| August 20, 2007 | Monday | Sha’aban 6, 1428 |
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US threats
PhDs galore
Korean hostages
SMC and student politics
Regulating employment of domestic servants
Lower value of our rupee
‘Pakistan Lawyers Party’
Extension of NSC hours
Deal: a way out
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
"PLUS ca change, plus c’est la meme chose", that is, the more things change, the more they remain the same (Alphonse Karr). The movement led by lawyers and joined by civil society was unprecedented, indeed. As Kuldip Nayar has written, not even the democratic India has anything like to show for it. A septuagenarian, I, too, was out on The Mall, joining my voice against the arrogance, high-handedness and tyranny of Gen
Musharraf to those of the thousands who formed the Thursday processions, week after week.
The political atmosphere, though, alas, continues to be as murky as ever: the same shady deals, palace intrigues, unholy couplings that have characterised the doings of these political pranksters and tricksters since the early days of Pakistan. Benazir Bhutto’s cupidity and prevarication is breath-taking. And Nawaz Sharif? If the generals had not upset his apple cart, he would have ended as a latter-day Khalifa-tul-Momineen.
Remember the Shariat Bill he had almost pulled off? In a recent article in this paper, Sajjad Ali Shah has unfolded the sordid drama of his ouster as chief justice of the Supreme Court by Nawaz Sharif and the unseemly spectacle of his fellow judges playing ball. I believe that it is the unholy machinations of mullahs, in collusion with the military, that have primarily vitiated the vision of Pakistan as a tolerant, humane and sane polity, starting with the passage of the Objectives Resolution and the anti-Qadiani riots, inviting the first martial law, the harbinger of the later ones. Add to this lot the nefarious feudal coterie.
Among the new voices, one had thought so much of Imran Khan but, sadly, the great Khan has chosen now to sleep with the MMA. It is then to the lawyers who have done us proud that one would look up too. More verve and tenacity and resolve to the likes of Munir Ahmad Malik, Aitzaz Ahsan and that lovable firebrand, Ali Ahmad Kurd.
I fervently hope that in the coming days the legal fraternity, the judiciary and civil society will collectively stand together as a bulwark against forces of exploitation, of whatever hue, and work for the realisation of seeing Pakistan as a true federation ensuring the rights of all sections of society, an egalitarian economic system, the army back in the barracks where they belong, and the national resources within reach of everyone.
K.M. SIDDIQI
Lahore
THE Americans keep lecturing the world, especially the Muslims, about the importance of freedom and democracy, while Mr Bush has apparently assumed a divine right to promote these in various parts of the world.
However, the moment these two seem to impede the US interests, then all their lofty talk goes out the window. They don’t hesitate to support dictators and even states like Israel, which engage in gross human rights violations.
A couple of recent examples will show how Washington can even resort to threaten and blackmail those allies that may seek to adopt independent policies not in line with America’s desires. Thus, the US ambassador in Japan has warned that ending support to US forces in Afghanistan as advocated by Japan’s resurgent opposition party, would damage relations between the two powers (Aug 15).
Before that, President Bush had warned the Iraqi prime minister not to cosy up to Iran. Regarding Pakistan, many American leaders and officials have been giving threats of violating the country’s sovereignty by launching attacks against Al Qaeda and other militants. One would like to draw their attention to a statement of American Senator
Tom Harkin who had not only said in April that in the judicial crisis (that was raging at the time) in Pakistan, the United States ought to be on the side of the lawyers and the Supreme Court (April 28).
The Democratic Senator had also pointed out that the US "did not treat Pakistan as a true friend and ally" when it decided not to support the country’s democratic forces. "It is time for us to reassess our ties to this great ally". Pakistan, he said, was one of America’s closest friend and ally, "cold war or hot war, in every war they stood by us. If it were not for Pakistan, I dare say the Cold War would not have been won."
Shakespeare probably had people like Mr Harkin in mind when he said: "To be honest, as this world goes, is to be one man picked out of ten thousand." For the other folks who sometimes praise our assistance in their various wars but at other times fail to conceal their hostile thoughts, a Chinese saying is most apt: "Honey in his mouth, knives in his heart".
A. ALEEM
Karachi
APROPOS of Samina Waqar’s letter (Aug 9) in response to mine (Aug 5), I would like to submit the following:
1. I never said that there may not be preference of Ph D in appointment/promotions at universities. Rather, I appreciated the efforts of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) in providing an opportunity to our faculty members to acquire a PhD, both internationally and nationally.
2. Her arguments regarding LLB, MBBS, etc, are unwarranted as this does not come under discussion at all. What I emphasised was that for quality output at universities we do not require a PhD only, rather there are some other requirements for quality education and they are:
a. Improvement in pre requisite of inputs.
b. Reduction in number of students.
c. Provision of lab facilities etc.
