving its image abroad has received yet another blow to its efforts. Both these bowlers incontrovertibly are the best and they could’ve served the team in the ICC trophy cup, nevertheless exonerating anyone who has disgraced the entire nation can have no alibi.
The fact that both have been cleared of all charges is being viewed with suspicion by everyone, including the ICC and WADA. Even though the banning of these players was a bitter pill to swallow for the entire nation, the fact that justice prevailed in the entire process brought accolades for our country. It rekindled everyone’s faith in our commitment to fair play and justice.
However, the reversing the decision has disappointed all of us and would have a long-term negative effect not just on the PCB but our reputation as a nation. One internal consequence of this decision would be on future players, who have found a loophole with such a precedent set. One wonders as to why such players who prefer personnel gratification over the nation’s prestige deserve any generosity.
FAHD ABBASY
Karachi
DRIVERS/conductors of coaches and mini-buses have created a rule called token system. According to this system, a bus has to reach a particular point at a particular time. In case any mini-bus fails to keep its timing, then its driver has to pay a fine.
Thus on being late a driver loses all sense of proportions and to make up for the time lost he indulges in reckless driving, forgetting anybody has to get down or get on.
Another trick drivers of some minibuses play on the passengers is that they do not ply from one end to the other at one go. They break somewhere in the middle, forcing passengers to change bus for further journey on the same route. It is only after some time that these drivers resume journey with new passengers. This way they earn some extra amount.
The traffic police should look into matter.
NISAR AHMED
Karachi
THE secretary-general of the United Nations has admitted, before retiring from his office, the fact that violence in Iraq has become “worse than a civil war”.
It is unfortunate that the UN is a weak organisation and its secretary-general cannot stop the US and its allies from invading Iraq. The result is that after three years of war thousands of innocent people have died.
Iraq has become a death trap. All calculations to win war in Iraq have come to naught. Aggressors make long-term plans with short-sighted policies.
SYED A. MATEEN
Karachi
THERE is an allegation of misappropriation to the sum of Rs360 million in Fatima Jinnah Medical College and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital affairs. As reported on Nov 25, the CMIT is to probe the Ganga Ram affairs. I was concerned by the wrong impression given by this report where it states that the chief minister’s inspection team ‘ordered cancellation (of extension of service) of Fatima Jinnah Medical College finance director Mrs Yasmin Quraishi, Dr Khwaja Mehboob, Dr Pervaiz Imtiaz and Dr Amar Salman’. In fact the orders were to cancel their orders to leave the FJMC, i.e., to reinstate them, which is entirely opposite to what the report implied.
As a friend of these upright individuals who were asked to leave the FJMC by the authorities as a cover-up to ‘the Rs360 million scam’ I must point this out to put matters right. Since the finance director was instrumental in uncovering the scam she has not been allowed to rejoin the FJMC despite orders from the CMIT. The SGAD has transferred her out of the FJMC once again. Are we to assume that this corruption has patronage of the government? Are we ruled by the corrupt who support one another as a group and are seemingly invincible? Is the public money meant to be distributed amongst the powerful?
I understand that the principal of the FJMC is on an extension as he retired early this year. Normally extensions are reserved for those who are considered extraordinary in their working. Is it too far-fetched to assume that in this case it was to keep and distribute Rs360 million of public funds to the chain of the corrupt? May God save our institutions and our country.
CONCERNED CITIZEN
Lahore
TEARS are the ‘in-thing’ with heads of state these days. The other day Mr Karzai was the latest exponent.
While he was gracious enough to at least give a cursory nod to those bombarding his country (obviously those are not PAF jets), he had enough presence of mind to bring to surface his favourite whipping boy, namely the country that still harbours millions of his kin. Or in other words Pakistan.
Certainly there are tears to be shed. Our own Gen Musharraf is quite the iron-willed man; otherwise a few tears from his side wouldn’t be remiss.
After all, his predecessor was responsible for bringing into our country three million refugees, and the side benefits of arms and drugs. We took care of them the best we could for more than two decades. Now their head of state blames every problem affecting his people on us.
In fact, I too feel like crying right now.
TALHA BIN HAMID
Karachi
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.