| April 04, 2007 | Wednesday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 15, 1428 |
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Makran Coastal Highway
Lessons not learnt
Munir Niazi remembered
Indian consulate in Karachi
Count your blessings
Confronting religious extremism
Danger of military clampdown
Ad hoc lecturers in Sindh
Woes of the pensioners
Points to ponder: fall guys
Our currency notes
Bridge construction
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 chairman of the PCB, Dr Nasim Ashraf, recently spoke for the first time after the World Cup debacle. As usual, huge promises were made but he didn’t say a single word about the terrible condition of pitches in domestic cricket.
Why do we fail most of the time on foreign pitches? The simple answer is that we simply do not prepare green pitches in Pakistan. I hope someone will pay attention to this issue soon.
OMAR MAHMOOD BUTT
Lahore
NASIM Ashraf, in choosing to continue his position as chairman of the PCB, has stated that he is doing so because Gen Musharraf has expressed confidence in him.
Well, going by all the editorials, columns and the letters in the press, the president seems to be the only one amongst a population of 160 million who has expressed confidence in Dr Ashraf.
Does Pakistan not have a single qualified person for the chairmanship that a physician, who has no experience running a professional cricket team, has to be imported from abroad? And does Nasim Ashraf have no qualms about continuing in the position even after he has failed spectacularly during his short tenure.
I can bet you that the day Gen Musharraf is gone, Dr Ashraf will be on the next flight out of Pakistan.
NUZHAT AZIZ
Islamabad
ON July 30, 1971 an All-Nippon airplane collided with a Japanese F-86 fighter jet near Shizukuishi, Japan, killing all 162 passengers on board. Although he had no direct involvement in the accident, the Japanese minister of transport resigned his post. He saw the accident as a failure of his office and did the morally honourable thing by resigning.
Here we have a situation where the national cricket team has not only been humiliated by one of the weakest teams in the tournament, the coach dies in mysterious circumstances and match-fixing is a byword for Pakistani players. We have become a laughing stock of the world.
Yet, neither the patron nor the chief of the PCB feel morally responsible for this state of affairs. How convenient it is for the chairman to offer a token resignation, and how nice of the patron not to accept it. It is morally reprehensible for both to be involved in the cricket affairs of this country any longer.
But then ethics, morality and ‘ghairat’ are not words found in the dictionaries of our society. My advice to Dr Nasim Ashraf is this: please stick to your job and spare what little is left to Pakistan cricket.
MURAD MOOSA KHAN
Karachi
I HAVE travelled back and forth from Karachi to Makran via the coastal highway several times in the last few months. What I have noticed is the sheer deterioration of this much-hyped highway. Currently, there are no less than 10 diversions for the construction of bridges that should have been constructed in the first phase.
We believe the survey was not properly done, and if it was, the money put forth has been wasted.
The remaining road already has cracks and poses serious danger to the life of travellers because of its faulty design seemingly done by the consultants in their offices instead of going personally and surveying the terrain of the area. As a result of poor design and construction, a lot of accidents have occurred involving fatal casualties.
Anyone who has been travelling to the area can verify my claims. The survey and the design was reported to have been done by the National Engineering Services of Pakistan and the construction work has been carried out by the Frontier Works Organisations (FWO), the twin army state agencies which, it seems, are not answerable to any accountability agencies.
Had the project been supervised under any civil department of Balochistan, the National Accountability Bureau would have at least interrogated and held accountable a dozen civil engineers.
However, despite the fact that the per kilometer cost of the construction of coastal highway by the FWO is almost 10 times higher, no one has been held accountable for this debacle and the media has surprisingly kept silent.
UMER BALOCH
Turbat
IN your editorial titled ‘A day of reflection’ (March 23) it is rightly stated that had the path of democracy (however flawed) not been interrupted repeatedly since 1988, things would have been better.
I would, in fact, go as far back as 1956 while agreeing fully with the statement and would also invite Dawn to recall its own less than unequivocal stances towards all these interruptions.
All of these unfortunate events of our history were engineered, supported or sponsored by none other than the army and sufficient groundwork was always accomplished behind closed doors to ensure a popular backing for changes.
Our famed politicians (whosoever was not in power at the time) went along for their own selfish reasons but, most regretfully, so did the intelligentsia, judiciary and the media.
During those grave events, I always had difficult time finding a single editorial in any of our well-respected newspapers condemning the illegal takeovers without citing one reason or another as an excuse for their welcoming postures.
There were always some reservations and conditions for their approval but no straightforward rejection of the forced changes.
Somehow the media sided with the short-sighted (and manipulated) mass sentiment to at least condone, if not fully welcome, almost all the interruptions.
Even today, your newspaper is treading a delicate balance and has not come out openly and unequivocally on the side of democracy. The media, as the conscience of the nation, has a bigger responsibility and must be accountable for its stances and positions too.
I believe lessons have still not been learnt.
