| September 05, 2007 | Wednesday | Sha'aban 22, 1428 |
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West’s criticism
Towards a greener city
Plea for a discount
Dhoke Kashmirian nullah
Mountbatten’s role in Kashmir
The heroes’ syndrome
Air hostesses
Fallen tree
SC’s magic order
Whither DHA?
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
DURING her recent visit to Pakistan, Japanese Defence Minister Yuriko Koike made some comments. She said Japan wanted Pakistan to sign the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). When asked a question about the US-India civil nuclear deal, possible resumption of nuclear tests by New Delhi and its impact on nuclear non-proliferation, she avoided making any direct comment and, instead digressed to her country’s concerns about North Korea’s activities. It is unfair of Japan’s leadership to put the noose on the proverbial neck that fits, i.e. Pakistan. They must remember this country’s plight when, after playing the primary role in dismembering Pakistan in 1971, India had gone on to conduct its first nuclear test in 1974. We had lost half the country, on top of which loomed this supreme danger of a nuclear attack, which was a worse predicament than Tokyo finds itself in today, vis-à-vis Pyongyang.
Also after India’s overt nuclearisation of May 1998, Japan had copied the US in putting tremendous pressure on Pakistan not to conduct its own atomic explosions. Instead of this unequal treatment, Japan should be even-handed.
Even more surprising is Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s statement in New Delhi during his state visit that Japan and India have a common destination, as reported in a section of our electronic media (Aug 23). It is no secret that India’s objective is to become a regional, if not a global, military superpower, complete with thermonuclear weapons.
According to a report by Indian analyst Pratap Chakravarty, the Indian government’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) already has the technology to build intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) that have a range of 5,500 kilometres and would extend the nuclear-armed India’s reach beyond Asia. Sources say the DRDO’s most treasured dream — denied in public — remains the development of an ICBM with a range of 15,000km, already christened ‘Surya’ or sun, to match Chinese DF-3 ICBM’s that can hit US cities (April 16).
Japan surely could not have selected such a frightful destination for itself? Perhaps due to American pressure and in its own nervousness to contain China, the country has embarked on a perilous journey with uncertain consequences. As a sincere well-wisher of both Beijing and Tokyo, one would like to make a few observations.
It would be worthwhile for them to consider that the noted Australian security analyst Sandy Gordon had recently opposed Canberra’s decision to reverse its longstanding policy by agreeing to sell uranium to New Delhi. He argued this would enable India to divert uranium from other sources to weapons, which would have an effect on its nuclear competition with China and Pakistan (July 27). If this does push Beijing to upgrade its strategic weapons, this would obviously bother Tokyo.
In his book, India’s Rise to Power, Andy Gordon has stated that “relations between India and all of its smaller neighbours have at one time or another been troubled.” Also, that “the predominance of India has drawn New Delhi into a strategy of attempting to deny the smaller nations of the region their relationships with distant powers….” right from the time of its first premier, Jawaharlal Nehru, which Mr Gordon likened to Washington’s Monroe Doctrine.
This desire for hegemony has led India to bully its neighbours continually. Thus, at one time it imposed an economic blockade against the land-locked Nepal. At another occasion, its relations with Sri Lanka had become so strained that the small country had reportedly approached the US, the UK, China and Pakistan for help in case India attacked, says the analyst. It has fought several wars with Pakistan, had numerous border skirmishes with Bangladesh resulting in hundreds of Bangladeshi deaths and, according to some western peace activists, initiated the attack on China in 1962.
Considering what may have happened if Japan had been situated on the periphery of India after World War II could be very instructive. There is no reason to suppose it would have escaped India’s bullying. A useful tool could be a computer simulation of the whole situation to assess how trustworthy or otherwise New Delhi would be in changed circumstances. If Pakistan, with huge social and ideological differences with China can be its close friend, why can’t Japan?
