| March 26, 2007 | Monday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 6, 1428 |
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Imports versus local industries
Volunteers for senior citizens
Unregistered vehicles
A dream for Pakistan
Inhuman magic trick
Greening the Thar
Security issues
Deeds speak louder
Cable operators
A happy future
New democracy
Student’s ordeal
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 removal of Chief Justice Iftkhar Muhammad Chaudhry through an executive order in a unceremonial way reminds me of Sir Elbert Coke (1552-1634), a great jurist of Britain, when England was ruled by monarch like King James-I who for his idiosyncrasies was known as ‘a wisest fool’.
Coke was born to a London barrister from a Norfolk family. He became a member of parliament in 1589, and became speaker of the House of Commons in 1592 and was appointed England’s attorney-general in 1593, a post for which he was in competition with his rival, Sir Francis Bacon.
In 1606 he was appointed to the post of chief justice of the Court of Common Pleas. In 1613, he was elevated to the post of chief justice of the King’s Bench, where he continued to defend the English common law against the encroachment by the ecclesiastical hierarchy’s local court. Bacon encouraged King James to remove Coke as chief justice in 1616 for refusing to hold a case in abeyance until the king could give his own opinion.
In 1620 Coke became an MP and proved so troublesome to the crown that he was imprisoned, along with other parliamentary leaders, for six months. An influential figure of Renaissance England and a great jurist, Sir Edward Coke bravely fought for the supremacy of the common law over the monarchy. It was his ideas that later influenced the American Revolution.
The people of our country can take pride in having such a jurist in Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry who has stood steadfast to the challenge of the democratic king in military uniform, who keeps on preaching for enlightened moderation. Historians must be recording the events and at present we may not be able to reap fruits of this struggle but future generation will surely benefit from it.
S.BUKHARI
Karachi
THE current judicial crisis in Pakistan has not surprised people like me. In fact, by requesting the president of Pakistan to file a reference against the chief justice of Pakistan, the prime minister of Pakistan has killed two birds with one stone.
In the nearest past the prime minister suffered a severe blow when the Supreme Court gave its verdict against the sale of the Steel Mills of Pakistan. In the wake of that historic decision, there were demands from different quarters asking for the resignation of the prime minister which he was not obliged to tender.
Since then he was licking his wounds and looking for the right opportunity to remove all hurdles from his way to his ultimate goals.
In the present scenario, there are two aggrieved parties. If on the one hand the CJP has been made to leave his office unceremoniously, on the other hand the president of Pakistan has earned a bad name for being responsible for all this mess. On the contrary, the prime minister, who actually triggered off one of the worst judicial crises in Pakistan, appears to be the least affected person so far.
The history of Pakistan is replete with examples when its loyal rulers were backstabbed by those team members who always had very doubtful credentials.
LAL ZADA KHAN
Peshawar
THIS has reference to the news item ‘Unbridled imports hitting industries’ (March 14) in which the Union of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises has asked Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan to take note of unbridled import of such goods as are manufactured locally, as it is posing a threat to the survival of many small and medium-sized industries.
Recently the directorate-general, Intelligence and Investigation, Customs and Excise, conducted a detailed inquiry into the case of under-invoicing items, including toys, electronics and baby garments, from China and took serious notice of massive evasion of duties and taxes on the import of Chinese goods cleared through the Margalla dry port, Islamabad, and the Lahore dry port.
Previously, the National Accountability Bureau had launched an investigation into the disappearance of more than 2,000 containers from various dry ports of the country, supposedly to evade taxes and duties.
It is surprising that a lot of consignments of cosmetics/perfumery toilet preparation of Korean/Chinese make and foreign items are still cleared from dry ports such as Margalla dry port and Lahore dry port with heavy under-invoicing or without paying duties.
The CBR is aware but helpless as most customs officials have their shares in this system. The government should take stern action in this regard.
MUHAMMAD IQBAL SURYA
Karachi
IMPROVEMENT of medical facilities, as well as a number of other positive developments, has increased the life expectancy. People above the age of 60 who are commonly known as senior citizens are about 10 per cent of our population.
Increasing trend of migration of young people, for better education/job opportunities is posing a problem for elderly persons who are left alone. The few well-off persons, however, hire somebody to look after them. Even such privileged people often need the services of some dedicated person who may advise and help them.
In the above scenario, there is an immediate need to raise a corps of dedicated social workers who may help the senior citizens in seeking medical assistance and provide other needed services.
There are some NGOs working for the welfare of senior citizens but due to resource constraints their activities are confined to organising awareness programmes and medical camps etc. There isn’t any governmental institution worth mentioning which may take care of this important segment of the population.
