| April 13, 2007 | Friday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 24, 1428 |
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Impaired vision of justice
Managing electricity in summer
The forced confession
Some other way
Struggling against red tape
Post office needed
Life and death
Islam and cricket
Losing somebody else's war
First dent in privatisation
Books & Authors
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
YOUR article ‘Pakistan’s exports to Australia declining’ (March 28) failed to recognise that Australia’s trade regime is liberal and highly transparent, or that unilateral trade liberalisation has been integral to Australia’s structural reforms over the last 15 years.
The claims about Australian tariffs are misleading. Australia has very low tariffs, with a simple average applied tariff of 3.5 per cent. More than 86 per cent of Australia’s tariffs are applied at a most-favoured-nation (MFN) rate of 5 per cent or less, with over 47 per cent entirely free of duty.
The only Australian tariffs above 5 per cent apply to passenger motor vehicles and automotive components, and to textiles, clothing and footwear (TCF).
Given the importance of the TCF sector to Pakistan, I am pleased to advise that TCF tariffs are legislated to fall to no more than 10 per cent in 2010 for clothing and certain finished textile articles, with tariffs on all other TCF goods being no higher than 5 per cent. On Jan 1, 2015 tariffs on all TCF products will be no higher than 5 per cent.
Australia’s science-based quarantine regime – which is designed to maintain Australia’s favourable pest and disease status – is fair and transparent, and WTO-consistent on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) matters. Reforms to the quarantine risk-analysis process, to enhance timeliness and predictability, will soon take effect.
The Australian government received Pakistan’s proposed draft bilateral agreement on SPS measures just last month – in March 2007 – and is examining the document. The inference of unreasonable delays is incorrect.
On labour mobility, it is important to understand that, in Australia, sponsorship is distinct from the employer-employee contractual process. The sponsorship process allows the Australian government to check that a business that would be employing overseas workers is operating actively and lawfully and is able to meet its legal responsibilities. This reinforces other laws that operate equally for overseas and Australian workers, and provides important protections for overseas workers, such as a minimum salary level.
Australia strongly advocates an open, transparent and rules-based global trading system. As a founding member of the GATT and WTO, and as chair of the Cairns Group of agricultural exporters, Australia is committed to multilateral trade reform.
Allow me to stress the importance Australia attaches to its relationship with Pakistan, both in terms of trade and the many other areas of increasingly close engagement. Indeed, there is no better symbol of our shared interests than the warmth with which Australia welcomed Pakistan as a member of the Cairns Group in 2006.
We are proud our respective trade and commerce ministers will sit side by side as they jointly lead the next Cairns Group Ministerial Meeting in Lahore next week with the common goal of securing an ambitious outcome to the Doha Round.
ZORICA McCARTHY
Australian High Commissioner
Islamabad
THIS refers to the letter ‘Judicial imbroglio: way out’ by Saiffudin E. Contractor (April 10). India is going through a similar fate.
The ruling politicians have scant regard for the judiciary in India and are trying their best to threaten the judges in giving rulings in their favour.
In India, the backward classes enjoy reservation of 27 per cent in jobs, promotions, education, etc.
And the minister introduced 27 per cent in specialised institutes too, without any justification, with an eye on the vote bank.
This is based on the 1931 census, and the creamy layer consisting of people who have already availed themselves of this benefit or people who have good economical background to afford education were to be excluded.
The judiciary disallowed this reservation and the politicians are issuing plain warnings to the judiciary in an effort to push this unreasonable step just to garner the votes.
A minister from Kerala publicly threatened judges and his party leaders at the national level endorsed his views.
A minister in Tamil Nadu criticised judges and won praise from the chief minister for his ‘bold’ statement.
A sitting Supreme Court judge wept in the open court about receiving threatening telephone calls.
The Supreme Court awarded capital punishment to the culprit of Indian Parliament attack after due judicial inquiry, but the ruling party has not honoured the judgment as it will affect the vote bank in the coming elections.
What is interesting is that the Indian government hasn’t yet implemented the 33 per cent quota for women, or the Sachar committee’s recommendations regarding upliftment of Muslim citizens.
Also, one wonders why the government fails to show the same zeal and enthusiasm in protecting the rights and lives of minority citizens during communal riots.
India is slowly but surely inching towards caste politics and vote bank policies. At this rate, President Dr Abdul Kalam’s vision of ‘Superpower by 2020’ is an impaired vision and a cruel joke on the citizens of India.
Only God can help the citizens of both India and Pakistan in escaping from their rulers and politicians.
M.NATARAJAN
Kerala, India
WITH the start of summer, people have again been facing a shortfall of electricity in the country.
The shortfall is because of the fact that various power companies are unable to generate enough electricity to meet the minimum requirement of the people.
