| July 01, 2007 | Sunday | Jamadi-us-Sani 15, 1428 |
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Kidnapping & hostage survival
Karachi’s dismal state
US lawmakers and Dr A.Q. Khan
Islamic banking
NBP public hours
Job left unfinished
Tony Blair
MQM denial
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
I HAPPENED to read the very passionately articulated timely piece by Muneer Malik on ‘Ideals and expediency’ (June 27). Mr Malik expresses very inspiringly what our beloved Pakistan and its people need, the rule of law under the Constitution, more than ever at this time of the country's half a century history.
The bold struggle that has gained strength and momentum must be supported by every segment of Pakistani society — by the masses, the elite, the media, and the legal and civil intelligentia — for preserving the rule of law in the country.
The legal community must be commended for spearheading this movement to light the torch of enlightenment and justice for all. But justice cannot be achieved without an independent judiciary, of which honest, bold, and learned judges are the building pillars.
The judges must be not only of high legal calibre but also possess high moral fibre; they must also be highly compensated for their service without external fear or internal need for greed. Only in such an environment is there some hope that other branches of the government structure — the executive, civil service, the military and others — can be held accountable for building a stable, civilised, social order.
Judges must be protected at all levels of the judiciary from outside pressure for influencing their judicial rulings. The bars of protections and tenure for judges should be so held high that no external power should be allowed to unduly dismiss or remove them, except in rare circumstances under the Constitution, strictly as defined and judged under the rule of the law.
Only then can judges be expected to perform their duties and functions independently and justly under the law. In the long history of military rule in Pakistan, the first judge who stood up boldly not to bend under pressure is being supported everywhere in the country, which is indicative of the public hunger for justice under law.
Now other judges are beginning to show courage in practising the rule of law without probable undue influence by the power-that-be. All this bodes well for the future of Pakistan as a free, independent, and lawful country.
The military has held too much power, and for too long, whatever being the perceived and proclaimed reasons. Now in the 21st century, we must strive for a politically elected civilian rule, no matter how imperfect it may be during its evolutionary growing, maturing period. The elected leaders must never be removed and be allowed to complete their elected term period.
Let the people and the electorate be the judge to extend these leaders' tenure, to elect, re-elect or to replace them through the electoral process.
In extreme transgression of rules, ruling leaders can also be brought to the same independent judiciary system, even at the highest level, the prime minister or the president. Why do we need this dual leadership in government?
This dual power structure is nothing more than a traditional carryover, ceremonial, overlapping, and conflicting or conflict-causing in its functions. This and other issues too can be decided through the maturing electoral process according to the wishes of the people.
The concept of freedom of choice, freedom of expression and the freedom for electing the ruling leaders of the people must be nurtured in the minds of the people. That it is the people who must exercise this power to freely elect their rulers, not rulers who may impose themselves as rulers; whoever they are, civilian or military.
It is in the best interest of the people of this country that the rule of law under the Constitution must be upheld; the struggle to win this right must be won with the support of all law-abiding people who want fair and just rule of law for all the ruled, and the rulers alike.
MOHAMMAD SHARIF HAFIZ
Virginia, USA
I REFER to the letters of S. Ausaf Husain and Faryal Naeem Warind (June 14 and June 20) on kidnapping and would like to endorse the suggestions of the writers and add some important information as regards prevention of kidnapping.
The CPLC has played a vital role in combating the crime of kidnapping for ransom over the years with successful result. However, for the last two years the graph of kidnapping for ransom has gone up to some extent. The reason is the availability of prepaid connections of mobile phone without any documentation.
During investigation of cases, it is revealed that gangs of kidnappers are operating on scores of SIMs at one time, obtained on fake identities. This is the main hurdle faced by the CPLC and law enforcers in handling these cases and other heinous crimes.
The CPLC, from time to time, educates people about security measures vide public awareness programmes through the print media, public forums and its website: www.cplc.org.pk. Some of the important precautionary measures are listed hereunder which can be useful in avoiding a kidnapping situation.
a. Do not set patterns. Vary routes and timings when travelling/walking/ jogging or outing.
b. Use main roads. Avoid badly-lit areas, quiet areas or side alleys.
c. Remember, there is safety in numbers. Avoid going alone. When travelling long distance by an automobile, go in a convoy. Avoid back country roads.
d. When approaching a parked car, ensure that no suspicious person is around. Avoid sitting and waiting in the car.
e. Avoid using luxury or ostentatious cars.
f. Always let someone know your whereabouts.
g. Print visiting cards which do not show designation/position.
h. Be careful whilst inside and when leaving lockers/ banks/ATM.
i. Always install a digital telephone line with caller ID.
j. To avoid child abduction, never leave your child alone in a public place, stroller or car, not even for a minute. Don't let your child accept rides from strangers.
