| September 21, 2007 | Friday | Ramazan 08, 1428 |
To send a letter to the Editor
Click here
PTCL and its lack of service
Indo-Pakistan relations: a reverie
Dr Sher Afgan Niazi
Some more courage, please
Wrong test reports
PMDC poll winner
Strange bed-fellows
Balm for old wounds
Water access
We did it for the first time
Renewal of land lease
The ‘bowl out’ rule
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 for the first time ever too many circles, too many individuals, too many institutions, too many political parties and groups are in the kitchen to cook one single dish!
It’s better to clarify individuals are lawyers, including the chief counsel to the president, the attorney-general of Pakistan, henceforth remained a member of lawyers to the president against the CJ’s most-talked-about case, which the government side lost anyway and the CJ reinstated with all his due dignity.
Institutions are the Supreme Court Bar Council, the apex court, political parties which need not be clarified as we have scores of them but about half a dozen are prominently known and are present in the National and Provincial Assemblies and known to every single reader and even innocent voters of this innocent country being handled by extra-innocent people.
Everyone in the game (sorry to use the word as no better substitute can really do justice to what is going on) is apt and is using his/her own recipe and the nation is waiting for the final outcome.
It’s again for the first time that a president of the country has announced through its counsel in the Supreme Court that that he is ready to relinquish the charge of office of COAS if elected president of Pakistan for a second five-year term. However, this is not that finest of a human being who offers or bargains with.
Finest of people have enough of confidence in them and they may at time lose the battle yet they do take the required amount of risk as one saw on Sept 10 when the ex-(rather ousted) premier of Pakistan landed in Pakistan with his due hope in the system, due expectation that the decision of the judiciary will be honoured and he will be allowed to live in the country he was born in, he served in different capacities, first as an industrialist, then as a social worker, then as a politician, then as chief minister of Punjab and finally twice as prime minister of the country.
So why not President Musharraf can have faith in those who are assuring him round the clock that 56 per cent of the votes of the National and Provincial Assemblies is in his pocket.
Well, it’s again another controversy to deal with whether an incumbent government official is eligible for contesting election to the office of president or other such offices before two years after his retirement from the service.
It again is questionable if those with 56 per cent votes at their control are themselves eligible for voting and electing a president for a period of 10 years (for two terms) when their own validity is for five years only.
Who can answer these questions, those who can have their own reasons to join the flag of convenience?
As a common Pakistan citizen, it’s painful to see that people who are the source of all power are so helpless in this country having no ‘say’ and just vote one of those to power who runs in the race.
Let’s hope someday we will be answerable to our conscience and instead of brinkmanship we will have trust in statesmanship.
JAVED HASSAN
Karachi
IT was interesting to read that the controlling company in the PTCL has decided to axe jobs in the light of the recent drop in PTCL profits.
It is not surprising that the PTCL’s profits have fallen despite it still being a virtual monopoly, albeit being privately owned. Not many such examples from across the corporate world.
Maybe rather than reducing their workforce, Etisalat, the controlling company of the PTCL, should look at why the profits have fallen.
Could it be due to substandard services provided by them across the board.
It amazes me to learn that their profits have fallen considering that they have been charging customers monthly charges, while no service has been provided to the customer.
One such example is the Khyaban-i-Tariq and surrounding area in Phases VI and VIII of the DHA in Karachi.
Although we were one of the first areas to have a completely new fibre optic network installed, this network has failed to operate successfully since its installation.
To compound a bad situation, the telephone services have not been working at all since May.
This current fault apparently arose due to NLA workmen digging up roads to lay the basic infrastructure in the area and, as a consequence, cut through one of the cables.
Despite tens of personal visits to the local PTCL offices and numerous sit-ins, where we refused to leave their offices until we were dealt with, the fault has not been rectified.
The main reason the engineers have given for this is that the PTCL does not have any spare parts to replace the damaged line.
How long does it take for a company of such size to obtain spare parts? Why do we continue to receive threatening demands for payment when no service has been provided for over five months now.
Could Etisalat get away with such behaviour either in the UAE or any other country they operate in. The answer is a resounding ‘no’.
Why are they allowed to get away with it in Pakistan. Surely, it is time for the regulator to finally act as they are required to do and protect the consumer from this daylight robbery.
Our hard-earned money is being taken away by foreign company who would not be able to get away with such acts in any other country.
Instead of spending tens of millions of rupees on reinventing the PTCL with a new corporate image, maybe Etisalat should follow the basic principle of business and make sure that they provide a basic service for which they are charging money from customers. Our personal phone number is 524 6570.
ADNAN CHAUDRY
Karachi
I RECENTLY came across an article, ‘The difficult road to peace’, written by Vanita Sharma (Review, Sept 13). Her article dragged me into a world of fantasy.
How one would hope that there will ever be peace and congenial relations between Pakistan and India. Peace does not necessarily mean war is not taking place between the two nations. Peace does not simply mean a freedom from disputes. Peace is a state of mind which keeps our body and soul coherent.
