| December 20, 2006 | Wednesday | Ziqa'ad 28, 1427 |
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More loans, more suicides
The right to have rights
Training for govt officers
Bath Island misery
Salvaging sports in Pakistan
Positive criticism
Eid on the same day
Warning for Margalla hikers
The spoils of war
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
THE Afghan president's hysterical and increasingly venomous outbursts against Pakistan reflect his gross ingratitude and are unacceptable. In his latest attack, Mr Karzai said: "Pakistan wants you ( the Afghan people) to be a gatekeeper at the hotel in Karachi." Also that "Pakistan still hasn't given up the hope of making us slaves. But they cannot!" and added that "this tyranny against our people is not by the nation of Pakistan, it is by the government of Pakistan."
These allegations are as ludicrous as they are painful. His foreign ministry would surely be following the many letters that keep appearing in this and other newspapers of Pakistan. These are written not by government officials but by ordinary citizens like me, and have been critical of Kabul, while being generally supportive of our government which has been bending backward to help Afghanistan.
As far as wanting to make our Afghan brothers gatekeepers, there is no shortage of people to do such jobs. We are a very large-hearted people and also have millions of other refugees and economic migrants coming here from Bangladesh, Burma and elsewhere. Mr Karzai would have seen this himself when he had availed himself of our hospitality. Many Afghans have set up or joined the transportation and garments businesses here, even causing complaints from the locals of taking away their jobs.
As if that wasn't enough, he went further by linking a recent spate of suicide bombs to the recent visit by our foreign minister to Kabul, saying: "Before his arrival they wanted to scare me off; they wanted me to surrender . . . . They wanted to make me accept to become their slaves."
The president is reminded that a couple of months ago, when Pakistan was about to sign a peace deal in Fata, there was an attack by an American drone on a seminary in Bajaur, apparently meant to provoke the tribals and subvert the deal. Should we blame it on a Bush-Karzai intrigue? The suicide bombings he's referred to could very well be the work of some foreign agency, such as India's RAW, to sow misunderstanding between the two Muslim neighbours. Or, it could be the work of the Taliban, in order to pressure Mr Karzai into including them in the negotiations.
The problem really is that Afghanistan needs a very tough person to govern it, whereas Mr Karzai is incapable of that. Looking realistically at how the Taliban had brought peace to their country in the 1990s and totally eradicated poppy cultivation, it would make sense to include the moderates among them in the governance. They had no quarrel with the Americans, who were actually giving them financial aid. The main reason the US fell out with them was their sheltering of Osama bin Laden. If the US had accepted Mulla Omar's offer of trying him in an Islamic court in Afghanistan or another acceptable Muslim country, that would have beautifully resolved everything.
Instead of scapegoating us and sowing hatred in Afghans' minds, it would behove Mr Karzai to show selflessness and statesmanship by considering this suggestion, even if it means quitting his job for the sake of peace in Afghanistan as well as in Pakistan. This would also allow millions of refugees to return and live in their own homeland if they so wish - otherwise these brothers and sisters are welcome to stay here as long as they like.
IBNE INAYAT
Karachi
No doubt the influence of the big zamindar plays a major role in shaping up the election results in any rural constituency but experience in neighbouring countries, especially the oft-quoted example of India doing away with the zamindari system, is back-firing and the small cultivator/farmer owner of a few acres is in dire straits due to the ground realities, such as the cost of inputs of small holdings being unproductive and not viable economically is resulting in accumulation of huge debts and becoming the cause of innumerable suicides in various union states in India.
In a recent article ‘More loans, more suicides’, Devinder Sharma (Dawn, Dec 2) has given a very graphic and pathetic condition of Indian farmers who comprise more than 70 per cent of those who live below the poverty line. In an example he has quoted the figure of Rs2,115 per month as the income of a family of five in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and many more (it is lower in Punjab) with the result that those faced with such tight economic situations borrow from the government and the money lenders and unable to pay back die by suicide creating further socio-economic problems for the rest of the families.
The lowest-paid government employees are much better off than these farmers who yield only the said bare income whereas the government employees have the added advantage of several perks and medical facilities in addition to a much higher fixed income per month.
In India this is a huge problem and before we embark on any such adventure, a serious study as to the socio-economic effects of doing away with large agricultural landholdings must be undertaken to see the resultant outcome, and alternative fool-proof arrangements made to ensure success of any such action.
I am strongly of the view that betterment of the common man, including the farm worker, lies not in equitable distribution of land but in fair distribution of wealth in the country.
SAEED ALIZAI
Karachi
I WOULD like to point out that Mr Cowasjee seems either naďve or ignorant in his column ‘The dirty war’ (Dec 10). In a country where even the most basic human rights are trampled upon on a daily basis by nearly every citizen, believing that the government would do something about ‘disappeared’ individuals is no less than a reverie.
