| September 01, 2007 | Saturday | Sha’aban 18, 1428 |
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Rat race for party tickets
Keeping prices under check
Organ sale
Cricket scene
Lack of town planning
Firecracker nuisance
Cultural gaffe?
Narrow escape
Negotiating with Musharraf
Plea to the people
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
THE ideas articulated in an editorial by The Washington Post several days ago and published in this paper represent the average American high- headed point of view. The Post has done us a favour by depicting the mostly hypocritical and sometimes even idiotic foreign policies. I am sure that the Post can agree to the fact that success of democracy in the United States is owed to the adherence and enforcement of ethical and moral responsibilities of public officials.
Currently several American public officials are being pursued by law enforcement agencies for bribery, tax evasion, corruption and various other breaches of the law — Alaska’s Senator Ted Stevens, Idaho‘s Senator Larry Craig and Louisiana’s Congressman William Jefferson, to name a few.
Pakistanis have yet to witness similar public scrutiny and enforcement of the rule of law. Would American citizens allow them to make ‘deals’ to get out of public scrutiny?
The Post rightly accuses Ms Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif of ’breathtaking acts of corruption’ but I am at a loss to appreciate its wisdom whereby they can steer Pakistan back towards democracy. How can one admit to the plunder of Pakistan’s national wealth by them and their accomplices yet also qualify them as the sole saviours of Pakistan?
This is the very reason why Americans continue to alienate the masses of Pakistan — negative meddling in our affairs. The $10 billion that the Post and most other Americans like to brag about has not helped the ordinary Pakistani. The Americans are most welcome to take it back. What Pakistanis need, want, and have always aspired for is democracy and accountability -- a dream that has never been realised because Americans continue to falsely believe that they know what’s best for us better than we do ourselves.
Now after the historical reinstatement of the Chief Justice of Pakistan there is some glimmer of hope for a better Pakistan the world would like to take that away from us as well.
Instead of encouraging ordinary Pakistanis to seize the day and forge their own path towards a more prosperous and truly democratic future, the world powers would have us recycle the same old incapable and ineffective politicians.
More and more Pakistanis continue to be enticed by the religious extremists because they feel forced to walk in the dark tunnel of hopelessness. This hopelessness is brought on by the $10 billion and more that the United States so generously gives to dictators in order to prop their governments.
It is time the Americans understood their tax dollars are being plundered for these reasons. It is also the time the ordinary Pakistanis rejected the status quo by making clear to the morally and ethically bankrupt public figures that Pakistan is no longer their family backyard.
HASNAIN KHAN
Alberta, Canada
THIS is apropos of the story, ‘Government jolted by dissent in PML’ (Aug 30). The story states: “A more serious problem for President Musharraf and the ruling party is that a number of its lawmakers are contacting the PML-N and seeking its ticket for the general election.” I would like to add that the real tragedy of the nation and the country lies here. The lawmakers make the law, but they never practise it.
The PML-Q members are actually trying to jump out of a sinking boat to save their lives, belongings and assets. They want a safe ride on the tide.
Are they lawmakers or merchants?
They are not sincere to Nawaz Sharif and they have nothing to do with his election plan, party policies or future of the country. An uncompromised protection of their own interests and investments is their only programme. They were not loyal to Gen Musharraf as well. They supported him as long as his feet were strong, with a stiff, decorated and shiny uniform, which now looks faded and wrinkled and probably they can foresee a retired and weak general inside.
I am sure Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto will not discourage these illegal immigrants from entering their territories, as it is the need of the hour. It is a matter of convenience, give and take and mutual benefit for all the parties involved. It only lacks a strong personal character that most of our politicians don’t care for.
The rat race for the party tickets in the coming days will be very interesting and hopefully we will see hundreds of deals negotiated without any rules of business, before the market is closed.
I would suggest the Supreme Court of Pakistan to direct the election commission to publish a complete list of the names of all contesting candidates along with details of their past political affiliations, partnerships etc., so that voters would be able to judge the lifespan of their loyalties, changing of tracks and the circumstances leading to separations, divorces and remarriage.
MEHDI RIZVI
Pickering, Canada
THE Chief Justice of Pakistan has asked the federal government to control the rising trend of prices of consumers goods with special emphasis on evaluating the prices of medicines manufactured by multinational pharmaceutical companies in Pakistan and of those prepared by the local companies to remove the unjustifiable differences between the two.
The federal government has directed the provincial governments to bring prices within the reach of the common man. The president and prime minister also appealed to the business community not to unduly increase the prices of consumer goods during and after the month of Ramazan. The provincial governments passed on these directions, orders, and appeals to the local authorities to translate them into action. But the devil always lies at the implementation’s stage. The local officers deputed for this difficult job and businessmen/ traders connive to frustrate efforts of the government to keep prices under control.
