| September 07, 2007 | Friday | Sha'aban 24, 1428 |
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Fallen on hard times
Loss of religious character
More cultural gaffes
Wrongful confinement
Residents’ woes
DHA & Clifton Cantonment Board
Free air space
Kidnapped soldiers
Voter’s question
Tragedy on Northern Bypass
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
IT is not understood why the ban on recruitment of doctors and scientists in certain govern ment and semi-government organisations is never ending.
It is extremely detrimental to research and its development work. It is unfortunate that this problem is not realised at any level.
The Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC), a national cotton research organisation, which prides itself on being under the aegis of the ministry of food, agriculture and livestock (Minfal), is a glaring example where vacant posts are not filled for years due to the continued ban on recruitment.
I wonder if the ban on recruitment has either resulted in any saving when all the other expenses are not curtailed. It has slowed down the tempo of cotton research and cotton publications, which was the hallmark of the PCCC.
It is time the decades’-old ban on recruitment on technical posts is lifted not only in the PCCC but also in all the other research-oriented organisations so that they can work more efficiently.
The vacant posts should be filled with devoted research workers, who have a passion to make research their career.
Even capable serving juniors, holding the charge of a senior post, could be promoted to shoulder the responsibilities of future research.
Could Dr Attaur Rehman, chairman, Higher Education Commission, see that the continued ban on recruitment, especially in research organisations, is lifted and the vacant posts are filled and there is full sanctioned strength of staff armed to teeth to take up new challenges in cotton research?
M. SHAFIQUE AHMED
Karachi
SO the generalissimo has momentarily fallen on hard times. And I am reminded of Macaulay’s essay on Warren Hastings, which our very own Macaulay, Ayaz Amir, got me thinking about, after reading his column ‘Autumn of the jackals’ (Aug 31).
“The natives soon found this out. They considered him as a fallen man; and they acted after their kind. Some of our readers may have seen, in India, a cloud of crows pecking a sick vulture to death, no bad type of what happens in that country, as often as fortune deserts one who has been great and dreaded. In an instant, all the sycophants who had lately been ready to lie for him, to forge for him, to pander for him, to poison for him, hasten to purchase the favour of his victorious enemies by accusing him.
“An Indian government has only to let it be understood that it wishes a particular man to be ruined; and, in twenty-four hours, it will be furnished with grave charges, supported by depositions so full and circumstantial that any person unaccustomed to Asiatic mendacity would regard them as decisive.” —Thomas Babbington Macaulay
Nevertheless, whatever the politicians do, say, or want, there is no one on the horizon over whom Musharraf does not tower a good head and shoulders.
In our sad history, what have the politicians ever done nothing they can be proud of? They are a sorry lot who have squandered away our hard-fought inheritance and our liberty. They have proved themselves a self-serving bunch of hypocrites, clambering over each other to prove that they are the sole defenders of our democracy.
Now, with a judiciary that has woken up and fledged after 60 long years of slumber coddled in the nest of the administration, along with a liberated fourth estate, we have the best chance we have ever had in our forlorn history for a guarantee to a better future.
In the eight years of Musharraf’s stewardship, Pakistan has gone through turbulent times, the world changed, old paradigms shifted, yet enormous advancements were made.
However, with the eight good years, where Pakistan made great strides and developed at an astounding rate, there were also some stupid blunders but, overall, business has been on the up and up.
Today’s need is for development and ‘a rule of law’, before we consider democracy! With development comes wealth, with wealth, comes jobs and the capacity to spend on infrastructure, education, health, clean water, housing and basic needs of our citizens.
Democracy is a delicate flower that only grows in a well-tended and fertile garden. Only once we have prepared, ploughed, watered and learned to harvest the land, may we consider the luxury of a democracy! However, for the moment, we need a strong cool hand on the tiller.
SHUJA BAIG
Karachi
why are we poor, defeated, unproductive, uninnovative, illiterate, divided, sectarians, killing each other in the name of religion, begging for everything from the West, loving to live in the West, hating each other, and so on? The answer lies in the loss of religious character.
We believe that our biggest problem is the West or Kashmir, Palestine, the ever increasing obscenity or Musharraf uniform. Every cleric in every sermon will declare that all our problems are from Yahood, Hanood, and Nisara.
I strongly believe that our biggest problem is our morally bankrupt religiosity which is eager to wage a jihad on others to implement Islam but it is never able to see the worst kind of moral evils in their own ranks.
It has guns in its hands, religious slogans on tongues, hearts are devoid of God’s fear and characters are uninfluenced by the grace of the Prophet’s personality.
Quite often I think that if Muslims were facing God’s wrath and punishments, there was nothing else causing it to happen save the manifestation of the Almighty’s justice.
If people of such character are representing the leadership of Islam and the common man is content with following them in large numbers, the Almighty, it seems, is content with the destruction and ignominy of Muslims.
God has no blood relations with any nation. He deals with all peoples on merit.
If the torch-bearers of Islam are people of such low character, then be sure that the decline of Muslims is not coming to an end as yet.
