| July 06, 2007 | Friday | Jamadi-us-Sani 20, 1428 |
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Cyclone victims
Perspective on the 1965 war
Risky track
Unattended complaint
Lal Masjid operation
A controversial knighthood
Kidnapping for ransom
NICVD
More dams
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
GORDON Brown wouldn’t be the first to so naively identify the reason for terrorism as hatred of “our values” and “our society”.
Over and over again from across the Atlantic, Bush has gleamed as he made this profound discovery, and has used it to polish the self-constructed halo over his head.
Why does everything always have to be about them?
The “endangered values” slogan is merely a premise conjured to mislead members of the public, to make them believe that terrorism is targeted against them, individually and collectively. In reality it is rhetoric that neither means anything nor justifies war, and nor does it fool the Muslim world (which is the real victim) into believing that the Anglo-US coalition gives a damn about Muslims.
Which poor fools fall prey to these blatant lies? And what are these phantom values they harp on about?
Regrettably, the public falls into the web of propaganda spun by the spiders on both sides of the Atlantic. But I’d like to make a simple clarification here for those stuck in 10 Downing and the White House who have failed to make sense of it all or at least pretend to have failed.
It isn’t envy of your (i.e., American or English) ‘values’ or your ‘society’ (the best aspects of which you yourself have desecrated in the name of democracy and freedom) which prompts terrorists to blow up themselves. In fact, the only thing it has to do with your ‘values’ is to serve as evidence of your double standards when dealing with peoples of different religion, colour and creed.
On the contrary, it has everything to do with you whole-heartedly supporting and financing the Israeli occupation in Palestine picking at the remnants of a bleeding society; it has everything to do with you occupying Iraq for its oil and paving a road for Shia and Sunni to kill each other (if that is at all true — for it could just as well be you staging a religious conflict).
It has everything to do with you scouring the mountains of Afghanistan for a friend-turned-enemy you created years ago. It also has everything to do with you being completely unable to tolerate anyone who has the courage to talk back to you; so you had a hand in the attempted coup to oust Chavez in Venezuela; you now are drafting plans to get rid of Ahmadinejad in Iran because he can look you in the face and tell you the truth about yourself.
The world is replete with examples of the coalition’s imperial ambitions and drastically failed attempts. The UK saw the sun set on its empire years ago but its psyche remains inundated in imperialism and decades later it still attempts to ‘bring the world together’, only now, under the pretence of building bridges for peace and other such fantasy notions.
It comes as little surprise that the same attitude and methodology of ‘divide and rule’ has been transported across the ocean to the US which now seeks to pick up its partner’s legacy and bring the empire to the 21st century.
There is a lesson to be learned from the wars being fought to protect and uphold endangered Anglo-American ‘values’: it will always be about them. To the devil with values in other countries, the world must pay because the world did not do enough to protect Anglo-American values and their society. The world needs to wake up.
MARIA JAMSHAID
Islamabad
SADLY the police had to use tear gas to disperse the cyclone victims, who were protesting in desperation. They were complaining of getting no aid for days, when they had place to go, as there was water everywhere.
We have been hearing the news of how so many small towns in both Balochistan and Sindh have been washed away in the recent cyclone. Every year monsoon brings disaster, especially for the poor people, whose houses get destroyed by heavy rains.
Being a Pakistani I want to ask our government just one thing, this recent cyclone was predicted a few days beforehand. In fact, we were listening to the government relief department proudly announcing how they are so well prepared to deal with the aftermaths of the tropical storm.
Is supplying the food aid like milk, sugar and flour will be enough for those who suffered and have lost everything? When we all knew beforehand of what was coming, wouldn’t it have been better if the government had arranged temporary shelter in government schools, which are closed these days, for them, who have no place to go now?
FILZA G. SIDIQI
Waterford, Ireland
WHILE criticising the government for the delays in launching relief operations in the areas hit by cyclone and rains, the National Party president, Dr Abdul Hayee Baloch, made two other claims (June 30) .
First, that it had not issued timely warnings about the cyclone and rains, as a result widespread destruction occurred. Second, he rejected the government’s plea that weather conditions were the main hurdle in sending helicopters to the affected areas. He said that when the authorities wanted to launch a military operation against the people of Balochistan, they faced no such hurdles.
I believe Dr Baloch has a degree in medicine, if not a PhD in some other subject. Nevertheless, the gentleman should be having a sufficient grounding of how weather is tracked and predictions made.
Everyone who had been following the Storm Yemyin on Pakistani TV or radio channels, presumably including Dr Baloch himself, would know that our Met department had been keeping the public abreast. Initially the cyclone was headed for Karachi but changed course when it was only about 100km away and bypassed the city, heading for the Balochistan coastal areas.
Apart from the unfortunate destruction it caused there, the floodwater coming in from Iran added to the problem. It must be noted that people in Sindh’s coastal belt and some areas of Karachi, such as Defence and Clifton, had started moving to safer areas the night before the expected hit by Yemyin.
Dr Baloch would also know that the cyclone’s path could not have been predicted any earlier. Such unexpected events happen even in the US.
