| March 15, 2007 | Thursday | Safar 25, 1428 |
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Cavorting with the Constitution
MQM’s promise
Educating people
Ghastly accidents
Our turn now to speak
Goodwill gesture
Employment abroad
Smaller coins
Problems of foreign students
Wheelchair ramp
Heads I win, tails you lose
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
THESE are really sad days in the history of Pakistan, and all sincere Pakistanis are looking at the state of affairs with anguish. The sacking of the chief justice was bad enough, then I happened to listen to the verbal duel between the law minister, Wasi Zafar, and journalist Ansar Abbasi.
I am amazed by the language used by the law minister. It is a good reflection of the much-trumpeted graduate assembly. Mr Abbasi, some time back, used the typical English phrase ‘long arm of the law’ in reference to the educated law minister. Mr Zafar took some wrong meaning of the word ‘long arm’ and probably took it for a term of abuse in Punjabi (his own interpretation).
Mr Zafar’s threats reminded me that one of his brothers is a senior officer in our ‘famous’ agencies, hence the arrogance. I agree with Mr Abbasi that our country has become hostage to clowns and it is at times painfully amusing to see these ministers defending the sacking of the chief justice. In view of the present scenario, I can only pray for the safety of Mr Ansari. I salute our media and all those fighting this theatre of the absurd.
OMAR KHAN
Boston, USA
TO hear the law minister use the kind of language he did on a programme on Voice of America’s Urdu transmission was shameful and disgusting. Who uses that kind of language in private, let alone on air? This is yet another disaster in the track record of a man who has made a career out of careening from one incident of abuse of power to another.
The minister is clearly not fit to fulfil his duties. Here’s a head that should roll if any good is to come out of this current crisis. Sack him.
SHAHAREZADE SAMIUDDIN
Karachi
THE shameful remarks made by the law minister of this unfortunate nation in international media have shown his unprecedented capability of descending into filth. Not only did he publicly humiliate another person, but he has portrayed a gruesome image of this country.
Rather than lowering our heads in shame at his conduct, we should act against this man in every legal manner. The journalist community should not take this lightly and create compulsions for him to reflect on his words. He should be made to pay for what he has done.
M. ZAFAR IQBAL
Karachi
I WOULD like to request the president and the prime minister to take serious note of Mr Zafar’s actions and immediately suspend him from government service. A similar incident happened in the past at Islamabad airport. Only that time it was Mr Zafar’s son who was responsible for knocking down a passenger for no reason.
M. SIDDIQUI
Buckinghamshire, UK
I WISH to congratulate Dawn for an excellent editorial (‘A big blow to judiciary’, March 11) on the unfortunate events surrounding the treatment meted out to the now dismissed chief justice last weekend. The biggest misfortune of a government is when it accumulates ‘courtiers’ in its midst who ensure that their ‘great leader’ hears nothing but his own praise. Regrettably, that is what is happening in Pakistan today.
SYED SHARFUDDIN
London, UK
PERHAPS our government has mistaken the width of the Constitution Avenue as a sign for the amount of leverage it has to cavort with the Constitution of Pakistan. The document has been treated much like a hand-me-down plaything passed on from government to government, to be toyed with, dressed up and dressed down, with salt to taste.
In his Eighth Amendment to the Constitution, Gen Ziaul Haq substituted Article 270-A indemnifying all of his regime’s actions since July 8, 1977 declaring that they “shall not be called into question in any court whatsoever”.
The current president surpassed this with his 17th Amendment declaring that all his moves and executive decisions “shall not be called in question in any court or forum on any ground whatsoever”. Since the word ‘forum’ remains open to interpretation, one is to assume that he has ‘constitutionally’ insulated himself against public criticism.
In recent events, our government has chosen not to pass an amendment but merely chosen to ignore the order in which the Articles 209(5) and 209(6) appear in the Constitution. Article 209(5) states, with reference to the Supreme Judicial Council:
“If, on information (from any source, the Council or) the president is of the opinion that a judge of the Supreme Court or of a high court, (a) may be incapable of properly performing the duties of his office by reason of physical or mental incapacity; or (b) may have been guilty of misconduct, the president shall direct the Council to (, or the Council may, on its own motion,] inquire into the matter”.
Directly following this, Article 209(6) states: “If, after inquiring into the matter, the Council reports to the president that it is of the opinion, (a) that the judge is incapable of performing the duties of his office or has been guilty of misconduct, and (b) that he should be removed from office, the president may remove the judge from office”.
Ironic then that the president should (on advice of the prime minister) ‘suspend’ the chief justice under 209(6) before the report of the inquiry of the Supreme Judicial Council as required under 209(5).
We may draw the following conclusions:
a. The president cannot read; or
b. The president cannot count; or
c. The president, a la Rhett Butler in Gone With The Wind, frankly, does not give a damn.