In this backdrop I would propose that NGOs working for the welfare of senior citizens should raise small groups of dedicated volunteers who may serve the elderly persons. The provincial, as well as district, government may extend financial support to such NGOs so that they may expand their programmes and provide the needed services.
SOHAIL A. KHAN
Karachi
THIS has reference to the news item ‘Unregistered vehicles’ (March 13), in which the minister for excise and taxation asked all those driving unregistered vehicles to get them registered within 15 days.
I have read many such notices and warnings issued by the authority in the past as well but no serious action has ever been taken.
One can see so many cars plying on Karachi roads with a similar number, i.e., AFR 2006, AFR 2007, exactly made like the official number-plate issued by the excise and taxation department. This is deliberately done to hoodwink the police.
This is a clear-cut case of cheating and forgery with the government. I know some one living in my neighbourhood driving an expensive vehicle for the last one year without paying a single rupee as road tax etc.
Then there is another kind of cheating, i.e., get a number-plate with a name such as Baloch or Chaudhry or Hur or Pashtun and keep driving for years because it deters an ordinary policeman from checking the vehicle. These people are depriving the provincial government of millions of rupees.
Moreover, in case of an accident it will be almost impossible to track down the hit-and-run vehicle because there are a plenty of cars around with one and the same number.
All law-abiding people who pay their taxes and get their vehicles registered look like fools. I hope this time the government is serious and will also do something about tinted/black glasses.
TARIQ RAHIM
Karachi
HERE’S a question for all my brothers and sisters in Pakistan, especially its leaders. What is your dream for this nation and, more importantly, what would your personal contribution be towards its realisation if you had only six more months to live? Obviously, it should be such as to hurt no one. If necessary, please take a few days to arrive at an answer.
Do not be deterred by the enormity of the task. For instance, if your aim is to build a clean or beautiful Pakistan, do not be discouraged by thinking what one individual could achieve single-handedly.
You can at least try to keep the surroundings of your own home clean and plant some flowers. Also, avoid throwing any litter on to the streets or out of your car when driving along. Try to good-naturedly ‘infect’ your neighbours and friends with the same spirit but don’t feel discouraged if they respond too slowly or make fun of you. Remember that there are potentially 160 million other Pakistanis to continue your mission.
If each one of us sincerely tries to do that, without expecting only others to worry about such things, the destiny of Pakistan will be transformed very soon.
Please paste this letter at a conspicuous place in your home as a constant reminder and begin working today. May God bless you and may you live long enough to see your vision for our beloved country come alive. And, May He help us build a beautiful, peaceful advanced and enlightened Pakistan. Ameen.
A PAKISTANI
Karachi
I agree entirely with Ms Saira Khan’s decrying the killing of a dove by a magician during a magic show at a restaurant in Karachi, in order to make it ‘disappear’ (March 20).
In these times when some countries make human beings disappear, it may seem a rather insignificant thing, but there still are many people everywhere in the world who care about such matters.
This reminds me of another incident. Some years back I was walking along a street during a visit to the US when I saw a dove lying in the middle of the thoroughfare that had apparently been hurt by a passing vehicle. I waited for a gap in the traffic, which was quite light, to hurry across and save the poor bird.
Unfortunately, before that could happen, it got run over by a car. I was greatly saddened but nevertheless went over, picked it up and put it beside a tree on the sidewalk, so it would at least not be crushed any further.
A Hispanic American, who was sitting at a bus stop some 25-30 metres away and had watched the episode, remarked philosophically: “Dead bird!” as I passed by him. Nodding, I said, “Life is so uncertain” and moved on.
A READER
Karachi
IT is good news that a number of water supply schemes initiated by the government and NGOs have been completed in Thar. Moreover, some schemes are either at the planning stage or nearing completion. The network of roads in the region has been considerably expanded during the recent years. This process is continuing and would culminate with the linking of a number of towns and villages with the national highway.
Schemes for the exploitation of mineral resources are also being implemented. In brief the people of Thar are very close to the threshold of a new era of progress and prosperity.
Now it is high time to think about the environmental upgradation of the region. Looking at the gigantic nature of the task, it is proposed that coordinated efforts may be made by government departments/institutions and NGOs in this behalf. Here it may be added that collaboration of local community is of prime importance for achieving the desired goals.
As a first step, a botanical garden-cum-research institute may be set up at Mithi and Umerkot. It would educate the people and would also facilitate in identifying trees that are suitable for plantation in this arid region. Subsequently, each town committee/union council may launch a tree plantation project for which the provincial government may extend financial assistance.
The NGOs may also be encouraged to initiate such projects by mobilising local resources. They may also get financial support from the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency and other donors.