Therefore, it is unfair of him to make such allegations. I am glad he didn’t say that the government changed the course of the storm away from Karachi and towards Balochistan through a conspiracy. Similarly, he is guilty of using the tragedy for political purposes when he referred to the military operations.
Was there a cyclone or flood when the government had used aircraft against Nawab Akbar Bugti or others? Anger, like an acid, corrodes the container in which it is stored.
It must also be remembered that after the Oct 2005 earthquake some people of the NWFP and Kashmir had similarly accused the administration of being slow to act.
The people of Sindh are now saying Islamabad is discriminating against them by not sending relief promptly. This should prove that, even if the government has not been quick enough, yet there is no element of bias against our Baloch brethren or anyone else involved.
However, I would say that the rulers didn’t seem to learn adequate lessons from the earthquake. They should have been better prepared to handle natural disasters. It is suggested an assessment be made whether hovercraft and amphibious vehicles would be more independent of weather conditions than helicopters, in which case sufficient numbers be purchased and kept in good working order.
Also, President Musharraf and his advisers should focus more on pre-empting or solving the problems of the nation rather than on addressing political rallies or getting re-elected.
R. REHMAN
Karachi
COL (r) George L. Singleton has opened our old wounds from the 1965 Indo-Pakistan war (June 27). In a passing remark, he states that during the heat of the war “US military equipment and spare parts were equally and uniformly 100 per cent cut off to both nations.” In the American press it was gleefully referred to as ‘arms embargo’ slammed on Pakistan for which Pakistan will not and should not forgive the United States.
Americans may have thought that to cut off the supplies to both countries was a just move (as both were treated equally) ostensibly to compel them to stop the war, Col Singleton thinks so too. But what the US administration did not comprehend was that Pakistan's armed forces were trained on and equipped with US arms whereas Indian forces were trained on and supplied by the former USSR.
The embargo starved out the Pakistan forces of equipment and spares. India, on the other hand, kept getting from Kremlin the replacements, new weapons and spares so desperately needed. The US embargo was a pleasant surprise for Kremlin. It may have given them a hope that their vassal would win against Pakistan as they were dumping supplies in Indian arsenals. If the USSR had also imposed an embargo on both countries, Pakistan would not have felt so stingingly stung.
The embargo proved to be, in effect, a punishment to Pakistan – an ally, or rather an ally of allies – on whose soil the US had a large military base. Did the American administration know its impact and consequences but did not care? That makes me wonder what kind of ‘Pakistan desk’ experts were sitting out there in Washington?
M.K. NAQVI
Karachi
I WOULD like to draw attention of the department concerned towards risky railway track of Lahore-Sialkot section via Narowal. I have observed while travelling in the train that the condition of the railway track is very pathetic. Owing to poor track condition, the trains on this track run about 40 kilometres per hour, that is too much slow.
Besides, the lineament of the track is not up to the standard, so the train gives jerks left and right, and some time it bumps, which is very dangerous for a train that may cause accident any time, anywhere. Besides, the mud under the track has also diminished. The Sialkot-Lahore section via Narowal is a profitable section for the railway department and it can be made more lucrative by improving its service and track. As Sialkot and Lahore are regarded as the hub of business activities, there is need to lay high-speed track between the two cities.
The railway department should reconstruct the track before any accident takes place.
ZAHEER AHMED
Lahore
ON June 9 we returned home at 3pm just to find out from neighbours that some KESC staff had fiddled with the meter and removed/disconnected lead wiring of airconditioner in our absence.
The Gulistan-i-Jauhar complaint centre could not provide any clue to this illegal action. Nor did the XEN and assistant XEN (services) seem to have information.
However, a department official promised rectification within an hour. But the hour has not yet come.
The situation has come to such a pass now that illegal tampering with household gadgets is resorted to. Copies of the complaint, No. 18 LA427526, were faxed to the MD/director, Customer Services, but till date no one has responded.
HAFIZULLAH SHAIKH
Karachi
THE government has surprisingly taken all the right steps. It has shown flexibility by allowing women and youngsters to leave peacefully as well as promising no harm to anyone who surrenders. They have treated the people coming out of the mosque and madressah very well.
I am no big supporter of the Army and the government but would say they have handled this situation very well. No unnecessary blood has been shed. What will it take for our people to understand?
The Lal Masjid authorities unfortunately played out into the hands of the unguided people who claim to represent Islam but are actually doing more to defame it. I don't blame them entirely either, for in this age of confusion no one is sure about anything.
I have deep respect for the ulemas and they should be treated with respect.
The Ghazi brothers, willingly (I hope not) or inadvertently (only Allah knows) caused this drama. It leaves me with mixed feelings for them, where they probably wanted to do something right but went about it the wrong way.
JUNAID NASEER
Rawalpindi
JULY 3 was no doubt the worst day in Islamabad's history when blood of Muslims was shed callously. For months the media has been advocating, even calling for an operation against the Lal Masjid administration, and I am sure they would not be proud of the outcome after the incidents of July 3 and 4.
