| April 11, 2007 | Wednesday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 22, 1428 |
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Other side of the story
Mobile hazards
Much ado about parajumping
Native constituency
Privatising cricket
Dr Pfau’s concern
Library woes in Ratodero
Compliments to PAF
Strange contradictions
An interesting thought
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
AS the new embassy of Talibanistan threatens its grand opening in the heart of Islamabad at the site of Lal Masjid, it’s high time the masses emerged from their secluded social cocoons where they have deliberately kept their intellect languish for many a year along with any requirement for political activism.
They probably never contemplated the idea that they too must now come out on the streets very much like their turbaned and stick-wielding mullah brethren, if they wish women not to be confined to the oppressive chadar and chardiwari that the religious extremists espouse to impose upon the entire nation, contrary to Jinnah’s progressive and secular beliefs.
Rather than almost entirely focusing on the current fashionable subject of the debacle between the government and the judiciary, the latter of which incidentally has never been classed as completely corruption-free or politically independent, perhaps the few remaining functional brain cells within the enlightened sections of society can be utilised to counter the spread of religious extremist violence and the threat of clampdown on basic civil liberties since the demise of the hard-line Sharia-inspired martial law imposed by the late Gen Ziaul Haq and the likes of Hamid Gul.
Perhaps by doing so, the people of Pakistan would once again start to cherish the encouraging and positive atmosphere that the present-day government has achieved to spread throughout the land, as opposed to the looming threat of unnecessary bloodshed and the psychological trauma — both in the name Islam — that awaits the cities once religious extremism finds firm ground whilst testing the waters for any reaction by the government and the ordinary urban folk, to make the next move.
DR SHAAZ MAHBOOB
Middlesex, UK
THE government faces a difficult decision in deciding how to deal with the Lal Masjid debacle.
Because of the open hostility displayed by Maulana Abdul Aziz, and the very realistic suicide threats made by his madressah, the government cannot afford to take any drastic or ill-planned measures.
Any violence or armed measures can exacerbate the situation if religious zealots from other parts of the country unify with their cause, leading to strife and disorder.
The worst possible scenario would be the martyrdom and glorification of Maulana Abdul Aziz if any attack is made on him.
Instead of trying the stick-and carrot approach, why not let moderate religious scholars talk and conduct an open dialogue with the madressah students.
If certain zealots can use Islam as a weapon, I am sure other more learned scholars can also use Islam to enlighten people.
Since most of the students are naive youngsters, they are highly susceptible to dogmatic propaganda, and would be equally responsive to compassionate enlightenment.
The real power base for the religious extremists are the misguided and ill-educated masses who are easy to proselytise.
The moderate majority has suffered enough under the hands of these hijackers.
HUSSAIN KAKAL
Toronto, Canada
ANYONE with common sense can see that the Lal Masjid/ Jamia Hafsa affair is the latest in a long line of staged rebellions by the government.
The various attempts on the lives of the president and the PM, the attacks on (and apologies to) media outlets, the countless cases of victimised women being rescued by NGOs, the World Cup debacle and subsequent blaming of the players’ religious leanings — all of these events look like poorly directed dramas where the acting skills of the various pawns were stretched to the limit.
Even so the artificial nature of these events was apparent to most, except the press and other media outlets that seem too eager to jump on the bandwagon with each episode.
Meanwhile, during all of these events, the president has been busy carrying out his agenda. Be it bombing civilians in Balochistan and tribal areas, or making allowances on foreign policy.
The true tragedy is that the government seems to have succeeded in its rabble-rousing antics which are directed primarily against religion and our cultural values.
It is all but disheartening to see how a majority of our ‘opinion leaders’ have fallen prey, and are now openly denouncing deep adherents to Islamic teachings.
Society is being polarised and the religious-minded are gradually being made pariahs.
This situation is being adequately compounded by the disgusting antics of the MMA, which while in opposition is playing the Orwellian Emmanuel Goldstein to Musharraf’s Big Brother by damaging the reputation of clerics as much as possible.
At least we can wake up to all this and identify the real directors behind the curtain. Or is that too much to ask?
TALHA BIN HAMID
Karachi
THE irrational zeal with which many letter-writers and columnists have engaged in the vilification of the administration of Lal Masjid and derision of the female students of the Jamia Hafsa betrays a pathological abhorrence of all pro-religious elements.
In doing so, people are proving nothing, they are only outdoing these latter-day puritans and in the process are giving them more publicity than they ever dreamed of.
A more civilised approach would be forthcoming. Our media is unfortunately engaging in the same way as the western media when it comes to religion.
KHWAJA SHAMAAS
Lahore
AT present six cellular services are working in Pakistan, providing facilities of communication to the public. No one can deny the fact that mobile phone has reshaped communication style and connected people with one another so that, I think, the world has become a global family.