The producers, the middlemen, the traders increase cost of every item at every level making lame excuses because they are motivated by self-interests. The self-interest is the supreme interest of individuals. Moreover, people do not obey gentle laws, and harsh laws are rarely executed. As such the businessmen from small to big, industrial producer, the stockists and the distributors all feel free to rob people. They have an insatiable lust for wealth. In connivance with the local officers appointed to keep control, they unreasonably enhance prices of goods.
The government needs to pass severe implementable laws and see that these are obeyed by all concerned. It is also suggested that monitoring cells may be formed to keep an eye on the demand and supply of goods and also on the nefarious designs of shopkeepers and local officers deputed to control the prices. These cells may be under the direct control of the chief justice, the prime minister and the chief ministers of provinces.
RAJA S.ULLAH
Islamabad
DR Asma Humayun’s article, ‘To sell or not to sell an organ’ (Aug 30) by and large covers all the related aspects of the issue. In countries with strong social welfare systems, free education and unlimited medical facilities and unemployment allowance, etc., are provided by the government, a ban on organ sale is logical and understandable.
But in countries like Pakistan, where we can only dream of such a thing, I do not see any reason for completely banning it. The need is to make sure welfare and just incentive is given to the donor.
I suggest that an insurance system to the donor can be of benefit. The recipient cannot possibly be available for the rest of his life to take care and pay for the donor in case any complication arises at a later stage. I suggest that there should be legislation to legalise the organ donation with a well defined and strict monitoring system.
For example, there should be a minimum incentive amount defined not in terms of rupees but in terms of say gold (to cater with the inflation factor). The payment should be made directly by the recipient to the donor in a documented way, i.e. directly to the donor’s bank account. In addition to the incentive money, the recipient should pay for the donors’ comprehensive health insurance (one time lump sum premium) covering all his medical expenses related to the organ donated.
The insurance should also pay for the transportation costs as well as for the lost income due to sickness, hospitalisation or health deterioration related to donation of the organ.
I believe such a system if developed will serve the interest of both the parties.
TANWEER AHMED
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
THIS refers to the omission of all-rounder Abdul Razzak and star batsman Muhammad Yousaf from the Twenty-20 World Cup squad. Considering the recent facts and current form of these players, it was absolutely a perfect decision of the PCB to let these players rest and regain their form and fitness, while allowing some young blood in the national side to prove their talent.
The decision seems to be unbiased and was taken in the best interest of national cricket. However, the reaction of two players is outrageous. They not only shocked the cricket board but also disappointed a million hearts by valuing money over patriotism by joining the ICL.
I just want to point out that a similar situation is faced by star Kiwis batting legend Stephen Fleming and South African cricket batting pillar Jacques Kallis when they were dropped from the national side due to lack of form. They did not give up, rather they opted to work hard to capture their form to get back to the national eleven.
I advice these Pakistani stars to follow them and do not run away like crying babies.
OSAMA ABDUL MATEEN
Rawalpindi
CONTINUED uncertainties about democracy and related fears over the last 60 years have gradually deteriorated all social and economic fabrics in the country and most of them soon became cancerous. Again, the absence of town and country planning law, of guiding and controlling land, of land use and land development has resulted in maladministration in all the government departments and civil society.
Even today town and country planning law does not exist in Pakistan.. The British government enacted their first Town and Country Planning Act in 1947. This Act had allocated 500 million pounds to acquire all development rights, as they knew the appreciation in properties is due to government investments, therefore the benefits shall go to the government and not the owners.
The town planning practice can manage comprehensive and coordinated development of all human activities through the following steps:
1. Provincial developments are done within the framework of National Development Plans.
2. Local developments of cities, towns and villages are based on provincial development plans.
Having thus achieved a comprehensive and coordinated development of the country as a whole, the following benefits of developments are then distributed to all in order to reduce the poverty:
a. The benefits to be distributed are: Activities including employments,
b. Services to be distributed are: Drinking water, sewerage, drainage, and electricity and housing, while education and health shall come at the top of the list.
Again, due to the absence of the town and country planning law the following could not be implemented:
• Town planning policy, consequently all developments are unplanned, haphazard and lop- sided
• Establishment of town planning administrative and technical setups at national and provincial and local levels.
• Development investments are in cities while villages have been neglected.
As a result of neglecting established town planning practices, we find ourselves in a mess and in the example of the city of Karachi we see the following:
• Overcrowded roads and unmanageable traffic. Although the city nazim is doing his best, owing to the lack of a town planning authority to oversee the city as a whole, he is helpless. There shall be only one town planning authority. The city government shall plan as a single town planning authority. However, development can be carried out by all the city agencies and supervised by eligible professionals of the city government.
