| December 15, 2006 | Friday | Ziqa'ad 23, 1427 |
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Need for action
Computerised arms licence system
In defence of smoking zones
Holocaust conference in Tehran
Imran-Nawaz meeting
Bath Island in turmoil
Too rich
Letter-box
Commentary on cricket
Kashmiris’ identity
The truth at last
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 is with reference to Prof (Dr) Eice Muhammad’s letter ‘Twilight of tolerance’ (Dec 8) in reply to Mr Kishan Bahtia’s statement (Nov 15) regarding Muslims’ role in the field of education in mediaeval India. He is right that Muslim rulers were seldom intolerant to other religions (exceptions apart), least of all destroying their educational infrastructure.
However, I am afraid Prof Eice has committed a similar mistake by oversimplifying the issue, not considering the prevalent objective realities.
With the decline of the Mughal power began the socio-economic crisis which, besides destroying the social fabric, damaged the educational infrastructure of the subcontinent. The decline started when Emperor Aurangzeb was encamped at Deccan and remained there for more than 20 years to subjugate Muslim states of Deccan and fight Marhatas. After his death the war-shattered empire with empty coffers and incompetent leaders started disintegrating, enticing powerful provincial governors to defy the central authority and become sovereign. The fatal blow to the empire came in the shape of assaults of Nadir Shah and Ahmed Shah Abdali.
The huge central army (Mughal) without commanding employer now took to plundering for livelihood. These ‘pindaris horsemen’ moved in large groups, some having heavy guns looted indiscriminately villages and small towns. Likewise the thugs became so active that the hinterland became extremely unsafe. It is reported that more than 25,000 people journeying from one place to another vanished at the hands of these predators leaving no clue whatsoever.
Taking advantage of this chaos, Marhatas freebooters traversed the entire north India for plunder and booty. Some European adventurers, such as Edward Thomas, Walter Reinhardt and General D’ Peron, carved out small but powerful enclaves and became sovereign and offered services as mercenaries for one or the other antagonistic state.
In this environment, beginning from death of Aurangzeb (1707) till 1858 every facet of social life, including education, suffered immeasurably. In Europe, on the other hand, with age of renaissance, reformation and revolution remarkable advancements were made in every field of human activity. When the Mughals were fighting wars of succession, in England Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1723) discovered the law of gravitation. Oxford University was established in the 12th century and Cambridge University was established in the 13th century and by the 17th century these institutions were producing eminent names in the field of social and empirical sciences.
Although it is correct that during the Mughal period India’s court language was Persian but to assume that when English was adopted there was 100 per cent literacy among the masses is an exaggeration. First, the people’s language was always local whereas Persian was restricted only to the court and the privileged minority class and, second, India never achieved cent per cent literacy.
Quoting Al Beruni here as an example of education in India is also out of place as he belonged to Khwarzim (present-day Central Asia) and was born in AD 973 much before the Muslim rule in India began.
I agree with Prof Eice that Muslims thwarted many Mongol/Tatar invasions in the 13th century, but then they were far superior to the invaders. However, saying that the English snatched power just for their better political gameship is per se unfair. The Europeans, specially the Dutch, the Portuguese and the British, had already acquired the status of sea powers in the 15th century and captured new lands when the Mughals had a few small ships for carrying pilgrims to Makkah.
Besides, in modern weapons and army discipline the British were a great deal advanced than their antagonists and defeated many times big armies of natives not only through political gameship, but with well-disciplined forces and superior armaments: the edge they still enjoy.
Their pre-eminence of knowledge is also evident from the infrastructure they developed in colonies to perpetuate their hold such as bridges, barrages and waterworks, roads and railway network, postal service, educational institutions and judiciary of which we are now beneficiaries.
All said and done, the East in general and Muslims in particular lost archaic intellectual vitality and physical vigour hitherto characteristic of their identity. The atrophied and complacent mindset and internecine warfare became their hallmark till conquered by more advanced nation.
It is the knowledge that commands: those who are intellectually inferior are destined to subjugation.
MANZOOR H. KURESHI
Karachi
THERE are no words that can console the hearts of the parents of the two-month-old baby that died in a road accident in Lahore. What has made the episode even more tragic is how the victim’s family members were threatened and physically abused upon their refusal to withdraw the charges.
To further add to the agony, the accused was granted bail through his powerful connections. It has now been reported (“Bail in car speeding case cancelled”, Dawn, Dec 12) that the bail has been cancelled and the hunt for the accused is on.
This issue had indeed become the talk of the town and several thousand e-mails and text messages have been exchanged to create awareness and to advocate the need for some sort of action against the accused. Sadly, justice denied is the greatest injustice of all but a large portion of the members of our society does not realise that.
We live in a society in which the rich and powerful not only abuse their positions but they also do not feel any remorse over their actions. Incidents of such nature have become a common practice. So many of them do not make headline news and the victims live with psychological and traumatic scars all their lives.
How an individual can be so indifferent and callous to inflict such pain over someone else and yet live without a guilty conscience reflects upon the disintegration of the values, ethics and humanity of our people.
