| May 24, 2007 | Thursday | Jamadi-ul-Awwal 07, 1428 |
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Wheat exports
Girl child not a liability
Obstacles in education
Open threat
Leaders’ claims
Smoking in operation theatres
Tribute to Dr Haq
Career choices
Passengers in anguish
Electricity priorities
Indian culture
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
WE as a nation, most of the time, lose objectivity when recounting personal relationships, especially with the ones who are no more in this world.
M. P. Bhandara's article in the case of self-imposed field marshal, ’Remembering Ayub Khan’ (May 20), is a brazen case in point.
Ironically, Mr Bhandara, in order to reimburse his obligation, has virtually raised Ayub Khan to the stature of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, a great constitutionalist and the builder of a nation; whereas the former who not only committed high treason by abrogating the Constitution of 1956 but had no qualms to even violate his own.
He was the one who sowed the seed of extra-constitutional methods in the polity of Pakistan, which has now matured as a full-grown tree. This outrageous act of unconstitutional vengeance alone disqualifies the ‘field marshal’ for a national adoration, let alone any sympathy.
Mr Bhandara has made a futile effort to absolve the former president of all commissions and omissions either in the name of ‘innocent sincerity’ on his part or the ‘fault’ of the members of his cabinet who ‘misguided’ him into war etc.
Even his intrinsic aversion for Bengalis has been softened. In order to know his real feelings about the Bengalis, I would like to refer to Story of a Soldier, an autobiography by Maj-Gen (r ) Sahibzada Sher Ali Patudi.
As regards Sir Morris James's diplomatic observation "...from the beginning to the end of Ayub's revolution and his subsequent 10-year presidency, no cruelty of any kind -- in the form of beating, torture, execution or 'disappearances' -- was inflicted", I would like the readers to recall just two incidents, i.e., military operation in Balochistan and unbearable torture and punishments awarded to those involved in anti-One Unit movement, a most irrational, thus abhorred, scheme imposed against the wishes of small provinces in which numerous lives were lost.
MANSOOR UL HAQ SOLANGI
Karachi
GOHAR Ayub Khan’s letter (May 18) has erred in bracketing together Gen Sher Ali Khan and Gen Yahya Khan. The fact is that there was no tie between those two. Both belong to different periods. The facts are as under:
A year or so before Gen Ayub Khan’s coup of 1958, COS Gen Nasir Ali Khan retired. At that time the COS used to act as deputy C-in-C in GHQ. In his place Gen Musa was promoted, superseding Gen Sher Ali Khan and Gen Latif Khan, among others, both these generals resigned in protest or were ‘made to retire’ as given out.
Ayub Khan’s disparaging remarks about Gen Sher Ali Khan (as quoted by Gohar Ayub) suspecting his loyalty to Pakistan are most unfair. In professional brilliance and personal integrity Gen Sher Ali Khan’s reputation was above reproach.
The post of COS was later abolished by Ayub Khan when the new incumbent, Gen Habibullah Khan (Gohar Ayub’s father-in-law), clashed with Gen Musa, then C-in-C. Gen Habibullah Khan was retired.
Gen Yahya Khan succeeded Gen Musa as C-in-C in 1966, again after superseding some generals, including the upright Gen Malik Sher Bahadur, then CGS.
How Gen Yahya Khan paid back Ayub Khan was just nature’s nemesis. What Gen Yaha Khan gave to the country was defeat, humiliation and dismemberment, shame and disgrace – a tribute to FM Ayub Khan’s fine choice?
M. N. QASIMI
Multan
PERHAPS in a bid to meet total export shortfall this year, and in the backdrop of ever-increasing trade deficit, the government has allowed export of wheat to the level of over one million tons by June. But will the action materially affect the prevalent situation of trade imbalance, given the conditions?
The ECC of the cabinet had allowed, in December last, export of 500,000 tons of wheat through the private sector, the quantity of which was later enhanced to 800,000 tons.
This month, an additional quantity of 500,000 tons has been allowed for export, which is currently being dispatched to India and other countries.
As a result, the selling price of wheat in the local open market has been registering constant rise in recent months. Also, dozens of flour mills have suspended their operations this week, while others are to follow suit shortly, in the wake of spiralling price of wheat.
The situation has caused serious concerns among the people who are already overburdened with high inflation.
Unfortunately, Pakistan is not self-sufficient in wheat, one of the essential and sensitive commodities.
Only recently (during two months, October-November 2006) we imported 100,225 tons of wheat.
It is fact that the government allowed in July 2004 import of one million tons of wheat, whereas in July 2005 duty-free import of wheat and atta (flour) was permitted.
Statistics of import of wheat by Pakistan reveal that we have been importing wheat every year, from 2001 to 2006, in significant quantities. As an illustration, Pakistan imported wheat valuing $238 million in 2004 and $136 million in 2005.
In view of the above scenario what is the logic and rationale for allowing export of wheat? It will lead to allowing import of huge quantities of wheat sometime in July and that too at a price higher than ours of today?
Indeed, the decision is yet another case of misplaced priorities and unplanned policies being implemented that needs review by the government urgently.
