| July 29, 2007 | Sunday | Rajab 13, 1428 |
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Educational project shelved
NFC mechanism
Madressah and modernity
Capital punishment
Change in labour laws
Islamic banking
Cold War II
Azad Kashmir
Seeking admission
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
ACCORDING to some reports published in the local press, a meeting was held between President General Musharraf and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in Abu Dhabi, UAE, and both of them had discussed issues of mutual interest about the changing political scenario in the country.
Though officially it is denied that such a meeting was held but why Benazir Bhutto rushed back from London and President went to Abu Dhabi when the UAE President and Prime Minister are out of UAE. The meeting held in Abu Dhabi between the President General Pervez Musharraf and the former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto is a good omen.
Both the President and the former Prime Minister should look ahead for a positive political change in Pakistan, as people of Pakistan also want to see a change at the top slot in the country. The promises made by the sitting government with the people of Pakistan remained unresolved.
Time has come when both the parties President General Pervez Musharraf and Benazir Bhutto whose political future is equally at stake should pursue the policy of give and take, so that they should move ahead for the change.
It would be ten years in 2008 for both Benazir Bhutto who is presently living in self exile since 1998 and for President General Pervez Musharraf as well, who took over the charge of country in a bloodless coup in the same year.
I think if both of them join hands now, it would be ideal for President General Musharraf and Benazir Bhutto to devise a future political strategy in which eradicating extremism and terrorism from the country would remain the top priority for both the personalities.
To fight against a common enemy of the nation i.e. extremism and terrorism, adjustments should to be made at both the ends, as one can only clap with two hands.
It is very likely that President General Musharraf will doff his uniform by the end of 2007 and will become a civilian President of Pakistan. Despite the fact that General Musharraf will become the civilian President, he will remain Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces under Article 243(1A) of the Constitution of Pakistan. On the other hand, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto would be becoming Prime Minister for the third time.
An early settlement of the core political issues between President General Pervez Musharraf and Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto will give leverage to the sitting President and to the third-time future Prime Minister to chalk out their strategies and priorities. If the present parliament can complete its five-year term, there is no doubt that the future parliament would not complete its tenure. Nevertheless, both President General Pervez Musharraf and Benazir Bhutto should work out strategies as fast as they can.
I wish all the best to the President General Pervez Musharraf and to Benazir Bhutto in their future endeavours.
SYED A. MATEEN
Karachi
THE Musharraf-Benazir meeting has not come as a surprise. We have all known of the negotiations leading up to it, thanks to the media. But it is shocking nonetheless, because of the blatant disregard of national interest and greedy politics of the two sides.
How can Musharraf offer withdrawal of cases against Benazir, how can he guarantee her a solid standing in the next government? Aren’t these matters to be decided by judiciary and the public respectively? And why is he willing to bring at centre stage someone who he openly accuses of being corrupt? Are we going to believe that all this is being done in national interest and not because power is very difficult to let go of? Coming to the diehard democracy fan, Miss Bhutto, isn’t her readiness to strike a deal with a military ruler, something she so proudly claimed she would never do, proof enough to show how desperate she is to have another go at transferring what is left of our country to her Swiss accounts. But is all this enough to make us forget the shameless and obvious corruption that prevailed in the decade preceding this military takeover. The time has come for the people to wake up and realise that our fate is our own responsibility and we alone are going to suffer the repercussions of the ills of our leaders as they will always have their Surrey Mansions.
ZAFAR SAHI
Lahore
THE news ‘5880 million De-centralized Elementary Education Project (Deep), one of the biggest ever initiated at the behest of Asian Development Bank has been shelved by the Bank authorities for lack of proper response of Sindh provincial government’ is source of great disillusionment for the people of entire province.
The ADB project was started in agreement with Federal/Provincial governments way back in 2003 and was to complete by the year 2009. The scheme was to upgrade 1200 primary schools to middle level besides providing them with laboratories and new buildings. In addition to this it was decided to establish 1000 English medium schools, 350 model schools, and a nursery school for boys and girls in each union council and providing roofs to 1200 coverless schools. Funds were also allocated for the fresh appointments of 7000 and training for 12000 teachers.
It is reported that up till now except for the purchase of 23 vehicles (16 Pothohar Jeeps, 5 Hi-ace Vans and 2 double cabin vans) for the officers of the education department and selecting 213 schools, no notable work was done on the project.
On one hand insignificant funds are being set apart in the national budget for the education and on the other hand abandoning valuable projects such as Deep for negligence reflects a lackadaisical attitude of the authorities towards education of this province. Somewhere else such criminally callous approach towards projects of national importance having commitment with international funding agencies might have cost jobs of many but alas the priorities for the establishment here are different, probably for them imparting education to the people is of less significance.
