| June 14, 2007 | Thursday | Jamadi-ul-Awwal 28, 1428 |
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Talking of Sir Fazl-i-Husain
Roadway planning
NBP pensioners’ woes
Kidnapping and hostage survival
Mind yourlanguage
Employment scene
Seeking apology
Listening to the people
Travesty of justice
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
WELL done Sajjad Haider on a brilliant expose of shallow thinking and unsavoury remarks by Gohar Ayub about Air Marshal Asghar Khan in his letter (June 11).
I may like to add for readers interested in knowing that the ghost writer of Ayub’s diaries, Gohar Ayub, got commissioned in the Pakistan Army after graduating from Sandhurst.
He later joined his father’s unit 5 Punjab Regiment (famously ‘Sherdils’) and after rendering service for a couple of years, good old daddy (lovingly Khan Jee) ordered his release, just before the 1965 war, to help his father-in-law in running the industrial and business estate, viz Gandhara Motors.
Similarly, his elder brother, Capt Akhtar Ayub, was asked to resign and take care of their family estate.
Interestingly, Gen Eisenhower, president of the US, during World War II had ordered his son to continue as war correspondent till the end of the war, an example which was worth emulation by the late FM, in his own case.
Another faithful duty performed by a loyal son was the celebration of his father’s victory in rigged elections against Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah when he led supporters in an open jeep and ordered firing on Mohajirs to avenge the dissenting vote.This speaks volumes of the so-called patriotism of the late FM and his progeny, who has the cheek to question the loyalty of Air Marshal Asghar Khan, the founder, the builder and a hero of the Pakistan Air Force.
My father, Gen Yahya Khan, once in a private conversation with Ayub Khan, asked him why he allowed his sons to leave the army, to which he replied: “After all they are kids who have to take care of our family fortunes.”
ALI YAHYA KHAN
Rawalpindi
I was a junior USAF officer with the office of the US air attache at the old US embassy in Karachi at the time of the 1965 Rann of Kutch battle(s). In fact, I was wounded on an innocent boar hunt in a PIA Land Rover, as the guest of Pakistani friends and business acquaintances who were key PIA officials, as we drove through this area on Jan 31, 1965.
A surprise Indian tank shell blew another Pakistani truck coming towards us in the marsh area, injuring all of us pretty badly.
This said, I have read much of the history of the 1965 India-Pakistan war, but also lived there during that war to have been "on the scene" literally.
This wordy preamble aside, foreign minister Bhutto largely engineered the foolish events that caused or incited the 1965 war. Ayub Khan had to have known what was going on, but his chief ‘goader’, if you will, into this war was Bhutto.
Neither Air Marshal Asghar Khan nor the chief of the Pakistan Navy was involved in the 1965 war pre-planning or early on execution of that war by Mr Bhutto and the then Pakistan Army chief of staff. The air marshal rightly and sanely telephoned his Indian counter-part to immediately do what he and they could to limit this sudden, unexpected hot conflict which was not expected by the air marshal of Pakistan or the chief of the Pakistan Navy.
In my view, living there at the time, I saw and still see Air Marshal Khan as a hero of immense proportions for his brave actions to limit and damp down the start of this ill- fated war as quickly as he could.
The 1965 war was a monstrously dumb move on the part of Mr Bhutto and the Pakistani Army chief of staff's who clearly initiated the whole war.
Your letter writer jumps to a wrong conclusion about Air Marshal Ashgar Khan, who I had met several times between 1963 and 1965 at my headquarters in Peshawar, the old US air base there. I was the USAF base liaison officer in the US embassy in Karachi.
In fact, Air Marshal Khan promptly resigned in protest over this unwarranted and wasteful war in 1965 which he had no part in planning or starting. Subsequently, the air marshal entered politics, was elected to your national legislature, was briefly jailed by his political opponent, Mr Bhutto, and then lost elective office. The air marshall has authored over 28 books, some related to this 1965 war, which the letter writer might want to read or re -read to be better informed.