Article 1 of the human rights charter states that every individual shall have rights available to them; Article 2 mentions a right to life; Article 3 says prohibition of torture; Article 4 discusses about the prohibition of slavery and forced labour while Article 7 says that no punishment can be meted out outside the law. Needless to say we can say with certainty that these rights are breached every day in Pakistan so it’s futile to go into more detail of the remainder articles.
Our society has been plagued with a feudal mindset, whether it’s in the rural areas or urban, educational institutions or work place, private business or government offices; there shall always be someone who can make or break your entire life in a matter of minutes. There has never been a transparent check and balance system, we depend on individuals rather than the institutions.
Law-enforcement agencies have become independent bodies that operate and vandalise our populace like armed militias and remain unrestrained by the state. We haven’t even understood the basics of justice yet and we are light years away from Jinnah’s triad of faith, unity and discipline. The universal aim is to achieve respect for the entire human race, not just for the dominant few.
I think we should try hard and practise to act like a human being first because being a Muslim is far too an ideal to achieve.
Thomas Jefferson said: “The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government”
DR YASIR ABBASI
Nottinghamshire, UK
THIS refers to a news item (Dec 13) on the subject. According to the report, the memorandum of understanding had been signed by the Punjab government with the Civil Service College of Singapore for administrative training of government officers which, as stated, would improve their performance considerably.
Further, it is stated that Singapore has made a phenomenal economic progress, and administrative training by its institution would help improve the provincial service structure. (It has been conveniently omitted to state that Singapore is a corruption-free state and its progress is attributable to its honest and sincere leadership).
The Punjab provincial government would pay (a fee of) $500,000 to the Singapore College for training. The other expenses involved, such as air tickets, stay in five-star hotels and daily allowances, have not been stated but the total expenditure would be staggering for a poor country.
We have officers training institutes in Pakistan. Instead of sending officers abroad, the local institutions should be upgraded to impart modern concept of good governance.
The bureaucracy here is not independent. It functions under the influence of highly corrupt ruling class. Some of the bureaucrats are equally corrupt. They bend and break the rules to suit their patrons’ requirements. Honest and upright officers are rare.
Officers trained abroad would be unable to apply the knowledge and skill gained in foreign training. In the prevailing situation they would eventually revert to their old style and the money (foreign exchange) spent would be wasted.
ABDUL SAMAD KHAN
Karachi
THE residents of Bath Island, in general, and those residing at Patel Court D/4 and Street Nos. 3 and 4, in particular, are the worst sufferers of the havoc caused by rain in Karachi. The residents of the area have been facing hardship for the last six months because of heavy rains during the last monsoon season. Their misery has been further compounded due the recent winter downpour.
The city nazim declared emergency in the city but the suffering of this area has not been attended to in spite of repeated complaints made at all levels of the government. The Karachi Water and Sewerage Board is helpless and has expressed its inability to do anything due to shortage of funds.
The area is still flooded with rain and sewerage water. The main water supply is mixed with sewerage water and, therefore, is not fit for consumption. The condition of roads is horrible, while the filth and mud mixed with sewerage water provides suitable condition for breeding of mosquitoes and flies. There is a threat of epidemic of gastro-enteritis and other fatal diseases, especially for children.
Will someone please take notice of the sufferings of the area and rectify the situation and relieve the residents of the mental torture they are undergoing. The representatives of the media are also requested to visit the area to press upon the respective authorities the urgency and magnitude of the problem and motivate them to take action to clear the area which, although considered posh, is starting to look like a slum.
SYED EHTRAM ALI
Karachi
ASIAN Games 2006 recently concluded in Doha. The performance of Pakistani players in all the events they participated was extremely poor.
The Pakistan hockey team performed the last rituals to nail the coffin of failure with a 2-1 defeat at the hands of hockey novice China. What a shameful performance.
It is high time the Pakistan sports board took punitive action to save its face and salvaged the pride of Pakistan in the field of sports. We, the Pakistani community in Doha, feel extremely humiliated by the repeated failures of the Pakistani team.
If Pakistan hockey team ever wants to salvage its lost pride, then it is time to appoint a good coach from Australia.
We all respect our hockey players of yesteryear but to coach a team to win a gold medal in international show-off requires a real professional coach.
The boys are equally responsible for the failure. In no single match they proved themselves to be medal-getter.
We appeal to the president of Pakistan to order an inquiry into the affairs of Pakistan Sports Board and fix responsibility for the poor performance in Doha.
PAKISTANI COMMUNITY
Doha, Qatar
THIS is with reference to Anwar Zuberi’s article (Dec 16) on Pakistan’s performance in the Asian Games. When the governance of the sports is in the hands of politicians, retired or serving police or military officers, the performance can only speak for itself.
Whereas the performance is a barometer of the government’s apathy towards the sports in the subcontinent, I am tempted to draw a small but significant comparison between the performances of the two neighbours.
