| August 25, 2007 | Saturday | Sha’aban 11, 1428 |
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Nostalgic Hari Motwani
Jauhar area’s problems
Quota for Fata
Iraq govt and Interpol measure
Remembering Qurratulain
Flood victims’ misery
Cricket scene
Time on TV channels
Ties with India
KESC notices
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
THIS has reference to two editorials that appeared this month. On Aug 4, to the collective relief of concerned Pakistanis, your editorial (‘Outlawing kidney sales’) reported that the ‘final’ draft of the Human Organs and Tissues Transplantation Ordinance 2007 had been approved by the federal cabinet despite dissenting voices from some in the ministry of law. As this text was said to include revisions suggested by experts to plug loopholes in the original text which would have legalised unethical components, we felt we were finally seeing a light at the end of a long tunnel.
Unfortunately, a subsequent editorial of Aug 19 (‘Why this procrastination?”) replaced this sense of hope with deep despondency. We learned that instead of the expedited promulgation of the revised Ordinance, the document had been referred to the National Assembly for discussion, and ironically at a time when the prevailing situation in the country makes it unclear as to when, and if, this is likely to take place. And that is where the matter stands today.
This recent tactic by some in the government has understandably led to a sense of frustration among members of our civic society and professional communities. Those who have struggled for over a decade and a half to end kidney trafficking in Pakistan are well aware of the dismal track record of our assemblies in this matter in the past.
The first bill against organ trafficking was submitted to the Senate back in 1992. This was followed by another attempt in 1994, and then another in 1996. None of the bills saw the light of the day.
There is now a growing suspicion that this most recent action reflects yet another cynical move to stem efforts to expedite the end of the dehumanising, unethical exploitation in which the kidneys of the most vulnerable in society – the impoverished, the debt-ridden, and the illiterate — are commodified as body parts purchasable in the ‘gurda piris’ of the country.
One can only marvel at the power and influence of a lobby which has once again successfully stalled a much-needed action — the immediate promulgation of Ordinance 2007 — to stop the immoral practice of organ trafficking in Pakistan.
It appears that the interest of a few in raking in millions of rupees each year through domestic and international organ trafficking has once again triumphed over the interest of the vast majority of citizens who wish to see Pakistan conform to internationally accepted professional codes of ethical transplantation, and norms of social justice and respect for human dignity.
In 2006, it was only through pressure of the Supreme Court that the government was finally forced to pay attention to the matter. It is our hope that members of this august body will not fail to take notice of the fact that we seem to have slipped back to square one in our struggle, and will do whatever is necessary to bring an end to organ trafficking in Pakistan.
FARHAT MOAZAM
Chairperson, Centre of Biomedical Ethics and Culture, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation
Karachi
WITH its Greek roots -- nostos, meaning ‘to return home’, and algos, meaning ’pain’ -- this word sounds so familiar to us that we may forget that it is a relatively new word, as words go. It was coined in 1688 by a 19-year-old Swiss student in his medical dissertation as a sophisticated (or perhaps pedantic) way to talk about a literally lethal kind of severe homesickness.
A moving narrative appeared in this daily, ‘Ashes of Indian Sindhi writer scattered in Indus’ (July 5). This is an apt example of nostalgia and those who went through the ordeal of mass migration during the great divide can well understand it.
The nostalgia of the late Saeen Hari Motwani (Saeen is a prefix used in Sindhi and Siraeki dialect to express respect) for his ancestral homeland may not be taken out of proportion as memories arising out of tragedy and trauma got imprinted on the screen of his mind for life time.
For centuries Sindh was the home of Hari Motwani’s ancestors and his place of birth too. Had he known that he would not be returning from Hardwar, where young Motwani had gone to see his relatives, he would have at least got an opportunity to bid farewell to the land of his forefathers.
As a son of the soil, he could not forget his relationship with Sindh. Therefore, in his last wish he expressed that his ashes should be scattered in the once mighty Indus, a legend to which many folk stories are linked. Which now has turned into a stream depleted of water and also its famous Pala fish? However, well-wishers of the departed soul managed his reunion with the motherland by scattering his ashes into the shallow waters of the river Indus.
Sindhi Hindus being on the right side of British rulers enjoyed preference in education and employment in the united India. They were mostly engaged in commerce and trade, an activity which brought riches and education to them as was reflected from their lifestyle. The houses they built in Karachi, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Shikarpur, Hala, Tharushah, Kandiaro and even in remote villages like Mohbat Dero Jatoi, Khanwahan, etc., showed their strong economic status.
The rich Hindus, who were trading in distant lands like Yangoon (Myanmar), Singapore and Jawa invested their hard-earned money in such places where even now basic facilities are not available.
What compelled Hari Motwani to have his ashes to be spread in the land which no more belonged to him? The country where he finally settled enjoys uninterrupted democracy, right from the birth of the nation; where the government serves its citizens and not harass or maltreat them; where there is efficient system of education, health, public transport; where there is efficient civil service structure; where vehicles and cellphones are not snatched at gun-point every day; where public leaders are accessible to the common people and accountable to parliament and the nation.