3. I once again disagree with Ms Waqar that PhD is the only path to learn to conduct research and to think independently. Others who have not gone through the PhD process have acquired this knowledge as well. I would like to name some of the researchers and thinkers of recent past: Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, Maulana Shibli Nomani, Maulana Maududi and Mufti Shafi. In statistics, D. R. Cox (editor of Biometrika), Sir R. A. Fisher, W. G. Cochsan and P.C. Mahalanobis and others were all non-PhD scholars, researchers and thinkers of great repute.
What I actually said is that for teaching and research something comes from one’s heart and mind and not through forcing him/her through various methods.
All explanations by Ms Waqar regarding improvement of PhD degrees in Pakistan are acceptable, yet my submission to the HEC remains in tact that along with PhD propagation, the HEC must also work towards:
(a) Improving quality of inputs (students)
(b) Reducing the number of students in universities
(c) Improving lab facilities for university teaching
(d) Motivating our faculty for teaching/research and shunning looking down upon non-PhD faculty members.
As a matter of fact, there are many non-PhD teachers, researchers and guides who working in our universities. I have found many non-PhDs better than PhD degree holders.
PROF ZAHID MAHMOOD
Former Professor of Statistics
University of Karachi
I AGREE absolutely with the letter, ‘Korean hostages’, by Mr Irfanullah (Aug.15) that taking innocent people as hostages is totally against the Islamic injunctions and the Pushtun code of conduct.
It is heartening to note that after the meeting with the South Korean negotiators, the Taliban have released two of the women captives, who were sick, as a gesture of goodwill. According to a report in a section of the electronic media (Aug 15), the Chinese government has also approached the militia to seek freedom for the remaining ones, in response to which the Taliban are expected to set one more hostage free, as a mark of friendliness.
While showing consideration for the Koreans and Chinese is certainly a welcome move, but one would like to make an appeal to the Taliban. Please release all the remaining prisoners out of love and respect for Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), whom Allah had sent as a mercy for all of mankind.
This would also indicate your regard for the pleadings of many fellow Muslims through these columns and otherwise. As a reward, Allah will certainly help you in your struggle to drive out the occupation forces.
M. MUSLIM
Karachi
THE issue of student politics and its negative effects on academics in the Sindh Medical College has been brewing for a long while now.
The administration of the nascent Dow University has been turning a blind eye to the SMC, while strictly enforcing disciplinary laws in the Dow Medical College.
The death of a medical student, doubling as student leader, at the hand of several others shows just how deep-rooted this problem is.
If you ask us, the students at the DUHS, we could tell you dozens of problems that stem from politicising the colleges. Not only is there a constant war of words between the various factions but even academics such as forming clinical groups for ward postings in the hospitals come under the control of such parties.
It does no good to anyone and it is time the chancellor, Dr Ishratul Ibad, and the vice-chancellor seriously looked into the problems plaguing the SMC.
We at the Dow Medical College want to see not just our college, but the SMC also free of such hassles and leaping forward into the modern era.
That is the only way we can project the DUHS as the number one medical university in Pakistan.
AMEERA KIRAN KHAN
Karachi
OF all other localities of Karachi, the DHA is rather better organised in many spheres. But they too have not yet given the subject of employment of domestic hands a serious thought, although they are quite capable of ironing out the issue to the satisfaction of employers. Many people, including myself, have earlier written in these columns on this subject but so far the DHA has not taken a step forward this direction.
Ausaf Hussain has presented a rather complex proposition in which involvement of the city police has been suggested massively. For this very reason, the proposition will not go far enough as the police of Karachi have many other issues on their agenda and unless a policy is made at a very high level involving patronage of the interior ministry, any help from the police will simply not be forthcoming. Writing a report at a police station is a work of routine but maintaining records of domestic servants in the area, oh we must be joking.
What can be pertinent to regulate the issue is that the DHA administration puts up domestic servants registration offices in every phase of its locality to consider registration of only NIC-holder servants of age (avoiding child labour, which many employers opt for less salary paid to the parents of the child servant) in each category of domestic work, ie, driver, gardener, cook, cleaner, guards, in-house plumbers/electricians and motor mechanics should apply for registration on a prescribed form which must include two references.
The DHA registration office must verify the data and details given in the application form, including the references, and if satisfied, then should register the employee in their record and issue the applicant, for a nominal charge, a service book, which the domestic servant must carry with him, if checked in the area for identification.
The requirement for domestic servants in the DHA should be made by the employer on phone to the registration office in their phase, which will take the details of the prospective employers on phone and arrange to send a few workers to them to make their selection. The DHA registration authority should also regulate minimum wages for the domestic servants for every category of work.
Employers should ask an applicant servant for his service book and notice the comments of his previous employers, as recorded on his/her service book. If satisfied by an applicant, the new employer should make record of commencement of employment in the service book and the servant should report to the DHA registration office to have the information updated on his record with the DHA registration
Just this much care seems to be adequate. Any complaints, the employers should direct to the DHA registration office who would deal with the area police, only if necessary. Instant termination of employment by either side should involve forfeiture of two weeks wages of the servant or payment of two weeks wages in lieu of notice of two weeks mandatory on both parties. The termination of employment should be recorded by the employer in the service book of the servant, who should report this to the DHA to have his records with them updated.
