| March 29, 2007 | Thursday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 9, 1428 |
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Constitutional crisis, law & anarchy
Dichotomy
The balloon is up
Impounding of public vehicles
Traumatised by PCB
Family ties
Milk and meal prices
Excess billing
Defining democracy
Another general
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
IN the main article on the op-ed page (March 23) captioned “Night has fallen all over”, Mr Tahir Mirza states: “With repeated martial laws and with military rule destroying constitutional and democratic system and standards, no one feels any longer that those who wonder why Pakistan was created are traitors or feel annoyed with them”.
While repeated military intervention has been against the popular sprit of the Pakistan Movement and has impeded political stability and democratic development, it has in no way invalidated the raison d’etre for the creation of Pakistan, based on a historic dynamic, as a consequence of a mass movement promoted through strictly political and constitutional means.
The primary catalyst in the movement for Pakistan was the urge to preserve and promote the thousand-year-old Indo-Muslim cultural and civilisational heritage which would not have been possible in a united India as one glance at present-day Bharat would show. Except for the physical landmarks of erstwhile Muslim power, all other socio-cultural motifs and manifestations are being erased, with the new generation of Indian Muslims illiterate in their own mother tongue and the enforced usage of the Devanagri script.
The drive for economic and social emancipation of the Muslims was another determinant of the Pakistan Movement. Although an immense amount still remains to be done, whatever economic progress has been achieved by Pakistan is in vivid and sad contrast to the socio-economic plight of the Muslim community in India. A commission set up by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, under the chairmanship of Justice Rajinder Sachar, has confirmed what was already widely known, i.e., the Indian Muslims were at the bottom in socio-economic terms, ranking even below the lowly scheduled castes and Depressed classes in income and jobs with their share in the latter not even a fraction of their entitlement in population terms. This comes as a greater shock to those who are familiar with the comparative socio-economic status of Indian Muslims before independence.
Businesses and small-scale industries floated by members of the Muslim community repeatedly become victims of the recurring anti-Muslim pogroms, of which Gujarat was the latest. In the words of reputed Indian author, K. L. Gauba, “From time to time, events demonstrate to the Indian Muslims that they are hostages, the safety of whose life and property is at the caprice and whim of the majority community” (Passive Voices).
Factors highlighting the importance of making a success of Pakistan include, inter alia, the sacrifices that have gone into the making of the state, the high stakes which the Muslim of South Asia have in ensuring Pakistan’s independence and integrity, the significance of Pakistan’s role in promoting close inter-Islamic cooperation and a moderate Islamic voice in international affairs as well as the prospects for economic and social development in the context of Pakistan’s location as an energy and communication corridor at the intersection of South, Central and West Asia.
Those of us who were participants in the struggle for Pakistan dreamt of a new state: not merely a rearrangement of the old. To redeem the promise of the state’s creation, we must work for a democratic system involving the clear primacy of the popular will, an all-out effort to reduce the significant income disparities between different sections of the population and the provision of a more generous dispensation to smaller provinces and ethnic groups as President Musharraf has promised.
MAHDI MASUD
Karachi
THE current crisis is a delayed reaction to the 1999 constitutional violation, forcing the judiciary to violate their solemn oath with Allah, in favour of the PCO. The CJP deviated from the PCO oath, taking stand on PSM and disappearances, facing action, leading to the crisis, as ‘anarchy begins where law ends.’
This crisis requires utmost care, as advised by our allies. It is, therefore, essential to recall and rectify our past mistakes to avoid repetition of 1971 tragedy, which halved the country, within 24 years of independence. The first Constituent Assembly, elected by Muslims of the subcontinent, received mandate for framing the Constitution of Pakistan within three years, according to the Interim Constitution adopted in 1947.
It also adopted the Objectives Resolution within this period, vowing to strictly follow the holy Quran and Sunnah. This is now an essential part of the 1973 Constitution, adopted by half the assembly elected in 1970 without fresh mandate, after the division of Pakistan, thus leaving the vital legal lacuna, damaging its legitimacy.
The first Constituent Assembly failed to frame the permanent constitution, apparently as the two parts of the country, separated by thousand miles of Indian territory, differed in several aspects and adopted federation instead of confederation, despite divisive tendencies from day one.
The Constituent Assembly also failed to hold a fresh election for the National Assembly, due in 1950, thus creating this evil tradition, derailing of the democratic process by Ghulam Mohammad and Iskandar Mirza, regularised by chief Justice Munir through his evil ‘Doctrine of Necessity,’ followed by dictatorships in 1958, 1968, 1977 and 1999, leading to the present crisis.
Dictators are afraid of leaving with dignity, due to the ‘sword of Damocles’ of Article 6 and try to prolong their stay through devious means, till destiny overtakes.
