| July 10, 2007 | Tuesday | Jamadi-us-Sani 24, 1428 |
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Precautions for the vulnerable
Politics of references
Education going nowhere
Anatomy of suicide
Lal Masjid: retrospect & prospect
Judicial crisis in US
Play station
Illegal digging
Ka’aba photograph
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
THE Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has denied voting rights to 38 million people for the upcoming November 2007 elections. Most of the persons who have been denied their right to vote are women. In the previous elections, held in 2002, 71.86 million people were registered as voters. However, in contrast, the ECP has issued a list of only 56 million eligible voters for the upcoming election.
According to several civil society organizations like the Sungi Development Foundation and the Strengthening Participatory Organization, in the North Western Frontier Province (NWFP), over 59 percent of women have been denied their voting rights due to their exclusion on the list of voters. The numbers are comparable to those in the Sindh province where 3.01 million (53.5 percent) women voters are also not registered, in Punjab where 7.1 million (48 percent) women voters have been similarly disenfranchised, and in Balochistan where 1.11 million (24 percent) women voters have been denied their right to vote.
The military government is distorting the election process through the ECP to conform to the government’s own agenda. It is estimated that in the 2007 elections, at least 88 million voters should be eligible to vote based on the population growth rate of 2.7% per annum. In the 2002 elections there were 71.86 million voters, therefore how is it possible that in 2007 the numbers dwindle to a mere 56 million, obviously not reflecting the country’s population growth? The answer lies in the fact that the government wants to control the voter lists by deleting those names belonging to the constituencies of the opposing parties. Although the government has assured the international community that the ECP would be independent in all its procedures, without government interference, through this method of disenfranchising their opposition, the government has ensured that the 2007 elections cannot and will not be fair and free.
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is concerned that it is not possible to hold free and fair elections when millions of people are denied their voting rights, although the government insists that the 2007 elections will indeed, be fair and free. The AHRC urges the government to establish a joint electorate system in Pakistan, free of discrimination against any sect or minority.
The AHRC is also concerned about the issue of women’s rights. The gender gap in voter registration suggests political motive may be a factor in voting registration, through which more than 12.5 million women have been denied their right to vote.
By denying the right to vote of millions of women, the government of Pakistan is strengthening the fundamentalist forces that do not approve of women in mainstream politics. Women have also faced difficulties in attempting to go to the display centers in order to verify their names and information.
The AHRC urges the government of General Musharraf to hold free and fair elections through an independent Election Commission that has the consensus from all the political groups of the country. The electoral process should be made transparent. The elections should be based on a joint electoral system, and the protection of women and minorities should be guaranteed.
SPOKESPERSON,
Asian Human Rights Commission
Hong Kong
WITH reference to Yassir Rasheed’s letter, ‘Disaster management’ (July 5), it is very true that Pakistan is becoming the disaster-prone zone. Natural catastrophe, including floods, hurricanes and earthquakes, is no more a fairytale for us. Despite changing trends and environment neither the government nor any other institute takes concrete and pragmatic precautionary measures to cope with the situation during disasters.
In the October 8 earthquake in northern areas the government’s estimate has stated that at least 17,000 schoolchildren died when 6,700 schools were destroyed in the NWFP and 1,300 in the Pakistan-administered Kashmir, according to the BBC online news of Oct 31, 2005. As well in recent rains and floods a huge number of children died. There is a famous proverb, ‘Prevention is better than cure’, but we have never pondered these lines.
If we appraise the national curriculum of Sindh, a number of lessons are incorporated which slightly touch personal safety. As in fourth standard lesson 36 is Halal-i-Ahmar, in fifth standard lesson 35 Shahree razakar (volunteers) and lesson 17 is ‘Scouts and girl guides’, in sixth standard lesson 10 ‘Malaria’ and in eighth standard lesson 10 is ‘Shahree bachao ji sikhya’ (learning civil defence).
All these lessons are incorporated in Sindhi subject, and all afore-mentioned lessons are included for the sake of information.
Hence, lessons included could help neither the teachers nor the students before, during and even after the disaster or accidents. These teachings primarily are imparted through schools, but disappointedly documented that rarely we found ‘first aid kit’ in government schools. Unfortunately in Pakistan we don’t have accurate figures about children’s death due to accidents or during disasters.
According to an organisation, accidental injury is the leading cause of death for children ages 0 to 14, particularly in China. In 2000, more than 71,000 children died from accidental injuries in China. The leading cause of injury deaths in both rural and urban areas was drowning, followed by motor vehicle crashes, poisoning, falls and burns. The reasons including accidental injuries, fire and burns, cuts and stabs and crushing injuries are also common in our villages and cities.
Hence, the need of time is to craft our curriculum according to the changing environment and trends. Lessons pertaining to personal safety and first aid should be incorporated in curriculum. Because in a country like Pakistan where rescue and relief work reaches hours late one could do something for himself and others. The ideas of being capable of supporting themselves and others during accidents also ingrain the concept of humanity and eradication of extremism among children.