The continuing rot in the system is a dangerous trend and shows the failure of the various institutions ranging from the basic family unit to the judiciary and all in between which are responsible for creating a strong fabric for a civilised and just society.
It is time for us the conscious lot of our society to raise our voices more actively and collectively to make a difference in matters that govern our day-to-day lives.
ABBAS HAIDER
Karachi
THE federal minister for interior launched the computerised arms licences system in Islamabad on Dec 4. While talking to newsmen, he said this system would help law-enforcement agencies to effectively control crime; initial licence issue fee would be Rs2,500 and annual renewal fee Rs500; existing licence-holders would be issued computerised licences on expiry of the manual licences.
I appeal to the minister to examine the following facts, with a due clarification through a press release: one, those interested in establishing this import-based expensive system have wrongly briefed the minister about effective control of crime as criminals never commit a crime with licensed arms. As such, there is nothing wrong with manual licences to justify forex spending.
Two, some million illegal arms holders do not pay any fee whereas the law-abiding citizens are penalised with initial and annual fees as a source of government revenue, and, unlike defiant outlaws, they cannot carry licensed arms for self-defence unless they get themselves employed with some private security agency and wear a uniform.
Three, criminals have an easy access to sophisticated automatic prohibited arms in the illegal market whereas the arms and ammunition import policies have deprived the NPB licence holders of even replacement of old ammunition with reliable new ones. Furthermore, NPB arms imported by individuals are sold at eight to 10 times the price of illegal sophisticated arms and are beyond the purchasing power of an average NPB licence holder.
Four, exemption of existing manual licences from second time initial issue fee of Rs2,500, procedure for entry of sold and purchased arms and ammunition in computerised licences and procedure for replacement of manual licences of those living far away from Islamabad and annual renewal need clarification.
NASRULLAH K. SHINWARI
Islamabad
THIS is in response to Imran Khan Sial’s letter (Dec 9). I can say that as a former smoker I smoked in the airport zones which Mr Sial writes about with my head held high.
Most smokers today are aware of the health risks attached with smoking and choose to continue smoking as they perceive the benefits of smoking (e.g., stress release) as being higher than the expected costs (e.g., reduced life expectancy).
Most are also polite enough to accept being relegated to smoking zones in many places such as universities or airports. When I was a smoker I did not need the morally superior and pretentious chastising by those who seem to think that they know better than others to tell me the probable health risks of my life choices.
How would they like me to tell them the possible health risks of the mountain load of chicken biryani (cooked with adulterated spices and coagulated ‘goop’ that passes for ghee) that they scoff down every day in the canteen? Let us remember here that university students are adults, free to make their own decisions and that smoking is not illegal.
As a lecturer at one of the private universities I think that, in fact, smoking zones are the ideal solution.
Non-smokers are not bothered by second-hand smoke and smokers can smoke in peace without being stressed out by moral crusaders. The reason why there are smoking zones in universities is because a sizable percentage of university students are smokers. I fail to see what Mr Sial’s problem is.
ASIF SAEED MEMON
Karachi
THE condemnation of the recent Holocaust conference in Tehran by western leaders, including Tony Blair, is not only unjustified but also indicative of their double standards. They provide lip-service to freedom of expression and allow publication of blasphemous literature in their countries but they do not tolerate discussions about the veracity of the accounts of holocaust. Germany has even outlawed the denial of the holocaust.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad inaugurated the two-day conference in Tehran. Participants include scholars from 30 countries who are to discuss how many Jewish people actually died and what it all means for the current state of Palestinians.
The guests included several orthodox Jews, one of whom declared that “the Zionists are taking this terrible, horrific tragedy that happened by [to] Jews” in order to “use it for a political end to build . . . a state, something that is the antithesis, the contradiction to everything that is Godly.”
Most speakers agreed that many historical accounts of the holocaust published in the West are exaggerated, distorted and even fabricated. Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has rightly characterised the conference as a gathering of truth-seekers and said the rejection and disapproval towards it was against the international norms of free expression.
SHAH NAWAZ KHAN
Karachi
THIS is with reference to the letter by Mr Shams Zaheer Abbas about the recent Imran-Nawaz meeting in London (Dec 12). The writer is of the opinion that Imran Khan, once a strident critic of Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto and a vocal supporter of Pervez Musharraf, has suddenly changed his stance altogether.
As a matter of fact the socio-economic and the geo-political situation in Pakistan has taken a worse turn than ever before during the last six years. Today Pakistan is faced with far bigger challenges than corruption, loot and plunder. It is not only democracy but the very federation of Pakistan is at stake. That is why the need of the hour is that all democratic forces should unite and wage a war for the revival of true democracy in Pakistan.
