| July 28, 2007 | Saturday | Rajab 12, 1428 |
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The enemy within
Deduction of income tax
Back scratching
Tobacco hazards
Significance of languages
After the floods
SC verdict
Sorely needed reforms
Taliban
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 1898 newspapers provided the major source of news in America. At that time, it was common practice for a newspaper to report the editor’s interpretation of the news rather than objective journalism. If the information reported was inaccurate or biased, the American public had little means for verification. With this sort of influence, the newspapers wielded much political power. In order to increase circulation, the publishers of these papers often exploited their positions by sponsoring a flamboyant and irresponsible approach to news reporting that became known as ‘yellow journalism’.
In this backdrop, it has been quite disturbing to witness and observe the role of Pakistani electronic media throughout its handling or reporting of two extremely sensitive issues: (a) Presidential reference against CJ and (b) the Lal Mosque and Jamia Hafsa, which could be termed the most famous episode of Yellow Journalism in Pakistan.
The way Pakistani electronic media projected the two issues reminds the journalist fraternity of the worst form of Yellow Journalism experienced by the US and rest of the world during the period 1895–1897, when circulation battle between Joseph Pulitzer’s New York World and William Randolph Hearst’s New York Journal originated. Both papers were accused of extremely sensational news in order to drive up circulation. Pulitzer and Hearst are often blamed for drawing the nation into the Spanish– American War with sensational stories or outright lying.
Pulitzer believed that news papers were public institutions with a duty to improve society, and he put the World in the service of social reform. Just within two years the World became the highest circulating news paper.
The use of ‘yellow journalism’ as a synonym for over the top sensationalism in the US apparently started with more serious newspapers commenting on the excesses of the ‘Yellow Kid Papers’
I would like to present a comparison between the yellow journalism experienced some 110 years ago in the United States and the dark yellow Journalism currently being witnessed in Pakistan for your true and sincere self-assessment.
Intentions and objectives of today’s Pakistani private electronic media are not different from what Pulitzer and Hearst had 110 years ago, where our electronic media has indulged itself into a war for enhanced viewership, with the result that all TV discussions, criticism, interviews, documentaries and stories are aimed at tarnishing the image of the present government, not recognising the fact that they put the country’s ideology on stake as well in the process.
The role of media, in case of the Lal Mosque, remained a question mark for the whole nation, while the position it took before, during and post-military operation left many confused, as is obvious from the following:
The government has miserably failed in establishing its writ in Islamabad
On the contrary, none of the private TV channels condemned the aggressive behaviour of Abdul Rashid Ghazi and his associates, nor they tried to mend the opinion of general public in favour of government action.
The TV channels, supportive of Islami Nizam, must keep the degree of the press and media freedom being offered in Saudi Arabia in front, where no media person is allowed to scream at the top of his voice “ Kal kaya honey ko hey” , “Naye waqiat janam layno ko hein.” To what extent the KSA shared information with its public or media concerning killings in Khana-i- Kaaba in 1979?
The media, therefore, must understand that when it comes to establishing the government’s writ it has to take an opposite action, no matter how weak the government is or no matter how big the casualty number is. Nor it is possible for any democratic government to develop a consensus on each and every issue as the media may think or desire.
In the light of the above, the media should rise above to play its due role by drawing the boundaries for a balanced coverage of issues falling under the definition of journalism; and implementing a code of conduct and ethics for all forms and types of journalism.
I remain pledged to advocacy for a balanced coverage and just role of the media.
QAISER AIJAZ
Islamabad
THE recent tragedy of the Lal Masjid, has triggered a string of suicide attacks that has exposed the fact that not all share the President’s vision of enlightened moderation. It has also added fuel to an already raging fire in the country, which is now engulfing the tribal areas.
In his recent speeches, the President has clearly stated that he shares the same vision as the Quaid’s, and that the only way Pakistan can become a prosperous nation, is through a progressive, moderate and tolerant Pakistan. A view which is also shared by most of the educated and the privileged, but who, unfortunately are a minority.
MMA’s vision of an Islamic Pakistan is quite the opposite. Thousands of young students, who have nothing to loose and cannot afford school fees, have been enrolled into the madrassas since puberty, where they have been brought up under harsh and strict conditions and taught nothing but Islam according to the Mullah’s understanding of the Quran.
The teachings totally disapprove of the visions of a modern, progressive Pakistan and condemn it as being un-Islamic. The recent attacks on cinemas, cable TV and music shops, etc., and enforcement of the Shariah Laws in NWFP and the Lal Masjid area, are what the madrasass have been teaching to their students, who are now a part of our political system.
This vision of the MMA is shared by many, including some of our past and present leaders and by those who live below the poverty line and have been denied the basic necessities to lead a decent, normal life.
Both “visions” contradict each other and this tug of war is gradually destroying the nation. The President has voiced his concern and has chastised the extremists and their supporters for their “narrow vision”. He has warned us of the “enemy within”, something which Prof. Pervez Hoodbhoy has also highlighted in his article, “The Threat From Within”, in which he writes:
“Twenty five years ago, prayers in government departments were deemed compulsory, punishments were meted out to those who did not fast in Ramadan, selection for academic posts required that the candidate demonstrate knowledge of Islamic teachings and jihad was propagated through schoolbook.