COL (r) GEORGE L. SINGLETON, USAF,
Alabama, USA
THE 130th birth anniversary of Sir Fazl-i-Husain (1877-1936) falls on June 14. He was a remarkable Muslim politician of the British period. He straddled the Indian political scene, particularly dominating that of Punjab, for almost two decades before his death at a comparatively early age in 1936.
Of impeccable integrity, he had a natural integrative approach to political matters. This quality stood him in good stead in carrying the Hindu and Sikh sections of society in Punjab with him to bring about the epoch-making transformation of the rural areas of the province -- relatively much more urgently needed by the Muslim populace.
He was selfless, unfailingly courteous and gracious. He was unsparing of his own person and given to disciplined and meticulous hard work. He was a good judge of merit which he readily identified and used to great advantage in the service of his people. Above all, he had the natural rare gift of a sharp, telescopic vision. Here is a quote from the excellent biography written by his son, Azim Husain, ICS, which shows the depth of his intellect and political perspicacity even at an age hardly 30:
“He wanted to create among his countrymen and his Muslim brethren a consciousness of their downfall and also wanted to inspire them to make an effort to rehabilitate themselves. In three lectures (1902 - 1904) he expounded his ideas before the Anjuman-i-Himayat-i- Islam in Lahore. These ideas formed the basis of his political and social programme for the rehabilitation of the Indian people in general and more particularly of the Muslim community, and he spent the rest of his life in giving effect to most of them in whatever way he found possible.
Referring to economic conditions in India, he said: ‘Poverty is the greatest evil on earth. How to release society from its clutches? The true principle I maintain is to nourish home industries, even at the risk of stifling individualism and suffering a trifling loss – Why? Because as Greek Theorists had put it – the State comes before the individual. As a deduction therefrom, national prosperity demands individual sacrifice. …. The introduction of machinery and of factories is the only cure which can prove an effective restorative to famine-stricken India. The famines, Gentlemen, are more due to want of work than to anything else …. But factorisation means large amount of capital plus extraordinary business capacities. Joint Stock companies must be created.
What state of society is favourable to their constitution and creation? What is the conditions precedent to their growth? There must be an enlightened, interested and active public; but how to get such a public full of life and energy? Education, education, education must be the cry as was raised by John Stuart Mill’”.
M.J.AS’AD
Karachi
THOSE who are thinking and planning a supplementary roadway to Karachi’s main artery, Sharea Faisal, need to be commended for at least trying to do something to ease the traffic problems in the long run.
However, one needs to think of the massive disruption the process of construction of this elevated roadway would do to the traffic on this extremely busy road, which will be nightmarish for the daily travellers for the many years it will take to make.
Also the environmental impact of this elevated roadway on an otherwise relatively ‘attractive’ passageway will be quite negative to say the least.
To the thinkers and planners, I would like to give a suggestion: consider putting this elevated roadway along the railway tracks, which run all the way from the City Railway Station, almost parallel to Sharea Faisal, and go past the airport and then on to the outskirts of the city: the same length of roadway as was being considered can be made here instead. The advantages of this are:
a. It will not cause any serious disruption to the commuters while construction is going on.
b. The railway tracks are in a strip of land where there is enough room to put the structures for the elevated roadway, without causing any hindrances.
c. These railway lines will also be used in the future by the circular train system which the city fathers are thinking of reviving.
At major intersections of this elevated roadway, the circular train system could have bus stops and train stops, which will give an opportunity to integrate and interface the two means of mass transportation and changing from one to the other will become very easy for the users.
d. There will be relatively little visual impact if the roadway is constructed in this location.
TARIQ HUSSAIN-AAMIR
Karachi
I AM a widow and have two major problems: one, my husband, an NBP employee, Sharfabad branch, Karachi, died in 1991 since when I have been facing problems alone.
In the beginning the bank used to pay me pension plus benevolent fund but after some time it stopped the benevolent fund, without giving me a proper reason.
