| March 21, 2007 | Wednesday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 1, 1428 |
To send a letter to the Editor
Click here
Too little, too late
Plight of domestic servants
Taxpayers’ humiliation
Refund cheque
Second-hand refineries
Undermining Urdu
Tribute to Khan Saab
Marriage sans consent
A barbaric act
Fourth estate
Contempt of court
Just a game
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
PRESIDENT Musharraf’s decision of making the chief justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, ‘non-functional’ has not only shaken the already fragile democratic norms of the country to its core, but also dealt a blow to the independence of the judiciary.
Our country’s history is replete with ironies but nothing like this. Such blatant violation of the Constitution and yet our president calls himself a pioneer of democracy in Pakistan. Kudos to Justice Chaudhry for handling this humiliating episode with such integrity and for not relenting to unlawful authorities. Pakistanis, not only in Pakistan but all over the world, are immensely proud of this courageous man and are hoping for his safe return to his rightful position as the chief justice of Pakistan.
All one thinks of now is the destiny of Pakistan. After 60 years of independence why are we still struggling to get the smallest things in place while our neighbour, who is just as old as us, is moving on to bigger and better things? The only thing that can get us through these catastrophic times is the restoration of democratic institutions and the elimination of the military from our politics which taking in view the present circumstances is not to happen any time soon.
TOOBA SIDDIQUI
Lansing, Michigan
Five chief justices of an apex court in seven years is a distinction we could have done without, yet it gives credence to the argument that we are our own worst enemies. It’s mind- boggling how this teetering country of ours survives these knockout blows so frequently. Only when the long-awaited judicial activism was finally coming of age, we find ourselves in the midst of yet another quagmire.
One could only but wonder how the chief justice was functioning after the Steel Mills verdict and the cases in which he had taken suo motu notice. No wonder now that he is in protective custody in what sounds like a sad end to a Simon and Suschter thriller.
In his book the president rightly termed the Supreme Court incident during the previous regime as “the darkest in our history.” Mr President, where is the silver lining in this one? In the making of a nation out of a country’s people, institutions play an overwhelmingly important role. Arbitrary decisions like these play havoc with these institutions and in turn shake the very foundations of a country.
The government’s spokemen are parroting the legality of this move though the makings of an ambush that are so plain to see. If Justice Chaudhry refuses to resign, in spite of the immense pressure reportedly being applied, will the government reinstate him if he is exonerated by the Supreme Judicial Council? It would serve the government well to think and act rationally. These are difficult times. We need to unite as a nation. With so many question marks from Bajaur to Makran and Islamabad, we should act to strengthen Pakistan and not our personal gains with whimsical acts.
MIR ADNAN AZIZ
Abbottabad
Inzamam’s resignation and retirement from ODI’s is too little, too late. If the announcement had come before the sad demise of Bob Woolmer, it could have meant something. There would have been some honour then.
Bob Woolmer gave a lot to other teams which he coached, for example South Africa which incidentally is rated ahead of the Aussies. Pakistan cricket team comprises undisciplined individuals involved mostly in the ‘tablighi jamaat’.
That they did not learn anything from him during his life is a reflection on the team, not on Bob Woolmer. He was so stressed and ashamed that he died. Perhaps we should learn some lessons in shame and honour in his death.
I. H. MAHMOOD
Rothwell, UK
I WOULD like to say this to the family of Bob Woolmer: “Thank you for your contribution to the cause of Pakistan cricket. We share your grief and we will remember Bob as the coach who had the courage to stick with the Pakistan team in their darkest days. We will miss him.”
IMRAN WAZEER
Islamabad
IN the wake of recent tragic events, the Pakistan cricket team finds itself in an absolute mess. I urge its chief patron, President Musharraf, to bring Tauqir Zia back. Let bygones be bygones, give him a free hand to rebuild Pakistan cricket from the ground up. Tauqir Zia can do it; he alone has the mettle to stand up to inflated egos and the cricket mafia.
JAVAID R. BAKHSH
Brampton, Ontario
AS tribute to Bob Woolmer’s contribution to our cricket, I suggest Karachi’s National Stadium, or any other, be renamed the Bob Woolmer Stadium. This gesture will make Pakistan stand tall in the world of cricket for all times to come.
MENIN RODRIGUES
Karachi
IT is time for Wasim Bari to hang up his gloves for good. I hope he has some decency remaining and will resign himself rather than getting fired. He has been a total failure as a selector and should not be allowed near any cricket team.
SYED HUSSAIN
California
I WOULD like to draw the attention of readers towards a very serious matter which we normally tend to ignore, i.e., the safety of domestic servants in our homes. A young girl of barely 20 who works in my house as a cleaning lady does the same job at another house.
The lady of that house instructed her to use acid to clean one of the washrooms. The girl had never used such a thing before and being an uneducated person, she was not unaware that it could be dangerous. On pouring the acid she bent down very close to look at it, and the fumes that arose from it badly damaged her eyes.