Today government intervention is no longer needed because of a spontaneous groundswell of Islamic zeal. With the large and growing popular sentiment against Musharraf and his army, one cannot rule out the possibility that in the years ahead, nuclear armed Pakistan may fall under a neo-Taliban style Salafi-Wahabi-Deobandi leadership, allied with conservative senior military leaders. If it does, then Pakistan could become the world’s most dangerous state”.
This dangerous clash of vision could have disastrous effect on the relationship between Pakistan and its allies, who have supported us unconditionally for being a “front line state” against terrorism. At present our vision is blurred and it is difficult to identify who is a friend and who is the “enemy within”. Until this clash of vision is resolved, Pakistan will continue to be in turbulent waters.
Already there are signals from the Americans, warning us to resolve our internal problems. Any loss of confidence in a strong and moderate leadership in Pakistan could unleash a knee jerk reaction by Uncle Sam, which could destroy Pakistan, just like Iraq and Afghanistan.
A. HAMID MAKER
Helpline Trust
I want to bring the following facts to the notice of the Ministry of Finance, Govt. of Pakistan, Islamabad, and the CBR, Islamabad:-
That the State Bank has granted increase in salaries to its employees w.e.f 1-6-2007 but practically this increase has no effect on the take home salary of an employee as whole or most part of the increase has been deducted as Income Tax due to increase in tax slab. Take home salary of some of the employees has even decreased.
The Income Tax is deducted on whole salary (not on take home salary which is much less than the actual salary) at very higher rates w.e.f 1-7-2006 (CBR Circular No.3 of 2006 / Income Tax dated 11-7-2006).
The present rate of Income Tax on profit paid by banks etc. to depositors is 10% while that on salary is up to 20%. While salary is not profit but wages for services provided and an employee has to has to bear all the expenses of tuition fee of school going children, higher utilities bills from his salary and bear all the cost of food, clothes, health care etc.
The minimum threshold of Rs.150,000/- is also not exempted for employees having salaries more than Rs.150,000/-. At the present rates, average tax deducted from an employee comes out to Rs.3000/- per month i.e. Rs.36,000/- for a tax year which is more than tax paid by a politician, businessman, wholesale dealer or a landlord.
The increase in salary has no effect on the take home salary of an employee as the same goes to the Income Tax due to increase of his slab.
It is clear that for increase in salary of Rs.50,000/- per annum, the rate of tax is doubled i.e. with slight increase in the salary the slab changes resulting in higher rate of tax. So the increase in salary is actually 0% for employees and future increases including the annual increase will have no effect on employees take home salary.
It is, therefore, requested that instead of an increase in salaries, the rates of deduction of income tax may be decreased. The basic threshold of Rs.150,000/- may also be increased and the same may be exempted from the Income Tax as was the practice previously or income tax may be deducted on take home salary instead of whole salary as increase in salary means increase in tax and nothing else.
MUZAFFAR ALI
Peshawar
AT the same time PTV was bringing its viewers up to date on the Lal Masjid standoff, two-time former premier of the country Ms Bhutto, while talking to a BBC correspondent approved of the government’s use of force to combat so-called militants but also accused the government of being lenient towards an increasing group of Islamists (as the world labels them). She even made it a point to congratulate herself for having combated such Islamists during her two “glorious” tenures. In the bargain, she completely disregarded her country’s position in the backdrop of 9/11.
Such self-styled “democrats” who are playing spectators for several years from abroad should now stop seeking refuge in lame excuses and show some decency and pick up their bags and baggage, return to their country and then try to do whatever good they can. No matter whether Ms. Bhutto or Mr. Sharif do it individually or by drawing together an ill-assorted group of democracy-mongers under the banner of All Parties Conference (APC), maligning the present government just to get international media coverage can only hurt the image of the country. People clearly understand that all these seemingly joint efforts of opposition parties towards “restoration of their rule-ocracy” in the country are nothing but back scratching.
Sadly enough, there is no one in sight whom we can trust and turn our faces to in the columns of country’s managers and its management-seekers.
ATIF HAFEEZ
Karachi
RECENTLY Philip Morris announced the closing of one of its two US cigarette producing plants. The report stated: “The Richmond plant also will switch from making cigarettes destined for both US and international markets to a strictly domestic market.”
However, Bangladesh, Beijing, and Budapest most likely will get a different and more deadly cigarette than Beverly Hills that will not be produced and tested in the United States. Big and Brutal Tobacco in the US continues to stay a step ahead of the health of humanity.
MIKE SAWYER
Birmingham, Alabama, USA
“THE more languages a man knew; he was so many more times a man”. Charles V.
I greatly admire Mr. A Ghani N. Soomro’s anxiety “Where to get M Phil or PhD from?” (July 20) regarding lack of importance given by the institutions of higher learning for English literature and Linguistics at post-graduate level. He is correct that disregarding highly rich and one of the widely spoken language of the world such as English is equivalent to neglecting all arts and science disciplines.