As long as the character of Muslims, in general, and their leadership, in particular, would not change, neither their present nor their future would change.
A. SIDDIQI
Northridge, CA USA
I SUPPORT the observation made by Ayesha Khan in her letter ‘Cultural gaffe’ (Aug 31) about the belly dance performance at a cultural event at the embassy of Pakistan, Washington DC.
In another recent event at the embassy rare paintings and calligraphies of the famed artist Sadequain were exhibited. It was an impressive display, but the proceedings of the event were not very impressive.
The event’s ceremonies started by an American gentleman singing an Urdu song, which was not called for. The priceless paintings were mounted on wooden panels, which did not look professional.
During the exhibition some of the panels even fell down and damaged the paintings. This exhibition offered a golden opportunity to portray Pakistan as an enlightened and modern nation, but it was an opportunity lost because the embassy could not muster enough foreign audience.
The most disappointing fact was that there were no representatives of the Islamic countries to appreciate the calligraphic works of the most celebrated calligrapher of our country. The problem lies perhaps in the fact that there is no position of a cultural attache at the embassy.
ABBAS ALI
USA
BEING from the tribal areas, I was happy to read the editorial, ‘Wrongful detention’ (Sept 1), in which you paid thanks to the courts for releasing two innocent tribal boys who were imprisoned under the archaic and shameless black law called FCR.
Under this law, a political agent (a common officer, CSP or non-CSP, who has three main powers, i.e. legislative, judicial and administrative rolled into one) can sentence any tribesmen with a punishment of his own will and anger.
The FCR is not only a black law and snare of slavery, it is an insult to humanity and the Pakistan judiciary.
Pakistan came into being in 1947 because of the struggle of all Muslim leaders, as well as because of the cooperation of tribal elders.
The tribal areas came under the Pakistan government with the aim that they will receive their due status but 60 years on and they are still out of the mainstream.
The only difference they are enjoying is that before 1947 they were slaves under British political agents and now they are under Pakistani and Muslim political agents.
Tribesmen celebrate the Pakistan Day and they beat drums and dance but they do not realise they are still slaves in the hands of their own country’s administration.
I ask a few questions from the Supreme Court of Pakistan and the president of Pakistan:
a. How can a common government officer be three in one, i.e. judge, administrator and legislator?
b. Why are tribesmen treated as non-Pakistanis?
c. Why can’t tribesmen enjoy their lives as people are enjoying under the Constitution in settled areas?
d. Why has the government of Pakistan kept tribesmen in the dark and away from law and order?
e. How can a tehsildar, lower division clerk (called political moharir in Fata), insult and imprison a respectable tribesman?
f. Is the FCR not an insult to the Supreme Court? If so, why doesn’t the chief justice of Pakistan take action against it?
I request the chief justice of Pakistan to reduce the human rights violations of our people in tribal areas under the FCR.
Bringing Fata into the country’s mainstream legally, politically and socially is the need of the hour for the peace in the country and for health, educational and economical development in the areas and the country as a whole.
RIAZ ALI TOORI
Malana village
Kurram Agency, Parachinar
IT is over two months that gutter lines in Ahsanabad, located at the main entrance to Gulshan-i-Maymar via Super Highway, have been chocked, with sewage water standing all over the area, including Maymar Apartment Complex and the Maymar Ahsan Bungalows Phase-2.
All streets of the 80 Maymar-Ahsan Bungalows have turned into a sewage lake whose level is increasing day by day. It’s about two weeks that this sewerage water entered the compound of Maymar-Ahsan Bungalows, and threatening to enter fresh water underground tanks.
Mosquitoes, flies and other insects are breeding fast on this vast pool of stagnant water and it seems that the authorities concerned are waiting for epidemics to break out.
All main roads leading to the Super Highway, to New Karachi Industrial Area and to Gulshan-i-Maymar have been destroyed and have become unmotorable.
All our pleadings for help from the Gadap Town nazim, as well as from local councillors, have fell on deaf ears.
A complaint was also lodged with the city government’s much publicised Helpline ‘1339’ which was started on August 14.
Residents of this area lodged their complaints on that day (August 14) and a complaint number ‘1950’ was given by the “Helpline”.
But so far nothing has been done, nor did any official of the city government or the Gadap Town administration bothered to visit the area and see the plight of the people, who have to wait for buses in ankle-deep sewage water at Ahsanabad bus stop.
Anybody listening?
DR M. AINUDDIN SIDDIQUI
Karachi
KARACHI is the principal city of Pakistan and in it we have the Defence Housing Authority which is occupied by the elite belonging to all walks of life and foreigners.
The residents of this authority are unfortunate as they are deprived of the basic amenities, i.e. proper roads, drainage, sewerage and water, which would provide them some comfort whilst electricity, telephone and gas are things in which other service organisations are involved.