Before working in the Sharfabad branch, my husband had worked for 23 years in the NBP’s Custom House branch in Karachi. I assume that I am legally entitled to receive the benevolent fund.
My second problem is that in the last budget the government had announced 15 to 20 per cent increase in pension but we have not been paid that money so far.
Whenever I make an inquiry from the relevant quarters about the pension increase, the officials concerned at the bank dilly-dally and give a lame excuse that the head office has not sent them any circular in this regard. Some time the retirees are told to approach the prime minister for resolution of their pension problem.
This is tantamount to adding insult to injury. I humbly request the authorities concerned to resolve our outstanding problems and order the relevant quarters to implement the pension notification.
WAHEEDA BEGUM
Karachi
THIS refers to the report, ‘Surge in kidnapping for ransom cases’, by S. Raza Hassan (June 8) and your editorial, ‘Rise in kidnapping’ (June 9). The report has focused on Karachi only whereas kidnapping for ransom is on the rise in other cities of the country as well, at a much higher rate than in Karachi.
Kidnapping for ransom has become a lucrative business for criminals throughout the world. The crime of kidnapping is usually committed against those individuals who fail to recognise their vulnerability to criminal confrontations or lack threat awareness and are ill-prepared to deal with the crime of kidnapping. Kidnapping literally means to carry off a person or persons by force or fraud in order to obtain a ransom. However, there may be other motives of kidnapping which include rape, murder, personal enmity, religious or political aim.
Being kidnapped is one of the most difficult and dangerous experiences. Victims are uncertain about their fate as to what will happen to them. They are not sure if they will be tortured or even killed while held hostage.
Kidnap victims are usually mistreated in the initial stage to bring them under control quickly. Verbal abuse and death threats are also given. A victim who can tolerate and remain calm will be successful. Once a victim under control and initial onslaught is over, he can expect reasonable treatment from his captors if he or she remains passive.
Women victims are always prone to being raped or sexually abused by their captors at any stage. Kidnappers are often nervous and excited during the initial stages of kidnapping. They want to succeed by any means to fulfil their mission. In such circumstances if the victim tries to resist or escape, the kidnapper can kill him. Any attempt at heroics will certainly result in victim’s death.
However, people should also know how to behave if they become hostage to a kidnapper and to survive under a hostage situation. Hostage survival is not a pleasant affair, but careful planning and behaviour as to how to react in such a situation can reduce stress and anxiety. A prisoner is a burden on the hostage -taker. He or she must be constantly guarded, fed and provided hygienic care. Kidnappers keep their victim alive for the sake of getting their ransom demands, but if their demands are not met or the police raid their hideout, they can kill their victims. Here are some suggestions which can be followed:
a. Hostages should not resist or attempt to fight back at the time of abduction unless they feel that success is sure.
b. Remain calm, time is on your side, the longer the incident lasts the greater the chances for getting away.
c. Cooperate with the kidnappers and follow their instructions to the best of your ability.
d. Avoid provocation, do not threaten or curse them.
e. Evaluate the situation and think intelligently and avoid panic or a foolish escape.
f. Hide yourself behind some hard cover if you notice that the police are rescuing you, as you may be injured or killed in the crossfire between the police and kidnappers.
g. If the captivity extends, hostages should try to look after their health and physical welfare by taking whatever food is provided by the kidnappers and by setting some indoor physical exercises. This will enable them to be physically fit and make them able to escape if a chance occurs.
h. Hostage should ask their captors to provide the medicine, which is a must for them if they are suffering from any disease which they require regularly to save their lives.
i. Be observant and mentally alert even if blindfolded.
There is a need to make the people aware regarding preventive measures against kidnapping and how to react under hostage situation. Merely publishing statistics of kidnapping incidents and telling reasons of declining rates of success in solving kidnapping for ransom cases will not be of any help to the people.
S.AUSAF HUSAIN
Karachi
IT indeed is sad irony that for the last few years your ‘most widely read’ paper, your ‘largest’-circulated English-language daily has come to be nothing less than a fiasco as far as production goes. Not a day passes without really hilarious language bloopers.