MANSOOR UL HAQ SOLANGI
Karachi
THIS is in reference to Dr Qaiser Bengali’s speech given in a seminar held at University of Sindh, Jamshoro (July 11). Dr Bengali has presumably dismissed Sindh’s viewpoint that the import duty imposed on raw materials or import of other materials can not be claimed by Sindh.
This stand is devoid of any economic rationale. Sindh contributes more than 67% taxes in the federal divisible pool but it is denied of its share on one pretext or another. Besides, the provincial break-up of the non-tax revenue component of the federal budget is not known to the people. As ever, it remains hidden.
If a businessman of the upcountry imports a luxury item of Rs.10 and pays two rupees import duty, he sells the same thing in his province at Rs. 20 thus pocketing an 8 rupee profit. He pays a meager amount at the port of destination which must go to the province where the port is situated.
Similarly, the sales tax is universally recognised as a local/provincial tax which must go to the provinces so that they may have a fiscal space. More than Rs. 200 billion will be recovered on account of Sales Tax from the province of Sindh out of total Rs. 375 billion, the target of budget this year. This shows the extent of revenue generation of Sindh but it is not paid a single percent on account of this factor.
The NFC mechanism in Pakistan has failed to bridge differences among the federation and provinces. It is now time to develop a mechanism which is fair and just for the provinces. It can be devised in two ways: first, surrendering sales tax to the provinces and establishing an independent NFC to decide about the remaining taxes in the divisible pool or/and secondly by developing the Resource Contribution Formula instead of Resource Distribution. Under this, every province should contribute to the expenses of the Federation on the basis of population or its representation in the federal services. This will remove sense of resentment among the provinces and the federation can be run smoothly without any unnecessary burden on a single province.
PERVEZ A MAHESAR
Karachi
THIS is with reference to the article, ‘Madressahs and modernity’, by Dr Muhammad Zakir Zakar (July 10). I agree with the writer when he states that madressahs espouse a very conservative and mediaeval worldview. Its students and teachers are hostile to the processes of globalisation and cross-cultural interactions.
Historically speaking madressahs, between seventh and 12th centuries, also called the golden period of Islam, played a good role in spreading education. In Baghdad alone there were more than 500 madressahs during the Fatimi Khilafat and the madressah system promoted Al Azhar University under the guidance of Fatimids.
At that time the books of famous writers were translated into Arabic, Persian and other languages and many people were doing research on astronomy, astrology, history, medicine, chemistry, philosophy and other fields. But later on selfish, illiterate, uncivilised maulvis turned the madressahs into camps of militants and centres of negative propaganda against modern world, including science.
In case of Pakistan all these madressahs should be placed under the control of the ministry of education so that comparative studies and modern education are introduced along with the religious education. It is not enough to register these institutions and provide them with some aid; they require a complete restructure and new syllabus.
NASIR HUSSAIN
Islamabad
THIS is with reference to your editorial entitled 'Banning capital punishment'(July 27). You have out rightly declared Capital punishment a 'barbaric mode of ensuring justice.'
What about those who are made to suffer by inhuman criminals?
Shall a dacoit not be sent to the gallows, if he intrudes into a house, deprives the family of its valuables, rapes one or two innocent girls of that family and kills their loved ones? Do not you want a hardened criminal to be hanged who does not hesitate to kill a person for just a mobile of a few thousand rupees. What kind of justice do you suggest for these people who are devoid of human pity?
You have cited two reasons for banning capital punishment. One, it has not helped curtailing fatal crimes. Two, the flawed system of police investigation and prosecution often results into the conviction of an innocent person. No doubt your observations are true, but they do not go far enough to prove that the concept has failed to deliver. These reasons in fact point out that the problem lies with the police and judicial system, not with the concept itself. If the people are not paying Zakat properly, one cannot undo the concept of Zakat by saying that it is not producing desired results.
ASAD ALI SHAIKH
Karachi
THE government has made amendments in five labour laws through the Finance Bill 2007-8. Amendments in the Minimum Wages for Unskilled Workers Ordinance, 1969 and the Companies Profits (Workers Participation) Act, 1968 are quite significant. There is a 15 % increase in the minimum wages from Rs.4,000/- p.m. to Rs.4,600/- p.m. effective July 01, 2007. The revised minimum wage may still barely meet the subsistence level of unskilled workers but allowing a 15 % increase in one step will cause strain on the resources of employers in general. Besides, the payment of monthly contributions under the Employees’ Old-age Benefits Act, 1976 is linked with the minimum wage, which will increase substantially in the case of companies employing large number of employees.
Amendment in Companies Profits (Workers Participation) Act, 1968 is more troublesome for the employers. The definition of “Worker” given in this Act has been amended to include the workers hired by or through the contractors. This means that from now onwards the contractor’s workers will also be eligible to receive share in the Workers Profit Participation Fund (WPPF) whether it is job contract or otherwise. This amendment in law is totally irrational and illogical as no employer maintains a record of contractor’s workers. A worker who has completed six months of employment with the company during the year for which the fund is being disbursed, becomes eligible to receive benefit of the scheme. Unless the employers start maintaining service record of their contractors’ workers, they will not be able to determine eligibility of workers based on the length of service. It will also tempt the contractors to manipulate their record of manpower numbers in order to extract undue monetary gain from the employers.