It is most unfortunate that the Pakistan army has been made mercenaries who are assisting America in its lost battle in Afghanistan. There are 80,000 Pakistani troops deployed in Waziristan and the US government is bearing all the expenses costing $70 million per month. Instead of Pakistanis, had there been 80,000 American army personnel engaged in the military operation, it would have cost $5 billion per month. It is regrettable that in order to obtain legitimacy, all institutions of the state have been destroyed. It is also an irony that the president has co-opted some of the most dubious characters who are not only members of his cabinet but some of them have been made governors as well. According to Transparency International, Pakistan is now more corrupt than ever before.
It is also an open secret that elections under Pervez Musharraf cannot be free and fair. Therefore, it is imperative that all democratic forces join hands and strive for a caretaker government minus Pervez Musharraf.
Imran Khan only supported the seven-point agenda of Gen Musharraf whose planks were getting rid of sham democracy and accountability. Imran Khan withdrew his support when the president failed to fulfil his commitment.
Corruption can only be effectively fought through an independent judiciary, across-the-board and by real accountability. This is what Mr Khan has been striving for throughout.
SARDAR AZHAR TARIQ
Information Secretary,
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf
Islamabad
THE residents of Bath Island appreciate and recognise city Nazim Mustafa Kamal’s concern and efforts for our area, and also the fact that many a time he stood in knee-deep rain and sewerage water, surveying the disaster that besets Bath Islanders every now and then.
Once again disaster has struck and all the streets of Bath Island are covered with sewerage water. Our concern is that the situation is out of control, as all the sewers are overflowing and the streets are flooded with dirty, hazardous sewerage water. We invite Mr Kamal to visit Bath Island so that he can take action to drain the sewerage water and make plans to avert future disasters like the one we are facing now.
MRS ENVER PASHA
Karachi
BATH Island is yet again the victim of the government’s neglect and its failure to provide basic needs to the citizens of Karachi. It has been three days that the streets of perhaps one of the most posh localities of Karachi are flooded with sewerage water, making the lives of its residents miserable.
The situation is terrible on 4th Street where the level is reaching knee height and if this prevails, the filthy water will soon seep into our houses causing immense damage.
On calling up all the so-called help lines, including 134, 135, 136, the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board, the officials took no time in providing me with new numbers and shifting the responsibility on some other department. I request all relevant authorities to help us as we are in dire need of some quick action.
M. R. LAKHANIE
Karachi
WHO says we have not progressed? According to a news item, a police sub-inspector, whose monthly salary cannot be more than Rs10,000, drew half a million from his bank account and was robbed while returning home.
His wife was killed by the dacoits when she refused to hand over the cash. I agree with what a lady minister said the other day: our people are too rich to be bothered by petty things like prices of onion and tomatoes.
SHAKIR LAKHANI
Karachi
THERE is no letter-box in the vast area from Khalid Bin Walid Road to Tariq Road. This is causing inconvenience.
A letter-box may be provided on the central lane between Tariq Road and Khalid Bin Walid Road, or near Masjid Atiq Amna on Manzar Alam Road.
S.M.H. RIZVI
Karachi
RAMIZ Raja’s commentary during the 4th ODI between Pakistan and the West Indies left a lot to be desired. Raja was unnecessarily going overboard with his criticism of the Pakistani team using words like ‘selfish’, ‘catastrophic’ and ‘embarrassing’ to describe the defeat. Mr Raja goes overboard with his praise for the players when they are doing well and then again goes overboard when they lose a game. A seasoned professional like him should know better.
The West Indies played well and deserved to win. Ramiz Raja should really change his commentary approach: he talks too much while on air, hogs the microphone and ends up not making sense as a result.
I suggest he should take a close look at his fellow commentators Ian Bishop and Jeff Dujon, who saw the West Indies team lose two Test matches and two ODIs, yet kept their composure and went about analysing the pros and cons of their team with professionalism.
Furthermore, they do not go overboard in their praise or criticism which is a hallmark of true professionalism on their part. Ramiz Raja is a good commentator but it is time he looked at what others are doing around him and improved his on-air performance, as he is representing Pakistan while on-air and needs to go about his job with more professionalism and purpose.
AMBREEN ZUBERI
Islamabad
THE Pakistan foreign office spokesperson has claimed that Kashmir was never really an integral part of Pakistan, which is true since it has its own prime minister and a president. The spokesperson should be consulted for solving this problem and every other problem where there are territorial disputes between nations for she seems to have simple solutions for a very complex problem that had three wars and might have cost both the nations very dearly in men, material and resources. The aspiration of the Kashmiris is to live in peace. Let the leaders from both India and Pakistan just forget that there is a problem and learn to stop playing politics.
The Indian ruling elite try to win elections by portraying Kashmir as a problem. The Pakistan army keeps its options open by buying arms and having the army’s control over politics. Neither deal with the actual problem as to what the identity of the Kashmiris is and where they belong.
SURYA MURTHY
New Jersey
MORE than a century-and-a half ago Matthew Arnold drew the attention of mankind to the fact that “Truth sits upon the lips of dying men”. Had he been here today and heard Kofi Annan’s last speech, it is more likely that he would have said “Truth sits upon the lips of retiring men”.
MAJID HUSAIN
Cambridge, UK
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