While the method of the Lal Masjid clerics to achieve their objectives was questionable, it did not give the government the licence to kill and the responsibility of the loss of innocent lives rests with the government alone. It is still not clear what the repercussions of the operation against the Lal Masjid would be, but I think it is time we analysed the reasons behind the events which led to the tragic death of so many people.
The masses are fed up with the rhetorics of increasing Talibanisation and the failure of the government to curtail extremism. The fact remains that while many would disagree with the methodology adopted by the administrators of the Lal Masjid, the masses cannot help but agree with their opinion regarding the spread of vulgar and obscene practices under the context of personal freedom and the demonising of political Islam by the current regime by equating it to Talibanisation or terrorism.
If implementing a radical version of Islam is wrong, implementing western ideas about life on a society which rejects them is also not correct. Balochistan and Waziristan are perfect examples showing that establishing the writ of the government while ignoring the aspirations of the people would only make the problem worse.
ABDULLAH MALIK
Islamabad
JULY 4 saw another detestable yet ludicrous outcome of Gen Ziaul Haq's attempt at Talibanisation of Pakistan when Maulana Abdul Aziz was arrested trying to flee the control of law in a burqa, especially after stating that they were ready to sacrifice their lives for implementation of Shariah.
Individuals with such approach flourished after Gen Zia, proclaiming to make Pakistan a true Islamic state, laid foundations for extension of his rule. Such acts only make our religion a laughing matter. Shariah is not and cannot be implemented by taking hostage or by rioting.
I commend President Musharraf for his proficient management of the situation at Lal Masjid and bringing people who defame Islam and our state to justice.
JIBRAN SARFRAZ
Faisalabad
WHILE the Lal Masjid crisis is still not completely over, it is conceived that it was a well-written, and well-directed drama by some unknown producer.
Coming days and events at the Supreme Court may reveal the real author and actor of this drama but one thing is sure, that is, this was the biggest religious seminary for female.
The government is requested in good faith that whatever the outcome of this Lal Masjid crisis, this seminary may be handed over to the ‘wafaqul madaris’ or the ministry of education for using it as a modern female religious educational institution.
DR ABID RAUF ORAKZAI
Hangu
THIS has reference to Anwer Syed’s article, ‘A controversial knighthood’, (July 1). The writer has tried to justify that Muslims have no right to protest about the award as it is “an internal matter of the British government”. However, the fact remains that the protesters' feelings have been hurt because someone (the recipient of the knighthood in question) tried to mock the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him).
Mr Syed says Rushdie is a novelist and writes fiction. In other words, he approves of Rushdie taking such licence. I understand it cannot be a novel or a fiction if any of its characters is a known personality (let alone any prophet) and the portrayal is done deliberately. In his reasoning the writer has amalgamated the issues of blasphemy and religion. Has there been any protest by Muslims on religious beliefs of Christians, Jews, Hindus or of any other religion"?
In fact, Surah 109, 'Al Kaferoon', forbids Muslims to do so. Why shouldn't there be a protest to the British government on its award to Rushdie? I strongly feel that any Muslim possessing even a grain of true faith has to condemn blasphemy.
PROF SHAMSUL HAQUE
NED University
Karachi
AUSAF Husain’s letter (June 14) offers some practical tips for the victims to relax and play calm for some time, which might ultimately be helpful in their release. I remember the case of an employee of a foreign company, who was released after a few weeks, because he continued to offer regular prayers, despite being kept in chains, as the company ignored the demands for ransom.
This was perhaps a milder case of God-fearing kidnappers having soft religious feelings for the old age of the victim. The experience was in any case too hazardous, deserving urgent steps by the government to stop this menace. However, it is advisable to avoid ‘tabzeer’ or show of wealth, which is the real reason for increase of this menace, besides poor law and order.
SYED MOHSIN
Karachi
THIS is with reference to Yvette Franklin’s letter (June 3). The Cardiovascular Foundation, Karachi, will be only too happy to have her join us in improving the facilities at the NICVD. She may contact Mr Khadim at the NICVD for our contact numbers.
ZAREENA ASGHAR KHAN
Cardiovascular Foundation,
Karachi
WHEN parts of the country are flooded and other parts of the country are sweltering under the sun with no power, it is amazing to see the lack of vision of our political leadership which does not point people's attention to the need for more dams in the country.
If anything, this is the most opportune time to raise people's awareness to what could be achieved if we had at least two more mega dams: more environment-friendly and cheap power for the cities, more water for agriculture during dry parts of the year, and some relief from the floods which are playing havoc with people's lives today.
It will also expose elements who oppose the construction of these mega projects, and who claim to be patriotic Pakistanis, but are roadblocks in the path of progress of the people.
While raising of the Mangla Dam, and Neelum hydropower project will help, that is not enough. We need to undertake Basha and Kalabagh dams' construction on a war footing and divert maximum resources today to the completion of these projects in the very immediate future.
Mangla and Tarbela brought a wave of prosperity for Pakistan; and Basha and Kalabagh will bring another. We don't have any other option, and that is today's reality. Anything short of construction of these dams will be doing injustice to the future generations of this land.
ASAD KHAN
Wah Cantt
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