| December 25, 2006 | Monday | Zilhaj 03, 1427 |
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Thoughts on Jinnah’s birthday
Why not Peshawar?
Black cabs
PHF administrators
Vanishing mangroves
Army man as VC
Haj-i-Akbar
Two-nation theory
IRI survey
Opening our doors
Yet again
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 single most important contribution that Gen Musharraf has made to Pakistan is to require that all senior cabinet posts be filled by individuals with at least a college degree. The cabinet ministers in previous democratic governments were ‘elected’ not because of their qualifications or competence but because they had money and used it to buy influence and position. The result was a degree of incompetence in government that bordered on criminal. No wonder corruption on an unprecedented scale flourished.
I was thus most alarmed to read the recent announcement that Abida Hussain and her husband have joined the PPP in the hope of getting back into government. I have lived in the Washington area for almost 50 years and have seen many ambassadors come and go. Abida Hussain was arguably the worst ambassador that Pakistan has sent to the United States. She was more interested in furthering her own image in Pakistan than in representing our country effectively in the United States. No wonder the Indians did better than us in furthering their country’s cause in view of their superior ambassadors.
Abida Hussain and her husband did not do much better as cabinet ministers in Nawaz Sharif’s government either. In my book, From Plassey to Pakistan , (1999) I predicted that if the government continued to behave the way it was doing, there would be another military coup. In October of that year Musharraf overthrew Nawaz Sharif’s government.
Now that general elections are expected to take place in Pakistan next year, people like Abida Hussian and her husband appear to be again raising their heads. Characteristically, they show loyalty to no one except themselves. They can be moderate today and religious fanatic tomorrow depending on the direction of the wind. Both were strong followers of Nawaz Sharif when he was in power but they have now switched their ‘loyalties’ to the PPP. Abida Hussain and her husband obviously feel that the PPP gives them a better chance to secure a ticket to be ‘elected’ to the National Assembly. They did not stand a chance with the Musharraf government because neither met his minimum education qualifications for government service.
I firmly believe that Pakistan is at the crossroads. It can no longer afford the luxury of further fiascos in government as those of the past. It has had to endure years of corruption followed by years of military dictatorships. In the meantime, India has gone from strength to strength and is gradually emerging as a power to be reckoned with.
The time of playing games with our government is over if we are to survive in an increasingly hostile world. I, therefore, appeal to the leaders of all our political parties, who plan to participate in the elections next year, not to sacrifice competence in government for political expediency. It is time to strengthen our political parties and not weaken them with opportunists if Pakistan is to attain true democracy.
HUMAYUN MIRZA
Maryland, USA
OVER the past years it has become a fashion symbol for our politicians to pick up their “voters” and go to Mazar-i-Quaid with a platoon of photographers to take snaps of their sorry carriers. One wonders what they are trying to prove with this ritual. Do they really care about the greatest leader of the 20th century?
They loot, cheat, manipulate and lie all day long but come December 25 and they will casually walk up the stairs and place a floral on his footsteps and walk out with their backs turned towards the person who gave them the opportunity to do all the above.
Not for a minute do they feel embarrassed or guilty. Maybe Gen Musharraf has this guilt that is why in last seven years of his power he never dared climb up the stairs of Mizar-i-Quaid. Today Mr Jinnah’s place as a hero for young Pakistanis has been taken by Amitabh Bachan and a bunch of fashion entrepreneurs in the name of “enlightened moderation”.
Mr Jinnah, in his last message on August 14, 1948 said: “The foundations of your state have been laid and it is now for you to build and build as quickly and as well as you can”. No one talks like this to the nation anymore.
No one tells the young to believe in themselves and rise to build this nation because this is our Pakistan. Instead of helping this nation rise to its feet today the rulers are keen to give discounted bazaars to their slaves as was a regular practice during the colonial rule. The bottom line is that it is all about power and wealth. No one really cares about Pakistan or Jinnah’s vision of a stable, democratic, progressive country.
And why should they when they have Italian suits to wear, unlimited wealth to plunder, acres upon acres of land as personal properties, police mafia and other agencies to cover up their heinous crimes and suck the very life out of “bloody civilians”.
Over 160 million people of this country will be looking hopelessly for a real leader to guide them in the footsteps of the Quaid, who will probably rise from the ruins of this country.
MOHAMMAD ARSLAN
Lahore
IT was recently reported in newspapers that PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto is planning to return to Pakistan and the party has even called for quotations from various airlines to charter a plane for her return. It was further said that many options are under consideration for her landing station, including Lahore, Rawalpindi and even Multan. But why not Peshawar?
Keeping in view that the MMA is an opposition party and the sole ruling party in the NWFP, Ms Bhutto can cause problems not only for the government but also her ideological opponents in power in the NWFP.
The MMA government in the NWFP, even if just for face keeping, will have to refrain from creating any problems for the most popular opposition leader at a time when the party is shouting for resignations, united opposition and joint action against the government.
