| January 11, 2007 | Thursday | Zilhaj 20, 1427 |
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Pakistanis abroad
Afghan outburst
Urdu-Hindi war & India-Pakistan peace
Housing scheme
The fight against corruption
Hunting the bustards
A plea for help
Joy of being a Karachiite
Alumni associations
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
ONE is surprised to read a Dawn headline, ‘Minister is always right’ (Dec 29). On going through the report, one comes to the reason for this.
According to he report, the minister, who had approved certain CDA projects as interior minister, is now in charge of the Pakistan Environment Protection Agency (PEPA), which is opposing these projects.
These include installation of chairlift from the Japanese Park to Daman-i-Koh, construction of 7th Avenue, construction of 9th Avenue, Construction of underpasses at Jinnah Avenue, remodelling of Fatima Jinnah Park, water sports at Rawal Lake, Arts and Crafts Village at Saidpur, Promenade at Rawal Lake and widening of many roads.
It may be of interest to know that the CDA, which is pursuing these and other projects
in Islamabad, has now a chairman who was once PEPA chief in Punjab.
There are other projects which, though considered environmental hazards, are being undertaken. These include establishment of GHQ at the National Park area where any sort of construction is prohibited; construction of National Monument at Shakarparian for which a cliff at the Zero Point area has been cut disturbing the flora and fauna of the area; running of crushers at Margalla Hills which have been destroying the hill range for over two decades; opening of an international fast food chain at the Fatima Jinnah Park.
All these and lack of a proper system for disposal of waste coming from foreign missions in the diplomatic enclave and spilling into the Rawal Lake, the major source of drinking water for over 2.5 million population of Rawalpindi, are a source of great environmental concern.
The CDA has already axed 20,000 trees in the last three years, saying it did so mainly to prevent pollen allergy. But it is learnt that roads are being constructed and any obstructing green belt has to be removed. Some circles think that construction of a proper road network is one of the best ways to reduce pollution.
A World Bank study estimates 22,000 deaths annually in Pakistan due to the presence of air particulates in the atmosphere that damage the respiratory system. Casualty figures have been disputed by PEPA but no one questions the fact that air pollution is a serious health hazard and vehicular traffic plying on roads is a major cause of it.
Trees help greatly in preventing pollution but they take long in growing. In the developed world, tree felling is considered a crime and when perusing development activity, it is ensured that felling of trees is avoided. It is unfortunate that we do not look after trees — not only in cities, towns and villages but also in forests. If our development and environment protection agencies will not give much thought to protecting trees, who else will do it.
Hills and rocks are nature’s gifts. These beautify our landscape and provide flora and fauna which protect environment. Lakes provide lifeline for the supply of water, hence any spilling of waste in these lakes must be avoided as this water is being used for drinking purposes also by a big segment of our population. We should find other ways of disposing of our wastes.
The issues are clear. It is understood that a joint strategy is proposed to be evolved by the CDA and PEPA to find solutions to these issues. There is no point in evolving a joint strategy. There is no room for any compromises as far as protection of environment is concerned. If one may, it is urged that the minister who now wears a new hat and has the responsibility for ensuring protection of environment should forget that he once approved some projects of the CDA. This is a big responsibility. He should objectively reassess all the projects listed above and submit his report giving his recommendations to the prime minister for further action in this matter. Even if the minister finds he was wrong in approving some projects initially, he should not worry. In fact, he will get praise for taking an objective view of the matter. This is a part of the democratic order.
It is suggested that the CDA should also carry out a fresh review of the projects in order to avoid environmental hazards.
MOHAMMED ANWAR KHAN
Karachi
THIS is in response to a letter (Jan 9) titled ‘Pakistanis abroad’. The writer asks Pakistanis living abroad to either stop writing worrisome letters from overseas or come back. I feel that we Pakistanis have some complex and mutually exclusive method of analysis. Although knowing that we have certain problems, we bring in the issue of image and discourage open dialogue which is essential for a vibrant civil society and democratic sensibility.
Perhaps, at a certain level, we don’t want Manto and Freud who have had the courage to help people see themselves in the mirror. The Pakistanis who go abroad can at least speak without fear of losing jobs and stakes in Pakistan and sing in unison with the oppressed and excluded segments of society.
Almost everyone who is an ordinary citizen knows for a fact that governance is one of the most important issues which have ruined lives of countless people in Pakistan.
We are unaware at a mass-scale level because mostly the agony and pain affects the individual and the individuals mostly do not have the required political clout to raise voices. Governance — be it administration or dispensation of justice, or be it a design for social welfare and protection — is not working well in Pakistan and we should accept that.
If we accept this reality, only then we can move towards a better future. It is thus not the question of either stop writing or coming back to Pakistan to solve its problems, it is the question of how much space we are willing to give to the individuals who disagree with the dominant minority. My understanding is that, to a certain extent, being out of Pakistan is an opportunity for people to say something which they want to say without any fear of social, political or administrative persecution. I say this because I also want to write and say many things about the level of extortions in our administrative set-ups but for the fear of persecution I don’t voice my opinions.
