| July 14, 2007 | Saturday | Jamadi-us-Sani 28, 1428 |
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Writ of the government
Sindh CS’s transfer
Islamic banking
Tragedy in Turbat
Pfizer shareholders
The only way?
Bad impression
Iskander Mirza
Sinking quickly
Cigarettes on the menu
Speak up
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
IN Pakistan a total of 34 incidents of suicide attacks have occurred in different parts of the country since 2002. All these attacks were carried out by male suicide bombers of different terrorist and sectarian groups operating in the country.
But in none of these attacks women were used by the terrorists as suicide bombers. Perhaps they did not consider women suitable for their targets or their ability as suicide bombers were underestimated.
Women were never used by the terrorists as their weapons, especially as suicide bombers. Most probably they never realised their capabilities and effectiveness. But after seeing the successful results of using women as suicide bombers in different parts of the world during the last three decades, women are now considered a deadly weapon by the terrorists around the world. In the Middle East, Palestinian women have been among the ranks of fighters and bombers attacking Israel since at least the 1970s, but first to become a suicide bomber was Wafa Idris, a 27-year-old ambulance worker, who killed an Israeli civilian and wounded 140 in January 2002.
In death she became a celebrity. As a result, more women and girls volunteered to die for a branch of Yasir Arafat’s secular Fatah organisation, better know as “The army of roses”.
The tales of “black widows” of Chechnya are well - known to the world. Some Chechen women who lost their husbands or sons in the war wanted to live only long enough to take revenge from the Russian forces. The first “black widow”, in summer 2000, killed 27 members of Russian Special Forces. Then the spectral, silent presence of 18 ‘widows’ during the deadly hostage siege of a Moscow theatre in 2002 heightened their mystique. Chechen women also carried out six out of seven suicide attacks on Russian targets, killing 165 people in 2003.
In Turkey, from 1996 to 99 Kurdish women nationalists set off nine suicide bombers, killing 15 and wounding 115.
In Israel, secular female suicide bombings spread in 2002. In Tamil Nadu, a woman separatist blew up former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991.
Al Qaeda is also using women suicide bombers in Iraq.
On July 3, as the operation against the Lal Masjid brigade began in Islamabad, the spokesman for the Lal Masjid administration, Maulana Abdul Qayum, told the mediamen on the same day that suicide bombers of Lal Masjid have been granted permission to find targets on their own and strike wherever they choose to.
The Lal Masjid administration had already warned the government in April this year that they would unleash a wave of suicide bombers if the government impeded the enforcement of Shariat and attacked Lal Masjid and its sister seminaries (Dawn, April 7).
As a result of the fallout of “Operation Silence”, in Islamabad against the militants in Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa on July 10, terrorist activities are likely to increase in the country, including use of suicide bombers. Possibility of using women suicide bombers by terrorists in Pakistan now cannot be ruled out.
Thousands of women and girls were harboured in Jamia Hafsa for many years on the pretext of imparting “Islamic teachings”. Many of these women and girls must have been motivated to sacrifice their lives in the name of jihad and hence were also trained as suicide bombers. The recourse to women doesn’t happen suddenly, it starts when the battle escalates to all sectors of society and men fight and die. Then the widow or their family members seek vengeance, or want to give their life in the same cause.
If ever, women suicide bombers are used in Pakistan, they will prove deadliest. We should, therefore, be vigilant and expect the unexpected.
SQN LDR (R) S. AUSAF HUSAIN
Karachi
RARELY in this part of the world do governments get to have their cake and eat it too. However, the government has finally been able to cajole the media’s opinion to its side on the Lal Masjid issue. No more are private television channels’ transmissions being stopped, offices being sabotaged and the government has stopped its preaching to the media on its responsibilities.
One does wonder though as to what caused this sudden romance between the media and the government. We as a nation are addicted to conspiracy theories, from blaming America for everything that happens in our country to thinking that each bombing/killing is the result of insurgency propagated by our arch rivals. Has it ever dawned on us that perhaps the government might have done something right for a change?
The way the government has dealt with the current crisis in the country is commendable. Yes it would have been much better had there been a lot fewer killings on both sides, had this operation been executed much earlier but then again now that it’s finally done we should support the government to its fullest. It’s one of those rare opportunities where the nation gets to show the world that not everyone in this part of the world is a fundamentalist, nor are they everyone hell bent upon taking lives.
At the same time the government must learn that its writ has to be earned not established. Who wouldn’t back their policies if they were remotely in the interest of the nation? Who wouldn’t want to live in peace and dignity rather than pursuing the path of suicide bombings if they saw an inch of sincerity in government policies? It’s a question which must be answered by the government without being asked by the nation.
Perhaps the biggest lesson to be learnt here is by the media itself. It has seen the pain of not standing with the establishment and it has also experienced the benefits of siding with it. However it must know that not each pairing with the government is fair, however convenient it is and not every word spoken against the establishment is a crime. It must choose its battles and win rather than opting for an allout war.