The slump in Indian hockey has been a result of high-handedness of its head honchos and the prejudiced selection procedure. However, the performance has drawn in lots of flak from the public and the media. Media coverage of the Asian Games in India has been extensive. Attention was given to most of the sports, irrespective of Indian participation.
I have been reading Dawn for years now, and it has become a daily ritual for me.
However, I must comment that your coverage of Asian Games was not a priority, and that Asian Games news were relegated to the fourth column or downwards, of course with the exception of about 3-4 editions where it did receive some significance, thanks to hockey.
It is perhaps an indicator on the low importance attached to sports. Not that my country is a big propagator of sports. All other sporting activities have been overshadowed by cricket and their administrators.
It is time the media took the administrators of the sports bodies to task in an attempt to revive lost pride.
SANDEEP BHALLA
Baroda, India
WE continue to dwell upon the crisis facing PIA without understanding the reasons behind its recent turbulent record.
As a student, it does not require a rocket scientist to comprehend PIA’s struggle in the face of foreign competition. Criticism should always be balanced with constructive criticism as a great philosopher once said: ‘Critics dwell amongst the uneducated. Constructive critics push the intellectual bar to greater heights’.
It is frustrating to read the same articles time and again (mostly from overseas Pakistanis) accusing PIA of maintaining substandard in-flight conditions.
We need to ask ourselves a dire question: should PIA or we, Pakistanis as a nation, be blamed for the unhygienic washroom conditions? On innumerable occasions that I have flown with PIA, it was surprising to note how water was splattered all over the washrooms during ‘wuzu’.
It was even more contradictory to observe the same unhygienic class preaching ‘safai nisf imaan hai’. Is this the ‘safai’ our religion preaches?
There is absolutely no restriction on performing ‘wuzu’. However, it’s a human inclination to clean what we have dirtied rather than passing the burden on to the next occupant.
In times of crisis the national carrier requires constructive criticism rather than pessimistic views. PIA has successfully overcome obstacles in the past and as a frequent traveller I have no doubts it will soon embark on a series of smooth journeys.
I expect a tirade of rebuttals. However, I sincerely hope it is constructive criticism for a change.
M. SAAD KHAN
Toronto, Canada
IT is interesting to note that in a bid to have Eid on the same day (Dawn, Dec 19), the religious affairs minister of NWFP explained that only the provincial Ruet-i-Hilal committee will be authorised to make the final announcement and the district Ruet-i-Hilal committees would not have the authority to make announcements about Eid moon sighting.
The minister also explained, although in very guarded words, that if the central Ruet-i-Hilal committee does not follow the recommendations of the provincial Ruet-i-iHilal committee, the provincial government would announce its own decision.
This is tantamount to saying “I respect the opinion of others as long as it does not clashes with mine”
MIR MOATAZID
Karachi
I AM a Pakistani national and my husband is a foreign national. On Dec 17 we decided to go hiking in the Margalla Hills. We went on Track B-4 behind the Faisal Mosque and after about an hour of walking through the hills we were accosted by two village men who threatened us with sticks and harassed us viciously.
They were quite obviously opportunists and did not know exactly what they wanted from us, thereby making the situation extremely precarious. Finally, we managed to convince them to spare us in exchange for our mobile phone and ran down the hills to save our lives.
Needless to say it was an extremely traumatic experience and one we wish to report so that other hikers are aware.
After this incident I have come to hear of a number of similar cases that have taken place in the recent past in the Margalla Hills.
I urge the CDA to run a campaign warning hikers (both Pakistani and foreign) of the risk involved in going into the Margalla Hills. About 15 to 20 years go the situation was very different but developments in the last few years have rendered the hills unsafe for hikers unless they are part of large groups.
SUNDAY HIKER
Islamabad
LETTER writer S. Karim says I have been uncharitable to Pakistan in my letter (Afghan affairs’, Dec 3). He says Pakistan helped Afghanistan in reversing the Soviet invasion and welcomed Afghan refugees.
First, to correct history, the war itself was not against the Russians. The Soviet invasion had been at the behest of the then Afghan government. The Soviet had not attempted to invade Pakistan nor had they declared any intention to. The war was against the Marxist regime led by the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan, which many forget, had not just Soviet backing but some popular support as well.
The question is, was that our war to fight? What good did the victory of the ‘mujahideen’ do for the people of Afghanistan? It was not the Afghan people who were the winners in that war; it was the robber barons of the West. After giving the Russians their Vietnam in Afghanistan and killing the communist dream, corporate America was free to permeate the whole world with its version of capitalism.
Lastly, it would do the public well to remember that Lebanon has been hosting millions of Palestinian refugees since 1948. They have neither complained nor boasted about their sacrifices.
KHWAJA SHAMAAS
Lahore
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