I cannot trust the protection and tolerance level of the prevalent social and public system in Pakistan to protect the voices of disagreement. Even at the level at which I work, if I mention the rules and regulations my employment is threatened by very high-level public servants. “There are no rules in Pakistan”, they say, “and do what we want you to do.”
A PAKISTANI
Islamabad
THE recent outburst of Afghan President Hamid Karzai during the Pakistan prime minister’s visit was both insulting and demeaning to all Pakistanis. Despite my desire to see a return to a functioning democracy in Pakistan, I accept that the current leaders of Pakistan do represent the nation on the world stage.
Why on earth could our diplomats in Kabul or the foreign office in Islamabad not have appraised the relevant authorities to avoid travelling to Kabul? As a layman I would expect that preliminary negotiations and discussions are held between government functionaries over specific plans which are then solidified during high-level visits.
We have witnessed a steady stream of vitriol coming from Afghan authorities over the last few months. It is clearly understood that the Afghan authorities prefer to blame Pakistan for their own ineptitude and internal problems. This being the case, why does the Pakistani nation allow itself to be abused in such a manner?
MOHAMMED ELAHI
Brampton, Canada
IT is very distressing to read comments made by the Afghan president about Pakistan. It makes one feel even worse knowing that Pakistan has done so much for the average people from Afghanistan.
I think we in Pakistan have to raise our standards above our Muslim neighbour country, and deal with them with respect. As much as it seems like a simple solution to mine our border with Afghanistan, it would be better if we as a country sat down and thought of other ways to address this.
Mining the border will only make our relationship with Afghanistan worse. I am not opposed to any options, but we need to sit down with a democratic mindset and then do what’s best for us, not just today but also for tomorrow.
RUBINA QAIMKHANI PPP MNA
Islamabad
A recent review by Dr Rauf Parekh of my book Urdu/Hindi: An Artificial Divide (Books & Authors, Dec 31) has very clearly brought out the modern western ideas of origin of languages by evolution from Africa and their refinement and dispersal by the neolithic farmers of the Middle East/Mesopotamia some 12,000 years ago.
These languages were later given new names, that is, Arabic, Sanskrit, Latin, Dravidian, etc. The creation of the linguistic races of Noah, that is, Aryans/Indo-European and Semites was a well-known political game for the new crusades or the clash of civilisations.
The book, as per Dr Parekh’s comments, elaborates the origin of Hindi or Urdu (one language) from the ancient farmers of the Middle East who migrated to India about 10,000 years ago. This has been documented by the famous Pakistani professor, A.H. Dani, a few years ago. My book has essentially provided the core evidence for the genetic brotherhood of the Indo-Pakistani people.
It also connects all the substrates of Urdu/Hindi, namely, Austric-Munda of Bihar-central India-Pacific islanders, Dravidian, Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian to the Middle East farmers; and also traces the origin of the scripts from there.
Thus the India-Pakistan peace process has some basic stuff to absorb. Educated elites need to take a serious look at the mythical origin of Sanskrit presumed to be the mother of all languages — a belief similar to the biblical status of Hebrew as the ‘mother’ through the Adam and Eve concept, with a total life span of about 5,800 years.
A clear message that languages evolved rather than were revealed will basically cement all regions and people of South Asia.
ABDUL JAMIL KHAN
Jericho, NY
IN the Beach Avenue Housing Scheme, Hawkesbay, apartments meant for the public have been cancelled through issuance of undue, excessive and illegal notices for payments. Many innocent people who had booked these apartments in 1998 were deprived of their rights.
I had booked one such apartment which was also cancelled. When I pursued the matter, I was verbally told that the apartment would be restored, but so far I have not received any restoration letter.
I request the relevant authorities to inquire into the matter.
MUSHTAQ AHMED
Karachi
APROPOS of ‘The fight against corruption’ (Dec 30), the Helpline should know that the ombudsman’s office is very much there to stem corruption. The federal tax ombudsman (FTO) is vested with powers to investigate cases of graft and wilful harassment by revenue officers and look into complaints where CBR bureaucrats indulge in intimidating, blackmailing, bargaining and attempting to cut deals with businessmen at large.
But then which department executes decrees of the ombudsman and the law, justice and human rights division that are being flaunted by officials, despite the penalties of contempt as specified under Section 11(2) as specified in the Ombudsman Ordinance. The question is: who is to guard the guardians when they work in tandem?
Among the cases warranted for implementation, left hanging fire is my Complaint No. C-1183/2003 before the FTO. Brought to the FTO’s attention that I had been most wrongfully incriminated as one of the seven accused in Customs’ Case 97/97, read with FIR No. S/Misc/344/97-AIB of May 15, 1997, where the lessee of our terminal, namely Warehousing Systems, had allegedly removed 632 metric tons of palm oil bereft of deposit of import duty of Rs6,294,649.
Perjury is routine in revenue offices, nothing unusual to switch documents, papers in files. The examining officer concerned of the Customs Appraising Intelligence Bureau removed our Haji Dossa Ltd Bulk Terminal Bonding Licences PWL-139/88 to 143/98 of May 9, 1988, for the five tanks that provided renting of our facility. Instead a counterfeit single, undated bonding licence was placed in the prosecution file of the special custom court.