Besides this, it has been a source of employment in the country, but one should be aware of hazardous effects of cellphone when used excessively and uselessly. Some are described.
A recent report, published by US scientists after long-term experimentation, revealed that chances of having brain cancer are enhanced (on the same side of the brain where the cellphone is used) when it is operated for eight hours a day. In report it was suggested to people not to use mobile phone adequately for useless purpose.
Further, some initial researches on people living near mobile towers claimed that chances of developing lethal blood diseases such as leukemia (blood cancer) are increased in these people to as high as 80 per cent.
One possible cause of this may be that electromagnetic waves radiated by these mobile towers cause mutation in genetic material of blood cells, releasing some harmful enzymes which stimulate cancerous production of white blood cell and thus a vicious circle is produced causing leukemia, pushing man into its final result – death.
Although these mobile towers can cause such lethal diseases, they are implanted in centres of town, even on roofs of buildings.
Another report published a few months ago in US magazines mentioned that if too many messages are written on mobile phones, possibility of sensory loss over finger tips is increased to 60 per cent, emphasizing that useless typing on cellphone should be avoided.
Also adequate usage of wireless phones in youth enhances deafness in old age to as high as 70 per cent.
Besides this, it has created some social problems. Snatching and theft of mobile has been the easiest way of robbing and looting in the country and booming business for thieves.
G. M. MEMON & G. M. MAHAR
Medical College,
Sukkur
A NUMBER of newspapers have splashed the photograph of Nilofar Bakhtiar in a paratrooper’s suit after a parajump in France last year.
Some in the religious circles have taken issue with the way a man (not a relative) is patting her on the back after her successful landing.
A maulvi-inspired protest took place in Mardan against this ‘un-Islamic behaviour’ by a federal minister of a Muslim country.
MNA Raheela Qazi has appealed for an adjournment motion in the National Assembly to discuss the issue.
I do not know what the whole ruckus is about, and even less the details of the case.
But it is the extent of our religious depravity and the measure of fanatical thinking to which we have descended that is revolting. Should the minister have put on a burqa when parachuting down 1,000 feet?
What is the Islamic dress for a paratrooper? Indeed what do women pilots in the PAF wear when flying a jet aircraft? And why should the maulvis’ object to it.
Are they the guardians of our morals? If any comment was forthcoming, it should have been from a professional paratrooper on the safety and training prerequisites involved in such a venture.
Ms Bakhtiar is a vivacious, brave and courageous woman who undertook a parajump without previous experience.
She has set an example for our young women to go out and try new avenues that life has to offer.
Her bold and hands-on approach to the job as minister for tourism has inspired several French companies to invest in the hotel and sports business in Pakistan.
As to the maulvis, they wouldn’t have the courage to jump from a standing aircraft much less know the difference between altitude and wind speed.
IFTIKHAR MALIK
(Ex-paratrooper) Rawalpindi
THIS is with reference to Ayaz Amir’s column “Living in exciting times” (Dawn, April 6). I read Mr Amir’s articles with interest and now have an impression that he has some personal grudge against President Gen Musharraf.
Anyway that is his personal problem, which is clearly reflected in his writings. As a permanent and old reader of your newspaper (more than 37 years), I only would like to remind you that like the MQM and General Musharraf, the Sharifs also did not have a native constituency on the soil of Pakistan.
The Sharifs originally belong to Amritsar which is in India and a prominent city of East Punjab.
Moreover it should be noted that the Sharifs were privileged by military dictator Gen Zia, and further promoted by another general (Ghulam Jilani Khan) with luxurious comfort provided by military personnel.
FARID AHMED KHAN
Karachi
FIRST, condolence to the grieving family of Bob Woolmer. He tried to do good to the Pakistan cricket team but alas he could not bring to bear beyond the power politics in the PCB. May God place Bob’s soul in eternal peace. Amen.
Ireland: ever heard of their entry in first class cricket earlier than this World Cup? A young team, but appreciably full of energy, passion and right kind of training in all departments of the game. Ireland comfortably sent Pakistan to the pavilion in their match in Jamaica on March 17.
Pakistani stalwarts were all out when I opened my TV and could not believe 78/6. Then more and, finally, the young Mohammad Sami, a bowler, pulled up the courage to drag the team to over 100 and consumed some overs to take the score to 132 to give some look to the eventual defeat. Bravo Sami. Earlier WI too had shown Pakistan door to the pavilion.
So, consistency in defeat had set in Pakistan’s way of playing the game in league matches and eventually they saw them standing on the road back to the country, out of the World Cup 2007.
And salt on wounds, all this waste of resources in a country that is poverty-stricken and poverty-dominated. Half of its population go to sleep hungry or half-fed. Their living areas in villages or in towns are criminally neglected. Swarming insanitation around them gives them horrible diseases and they die without getting any medical help.