Thus this 50 years long crisis can be resolved by sincerely following the 1947 Constitution and the Objectives Resolution, electing the head of state, like the first ‘khulafas’, with a direct two-thirds majority vote and simple majority in provinces, similar to the practice in the US, the National Assembly serving as ‘shoora’ only, like the US Senate, thus avoiding horse-trading, high cost and other evils.
All leaders and experts are requested to consider this major national issue, instead of wasting breath on reference to the SJC.
SYED MOHSIN
Karachi
WE live in a country which is governed in bizarre ways. The chief justice has been brought to disrepute on grounds which seem to be flimsy and concocted. An ordinary citizen of the country was looking up to him to provide justice on issues which nobody before him had the courage to pass judgment on.
His suo motu decisions on numerous public issues were appreciated by the people because he did what a silent majority felt was the need of the time. These decisions generated a ray of hope and were clearly reflected/appreciated in these columns by many writers.
Justice being an expensive dispensation, ordinary citizens do not have the resources and time to take that course of action. The removal of the chief justice was absolutely unnecessary and with this action, the hope has been quashed by the general-president in a seemingly big hurry.
On the other hand, government, semi-government and corporate functionaries, who have hardly delivered anything worth its name to the nation, thrive on sycophancy and/or personal connections in higher echelons. That is why they find an easy way out of any scenario, however tricky or embarrassing it may be.
The art of concocting stories and feeding wrong information with a poker-face take such individuals successfully through any awkward situation. These situations could be an extreme embarrassment to the organisations, their employees or even to the nation as a whole. The current European ban on the national carrier, which restricts flights operating to the European destinations, is a case in point. Do we see any dichotomy or favouritism here?
WG CDR (r) ARIF MAJEED
Karachi
POPULAR support for the non-functional chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) is universal because he personifies the independence of the judiciary and is standing tall against government pressure to step down.
Sadly today as events unfold, the credibility of the government has been reduced to zero and no amount of explanations will alter the perception that the CJP has been wronged. There is also no denying that our president shot from the hip, without war-gaming the consequences.
The safest course out of the impending storm is to beat a planned retreat rather than face an uncontrolled rout which will have grave consequence for the future of Pakistan.
Given our circumstances, Gen Pervez Musharraf is our best choice and we need his steady hand to steer the ship of state through waters which are becoming increasingly stormy. But our president needs to shed some heavy and excess baggage and at the same time genuinely share power with true representatives of the people.
His present time-servers and the rank opportunists gathered around have cost him the support of the silent majority. The president must not forget that the people need to be trusted in choosing their own representatives who are held accountable at the hustings and this is what eventually safeguards the sovereignty and frontiers of any nation.
JAVED KHAN TARIN
Haripur Hazara
THE media is rife with reports of public vehicles being impounded by police to carry people to the rally being organised to celebrate the inauguration of the Leh Nullah Expressway project. Along with reports, the print media has been carrying telltale photographs of a large number of impounded public vehicles parked at different places to be used at the discretion of designated authorities for carrying people to the rally.
It has become a normal practice with the police, especially in the Punjab province, to impound public vehicles to carry people to the public rallies organised by the leaders of this country.
The media has been reporting this for the last so many years but the situation instead of improving has become worse with time. The police routinely claim that vehicles are not impounded but are hired on orders from the higher authorities. However, the owners of these vehicles have a different story to tell.
In any event it is perception of the general public concerning this matter that is of importance. The public believes that the large numbers gathered at the rallies addressed by government leaders are brought there on public vehicles impounded by police and other authorities. If at all, only a very tiny fraction of people come to these rallies on their own.
Over time, the authorities have become more and more brazen in their methods to ensure large attendance. To prove this point I draw attention to the news reports in the print media concerning teachers of the Punjab education department who were officially ‘advised’ to attend the rally that was organised in Rawalpindi on March 27.
It is very surprising that the higher judicial authorities have not yet taken suo motu notice of this practice. As an affected citizen — for I have suffered in commuting to my place of work on account of a large number of vehicles having been taken off the roads — I hope that the present acting chief justice will take notice of the above-mentioned deplorable practice. A large number of other citizens who use public vehicles and have borne the brunt of these wrongful acts by government authorities also have the same wish.
NASEERUDDIN KHALID
Islamabad
AFTER what has undoubtedly been a most pathetic performance by our star-studded cricket team in the World Cup, the PCB has been out in full force to portray the players as unfortunate victims of circumstances by trying to take advantage of Bob Woolmer’s tragic death.
Almost every day we hear statements coming from PCB officials in which they use phrases like “boys have been through hell” or “boys have been traumatised”, etc. The fact remains that all this “hell” and “traumatisation” has been the result of an inefficient and corrupt cricket board and a team of unprofessional players who’ve all along refused to learn and improve their skills.
The harsh truth about this bunch of players is that give them a dead track and they will pile up mountains of runs, but show them a green top and they will crumble in the most pathetic way that one can ever imagine. For the PCB to try to hide their failure through using such phrases is nothing but to rub salt in the wounds of this unfortunate nation.
