| January 04, 2007 | Thursday | Zilhaj 13, 1427 |
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Master Plan 2020: can it deliver?
Musharraf beyond 2007
ATMs: convenient but unsafe
Burney Road
Will 2007 be any better?
The border crossed them
Jinnah and some liberals
Costly medicines
Rising milk prices
Muslim League celebration
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 REFER to the photograph published on the front page (Dec 29) of a young boy being beaten up by half a dozen members of the police. The young boy, Mohammad bin Masood, doesn’t look like he is more than 19. He doesn’t look like he can believe this is the price of protesting his father’s disappearance at the hands of the regime. With one hand he is fending off the blows from the policeman’s baton, with another he is wrestling away the other policemen tearing at his shirt. His spectacles have fallen off his nose. His shalwar has been torn by the law-enforcement agents. Yet Masood and his flagellating sister have more dignity than this regime could muster in a lifetime.
The story is headlined ‘Relatives of the missing beaten up’ and bravely reports that hundreds of family members of missing persons were badly beaten up. Their guilt is that they tried to peacefully march to the GHQ to present a memorandum to the Vice Chief of Army Staff. Is this the ‘real democracy’ and ‘enlightened moderation’ promised to us in 1999?
Mohammad bin Masood reminds me of Sadaat Hasan Manto’s Ustad Mangu. “The constables took Ustad Mangu to the police station. On the way and at the police station, he kept yelling ‘the new constitution…the new constitution’. But no one understood what he was referring to. What you are shouting about…what new laws and rights you are shouting about…the laws are the same old ones… And Ustad Mangu was locked up in a cell.” (Saadat Hasan Manto, New Constitution).
ZAHID F. EBRAHIM
Karachi
THE way Rawalpindi police manhandled a young man who was just exercising his constitutional right to peaceful protest sent a wave of shock through every thinking soul in Pakistan.
I am reminded of a statement by British prime minister Winston Churchill. When a British general told him that they were losing the war (World War II), Churchill asked him whether the courts of the country were dispensing justice to ordinary people. The general’s response was yes. Churchill then assured him that they would not lose the war. And the rest is history.
The moral lesson is that a country that upholds justice and human dignity always enjoys a high status in the comity of nations; it always comes out of difficulties as triumphant. But, alas, we are shrouded in obscurity. We are Muslims but Islam is not found anywhere in our country. Had I been the head of Rawalpindi police, I would have resigned to concede my failure. Oh sorry, that too does not happen in Pakistan.
ASAD ALI SHAIKH
Karachi
SECTION 355 of the Pakistan Penal Code states: “ Whoever assaults or uses criminal force on any person, intending thereby to dishonour that person, otherwise than on grave and sudden provocation, is liable to punishment extending up to two years in prison.”
Then how dare law-enforcers themselves break this law, when they publicly harassed Mohammad bin Masood? And to think the DSP behind this will be awarded the Tamgha-i-Imtiaz on March 23; and to think that NAB celebrated anti-corruption day on Dec 9. The government has made a mockery of itself yet again. Nevertheless, these officers must not go unpunished. If they do, it will antagonise an already frustrated nation.
AMMARA SALAHUDDIN
Karachi
THIS has reference to the news item entitled ‘Master Plan 2020: can it deliver?’ (Dec 31). This comments start as follows: “The consultants and the city government officials giving a presentation on the proposed Master Plan 2020 had a difficult time satisfying an audience that was technically sound and raised specific questions regarding different subjects and the areas that have been left out of the planning process or purposely neglected…”
This gives a clear-cut indication that the people living in the area are knowledgeable and, therefore, understand what is good or bad for them. Thus stakeholders who are the beneficiaries are the real judge and need to be thoroughly consulted, before dumping such colossal amount. I do not find any justification to skip this important process of consultation and assessing the real need of the people. Almost all the developed and developing countries have a law on land, on land use and land development. In England it is known as ‘Town and Country Planning Law’ and in the US it is called ‘City and Regional Planning Law’. More important than the master plan itself are the following questions that need to be addressed by an appropriate law:
a. Who prepares the master plan?
b. How are the master plans approved?
c. Who approves the master plan?
d. How are the master plans implemented?
e. Who implements the master plan?
f. How is the implementation of the master plan funded and done?
g. How and who provides funding?
In Pakistan, regrettably, town planning profession can never get its right place. In this case also, for the preparation of the master plan an engineering firm was selected for this town planning professional job but, as a matter of fact, vide the Pakistan Council of Architects and Town Planners, only the town planners are eligible for preparation of the master plan. I would, therefore, appeal to the PCATP chairman and draw the attention of the provincial ombudsman towards this serious neglect.
Again, as per international town planning practice, the preparation of the master plan shall be attempted in totality and not in piecemeal. Such that it may result in a comprehensive plan, within an administrative unit and that all the activities are coordinated with other activities in the city and then coordinated with similar activities at the provincial level. And that nothing shall be attempted in isolation of other development activities.