It is hoped that implementation of the above projects would bring positive change in the socio-economic conditions of the people of this most under-developed region of Sindh.
SOHAIL A. KHAN
Karachi
I am absolutely shocked at the news that Bob Woolmer was murdered. And as if that shock was not enough news stories are appearing all over the media that do not directly implicate the Pakistani team rather just hint at it and leave the rest to the readers’ imagination.
This World Cup has been a disaster. The organisers of this tournament have failed spectacularly and the murder of Bob Woolmer clearly goes on to show the lax security provided to these VIPs arriving in their country from all over the world.
The Jamaica police, which had been so inefficient in providing the security, are now appealing to the people who have committed the murder to come forward and hand themselves in. This is absolutely laughable.
And since the Jamaican police do not have any clue as to who did it, they are targeting the Pakistani cricket team members by fingerprinting them, taking their DNA samples, questioning them and issuing statements that they will not be allowed to leave.
Hosting a successful World Cup does not just mean building new stadiums. There are several other important factors to it and security is one of the most important one, something the organisers of this tournament seemed to have overlooked.
Nothing has ever disgraced this game more than what has happened in the last five days. It is absolutely disgraceful and the ICC and the world cup organisers are partly responsible for it; the organisers for not providing enough security, and the ICC for not taking the organisers to task for this oversight.
FAISAL KADER
UK
THE government is going to construct the Lai Expressway on the devastating Nullah Lai. It is hoped that after the completion of this project the traffic mess in Rawalpindi will be reduced. It is expected that the Lai Expressway construction work would be inaugurated in the last week of March by President Musharraf.
This expressway is going to be built on Nullah Lai, but one can see its demonstration on Murree Road, Rawalpindi, in the form of billboards and banners. While travelling on Murree Road, one can see hundreds of them with the pictures of Gen Musharraf, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, Sheikh Rashid and district nazims and town nazims welcoming this project. It looks like a political expressway.
If the government is sincere, then it should cut short these expenses and focus on the project rather than wasting money in projecting its image. It is a universal saying that deeds speak for themselves.
FARRUKH SHAHZAD
Islamabad
FOR the last some months the cable operators are blocking advertisements on popular channels and inserting their own ads which are repetitive and repulsive.
At present the cricket World Cup is under way and although the Super Sports channel that provides ad-free coverage is also infested by the unscrupulous operators who dish out ads, when the over ends and continue well into the first ball of the next over.
The Pemra and other relevant departments should take note of this illegal activity. Also the income-tax department should probe the windfall revenues generated in consequence of this.
RAFI ADAMJEE
Karachi
After reading your splendid editorial (‘The World Cup disaster’, March 20) on what should be done to your cricket administrators (including a personal imposition by President Musharraf from the US) for their poor showing, and the editorial (“A day of reflection”, March 23) in which you mince no words as to what you think of your former ‘leaders’ I salute you as a fearless defender of the freedom of the press.
It naturally follows I bow my head to your press, your society and your system of governance that allows you to write so independently, though there are indeed many areas in governance in your part of the world that attracts constructive criticism. As a South Asian my fond wish is that countries of the region become strong, prosperous and free in every sense of the word.
I wish Pakistan and its talented and friendly people good luck in their journey to a freer, prosperous and happy future.
A. KANDAPPAH
Colombo
AS mentioned by Irfan Hussain in his column ‘The shock and awe of it all’ (March 17), Pakistan will be a ‘fully functioning democracy’ according to Vision 2030. I have a suggestion for the esteemed authors of the Vision 2030.
Keeping in view Ayub Khan’s famous comment that “parliamentary democracy was against the genius of the people of Pakistan”, it is humbly suggested that a system of ‘paramilitary democracy’ be introduced in Pakistan to settle the issue forever through a constitutional amendment by the parliament.
Mr Sharifuddin Pirzada’s assistance could be sought in this regard. The office of the president and army chief should be declared one single office. The general who becomes army chief should automatically become the president of the country for five years.
This will be a unique form of democracy and at least Thailand and Myanmar will be very thankful to us for introducing this new form of democracy.
ARSHAD MAHMOOD
Mardan
I COMMUTE by rickety and shabby buses and, hence, in a way I am a victim of the sordid transport system, which is in dire need of overhauling.
Bus operators misbehave with students, and pick and drop them at their whims. This has a telling effect on the students who over the period develop a peevish nature and retain this all through their life.
To overcome the situation, I would like to recommend that all buses must be made to stop and pick students at the designated points and drop them at their academic institution’s gates.
Also, there should be a system of concessional fare for all students in all buses.
M. A. BILAL
Karachi
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