ASIM JALEEL ABRO
Matiari
THIS has reference to your editorial, ‘Politics of references’ (June 23) that highlighted a series of references, right from the president’s reference against the chief justice to the ones against Imran Khan by MQM by Dr Sher Afghan and then a reference filed against the prime minister by the opposition.
I agree when you say that the presidential reference against the chief justice is not a trivial affair and the belated reference against the prime minister is not going to pose any threat to the government. However, your viewpoint about the MQM’s reference against Imran Khan as an overreaction is debatable.
This is no understatement that unlike other politicians Imran Khan does not mince his words when he is talking about a particular issue. After the tragic incident of May 12 when our mainstream politicians were still silent he lost no time in holding a particular political party responsible for the casualties. Since then the MQM and Imran Khan are locked in an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation and the field is well set for a pitched legal battle started by Imran Khan. Even though the war of words has toned down, both the parties continue to raise an accusing figure against each other.
Being a neutral observer, one can only suggest that mudslinging may please be avoided. As a response the MQM is entitled to adopt an equally hostile stance against Imran Khan but it must keep itself within decent moral limits. For instance, recently during a private TV channel’s live discussion a federal minister of the MQM went overboard while discussing the past life of the cricketer-turned-politician. Does it reflect the standards in our politics are steadily on the decline? About the reference filed by Dr Sher Afghan against Imran Khan, the less said the better.
You have rightly concluded that instead of being lost in non-issues the opposition and the government must focus on the free and fair general elections. John F. Kennedy, a former US president, had once remarked that our task now is not to fix the blame for the past, but to fix the course for the future.
RAFAT MAHMOOD ANSARI
Islamabad
GULSHER Panhwer’s highly thought-provoking letter, ‘Education going nowhere’ (June 19), could well be developed into an excellent article.
To sum up, he pinpoints the following causes of the downfall of our education system:
(a)Paradox of stress on education: postgraduate education grabbing practically all the education budget at the criminal cost of elementary /primary education,
(b)Outdated syllabi at all levels,
(c)Unattractive textbooks repelling children,
(d)Outdated methods of teaching,
(e)Untrained teachers,
(f)Absence of coordination, even interaction, between teachers and parents/ parents too busy to condescend to ever enter the classroom;
(g)Callous approach of officials regarding monitoring evolution and management of institutions and
(h)Minimising opportunities for the wards of the poor to acquire proper education.
Mr Panhwer could have added:
(i)Removing the English language from the status of medium of instruction for humanities,
(j)Translation cells for science subjects for translating all knowledge into Urdu in the most helpful and the least harmful future and
(k)Retaining English language, literature and linguistics as a composite subject for the elites.
ZAFAR HUSSAIN
Rawalpindi
THIS is the title of chapter 15 of President Musharraf’s book. He asks: “Why did Nawaz Sharif do what he did? Why did he commit political suicide?” Very true indeed. These questions are equally relevant and applicable to the present judicial crisis which has been created by some bad persons having vested interest. It is simply a conspiracy against the president. This one unwise step of reference against the CJ has greatly damaged the president and all the good work done by him during these seven years has been washed away. The persons who advised the president for this reference at this point of time when the president’s own election for second terms is about to take place cannot be sincere to the president and the country.
The president who is dynamic and pragmatic must make dispassionate self-analysis weighing all pros and cons. In the national interest it seems imperative that government must immediately withdraw the reference without involving false ego.
Withdrawal of reference will restore the president’s prestige and Pakistan’s soft image internationally. The opposition which has been trying to exploit the situation will also be disarmed.
NOOR AHMED
Karachi
NOTWITHSTANDING the mayhem that has been perpetrated by the pre-Islamic mind-set of the two terrorists masquerading as prayer leaders, their true character is a manifestation of an oxymoron; the cowardice by [Aunty] Abdul Aziz and cowardly bravado by the still holed up Abdul Rashid using innocent students as human shields. What is now an inescapable imperative after 5 days is for General Musharraf to order a surgical swift action to end the quagmire as the residents of Islamabad have crossed their threshold of stamina and endurance.
It is good augury that Jamia Faridia has been secured by the rangers but let this be a clarion of new paradigms to alter Madrassa madness culture of breeding suicide bombers into real education centers with all disciplines of modern sciences including Islamic studies which propound truly Islamic values. Madrassa Faridia should be made exclusive for female students with sports and recreation facilities to groom them into good citizens and voluble future mothers. Handing the Faridia to another cleric would be yet another tragedy of errors committed by dictator Ayub Khan who appointed a politically motivated cleric Abdullah and Zia ul Haq who provided the scions of Abdulla-11 the teeth and provided them carte blanche to derange poor young children with poisoned convoluted potion of Islam; contemporaneously terrorizing decent citizens jeopardizing the pious name of Islam.
