| January 26, 2007 | Friday | Muharram 06, 1428 |
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In no position to throw stones
Closer look at imports
Getting ‘nikahnama’
Whither rescue?
Candle in the wind
Impending energy crisis
Wastage of electric power
Balochistan-less squad
Nothing to cheer about?
A retreat forthcoming?
Appeal to city nazim
In emergency situations
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
NICHOLAS Burns, the United States Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, recently spoke in Dubai about the reasons behind the United State’s policies in the Middle East.
He stated that the Gulf was not a region to be dominated by Iran and that the United States was “clearly” seeking a diplomatic solution in the region. Maybe Mr Burns would like to “clearly” state why the United States is even in this region, and exactly who is trying to dominate the Middle East.
He also stated, “The United States has always had the stability of this strategic region in mind and Iran has been trying to alter it by attempting to dominate.” The United States has always had this region’s oil in mind. It is no secret that oil in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iran, and Iraq will not run out anytime soon. And the United States foreign policy track record towards Iran has not been so in favour of stability.
In 1953 the United States took out democratically elected Iranian Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh to only bring in the Shah of Iran. Then in the 1980s the United States supported and armed the Iraqis against Iran.
Now Iran’s democratically-elected President is seeking nuclear enrichment for his country to help costs and the country’s economy and once again the United States opposes. Whose stability is the United States really supporting?
The United States managed to strike a deal with North Korea after they test-launched a nuclear weapon last year. Why not negotiate with Iran? They have not tested any nuclear devices and neither are they attempting to make weapons.
Mr Burns went on to say: “When challenged, we respond – economically, financially, politically, and not necessarily through military means.”
As I do not mean to attack Mr Burns or the American government, it is clear that this message he sends is utter nonsense. The moment Osama bin Laden was thought to be in Afghanistan after the September 11 attacks, the United States made it very clear to Afghanistan and the rest of the world that military action was the only option, and they demanded support for their “crusade.”
Iraq never challenged the United States directly in a physical fight, yet today, American and British troops stand knee-deep in the devastation and ruins that were once Iraq, a country with a running infrastructure.
Iraq has been attacked repeatedly since the first Gulf War, even after the Gulf War, British and American air raids continued, until 2003 when the United States invaded and have stayed up till present day.
Those 700,000 Iraqis who lie dead, those millions displaced – they never challenged the United States – yet they pay for crimes they did not commit. The United States lied to the world about Iraq’s involvement with September 11, and allowed the Iraqi people to pay with their lives. The United States got Saddam and the world saw him hanged on the first day of Eid. Why are the Iraqis still dying then?
Burns calls on countries that are their friends who help keep stability in the Middle East. In his list he mentions India and Pakistan, two out of three countries which have not signed the non-proliferation act.
So now the United States picks and chooses who can be a nuclear power and they also choose which nuclear power to befriend.
This is a policy of hypocrisy – not a responsibility to achieve stability.
MANAL SHAKIR
Austin, USA
TASNEEM Zafar Faridi’s attack on India as “a society dripping in racism” is correct, if dealt on its own (letter, Jan 24). Yes there is a great deal of racism in India.
But I found the sanctimony of a Pakistani making this allegation quite breath-taking. For a society that has literally and practically wiped out its Hindu, Sikh and to a lesser extent Christian minorities and is actively making some Muslim sects beleaguered minorities in their own backyard, Pakistan is in no position to throw stones. India can boast of Dalit presidents, defence ministers and now a newly-minted chief justice of India.
India now has a Catholic head of the Congress who is literally the power behind the throne, a Sikh prime minister and a Muslim president. And that is in a country that is 80 per cent Hindu.
If Ms Faridi has bothered to read what is happening on reservations in India, she will find that reservations have steadily increased in India in the last 60 odd years and now Dalits and backward classes who skim a minimum of 50 per cent from the top on government jobs are now demanding the same treatment in the private sector.
The Supreme Court recently moved to put a cap at current levels and opined that the “creamy layer” - families that already taken the benefit of reservations in previous generations and had passed into the upper economic classes - should not aspire for the same benefits in the future.
The Lok Sabha and other legislatures have ignored the opinion of the highest court of the land and have passed legislation that will give Dalits and backward classes such benefits virtually in perpetuity.
It is the height of hubris to attack a country that is at least passing legislation to reduce discrimination that is socially practiced, and can show progress in bringing minorities to the fore while belonging to a country that has passed legislation (like the Shariat laws) that deliberately makes discrimination the law of the land, where minorities are either disappearing from the scene or are being systemically marginalised.
I doubt if this letter is going to be published, but at least your paper should know that hypocrisy has its limits. To use an American saying: “What goes around, comes around”.