SARAH KHAN
Islamabad
IT was heartening to see MQM workers making a door-to-door visit in Clifton’s block 2, in their pre-by-election campaign and assuring residents that the Karachi city government would solve their problems relating to water and sewerage and asking them to provide a list of other civic problems, if any.
A section of residents in their petition pointed out that, besides water and sewerage, there are other problems —- garbage disposal and dilapidated roads —- which should be addressed on a priority basis.
What is needed is a walkabout by the city nazim of some of Karachi’s so-called posh areas, like Clifton. For example, a visit to the prestigious Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture and the Aga Khan Hospital facility in Clifton’s block 2 and their vicinity will provide an adequate picture of the condition obtaining there in terms of garbage disposal and dilapidated roads.
There is no denying that efforts are being made for beautifying the city —- good roads are coming up, rainwater drains are being built and water and sewerage problems are being addressed at a tremendous cost. And the city government under the leadership of Syed Mustafa Kamal rightly deserves all praise.
However, the problems referred to above are too small compared to the gigantic projects being undertaken by the city government and, therefore, only a little attention is required for their solution.
The other day, the city naib nazim visited the Indus Valley School and assured the staff and students of immediate steps to repair the roads and clear the area of garbage. But to the dismay of the residents nothing has been done. Will our young and dynamic nazim wake up and do something? After all national and international dignitaries frequently visit the school and the hospital facility and, understandably, they get a dismal picture of the city.
S. M. ALI
Karachi
FOR Pakistan to be successful in the future, its people need to be educated. To achieve this, we need to have free education, free schools with quality teachers. And to achieve that, Pakistan needs to invest a lot of money, which we are short on.
But to get us started in the right direction, the government can use the current resources to improve the conditions. For example:
— There are a lot of NGOs working in Pakistan. These NGOs have the resources, the know-how and funds to educate teachers. The government can make it compulsory for an NGO to educate at least two to five teachers a year for free. For this the government would need to validate their system by ensuring regular visits to such facilities. And the NGO can request the funding for such programmes from the funds available for such activities around the world.
— The government can make it compulsory for businesses around Pakistan to provide scholarships for students in school, depending on the total turnover for the business, so that smaller businesses are not overburdened with costs. This can be done out of the zakat fund that the businesses provide to the government.
— The government can start a campaign to make people understand that it is a good thing for a Muslim to educate another Muslim child.
— The government can provide incentives to those schools which provide free education for a certain number of students a year.
Until the government can figure out how to collect the taxes correctly and how to utilise these taxes correctly by paying the government employees proper salaries so that they do not need to be corrupt to survive, the government can use the above suggestions to improve educational standards in Pakistan
SHAHRYAR KHAN BASEER
London, UK
LACK of proper safety device in the transportation of containers and other heavy materials, like iron bars and cement, has been the cause of ghastly accidents involving human lives and has become a matter of concern for the public.
Often we read in newspapers about road accidents involving containers —- huge containers falling on a car crushing the car and its inmates beyond recognition. Such accidents can be prevented by stringent safety measures for the trailers and trucks carrying the containers.
Like all other countries, Pakistan, too, has safety rules but they are seldom observed. The same is true with garbage trucks. They move from one place to another with a full load of uncovered garbage. In the process some of them fall on roads. Besides, a load of garbage on an open truck gives a ghastly sight.
Safety rules for trucks/trailors carrying containers and garbage while transporting it to the dumping sites are elementary hygiene rules. Under municipal by-laws violation of these rules is a punishable offence.
The city nazim must look into these problems in the large interest of the city.
IQBAL AHMED
Karachi
AMERICAN ego is surpassed only by its ignorance of ground realities in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan. This is amply reflected in the frequent statements of US State Department officials, army commanders in Afghanistan and many congressmen and senators.
While as government officials some time condescend to give Pakistan a pat on the back, the recently-elected congressmen and senators are vociferous in condemning Pakistan and threatening to cut aid for not doing enough.
It defies logic that when with the present level of aid Pakistan’s performance is not satisfactory in their eyes, how will it improve with reduced level of aid?
Let us face the facts. The Taliban are the creation of US government which trained and armed them to fight the Soviet forces in Afghanistan and when they had admirably done the job, they were abandoned.
Even so, they managed to set up a government in Afghanistan which fully established law and order in the country and eradicated poppy cultivation, which is now flourishing and financing terrorist activities. If the allied forces, with the most sophisticated and destructive arms and billions of dollars, are not able to control the spread of the Taliban, how can Pakistan, a much larger and populous country and without adequate resources now, be blamed for inefficiency?
