| March 24, 2007 | Saturday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 4, 1428 |
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Our economic dilemma
Time now to wake up
Road in bad shape
Sabina Park
Treatment of Hindus
Getting involved
Not tall buildings
A right step
Bob Woolmer
Number plates
Respect thy neighbour
Fall guys
Plane for president
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
THE article, ‘Strain in ties with US,’ by Mr Tayyab Siddiqui (March 19) presents a very informative but sad overview of the opinions about Pakistan held by various circles in the US, particularly its think tanks and the media, based on his recent visit to America.
As usual, their biggest allegation is of Pakistan not doing enough in containing Al Qaeda and the Taliban or, worse still, not even being sincere about it. They are still complaining about the need to curb nuclear proliferation even though it is absolutely clear that the proliferation network has long since been uprooted here.
Apart from that, Mr Tayyab has quoted the sarcastic remark by the Los Angeles Times calling upon President Musharraf to make sure that “Pakistan is known for exports other than terrorism.”
The attention of all these commentators is drawn to a number of facts. The biggest problem is that many Americans can’t see their own faults but only of their allies -– not just Pakistan -– regarding whom their notorious policy in most parts of the world, except for the Caucasian countries, has been to use and discard.
Our collaboration with Washington began even before the shooting down of the American spy plane U2 over the Soviet Union in 1962, which had taken off from an airbase in Peshawar and had so angered the Russians that they had turned some of their nuclear-tipped missiles towards Pakistan. It continued through to the indispensable cooperation in defeating the USSR in Afghanistan in the 1980s, leading to its demise and end of the Cold War and further to the present war on terror.
We have done more and suffered incomparably more for the US than most of its closest ‘natural’ white allies, including Australia, Canada and New Zealand. In return we got extreme ingratitude, painful accusations, hurtful sanctions; millions of refugees along with social, financial and security problems. We also were given billions of dollars but one would anytime exchange these for what we’ve lost.
The same newspapers that are quick to point fingers at Pakistan are forgetting their own culpability in promoting George Bush’s invasion of Iraq, based on utter lies. They are also forgetting how this adventure has turned Iraq into a crucible of terrorism where none existed before that has taken over 3,000 American and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi lives.
The noted journalist Kathy Gannon has recently thrown considerable light on what is really wrong in Afghanistan (March 6). Primarily, it’s corruption and misgovernance, along with the trigger-happy approach of the western forces, that have alienated the Afghans. For instance, a man in his 70s lost his wife, two daughters and three sons to a Nato bomb. After those deaths, he said, “I wasn’t with the Taliban and I wasn’t with the government. But, I tell you, now I am Talib.”
The head of an Afghan human rights group, Nader Nadery, told reporters that Afghans were turning away from the government and the international forces. Besides, the commander of Canadian forces, Gen Kim Grant, who is based in the heartland of the resistance, said, “killing Taliban is not going to get this country sorted”. Meanwhile, the Centre for Strategic and International Studies has noted: “The collateral damage in a culture that emphasises revenge has created 10 enemies out of one and has disillusioned most Afghans.”
Finally, one completely supports Mr Siddiqui’s conclusion that there is no safety in yielding (to the US) and no partnership between unequals. Also, that we must learn to rely on indigenous material and human resources, rather than on the unreliable and unfriendly America.
M.P. CHISHTI
Karachi
A FEROCIOUS economic war is being fought in Pakistan wherein our economy is like a damaged ship drifting in turbulent waters.
I had, therefore, a nauseating feeling to read the editorial “Rising debt burden’ (March 7) and an article, ‘Seeking loans for development’ by Sultan Ahmed (March 15), saying: “…debt went up to Rs1.46 trillion in the seven years of military rule which is a large sum… 50 per cent of GDP as public debt and 25 per cent of public expenditure for debt servicing are large enough figures… et al”.
Americans have always been dominant over Pakistan economy; resultantly it got weakened many a time, thereby serving US interests. Once we got into fighting the war on terror, the dominant partners asked us “to do more”.
Militarily, their insistence was of too-much-an-askance; but knowing that the State Bank of Pakistan is capable of “doing much more in the financial sphere” without any hue and cry, their pressurisation through legislative measures (see news item ‘Senate approves bill on US aid restriction’, March 15) is a routine.
After 9/11, 57,000 sorties were flown to punish the Taliban and Al Qaeda, availing Pakistan airspace and other base facilities, and at the same time CIA agents doled out billions of dollars for the unique creation of warlordism there. It was such a feat that Bush had to pin a medal on the lapel of CIA director at a special reception.
The SBP participated for the sustenance of CIA effort till the issuance of Afghan currency. Presumably, as a result, the fast-growing unsustainability of twin trade and debt burden is a large looming threat to the country’s economy.
Reference the prime minister’s strategy for the future FE rates adjustments: “Deficits unsustainable — changes in monetary policy adjusted” (Business pages, March 13).
In conclusion, our continuous hooking on to the western economic system would be suicidal. The sooner we unshackle from them, the better it would be for the country and the nation.