HUSSAIN SIDDIQUI
Islamabad
IT is sad that many people in Pakistan consider the birth of a girl bad and do not express as much happiness as they do when boys are born. This unequal treatment does not end with the birth of a girl but continues all through her life.
Soon after she comes of age, she is often confined to the walls of her house as if she were some ‘thing’ that shall contract a disease when and if she goes out.
She cannot dream of anything but only of marrying some day a person whom her parents choose for her, and from there on she is confined to another home -- this time her husband's.
Half the population of Pakistan consists of women; only a small section is part of the labour force, making the majority economically dependent on men.
Thus, they are seen as an economic liability. Emancipation of women from this system is challenging, for this discrimination is rooted deep in the fabric of Pakistani culture.
Serious efforts are needed to bring the status of women up to a level where they can get their basic human rights, including the right to earn their livelihood.
The media can play a vital role in correcting wrong perceptions about women who work. The government can fix job quotas to encourage women to join government and semi-government organisations.
Nevertheless, the most important voice will be from the women themselves, and I mean from women who have had the privilege to get educated and who realise that old views have to be changed.
When society realises that essentially both men and women are equal in rights and share the same responsibilities, the birth of girls will not bring about the negative reaction which it does now.
BATOOL RAZA
Karachi
OUR educational system is run by bureaucrats who come up with strategies according to their own perceptions. The hurdles and obstacles they create in every aspect of the system is very frustrating.
I have observed that the mindset of the heads of most of the country’s educational institutes are like that of those who head law-enforcement agencies. They look at the negative side of things instead of the positive.
They take actions like kings, act like emperors but behave like jail superintendents. This type of behaviour is forcing all stakeholders to not try innovative activities, and young faculty members are not encouraged to act on their own.
They are supposed to stay within the boundaries of their bosses. Who will take steps to check this type of behaviour? Our emphasis is not on improving educational health but on seeking an improvement in one’s public relationship.
The required standards are only available on paper while the masses are asked to act according to the orders of their superiors.
People are becoming senseless and are accepting this corrupted form of administration. As a result, no one is ready to react. Everyone is just looking for his or her benefit.
We are lost in a valley where values are of no importance, where we consider that I am not capable of bringing about a change and it is not my job. Everyone thinks like this which is why our institutions are academic graveyards.
We have to decide for ourselves how can we face challenges of this century?
No one from any other country will help us resolve our issues. We have to set our objectives first and then we need a strategy to achieve those objectives.
It is quite important that mutual trust between stakeholders should be there, without that it will be just an idealistic approach, not realistic.
MUNEER AHMED
Nawabshah
MAULANA Abdul Aziz threatened the government directly and all Pakistanis indirectly when he said: “I invite the government to conduct the operation and see what will happen in the country. Government officials would be kidnapped and suicide attacks will be committed all over the country” (May 19).
It seems there is nothing unusual now about people giving up their lives to become suicide bombers. There is no security for anybody anywhere throughout the country.
I ask Maulana Aziz against whom will you order suicide attacks? What will be your targets: mosques, markets, government departments or hotels? Who will you kill: common labourers who are working in hotels or guests of other cities staying there?
Will you kill those poor people who are living in poverty, for whose prosperity you are going to announce Sharia?
Under which Shariat rules will you kill the people? Which religion gives you the right to commit suicide bombings and kill innocent people? Aren’t your threats creating worries, anxieties and insecurity among common people? Isn’t the maulana’s statement an act of terrorism?
RIAZ ALI TOORI
Malana Morokhel village,
Kurram Agency,
Parachinar
IN his television interview, President Musharraf made some claims (May 19). First, that “I am disappointed and extremely annoyed and dismayed” over the heavy loss of lives (in Karachi on May 12). Second, that the lawyers’ rally was planned to pass through ‘several areas’ that were MQM ‘strongholds’ and could have led to serious repercussions.
Cancelling the rally in Islamabad and holding it on another day would have manifested the president’s sorrow. More importantly, he should not have allowed the participants to beat drums and dance during the meeting, while blood was flowing on Karachi’s streets, of which he and everybody else was aware.
If the meeting was more important than the tragedy in Karachi and couldn’t be cancelled, he should at least have begun the event by offering ‘fateha’ for the departed souls and observing a few minutes of silence. But none of these things were done. About the second claim, when the CJ’s programme was already known, the MQM should not have been allowed to hold a rally on the same day.
Besides, it is clear from that party’s leaders’ statements after the nationwide backlash against the MQM that since they had helped the president in his time of need (on May 12), now he should help them in their difficult hour, that the whole exercise had been undertaken to shore up his shaky position , for their own ultimate benefit.
It is not very convincing to say that the passage of the lawyers processions through MQM strongholds (which was only coincidental) had to be disallowed. The MQM rallies also pass through the strongholds of other groups. And, at Muharram, the processions of the Shia Muslims pass through Sunni areas of Karachi, but they are never banned for this reason, in spite of the continuing high sectarian tensions and bomb blasts in recent years.