KHALID CHAUDHRY
Karachi
THE Newsweek magazine has, in its August 20 issue, quoted a CIA official as saying that although President Musharraf may be keen to net Ayman al Zawahiri and the famous Osama bin Laden, our own ISI has “no desire to either take on its Frankenstein or to see its Frankenstein removed.”
Does Newsweek realise that no one in his senses knowingly kills the goose that lays the golden eggs? If all the threats of terrorist attack were to magically disappear, would we still be getting billions of dollars in military aid from the US?
That said, Pakistan is itself fighting terrorism of the most virulent kind on its own soil. Every day our armed forces and police personnel (and innocent members of the public) are killed in terrorist bomb attacks of one kind or the other.
But this must be differentiated from the legitimate desire of our Pushtoon tribesmen to grant ‘malmastai’, which is an age-old traditional ‘shelter’ to their fellow tribesmen even if they happen to be of the Taliban, be it in Waziristan or elsewhere in the tribal belt. Nothing is gained by spewing bile and scorn at Pakistan’s own efforts to combat terrorism.
President Gen Musharraf is being constantly badgered by the Americans to ‘do more’, while their half-caste presidential hopeful, Obama, tries to make headlines by threatening Pakistan with ‘direct’ action of the kind mentioned by Newsweek.
All this is pointless bombast for the simple reason that the status quo must and will remain until after the general elections next year, when hopefully a ‘democratic’ government will be better able to blunt the criticism currently flowing from the West.
S. ASIF MAJEED
Karachi
IT has been observed during the last few months that the Karachi city government has been continuously removing trees from various parts of the city. A recent example is the removal of a large number of trees from the road in Gulistan- i-Jauhar that links University Road from Jauhar Chowrangi.
A large population is resident there in the apartments on both sides of the road and, as a result of cutting of trees, is facing problem of increased level of air pollution in the form of dust particles. It seems that no measures have been taken to minimise the intensity of the problem as the construction of the road is under way simultaneously.
An activity of cutting trees does not make any sense, especially in such a city that shows growing trend of urbanisation in the future. The trees generally took many years to get such a growth that ultimately provides filtered air by reducing the level of air pollution.
Being an environmentalist, I believe that before carrying out such activity an environmental impact assessment (EIA) study should be conducted. An EIA study is one that not only identifies the environmental problems associated with project activity but also suggests the environmental management plan that ensures the execution of an activity with minimum possible environmental impacts.
Some immediate actions that can be taken to minimise the intensity of the problem are as under:
— Plant suitable plants that do not disturb sewer lines.
— Plant mature trees on both sides of the road.
— Remove the sand or dust as much as possible.
— Apply wet sweeping by newly inducted sweeping machines.
— Avoid traffic jam.
— Sprinkle the way during rush hours.
If these mitigation measures are taken, then various health-related problems can be solved and the residents of the area will feel relief.
NASAR U. USMANI
Karachi
ONCE in a while, in this culturally-starved city, a cultural event occurs like a breath of fresh air. One such event is the staging of the play called Habib Mamoon, the Urdu adaptation of Uncle Vanya, by the Russian playwright Anton Chekov.
While the play has a star-studded cast, and is staged for a good cause, I would like to express my views on a totally different aspect of the same. The play provided an excellent opportunity to the citizens of the city for exposure to a totally different level of drama than that which they are more accustomed to watching on the numerous Urdu/Hindi television channels.
However, the cost of the tickets has made it prohibitive for the middle class, which would have truly appreciated the play. It is not possible for an average middle class family of four to spend at least Rs3,200 for one play. It is also out of reach for most students, who would have benefited from watching the play. It would have given them the exposure to watch the fine art of stage drama, While I whole-heartedly support the cause towards which the revenue generated by the play would go, I believe the tickets should be less expensive and students should be able to get a further discount, because not only will they get an opportunity to watch a good play, but would also feel that they have contributed towards a good cause.