Lastly, if somebody from your family is kidnapped, be calm. You must inform the CPLC at 5683333/111or the police on 15 for assistance.
SHARFUDDIN MEMON
Chief, CPLC-CRC
Karachi
A COMPLETE lack of accountability and an abundance of ineptitude allow the status quo to continue with impunity, regardless of costs or consequences. Countless lives are lost, millions of rupees of property damage occurs when incompetence that is only exceeded by arrogance reigns supreme.
More people died of electrocution than by other causes when the gale force winds and heavy downpour hit Karachi on June 23. Shoddy construction of homes and hoardings, clogged nullahs and storm drains, exposed electrical wires providing stolen power connections proved deadly when nature's fury was unleashed on Karachi, and exacted a heavy price for the collective indifference and ignorance.
I commend Dawn's editorial staff in pointing out the gross negligence in the timely maintenance of Karachi's stormwater drains. While this is a first step in the right direction towards enhancing the citizenry's awareness, further investigative and comprehensive reports and continued media coverage of the city's key infrastructure organisations, as well as of the leadership's performance, will energise the debate and discussion among the public and politicians.
Restoring Karachi's image as the city of lights should be pursued relentlessly by the people's representatives and other members of society. Taking back the city from its current dismal state to a thriving metropolis and a destination of choice will no doubt require investment of sweat and treasure, integrity of character, imagination and an engaged public that demand proper sanitation and sewage, clean air, safety, security, comfort and convenience.
Other societies have shown that this is not some pipedream but a reality that responsible and respectable communities expect from their public officials and their leaders. Their leadership has delivered nothing less.
EJAZ AHMED
California, USA
ACCORDING to New York Times, the United Nation scientific panel studying climate change has predicted this year that the global temperature is likely to rise between 3.5 and eight degrees Fahrenheit if the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere reaches twice the level of 1750. By 2100, sea levels are likely to rise between seven to 23 inches, it said, and the changes now under way cannot be stopped for centuries to come.
In such conditions Karachi may come under severe threat of sinking and storms. Should we do something or wait for 2100 to come as we did for Saturday’s storm?
SYED MUJAHID ALI SHAH
Munich, Germany
ACCORDING to a report, some US lawmakers have demanded access to Dr A.Q. Khan on the pretext that his answers are required to unearth the western entities involved in his network, many of whom are still to be arrested (June 28).
One legislator even sought international inspection of Pakistan’s nuclear installations while another said that US law prevented assistance to any country that proliferated and made nuclear weapons outside international control.
First, why don’t they seek inspections of Israeli and Indian facilities using technology stolen from the West to make weapons, yet economic and military assistance continues?
Second, Dr Khan has not caused the death of a single person, American or otherwise, whereas President Bush has taken a million. He attacked Iraq after speaking lies; if he hadn’t done so, nearly a million Iraqis would not have died, nor millions rendered refugees. Also, before 2003, Shia and Sunni Iraqis even inter-married and there was not a single incident of sectarian killings.
Thus, Mr Bush is responsible for more deaths and destruction than caused by the two nuclear bombs dropped by the US on Japan. Therefore, he should be handed over to the Muslims for trial regarding the deaths in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, Pakistan and Somalia, resulting from his crusades. After that, we will consider letting the Americans interview Dr Khan if he so pleases. Otherwise, they should stop pestering us.
Third, why can’t the CIA trace the western sources who sold banned stuff to Israeli, India and Pakistan, just as it had exposed Dr Khan and the Libyan atomic programme? May God give Pakistan’s great hero a long life, but it appears that even after he dies, the Americans, especially the two Jewish lawmakers, Gary Ackerman and Sherman, who seem overly concerned, would want his bones disentombed for questioning.
ABU IQBAL
Karachi
APROPOS of Saalim Salam Ansari’s letter, ‘Islamic banking’ (June 22), the SBP clarifies as under:
Islamic banking is defined as banking in consonance with the ethos and value system of Islam and governed by the principles and rules laid down by Islamic Shariah. In this perspective the writer's claim that "no interest free Islamic banking system, arrangement, instrument, product or any type of such banking is prevailing in the market in its true spirit" is out of place and not based on facts.
The writer has raised objections without taking into account the stringent Shariah compliance framework introduced by the SBP in the light of verdict of Shariah Appel-late Bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan and recommendations of subsequently formed Commission for the Transformation of Financial System.
Under this Shariah compliance mechanism, the SBP Shariah Board has been established by the SBP Central Board and it is represented by renowned Shariah scholars as well as by practitioners in the field of law, accounting and banking. To ensure Shariah compliant operations, each Islamic banking institution is required to work under the guidance of a Shariah adviser who is appointed subject to successfully meeting the “fit and proper criteria” laid down by the SBP Shariah Board.