So what is left? May we consider it a case of nostalgia which culminated into a last wish of a son of the soil to be home after death? The saying goes: East or west the home is best.
SIKANDAR ALI SHAH
Kandiaro
NOT too long ago the newly-planned Gulistan-i-Jauhar (probably named after Ali Brothers) was considered an out-of-the-way neighbourhood with hardly any facilities. At that time people had to think twice before moving here.
When in the early 1990s we moved here, we had to procure everyday necessities from far-off places as there weren’t any shops nearby. But that was the past.
Ever since the year 2000 Gulistan-i-Jauhar has grown by leaps and bounds. Its location being closer to the airport, the National Highway and the super expressway, and the land being cheap, mostly middle class people working in government departments and other organisations were attracted to the locality for a peaceful living.
However, things have rapidly deteriorated and today due to traffic jams, street crimes, thefts and robberies people dread going out for fear of getting afflicted with one or the other incident.
Congestion and the lack of cleanliness faced by the community ranks only second to failing law and order. Compounding the problem are the motorists who drive recklessly and park their vehicles indiscriminately along the road.
Besides, extremely ill-maintained public transport, increasing crime rate, clogged/overflowing gutters, lack of proper infrastructure and countless street vendors are among the reasons why the area is fast losing its appeal.
Lack of enforcement of law has also encouraged the people to convert their roadside flats into commercial streets without any compunction and remorse. The residents of Solaira apartments, block 13, situated in close proximity of the Jauhar roundabout, have converted their flats on ground level (front and behind the building) for commercial activities. Beauty parlours, auto repair shops, clinics and coaching centres have sprung up and are doing thriving business under the very nose of the KDA.
For the seriousness of the situation, the bosses of 13 different city departments should visit the locality and see for themselves what is happening here.
The people living here expect immediate remedial measures such as restoration of residential buildings as per original approved plans, creation of parking bays and garbage dumping locations, removal of all kinds of encroachments of essentially required open space, replacement of dilapidated sewer lines, quality repair work of roads, cleaning of flood drains, removing encroachments from footpaths, obstruction-free service roads, checking the fitness of public transport vehicles, speed governors to apprehend careless drivers, traffic signal at Jauhar roundabout and effective policing of the area.
A CONCERNED CITIZEN
Karachi
On Aug 17, Fata students from many universities launched a peaceful demonstration in front of the Parliament House in Islamabad. They held banners demanding an increase in the quota for Fata in all the federal services.
While it may sense strange to many, the desire has an old history, especially among the student community. Dorment though the desire was, the students feel that there are serious shortcomings in the census process in their areas.
People live in far-off mountainous areas and they don’t know the benefits of objective census.
Besides that, many circles in the area interfere in the census process which leads to rough estimation of the population whose consequences are borne by the students. The students feel that there is illiteracy, poverty and social backwardness. Over and above, the military operations are triggering a sense of alienation among the people.
Such disappointment is also triggered by a comparative analysis of the federal politics. The students feel that the quota for Balochistan was increased in a bid to appease the Baloch after the operation. Why not such reconciliatory moves towards Fata? Is it that we have no organised voice that could pressure the government?
Given the above valid reasons, the demands of the students are amply justified. The government should increase the quota for Fata from the current four per cent, without indulging in the politics of opposition versus the government, as an effective way of linking Fata with the mainstream politics.
ASMAT,USMAN &ATTAULLAH
Islamabad
THIS is with reference to the news report that the Iraqi government is endeavouring via Interpol to extradite Mrs Raghad, daughter of Saddam Hussein, due to suspected terrorism. This could simply be interpreted as political retribution against Saddam’s family.
Mrs Raghad should not be pilloried or harangued because she is the daughter of ex-president Saddam Hussein, and has spoken up for him. Which daughter in the world will not bond with her father, specially after the manner of his execution? Mrs Raghad does not seem to have held any political public office, during her father’s tenure.
Saddam was a dictator, and he has paid a profound price for his innings. Iraq as a country in particular and Iraqis everywhere in the world are yet paying a lamentable price for that period. Saddam is no more now, and the anger and revenge against those who were in power at that time must be quelled at some time.
Saddam’s macabre trial and his execution sent shockwaves amongst decent people around the world. Irrespective of his faults, the manner of Saddam’s execution was repulsive and repelling. It smacked of an execution by a party militia and not the government of a country. It seemed a gang warfare lynching of vengeance.
The discoveries and launches of five products, i.e., CNN, laptop, mobile phone, Blackberry and space travel, have catapulted the world into the 21st century. But that mediaeval execution of Saddam showed us that we can quickly slide back to where we started out from, as human beings, unless we guard human dignity and liberty.
Mrs Raghad should not be subjected to any inhumane acts or treatment, as was done in dealing with her father. She is a woman, and must be treated with due respect and protocol.
The situation in Iraq is out of control due to the sectarian violence between the Shias and the Sunnis. Any belligerent actions to corner Mrs Raghad could add serious fuel to fire and deepen the hiatus between the communities. This is the time to be discreet and provident, and not crassly aggressive or macho.
