| January 24, 2007 | Wednesday | Muharram 04, 1428 |
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The irony of history
The inevitable change
A society dripping in racism
Road work at a snail’s pace
Sales tax
Putting Hitler in perspective
FCR: appeal to president
A good job
Nato forces
Races on the roads
Karachi festival
Condolences
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 AM thankful to Mr Najam Ali for his response ‘KSE and mutual funds’ (letter, Jan 21), whereby he offers the position of the Mutual Funds Association of Pakistan (MUFAP).
Mr Ali states that right shares were offered by fund managers not to increase their management fees but to create liquidity since significant shareholdings were frozen by the government as part of the privatisation scheme.
The facts belie his contention. I am sure that Mr Ali would not mind if I provide an example for illustrative purposes. The management rights of the 4th ICP Mutual Fund were transferred to the private sector in 2002-2003. At the close of the financial year June 2003 the fund had five million shares of Rs10 each as issued, subscribed and paid-up capital.
Within two years by June 2005 the paid-up capital had been increased by a whopping 490 per cent to 24.5 million shares, primarily through issue of right shares (135 per cent in 2003-2004 and another 100 per cent in 2004-2005). Consequently, the management fees increased from Rs5.5 million to Rs14.5 million.
Imagine the torment and agony faced by investors who had already invested their entire savings in such a fund. At the close of the year-ended June 2005 this fund had Rs295 million in the shape of cash as opposed to only Rs190.5 million worth of non-frozen shares held.
So much for liquidity needs. Furthermore, during the 2005 crisis this fund had disposed of its entire holding of fertiliser, cement and banking (with the exception of Askari Bank) shares.
The fund had also managed to dispose of its entire holding of the PTCL (7.5 million shares traded) and the OGDC (3.8 million shares traded) while individual investors were facing lower locks on a daily basis.
So much for high-powered committees and forensic experts who have been inquiring into the March 2005 crisis. An investigation into other funds will reveal similar stories and the relevant information is available in the public domain.
I am glad to hear from Mr Ali that the MUFAP is working with the SECP to protect the interest of investors whose rights have until now been blatantly abused.
KHALID KHAN
Lahore
IN his columns in the Sunday Magazine, Amar Jaleel continues to spin the facts to conclusions that are quite hard to extrapolate. His latest contention is - much in the Indira Gandhi fashion - that the creation of Bangladesh in 1971 brought to an end to Jinnah’s Pakistan (Jan 7).
Sadly neither he, nor Indira Gandhi before him, ever detected the irony of history in that statement.
In the closing stages of the Raj in 1947, Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, Sarat Chanderbose and Kiran Shankar Roy agreed to create an independent and united Bangladesh, which was sanctioned by none other than Quaid-i-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah. It was the Congress high command, namely Jawaharlal Nehru and Vallabhai Patel, that vetoed the idea and made a settlement wholly dependent on there being only one Pakistan.
The two-nation theory was not as much a statement of two nations in exclusion to all else, but just one of the many imagined identities that were a legitimate counter to the Congress’s one-nation dogma.
The united India could have only existed had it recognised the multinational character of India.
Thus the creation of Bangladesh was not a negation of Mr Jinnah’s Pakistan but rather a negation of Mr Nehru’s work in 1947.
It is, therefore, not without significance that Shaikh Mujibur Rahman based his entire movement on the Muslim League’s famous Lahore Resolution of 1940.
Thus Indira Gandhi unwittingly undid the work of her own father in 1971. I will advise Amar Jaleel to read the ‘Transfer of Power papers’, as well as H. M. Seervai’s Partition of India: Legend and Reality and Stanley Wolpert’s Shameful Flight .
None of these are works by a Pakistani, mind you.
YASSER LATIF HAMDANI
Islamabad
GROWING inflation and the widening of gap between haves and have-nots can no longer be ignored or brushed aside. History bears the testimony that whenever the masses have lost confidence in their rulers, it has resulted in a sudden upsurge in the streets against the same policies which they once backed.
Pakistan is again at the crossroads of the same inevitable change. Economic policies of the government, so devised, were required to deliver a trickledown effect to the poor, yet it is awaited even after seven years have passed.
Frankly speaking, we borrow ideas mostly of unpractical nature. This is the very reason that the National Reconstruction Bureau, that was assigned the charge of provincial restructuring, has lost its vigour due to extreme resistance from all the provinces.
The new local government system, better known for its intention to clip the financial and administrative authority of provincial government, has done nothing for the poor but has added more stakeholders in corruption.
The government, well drenched in fear of the revival of the old District Management Group (DMG) rule, gave very little or no powers to the price controllers. Hence the whole exercise has proved to be a complete fiasco.
On the one hand it is claimed that plenty of basic commodities are available at utility stores, but on the other they are unable to provide adequate service to the poor.