She could not see at all for a few hours and the pain was excruciating. Fortunately, her eyesight was not lost but her eyes still hurt very much. The lady did not even bother to take her to the doctor, and I believe that it was her duty in the first place to guide her on how to use the acid and to ensure the girl’s safety.
Perhaps we forget that these servants too are human beings and that their health and their lives are as precious as our own. A little carelessness and irresponsible behaviour on our part can ruin another person’s entire life.
AMNA JAWED
Lahore
THE stamps and registration department working under the Sindh Board of Revenue brings in bulk of revenue chunk for the provincial government. The department, therefore, should always have a word of thank to such revenue contributors.
But a visit to the stamps and registration office would show how oblivious and apathetic are the competent authorities to such tax contributors.
The rampant and wild irregularities which the public or rather taxpayers visiting these offices have to endure are included but not restricted to:
(a) braving omnibus and strange procedures,
(b) facing discourteous and incompetent staff that too at times are not government employees but are self-hired private persons,
(c) dissolute environment that too devoid of sufficient space to situate lest to think of seat,
(d) delayed delivery of documents although seven days’ time was promised under urgent delivery,
(e) epidemic corruption, and
(f) non-existence of disciplinary actions.
Although the department claims praise for revenue boost and staff receives ex-gratia, in fact the phenomenal increase in documentation and doctrine of necessity can safely be attributed to this boost. It is not understandable why the upper departmental hierarchy is silent and unmindful of the above ugly scenario.
ALI HAIDER
Karachi
IT was a pleasant surprise for me the other day when I received my refund cheque mailed by the Refund Office, MTU, Karachi. It means that the CBR is working, followed by the Income Tax Department, Karachi.
I recall how in the past one had to run from pillar to post to retrieve even small amounts of refund. It is heartening that under the new assessment system and the directions given by the CBR chairman, taxpayer-friendly measures are being taken.
As a retired government servant and senior citizen, I wish, and have also addressed the CBR, that income-tax slabs should be simplified and, if possible, flat rates be prescribed.
Second, government pensioners should be exempted from the payment of withholding tax because they have regularly paid income tax throughout their active service without any room for manipulation.
Third, after all, how many government servants are in a fortunate position to pay income-tax after having lived from hand to mouth?
M. ALEEM SHAIKH
Karachi
THIS has reference to the news item regarding import of second-hand refineries.
The importers, as well as the government, must keep in mind the possibilities that the facilities and equipment being imported were not able to meet the environmental regulations in the countries where they were installed.
As such, they had to be taken out of service and are being sold off to countries where environmental considerations are not strictly enforced.
TARIQ RAZA
Woking, UK
THIS is with reference to the report, ‘One language, two scripts; one religion, diverse civilisations’, by Mr M. Ziauddin (March 8). It is also further to my letter, ‘Conspiracy against Urdu?’ (Feb 8); the book review on ‘The Politics of Language: Urdu/Hindi: An Artificial Divide’ (Books and Authors, Dec 31), the letter by the author of this book, Dr Abdul Jamil Khan (Jan 11) and the article, ‘Tower of Babel’, by Ms Yasmin Alvi (Jan 28).
The objective of the book appears to be to prove that Urdu and Hindi are one language. The author, Dr Khan, noted in his letter it provides “core evidence for the genetic brotherhood of the Indo-Pakistani people” and “will basically cement all regions and people of South Asia.” The ultimate objective of attaining peace, primarily between Pakistan and India, is certainly desirable, but trying to achieve that by undermining the religious and linguistic identity of the Pakistanis is unacceptable. In my letter, I had raised several questions and provided many arguments to challenge his thesis and a few salient ones were:
1. Indonesia is the largest Muslim country and the Bahasa Indonesia contains words from many languages, including thousands from Arabic, but nobody feels the need to prove that it is one and the same as Sanskrit or Hindi (from whom it has many words as well).
2. The Irish, Scottish, Welsh and English languages have the same Celtic root but the present forms of the first three are very different from English, nor can their speakers get along well with the Englishmen, but nobody is challenging their separateness.
3. Arabic and Hebrew have many things in common and, one may add, ‘genetic brotherhood’ of the Semitic peoples as well; likewise, over 2,000 Chinese characters in the Japanese language; yet no artificial measures are being adopted to erase their unique characteristics.
4. Perhaps 99 per cent of the Pakistanis would not be able to comprehend the pure Hindi words, as shown in the examples, ‘Vishwa bharman’, ‘Shabdkosh’, or ‘sumvaad ki kalaa’, drawn from Ms Alvi’s article.
However, while Dr Khan had been quick to respond to Dr Rauf Parekh’s review of his book for no other reason than to re-emphasise his thesis, he hasn’t responded so far to my letter.
