| July 26, 2007 | Thursday | Rajab 10, 1428 |
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Adopting a realistic policy
PIA clarifies
Parallel with Turkey
Diverting containers
Writ of the government
Bus service wound up
Students’plea
Reality check
Is might right?
Road traffic
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 nation went through the trauma when reference initiated by the Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz was sent to President General Pervez Musharraf who forward it to Supreme Judicial Commission (SJC) the same day.
After hearing both the parties, the Supreme Court on July 20, 2007 struck down the presidential reference against Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and reinstated him after 134 days since the President General Pervez Musharraf suspended the Chief Justice on March 9, 2007 for misusing his office.
People involved in preparing the reference against the Chief Justice including the Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz had sent the reference without evaluating its pros and cons.
The action of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has not only put President General Pervez Musharraf into embarrassing situation but has put the whole PML(Q) into a difficult situation and has provided an upper edge to Pakistan People’s Party and possibly now PPP is going to win the forthcoming elections with a two-third majority.
During the period from March 9, 2007 to July 20, 2007 the judicial crises gave birth to one more political party which is now called the “lawyers party” who left no stone unturned in protesting against the action of President General Pervez Musharraf and in bringing out rallies all over the country in favour of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.
But the lawyer’s party is also divided into two parts. The first lawyer’s party is the one who were sympathetic with the Chief Justice of Pakistan and showed solidarity for the supremacy of the judiciary. The second lawyer parties were sympathetic with President General Pervez Musharraf, PML (Q) and MQM and were absolutely against the reinstatement of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.
The fall back of judicial crises will be far more dangerous that what PML (Q) leaders must have anticipated. The efforts made by the team of lawyers including the lead counsel Aitzaz Ahsan of PPP for restoring the dignity of Chief Justice Iftikar Mohammad Chaudhry had won the minds and hearts of the people of Pakistan.
So this time the lawyers are sympathetic to Chief Justice of Pakistan and their next step is restoration of democracy in the country. The majority of the people are going to elect representatives from such political parties whose lawyers has supported the Chief Justice of Pakistan during the judicial crises.
So there are two things which are very clear. The first one is that the lead counsel Aitzaz Ahsan has established the fact that he is much more capable in handling the judicial matters than the governments’ lead counsel Sarifuddin Pirzada. The second thing is that in the forthcoming elections PML (Q) is not going to bag that many votes which will enable them to form a two-third majority in the parliament.
The “Operation Silence” against the Lal Masjid has also lead to many terrorist attacks in the country. This means that Muslim clerics are going to unite once again with more power and force against the sitting government and their followers will be casting votes to elect the religious clerics, so that religious clerics should go to the parliament and raise hue and cry against the policies of PML(Q) and General Pervez Musharraf.
The only solution to the problem is that President should now join hands with the moderate forces and allow moderate people to come ahead and participate in the forthcoming national elections whether they are from PPP or PML(N).
To tackle this issue the President should set aside the graduate condition for contesting in the next general elections, as a non-graduate elected member of the parliament will be much more feasible in rooting out extremism and terrorism from the country and doing the required legislation work for the people of Pakistan which the PML(Q) have not been able to do that during the five-year term of assemblies, comparing to a religious cleric who mostly talk about “jihad” and differ from the moderate policies of the government.
SYED A. MATEEN
Karachi
ACCORDING to a news report (July 18), Americans want Pakistan to do more and are willing to fund at least $300 to $350 million in equipping the force to fight. The Americans have no clue of the ground situation and all that they can do is to provide funds and feel that this shall turn the tide.
The British knew the terrain and for almost 200 years they tried to tame the tribal people but failed. So shall any force which try to conquer this area militarily or by use of force.
Despite their experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Americans once again, the third time, want us to fight a proxy war by embattling our armed forces. They and the Pakistani side should know well that this is not possible. Hence. If we do, the country as a whole should be ready to face ‘death and destruction’.
The president and his military advisers should heed the voice of the large segment of the people of Pakistan to revise their policies and instead adopt a more realistic policy. You cannot buy loyalties. This comes from many factors, one of which, to a small measure, is buying loyalties.
Our intelligence agencies have failed miserably and continue to do so. Is this failure due to lack of will or on purpose? The president and his military advisers will have to examine. When the agencies can keep such a close look at private lives of judges, surely they cannot fail to notice the so called ‘arms’ build up inside the Lal Masjid. The foreign militants were either not there or were allowed to slip away or burnt to ashes. Please tell the people the truth for now no one believes in what is being doled out.
Pakistan needs to be saved not by militancy or military power but by providing an honest, benevolent, kind, judicious and responsive leadership. These imported Pakistanis with World Bank imprints and its like cannot provide the leadership. This has to be local, home - grown and the people’s choice.