MUHAMMAD AHMAD
Karachi
I WAS amazed to read PIA chairman’s statement ( March 21) that EU ban had a silver lining that enabled the airline to look at unprofitable routes. Did PIA need a shock EU ban and national humiliation to look at their unprofitable routes? Was the management sleeping earlier on?
About six months back the press in Pakistan reported that the EU safety commission had identified many safety concerns and had put PIA and a few other airlines on watch. A PIA spokesman at that time had brushed aside this report by saying that concerns highlighted by the EU were only ‘cosmetic’. Other airlines took action and got their names removed from the ‘Watch List’, while PIA continued to sleep.
In mid-February, press reports warned that the EU safety commission is likely to ban PIA flights from March 8. A PIA spokesman said that the airline had not officially heard anything from the EU safety commission and again went back to sleep. In the end of February a PIA flight to Frankfurt was informed in mid-air that it could not land at Frankfurt and was diverted to Istanbul. The passengers were transferred to another airline and then flown to Frankfurt. The PIA management continued to sleep. In the first week of March, the press reported that the UK had banned all PIA aircraft except the new Boeing 777.
The PIA chairman then rushed to Brussels to inform the EU safety commission that PIA in his opinion was a very safe airline. When his point of view was not accepted, he took cover under such utterances as ‘unjust, unfair and discriminatory’.
The PIA team was so careless that they could not even protect their laptops. These laptops (according to press reports) were stolen at the time of their check-in and from their hotel rooms.
I was booked on March 6 by PK-770 from Amsterdam to Islamabad. At about midnight PIA Amsterdam called me to inform that PIA flight was not allowed to come to Amsterdam the next day and we were asked to report in the morning to be taken by Air France to Paris and from there to Islamabad. This happened to thousands of PIA passengers in Europe. Their flights were either cancelled or they were rerouted causing inconvenience and long travel times.
Instead of looking at their own failures and taking action to improve weaknesses in their processes, PIA is still continuing in their own slumber to call the EU action ‘unfair, unjust and discriminatory’. Please stop self-piety and start correcting your weaknesses.
AZHAR SAMI KHAN
Karachi
WE, the members of the Mohallah Committee and residents of D.D. Chaudhary Road, Lyari, Karachi, would like to draw the attention of the civic agencies towards the deteriorating condition of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai Road for the past six years.
The condition of this main road is the worst as there are so many ditches and potholes on it that no motorist can pass through this road without experiencing hard-hitting jerks.
This road was also badly damaged during the last monsoon rains. People have to face traffic jams round-the-clock. Traffic is being run on one side of the road between Riaz Hotel and Shah Bhittai Hall near Kausar Masjid. Besides this, footpaths are also encroached upon by vendors, pan shops and auto-rickshaw workshops, causing immense problems for pedestrians.
The main nullah dug by the KWSB in 2001 between Lucky Arcade and Jan Bai Maternity Home had been left unattended till date. It appears that the authorities concerned have forgotten this job after its digging.
The sewerage system of the area has totally collapsed and filthy water is gushing out on the main road, producing a foul smell and becoming a breeding place for mosquitoes, flies and other insects causing miseries to the area residents. It is feared that epidemic and viral diseases may break out in the area.
The authorities should look into the matter.
MOHALLAH COMMITTEE
Lyari, Karachi
I ONCE read a quote: “Nothing is fool-proof to a sufficiently talented fool”. At Sabina Park the meaning of this quote became clear as glass. Of course, there is no dearth of talent in Pakistan and even in the side that played Ireland. They surely had the skills and experience for the job assigned to them. But the the way Yousuf, Younis, Imran Nazir, Akmal, Azhar and Inzamam threw away their wickets was nothing short of criminal.
The game plan, if there was any, was preposterous for both games. In particular in the game against Ireland, when the team was down at 60 for 5 and aware of the pitch conditions, why did not they not change the target to something like 190 that could be defended on such a wicket rather than making a suicidal attempt for 250 and going down for 130 in the end.
The team that plays cricket in my neighbourhood in Nazimabad, Karachi, would have known better than to do that. But then that is called strategy, something the helm is not capable of.
MEHDI HASNAIN
Boston, USA
ACCORDING to a report, speakers at a seminar in Mirpurkhas said that Hindus in Sindh were being forced to leave the country by some religious extremists (March 20).
One of them, Mr Deedar Baloch, said that the minorities have practically no rights in the country, hence a sense of deprivation prevailed among them. Another speaker, Mr Asghar Narejo, stated that incidents of execution of Hindus after kidnapping have increased in Sindh.
While Mr Kanji Ranomal Bheel alleged that government officials and agencies were forcing the minorities living near the borders to pay extortion money.
However, on March 19, an Indian reporter of the BBC Urdu service, who was in Lucknow on the trail of Justice Mr Rana Bhagwandas, replayed the interview of one Sindhi Hindu gentleman. In it, the latter revealed that the Sindhi people of India were curious about how their co-religionists were being treated in Pakistan. This question was naturally put to the visiting senior judge of Pakistan’s Supreme Court.