RUQAIYA FARUQI
Karachi
THE people of Dhoke Kashmirian, Sixth Road, Rawalpindi, have been facing a waste water problem for many years. There is a nullah in the vicinity which has become a threat to the inhabitants’ life. Although representatives of local bodies are trying their utmost to resolve the problems of the people, they are unable to achieve any success as funds are lacking.
Recently, the Rawal Town nazim allocated Rs430,000 for repair of this nullah, but because of bad planning the nullah could be repaired only partially. In view of this, we appeal to the chief justice of Pakistan to take urgent steps to save the lives of thousands of people of this area. Although repair of nullahs is exclusively a local problem, discrimination is preventing people from getting their due rights. The CJ is requested to instruct the relevant authorities to do the needful.
GHAZALA YASMIN
Rawalpindi
IN his review of the book, Jammu and Kashmir 1949-64: Select Correspondence between Jawaharlal Nehru and Karan Singh (Books and Authors, Aug 12), Mehtab Ali Shah has made some observations.
He says the general impression in Pakistan after partition was that Kashmir would have easily fallen to this country’s lot if only the viceroy, Lord Mountbatten, had not tinkered with the borders of Punjab through Cyril Radcliffe. Also, if he hadn’t persuaded the Maharaja Hari Singh of Jammu and Kashmir for accession to India in October 1947.
However, the reviewer says that a letter by the Maharaja written to the then Indian president, Dr Rajander Prasad, raises doubts about this assumption. It insinuates that on the eve of partition Mountbatten told the Maharaja: “The newly-created States Department (dealing with the Princely States) was prepared to give (an) assurance that if Kashmir acceded to Pakistan, it will not be considered as an unfriendly act by the Government of India.”
Elaborating this point, the Maharaja writes: “With the help of maps (probably of ethno-religious clusters of the population) he (Lord Mountbatten) advised me to accede to Pakistan.”
It is unfortunate that Dr Shah apparently did not make any effort to crosscheck on this claim through other sources. One very valuable reference is the book, The Emergence of Pakistan, by Chaudhri Muhammad Ali, who had been closely involved with the freedom movement and, after partition, with the Kashmir dispute parleys with Nehru etc., going on to become Pakistan’s prime minister a few years later. The book has numerous British, Indian and other references.
Thus, Mr Ali has noted that the States Department had not even been created when Mountbatten referred to it during his meeting with the Maharaja, but only some days after the viceroy’s return. Tellingly, both Nehru and Gandhi, who did not at all want independence for Kashmir, had wished to hold parleys with the Kashmiri ruler. But Hari Singh had apprehended that in case they came, he wouldn’t be able to keep Mr Jinnah from coming, whereas he was strongly opposed to any Muslim League leader visiting Kashmir.
As a way out, Mountbatten decided to go himself in June 1947. He did indeed give an assurance, though somewhat different from that cited in the Maharaja’s letter to Dr Prasad. However, there are several other facts too detailed to be listed here that change the picture radically. In a speech in London on Oct 6, 1948, Mountbatten revealed that he had urged the Maharaja “to ascertain the will of his people on joining one Dominion or another…”
But Mr Ali notes that the arguments the viceroy so forcefully put before Hyderabad, Jaipur and Jaisalmere for accession to India applied with equal strength to Kashmir’s accession to Pakistan. But he never used them with the Maharaja.
Another noteworthy fact is that Mountbatten had said he had “exerted his whole influence to prevent him from acceding to one Dominion or the other without first taking steps to ascertain the will of his people by referendum, plebiscite, election, or even, if these methods were impracticable, by representative public meetings.”
Chaudhri M. Ali observes that even in the method of finding the will of the people, there was a striking contrast between Mountbatten’s methods in Hyderabad and Kashmir. In Hyderabad, he insisted on a free plebiscite under impartial auspices and offered to hold it under the supervision of British officers. In Kashmir, he imposed no such condition or offer but left it to the Maharaja’s pleasure.
Thus, in a plebiscite or referendum in Kashmir under impartial auspices, the overwhelming majority of Muslims and some Hindus as well (such as their leader Pandit Prem Nath Bazaz) would have voted for Pakistan. But in the vague and indefinite method of public meetings of a despotic regime, any result could be proclaimed.