Pakistan and Pakistanis have great potential. They have proved it wherever they have gone in the world excepting Pakistan. Why? The answer is simple: too much reliance on western support, ignoring the local support, will lead us to destruction. Take care.
MAHER ALAVI
Karachi
THIS is with reference to a Letter to Editor appearing in Dawn titled: “Flight to Saidu Sharif” (July 15) Contents of Raja Naseer Asad’s letter are clarified for the information of valued readers:
a. PIA’s flight schedule was revised with effect from February 16, 2007 to include two weekly flights between Islamabad and Saidu Sharif with ATR aircraft. Due to the load factor(number of traveling passengers), flights were reduced to once a week operation from April 1, 2007 to May 20, 2007 and later on were again increased to three weekly flights i.e. from May 24, 2007 to June 7, 2007 to provide passengers return facility within two days. However, the flights could not be operated and had to be cancelled due to no load.
b. The flight operation was again reverted to one weekly frequency from June 7, 2007 as all flights before June 7, 2007 had to be cancelled due to no load. The first PIA Islamabad – Saidu Sharif bound flight operated on this date had only 15 passengers while there were 18 passengers on the return sector.On the route sector Islamabad – Saidu Sharif for the period February 16, 2007 to July 8, 2007 there were 32 scheduled flights whereas three flights were operated with a total number of 36 passengers. Similarly on the Saidu Sharif - Islamabad sector for the same period & number of scheduled flights, three flights were operated with a total of 30 passengers.
c. It is obvious that such poor loads are not economically viable, yet a schedule is being maintained, hoping that passenger market for this route will develop with the passage of time. However, it may not be possible to continue with this operation in case the passenger load does not reach an economically sustainable level. Furthermore, flights for the last two weeks could not be operated due to the law & order situation in Swat Valley and will be resumed once the law & order situation normalizes.
BASHIR AHMAD
Dy. General Manager Public Relations
Pakistan International Airlines
‘FALL of Adnan Menderes’ by Anwar Syed (July 22) is a thought-provoking study of Turkey’s recent past. It may even be mistaken for Pakistan’s recent history. Mr Adnan Menderes can be likened to Z. A. Bhutto — with a slight difference. We too have hanged an elected prime minister in Pakistan.
What struck me most is column’s three sentences inset. If ‘Turks’ be replaced by ‘Pakistanis’ and ‘Menderes’ by ‘Z.A. Bhutto’, minus the last part, it would look like Pakistan’s rueful episode.
Turkey — once a ‘strong man of Europe’ — is an honourable country, and by virtue of being Muslim, albeit secular in approach, is a brother state. It realised the mistake, though late by three decades, it pardoned the hanged prime minister posthumously on Sept 17, 1990, his 29th death anniversary.
Turkey is one step ahead of Pakistan. Why can’t we do the same with Z. A. Bhutto? At one point of time during his trial, four out of seven judges were in favour of acquitting him. The proceedings were delayed – one of the favourable judges was retired and was replaced by another who opposed the under - trial prime minister. As a consequence of the changed circumstances, Z.A. Bhutto was adjudged to be hanged.
President Pervez Musharraf being a courageous man and a commando general can pardon Z. A. Bhutto posthumously with a single presidential order. It would even be a return favour to the hanged man’s daughter Benazir who has supported him for the Lal Masjid operation. The question, as to why she didn’t do it when she was prime minister herself, is hanging its tongue out to be answered.
M. K. NAQVI
Karachi
ACCORDING to a news item, the customs busted a gang involved in looting the government by diverting containers going to the dry ports without payment of customs duty and other taxes. The racketeers thus deprived the government of Rs40 million by evading customs duty and sales tax in this manner, and sold the goods in the local markets.
Some time back, it was reported that thousands of containers had disappeared on the way from Karachi and Port Qasim to dry ports.
The fact that such gangs operate with impunity proves that customs personnel are actively involved in the racket. While customs officers who busted the gang are to be commended, it is suggested that a separate cell be created which will strictly monitor the movement of containers from the sea ports to the dry ports, so that this malpractice can be eliminated.
SHAKIR LAKHANI
Karachi
HENRY Kissinger once critiqued US military’s policy on Vietnam in the following words: “We lost sight of one of the cardinal maxims of guerilla war: the guerilla wins if he does not lose, the conventional army loses if it does not win”. Perhaps it is this very fundamental flaw in the current ruling setup’s modus operandi that would hurt it the most.