With obvious satisfaction he said that Mr Bhagwandas told them that the Hindus had all their rights, that many of their young people were getting good education and that the law and order situation was such that the youth stayed out without fear until one in the night for their various ‘karayakaram’ (programmes).
Apart from that, it must also be noted that the rise of a Hindu gentleman to this high post in the apex court and being nominated as the next acting chief justice of Pakistan speaks volumes about the treatment of minorities.
Also the fact that Muslims are speaking in their support shows many of us do care about them, regardless of the few extremists.
Incidentally, in the same BBC broadcast, the late lamented coach Bob Woolmer had also been cited by its Lahore correspondent as having said in an interview before his departure for West Indies that he liked Pakistan and had also praised its people and his enjoyable experience of living here. The many touching messages of condolences in Dawn by Pakistanis justify his feelings.
The great majority of Pakistanis aren’t the demons they are being portrayed to be by some folks and are as good as or better than people in many other places.
As far as kidnappings and extortion are concerned, which Pakistani, regardless of religion, is safe from such crimes? It may also be recalled that last year many members of the Hindu and Christian communities had taken out rallies in support of a religious group that is supposed to be a hardliner and has been proscribed by a western country for alleged acts of terrorism.
A. ALEEM
Karachi
THIS is with reference to the letter titled ‘Street crime’ (March 20). The writer, Mr A.G. Habib, asks how we can stop street crimes such as the one he witnessed himself.
The answer is absurdly simple: get involved. As a nation, we are more likely to run and hide, or look the other way in the face of such activities (as you did yourself). We refuse to come forward with information regarding crimes, we do not report them, and we certainly do not stop to help a victim if ever faced with the situation.
Here’s a news flash: all the responsibilities for fixing crime and lawlessness does not fall on the government alone. Every one of us is a law-breaker every time we hit the road; the most educated being the worst offenders (because, presumably, they know better).
We do not censure the average well-educated man in a luxury car who recklessly breaks through a streetlight, endangering citizens far more often than the boy pulling a gun on someone. How dare we expect more from our government than we are willing to do ourselves?
SABAHAT MUHAMMAD
Karachi
WE are only fooling ourselves by constructing the tallest building on earth in Karachi. What we need are good roads, hospitals, and, of course, law and order.
And as long as Karachi has overflowing gutters and pools of stinking water, no one will think it is a city worth emulating. If only our leaders spent more time reading newspapers, they’d know what the people of Karachi want.
SHAKIR LAKHANI
Karachi
IT is heartening to note that the authorities in Karachi have imposed a total ban on the use, manufacture and sale of polythene bags.
However, if the government wants this measure to succeed, it must provide an alternative so that manufacturers can switch over production from polythene bags to paper bags and other organic alternatives.
HAMDAN SIDDIQUI
Karachi
AS a Pakistani who greatly admired Bob Woolmer's devotion to Pakistani cricket, I suggest the least we can do is to name the Karachi stadium as Bob Woolmer Stadium. Besides, he died on duty.
So the government must pay his family financial compensation. Let us not forget that he was the coach when Pakistan under Inzimam triumphed in India with a 4-2 victory in One-day internationals.
ZAREEF LATIF
Karachi
I HAVE noticed quite a number of vehicles bearing number plates of AFR2006 and AFR2007 plying Karachi roads. I guess this means ‘Applied for Registration 2006 and 2007’.
However, these are not temporary number plates or paper sheets normally people use on new cars.
In fact, these are very similar to permanent number plates issued by the motor vehicle registration office.
How come so many people using these similar number plates? Is there no check on these by the relevant authorities?
This is much more serious violation of law than the tainted window glass that often catch the eyes of the law authorities.
NAVEED ASHER SHEIKH
Karachi
LAST week there was a wedding in our neighbourhood. Throughout the week music was played so loud, especially around midnight, that it was almost impossible to sleep.
There was no consideration for other people living in the vicinity, not even seniors, children, students or the sick.
I am not saying that one should not rejoice at wedding ceremonies but the celebrations within should not disturb others.
Since childhood we have been taught to ‘respect thy neighbour’; everyone should try to be a responsible member of society so that others are not disturbed.
SANA ZAMIR
Karachi
THE indictment of Scooter Libby has exposed the inner working of the Bush and similar administrations.
In administrations like these a select group of control freaks do what it takes to impose their will on the nations.
In doing this, they have no regard for morality, and are devoid of scruples.
The fall guys are the spongers who are easy to find in every society, more so in our case where they are eagerly waiting for an opportunity to bestow their services for the ruling elite.
The sad part is that in our country justice may never take its course and set an example of such sycophants.
IMRAN FAZAL
Rawalpindi
FROM security point of view, accepting a plane from a foreign country for the president’s and the prime minister’s travels is totally a bad idea.
It may be recalled that a few years back the Chinese discovered bugs in their president’s airplane. Also, did we forget Gen Zia’s mysterious crash? Authorities should seriously consider either exchanging or donating the gift plane to PIA.
But again, perhaps Pakistan does not protect any secrets and President Musharef has more than nine lives.
IMRAN KHAN
San Jose, USA
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