Just one of the umpteen examples: in your regular issue of April 29, on page 1, regarding the news about the rocketing of a residential compound by a US helicopter, your news item says: “The helicopter intruded into Pakistan’s airspace, fired a missile which hit a house, and then ‘flied’ back to Afghanistan.”
Whoever taught your desk staff English? The past tense of ‘Fly’ is ‘Flew’, not ‘Flied’. This is so elementary, really. Even the English commonly referred to as Khansama English of the British Raj was not so comical. Even their Khansamas had a better command over the language than have your sub-editors, staffers of the country’s most prestigious daily.
Besides, in another news item a couple of days earlier, you talk of relations having gone ‘sore’, instead of ‘sour’. Further down the item, relations just go “soar”, Soar meaning, to fly.
SHAISTA NAQVI
Karachi
SO many years back the government, semi-government and private companies used to give employment on a regular basis to all people who applied for employment. Now there is no such thing. Companies and government organisations now hire hands on daily wages or the illegal contract system.
In this system the employees do not enjoy full legal benefits and labour rights such as medical facilities, bonus, annual leave and provident fund.
These facilities are available for just a few regular employees. The situation is grim for those who are being exploited.
One adverse effect of this exploitation is that these days we hear too often of suicides committed by people who think they have lost the battle for life in the face callous government attitude.
The need of the hour is to employ all in a decent and benevolent way where the employees are able to get their full rights and benefits without any let or hindrance. Unless the hands employed to work and build the country are hale and hearty, safe and sound, the country cannot be said to be prospering.
MEHMOOD KHAN
Karachi
I WANT the Pakistan Cricket Board, Inzamamul Haq and all the players and the coaching staff on the World Cup trip to file a case in the international court of justice or in Jamaica because the role of the Jamaican police and the Indian pathologist has been pathetic, and the police beat the Pakistani police in providing mental trauma to the justice seeker (Pakistani players and the Pakistan nation).
We want an apology from mark shields and Jamaican police for what they have done to the name of Pakistan. Will the PCB act now?
NADIR
Islamabad
I WAS a secondary school student when Gen Musharraf came into power in 1999. At that time I did not have any knowledge whatsoever of the working mechanism of the government but the sight of a man in uniform at the helm of affairs always fascinated me. Later I learnt that a man in uniform is not supposed to lead a country, but nevertheless I reposed full confidence in Gen Musharraf because I always had the impression that military men can do no wrong.
However, today I am very disappointed. Gen Musharraf’s government has failed to deliver. He is misguided and misled. His advisers, ministers, chief ministers, secretaries et al have simply let him down and now this government is trying to gag the media.
Mr President, I was one of your greatest supporters but you have really let me down. I defended your policies even before I had passed my matriculation examinations. I really looked forward to the true Islamic democratic state (the Quaid’s vision) which you had promised us but after all these years, I do not see any credible developments. Though there may be more cars on our roads and a lot more tall buildings, the situation is really bad for the low-income groups.
You need to listen to the people, Mr President, and not address hired supporters in big rallies as a show of strength. I would advise you to please read newspapers as this will certainly give you some idea of the prevailing situation.
BILAL MINHAS
Lahore
FOLLOWING a decree of the Supreme Court Petition No. 433 in 2004, the finance ministry vs Syed Asad Ali Shah, member, Board of Revenue, the court ordered that any retiring officer in Grades 20-22 fulfilling the conditions in question would be entitled to the orderly allowance as part of their pension benefits.
In compliance with the court’s orders the finance ministry issued the orders in January 2006, fixing the special additional pension at a flat rate of Rs800 per month.
This is a travesty of justice because when the special allowance was sanctioned in 1991, the rate was Rs1,000 per month and today stands at Rs2,375 per month. The ministry should sanction the allowance at the rates fixed by the ministry itself.
MUMTAZ A. KHAN
Lahore
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