In the meanwhile, the central government might not be able to stop her from landing in Peshawar or any of the processions, rallies and whatever else might be planned. Also, since her case is different from that of Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif, she cannot be deported either. If the MMA does in Peshawar what the central government or the Punjab government might do at other stations, it would once again lose its credibility and its claims of striving for a united opposition would prove to be phoney.
I think the central government is wise enough not to use force in case it is not entertained by the MMA in the NWFP, because use of force to stop Ms Bhutto from landing and operating in Peshawar might result in further confrontation between the MMA and the government. In all the above-mentioned cases, the PPP is going to extract the maximum benefits. Of course, Ms Bhutto and her experienced companions have better manoeuvring brains than I have.
Landing in Peshawar is really the best option, but only if the PPP and the government haven’t reached a deal. Because if Benazir Bhutto is granted the privilege to return as a result of a deal, she may even land directly on the roof of the National Assembly building. Who is going to stop her?
ALI IRTIZA RIZVI
Quetta
THIS has reference to a news report (Dec 14) that London’s 300 purpose-built black cabs will finally be imported, each costing Rs6 million. Later on 7,000 such vehicles will be imported within two years. The entire project will involve $850 million.
The cost of 300 cabs comes to Rs1,800 million and that of 7,000 cabs comes to Rs42 billion.) The 300 cabs will be exempted from sales tax. The ECC had allowed the import of taxis with the new name of ‘purpose built taxis.’ This will be the third scandal. The first being that of the Nawaz Sharif era’s yellow cabs and the second that of the Karachi Stock Exchange.
Prima facie, it seems that our ECC and economic advisers take it for granted that money in Pakistan grows on trees and any middlemen or a group of middlemen could be obliged to make easy bucks in Pakistan because there is no one to halt such extravagance once the high-ups within the corridors of power decided to waste tax-payers’ money.
Even MNAs are docile and meek to ask the ECC to stop the plundering of the money as they are simply interested in their salaries, perks and benefits to enjoy a life of comfort.
In India the head of the state and ministers use indigenous Ambassador cars whereas ours use limousines costing billions.
Even Bangladesh’s Noble Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus could have advised better our spendthrifts to have planned to invest this colossal amount of Rs42 billion in some public-oriented purpose programme to reduce joblessness by providing employment to the youth.
This huge sum could have been disbursed to open polytechnic institutes or refurbish the existing polytechnic institutes losing teaching capabilities because of paucity of funds. There should be a dissenting voice of the people through the media to ask the government to scrap this black scheme in order not to squander the state’s money.
GHEEWALA
Karachi
THE secretary of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF), in a statement a few days ago, has blamed lack of facilities for the sharp downward trend in hockey standard, all the hockey playing centres are equipped with a synthetic turf though.
Sports administrators should do some soul-searching for the current sports affairs rather than blaming the proverbial ‘tairra aangan’. It is the ineffective and inactive administrators who are responsible for the poor state of sports affairs which has been amply proved in the recently-concluded Asian Games at Doha.
Things will not improve unless these joyriders come out of their cosy retiring rooms and go out and dirty their shoes to look for unexplored talent available in schools and colleges.
Administrators have to prove their credentials and existence or else make way for others who have a passion for the improvement and promotion of sports in the country.
Should not the Senate Committee on Sports enlarge its sphere of interest to include other sports also rather than concentrating on hockey and cricket only.
By the way, is the sports policy launched with a fanfare being implemented?
KHAN A. SHAMSHAD
Karachi
THE report regarding ‘Mangroves disappearing off Shamspir Island’ (Metropolitan, Dec 15) is extremely disgusting. The question is: when these forests are protected under the law, why are law-enforcers helpless against those who are perpetrating such heinous crime against society?
When local authorities are asserting day and night to transform the metropolis into a most modern city of the country, their apathy towards protecting this fast vanishing coastal asset from the seashore of Karachi at the hands of ravenous traders for petty gain, despite an incessant hue and cry appearing in the print media, is incomprehensible.
As if the unbridled encroachment of the builder mafia on the coastline and discharge of untreated industrial effluent into the sea were not enough that the local traders, encouraged by indifference of the authorities, after axing the trees are brazenly selling these to the people for use as firewood to warm their houses. The latest disclosure, coupled with indifference on the part of the general public and lip-service of the authorities to devastation of nature’s most precious gift, has sent shivers down the spine. It is rightly suggested that mangroves are safety valves for harbour and hatcheries of various marine food species, from export of which the country earns billions of rupees.
Besides, these trees are nature’s purification plant that do not only provide oxygen, thereby working as lungs of environment but also work as a barricade against the high tides. Up till now if Karachi has remained untouched by hurricanes and tsunamis, it is because of these coastal forests. But the way seashore is being systematically denuded of this natural forest cover, the city will be very soon exposed to extremely perilous condition. Before it is too late, the authorities should wake up and declare cutting mangrove trees a heinous crime and take stern action against those who are indulging in such nefarious activities. The Sindh Coastal Development Authority should also be involved for not only help playing vigilante but for preparing a long-term comprehensive plan so as to replenish the lost mangroves in the shortest possible time.