It had been more than half a decade of paper retaliation by the opposition and disinterest by the common man as to what is happening in the echelons of power that allowed the government to take decisions so much lopsided in their essence, that the opposition finally attained the proverbial inch to make a mile out of. It started with the Steel Mills debacle, got nurtured by the happenings of Waziristan, Balochistan, chief justice reference and perhaps reached its peak with the Lal Masjid saga as termed by the media.
Rarely in this part of the world do governments get to have their cake and eat it too. It didn’t happen on the chief justice’s reference, we couldn’t observe it on a host of other events either. But finally and after much ado 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 what certainly has stopped is preaching the media its responsibilities.
However, one does fathom as to what has 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 being done, we should support the government to its fullest. It’s one of those rare opportunities we as a nation get to show the world that not everyone in this part of the world is a fundamentalist, not everyone is hell bent upon taking lives.
At the same time the government must learn that its writ is something to be earned, not established. Who wouldn’t back their policies if they are even remotely in the interest of the nation? Who wouldn’t want to live with peace and dignity rather than pursuing the path of suicide bombings if they see an inch of sincerity in government policies? It’s a question which must be answered by the government without being asked by the nation.
Yet 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 just, 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 and lose.
OMER BIN NAWAZ QAISRANI
Multan
I TRAVELLED to Hyderabad by bus after three years. Last time the bus service was operated by the Police Foundation. It was an excellent service. The bus used to run from terminal to terminal.
The terminal had proper parking facility with maintenance backup, as well as proper seating arrangements with clean rest rooms and a ticket room. Before the passengers embarked on the bus, proper security checks were conducted. During the journey a hostess would serve drinks and chips.
To my surprise I found that the Police Foundation has wound up their services. The new service is pathetic. The bus starts its journey on a roadside. Nothing is checked. No refreshment is served. During the journey a vendor keeps disturbing the tired passengers. Moreover the bus drops passengers at a place at their will.
The authorities concerned should set a minimum standard for bus operators so that passengers can enjoy a safe and comfortable journey.
KHAWAR AMEEN
Karachi
WE, the students of final year (BSCS) in the Computer Science Department, would like to bring to your notice the practice that the students of final year have the right to choose their own supervisors for their final project, and the teachers are willing to help them in this regard.
But this time, the head of the department has appointed himself as the supervisor along with a single teacher and who consider themselves responsible for all the students. No consideration has been made regarding what the students require.
This decision is not in any manner beneficial for the students in terms of their final projects and as a result the future of the students is at stake.
We request the Chancellor of the Karachi University to please look into this matter and come up with a solution that is in favour of the students.
FINAL YEAR STUDENTS
Computer science department
Karachi University, Karachi
HAVE those in power not learned anything from the recent rains that huge billboards made on erratic and unstable platforms cause death and destruction? The men who rule the city promised people that such advertising will be removed, yet work goes on afreash on new billboards, across town.
ALI Z BOKHARI
Karachi
IF a head (COAS) of an institution can overrule the decision of the elected executive authority (prime minister) because he has armed people under him, then everyone in the country will try to follow suit.
I am not a fan of Nawaz Sharif. He and other elected prime ministers have removed many high government functionaries like federal secretaries who were competent and honest.
If development alone could secure the future of the nation, then there was a lot of development under Ayub Khan but we could not stop the disintegration of the country.
If we are to survive as a nation, then we all have to agree on the rule of law and punishment for all who break it. If Musharraf could set aside the entire Constitution to perpetuate his rule, then Jamia Hafsa people have done less harm, for they too have followed the principle of “might is right”. Now their weakness is that their might is not that strong. The poor chief justice could not do anything against his removal for this reason. Instead he was pulled by his hair and his clothes torn by the administration.
Whosoever has broken the law or Constitution should be punished across the board. Only then we can have strong foundations laid for this country.
USMAN
Islamabad
ALI M. Khan’s concern over traffic jams on Canal Road (July 5) is agreeable but his solution that extra lanes should be built for two-wheelers is hardly so.
Look at any mega city of the world and you will find that building bigger roads has never been the answer to a city’s chaos, and sooner or later due to economic development and population growth the problem comes back. Plus it’s not the two-wheelers that cause the main problem but the four-wheelers which need more space.
So, the government should:
1. Increase the quality and quantity of public transport in order to lure back the consumers with the incentive of spending less money than they do on private transport.
2. Make it mandatory for every school/college to have safe, comfortable and affordable pick-and-drop facility
3. Providing the rural population with every possible civic amenity and a decent living would make them stay where they are, thus protecting cities from becoming overcrowded.
I would request the government to abandon any development pursuits that come at the cost of nature as it is not worth it.
ZUBAIR KHAWAR
Lahore
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