The MQM chief, Altaf Hussain, has criticised the leaders of opposition parties for not being present in Karachi on May 12, thereby implicitly accusing them of not only being aware of the bloodshed that was to occur over there but of actually planning it.
He also asked, “Up until 11:30am (on May 12) did you see any opposition or political or religious party leader or workers in any area of Karachi on trucks or buses, as they used to gather outside the Supreme Court at the time of CJ’s arrival or hearing?”
On the one hand, Mr Hussain wants the political and religious parties not to politicise the CJ issue. On the other hand, he is chastising them for not holding political rallies in Karachi. What kind of impossible condition is he trying to impose?
The citizens of Karachi of all shades of political opinion, including many MQM supporters, are backing Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and this was reflected in their turning out to receive him, regardless of whether the party leaders were present or not.
Since the lawyers had made clear beforehand (Dawn, May 12) that political parties were not invited to take out processions and nobody other than the lawyers would be allowed to join them and seating arrangement inside the High Court also was only for the legal fraternity, the political leaders must have stayed away.
It is Altaf Hussain and MQM that spoiled the whole peaceful and innocent show of support. The western media, whom Mr Hussain can’t accuse of being biased in this matter, has squarely held him and his party responsible for the May 12 happenings.
SALEEMULLAH
Karachi
LAST week I went to a government-run NICH, Jinnah Hospital, in Karachi, which is a well-known federal institute. At that time I saw a precarious thing that an OT technician was smoking in the vicinity of the operation theatre. Whereas there was also an apparent signboard on the door maintaining that this is a ‘No smoking area”, but he was smoking at the moment.
The doctors were also passing from there. However they didn’t take any notice of it. This thing made me to think profoundly and I failed to understand that how such responsible people can neglect their professional responsibility. If an OT technician can’t take care of his attitude in such a very sensitive place, so what can one expect from a layman?
The staff of a hospital is required to be hygienic, aware and alert at all times, especially in operation theatres. Smoking is injurious to health, but if one is addicted to it, they can really smoke outside the premises of the hospital. I personally request the authorities concerned to take some serious measures regarding this issue.
QAZI FAHAD NAEEM
Hyderabad
READING about Dr Abdul Haq’s death made me feel as if a part of me had died. He was not only a very renowned cardiologist but also an extremely great human being.
He was a very dear and old friend of my father. In the last few years of his life, my father had become a lonely and dejected person as he had lost his wife and most of his friends.
In spite of his tight schedule, Dr Haq kept his doors always open for him. He would counsel, sympathise, motivate and listen to him calmly, patiently and lovingly.
PARVEEN SHAH
Karachi
I AGREE with Qazi Fahad Ahmed’s letter about career choices (May 17). I was victim of a lack of career guidance as a student and lost two crucial years as a result of this negligence. Career guidance services should be set up at school and college levels so that students are aware of changes in the labour market and can make the right decisions.
At the same time, the private sector should come forward as part of their corporate social responsibility and play an important role by synergising with universities on career guidance. We can then relate this whole process with the prime minister’s National Internship Programme to make students more employable in the labour market.
RIZWAN ALI
England
THIS is in reference to the state of affairs that at present prevails at PIA. I want to know what PIA has done with those particular aircraft that were prohibited from flying to any of the EU countries, including the UK?
Are those aircraft being used for any other sectors, i.e., domestic or international? Knowing PIA, I have no doubt that those airplanes are probably being used somewhere or the other, bringing forth more of a risk to the safety of the passengers being flown on them.
I think it would be wise on the part of the PIA management to issue some kind of notice in the media assuring the public that the aircraft that were deemed unfit for travel to the EU countries and the UK are indeed grounded and are not being used for other sector(s).
After all, I am sure with all the issues that PIA has to deal with, the last thing they want on their hands is more passengers in anguish.
JEHANGIR FIROZ
Lahore
IT is a rare site in Karachi to find a place which is full of lights for uninterrupted periods, yet parks like Bagh Ibn Qasim and Jahangir Kothari Park in Clifton are always lit.
Hundreds of lights of high voltage are at full flash even late into the night and in absence of visitors and at the same time the remaining nearby areas of Defence are normally without electricity for prolonged hours.
I am not able to understand the philosophy behind this unacceptable act. The basic concern of citizens is to get electricity in their homes and not in the parks throughout the night.
Karachi is the seventh largest city of the world, but that doesn’t mean we can compare ourselves with cities like Dubai or Kuala Lumpur in respect of parks and other entertainment.
If the authorities cannot afford to provide basic necessitates to citizens in the form of electricity, law and order and many other things, there shouldn’t be any reason to provide unlimited electricity to parks and the KPT fountain.
SHAIKH SALMAN
Karachi
IT is very painful to see that Pakistani parents feel proud while their children copy the Indian actors. Instead of saying ‘salaam’ they say ‘namastay’.
I was surprised when one of my cousins asked her mother at a wedding as to when the ‘pheray’ would be performed. It is shocking that our future generation is being hijacked by Indian cultural values.
This is the responsibility of the government and parents to help stop this onslaught.
AFIA ASHFAQ
Karachi
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