Living in India as a Pakistani national was like striding on a hilly terrain which drained me not physically, but mentally.
I lived in India for eight years after tying the knot with my Indian national cousin.
A Pakistani passport holder, my stay in India on a long-term visa always makes me feel a guest in my own home.
During those eight years I bore mental trauma in every aspect. My husband, a financially sound scientist, also passed through different phases of mental anguish on account of having a Pakistani national wife.
I was denied doing doctorate there as there is no cultural exchange programme between India and Pakistan.
As per rules I was not allowed to do job there. Not realising their own internal conflicts, the Indian media always blames Pakistan for every mischievous gesture in their country. Most of the Indians despise Pakistan; even elite Indian Muslims are not an exception to that.
They shamelessly denied the existence of Pakistan which always made me ripped into parts.
By the will of Allah I am a satisfied soul doing doctorate in Pharmacy in Malaysia. My husband is shortly joining me for a post-doctorate degree.
The bitter experiences and the heartaches I endured shaped my mind never to go back to India as there is no hope even for that Pakistani national who is a wife of an Indian national.
Shazia Jamshed
Malaysia
THE election commission has been apparently prompted by the minister of parliamentary affairs to amend the President’s Election Rules 1988, at a time when this issue was, among others, under active consideration of the Supreme Court.
This unlawful amendment, also affecting the Constitution, was shown to and approved by the president who is the party involved in this case and the only candidate for this job. It is sad that such important and critical matters are being handled by a person of the intellect, calibre and public behaviour of Dr Sher Afgan Niazi.
This matter and the conduct of the minister have put all Pakistanis to shame. We as a country have become a laughing stock around the world.
Newspapers of Sept 19 carried another statement of this especially designated spokesperson for the presidency that the “Supreme Court would be held responsible if some criminal or insane person becomes a presidential candidate as a result of any changes to the election rules”.
The minister has endless freedom to talk on all and any matter of public concern and that too in a manner unbecoming of a sane person.
May one ask who is responsible for appointing Dr Sher Afgan to be a minister in charge of all manner of diatribe? Could the federal cabinet of over 70 ministers not find a less awkward person to represent its point of view on issues of such significance?
EHSAN SAEED
New York
IT has always been a heartening experience to read Dawn, not only for its balanced opinions, good coverage and excellent columns, but also for its increasingly (and refreshingly) blunt presentation of facts.
The investigative touch in many stories is encouraging as well. So the story titled ‘Lawmaker makes an ass of a law’, filed by Syed Irfan Raza (Sept 19), was no exception — except for the fact that it could do well with a bit more courage.
The reporter was brave enough to mention at least three names in the piece, including two servants of the faltering MNA. However, the name of the MNA himself was missing. I seriously think that mentioning the name of the real (estate) culprit would have made this news item more credible, and would have served as a tiny drop in further increasing the integrity of your paper in our eyes.
IBADUR REHMAN SHEIKH
Karachi
IT is really an irony that there is no quality or standards check by the ministry of health on the medical laboratories in the country, which are deceiving the poor people by charging very high fees for normal tests and in most cases coming out with the wrong/mixed-up results.
Having gone through my regular yearly medical checkup recently, I have received a full test report (in my name) from a well-known laboratory testing me positive for pregnancy. I can only pray that the lady who got my test report is not undergoing kidney transplant.
DR IRFAN ZAFAR
Islamabad
APROPOS of Prof (Dr) Syed Razi Muhammad’s letter, ‘PMDC poll winner yet to be notified’ (Sept 17), I would like to say that the facts are as follows:
a) That in case of Sindh, initially after the lapse of 12 years, the elections were held in September 2005 but halted amidst the polling when PMA-backed candidate Dr Hadi Bux Jatoi (Dr Shershah was then his covering candidate) was leading with a sizable majority.
So impression imparted of Dr Shershah as a contesting candidate in elections 2005 is wrong. The elections 2005 were then declared invalid and never kept in abeyance as alleged by the writer.
b) That the PMDC was approached repeatedly by the PMA for holding of the election again but to no avail until the apex court directed the PMDC in December 2006 to hold the same within the given time.
c) That under instructions of the court a new date of the election was given for May 21, 2007 in which the contestants of election 2005 were allowed to contest.
In this election Dr Shereshah Syed was nominated as the PMA candidate but, and unfortunately, the elections were postponed by the president of the PMDC just three days before the polling date.
d) That the fresh elections were announced on July 17, again with a fresh date of Aug 1 given for receipt of fresh postal ballots. The elections were held on Aug 6 all over Sindh.
The final counting was done on Aug 7 at Moin auditorium, DUHS, by the election committee in the presence of representatives of the contestants, and Dr. Shershah Syed was declared as elected member of the PMDC, Sindh.
Now as far as the counting of postal ballots of elections 2005 is concerned, I would only say that after the announcement of the fresh date of Aug 1 for receipt of fresh postal ballots by the PMDC, any agreement of counting the postal ballots of election 2005, as alleged by the writer, does not hold any lawful ground.