• Flooding in the city is due to defective development plans, and there is no scientific arrangement for drainage by various agencies, including the DHA which is not coordinating their development activities with the city as a whole.
• Due to the absence of town and country planning law, policies for conversion of land use are discretionary leading to all types of problems mal administration..
• No awareness among government functionaries and civil society to call for the town planner as provided in PCATP ordinance.
AFTAB MUHAMMAD KHAN
President, Pakistan Institute of City and Regional Planning,
Karachi Chapter
THE legal status of firecrackers typically stems from their notable effect on noise pollution as well as the issue of safety, especially when used by children. My basic concern is to ask the authorities why don’t they stop the sale of firecrackers?
Most people just see using firecrackers as fun; they do not fear using such explosive materials, they do not think that these can harm them, nor do they care that people exposed to their noise could be ill, resting, old or not able to tolerate it.
While children will be children, the same is not true for parents who should be stopping them. They must not give their children any money for buying firecrackers. The authorities concerned should take major steps for controlling the problem and take strict action against violators.
SHUMAILA A. R. KHALIQIYA
Karachi
RECENTLY I had an invitation from the embassy of Pakistan in Washington DC to attend a fashion show in collaboration with the National Geographic Society in honour of the 60th independence day of Pakistan.
I was appalled when the show opened with a dance number by exotic belly dancers from the Far East. Through your esteemed paper I would like to ask the Pakistan ambassador, Mehmud Ali Durrani, to enlighten us as to what, if any, is the connection between Pakistan Independence Day and those scarcely-dressed exotic belly dancers?
Just in case we were trying to give some sort of a message to the members of the National Geographic Society present at the occasion that Pakistan is an enlightened and modern nation with ample entertainment value, then I must say a ‘mujra’ number by our Lollywood darlings would have been a better choice. At least it is something authentic and has a cultural value.
AYESHA KHAN
USA
THE other day, while returning from the Indus Valley School, my daughter and the driver had an accident which may have resulted in loss of life/lives.
At the Neelum Colony traffic signal, on the 26th street of the DHA, a KESC live wire suddenly snapped and fell on my car. The time was between 10 and 10.30am and, while falling, it touched another car and a truck while on its way down.
During the recent rains many people have been electrocuted. The KESC should ensure that no accident like this should happen. Had it been a developed country, the people would have sued the utility company.
M. EJAZ RASHEED
Karachi
DEALING with a despot is disservice to a dead father’s legacy. Benazir Bhutto is disappointing her supporters by showing desperation and dealing with a dictator who is struggling to survive. By having a deal with a military dictator, she is fast forwarding her political demise.
The people of Pakistan are now far more aware of the political intrigues that surround them than they were when Benazir was last in power. She should realise that by negotiating with a military dictator she has let her supporters down.
The two recent significant changes that have taken place in Pakistan are the independence of the judiciary and the media. Political leaders should not undermine this never-before-experienced freedom. Deals struck behind closed doors can be meaningless when the deal makers try to implement those and the power of the people rejects it.
What Pakistan needs most now is an independent election commission. The way things are moving we will very soon have one. With three strong and independent institutions on their side, the people of Pakistan can undo all deals that are done without their consent.
It is unfortunate that seasoned politicians have fallen for solutions for the sustaining of Pakistan that are tailored in the West. We cannot alienate the rightist political forces, they represent a large segment of our population. We have to find indigenous ways to seek a solution and evolve a formula of peaceful coexistence.
IMRAN AHMAD
Karachi
I WAS stunned to read your editorial, ‘Recipe for disaster’ (Aug 29) in which you seem to be part of this game of deals. You could not even resist from advising the deal-makers from doing their job behind the curtain. It was very hard for me to reconcile myself with this stand from a newspaper which I, hitherto, thought to be a champion of democracy. Do you not understand who would benefit from the deal? Only Musharraf and Benazir Bhutto, not Pakistan.
AKHTAR FAROOQ
Kasur
THE recent political buildup of meetings to find a future roadmap in which it will be decided who will rule Pakistan seems a strange story for an average Pakistani.
It is not only embarrassing but also amazing how our destiny is being settled very zealously by people sitting in New York, Islamabad and London.
We are only spectators to this whole drama and my whole hunch is that behind this whole activity would be a small clerk sitting somewhere in the White House.
S. NABEEL HASHMI
Lahore
THIS is a plea to the people to take down the Pakistani flags which they had hoisted upon their roofs in order to celebrate the Independence Day.
It is extremely heart-wrenching to see our flag in tatters weeks, even months, after Aug 14 has passed.
In fact, this should be enforced by law in order to avoid the desecration of the national flag.
RAMLA ZUBAIRI
Karachi
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