Further, the SBP had released “Essentials and Model Agreements of major Islamic modes of financing” as a guideline for Islamic banks. From this year, the SBP will start conducting Shariah compliance inspection of Islamic banks to ensure the compliance of Shariah and other regulations.
For conventional banks offering Islamic banking products and services through dedicated branches, segregation of funds has also been made compulsory. These mechanisms have been devised to ensure that the Shariah aspects are properly adhered to while operating under Islamic banking environment.
The existing comprehensive Shariah compliance framework is surely one of the most rigorous in the global context and ensures that all the products and services of the Islamic banking institutions are in accordance with the Shariah. Moreover, if any deviation from Shariah is subsequently pointed out by the Shariah adviser or internal Shariah audit of an Islamic bank, the bank's income from such transaction is declared illegitimate by the Shariah adviser and it is credited to charity account maintained for such purposes.
The Shariah advisers of Islamic banks are highly qualified scholars and well versed with Shariah and banking affairs. The role of Shariah advisers in an Islamic bank is very important as their prime responsibility is to ascertain that the operations of the bank are carried out according to the Shariah principles.
As far as the writer's contention that current Islamic banking has been operating in Pakistan since 1985, it should be taken into account that learning from experience of 1980s, Islamic banking was relaunched in Pakistan in 2002 with the establishment of Meezan Bank Limited whereby a detailed Shariah compliance mechanism was introduced for Islamic banking. Therefore, the things should be seen in their historical perspective.
The low profit rates for depositors are an industrywide phenomenon, common for conventional and Islamic banks alike. The SBP governor has stressed upon the banks a number of times to share more of their profits with their depositors. Under Islamic banking, profits earned on financing and investments are shared with investment account holders. Islamic banks often at their own discretion pass on their own share of profit to the depositors in case a particular pool of investment could not yield expected profits.
SYED WASIMUDDIN
Chief Spokesman,
State Bank of Pakistan,
Karachi
ALMOST all banks in the private sector are trying to offer maximum facilities to their clients these days in a competitive spirit. They are open to public dealings from 9am to 4pm, and in busy commercial areas till 8pm. On the other hand, all branches of the National Bank of Pakistan strictly close down their doors on the public at 1.30pm, come what may.
Will the NBP management consider the following to do the needful:
a) Business concerns/shops open at 11am in the city and find only two-and-a-half hours to interact with the NBP.
b) A large number of salaried persons from the public sector throng the NBP and wait for hours to draw their salary amount. It also makes the bank branches virtually look like ‘fish markets’ in contrast to private banks where business continues smoothly and decently.
c) Old and infirm pensioners, including women, are obliged to reach the bank, within the short time fixed for public dealing, in unnecessary haste and tension. (There is also no arrangement for drinking water and toilet facility for these people).
d) The heavy load of work on the bank staff leads some time to unpleasant situation.
On the basis of my experience that the NBP top management is responsive to public grievance, I am sure that the matter will be considered to extend their working hours in the public interest.
MOHAMMAD ALEEM SHAIKH
Karachi
ON June 19 a portion of the main D. D. Chaudhary Road, Baghdadi, UC, Lyari, Karachi, was dug up by the KWSB authorities to replace water pipeline in which sewage had found its way and mixed with the water. This important work continued for two days without the supervision of any qualified engineer and, thereafter, suddenly stopped without the completion of the job up to the tail-end, i.e., Zeeshan Arcade.
This matter was reported to the authorities concerned through letters, emails, faxes and telephone calls but till today there is no progress.
The dug-up trench is causing great hardships, inconvenience and posing serious threats to the residents. We once again appeal to the authorities concerned to do the needful.
PRO BONO PUBLICO
Karachi
I AM distressed to hear that Tony Blair is being considered for a role in the Middle East. He has already played quite a role in the Middle East and a destructive at that, so much so that his own party and people had to ask him to step down from his position. It would be a shame if the international community was to now reward him for just that.
I was equally surprised to read that Mr Blair is thinking of adopting Catholicism and will be seeing the Pope soon. Normally, people of his age would have already formed their basic beliefs and if he is still swaying, it can mean that perhaps mentally, he is still in a transitory stage.
I may add that as a Muslim, I accept and respect Christianity as a holy religion and no disrespect is intended to any particular sect of the religion.
S.R.H. HASHMI
Karachi
APROPOS of your editorial, ‘Power crisis must end’ (June 29), I would like to clarify that the MQM has not on any occasion whatsoever advised KESC consumers to refrain from paying their June electricity bills. In fact, MQM convener Dr Imran Farooq has declined to pass any orders to this effect.
KUNWAR KHALID YUNUS
Member, National Assembly
Karachi
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