| May 23, 2007 | Wednesday | Jamadi-ul-Awwal 06, 1428 |
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Where lies the responsibility?
Musharraf’s dilemma
Canadian immigration
Wolfowitz resigns
Movie review
Macaulay’s children
Who amended security plans?
Of tough time and promises
Baseball rules
Role of SPSC
Daylight saving
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
HAVING served for over 27 years in the army, I feel embarrassed and guilty when accusations are hurled on the institution where I dedicated the prime of my life. It is indeed sad to see that lust for power of the top hierarchy is reaping ignominy and dispute for an institution where the rank and file put in their best under austere conditions in the service of the nation.
The other day I was nonplussed when a civilian friend said that the army shared a major part of the blame and responsibility for dismemberment of the country, systematic decimation of institutions and internal instability while it had no role in its creation.
I could not counter his arguments because Pakistan has been directly under rule of generals for 32 years out of 60 since its independence. Civilian governments from 1988 to 1999 were also an indirect form of military rule because the COAS played the role of a king-maker.
It is a fact that frequent military interventions and long spells of dictatorial rule have wrought havoc all around. Each takeover left the country much bruised and the societal fabric weakened. Corruption flourished, sycophancy got institutionalised and nepotism prospered under military regimes.
Time and again, the Constitution was violated on the plea to rid the country of maladministration by politicians. The evils which were to be eradicated found the most congenial environment for growth under the patronage of the junta. A look at people in power reveals the bitter truth that they have been ruling us in all the governments, military or civilian, since independence.
They have found the generals their favourite patrons as they can avail themselves of the opportunity to plunder with impunity. The generals enjoy and have become addicted to the power, pelf and perks unheard of even in developed countries.
This state of affairs can only continue at the expense of the state which is tottering at the brink of collapse due to continued misrule and constitutional void.
Recent happenings have amply demonstrated the dire need to revert to the rule of law and restoration of power to the people of Pakistan. The whole country is crying for it. Will the military leadership heed to it?
LT-COL (r) GHULAM NABI MALIK
Rawalpindi
The storm is up, and all is on the hazard (Julius Caesar 5.1.67)
THIS is with reference to Kunwar Idris's article, ‘Where lies the responsibility?’ (May 20).
We as a nation are witnessing a time where, besides introducing the decentralisation plan, nobody is ready to take the responsibility of the violence that gripped Karachi on May12.
Did we make the devolution plan to be on the papers? Did we make the plan to address the issues at local level and find solutions? If yes, then why did we wait so long for any action to be taken on that fatal day? What kind of action was it by the local government that triggered violence, and 46 innocent people had to become prey of stray bullets and hatred and intolerance? It was not loss of one party or ethnic group but precious human lives regardless of their affiliation with any party or group.
Everything seemed to fail and the state machinery remained non-functional, was it just an ambiguity that whose responsibility is this? Where did our decentralisation, democracy and diversity go?
Nothing seemed to be functional except tyranny, violence and intolerance. We as a nation are not ready to accept diversity, the so-called educated middle class representative political parties yet need to learn a lot in terms of tolerance and patience.
We cannot say to anyone where the responsibility lies unless we bring openness and transparency. We have to learn to survive in diverse groups, be it religious or ethnic. We need to bring in change in our own selves, and seek the answer, where lies the responsibility?
MUSARRAT TAHIR
Islamabad
IN HIS recent interview to a private TV channel, Gen Pervez Musharraf said that both the former premiers, Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto, would not be allowed to come to the country before the upcoming general elections.
He always claims that he never goes against the Constitution of Pakistan but the Constitution clearly states that nobody can be disallowed from returning to his/her country.
The Supreme Court's verdict in this regard must not be forgotten.
Only a day before this interview, PML-Q President Shujaat Hussain remarked that both the ex-prime ministers can come back to their country.
This contradiction in statements reveals that there is a significant difference in political approach. If the PML-Q is willing to compete against both the PML-N and the PPP-P, then why is the military dictator afraid of the results?
Could it be because Gen Musharraf is dead sure that the PML-Q has no roots in the politics of Pakistan and can only secure victory through immense rigging?
The people from Islamabad to Lahore have shown their disapproval of the government action while welcoming the chief justice of Pakistan's caravan. Gen Musharraf has lost arguments and like a child was defending the MQM, the 'performance' of the Sindh government and law-enforcement agencies.
MUHAMMAD WASEEM ELAHI
Gujranwala
I AM a Pakistani citizen and applied for Canadian immigration in 2001 through the Canadian high commission in Colombo. It took the commission four years to send me an interview letter which arrived in Pakistan on Nov 27, 2004 whereas the date for the interview was Dec 1, 2004.