Coming to Mr Ziauddin’s report, a few points drew one’s attention. First, that Dr Abdul Jamil Khan is an Indian, which had not been mentioned by Dr Parekh or Ms Alvi. Besides, Ms Alvi had also given the origin of Sarah Fazli, who had proofread the book and is an important person in furthering the notion of Urdu and Hindi being one, rather vaguely as of ‘Indo-Pakistani extraction’. Why this apparent attempt to conceal their nationalities? Second, in the concluding chapters of the book the author says that the Muslims of India have not only accepted Hindi but have now turned it into the third most relevant Islamic language. This is another misrepresentation. He is apparently trying to prove that after the Indonesian Muslims (at nearly 180 million out of Indonesia’s 200 million population) and Arabs (at about 170 million), the Indian Muslims form the third largest grouping in the world.
For some years, attempts are being made by some Indian intellectuals, writers and officials to lessen Pakistani Muslims’ importance. However, according to census figures quoted by many other sources, including the CIA and Indians, the Muslims over there number approximately 130 million, which is much less than Pakistan’s 150 million (out of 160 million).
Furthermore, even the Bangladeshi Muslims may be around 135 million (out of 145 million). Thus, Bengalis would form the fourth largest collection of Muslims after the Pakistanis, placing the Indian adherents of Islam at the fifth position.
A PAKISTANI
Karachi
THE amiable yet firm, the pleasant yet aloof, the dignified and the doyen of journalism was Mr Ahmad Ali Khan.
I have had the honour of knowing him and when I called on him after my election as president of the Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, he pleasantly reminded that as leader of the business community it was my duty to speak the truth and expose those who do not serve Pakistan’s interests and to support the infirm in society.
I would never forget his advice.
In the death of Mr Ahmad Ali Khan, Dawn has lost an able journalist, Pakistan a brilliant and astute pillar of the Fourth estate and a star which would be difficult to replace. We pray for this noble man and share the grief and loss with his family.
MAHER ALAVI
Karachi
THIS has reference to the news item entitled ‘Life term for Pakistani upheld’ (March 1).
Killing girls of Pakistan in foreign countries who marry out of their free will, without the consent of their parents, is deplorable. The parents of Pakistani girls must respect the rights of their daughters to choose their life partners out of their free will and should not force them to suicide or secret marriage.
Respecting the rights of their daughters will save their honour and will not lead to disastrous consequences.
SALEEM JAN
Hunza
TO say that I was deeply saddened and angry when I read the article ‘Woman, two men stoned, publicly executed’ (Dawn, March 15) would be an understatement of my feelings.
Where were the police when the announcements were being made from mosques on loudspeakers? Why did the witnesses not try to stop such a barbaric act of a deranged group of self-appointed ‘moral police’?
We protest against war, we protest against the execution of Saddam Hussein, we protest against the removal of the Supreme Court judge, we even demonstrate against our cricket team when it loses a match.
We now need to strongly protest against crimes committed by such moral police too. As by butchering a member of our society, these criminals have butchered society itself.
SANIA SAEED
Sydney, Australia
I WOULD like to appreciate the courageous and bold demeanour of the press in the face of all odds. I wish to thank the Pakistani press for upholding the public conscience at this critical moment. The government also deserves a pat on the back for ridding the press of all censorship and making it free in the true sense of the word.
HASHMAT ABBAS AWAN
Lahore
IT has become a trend in the Third World to suppress the media. The rulers in the subcontinent try to ill-treat media persons when they perform their duties honestly. We condemn the recent attack on the media in Pakistan. It was very unfortunate and painful.
We, the journalists in Rajasthan, express concern over the incident and want to extend our support to the journalist community in our neighbouring country.
NARAYAN BARETH
Jaipur, Rajasthan
DOESN’T the president’s interview to a private television channel come under the jurisdiction of contempt of court and an attempt to influence the judicial decision? He being the head of the executive, besides holding other portfolios, represented the establishment’s stance in the entire mess.
Now the establishment happens to be one party to the issue, won’t the airing of standing of one party be considered an attempt to exercise some clout on the decision of the SJC? Will CJ Iftikhar also be allowed to present himself through the media?
ASAD HAIDER ALI
Islamabad
THIS is with reference to Gen Musharraf’s interview with a private TV channel during which he, while referring to Sharifuddin Pirzada, said: “He advised us on the constitutional and legal aspects of the reference.
He has offered a technical excuse on why he cannot represent the state against the chief justice in the SJC. But he is part of the game.”
It is indeed interesting that the whole episode of the removal of the chief justice is just a game for the president. If it is indeed a game, the award for ‘Man of the Match’ should definitely be given to Naeem Bokhari.
ANIL KHAN LUNI
Lahore
You can also send letters to the Editor
Just send your message to the following address: letters@dawn.com
Make sure you include your full name, postal address, e-mail address, and in the case of Pakistan your day-time telephone number.