OMER B.N. QAISRANI
Multan
THE transfer of Shakil Durrani, Sindh’s chief secretary, just four months after his posting to the job has come as no surprise. The surprise was his posting to the province in the first instance with the elections in sight.
The chief minister should have checked beforehand. Shakil is ‘notoriously’ neutral and known for keeping out of political frays. But then it is not for the first time that the province’s chief bureaucrat’s normal term of four years was cut down to as many months.
I, too, was transferred from this post after four months but limped along for another six only because the partners in the government then (1988-89) could not agree on the successor. The partners then were the PPP and the MQM. Now they are Q League and the MQM under Pervez Musharraf’s vigilance.
Just to emphasise the relevance of this maxim to Pakistan’s politics and more particularly Sindh’s, no matter who is in power, I should add that I was also transferred from the post of a secretary at the centre in less than four months when the Muslim League was in power as one entity comprising both its ‘N’ and ‘Q’ factions.
The politicians are making it increasingly difficult for the civil servants to follow the advice Mr Jinnah gave them at Peshawar on April 14, 1948 that they should serve “the people and the state fearlessly and honestly -- should have no hand in supporting this political party or that political party or this political leader or that political leader – this is not your business.”
Now, when it comes to following the advice of the Quaid-i- Azam or the demands made to the contrary by the Leagues tracing their origin to him, or named after him, most civil servants opt for the latter. Shakil Durrani belongs to a fast vanishing minority. If the politicians want the civil servants to go by their dictates they, in turn, have necessarily to follow the dictates of the generals.
KUNWAR IDRIS
Karachi
IN his letter, ‘Islamic banking’ (July 1), SBP chief spokesman Syed Wasimuddin mentioned: “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”.
The question arises that what exactly is the nature of these ‘financings’ and ‘investments’?
Under Islamic economics, we focus on the transaction of goods, service or time-held usage of a property, asset against money. What is prohibited is interest.
Second, Islamic investment in practice is on the whole modarba-based meaning one can only contribute or define when to trade or not to trade. But while a person invests in a bank, he never knows about the operations of that bank, where they are investing and such like.
The earning of an Islamic bank is supposedly through participation in real economic activities and businesses. For the sake of clarity, the bank should provide the customer with a clear idea of what the business is about and in which direction his funds are going to be invested. The fluctuation in profits received by investors does not validate the process as Islamic banking. The ventures generating these profits shall be deliberated over.
Now back to the original question, whether what is being offered as an implementation of Islamic banking meets the obligation of the concept itself or not? As stated by Mr Wasimuddin, the profits are earned on the basis of finances and investments. Since the majority of investments and financings existing in Pakistan are in the form of fixed income bonds, mutual funds and bank assurance products, etc., these generate profits in the form of interest in one way or other. Hence, how close our Islamic banking is in compliance with Shariah is still a probable issue.
AMNA MASOOD
Islamabad
IT IS tragic to see how Turbat, once known as one of the most exquisite, peaceful places of Balochistan, now stands in ruins. The cyclone has destroyed all of Turbat and thousands of people living in the coastal areas.
According to experts, millions have been displaced and so very many killed. What makes it worse is that the government has not done much to help those affected. People are saying that the relief efforts have not reached them. This prompted people in Koshalath to protest against the government four days after the flood when relief goods did not reach them. It is sad that the government fired on the protestors which injured three.
Gone are the days that made Turbat special. It has been destroyed first by the natural disaster and then by our government.
FAHAD IQBAL
Turbat
SABIHUDDIN Ghausi’s article (e - Dawn, July 7) brings out something very interesting which at the same time is something quite mystifying. As a businessman, I am unable to fathom the business strategy of Pfizer’s operations in Pakistan.
The facts as reported in the report are:
a. Pfizer Laboratories Ltd has accumulated losses of Rs930.3 million till 2002;
b. its two main products are being sold at gross loss – which means that increase in sales would result in greater losses;
c. the company is presumably paying taxes, thereby increasing these losses further. I know that tax authorities have their own system of assessing ‘true’ profits and take a careful look at inter-company transactions, disallowing what they deem to be any excess loading; and, finally,
d) the parent company is financing these losses by injecting equity capital which would clearly be classified as ‘dead’ investment at their end and would have to be written off as ‘bad’ investment in due course.
But as the parent company is selling the raw materials: in case of Amlodepine Besylate at 60 times ($30,000 per kg vs. $500 per kg) and Piroxicam at 70 times ($8,750 vs. $125 per kg) their respective market prices – these numbers are just incredible -- the parent company or the affiliated company must be earning and showing very good margins in their own books.