LIAQAT ALI
Jubail, Saudi Arabia
MUNIR Niazi was a spiritual person, extremely instinctive and sensitive. And to support that I have a story. It was immediately after the 1965 war when the nation was humming with spirit. We as schoolboys had become boy scouts. We were going on scout duty on a bus to Lahore Charring Cross. A man in his late 30s, sporting a mop of peppered white hair, boarded the bus at Ichra. It took him five minutes to recognise whose son I was, without ever meeting me before this encounter.
He was my mother’s cousin, and I too recognised him, since his song “Uss Bewafa ka Shehr” was being aired almost daily on the radio in those days, and had made him pretty well-known.
Munir Niazi, they say, was a narcissist. But in my opinion he was a down-to-earth man. He had built a wall around himself in self-defence -- probably, his only way of protecting himself. He never lobbied for his poetry. It was only on the basis of pure aesthetics and rhythms that he excelled beyond most of his peers and even many of his predecessors. As one of his famous Punjabi poems says: “Be yaqeen logaan wich rhenday, tay be yaqeen ho janday; Sanoo khud-parasti nay, shehr toun bacha dettah”
Once, after having read his book Tez Hawa Aur Tanha Phool, I was happily surprised to hear pop singer Najam Sheraz sing: “In Say Nain Milla Kar Daikho.” But much to my chagrin, even after the song became a big hit, with an aired video and many other vocalists, Munir Niazi’s name was never mentioned. This goes on to prove that he as a poet did not lobby or bother to have his poetry recognised.
A lot of people commented on Munir Niazi’s work after his death. There were radio programmes and television shows dedicated to him, and much was acknowledged and accredited to the poet. But as happens in most cases, suddenly these commentators stopped. Perhaps, they thought they were overdoing coverage of an event. Or maybe they were just singing along to his own tune “Ik tezz hawwa ka shorr,
Aur phir aik lambi chupp”
AKBAR KHAN
Karachi
YOUR editorial dated March 15 is reminder to the government on the subject.
Let us first take note of the following facts: a. Indian Muslims gave unprecedented sacrifices to create Pakistan. All those people could not be accommodated here, which created a phenomenon of divided families.
b. People travelling from and to Pakistan are mostly Muslims.
c. Pakistan is duty-bound to help these Muslims.
d. Yet, it is an irony of fate that India seems to be more sympathetic and keen to solve this problem.
e. Not long ago, Pakistan consulates were functioning at Bombay and Hyderabad without the Jinnah House.
f. Now there are two alternatives: (a) A temporary office to issue visas can function once a week in a hotel and (b) Bombay Muslims, if approached, will be too pleased to offer suitable premises, with or without rent.
What is required is will. I hold the foreign minister responsible for this lethargy. He cannot understand the agony people have to undergo in getting a visa from Islamabad.
S. MUSLEHUDDIN AHMED
Karachi
THERE was a time when Pakistan and India were the top two teams in hockey. Pakistan had more than two world champions in squash. In cricket the two neighbours ranked among the top four teams. Now we are nowhere.
But look at the advantage of not making it to the super-eight last month. How much time would have been wasted by millions of cricket enthusiasts in watching World Cup matches featuring our team, day or night. Work would have come to a standstill, as it has in Sri Lanka when their team is playing a World Cup match. Friends, we should thank our cricketers and count our blessings.
ASIF NOORANI
Karachi
I AM appalled that religious extremism is taking over Islamabad and that extremists are being allowed to harass the public, and appalled that our government is too spineless to do anything about it.
Some things are necessary evils; punishment of criminals, freedom struggles, sometimes even revolutions. They may involve bloodshed and suffering, but they are tolerated because they protect society, freedom and justice.
In this particular case of violent ‘students’ from seminaries, the government should stop using non-violence as an excuse (everybody knows that a government with an army man as president can rarely be termed non-violent) and take strict action against these self-appointed religious ‘scholars’. It would be an evil, but every fair-minded person would agree that it would be a most necessary one.
The Pakistani public should not be made to endure attacks on their freedoms by anyone, including the government. While I have no issues with what any Muslim does in person, be it wearing a veil or anything else, I believe that no person, saintly, sagacious or otherwise, should be allowed to force others to conform to his or her way of thinking.
The issue is not whether these clerics are advancing morality or not, it is that they are propagating it using all the wrong methods.
Whether a person gambles or listens to music or watches movies (whatever their content be) is a personal decision; he neither forces others to join them nor harms them. To be good or otherwise is, similarly, a personal decision.
No law, no institution should have the right to question how one chooses to live unless he treads on others’ freedom in the process.
Today it is video stores and cable operators. Unless we stave off this evil now, tomorrow someone will be telling us what to wear, what to say, what to think and what to feel.
This government has a track record of dilly-dallying over important human rights issues like the Hudood ordinance, missing persons and the ‘suspension’ of the chief justice, and it would be a pleasant change for it to act swiftly in this matter.
