| August 03, 2007 | Friday | Rajab 18, 1428 |
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Another tale to tell the truth
Plot to kill Hitler
Corporate sector & poverty
Freedom of belief
Jheel Park in peril
Aisam moves into final
Justifying the deal
Plight of flood victims
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
EVEN the most optimistic of optimists will be hard put to deny that the Walpolian (Westminster) variety of democracy, so peculiar to the unique British mindset, has not taken root in the Muslim majority areas of the northwestern and northeastern territories of the Indo-Pakistan subcontinent. A puzzling phenomenon; especially when the system had a long gestation period beginning with the Montague-Chelmsford Reforms of 1917-19.
There were indeed one or two exceptions, notable of those being the well-managed inter- communal administration of the Unionist Party, trained and disciplined by Sir Fazl-i-Husain, dedicated to the economic uplift of the poverty-stricken rural areas of Punjab.
The record otherwise is pathetic, particularly in post-independence Pakistan
Why is this so? Obviously it has something to do with the Muslim psyche. Looking around us at the sixty or so Muslim states we find all but none which could be quoted as a good example. Against this looking at the many magnificent Muslim empires of yore, one only finds autocratic paradigms of unquestioned authority and straight-jacketed control.
Indeed to a very large extent giving the flavour of the ambience prevailing in England under kings claiming ‘divine rights’. England was fortunate, probably again because of the unique psyche of its people, that the Magna Carta of 1215 gradually veered its polity in the sound direction of participative government.
Unfortunately something like this has not happened in Muslim societies despite superb examples of the dispensation of justice and equality of citizenship in their nascent period of glory. The Compact of Medina may well have given a course to tread upon and build on. But then these are the inexorable ifs and buts of life and life must and still has to go on.
Muslim societies cannot but take inferential cues from these dynamics. Perhaps executive authority residing in one individual advised, or may even not be advised, by a formal consultative body, and merely consultative at that, has indeed been our cultural style of governance.
That would imply that a large volume of decision-making would most likely be made with the help of a ‘kitchen cabinet’. However, even if we have inherited this as our cultural legacy it does not mean that judging from contemporary trends we should frenetically start ringing alarm bells.
Indeed there are several good contemporary systems wherein the benefits that do flow from the concept of ‘unity of command’ are synergistically married into procedures of powerful elected bodies exercising an effective watchdog role to check and balance untrammelled executive authority. The experience in Pakistan would suggest that synergy in governance can be beneficently achieved by constitutionally bringing together appointed talent and elected representation in this manner.
I am personally much inclined to give the home-grown setup designed for the 1962 constitution by Mr Manzur Qadir, an eminent jurist. It was cost-effective, training-friendly, and participative for all sections of society, discouraging rhetoric, no more corrupt than the present captive, coercive or bribe-driven voting paradigm. Corruption essentially is a function of character. Systems do not manufacture character. Example and self-discipline does.
However, this is not the only route that can be taken; but one thing is writ large on the wall: we have to say goodbye to Mr Walpole.
I may also add in well-considered sincerity that in any case the new parliament should sit as an extraordinary legislative, constituent and much more importantly as a ‘change’-initiating and managing body.
It should set in motion fundamental change in total and harmonic terms and not in incremental terms in a piecemeal fashion. Here is a chance to realso our true potential. Let’s not miss it.
M. J. AS’AD
Karachi
AMERICAN intellectuals’ presentations have been a mixed bag of motherly kisses and disgusting tactics. They characterise American policy in the Third World as a compound of terrors and errors.
Their support for oriental despotism is now being regarded as a failure and a miscalculation of the crowds’ responses to the interventions. Professor Huntington to Dick Cheney, any war-maker has paid no attention to the legitimacy when made recommendation to intrude into areas of other people’s.
No popularity in any population is possible unless guardian angels are equipped with legitimacy and sincerity. However, terror when selective has been more effective to mislead the world.