So, the question is that does the write-off of their investment balances the net earnings from sale of raw materials? Forgetting the plight of minority shareholders, one supposes that must be so for all this to make any sense. But then earnings are a profit and loss (‘above the line’) item whereas write-off is a ‘below the line’ item – which in lay terms means ‘window dressing’ as current earnings get inflated to be reduced subsequently when investments are written off.
This sounds sinister as this was precisely what Enron – the largest collapse in US corporate history -- was accused of doing.
Where is the flaw in my thinking and reasoning? I would be interested if someone, who is knowledgeable, can throw more light on this?
MUMTAZ H. KHAN
London
I DO not understand the role of auditors in certifying accounts of companies such as Pfizer Laboratories Ltd as being true and fair. How can they be satisfied by the cost of raw material shown in the account books when it is out of sync with ‘arm’s length’ prices? Can a subsidiary of Pfizer, the world’s largest pharmaceutical company, accumulate losses amounting to Rs930.3 million in the year 2002 and be selling its two main and most popular products – Norvasc and Vibramycin- at gross loss? If I understand this correctly, this would mean that the higher the sales of these products, the higher the losses. Should this fact by itself not have alerted the auditors’ and called for a deeper probe into the affairs of the company?
I thought auditors’ are supposed to be a check on management and are required to give an honest report to all the shareholders which include the minority shareholders. I wonder who regulates the auditors’conduct?
M. ARSHED GILANI
Karachi
EVER wonder why democracy has not taken roots in Pakistan? The reason is simple: the Pakistani public sees democracy as an alien concept. When a military dictator overthrows the Constitution, the question people ask is: "Will he further our agenda?" Nobody is bothered about the principle of democracy.
Pakistanis may be imperfect practitioners of Islam, but they are deeply attached to their religion. The only way democracy can win the allegiance of the people of Pakistan is to find legitimacy and sanctity within the paradigm of Islam.
ASAF ALI SHAH
Lahore
RECENTLY the local administration painted a world map near Islamia College, Karachi, roundabout. But unfortunately after a few days it was very ugly to see some posters pasted on the roundabout as well as graffiti painted by different political parties’ workers. This gives a bad impression.
This globe is situated near two educational institutions, Islamia College and Dawood Engineering Collage. It is very easy for students and different groups to get access to paste their posters and demanding slogans etc. These parties should advise their workers not to use this globe for this purpose.
The local town administration should also take certain measures and steps to prevent this place for the pasting of publicity posters and spray- painted slogans to prevent ugly look of this globe.
DR ALFRED CHARLES
Karachi
THIS is with reference to Abdul Waris Khan's letter (July 3) regarding former president Maj-Gen Iskander Mirza. All his assertions appear to be authentic except the fact that Mr Mirza was an ICS officer. He actually belonged to the Indian Political Service (IPS) which must not be confused with the Indian Police Service, known as IP.
There may have been several other IPS officers serving in various parts of India but in addition to Mr Mirza I can quote another officer who served as director of food and civil supplies, Quetta, during the mid- forties and probably until Partition.
He was Capt I. S. Chopra, also a Sandhurst graduate, who always appended IPS along with his name. It appears that the NWFP and Balochistan had a major share of IPS officers.
AFTAB AHMAD
Santa Clara, CA, USA
THE recent (and in certain cases recurrent) blunders of the FBISE have put into question the eligibility of the decision makers of this potentially great organisation.
It seems that the people in whose hands lies the future of Pakistan seem undecided and confused. After being in existence for a substantially long period of time, they are still unable to work out whether the matric classes should have combined or have independent examinations.
They promote unreasonable conditions such as telling HSSC students to prepare for their annual examinations using textbooks of five different boards.
It is high time the FBISE pulled up its socks, involved the students and teachers to provide on-ground input and formed a continuous and progressive strategy irrespective of the political shifts in Islamabad so that Pakistan's education system should equal to, if not better than, the international educational standard.
Let us give credit where it is due. The overhaul of the examination pattern is a big step towards achieving the required educational standard albeit one that still falls short of it. The need of the hour is that more and more progressive changes be introduced, if for nothing else, for the betterment of Pakistan's future.
SAQIB HASAN
Lahore
ON my recent visit to Pakistan after five years I wasshocked to see that ‘cigarettes’ are being sold on the food menu in almost all trend-setting restaurants in Pakistan. The restaurant owners’ lust for money from every avenue is unfortunate.
Upon further inquiry I found out that restaurant are being compensated for doing this. Branded art boxes and ashtrays are also being placed.
Being a former smoker and heart patient at the age of 36, I urge the authorities to immediately stop this practice.
HASAN KHAN
Karachi
WITH reference to the recent terror acts in the UK and Pakistan, I suggest that Muslims who claim that Islam preaches peace and brotherhood should now speak up. If they remain silent about so-called Islamic terror, followers of other religions will have apprehensions on the basic tenets of Islam. Every Muslim should raise his or her voice against the terrorists who are using the name of Islam to kill people.
OMAR LUTHER KING
Delhi, India
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