As a result of mismanagement, poor planning, dictatorial attitude and, above all, inefficiency of the Defence Housing Authority and the Clifton Cantonment Board, which are at the helm of affairs, the living conditions seem to be deteriorating each day and there is no one prepared to listen to the woes of the occupants, whilst they continue to pay heavy sums in the form of taxes.
For the occupants of the Authority, a normal topic of conversation is to talk about the problems being faced, be they water, drainage, sewerage or the disposal of garbage. To top this up, the recent rain (which was for only a day) has left untold miseries which seem to continue — imagine if this rain would have continued for a couple of days.
Several roads remain flooded with water and the funny thing is that whereas a road may appear to be clear of water but has a pool of water over a foot-deep making the crossing difficult. As a result of poor levelling of the road and with no provision for water drainage whatsoever, even the few roads, like Beach Avenue, which were clear were dug up and closed for traffic altogether.
The conditions can only be improved if the DHA administrator and the Cantonment Board executive officer give some thought to the problems faced, revise the residents’ association, which is a puppet association and pretty ineffective, and make some sincere efforts to stop the degradation from taking place.
MUNEER MUHAMMAD KHAN
Karachi
MIANGUL Aurangzeb, a former governor of the NWFP and Balochistan, writes of an aircraft, without any marking, that has been flying in the Northern Areas of Saidu Sharif, Mingora, etc., without any let or hindrance.
He has taken the opportunity to inform the ministry of defence (particularly the Air Force) to let the people of Pakistan know the identity of the aircraft and probably the purpose.
For information of Mr Aurangzeb, the air space of this free country is freely available and, therefore, one should not be surprised to know of this happening.
Our real bosses, who rule these areas, can bomb with total freedom our people and say they mistakenly did that for they were in search of foreigners.
Can we ask who gave them even this permission? Killing of innocent people is not only punishable but a sin which one day would be imposed on these perpetrators.
MAHER ALAVI
Karachi
I FAIL to understand how 250 fully equipped soldiers simply surrendered to a much inferior number of local gun-totting tribesmen.
Having a comprehensive knowledge of the nature of operations in such terrains, which, if put very simply, requires special operational procedures that are well rehearsed and fully adhered to by our forces, and keeping in view the prevalent situation in the northern parts of the country, it is shockingly absurd that why such a large body of soldiers moving in hostile territory were not prepared.
I fail to understand the sanity of those responsible and hope the army reacts soon to recover its soldiers and takes effective measures to prevent such incidents in future.
It sends a negative message to the international community and undermines the meritorious efforts of thousands of Pakistani army officers and soldiers who have performed remarkably at various fronts, including UN peacekeeping missions. I think it’s time the army focused more on what it is meant to do and ensured that nobody threatens its own security.
REHAN ZACKI
Karachi
I WANT to ask all political parties: are their party membership so without talent and depth that they are unable to elect alternative leaders and are forced to rely on the same old tired and tested failures?
Please give the Pakistani voters a break and let us choose between clean new and qualified candidates.
PARVEZ AMIN
Lahore
THE bridge of Northern Bypass in Karachi collapsed causing loss of precious lives and grave damage to the national exchequer.
This gigantic project was inaugurated at a ceremony by no less than a person who is the president and Chief of Army Staff, Gen Pervez Musharraf. He is all-powerful, ruling the country for past eight years and wants to return for next term.
Now everyone, from Sindh chief minister to the Karachi city nazim, is shunning responsibilities.
According to common sense, the major responsibility lies upon the contractor, engineers and the men in office of the organisation that gave the contract and was responsible for quality control, and their cronies.
As per common sense, the work was not according to specifications and design.
There must be lack of steel, cement and other material that caused the collapse in such a short time.
Such projects are supposed to be made for generations to come.
This catastrophe reveals that state of affairs in the construction for which the city nazim and others have been boasting around.
Here I feel that a court martial and summary trial should take on the responsible people and award them an exemplary punishment.
DR MUMTAZ A. UQAILI
Thatta
THE collapse of the 1.2 km Shershah bridge in Karachi is yet another manifestation of the callous disregard for human lives by the authorities. In a telling revelation, the NHA released a statement that the bridge was completed two years ago but had developed a ‘fault’ which was rectified after hiring foreign consultants (presumably to provide post facto legitimacy to negligence and incompetence) and was opened on an ‘experimental’ basis for traffic. Exactly who were meant to be the subject of this experiment? The people who died on Saturday?
This bridge was reportedly inaugurated by Gen Musharraf on Aug 6 and in less than a month it has collapsed. The NHA further informs us that the contractor for this bridge was the National Logistics Cell (NLC).
According to Dr Ayesha Siddiqa’s book, Military Inc., this organisation was created in 1978 to handle a wheat shortage crisis in the country and directly reports to GHQ. Now it is a transportation behemoth. What qualifications does it have to build bridges?
Maybe the correct person to answer this would be the NHA chairman who incidentally is a major-general of the army. A criminal case should be registered against the appropriate people of the NLC. It has been reported that Gen Musharraf has ordered a probe into the incident. Would he call to account those who are considered his own?
SHAYAN MANZAR
Lahore
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