Private agencies providing domestic employees are doing an irrational job and charge heavy amount from both parties. This should be stopped in the DHA. Another menace in DHA residential areas is the early morning appearance of scrap carts, some of them keep friendship with domestic servants and encourage them to steal valuables and pass on to them early in the morning to keep themselves clean in frisking.
The articles are sold and those scrap dealers later on make payment to domestic servants. This has been proved in some cases, but surprisingly the DHA has not yet banned the entry of scrap dealers in residential areas. Let them keep their work limited to commercial areas. This one step alone will help increase security measures in favour of employers.
M. M. KHAN
Karachi
The Pakistani rupee is an ever sagging commodity against other currencies to such an extent that even the Indian rupee is almost 30 per cent more than it in value now. The conspicuous consumption and allowing of endless car and luxury imports means we need more foreign exchange than ever and hence need more exports and lower value of rupee every year to make it possible. This is a sad state of affairs as it only helps certain exporters lobby (exemplified by commerce minister) but not the large majority of people as it also make petroleum and necessary inputs as vegetable oils, steel, medicines, gasoline, electronic as well as every necessary item expensive.
In order to please the IMF and World Bank it seems that special measures have been taken to deplete this country of dollar reserves by endless import, by borrowing huge amounts for F16 Type antique items, by allowing money senders as western union to operate and selling cheap oil to Nato troops.Every thing which can make dollar fly away from Pakistan is done.
This unnecessary burden on masses of low value of rupee is a brainchild of the IMF and western economic institutions that wish that the value of west’s own imports never rise in dollar terms over the years as Pakistani currency is made to devalue regularly every few year. This in Pakistan’s case is not an economic necessity as remittance by the diaspora are considerable enough to hold rupee's value but only if Pakistani finance institutions are not filled with dual national Pakistanis and IMF, World Bank moles who need some ethnic cleansing now if people's misery need reduction
True emancipation can only begin with cleansing of finance policies. Devaluation of Pakistani currencies is more frequent in interim administrations just before elections , hence Pakistanis better watch from now for any IMF sponsored robber finance ministers or political juggler. Let’s gradually raise rupee to 40 rupees a dollar its natural price for now.
M.SHAIKH
Islamabad
THE lawyers’ community under the able guidance of Aitzaz Ahsan, Munir A. Malik, Tariq Mahmood and others have successfully led the movement for restoration of the ‘suspended’ chief justice of Pakistan, heralding a future in which the Pakistani nation expects to get justice in all aspects of life.
It is suggested that a political party -- for example, named Pakistan Lawyers Party -- may be launched under the able guidance of these very lawyers. The party should field candidates in the next general election.
LATIF QURESHI
Lahore
IT is heartening to learn that the National Bank of Pakistan has extended its working hours (9am to 5pm) as it is committed to making allout efforts for the benefit of its customers, with special care for senior citizens.
Better late than never. Pensioners have heaved a sigh of relief and now they need not return home empty - handed after a long wait at the end of the day.
There is yet another government department -- the National Savings Centres -- which also caters to an elderly population through its life’s savings schemes, such as the Pensioners Benefit Account and/or the Bahbood Scheme whereby the account holders would be able to draw monthly profits to augment their measly pensions.
The ministry of finance should direct the department concerned to observe 9 to 5 hours during the week in line with the National Bank of Pakistan to take “special care for senior citizens”.
The working of the centres leaves much to be desired. It is archaic, awaiting computerisation, with too many manual entries to be made in the ledger and the journal before all this is put up for the manager’s signature. The ubiquitous and at times evanescent chaprasi of colonial era is the key person to fetch the right ledger or journal for the babu to make or cancel correct entries. From the chief’s table the heavy - bound registers are again checked and then the withdrawal books finally reach the counters.
You have to wait for your numerical turn till the cashier shouts your name or number. It may be an exercise for an elderly person hard of hearing to strain his ears.
To cope up with this God - forsaken rigmarole and till the time the data is computerised, National savings centres should extend their office hours like all other financial institutions working in the country.
I am sure the senior citizens, who often meet at the centre and kick their heels for hours, will all join hands to represent our case to the ministry for early and favourable consideration.
MOINUDDIN KHAN
Karachi
THE Musharraf-Benazir alliance may serve the national interest. It is time the moderate groups came together to counter the growing menace of bloodshed. The media has generated refreshing atmosphere of enlightenment by projecting constructive views of authentic religious and social scholars. People today are more conscious of the difference between spiritual contentment and savage bloodshed. A majority of Pakistanis demand socio-economic and judicial relief instead of sectarian debates. Benazir Bhutto, as heir to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, can continue his policy of enlightenment.
PROF SALEEM
Lahore
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