And it is for this reason that electricity companies are resorting to loadshedding.
A very large number of people who live in apartments, which are no better than pigeon-holes, find it difficult even to breathe properly.
This is one of the reasons that during the forced loadshedding people come out of their residences, raise slogans against the government, pelt stones and burn vehicles on the roads and agitate in front of various electricity offices. This creates an unnecessary law and order situation.
At the start of the day and until the midnight, the consumption of electricity rises to its maximum level.
There is no such policy made in the country that until what time the offices and shops should remain open and how many bulbs a shopkeeper should use to display the items set in showcases.
A careful study of different shops and bazaars in Karachi shows that uncounted bulbs are used by shopkeepers in each shop during the day time and in the night.
This unduly raises consumption of electricity. Moreover, neon-signs are put on for the whole night, whereas streetlights are also not turned off during the day.
The industrial activity has also slowed down as the poorly-managed electricity companies in the country are not able to meet the requirement of various industrial units.
The present situation requires a comprehensive programme that should be strictly followed in the entire country on the basis of the following:
— From now on until Oct 31, all shops and offices should shut down their commercial activity at sunset, except those that provide emergency services, so that electricity thus saved is passed on for use for residential purposes.
— Shopkeepers should open their shops at 9am and close at sunset.
— Marriage halls must put off all lights at 11pm sharp.
Mismanagement of electricity in the summer season ultimately reflects the poor economic growth of the country.
SYED A. MATEEN
Karachi
WHAT the burqa-clad, baton-wielding girl students recently did in Islamabad has stunned many of us. We know that in order to accuse a woman of adultery four eye-witnesses are essential.
I just want to ask the clerics of Lal Masjid to let us know under which Islamic law they kidnapped the three women and a six-month-old child and kept them in confinement for two-and-a-half days.
Under which Islamic law they coerced Ms Shamim Akhtar to read a confessional statement before a press conference in the madressah.
Under which Islamic law Ms Shamim Akhtar and her three family members were released with the threat that the former ISI official and five other activists should be released within 15 days, otherwise they will be picked up again.
Do the clerics of Lal Masjid and their students know what damage they have done? How much their action has tarnished the image of Islam all the world over?
On the Day of Judgment they will have to stand individually before Allah to justify their action. That will be a very difficult situation.
M. ZUBAIR
Karachi
THE Americans have been all along insisting that our madressahs are training terrorists but we have been denying it vehemently.
But now after seeing the baton-wielding female force from Jamia Hafsa kidnapping people at their homes and holding them hostage, illegally occupy children’s library and threatening to damage government buildings, we hang our heads in shame because they are proving us wrong.
The BBC and CNN have already been repeatedly showing footage of baton-wielding burqa-clad girls on their channels.
We were always told that women were expected to be loving, soft, polite, tolerant and sacrificing for their families and others; that is why women are preferred to men as teachers and nurses.
But one fails to understand as to what purpose are our madressahs training our girl students?
If they think that they are performing a religious duty, then they are gravely mistaken.
The government should take immediate action to get the library vacated and to discipline all wrongdoers.
MRS AKHTAR NASIMI
Karachi
I HAVE been reading many of your editorials related to the current culture and religious issues in Pakistan.
One thing that became apparent to me is the conflict in opinion on how Pakistan should be taken forward.
One group (religious group) feels strongly about imposing strict religious rules on the entire population.
There is another group comprising the intelligentsia who feel that imposition of such laws is a denial of modernity and will force people back to the Dark Age.
I tend to agree with the intelligentsia of Pakistan. In my opinion Islam is not practised the same way across the world as wanted by some religious groups in Pakistan.
I live in Indonesia and Muslims in all sections of society here enjoy the modernity of the 21st century, meanwhile no one can say their religious attachment is wanting. So can the religious groups in Pakistan also consider the argument “why not some other way?”
SATHYAMURTHI
Karawang, Indonesia
I HAVE been pursuing the problems of Rahim Town, Shakrial, Rawalpindi, with the different offices of the Punjab government for provision of basic amenities in the area for the last more than five years through letters, fax, e-mails and personal visits.
But the problems have not yet been resolved by the departments concerned or the district nazim and town nazim, Pothar Town, Rawalpindi.
About one year back I met Raja Basharat of the ministry of law and local government, Punjab. We discussed the problems faced by the residents of Rahim Town, Shakrial, Rawalpindi.
He directed the town nazim of Pothar Town, TMO of Pothar Town and other officers concerned to visit the area and prepare the estimate to resolve problems like provision of clean drinking water, repair and construction of roads.
Accordingly, the nazim of Pothar Town, Raja Hamid Nawaz, deputed Mr Azam to visit the site with me and prepare the estimate for the works required to be done in Rahim Town, Shakrial, Rawalpindi.