At this juncture, to provide immediate relief to the poor, the government should empower the officers concerned in letter and in spirit, while putting aside its phobia regarding the DMG rule.
Not only should adequate temporary stalls can be raised but the abandoned government infrastructure may also be used.
Let the dead assets be used for the betterment of poor people alone, otherwise they will not forget the extravagant expenditure on the referendum of the same ruler who claimed much but did little.
UZMA SALAHUDDIN
Karachi
APROPOS of the column ‘A society dripping in racism’ by Martin Jacques (Jan 22), it’s so disturbing to see how Indians across the country have leapt for the support of a celebrity, Shilpa Shetty, 31, who was nagged by British racist Jade Goody, 25, on a British reality TV show (Celebrity Big Brother).
Jade labelled Shilpa with racist comments like poppadom and unclean and is now fired from the show; but what about the upper castes (Brahmins, Rajputs and Kshatariyas) that nag 240 million Dalits as untouchables and consider them to be polluted even if they come across their shadow?
Last year thousands of Dalits (the untouchables) suffered protests and disrespect from Brahmins and other upper castes in India when the government implemented the quotas in government jobs and university admissions aimed at improving Dalit representation in the Indian social profile.
The developments of the news never hit the newspaper back, but Shilpa’s story has managed to become the talk of the town for every concerned Indian. In my opinion this is the time to swell the voice against the prevailing double standards.
TASNEEM ZAFAR FARIDI
Karachi
TALAGANG-Mianwali Road, about 100-km-long, was one of the best maintained roads in Punjab. It provides a vital link between north and south of Pakistan via Talagang.
Instead of improving the road compacted by decades of vehicular traffic, about two years ago the entire length of the road was dismantled and covered with crushed stones of pointed edges for vehicular traffic to compact it for the contractor at the cost of safety and comfort of the commuters with extra cost of fuel and possible damage to tyres.
The main contractor has sub-contracted to smaller contractors and the construction is going at a snail’s pace.
No one in authority seems to be interested in the plight of the commuters and the vehicle owners, and to question the costly road construction technique causing an untold misery to road users for an indefinite period.
The Punjab governor or the chief minister should constitute a fact-finding committee to report on Talagang-Mianwali Road to hasten its completion, and to recommend measures to improve road construction technique to minimise sufferings of the people living far away from big cities.
MALIK FATEH KHAN
Talagang
WHY the Department of Revenue Receipt Audit (DRRA), after initially conducting scrutiny of tax profile of commercial importers, selected each and every case for detailed audit is baffling.
Recently there is glut of such notices to tax-payers calling for records for the year 2005-06.
No adverse reason for selecting the case has been communicated. To spare tax-payers uncalled-for torturous audit process and harassment, trade bodies had agreed to pay additional value addition tax at 10 per cent at the import stage and the government exempted them from audit.
Why detailed audit now? If there is valid ground, DRRA is under legal obligation to communicate concrete, tangible and positive reasons with speaking order. In its absence, injudicious consideration appears to be the criterion
SAMEED
Karachi
IN his article ‘A prescription for Indians to seriously fight racism’ (Jan 22), Jawed Naqvi has written about the so-called idolisation that Hitler receives in India, especially from the proponents of the Hindutva ideology. But, while trying to analyse this particular fact, he seems to have completely misread the reasons.
Hitler is, if at all he is, idolised in India not because of his anti-Semitic and racist ideas but because of his abilities to galvanise a ravaged nation forced on its knees by an unjust treaty imposed upon it by victors who fancied themselves as the people chosen by Providence to plunder the so-called under-developed societies in the Orient and in other non-European lands.
The point to be noted is that India was under the colonial yoke when “Mein Kampf” first appeared in bookshops. Till that time, Britain had succeeded in perpetuating its image as an unbeatable international power whose empire was here to stay.
What attracted Indians to Hitler was not his hatred for the Jews and the horrific crimes that he committed against them but his abilities to convince the Germans that they were the best in the world and that the British power could be successfully challenged and that it deserved to be torn apart.
The way Germany rose from the ashes of the First World War, the way it successfully broke free from the Treaty of Versailles and the way it managed to resurrect a totally destroyed economy, while struggling to pay astronomical sums of money as war reparations, were nothing short of awe-inspiring when seen from the eyes of Indians suffocating under the British colonial rule.
To put things in perspective, it is important to recollect that in 1933 when Hitler came to power, Germany, like the rest of the world, was struggling to come to terms with the devastation caused by the Great economic depression of the late 20s and early 30s, besides it was straddled with the numerous other penalties imposed upon it by the allied powers.
In such an atmosphere, Hitler not only managed to revive the German economy but he also gave it enough strength to be able to stand up once again and within six years challenge the combined, formidable might of the British and French colonial empires.
And, who should be given credit for all that Germany achieved during those years? If Hitler is blamed for the evils associated with Nazism, then he must be credited for all the above-mentioned things.