I wrote them back and told them that it was impossible for me to appear for the interview at such a short notice as my passport was about to expire after some time. I was asked to submit my IELTS test score which I did in January 2005. The score was above average and the performance was highly satisfactory.
After some time I was asked to submit my medical which I did and after that I did not hear from the HC in Colombo. One fine morning in December 2006 when I checked my application’s status through their website, I was surprised to know that the interview was scheduled for Nov 7, 2006 and I still had not received any letter.
I contacted the HC again and they told me that a letter has been sent but refused to divulge the contents. Later on I came to know that my application had been rejected on the flimsy grounds that my experience certificates were fake. It took the Canadian HC five years and around 500 Canadian dollars to determine that my experience certificates were fake.
If that was the case, then why did they call me for an interview in the first place and why was I asked to submit a medical report that cost me a hefty sum of money, not to mention the courier charges to Singapore.
I demand an inquiry into this matter and reopening of my case.
My file number is B038428655
MUHAMMAD RAZAULLAH QURESHI
Malaysia
PAUL Wolfowitz has resigned as World Bank president. Since the revelations of Mr Wolfowitz managing unjustifiable pay raise for his partner, he has been under pressure which has eventually resulted in his resignation.
The matter had become a cause celebre in the international media, attracting opinions and views from all quarters. While there were many who urged Mr Wolfowitz to resign, there were others who were of the view that the American establishment would go whole hog to ensure that he stays as World Bank president. Those calling for his resignation have succeeded.
Can we learn any lesson from Mr Wolfowitz's resignation? Yes. His resignation is indicative of the fact that the fabric of western society still continues to be supported by a strong moral element. It is something that is totally missing from the fabric of our society.
Whenever a wrong doing of some important person in Pakistan is brought to light and a suggestion is made for him or her to resign, the immediate response is that the matter requires an investigation before the question of resignation can be considered by that important person. How one wishes that important people in this country would follow the example of Mr Wolfowitz.
KHALID IDREES
Islamabad
THE following is a synopsis of ‘Drama Land’, a movie that will soon be released. Its cast includes the president, the prime minister, the government of Pakistan, the members of Lal Masjid, the controversial chief justice and, of course, the shaky coalition of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif.
The movie begins at a thrilling note where the chief justice is accused of abusing his powers. This, of course, is followed by hot and steaming rallies led by lawyers, the public and various political leaders.
Then we are introduced to the performers of the year: the clerics of Lal Masjid. The lead actor from this group can be compared to action actor Jean Claude Van Damme.
From burning CDs to training a women’s force to fight, the movie shows just how liberated women are in Pakistan.
The next development in the movie is about Ms Bhutto and Mr Sharif, who form a coalition and promise to cooperate with each other in the welfare of the state but later on Ms Bhutto gives statements about having a deal with the government.
Will the chief justice ever retain his position? Will Mr President, Mr Prime Minister and the government help the rebellious Lal Masjid people? Will political parties play their respective roles? And will Ms Bhutto stay in the coalition with Mr Sharif? The answers to these questions are coming soon to a theatre near you.
NARISA IFTIKHAR
Karachi
APROPOS of the letter, ‘Dominated nation’ (May 7), I should like to share my views about Lord Thomas Babington Macaulay (1800-1859). He served his nation as a member of parliament, secretary to the board of control, first law member of the governor-general's council, secretary-at-war, an English Whig lawyer, politician, re-drafted Indian penal code, essayist and poet.
Macaulay was a remarkable visionary capable of devising policies which brought a windfall of success for his nation throughout the colonial period and afterwards.
The term Macaulay's children is used to refer to people born of Indian ancestry who adopt western culture as a lifestyle, or display attitudes influenced by colonisers.
Connotation of the term shows the specific behaviour of disloyalty to one's country and one's heritage. The passage to which the caption refers is taken from a minute Lord Macaulay wrote on Indian education. It reads:
"It is impossible for us, with our limited means, to attempt to educate the body of the people. We must at present do our best to form a class who may be interpreters between us and the millions whom we govern; a class of persons, Indian in blood and colour, but English in taste, in opinions, in morals, and in intellect. To that class we may leave it to refine the vernacular dialects of the country, to enrich those dialects with terms of science borrowed from the western nomenclature, and to render them by degrees fit vehicles for conveying knowledge to the great mass of the population."
Should we mug up our state of affairs right from the independence, we find we have been governed till date by the class of people trained in accordance with the desired standards set out by the Macaulay theory.
Would the system that derives strength from the Macaulay doctrine bring any change in our lives? Civil society must strive hard and support those who are eligible to lead the masses. It appears that future is not so gloomy and we can see light at the end of the tunnel in the present struggle spearheaded by the the chief justice.
But we need hundreds of people like him who could guide the people to shun self-interest and be brave.