Reminiscent of the massacre of Vietnam in which unarmed civilians, including women, children, and old people had been brutally killed whose freedom Americans had claimed to protect, a new terrifying tale has appeared to reveal what is happening in Iraq.
The Deserter’s Tale: the story (listened to and written by Lawrence Hill) of American soldier Joshua Key who has now left US army after performing a seven-month duty in Iraq: tells the growing ugly situation in Iraq.
According to Joshua Key, when he was being trained, they were taught to imagine Muslims as ‘terrorists’; the dummies of Muslims were ordered to kill by stabbing with their bayonets; then, imaginary victims were to be maimed completely. In another place, he embarrassingly admitted that he was proud to think himself as a killing machine.
Further, he was trained to believe that Iraqi Muslims were not civilians and not even humans. Therefore, it was drilled into US forces heads that Muslims were terrorists and the only solution was to slaughter them mercilessly.
Protectors of Iraq have been taught the lessons of hatred. Quasi-protection by well-wishers has been to violate international human rights.
As a result, the US officials admitted there were ‘errors’ — a ridiculous euphemism, given the Iraqi victims without security, freedom, or significance. In such a catch-22, no nation can win any populated land. Indeed, weather of ignorance is not yet over; so-called intellectuals need to weigh all humans equally. No other way is to win the globe.
In 1965, Eqbal Ahmad in his article, ‘The Lessons of Vietnam, had rightly anticipated that, “Unless there is a fundamental redefinition of American interests and goals, our [Third World] conformations with the United States will be increasingly antagonistic. In this sense, Vietnam may not be so unique. It may be a warning of things to come.”
NASIR FAROOQ
Karachi
MR ARIF A. Abbasi in his letter ‘Plot to kill Hitler’ (July 27) has very rightly said that if the assassination plot to eliminate Adolph Hitler had succeeded, the world scenario would have been quite different. But equally true is the fact that history is full of such ‘ifs’.
Here I am reminded of Blaise Pascal (1623-62), a French philosopher, who on the implication of ‘if’ of history had once said that ‘had the nose of Cleopatra been flat the world map would have been different’’. But that was not to be.
Mr. Abbasi has also made some inaccuracies of facts which, to keep the record straight, I would like to correct. He has included in the list of intriguing murders of history some distinguished names which include Marcus Aelius Aurelius Antoninus (121-180), Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher.
He was, however, not murdered but he died of the plague in Vindobona (now Vienna) on March 17, 180. Similarly Peter the Great or Peter I (1672-1725), Tsar and, later, Emperor of Russia, who is linked with the westernization of Russia was also not assassinated but he died at the age of 53 mainly on account of urinary affliction which he was enduring for the last so many years.
According to eminent physician Professor Hermann Boerhavve, the Emperor could have been cured if decease was not concealed and prescribed medicines were used in time.
On receiving the news of his death Professor exclaimed: “My God! Is it possible? What a pity that so great a man should have died when pennyworths of medicine might have saved his life!” His death nevertheless was hastened by an incident when during winter travel Emperor jumped in the icy waters of the river Neva to save the marooned soldiers.
The most enlightened and courageous Muslim queen who ruled Delhi’s orthodox Sultanate was known as Razia Sultan.
The latest studies have proved that she offered her life valiantly in the battlefield alongside her husband Malik Altunia on October 13, 1240 fighting the forces of his arch adversary Bulban who later become Sultan himself.
ALTAMASH M. KURESHI
Karachi
ALTHOUGH many of the multinational companies preen themselves for their service to humanity, in reality their pretentious donations to charity organisations are not bringing any remarkable improvement in addressing deadly woes of the poor masses.
Their charities to the NGOs, of whose large share is usurped by corrupt elements, display their shilly-shally attitude towards the well-being of society and are contrary to the axiom: "Help a poor so that he may help himself." Their contribution and the brouhaha created about it, in the down-to-earth sense, is only making the matter more intricate as they deliberately are reluctant to provide bulwark support to the ruined poor to let him stand on his own feet.