Any official action to arrest Mrs Raghad should be transparent and buffered by facts. Otherwise, it will endanger permanently the very credibility of the government in Iraq. It will turn international opinion against them. And the facts should not be scrawny, as was the case of the existence of the fictitious weapons of mass destruction, which Saddam was alleged to be harbouring, and which ignited the decision to enter Iraq.
The last four years of the war and misery in Iraq can be encapsulated as:
1. The desire of the US and some western countries to remove the stubborn president Saddam, and replace him with a pliable regime.
2. The desire of the Shias to seize power and seek revenge for their oppression during Saddam’s tenure.
These conclusions seem very lucid, but have cost innumerable young lives, destabilised a region and nauseated the world to the horrors of war.
Mrs Raghad Hussein was a guest of Kind Abdullah II of Jordan for the last four years. He provided shelter to her children. Last year the country refused to extradite her to Iraq since she was under his care. King Abdullah II has also provided home, food and shelter to about one million Iraqi refugees for the last four years, at a cost of $1 billion per annum. About 50,000 Iraqi schoolchildren, refugees in Jordan, will commence studies this academic year, in Jordan’s schools.
RAJENDRA K. ANEJA
Dubai
THE genre of Qurratulain Hyder’s noval ends with her demise. She, perhaps, was the last of those genuine fiction writers who witnessed the partition of the united India and its aftermath and registered their dismay on the great human tragedy that occurred during the years of tears and turmoil.
She was also one of the few writers who showed their love and respect towards different cultures of Pakistan and India and viewed different socio-political movements in the perspective of subcontinental cultures in both telescopic and microscopic ways.
Pakistan and India are deprived of a rare literary genius whose primary affair was with her times and persons and who was vigorously reactive to her times (either good or bad).
QADEER ANSARI
Sukkur
THIS is with reference to your editorial regarding the flood victims in Sindh, Balochistan and the North- West Frontier Province. As an eyewitness, I support the general impression that not enough has been done to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the monsoon rains, cyclone and floods.
The poor people in the flood-affected areas need food support for a few weeks, but simultaneously need to settle back on their original lands for which the government should provide the building materials for their bamboo/straw-mat huts.
It is about time the government was visible in providing the overdue relief to these helpless citizens.
NAZIM F. HAJI
Karachi
IT did not make much sense when Pakistan crashed out of the World Cup. It was more alarming to see Dr Naseem Ashraf carry on with his duties on merit, which is hilarious in itself. It seems that it is the PCB’s mandate now to be in the news for all the wrong reasons.
The decision of dropping out Mohammad Yousaf (only when he peaked his career) and Abdul Razzaq (tailor-made) from the Twenty-20 World Cup aptly speaks of the minds and cricketing sense the board members have. To top it all, these two, along with Inzamaul Haq (another disgraceful exit by another great of Pakistan), have signed up for the most beautifuly carved out ICL. We, not just as a cricket-loving population but as a nation, have hit the rock bottom.
Thanks to all the people who ill-deserved their decision-making positions. You are a group of master craftsmen. Your product is a lot of nonsense. I am speechless and disgusted.
OMER EJAZ
Rawalpindi
The news about Abdul Razzak quitting the international cricket scene is devastating. Such a world class player saying goodbye to Pakistani cricket at such a crucial time makes one wonder about the impending doom that the PCB will have to face in the coming years. The discouragement meted out to the players by the PCB will only result in more quality players quitting cricket.
SANEELA ALTAF
Karachi
APROPOS of the letter, ‘Time on TV channels’ (Aug 18), I would like to add that, besides time, there are many other crucial facts and figures which get compromised on all TV channels, including the Pakistan Television, with impunity.
The TV channels continue to refer to various geographical and administrative zones as ‘divisions’, though the same have since long been abolished.
Similarly, all TV channels while reporting from tribal areas of the North-West Frontier Province on a minute-to-minute basis seem to have no clue as regards the exact, or even near exact, location of the seven federally-administered tribal areas and the people residing therein.
Will the channel-wallahs do the needful?
NASSER YOUSAF
Peshawar
I want to thank Zubeida Mustafa for her excellent opinion piece, Slippery base of foreign policy (Aug 15). I do sincerely hope that opinion and policymakers in Pakistan would give serious consideration to her suggestions on ties with India and on locating Pakistan’s identity firmly and squarely in South Asia.
UDAYA BOSE
Mumbai, India
THIS has reference to a ‘Power shutdown notice’ (Aug 9), which listed, among others, Defence Phase V, Khayaban-i-Tanzeem and ‘C’ Street.
The notice read that on Friday, Aug 10, power may be interrupted between 10am and 4pm for replacement of PMT No.1 on Khayaban-i-Tanzeem and PMT No. 1 and 2 on ‘C’ Street. Friday came and went and to the best of my knowledge the announced work was not done, perhaps due to rain. If my assessment is correct, would the KESC please reschedule the replacement of the announced PMTs.
A RESIDENT
Karachi
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