To achieve this Musharraf must open his wide shut eyes and look around at the spiders that have spun webs and enfeebled him and let him down on every count, in multiple crises which pervade the national scene. Immediately, Musharraf should understand that Shujaat Hussain is no messiah of negotiations to put it very mildly; he should be retired if the General wants to save his own reputation and future. Last night Aftab Sherpao was shatteringly dismal in comparison to the renegade mosque functionary while answering the TV anchor. Sherpao lost a golden opportunity to redeem the government's position by explaining how the Lal Masjid terror leaders were able to gather such enormous weaponry, falsely claimed as licensed. Could Sherpao not fire a simple question as to where Abdul Rashid and cabal got the license for rocket launchers, heavy caliber weapons seen by the entire nation and hand grenades, tear gas shells and masks? His state minister is far superior in every way. Musharraf needs to clean up the Augean stables now if he wants to retain any respect and credibility.
SAJAD HAIDER
Air Commodore (r)
Islamabad
THIS is a religious-political story very aptly enacted. The government, which killed many innocent people in Waziristan operation and Dera Bugti operation, is now soft-hearted enough not to kill innocent students of Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa.
According to government officials there are some fundamentalists inside the mosque who have taken students hostage.
Islamabad police and rangers had beleaguered the mosque since many days. How did these fundamentalists enter the premises of the mosque in presence of law enforcing agencies? Lal Masjid’s baton wielding burqa-clad fighters had initiated their activities months ago which had attracted the attention not only of the public, but also of the intelligence agencies. Despite careful watch on these fighters, how did they manage to arrange so much ammunition to defend themselves against the operation for so many days? If Ghazi brothers are really terrorists or fierce fundamentalists who want to blackmail the government and impose their own authority and power, why would they allow hundreds of their students to surrender before the government? Why would Ghazi Abdul Rasheed respond to every channel so publicly?
All the attention from CJ case has been diverted. Flood which has ravaged the country has not been the centre of attention either. APC hardly seems to be talked about. Lal Masjid case has been used as a trump card to regain the attention and sympathies of the public, media and opposition. This is a game very well played, but at the cost of more than 40 lives.
M. SAJJAD
Karachi
APROPOS to the letter “Judicial crisis in US” by Maliha Anwer Khan (July 4), the writer very naively and preposterously tried to portray a "judicial crisis" in United States whereas no such crisis exist. By citing two events, perhaps her favorites, Ms. Khan wasted no time to derogate the United States. This is a gross misrepresentation of US Courts.
In the first case Ms Khan mentioned that a lady was stopped from entering a New York courtroom because she was wearing a headscarf. It never occurred to Ms Khan that she might have been stopped, albeit naively, under one of the rules of US courtrooms that one cannot cover his/her head with hat or with any other thing while entering the courtroom and meant no disrespect to her. It could have been a misunderstanding and nothing more. But from what angle, this incident points to a "judicial crisis" in United States?
I have visited the courtroom of the US Supreme Court and saw at least 3 ladies wearing headscarf and they encountered no problem or objection. It might help Ms Khan to know that if US courts meant any disrespect to Muslims, the sculpture of Prophet Muhammad would have been removed from the Supreme Court long ago or would not have put it at all as part of a marble frieze depicting 18 influential lawgivers, including Moses, Confucius and Charlemagne.
In the second case, Ms Khan cited an editorial of NY Times which voiced an opposition to the US Supreme Court's recent ruling in which court decided to stop the preferential treatment in schools purely based on person's race. NY Times dissented from the Court's ruling which hardly indicates a "judicial crisis" in United States.
We ought to learn to put things in their proper context. Out of context opinions/thoughts do not help anyone.
KHURRAM HANEEF
New Jersey, US
THE latest edition of video games is play station 512. This game is about a live civil war with the usual hurdles of containers and deflated trucks on the main road to force the people to abandon their cars and become sitting ducks.
There are a number of overpasses to seat the target shooters and an AWACs helicopter for overhead intelligence.
This game also has satellite-assisted remote controls for easy operation from overseas.
This deadly game is strictly reserved for users in the Middle East and South Asia.
RAFI ADAMJEE
Karachi
OUR village (Kharota Syedan) is located alongside Sialkot Cantonment. In fact, lands of military farms are attached to our village. For the last couple of months, an ugly practice is going on over the said lands.
Some unscrupulous elements are unabatedly excavating soil from precious lands of military farms and, thereafter, selling it at very cheap rates.
This excavation is a 24/7 exercise. The excavation is so intense and deep that underground water has become visible at some places. If investigated properly, it would be a multi-i-million-rupee scam.
Clouds of dust emanating from fast-moving trolleys carrying this soil has enveloped the nearby localities and has made life of people very miserable.
Sialkot is a rainy area. The ravines caused by this digging will lead to soil erosion in the future. Besides the surrounding villages, it will affect the strategically important (both militarily and economically) Saidpur-Gondal Road.
The authorities concerned must intervene to stop this illegal and harmful activity.
MUHAMMAD AHMED & FATIMA CHAUDHRI
Kharota Syedan Sialkot
LARGE Islamic banks, travel agencies, cellphone companies are portraying Ka’aba photographs in their advertisements in newspapers.
What happens to a newspaper within 24 hours is known to all. The less written the better it is. Is there any sanctity of these places or everything is business now?
Please stop portraying pictures of holy places in newspapers at all.
TAUFIQ FEROZ
Karachi
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