It is said that thinking cannot be clear till it has had expression. We must write, or speak, or act out thoughts, or they will remain in a half torpid form. Our feeling must have expression, or they will be as clouds, which, till they descend in rain will never bring up fruit or flower. So it is with all the inward feelings and expression giving them development. Thought is the blossom; language the opening bud; action the fruit behind it. Thus ignoring such a rich language over period of decades has now reflected badly in our expressions especially when certain words or terms carrying multi meaning dynamics are used.
The adverse effects of this incessant neglect are patently obvious from the inappropriate usage of the term ‘philosophy’ by the writer himself. While criticizing public universities’ for offering M Phil/PhDs in Arabic and Persian and abandoning English as a language, he says that ‘I don’t understand this philosophy’. Although not an authority on the linguistics myself but as a layman in this field I believe that ‘philosophy’ has subjected to injustice here.
According to Dictionary of Philosophy, Pythagoras, Socratic Greek Philosopher (BC 582-506) is said to have called himself a lover of wisdom. But it is also used both the seeking of wisdom and wisdom sought. Philosophy includes metaphysics or ontology and epistemology, logic, ethics, aesthetics, etc.
I would like to add here that by discarding languages at M. Phil and Doctorate level, above all English; our institutions have not done any fairness to our educational system in general and to students in particular.
English is not only a widely spoken language and used as a medium of instruction in educational institutions, offices, courts and in the industrial and commercial activities but it also encompasses most of the knowledge be that literature, empirical and social sciences et cetera. Therefore depriving the youth of this highly affluent vehicle of expression will tantamount to dispossessing them of various sources of knowledge.
The suggestions of Mr. Soomro to create scholars in languages including English though demanding, yet the significance for the academic progress of society can be over-looked only at the cost of its intellectual development.
MANZOOR H. KURESHI
Karachi
HUNDREDS are dead, many missing and hundreds of thousands displaced by the worst-ever cyclone and subsequent flash floods in Sindh and Balochistan. The government’s claims regarding disaster response has been exposed. As usual there has been lack of response at the three levels of government, federal, provincial and district. Lots of questions are being raised about existence and efficacy of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), whose one key function is implementing, coordinating and monitoring disaster management.
The most worrisome aspect is the slow response by non government organisations especially humanitarian aid agencies with mandate to work for relief and rehabilitation of affected by disasters. Ironically, this time NGOs have not responded to the situation in Sindh and Balochistan on an emergency basis except for a UN agency which mobilised its coordination team soon after the floods hit. Inappropriate and inefficient emergency response from the government and humanitarian agencies has fuelled anger and agony among the flood victims, as they are left to suffer the misery and aftermaths of flood devastation. This cold and insensitive attitude by authorities and humanitarian aid agencies has deepen the feeling of deprivation and alienation among flood-affected people.
The electronic media’s role has been very pathetic due to the Lal Masjid issue, which was given coverage at the cost of not highlighting the situation flood hit areas.
Hundreds of women and men, children are living in unhygienic condition in camps without food, water and proper shelter. The government and NGOs should fulfill their humanitarian responsibilities towards people affected by floods and heavy rains.
SHAZIA NIZAMANI
Islamabad
IT was delightful and a great relief to hear the verdict restoring Chief Justice lftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to his post. Mr Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday and his colleagues who gave the judgment have won the nation’s heart as well as profound gratitude. They have also restored the lost trust in our judicial system.
The whole sordid episode shows how President Musharraf’s self serving move plunged Pakistan into a needless turmoil. Both he and the PM must resign. The Supreme Court is urged to order an inquiry into the May 12 carnage in Karachi and fix responsibility since the investigation in Karachi is apparently being stalled by some vested interests.
IBNE RAHIM
Karachi
IF one has done one’s BA from Punjab University, one cannot sit in MA examinations in Sindh University without procuring an immigration certificate, a frightfully costly and time-consuming exercise entailing travel to Lahore and at least 15 days stay there. The expenses include amount that is spent on board and lodging and taxi fares .
The situation is equally daunting for students now settled in Lahore who have done their BA from Karachi University and now want to do their MA from Punjab University as a private candidate.
It will be a big step forward and a reform if only by showing one’s BA’s certificate one can appear in MA in any university in Pakistan.
One thing which should have been abolished a long time ago is the immigration certificate and similar instruments which are a mill around the neck of poor, sincere and honest students. The Higher Education Commission to please note.
SHABBIR RANA
Karachi
WITH each day, the country is getting gripped by the Taliban across Pakistan starting from small villages and moving into major cities like Islamabad. With each penetration areas get gripped into fear, despair and ultimately a rule of unseen proportions.
We need to educate citizens of Pakistan from small boys and girls to adult men and women on how to avoid extremism because we are giving Islam a bad name and spreading fear, hatred and hypocrisy.
HUSSAIN MANDVIWALA
Houston, TX, USA
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