To understand this further, take the example of the Hezbollah. For the western world, it is a monstrous entity that must be eliminated.
However, for the vast majority of Muslims it is nothing sort of a beacon of hope, a source that, through its heroic exploits in the battlefield, constantly reminds Muslims of the fact that America and its shadow in the Middle East, namely Israel, can be successfully challenged. If Hezbollah or other militant outfits in Palestine are to be blamed for the various suicide bombings and for causing civilian deaths, then they must also be given credit for the above-mentioned things.
SIDHARTH SHANKAR
Chennai, India
We appeal to the president it is time he amended or cancelled the Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR) as it is a black law. It is a due demand of all tribesmen of Pakistan living in Fata who are as sincere and patriotic as those living in settled areas.
It is unfortunate that the FCR has turned tribesmen into rebels. The president should cancel or amend the FCR and let the tribesmen take part in national development, progress, integrity and prosperity.
A CSP officer can sentence an innocent tribesman to 50 years’ imprisonment without any trial, which is unfair and in violation of human rights as well as against the Constitution.
An important geographical area of Pakistan, with high rate of poverty, illiteracy, no justice, no law and order, poor health and weak social institutions, no opportunities as there is no industry and no development, the Federally-Administered Tribal Areas are run by a few political agents who have legislative, executive and judicial powers in one hand.
These political agents are modern monarchs having two tools: one is the FCR and the second they can impose any unpopular personality as Malik or Mashar.
RIAZ ALI TOORI
Parachinar
ACCORDING to a news report in Dawn (Jan 15), the government has slashed petrol and diesel prices by 6.93 and 2.66 per cent that is by Rs4 and Rs1.03 per litre respectively. This action taken by the government is highly commendable.
The petroleum prices were last reduced in March 2004 but that also only within a range of 5-10 paisa per litre. Since then, the prices staged a steady increase.
Previously, when the petrol prices increased, the transporters made a hue and cry and pressurised the government to increase the fares in the year 2006.
When the transport fares were increased, it resulted in price escalation of all the daily commodities which made life miserable for the common salaried class.
With the reduction in the prices of petrol and diesel the government should take concrete steps to lower the transport fares and the prices of daily items.
Honest efforts by the government and the NGOs would surely relieve the salaried class and also the poor alike.
ASMA SIDDIQUI
Karachi
I HAVE just learnt that Nato forces have yet again attacked and killed people in Waziristan. There is the usual statement by ministers saying that any violation of the Pakistan territory is not acceptable.
How is the government going to ensure that? If it were India violating Pakistan’s airspace, there would be PAF planes up in air. What is happening? Why is the government so impotent?
ZAKA SHEIKH
United Kingdom
THIS is with reference to Mr Ali Ahmed’s letter ‘Death toll rises by one more’ (Jan 20) about a man whose valima was to take place being hit by a speeding bus. He has very rightly criticised the token system and amply highlighted how the self-made token system works.
The reason behind such accidents is that drivers tend to race with other buses. I experienced it myself when I was taking a bus to my university.
At one stop, the bus stood for so long that it irritated the passengers while the driver chatted with the token-giving person getting information about who passed him and who didn’t. We the students were getting late for classes but it didn’t affect the driver.
He just stood there as long as he wanted. The moment he saw his rival driving in, he drove away like anything. He didn’t even bother to stop for the passenger on the route. He was just in it for the race. He got so involved that we had to stop him by screaming at him as he was racing past our university.
When they race they do not care for anything and drive rashly. I think if this token system is abolished, such accidents will decrease to some extent and passengers will be in safe hands. The relevant authorities must do the needful.
AYESHA SHUAIB
Karachi
RENOWNED architect Habib Fida Ali writing on the above subject is fully qualified to express his dismay at the wasteful celebration of platinum jubilee of the KMC building.
The KMC indeed was a symbol of civic identity and being a witness to the high standard of the debate that took place in it by the councillors today puts to shame even the National Assembly proceedings.
The decorum and reputation was reflective of the high civic knowledge of the councillors and their keen desire to solve the civic problems. We, the people of Karachi, fail to understand the logic behind the "rape of the roads" and then leaving the victim to suffer for months and at times even years.
Hardly a road has been repaired when another rapist appears and there goes the poor victim. Lack of coordination and supervision has led the city into a dungeon with broken roads, gaping holes, dirty and filthy.
The 'founding fathers' of the city must be shaking in their slumber to know that from the cleanest city of Asia to the dirtiest is not what they wanted their city to be.
MAHER ALAVI
Karachi
I READ of the murder of the owner of Agha Juice shops. This is the second time such a tragedy has struck the family; the first when the father was gunned down inside his own shop in Nazimabad.
I would like to convey my heartfelt condolences to the family. I hope the government and police will assist the family in catching the killers.
SALMAN IFTIKHAR
Karachi
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