A thorough evaluation with the stakeholders is a must for this. The master plan is normally printed and hung in all the offices of the city nazim and town committees. And seminars and public hearings are arranged so that the entire population living in the area knows the development activities.
As per the Council of Architects and Town Planners, the preparation of a master plan is a professional job and, as such, only the town planners registered with the Council of Architect and Town Planners are eligible to work and give their opinion on a master plan.
AFTAB MUHAMMAD KHAN
Town Planner & architect
Karachi
THIS refers to your editorial (Dec 11) on the subject which rightly concludes that “if the powers that be have already scheme such an absurdity and the next assembly will fulfil the task assigned to them, then election 2007 will be an exercise in futility designed merely to provide a democratic façade to a military-led set-up.”
It is a fact that the general and ruling elites cannot afford ‘free and fair’ election, and election-2007 shall never be as such The general seized power in a coup, had himself elected as president in a referendum. To provide a democratic façade to the army rule, feudal-army nexus was formed and a political party contrived -– PML-Q (Pir Pagara said that the ruling PML-Q is a band of swindlers (Dawn, July 15 July). Majority in the National Assembly is achieved by taking in the MQM — a party which ideologically differs — both with the government and the opposition (as stated by one of their leaders (Dawn, Aug 29).
‘Democratic façade’ thus provided to the army rule is too costly for the poor country. Assemblies are packed with self-seekers. To be in assemblies/senate is a lucrative job. Self-serving rulers are unable to deliver. There is chaos everywhere. The government’s writ is not operating fully anywhere. The ruling class is above the law and beyond the reach of NAB. Several mafias have merged.
Industrialists have formed cartels and selling their products at their prices and terms/conditions. Sugar mill owners are an example. Prices have gone beyond the reach of the common people.
Feudal lords/zamindars have enslaved the poor. There are bonded labour camps, private jails and private armies. The government is looking the other way due to political expediency.
A situation like East Pakistan in 1971 is emerging. It is time to throw away the democratic façade. The army-federal nexus should be broken. If not, the nexus would break the country. The general may become a pure (benevolent) dictator and demolish all the fortresses of exploitation. The elections held only under such a situation shall be free and fair, and a true leadership would emerge. The general then should go back to the barracks. He shall ever be remembered by the generations as saviour of Pakistan like Ata-Turk.
ABDUL SAMAD KHAN
Karachi
DRAWING money at any time of the day or night from the ATM is undoubtedly a convenience but can often be hazardous. ATM users are sometimes robbed at gunpoint by dacoits keeping an eye on those entering the booths. But I am one of those rare victims who were robbed in the presence of the guards in a bank. The tragedy struck on Dec 29 at 11am on the 26th Street branch of a foreign bank.
The ATM machine is placed between the glass doors and the grilled shutter, which is pulled down after the banking hours. The guards were inside the grilled shutter and instead of, at least one of them, remaining close to the grilled door as per the bank’s instructions, they were behind a partition. When they heard the noise, they did make a customary appearance but only when they saw the robber leaving the premises. The bank management claims that technically the small area between the main door and the grilled shutter is outside the bank premises and that the guards are there for the security of the bank and not the ATM users.
That the dacoit felt ‘safe’ in the presence of the guard is borne out by the fact that he didn’t wait until I stepped out into the street, when he could have robbed me of my cellphone also.
The next morning when I phoned the leading security agency to complain that at best their two guards were negligent and at worst they were accomplices, I was rudely told by an official from the agency that they don’t deal with individuals. They deal only with their clients.
One often hears of security guards falling asleep, while supposedly performing night duty. To be fair to them they should be given eight-hour shifts instead of 12-hour. For the moment one wonders whether to call their organisations security agencies or insecurity agencies.
ASIF NOORANI
Karachi
BURNEY Road, Garhi Shahu, Lahore, is a very busy road catering to all kinds of traffic, businesses, shops and homes. It has been in a terrible and totally broken condition for the last many months. Now it also has two open manholes which are highly dangerous; someone could fall to death at any time.
No elected representative, area MNA Ayaz Sadiq, MPA Alem Khan, who is also a provincial minister, nor indeed the local councillor is doing anything to have this road road repaired and the manholes covered despite repeated requests. On behalf of the residents, the authorities concerned are requested to order the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Burney Road immediately.
RANA HANIF
Lahore
THE fact that none of my eight wishes for the year 2006 came true, puts me way down on the ‘reality check’ rating. Will the year 2007 be any better? I am carrying forward my 2006 list with only three more additions for 2007.
— That the ghosts will go away, and the teachers return to the 32,000 closed schools of Pakistan.
— That the Supreme Court will finally and justly conclude the Mukhtaran Mai case and the chief justice will apologise for the delay?
— That the government of Pakistan will change its discriminatory policy of awarding 20 extra marks to those who are Hafiz-i-Quran for admission to professional colleges. The Christian girl Qandeel (who possibly could not become a Hafiz-i-Quran) was denied admission to King Edward Medical University, will find both justice and a seat in the medical college .
— That Karachi will finally discover the layout of all its water, sewerage, telephone, electrical and gas pipelines.