Actually, we are paying the price of the inefficiency of the Afghan and Allied forces in Afghanistan. No one has done more than Pakistan for fighting terrorism. We have sacrificed more than 900 officers and men as well as more than 3,000 civilians in this fight.
Now we can tell the US and its allies that it is they who created the Taliban and armed them and unless they are able to control them and prevent them from sneaking into Pakistan, we may have to review our participation in the so-called ‘war against terror’.
As for Iraq, there were no Taliban or Al Qaeda there. It was a peaceful country with no sectarian killings. It is the US attack on this peaceful country that gave birth to both and with the passing of each day their activities are increasing, leading to deaths of innocent men, women and children by the hundreds and huge loss of property.
Here again the inefficiency of the allied forces who, despite sophisticated arms and space satellite support, are unable to contain, let alone eliminate, suicide attacks and road-side mines.
Pakistan, by comparison, has done remarkably well and will be justified in asking for better performance by the US and allied forces in proportion to their troops, arms and technological support. Meanwhile, they should not throw stones at us from their glass house.
S.A. BILGRAMI
Karachi
THERE is no dearth of kind-hearted people in Karachi even in this purely materialistic world.
Here is a classic case in point: My friend who is in his mid-70s and a diabetic with blood pressure problem wanted a bulkhead seat in a PIA Karachi-New York flight for more leg space and easy movement. Generally, as a rule, this seat is allotted to a passenger with small children.
My friend, however, took a chance and telephoned the reservation control manager who happened to be a lady and explained his position. The manager, to his utter surprise, readily agreed, took his phone number with a promise to confirm the seat wanted in a few minutes. Soon the return call came with the confirmation of seat.
Encouraged with her kindness, he telephoned her again for another favour —- this time he was asking for a little out-of-the-way favour. He wanted an earlier flight to New York on an emergency basis. The flight was closed. The travel agent was helpless. The reservation manager obliged the old man who was a stranger to her.
Respect for the old and compassion for the sick are virtues people learn at home — and she was fortunate to have opened her eyes in such a home.
A PASSENGER
Karachi
THIS is in reference to Syed A. Mateen’s letter ‘Employment abroad’(March 4). As a person who was born and raised in Saudi Arabia, I can say with conviction that the situation has deteriorated greatly during the past few years.
Not only it is now almost impossible to get a visa even if you can pay SR17,000 in desperation, but new jobs are being taken over by the Indians and the nationals of the Philippines in great numbers. This is very worrying for the Pakistani youths in particular. It is high time our government took matters in its own hands before it’s too late.
Ali M. Khan
Lahore
IS it not astonishing that smaller coins like those of 25 and 50 paisas have altogether disappeared from the market while bags full of these coins are lying with the State Bank of Pakistan in abundance?
Not only shopkeepers do not pay back fraction of a rupee, where payable, to the customers, but also do not accept payment when offered in coins of 25 and 50 paisas. Isn’t this act of refusal to transact through legal tender tantamount to denial and defiance of the oft-repeated writ of the government?
ZAHID HUSAIN
Karachi
WHEN foreign students come to Pakistan, they generally face a number of problems that are inherent in such a situation as having to put up with alien food, culture, language and so on. These are, however, problems that one knows even before undertaking the journey to the land, but the kind of problems that are faced by students living at the Boys’ Hostel of the University of Karachi are unique with all the negative connotations.
Foul-smelling linen, broken walls and an almost non-existent washroom are some of the features of the hostel. Students at the hostel -– both foreigners and Pakistanis from other cities -– simply fail to understand why things can’t be put on the right track. And if this is like asking for the moon, at least things can be made functional.
In its present dilapidated state, the hostel is unfit for human habitation. Over the years, I have personally visited hostels at most universities across Pakistan to meet my friends, but have never come across anything even remotely resembling the hostel at Karachi University.
Would someone do something about it? After all, it is also part of conveying a better image of the country around the world.
DURRANI HASSAN
Foreign student
CONSTRUCTION of wheel-chair ramp for pedestrian bridge at Nursery (Feb 12), is a laudable work by the Karachi city government. I hope many more such ramps will be built throughout the city, keeping in mind the internationally accepted gradients, otherwise the old and the handicapped will not be able to benefit fully.
In the last few years the city government has built many footpaths with the heights of one foot or more above the street level. It is a source of inconvenience for women, children and old people and almost impossible for persons on wheel chairs to use them.
It is requested that the height of footpaths should be reduced to about six inches and slope provided for wheel chairs.
CDR (r) N. M. KIDWAI
President, Society for the Rehabilitation of Special Children, Karachi
THE price of milk has come down to Rs28. Congratulations. But now it is 25 per cent diluted and not marketed as litres but as ‘seers’.
As the old saying goes, “If you can’t fight them, join them”. This is the inside information I received from some milk retailers.
AKBAR MERCHANT
Karachi
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