Furthermore, Mountbatten’s assurance was given in June 1947, when – assuming that an impartial boundary award were made – India would have had no means of communication with Kashmir, so the accession of the state to India in respect of defence, foreign affairs, and communications would have been meaningless, concludes the writer.
M.P. CHISHTI
Karachi
THIS is with reference to the recent announcement of the launching of the ‘Hunt for heroes’ for a national sport. While a certain degree of promotional hype is, no doubt, desirable in such campaigns, this ‘heroes’ syndrome is, I believe, symptomatic of our national psyche.
In the same manner that we rush to bestow superstar status on a flash-in-the-pan performance we are branding, virtually, grassroots level teenagers as ‘heroes’ even before they have really started their careers as serious sportspersons. No wonder we end up with a generally non-professional approach and a bunch of ‘quick-fire’ performers.
This same outlook is reflected in the media coverage of such ‘heroes’. It is time we realised that a real achievement, reported objectively and briefly, carries much more weight than often paid for ‘hyperbole’, which rankles to say the least.
Right from their very early days our sportspersons must be made to realise that superstar, hero and legend status has to be earned the hard way. By not dispensing it cheaply in our media campaigns and coverage we may yet be able to promote the much needed professionalism and thereby salvage our falling sports standards.
SAJID AZIZ
Lahore
SOME time back the Supreme Court of Pakistan had extended the retirement age of PIA air hostesses up to 60 years, like the already existing age limit for stewards, whereas previously it was only 45 for air hostesses and afterwards they were given other ground jobs, according to the policy.
I hope this decision of the Supreme Court will certainly help reduce the complaints against PIA air hostesses’ attitude/behaviour towards passengers as they now will treat passengers on board like their own kith and kin. So best of luck to PIA.
IMRAN KHAN SIAL
Karachi
A BROKEN tree bark is precariously perched on the Abbottabad Road just before Jhari Kaas stop. If it falls, it could cause a life-threatening accident on this busy road.
The authorities concerned are requested to take note of this and remove the broken bark before it’s too late.
WASIM IQBAL
Haripur
THE magic order of the Supreme Court that stops heavy vehicles from entering Karachi after 6am has brought immense relief to countless citizens who commute the city roads, particularly the famous Mycolachi (Mai Kolachi) and the DHA’s boulevard.
For the last several years the citizens who drove on this road had experienced ‘cat and mouse’ races with the monstrous vehicles.
Many tragic accidents had also occurred. Yet, the ugly commercialism of the KPT and the NLC continued with impunity. Many letters in these columns reflecting the dangerous situation of this road appeared periodically but without any effect.
I personally spoke to the DIG (traffic) in this regard but he put me off by saying that ‘Karachi is a port city’. As a sequel to the SC’s order, some sanity now prevails on this busy road, thanks to the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
MOHAMMAD ALEEM SHAIKH
Karachi
IT is pleasant news that the DHA high-ups have announced formation of a technical board to investigate, review and recommend changes and/or new measures how best to improve the existing ill-planned drainage and sewerage system in the various phases of the DHA.
The appointment of the former managing director of the KSWB to head the board is rather surprising as this personality has not done anything convincing in his previous position. Then what is the reason? May be that he too is a retired brigadier and the DHA is run by such former army men. Another case of favouritism?
In a recent talk on a TV channel one of the panellists raised a point that the DHA never appointed a qualified and experienced architect at any stage of development of the various phases but this was a brainchild of traditional draftsmen from time to time. So we are in such condition today that after 10 days of rain water is still standing on Saba Avenue and on open plots breeding misquotes and wild plants.
Should not this job have been given to a specialist third-party firm with responsibility and target to accomplish the task on a priority basis. If not, there will be only meetings and noting of the meetings wasting hours and hours adding to our frustration.
ABDUR RAHIM
Karachi
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