— That Pakistan will replace its archaic ‘patwari’ system by accurate GIS-based land maps.
— That the new Murree project will be shelved and the GHQ will stay put where it always has been.
— That the government will set up rape crisis centres in every city of Pakistan to provide one-window police reporting, medical examination and support to rape survivors.
— That the government will publicly explain how it managed to blow up the $350 million ‘access to justice’ loan, without making justice anymore accessible for the ordinary citizens.
— That the government will refuse the new $510 million ADB loan for renewable energy in Pakistan, and still do the project with its own thinking, people and resources.
— That the government will refuse the $6.5 billion World Bank loan, proclaimed as the largest single award ever by the bank to Pakistan.
And, finally, if Pakistan decides to do away with its obsessive begging disorder and, once for all, retires its over $37 billion foreign debt, the year 2007 may indeed be a very Happy New Year to look forward to.
NAEEM SADIQ
Karachi
A GOVERNMENT spokesperson recently said that Afghan children born in Pakistan would not be eligible for Pakistani citizenship. I find it deplorable because it is against the laws of common decency and the idealised concept of Pakistan. I also think it is against Pakistan’s long-term interest. If new genes are not welcomed, Pakistan will stagnate.
Let us remember it is not the Afghans who crossed the border; it is the border that crossed them. Hark back to Mexicans in the US: children born of Mexican parents are legally US citizens. Remember the case of the Mexican woman who managed to get inside the fence and delivered a child who was immediately accorded a welcome by the border patrol as a US citizen. Being born in the US is a huge thing. Being born in Pakistan should be accorded the same rights and dignity; it goes well with the ethos and spirit of Pakistani nationhood.
TARIQ K. SAMI
Fort Wayne, USA
I AGREE with Osama Mustafa (letter, Dec 27) that we should always present a balanced view of history. I think facts should neither be distorted nor suppressed. It is, therefore, unfortunate that he himself ends up doing exactly that.
When we state the fact that “Iqbal and Jinnah both belonged to the middle class”, we should not fail to state that the same was true of Gandhi and many other prominent personalities of the All-India Congress Party. Also, his assertion that “the Congress Party represented industrialist/capitalist elites among which there were hardly any Muslims” is contrary to facts.
The Congress Party was quite broad-based and included members of the “scheduled castes” as well as Muslims such as Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Maulana Husain Ahmad Madani and the Kidwai brothers to name just a few. Perhaps it did not have any Muslim elites. Most of them such as Nawabzada Liaquat Ali Khan, the Nawab of Dhaka, Raja Saheb Mahmoodabad, the Agha Khan, the feudal lords of Sind and the Nizam of Hyderabad were either members or supporters of the Muslim League.
While the impact of the consequences of either party’s membership on the political outcome is open to interpretation, all facts should be stated and correctly. By distorting facts one risks inviting rejection even of the correct statements he or she may make.
MAJID
Cambridge, UK
THE price of medicines in Pakistan is exceptionally high. In fact, it is a complete rip-off on the part of pharmaceutical companies. Example: 10 tablets of Famid-40 are sold at Rs140.
Compared to this, 14 tablets of the same medicine which I recently brought from Bombay (India), known there as Famotine-forte, cost me Rs4.83. Add to this the 40 per cent exchange difference between our rupee and the Indian rupee, which works out to Pakistani Rs6.76 for 14 tablets.
Is it not rip-off, then what would you call it? I hope our government would immediately arrange to allow medicines to be imported freely under the agreement signed recently between the two governments to bring Pakistani pharmaceutical companies to their senses.
RAZA ALI DOSSA
Karachi
MUCH has been said in the press about the ‘rising milk prices’. Loose milk was sold in our area (Garden East) for Rs30 till Dec 9 and suddenly on Dec 10 the milk shop displayed a sign: ‘Loose milk @ Rs32 per litre’ (simultaneous increase in the price of curd was witnessed). Now on Jan 3 it was sold for Rs34 a litre. Muharram is only days away and milk demand rises considerably in this month. If the administration fails to control the price now, it is sure to rise to Rs38 in the month of Muharram.
The loose milk price is also conditioned by the tetrapack milk which rises after every fortnight.
The price of this milk has to be frozen to keep the loose milk price from rising. What a novel gift from the city administration for the year 2007. Hardly three days have lapsed and we have witnessed the first price hike of the New Year.
AKBAR MERCHANT
Karachi
YOUR supplement on ‘One hundred years of the Muslim League 1906-2006’ covers Muslims’ struggle for freedom in the Indian subcontinent under the All-India Muslim League very comprehensively. The coverage, however, very rightly finishes with creation of Pakistan on Aug 14, 1947. What we have seen since of the Muslim League is a shame to all. One wonders what are we celebrating under the banner of 100 years. The celebration of first 41 years ending in 1947 was and is appropriate; it resulted in giving the Muslims a separate homeland. Right title for your supplement is: ‘Celebrating first 41 years of the Muslim League 1906-1947’.
RAJA IRFAN NASR
Lahore
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