GIRDHAR GOPAL
New York, USA
WHILST there is much talk about the growth of the economy and foreign exchange reserves that today amount to higher than ever recorded in the history of our nation, I would like to propose to our government that instead of rejoicing over the growth, they should consider a closer look again at the imports and the black marketing that the importers are involved in.
A good example is of the exhaustive inquiry the valuation department conducted on automotive parts of Chinese origin that are being under-invoiced.
The entire industry is suffering because of this under-invoicing and it may even cause the shutting down of various factories and their allied industries. Further, it would also discourage foreign investment because of the wrong evaluation of automotive parts by the customs department.
Under-invoicing has emerged as a core issue for the organised industry, causing unfair competition and loss of revenues to the national exchequer in billions of rupees.
Countries like India, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand are checking prices and not allowing free import, whilst we have yet to make up our minds on the same.
This perhaps explains why investors shy away from Pakistan despite macro economic stability, and calls for a fresh outlook in our industrial sector.
FAWAD ALI
Islamabad
I RECENTLY visited Karachi to see my family. I got married two years ago and did not get a chance to collect my ‘nikah’ document, so I decided to collect it from the Imam of Sultan Masjid in Defence Phase 5 on this trip.
My father had paid all the relevant fees and money to the imam for performing the ‘nikah’. When I finally managed to meet the imam and explained the situation to him, he promptly retrieved my nikah file. However, he more promptly demanded Rs10,000 as his service charge. The figure was very astonishing considering that he was already paid for his service before. Anyhow, as I was only carrying around Rs1,100, I offered him the money as a good gesture. Sadly, he was not planning to negotiate.
He demanded that I present him with Rs10, 000 if I wanted the ‘nikah’ file. I urged him that it was very unreasonable and as I was not carrying that kind of money, I handed him all the money that I had and started walking out with the file. Next thing I know, the Imam grabbed me by my collar and tried to attack me.
We ended up in a brawl and he threatened to tear away my ‘nikah’ file. I told him he was standing as an imam of one of Karachi’s most famous mosques and he should not behave this way.
I felt very frustrated but also sad to see an imam exploiting his position and, more importantly, resorting to aggressive behaviour to fulfil his demand. If anyone on the committee of Sultan Masjid is reading this, I would urge them to look into this.
S. SHAIKH
London, UK
THIS has reference to news item ‘Girl assaulted by Rescue 15 personnel’(Jan 15). Despite the fact that this is as shameful and heinous as any other crime can be, the irony is that the crime was committed by people who are supposed to help the aggrieved and helpless and rescue people from any danger.
To add salt to the wound is the involvement of an MPA and police high-ups to ‘hush-up’ the matter. This is even more shameful than the crime itself.
The hierarchy in the civil setup and the chain of commands in non-civilian organisations are in place to arrest the ‘black sheep’ and people who deviate from their duties.
This act was so serious and brutal that the police officers who had tried to help the culprits should have been taking appropriate action against those involved, let alone they wished to hide the facts and truth and tried to cover up this act of bestiality.
All the officers and personnel involved in this act and cover-up afterwards should be taken to task.
ANAS A. KHAN
Edmonton, Canada
I WANT to express my deepest appreciation to the countless people who expressed their sentiments on the phone or in writing after reading ‘Candle in the wind’ (Dec 24).
This includes those who are not personally known to me but have been moved enough by my birthday wish for my husband Naseer to respond from the heart. Thank you all.
Naseer left us on April 25, 2006. The gentleman that he was, I am sure he would have wanted me also to particularly thank Dawn for making this a very special birthday for him, by ensuring that the light of my candle shines bright and far and that too with such grace and beauty.
RUBY HAIDER
Karachi
THE government does not seem to be very serious about solving the energy crisis. Instead of producing more power, it wants to solve the problem through cutting the trade hours and resorting to a five-day week. (Dawn, Jan 17) This is a very antiquated way of solving the crisis and shows frustration and inadequacy in thinking and planning.
Energy consumption is bound to increase by the minute with the country’s economic and social growth. Efforts to educate consumers to use less power and introduction of electrical gadgets requiring less power are being made in all developed countries and such education actually starts from the school age.
The power suppliers are also encouraging every household to use low-energy bulbs; they even supply free of cost bulbs to most of their consumers every year.
Adopting all these methods go well when the suppliers and the consumers both cooperate - the consumers by reducing its power consumption and suppliers by producing more energy.
Unfortunately in Pakistan, every now and then there are big headlines of the “impending energy crisis” and then such ill-baked measures which will add to the lack of social and commercial life as well as giving the cities a deserted look from dusk which in winters may be at 4pm
Developed nations do have a five-day working week in their government and commercial institutions but the markets are open mostly six days a week and some markets never close their doors. Also many services are available through kiosks and special openings on Saturdays to facilitate the general public.