Instead the focus of the corporate sector seems to be just paying that much for the betterment of poor as he would become able to live for some more time in squalor.
This would change when corporate giants with their vast resources provide employment opportunities to the people forced to live in ghettoes.
To make it possible the NGOs can play an important role by providing skills to the poor men and women in the developing countries and by strengthening them through providing financial support to start businesses at micro levels.
True, companies cannot solely work for non-profit motive, but they should explore the potential possibilities of involving NGOs with them to form a gamut of enterprises each working in a particular area.
Only by doing so, and giving poor the sure chance to excel in his life, and tackling other problems institutionally with full cooperation with the government, would we be able to make Pakistan and indeed the whole world a place more kind to the poor.
NAUMAN YOUNIS LODHI
Rawalpindi
APROPOS of Anwer Syed’s article, ‘A controversial knighthood’ (July 1), I found Mr Syed’s arguments not only feeble but ostensibly conformist and complex. While giving Rushdie the benefit of the doubt that he is a story teller and not a historian who portrays events as they take place, Mr Syed should have given the same to those protestors who happen to be laymen and must not have read Rushdie’s work other than Satanic Verses.
They could only remember what had ‘hurt’ them the most. That’s why they protested against Rushdie’s knighthood. This is the same case when western countries refer to Osama bin Laden. They rarely remember that he once was admired by the US administration for kicking out the Red army from Afghanistan in 1979-1988. Osama was a proud product of the US during the Cold War era, but he will always be cursed for what he did on Sept 11, 2001.
Nobody remembers that he was an active mujahid in fighting against Soviet troops in Afghanistan. People curse him because he reminds them of the most painful and tragic event of contemporary affairs. I have no intention to justify Osama’s dreadful act.
Mr Rushdie should not have written Satanic Verses if he has least savvy of history or if he is a fiction writer. I certainly do not favour protest or demonstration of any kind but I have to speak the truth against double standards of our well-reputed authors.
Denmark’s newspaper published Prophet Muhammad’s cartoon, we called it ‘freedom of expression’ or liberal ideals of democracy. Less educated rather emotional people of developing countries protest or demonstrate against any western policy and we call them ‘extremist or religious fanatics’ because they are anti-western policies.
Mr Syed opined that western governments are least bothered if their domestic policies may affect other countries. I would add that these countries have never considered other countries’ reaction while sketching out their own foreign policies, especially the one on Iraq and Afghanistan. Mr Syed sounded gloomy over setting effigies of Queen Elizabeth II on fire but he forgot that the US and its allied forces bombarded the whole of Iraq badly, killed innocent civilians and left human life in misery, in shambles.
Iraq was bombarded on the pretext of WMDs the US could never find. I am surprised if Mr Syed still thinks that these western countries do not interfere in internal politics of other countries. Saddam was Iraq’s ruler, and he did what he thought was right for his country.
The US is providing homeland security to its people at the expense of many other countries. IAEA could never find any evidence that Iraq had nuclear weapons, many western countries opposed Bush and Blair against launching strikes against Iraq but they followed the US ‘national’ security strategy 2002.
I would also suggest Mr Syed to get hold of clear concepts of world politics and religion while talking about religious behaviour of other countries. The concept of religious tolerance is based on three principles: that you respect each other’s religious beliefs, you give freedom to your fellow beings to practise their religious code of conduct and that you do not force them to accept or abide by your own religious norms and culture.
As Muslim, we cannot believe in the ideology of different religions. We should give them this liberty to accept and pursue their own religious code of conduct but they should also not expect us to be part of their rituals or religious beliefs. Mr Syed wrote that Indian Hindus paid less heed over Muslims’ refusal of Lord Krishna as a divine force and that they did not try to change views of Indian Muslims. This is just to add to Mr Syed’s information that the massacre of more than 2,000 Muslims took place in Gujarat in February 2002 with the complicity of BJP leaders.