I present a few lines from the song of renowned Jamaican artist, Bob Marley (1945-1981). He said:
Get up, stand up
Stand up for your rights
Get up, stand up
Don't give up the fight.
SIKANDAR ALI SHAH
Karachi
IN a news item on May 18, the adviser to the Sindh chief minister for home affairs, Waseem Akhtar, has defended his security plan for the chief justice's May 12 visit to the city.
I want to ask Mr Akhtar the name of person who changed the security plan between Friday night and Saturday morning.
According to a Geo reporter, he had seen the security plan two days before the bloodshed took place in Karachi.
He has submitted that there were no roadblocks shown on Sharea Faisal in the security plan and all pedestrian bridges and flyovers showed deployment of security personnel, (as is normally done when there is VIP movement on this road).
Another reporter of the same news channel said that when he approached some uniformed policemen near Malir on May 12 and requested them to stop the people involved in firing incidents, one of the policemen replied that they have orders from high-ups not to intervene. Who stopped the police and Rangers from performing their duties?
Whosoever ordered blockade of Sharea Faisal and the removal of security personnel from the bridges and flyovers on May 12 is responsible for the deaths of 40 people. No matter whether it was one person, a department or a political party, the responsible should be taken to task.
Mr Akhtar also said that if Talat Hussain, the journalist at Aaj TV, had called him for help, he would have reached the spot himself.
Past records show that when Altaf Hussain addresses the public gathering, no one from the audience leaves the venue. How Mr Akhtar would have done so is best known to him.
As far as Talat Hussain's request for help is concerned, he called everyone who mattered in the security department of Pakistan, including the interior minister but nothing doing.
If President Musharraf is interested in addressing the issues of May 12, some heads must roll.
This action will not make President Musharraf's position any better but some justice will be done because "justice must not only be done but must be seen to have been done."
M. RAFIQUE ZAKARIA
Karachi
ACCORDING to Azfar-ul-Ashfaque's report, ‘Why MQM is not reopening offices’ (Dawn, May 17), an MQM leader has reportedly said: "It was the MQM that supported President Musharraf in his tough time and now it is his turn to fulfil his promises."
The people want to know what ‘tough time’ is the president facing and what ‘promises' did the head of state make to the MQM (in their hour of need)? If these are what we think are, then (post-May 12) pity on all concerned, including the people, who gave their unstinted support to them all these years.
ANWAR ABBAS
Karachi
STRIKE one: A backfiring reference that stirred an apathetic nation.
Strike two: Worldwide revulsion after the fratricidal display of the ‘people’s strength’.
Strike three: You’re Out!
Baseball, America’s favourite sport. What an amazing game.
DR MERVYN HOSEIN
Karachi
ABOUT two years ago the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC) had issued an advertisement inviting applications for the posts of mukhtiarkars in which it had fixed a bank challan for Rs500. I was also amongst the candidates and paid the challan. The commission kept us on false hopes for a long time and eventually stunned us by postponing the posts, usurping thousands of rupees paid by the candidates.
Then a couple of months ago, the commission issued another advertisement inviting applications from the candidates belonging to Sindh for the post of assistant sub-inspectors of Sindh. They then postponed it and issued advertisements in different newspapers cancelling the process.
However, they did so on the last date of the application process, by which date they had received almost thousands of rupees from the candidates as the commission had fixed bank challan worth Rs250 per candidate. I also paid the challan.
Regrettably, this is not the first time that we are reminded about the commission’s unreasonable mismanagement or its delay and then ultimate postponement of the posts. It has become order of the day for the commission to advertise the post and after the candidates have paid the challan to abruptly postpone the posts, indicating unavoidable circumstances.
The commission is playing games with the sentiments of the youth. Is there any other authority that may save the unemployed persons from such a perturbing drama to be played with the future of candidates?
If the commission does not have authority to hold the tests, then it should not bother by advertising such posts. It is, therefore, requested that such dramas are stopped.
RASHEED AHMED MIRANI
Sukkur
REFERENCE the ongoing loadshedding of power across the entire length and breadth of the country, one can’t help asking why we cannot make use of the immense amount of daylight that we have been blessed with? Why can’t we have a different pst for winters and a different one for summers? Why can’t we simply bring forward our time by two hours.
Instead of shopkeepers opening their shops at Karachi’s Tariq Road, Saddar and Clifton at 12 noon and wanting to keep open till late in the evening, they would still be opening at 12 noon as a matter of habit but in effect at 10am.
They will be able to work for as many hours as they have been and still save on electricity.
This to my mind is a workable solution that could be implemented on an urgent basis without many hitches. You might recall that this daylight saving was done a few years ago but was never repeated. Perhaps relevant officials would like to throw some light on this issue.
NAEEM SULTAN
Karachi
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