Most of the companies have contracted out their security. The security companies providing security guards to other companies are well organised and well established and operate under an Ordinance of 1998. They frequently keep on rotating their employees from one company to another. How can a company availing the services of a security company decide as to whom amongst the guards is entitled to receive share in WPPF? After receiving a share in Fund for few years, the contractor’s workers may also claim the status of company’s permanent workers thus making a mockery of the whole system of engaging contractors for any work.
In view of the foregoing it is suggested that this amendment in the Companies Profits (Workers Participation) Act be repealed. Over the last few years the government has made provisions with regard to the contractors and their workers in eight labour laws. Instead of giving surprises to employers every now and then and creating unnecessary difficulties for them, the government should make one enactment relating to contract system as has been done in India a long time go. This Act should incorporate the system of registration of contractors, conditions of their functioning and benefits to be made available to contractors workers. This will end the chaos and confusion now being created almost every year by bringing about such amendments in labour laws.
PARVEZ RAHIM
Karachi
THIS is in reference to all the letters published in your paper since June 22 regarding this so-called Islamic banking. This is nothing but a misnomer being used as marketing tool by the members of my community (bankers in Pakistan). To verify the authenticity of my assertion, all you need to do is to go through the four revelations of the Holy Quran on the subject and the relevant ahadith from Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.
The most widely used tools by us are Murabaha and Ijara. Murabaha is a virtually Anti-Islamic interest based mode of financing. It is basically a mode of sale on deferred payment basis. It is a sale on cost plus basis. The margin added to the cost is calculated on a market interest rate for the tenor of repayment(s).Referring to the Holy Quran and Ahadith of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) regarding interest, it becomes obvious that the margin added is nothing but interest. It is obviously forbidden in Islam.
Ijarah is nothing but another form of finance lease with cosmetic changes made here and there. It is a 100% interest based mode taken from the conventional finance. This is clear from the formula used, derivation of the formula and calculations made thereof. Calling this interest based mode Islamic makes it obvious that this mode is in fact anti-Islamic
The similar is the case with other tools.
Why am I criticising myself and my community? I have been doing so for long enough. My only objective is to sincerely bring my profession in conformity with my religion. Is it not fair?
SHAZIB KHAN
Lahore
The US Missile Defence Shield Plan in Poland and the former KGB spy murder case in UK have again created one of the most stirring dramas in world politics since the cold war. Putin's threat to target Europe in return to missile shield reminds one of the cold war situation. The visit of communist leader Hugo Chavez of Venezuela to Russia and Iran soon after failure of talks between Bush and Putin over the missiles shield in G8 summit has also increased suspicions about Russia in the West. This is especially so because relations between USA and communist states — Venzuela, Cuba, North Korea cum Iran — are sour as these countries are trying to make a strong block against the US including China and Russia.
S MUJAHID A SHAH
Munich, Germany
THE present government of Azad Kashmir has approved a new logo for government. According to the news report published in your paper it says that new logo reflects "the vision" of the current prime minister. In this regards I just want to make a few comments:
The present prime minister of AJK like his father does not have a high school qualification. It is only through the blessings of Pakistan government and its agencies that this pari of father and son has been playing havoc with the affairs of a governemnt originally established by M A Jinnah for the liberation of the entire State of Jammu Kashmir.
The recent move made by Attiq Ahmed indicates the bankruptcy of the thought processes of this prime minister and its government.
The people of AJK have been devastated by a massive earthquake sine 2005 and the governments of Muslim Conference have not been able to provide any relief what so ever to the poor masses and their so called government does not have any programme or plan to help the people.
This idea to project his "vision" by changing the government logo indicates the childish thinking of the present rulers of Azad Kashmir. Could a vision be reflected by such a foolish move?
I would like to make a submission for this person the so-called pm AJK that logo represents a government and not a party and that is why AJK government logo shows the rivers and the chinars. I think that the people and political parties of AJK must strongly reject this nonsense move
DR MISFAR HASSAN
Burnley UK
FOR the last two years I have been trying to enroll in the Master of Library and Information Sciences (MLIS) programme at Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU). I believe I am quite eligible for this programme but have not yet secured admission. I assured the university that I would attend workshops anywhere in Pakistan which is compulsory for MLIS students. I am serving in a well known private university in Karachi as a librarian in lower grade and wish to improve my qualifications. As AIOU is an open university and offer their programmes to all candidates in the country, I do not understand why the MLIS programme is not being extended to candidates all over the country and is only reserved for Islamabad.
I request the authorities to kindly consider my case.
HUMERA JAMSHED
Karachi
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