SYED SHIMAIL REZA
Islamabad
HALLMARKED by a normally poker-faced expression, Chief Justice Chaudhry is now all smiles at the unexpectedly sudden publicity that has catapulted him to heights of publicity and prominence which would be the envy of most of our political leaders.
Greatness and popularity have been literally thrust upon him and he is enjoying it. If the powers that be continue to mishandle the situation as they so badly did in Islamabad the other day, chances are that the honourable judge will soon emerge as a national icon.
An eminent columnist has even suggested that the judge be made ‘caretaker steward’ to conduct free and fair elections. No, sir, he should remain an honourable judge.
All judges do not make good administrators. The judiciary is one institution that should never be polluted either by politics or by governance.
Chief Justice Chaudhry’s desire to further politicise his case is obvious from his declared intention of travelling to all provincial capitals, ostensibly to meet members of the legal profession.
Even the mainstream political parties will not miss this opportunity to join the bandwagon and turn it into a political judgment.
This situation, therefore, requires careful handling and be not allowed to spin out of control, particularly now that elections are around the corner. Nothing should be done which would either hinder or postpone the election process.
The danger of a military clampdown is, therefore, heavy on the minds of most of us who desire a return to a normal political polity after so many long years of ‘khaki’ rule.
S. ASIF MAJEED
Karachi
THIS is to bring to the notice of Sindh Chief Minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim and Education Minister Hameeda Khuro the fact that we, some 741 ad hoc lecturers, have been discharging our duties with great commitment in colleges in the province since Aug 1, 2005, but our jobs have not yet been regularised.
Also, our salaries are stopped for three months after every extension period of six months, yet we remain peaceful so that the government will soon initiate our case for regularisation.
Recently, the NWFP government regularised the services of all their ad hoc lecturers. Even a lecturer who had a month’s service was regularised on Nov 10, 2005 through notification No SO (colleges) 2-2005.
The Balochistan government too regularised the services of 3,700 ad hoc teachers on Dec 18, 2006.
According to the Sindh education department report, there are still 2,000 vacancies of lecturers lying vacant.
Keeping in view the bold stand of the NWFP and Balochistan governments, the Sindh government is requested bring our case for regularisation in the Sindh Assembly.
AD HOC LECTURERS
Govt Islamia College, Sukkur
BENEVOLENT fund (BF) has not been paid since November last. Every month the sick and old people visit the BF office (Civic Centre) but are told to find out next month.
The government should show some sympathy and make sure that the fund is paid on a monthly basis to the senior citizens because whatever small amount they receive is part of their survival.
AFFECTED
Karachi
A CRISP synopsis of the Pakistan-Afghan situation has been presented in a befitting manner in ‘So little in return” by K. Hussain Zia (letter, March 16), especially the portion: “The US administration is now desperately looking for a ‘fall guy’ to blame for the looming fiasco. Who better for this role than Pakistan?” Which is a bit alarming.
I wish to add here that there is no dearth of various types of fall guys in the US; however some chronic types matter. For instance, “nefariously pervading” is Nixon, more details in: ‘Nixon’s deeds’ (letter, Jan 12).
‘Armageddon loving’ is Mr George W. Bush, who has been suggested some useful hints: “Mr Bush – a redeeming president” (letter, Feb 3).
Nobel laureate Carter is being cornered to become a ‘victimised’ one, bulldozed by the forces of ‘anti-Semitism’. The list goes on and on in the American history.
Referring to K. Hussain Zia’s prediction/apprehension about Pakistan expressed in the preceding para, I would suggest that he should choose the word ‘scapegoat’ instead of ‘fall guy’ for a better expose.
Chambers 21st Century Dictionary gives two meanings of the word: 1. Someone made to take the blame or punishment for the errors and mistakes of others. 2. Bible. A goat on which the Jewish high priest symbolically loaded the sins of people, which was then released into the wilderness.” (p.1253).
MOHAMMAD AHMAD
Karachi
THE State Bank has made a complete mess of our currency notes, which have been printed in deceptive and dull colours and in odd sizes.
The existing currency notes were already in good contrasting colours and in acceptable sizes.
If at all change of these notes was obligatory, then these could have been micro-sized only.
What is worse is that instead of Pakistan flag, foreign flags have been printed on these notes.
The white colour depicting minorities in our flag has disappeared from the discoloured flags printed on these notes.
The Turkish red flag with a crescent and star has been printed on the “new 1000-rupee note”.
Can we rectify these glaring errors, even if we cannot punish those responsible persons?
LT-COL (r) SYED JAMSHAID RAZA
Karachi
Hino Chowk bridge/ bypass is being constructed for over a year. It is hoped that proper diversions will be provided till bridge/bypass is ready.
The paved diversion along the bund wall from the Baloch Colony side was damaged during the rain last year and has not been repaired so far.
MOTORIST
Karachi
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