They too are our countrymen and have a right to benefit from the so-claimed flourishing economy of the country. Poverty alleviation programmes of the country have bitterly failed to deliver the poor timely food, medical care and other provisions to live their lives.
On the height of things the poverty funds are ingeniously delivered through the network of NGOs, like cat put to guard milk. The delay in delivery of food and help sends hundreds of thousands of the poor to forced beggary.
Among the beggars in the country now, many are compulsive who could no longer take hunger of their offspring. In such a controversial distribution of resources, is it sane to spend billions of national funds on providing cricket comforts for cricket fans. How long this shameful equation for distribution of resources among the people shall be helped to propel that a majority of the masses remain deprived of necessities of life while the privileged class, being indifferent to the suffering of the poor, publicly enjoys the game of cricket in the country, as well as in other countries, where events are held. This is enough to give a brunt to the suffering majority of this country.
Let the government review the situation and consider that cricket is a wasteful venture for the government to be involved in it and decide to withdraw its sponsorship of cricket in Pakistan. Nothing will change, as Pakistan has no representation in other popular games like football and tennis. So a disappearance of Pakistan from cricket will not matter much. This decision to disown cricket, if taken, will be recorded in the best interest of the country’s economy and common man.
However, to keep the game of cricket alive, the government may consider privatising it and assigning it to private clubs and academies. This will not deprive the cricket players of the game and competition.
Mushroom private cricket clubs should keep playing throughout the year in competition among them to produce their best elevens and the very best of them may be granted sports ministry’s approval with the name and flag of Pakistan to represent Pakistan on foreign tours and events. All expenses will be borne by the respective club. Likewise, the same club will receive share of various revenues from the events. The cricket in Pakistan in this manner shall remain alive and perhaps on a much better footing, without an onerous PCB.
M. M. KHAN
Karachi
I AM a German, living in Pakistan since 1960. We have controlled leprosy in the country during these years. I have served the government for 35 years in honorary capacity.
I have lived these 47 years with a warm option for Pakistan, but with growing concern about the road Pakistan is travelling.
I know how Germany slipped into the Hitler-rule, and that the silence of the people to the first wrongdoings had helped Hitler to establish his government committed to crimes.
Of late, I have been happy about the reaction of the lawyers’ community to the affair with the CJ, but appalled by the happening in the tribal areas, the stoning of three persons to death.
It took me days to overcome my inability to think about it, not to talk about writing about it. The facts, if you really imagine them, are so gruesome.
I know the people in the mountain area, I have lived with them, enjoyed their hospitality, treated their women and their leprosy patients. That they are capable of killing in cold blood, in the name of Islam, and in such a way, has made me sick and sad, and helpless.
What are we doing to stop this development? Where to get a lobby from, especially when the religious parties, which should have abhorred the misuse of Islam, did not once raise their voice?
My request today to your newspaper: could you keep us informed what is being done? In this particular case, to the offenders?
So that the entire happening does not pass unnoticed and is further polluting the public atmosphere.
DR. RUTH PFAU
Honorary (r) Adviser on Leprosy, Government of Pakistan & Azad Kashmir Karachi
SHAH Abdul Latif public library in Ratodero appears to be running more like a private library. The newspapers in the library are being given to certain students, even some outsiders.
Moreover, the staff at the library doesn’t even check the readers who often remove important news items and job advertisements from the newspapers.
When anyone asks about the newspapers, staff members don’t even bother to reply. Often, especially in the evening, staff members cannot be found in the reading hall as required but are found sitting outside it. I request the authorities concerned to urgently look into the matter.
FAHEEM A. ABBASI
Larkana
THIS is further to my letter, ‘US blackmail on F-16s’ (March 18). Therein, among other things, I had suggested that in order to overcome our total reliance on the US for getting the high-tech F-16 fighters, whose freedom from embargoes can never be guaranteed, the PAF should look at alternatives, especially the fourth generation J-10 fighters of China.
On March 31 it was reported in a section of the electronic media (FM 103) that the PAF chief has said that by 2015 Pakistan would induct high-tech fighters in its inventory, including up to two squadrons of the J-10 aeroplanes.
This is very good news and also a great relief for all those who are keenly interested in an excellent air defence for the country. This is to make one’s appreciation known to the PAF, along with the wish that we will, in not too distant a future, become completely independent in matters of our defence.
KHALID NAQSHBANDI
Karachi
OLD plant for the price of new. No action against Siemens in sight (Dawn, March 26). The chief executive of this multinational was awarded Tamgha-i- Imtiaz for public service on this Marc h 23 (Pakistan Day).
MRS SHAHEEN BAIG
Karachi
WHEN the tables turn, keeping Prime Minster Shaukat Aziz in Pakistan would mean keeping him in exile. One hopes he realises that he is no interim prime minister like Moeen Qureshi who would be allowed to go away.
A PAKISTANI
Kent, UK
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