ALTAMASH M. KURESHI
Karachi
PROF Abdul Ghani Siddiqi’s letter captioned ‘Army man as VC’ (Nov 21) seeks to give an impression as if I had a personal grudge against the vice-chancellor of Sindh University, a charge that is absolutely incorrect. I criticise merely his style of management and the policies he pursues. It is my democratic right to hold such views and express them.
I have written time and again that the VC, because of his non-academic background, is vulnerable to the machinations of intriguers, including ‘five internal members’ of the syndicate. Since these syndicate members are part of the faculty, they ought to protect and promote the interests of the teaching community as a whole.
But, regrettably, they do the opposite. They hold additional charges and pay scant attention to teaching and research responsibilities. They persecute their critics by misusing their position in the syndicate.
In October 2004, I was among those four people who were charge-sheeted for bringing the university into disrepute when we, in an open letter, took a view that because of the attitude of this group of teachers the university’s standards have fallen.
A four-member inquiry committee composed of retired persons from outside the campus was constituted. In order to please “these syndicate members”, in June the VC took an extra-legal action by serving upon us a second charge-sheet.
The purpose of establishing this inquiry committee seems to be to seek our dismissal from the university. Because of persistent mismanagement and victimisation of the faculty, in its latest ranking the Higher Education Commission has allotted a lower status to the university.
DR MEHTAB ALI SHAH
Sindh University, Jamshoro
THE Supreme Judicial Council of Saudia Arabia announced the first day of the lunar month Zilhaj to be on Dec 21 and as such Haj will be performed on Dec 29 which will make it a Haj-i-Akbar. But, alas, not so in Pakistan where the Zilhaj moon was not sighted even on Dec 21 and as such our Haj is likely to fall on Dec 31.
Strange as it may seem while the actual Haj performed in Makkah will be Haj-i-Akbar, we in Pakistan will be celebrating an ordinary Haj. Could some religious authority kindly explain it to me why it is so, because I think Haj is a Haj and cannot not be performed anywhere in the world except in Makkah?
COL( r) RIAZ JAFRI
Rawalpindi
I refer to Anshu Dewan’s letter (Dawn, Dec17) concerning the two-nation theory. It is astonishing that even more than half a century after the division of India many Indian nationals remain obsessed by the idea of disproving the two-nation theory.
They seem to overlook the fact that more than one nation can inhabit a state provided there is the necessary goodwill. The United Kingdom is an example. Three nations, Welsh, Irish and Scots, live in harmony with the English.
The Muslim League had accepted in good faith the Cabinet Mission plan of May 16 which preserved Indian unity. It is for the Indians to decide why it was torpedoed and by whom.
The continuous harping on the supposed falsity of the two-nation theory has given strength to Hindutva parties like the RSS, BJP, Bajrang Dal and the VHP which make a mockery of Indian secularism.
BIRJIS HASAN KHAN
Karachi
THIS relates to your report, ‘Musharraf ahead of Benazir , Nawaz in popularity poll’ (Dec 16).
That a nation of 150 million people cannot find leaders other than those who have repeatedly failed is most alarming. Some of these have been unceremoniously removed from office and are absconding in a variety of serious corruption cases, a number of which stand proved, while others have brought the country to the point of disintegration, submerging it in a variety of evils.
As a consequence, the country is caught in a whirlpool of uncontrolled lawlessness, seemingly licensed corruption, escalating poverty, unemployment and prices, while all official institutions, most notably the municipal services, have imploded.
If the people have not learnt from their mistakes, how can they expect the politicians to do so? It is, therefore, not surprising that some of the most notorious criminals are not in jails but in government houses.
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru said that Pakistan was an impossible proposition. Although by no means in the same league, I say that if in the next elections new, honourable, clean, educated and capable leadership is not brought forth, the country is doomed.
SARDAR MUMTAZ ALI BHUTTO
Karachi
IN his ‘The spoils of war’ (Dec 20) Khawaja Shamaas states that Lebanon has hosted millions of Palestinians since 1948 without any complaint. He is wrong on all counts.
According to Wikipedia, there are approximately 711,000 Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. They are barred from practising most professions, including law, medicine and engineering.
The restrictions have become increasingly onerous since the 60s, and eventually culminated in the massacres at Sabra and Shatila at the hands of Lebanese militias.
Despite perpetual criticism from the likes of Mr Shamaas, Pakistan’s example of opening its doors to millions of refugees, including the ingrate Karzai, for three decades is unprecedented.
SAAD GUL
Winston Salem, USA
THIS is a frustrated letter to the people of Karachi from a son residing in the US. My mother was robbed in daylight on a very busy street in Karachi. Two young boys on a motorcycle held my mother at gunpoint and one of them sat inside her car on the passenger seat. He went through her purse while keeping a gun pointed towards her and went away with all the cash while leaving my mother trembling in terror.
Is this the Karachi I’m looking forward to visiting after years of living abroad? This is what prevents highly trained professionals from thinking about coming back to Pakistan. I hope that somehow something will change.
SYED ARMAN RAZA
Virginia, USA
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