It is also a fact that most affluent section of society in Pakistan uses most of the energy, and they are the ones who should be educated to use less power.
They should also note that more power use does not make them rich and famous. Indiscriminate use of electricity during weddings and other social functions are the order of the day (and night) and it needs to be curbed.
The present government with all the power it has and its tall talk of progress will be remembered with thankfulness (if they care) if they are successful in starting a mega project of power development and waste no time and money on such half-baked solution of meeting the power shortage.
S. FAIYAZUDDIN AHMAD
Leicester, UK
ACCORDING to a news item in Dawn (Jan 24), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will facilitate the export of 1,000 megawatts of electricity from the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan to Pakistan to help overcome, to some extent, its growing energy shortages.
The same day I saw all the streetlights along University Road and in PECHS Block 3 turned on during the day time.
If we are passing through such a major crisis that we have to import electricity and besides this the citizens have to face the loadshedding, why don’t the authorities fulfill their duty in a responsible manner?
Electricity can be saved in many ways but it is not possible with this irresponsible attitude of the authorities concerned.
HIRA FATIMA BHOJANI
Karachi
THE Pakistan cricket team is no exception to the political scenario of Pakistan. Both lack proper representation of Balochistan.
In the fifty years’ history of Pakistan cricket, there has not been a single cricketer from Balochistan. And only one cricketer was Baloch (Aftab Baloch from Sindh) who played only two Test matches.
There should be a quota for Balochistan in the national team; like the one for non-white players in the South African team. I ask the authorities concerned to take notice of the issue and resolve it in order to lift the morale of their countrymen.
If the status quo remains, the people of Balochistan will not be able to support the national team much longer.
UMER KHAN BALOCH
Turbat
THIS is in response to Safir A Siddiqui’s letter ‘Nothing to cheer about’ (Jan 19). A festival by its very nature is an opportunity for people to relax with their families and to go out and enjoy themselves. The aim of a festival is not development, not mending roads or gutter lines, or cleaning up the garbage. It is quite ridiculous to hold the Hamara Karachi Festival almost hostage to the slow pace of development in Karachi.
The ability to find reasons to smile in the face of adversity is the hallmark of the human spirit. No matter what the self-righteous may say, Karachiites found a way to relax and smile a bit despite its open gutter lines. This does not take away the focus from the need for development, but not even one allowed a breather along the way is necessarily uptight.
One cannot restrain the human spirit and it is good to see that one cannot restrain the spirit of Karachi.
ALI IMAM
Karachi
THREE years ago the US went to war in Iraq on a lie. Iraq is devouring resources at an unprecedented scale and producing nothing in return. There is no more ‘happy talk’ from officials in the Bush administration about how Iraq will pay for itself through oil revenues, as Paul Wolfowitz stated unwisely. Iraq has become a black hole which has swallowed up half a trillion dollars in three years.
The US administration’s debate on Iraq is now a grim realisation of reality which is painful but not an unfamiliar experience of retreat, like Vietnam, Lebanon and Somalia. In 1989, the USSR also went through such a bitter experience in Afghanistan, resulting , finally, in its disintegration.
Now the strongest democracy has acted again undemocratically by resorting to a pre-emptive attack on Somalia, thus setting a dangerous precedent for others to follow. One can very well imagine the future world where some countries will be making pre-emptive attacks on their neighbours or a small weak country.
What is the justification for killing innocent men, women and children just on suspicion of being ‘suspected’ Al Qaeda or Taliban member?
ABID MAHMUD ANSARI
Islamabad
CLIFTON Block 5 has a wide open nullah. Several appeals have been made by residents of the area to the local authorities, but the nullah which is located near Pearl Heaven Apartments and goes up to Hasan Homes remains an open breeding ground for mosquitoes, insects, flies, etc.
In short, this open sewerage nullah is not only harmful for health of the area residents, but it significantly spoils the environment of this highly developed area.
All the residents of the area are hopeful that the city nazim will take personal interest and urgent action to ensure that this nullah is concealed underground, or at least gets covered in such a way that will beautify the area.
LINDA RICHARDSON
Karachi
THIS is in response to a letter by Dr Muhammad Rehan from Nowshera (Jan 20) complaining about the traffic police after being caught speeding. It seems like the doctor only cares about his duty but ignoring the traffic police responsibilities.
Dr Rehan considers himself above the law and asking for special treatment. Also, he is showing his ignorance of the side-effects in a speeding car.
I am not trying to support the traffic police but in this situation 10km above the speed limit should be punished since you are putting your and others’ lives in danger. In the future, please consult with your assistant as how he was able to arrive at the clinic before you did assuming your assistant took the bus. Please leave your home earlier since a doctor should always expect someone sick at the clinic’s door.
DR JOHAR ALI
Vancouver, Canada
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