The said bogus bonding licence stated in small print that mandatory customs’ oil office permission was required to sublet the said five tanks that were being leased out for 33 years, since the inception of our terminal on Sept 4, 1964. The case against me was no case and I was declared innocent, by the customs court on Feb 20, 2003. Delaying tactics took six years for my acquittal by a special customs court (SCC) from the date I was railroaded, rounded, without a show-cause or any intimation in the FIR of May 15, 1997.
The SHC appellate bench confirmed the order on Oct 31, 2003, so also did the collector of customs, sales tax and excise (Appeal 1), who affirmed vide his order in Appeal No. 91, dated Feb 28, 2006 that customs could not deviate from the findings of the SCC and the SHC appellate bench judgment.
To take the customs’ case 97/97 to its logical conclusion, customs were instructed to remove the leftover palm oil, sealed on May 15, 1997, from our tank # 4, vide ombudsman order of March 24, 2004 and again in the proceedings of July 27, 2006, in the FTO office, Karachi.
Hearings were attended by collector of customs (preventives) to which he gave his concurrence. However, five months have elapsed. Customs are adamant to implement the said orders of the ombudsman contending that customs were a law unto themselves. Much ado about nothing. Spanners are thrown in the works, for self-serving ulterior motives, in their hesitancy to remove the oil from our tank # 4, to which the collector of customs agreed in writing before the FTO.
The Helpline should know that even the ombudsman verdicts are ignored. So how is corruption that is hampering expatriate and foreign investments going to be got rid of?
MOHAMMED AZIZ HAJI DOSSA
Karachi
I WAS alarmed and disturbed to learn that sheiks visiting our country have been granted permits by the prime minister to hunt the endangered bustard species in Pakistan.
The potential eradication of a species, particularly at a time when the world’s biodiversity and carrying capacity are plummeting at an unprecedented rate, is too high a price to pay for the entertainment or profit of a few dozen sheiks. Each sheik has been granted the authority to hunt up to 200 bustards.
It is my hope that my concerns and the concerns of others will be heard, and serve as “drops in the bucket” filled with disapproval and concern over the hunting of bustards. If nothing else, I wish for my voice to be counted among those in opposition to the hunting and killing of this (and other) endangered species. May the world’s bounty of life and biological diversity persist for many generations to come so that our children and grandchildren can witness for themselves that which so many of us take for granted today.
BENJAMIN JOYNES
USA
THIS is with reference to the article (Jan 7) titled ‘Tribesmen to hand over daughter to rival’. I would like to bring to everyone’s attention that this is a plea for help.
We have to realise that as we are progressing into the 21st century, most of the country is still living in a world of their own where the actual year is not 2007 but rather the 15th or 16th century. The women are being handed over like common cattle to settle a dispute.
I hope that I am not the only person who was offended by reading that such things are occurring in our so-called progressing nation. Is progress solely dependent on the formation of industries and how minimal the clothes are getting or the treatment of people in the country?
The really sad part is that no one is willing to do anything about it and if the brother of the girl was courageous enough to take a very daring first step to help his 16-year-old sister, we should try and help them out.
Would you like it if your daughter was given over against their will and even resorted to suicide if they are treated that way?
Now the question is: will someone with the power help this poor girl or not?
KANZA N. ANSARI
Karachi
I WAS surprised on the reaction Mr Fida Ali displayed (Jan 5) to the ‘Our Karachi’ festival. It seems that the entire concept of the ‘Our Karachi’ festival has escaped him entirely. While I agree that Karachi has never been as dirty or full of pot-holes as it is today, and there are two major reasons for this: (i) the government’s apathy and (ii) lack of pride and ownership on behalf of the citizens.
Our Karachi festival is to remind us of our wonderful heritage, of times when streets were cleaned daily and the citizens roamed free of anxiety. It is to bring back the feeling of pride to our ‘city of lights’. It is to change our attitude toward Karachi and give us all back -– the government and the citizens alike -– the ownership, the pride and the sheer joy of being a Karachiite.
By the way it was quite clear to anyone reading the announcement of the festival that the source of funds were through private sponsorships. The government and the citizens are finally working together to revive Karachi.
Undoubtedly much work needs to be done to resurrect the former glory of Karachi. However, while Mr Fida Ali wants to hang his head down and do it, I would rather raise my head proudly while I work and celebrate our wonderful, colourful and vibrant Karachi.
A PROUD KARACHIITE
Karachi
THIS refers to the article by Prof Anwar Saeed (Dec 31) in which he elaborated on the association of alumni of the University of Karachi. In it he writes that very few universities in Pakistan have their alumni organised into associations. He is not far wrong.
However, I wish to put it on record that the University of Peshawar inaugurated the formation of its alumni association on Dec 14 at Peshawar. Dr Abdul Matin, former vice-chancellor of the university, was selected as its president for the formative period and Dr Adnan Sarwar Khan, chairman of the department of international relations, as the secretary.
On the day of the inauguration about 30 members opted to join the association. But it is hoped that the number will rise since the university, founded in 1950, has tens of thousands of alumni. They all are welcome to join.
TARIQ MAHMOOD
Peshawar
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