It is further worth noting here that such information so far has not transpired either in notification of the PMDC or during the whole process of elections 2007.
Yes, this question was raised during the final counting by the good professor but to no effect for being rejected by the competent election committee.
In the light of the above stated facts, nothing more is left, on moral, ethical and legal grounds, to quibble over the win of PMA-backed candidate Dr Shershah Syed.
DR HABIBUR RAHMAN SOOMRO
secy-gen, PMA (Centre)
Karachi
STRANGE bed-fellows, the government and the PPP, are both trying hard to convince the nation that they are very sincerely working towards a ‘deal’ only in the ‘larger national interests’.
The actual motives are not hidden and can be seen through the ‘political fad’ deliberately created in the last few months. The amalgamation will be very unnatural and cannot be expected to last long.
Returning to a presidential form of government may have been better than trying this “cross between dictatorship and democracy”.
The latter being so unnatural and more like cross-breeding between a horse and an ass. It may give birth to a mule which while having some qualities of both is unable to breed itself (no further generations follow — no future).
The good old saying “kawwa chala hans ki chaal” holds true for both the PPP and the PML.
Can our nation afford this political (veterinary) experiment today and at whose and what costs?
IJTABA ZAIDI
Karachi
FIFTY years down the road the bloody days of partition are still fresh in the minds of those who were physically affected by it, says Mr Hafizur Rahman in his column (Sept 12).
But sir, what about the tragedy which is happening on our western borders, the bloodshed and the suicidal attacks, surrender by security forces ?
Lies in the face of the Supreme Court? Activists storming the Sindh High Court?
Refusal of activists to hold inquiries into the May 12 Karachi carnage to fix responsibility? And punish the people concerned.
Refusal of one provincial government to allow people of another province to enter their territory?
Should we wait for another 50 years for someone to write these stories, or should we take cognizance of it now? May Allah forgive and guide us all to the true path, as they know not what are they doing?
LT-COL (r) MUHAMMAD
SHAHBAZ
Lahore
PAKISTAN’S per capita water access dropped from 5,600 cubic metres in 1947 to a mere 1,200 by 2005. This is a serious situation and I am at a loss as to why building of water reservoirs has been allowed to become a political issue in Pakistan.
One was expecting Gen Musharraf to deliver on this front at least; he should not let political concerns come in the way of what’s good for the nation and its people.
We all know that Pakistan’s economy is dependent on agriculture and if such a grave situation concerning water cannot bring the people together, what else will?
FAKIHA JAVED
University of Karachi
YOUR editorial, ‘The cynic and the critic’ (Sept 10), truly reflects upon our history of past 60 years that we are habitual of saying “(this or that)..….occurred for the first time in the history of Pakistan and we did it”.
It is ludicrous that the accolade for empowering this freedom of media is given to the ‘Pakistani journalists’! May I suggest you to please go over the archives of your worthy newspaper and other leading newspapers and search that how much crime and corruption were reported of the then politicians and generals when they were in power.
If the generation of ‘Pakistani journalists” of my father’s time would have acted responsibly, Pakistan might have been in a much better shape now.
I would say ‘Pakistani journalists’ have sown a seed for the first time in a reasonable fashion with the help of others, but that seed needs to be guarded with responsibility. It would be treacherous for a student to call himself/herself educated after passing elementary school.
SYED A. RIZVI
Ontario, Canada
THE renewal of land lease has been fixed at the rate of Rs1,375 per square yard for almost all the areas in Karachi. This amount is extremely high, and the government of Sindh must reduce this fee. Moreover, the amount has to be paid within four months, i.e. up to Dec 31.
The amount for a plot of land measuring 1,600 square yards comes to about Rs2.2 million. The amount, as well as the time limit, is causing a great difficulty for a law-abiding citizen of Karachi.
The city government has allowed 12 instalments for paying water and sewerage rates which come up to Rs6,000 a year. The government of Sindh should allow the plot owners more time, say up to 24 months, to pay such a big amount.
DR M. SALEEM
Sheffield, UK
I THINK the ‘bowl out’ rule applied in the World Twenty20 match between India and Pakistan on Sept 14 was preposterous. This only tested the aiming skills of the bowlers, but what about the batsmen and fielders, who constitute a vital part of the team and the game?
Whoever formulated this rule, took his cue from the ‘shoot out’ rule in soccer and hockey. But even in that rule, there is a goalkeeper defending the goal. Here it was shooting a sitting duck.
If such a rule is to be adopted in cricket, there should be five designated bowlers as was done, but also five designated batsmen, who should in each turn face the bowling against a full field placement. If a wicket falls, besides being treated as a dot ball, that side bats one less batsmen of the five allocated. Then decide on the runs.
RAFI AHMED
Karachi
You can also send letters to the Editor
Just send your message to the following address: letters@dawn.com
Make sure you include your full name, postal address, e-mail address, and in the case of Pakistan your day-time telephone number.