It’s not the “boys”, but us, the Pakistani nation, who has been through hell and is still in shock and state of disbelief due to the disgrace and failure that you and your pathetic eleven have brought on us.
RIZWAN A.
Indiana, USA
THE ouster of the Pakistan cricket team from the first round of World Cup 2007 has been discussed and debated ad infinitium in the print and electronic media during the last one week. There is, therefore, no need for flogging a dead horse over the two defeats at the hands of West Indies and Ireland anymore.
What needs to be analysed is the victory over the youngest cricket team in the tournament, Zimbabwe. Although, batting first, Pakistan record 349 in 49.4 overs, it was only the flash in the pan chancy innings of 160 by Imran Nazir which resulted in Pakistan reaching this huge total. If the chances given by Imran Nazir had gone to hands earlier on, then the score would hardly have crossed 200.
The next highest score was that of skipper Inzamam who scored 37 and was out playing a reckless shot in his last innings of his ODI career.
The shot selection of senior players Younus Khan, Yousuf, Afridi and Malik was simply pathetic and exhibited complete lack of commitment and temperament. The performance of stalwarts Mohammad Yousuf and Younus Khan in all the three matches was abysmal. In present form Younus Khan does not deserve to be even in the team let alone become the captain.
The onus now lies squarely on the shoulders of the new management and the selection team to analyse all the matches threadbare in the light of their performances in the World Cup and the tour to South Africa earlier on.
Emphasis should be given to fitness, technique and temperament while selecting the new team and formulating the strategy.
Tailpiece: Would Australia, South Africa or even New Zealand pick even one player from the 15 selected to represent Pakistan, in any of their teams
FAROOQ DAWOOD
Karachi
THIS is apropos of the photograph in (Dawn Metropolitan, March 24) in which a certain Khursheed Begum has been described as “the great granddaughter of the Quaid-i-Azam”. More research should be done before making such statements. The grandchildren of the Quaid would be the sons and daughters of Mrs Dina Wadia (the Quaid’s only offspring).
His great granddaughter would be the child of one of his grandchildren, and to the best of my knowledge, not one of his grandchildren has yet married, so it can be said with certainty that the Quaid has no great granddaughter. Even if he did, she would not be an aged woman like the one shown in the photograph. It may be recalled that some time back someone named Sikander Jinnah was mistakenly described by your correspondent as the Quaid’s grand nephew.
SHAKIR LAKHANI
Karachi
FIXING the price of milk is still a dilemma in Karachi. It has been sufficient time now since this issue caught spark after ex-parte increase in the price by milk sellers. The milk sellers are bent upon selling milk at Rs32 a litre, whereas the government has asked them to sell it at Rs28 a litre until they (city government and milk sellers) arrive at a just price after an expected detailed scrutiny.
The milk sellers have again increased the price from Rs28 to Rs32 a litre, in violation of the city government’s directive. People have become now sick of rising prices of daily necessities. Tea, breakfast and lunch through street vendors or in ordinary hotels have become so costly that a common man does not find it easy to bear.
The city administration should check the prices of milk and eatables which are being sold without any regard to quality and hygiene.
ANWAR HUSSAIN
Karachi
MY customer no. 2783760000 and meter No. M0424782 has been charged excess gas billing for the last two months. Can anybody from Sui Southern Gas Company Limited tell me why they are sending excess billing despite our regular consumption?
I have been overcharged up to 350 per cent. I have made several complains but all in vain. The authorities concerned are requested to look into the matter.
SHAHZAD NOOR ALI
Karachi
IN a television appearance President Musharraf said that the West needs to know that democracy has a different definition and implications here in Pakistan. I ask the president why this is so. Democracy is and should be same universally. It cannot be made a subjective term.
Now the complicated question is: Is there democracy in Pakistan? I think the answer should be that we are experiencing a mixture of dictatorship and democracy. After all, what we are experiencing today is not a true democracy since the head of state is a president in uniform. Also, we are not experiencing complete dictatorship thanks to the one most talked about attribute of democracy, namely the freedom of speech.
There may be two reasons to allow that particular attribute of democracy. One is to avoid complete dictatorship. And the other may be clever thinking on the part of government that even if they didn’t wish to allow the freedom of speech, it would have happened anyway because of the increased use of Internet and cable networks by the general public after the year 2000.
AMIR IKRAM
Lahore
SO finally Mr Kirmani took pity on PIA and left the office as the chairman. The sad news is that another general appears to be the front runner for the job.
When is Gen Musharraf going to learn that we need well-educated, seasoned businessmen to run corporate organisations like PIA just as we need seasoned diplomats to run our embassies abroad, and not retired generals who have no business or diplomatic knowledge or skills.
It hurts to see generals run our country like their personal asset. No wonder organisations like PIA and Steel Mills are a shambles.
USMAN AZHAR
Arlington, USA
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