He visited the area and prepared the estimate about one year back. But until now neither has the estimate been sanctioned by the Pothar Town, nor have the funds been allocated to start the works.
I have been visiting the officials concerned of Pothar Town for the last one year to pursue the approval of estimate but every time I have been told that the estimate is in the process of sanction and funds will be released under the chief minister package.
During this period many works have been completed by the Pothar Town through different packages. But the estimate of Rahim Town, Shakrial, has been pending for the last one year.
On April 7, I visited the office of Pothar Town and met the officials, namely Mr Munir and Shakeel Ahmad. When I asked about the status of the estimate, they asked me to leave their office, which I immediately did and went to the office of the TMO and briefed him about the incident. I have tried to contact the Pothar Town nazim but he was not available in his office.
The attitude of the officials of Pothar Town is objectionable. Instead of resolving the problems of the public, they threaten them.
I would like to request the authorities concerned to take action against the above officials of Pothar Town, Rawalpindi, and issue directions for sanctioning of the estimate under process and start the needed work at the earliest.
M. SAWAR SATTI
Rawalpindi
THROUGH these columns I would like to draw the attention of the high-ups of the postal department regarding non-existence of any post office and letter- boxes in Malir Halt, Tariq Bin Ziyad Housing Society and Shah Faisal Town up to the nearby localities.
Being an old man, it is not possible for me to go to Rafa-i-Aam or Model Colony for posting a letter.
If I go to the Rafa-i-Aam Society post office, I will have to cross double roads, with heavy rush of traffic.
However, if I manage to cross the roads, I will have then to cross the double railway tracks, which is a difficult task in old age.
Moreover, it will cost me Rs30 as a two-way fare from Tariq Bin Ziyad Housing Society.
Or if I go to the Model Colony post office, I have to bear Rs60 as rickshaw fare.
I would request the high-ups of the postal department to look into the matter and provide universal postal facility in these areas at the earliest.
RIAZ MOHAMMAD KHAN WARSI
Karachi
I FULLY support Abu Hashir’s letter (April 11) on the above subject. Moreover, when I forwarded the link to Cowasjee’s letter via email to my batch mates (all graduated from NED in March 2002), out of many times that I have sent such news links to them, this was the first time that I was asked not to spread such propaganda.
Most opted not to comment (as you reminded everyone “ jo quaid ka ghaddar hay, woh maut ka haqdar hay”) and those who did all asked me not to repeat such things in the future as they believe it is all a lie.
The most tolerant response I got was “This is an isolated incident. The MQM is a very disciplined organisation and individual accountability is very strict in the MQM. Please don’t spread the propaganda”.
IMAD QURESHI
Indianapolis, USA
LINKING the poor performance of the cricket team with their practice of religion is absurd. There are many technical reasons responsible for the failure of the team.
Religion is supposed to make a person more honest and committed towards his or her duties. When we rejoice in our success we should also have the courage to accept our defeat.
It will be interesting to know how P.J. Mir would explain India’s defeat in the World Cup. Mr Mir owes an apology to the entire nation, as well as the players.
QUDSIA AKBER
Karachi
PAKISTAN should abandon doing America's dirty work in Waziristan. It is a lost cause.
The government should at least spare a thought for our security forces personnel. I once met a Pakistan army officer who had returned from the tribal areas.
He told me, “I prayed to Allah that I would not have to shoot anyone and that they not be given an opportunity to shoot me.”
Surprised? You should not be. We can expect such a frame of mind since America has pitted people of the same colour, same language and same religion against each other.
To rub salt on the wound, our rulers go about boasting that "we have sacrificed more than 700 soldiers", we are a "front line state in the war on terror", etc., etc.
A. AHAD
Lahore
ACCORDING to a report (March 21), the KESC’s new management was not bound by agreement to invest in the system. We have seen the scenario of the PTCL following its privatisation with the downfall of its services.
Furthermore, as indicated in the report, some of the non-strategic shares had also been sold to an Arab company.
Let us be thankful to the chief justice of Pakistan who had obliterated the sale of Pakistan Steel Mills, thereby preventing the national assets falling into the hands of Merchants of Venice.
GHEEWALA
Karachi
I HAVE been a regular reader of Dawn for the last 40 years, i.e., when I started reading English dailies.
I am amazed to see that the Books and Authors, which is being published regularly on Sundays for the last many years, carries reviews of the books mostly foreign-published.
There is hardly any representation of books printed in local market, especially in regional languages.
If this is not on account of expressed policy of the management or editorial board, and I hope it would not be so, then efforts are required to provide space to books published locally so that the readership may not be deprived of quality material available and also the local authors and writers did not get the impression of some sort of prejudice and discrimination.
MANSOORUL HAQ SOLANGI
Karachi
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