I don’t remember if any of our literary figures had ever cursed or made fun of Jesus Christ, Moses, Lord Buddha, Lord Krishna or any god or goddess.
MARIA SAIFUDDIN EFFENDI
Rotary World Peace Fellow
Sweden
ALTHOUGH as a nation we are prone to shocks, but when I read in the Metropolitan pages of Dawn (Aug 1) that the city government is in the process of constructing two six-storeyed parking plazas in the famous Jheel Park off Tariq Road, I got a jolt of my life.
The Jheel Park, which is located in the midst of thickly-populated blocks of PECHS, is a unique recreational facility of the metropolis. It once contained well-maintained lawns and lush green trees around, with exquisite lake — quite uncommon for Karachiites.
The necessity of having more parking lots due to the ever-increasing growth of population and with that coming of huge number of vehicles on the roads cannot be denied.
But to meet the requirement, more spaces can be created in the newly-constructed multi-storeyed plazas and not by encroaching upon the areas set apart for the recreation of the public, such as parks and playgrounds.
In view of the fast-growing population of the city, we need not only more such amenities but have also to maintain the already existing ones such as the Jheel Park, a facility of its own kind. This park caters to the need of the PECHS, one of the largest housing societies built in the 1950s, which is now a hub of commercial activities and habitat of large numbers of middle class population of the metropolis.
I hope that, in the larger interest of the people of Karachi, the city government should reconsider its decision and restore the Jheel Park, the pride of the city, to its pristine beauty and splendour.
DR MUHAMMAD ANWAR JALIL
Karachi
TENNIS is the only most-played and attractive sport where no huge team is to be found and trained. Since Pakistan came into being, we never had the good luck to feed one top-seeded player to represent our country ever in any tournament over the globe.
It is for the first time a Pakistani player has shown brilliance to have moved into the final of Nottingham Challenger. He is Aisam-ul-Haq from Pakistan who has brilliant future to bring laurels to our country.
He not only needs our sincere prayers but also an allout grooming by the government through monetary and moral help and patronising him to excel to become number one seed at international level.
BRIG (r) A. Q. ANJUM
Rawalpindi
YOUR concluding couple of sentences in justifying the 'deal' (editorial, Aug 2) may be seen as a tacit approval, in fact recommendation, for the 'deal'. This is highly dangerous from an influential paper such as yours. It is now almost a unanimous view, locally as well as internationally, that the extremism has been a product of the military's involvement in Pakistani politics.
Frédéric Grare, a well - known international scholar, has made this point recently in his report, "Rethinking Western Strategies toward Pakistan -- an action agenda for the United States and Europe".
Also, as reported in your paper the same day (Aug 2), Bob Templer, the International Crisis Group’s Asia director, says the following: “The choice this election year is stark -- support for a return to genuine democracy and civilian rule, which offers the prospect of containing extremism, or continued support of a slide into a failing state that will export Islamic radicalism domestically, regionally and beyond.”
Please refrain from giving the slightest support to anything but fair and genuine democracy -- no matter how much the leadership vacuum you may see.
Our nation is talented and given the right environment, capable and honest leadership is bound to emerge.
AZEEM HAQQANI
Australia
RECENT rains and floods have wreaked havoc in large parts of the country, particularly in Sindh and Balochistan, affecting millions of people. In this hour of national crisis, everyone has tried his utmost to help the affected people.
The people of Sindh and Balochistan have suffered greatly, losing lives, property, livestock and standing crops.
In Sindh province, many villages of Qubo Saeed Khan , Shahdad Kot, Qamber Warah, Johi and Mehar talukas have been inundated due to breach of various water branches.
Although NGOs, including the Sindh Graduates Association, have carried out surveys to find out the basic needs of the affected people and started providing relief to them, the government, particularly the district government, is not found anywhere helping the people. The people are still passing their days on the roads and in relief camps.
The government should extend maximum help to the people to start their rehabilitation.
M. USMAN PANHWAR,
SGA, Dadu
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