| October 26, 2007 | Friday | Shawwal 13, 1428 |
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Poverty-driven suicides
Manipulating world affairs
Brave and poor policemen
Consensus or suo motu?
Ant and grasshopper: Pakistan version
Need for dialogue
Dead phone
The way ahead
Comet in orbit
Constitution
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 DIG (traffic), when he gave Sami Mustafa (Oct 22) clichéd reasons for the traffic mess in Karachi, was doing what the bureaucrats in Pakistan have always done: blame everything on congenital causes that defy resolution of problems.
This attitude breeds defeatism. It turns challenges into insurmountable hurdles and leaders into fatalists. It is this attitude which Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s founding father and prime minister, identified as Pakistan’s major problem when he visited here some years ago. Significantly, he did not say the problem was insurmountable.
The DIG may be right when he blames the traffic mess on lack of public transport, insufficient flyovers and underpasses, shortage of ‘nafree’ (policemen), money and equipment. He did the right thing to invite Mr Mustafa to suggest ways to improve the situation and Sami made the right suggestions.
But then fatalism took over. The police stance was : ‘People are inherently undisciplined’, ‘enforcement of traffic laws causes people to protest’, etc.
However, all this has to change, and change through the leadership of the country who must first change their level of national consciousness before changing that of the people at large.
If people are ‘undisciplined’, so are the leaders. If drivers of bus, tankers and others break traffic laws, so do bureaucrats, generals and politicians.
The first thing the police chief should consider, if he is serious about bringing some order to the traffic chaos in the city, is to find a way to get his own officers to respect these.
No car with the Sindh police number plate and no police mobile should be seen jumping the traffic light etc.
Next, the police chief should crack down hard on all government vehicles. Armed forces vehicles whether flag cars or trucks should not be above traffic laws. They must adhere to these and be booked for violations.
Now if the police chief stops being fatalistic he can do much to make all above happen. If he can get his own force to respect, what the force is supposed to enforce, he would have made a strong statement.
He can then strategise to get the Sindh government to agree for him to go for official cars and vehicles which violate traffic laws.
His strategy may involve discreet winning of media support and public backing for this. If the media and the public can see the change of disciplined movement of police vehicles, the police chief will find both his useful and voluble allies for similar change in the movement of official vehicles.
With the cars and vehicles of the police force and of Sindh government in the bag, the armed forces will be hard put not to fall in line.
If official cars and vehicles are seen to be subjected to traffic laws, it would create a new respect for these laws, and for the traffic police, in the public mind.
This is the message the police chief has to get across to his own force, to the Sindh government and to the armed forces. An admittedly ‘easier said than done’ type task, but not fatalistic.
The main hurdle will be the feeling of ‘loss of status’ by bureaucrats, generals and politicians for whom waiting at a red light, or not being able to park in ‘no parking’ zones, would amount to loss of face.
The police chief can safely tell the Sindh government that so long as official vehicles, whose numbers are not inconsequential, remain above the law, there is no way he can get the others to respect and follow the law.
Conversely, if the official vehicles abide by the law, that would be better than half the battle won. He can cope with, tackle, and win the other half.
As long as there are distinct groups in the country that are clearly seen to be above the law, there will remain the traffic chaos on the streets and disorder in the country.
S. KHALID HUSAIN
Karachi
IT was distressing to read in Dawn of October 21 that a woman, Shazia, and her minor son, resident of Usman Town, Kamoke, committed suicide by taking poisonous pills, having been driven to that state by abject poverty.
What is more disturbing is that it is not exactly the first time this sort of thing has happened.
I think that primarily it is the responsibility of the state to ensure that such incidents do not occur.
However, we cannot absolve ourselves of all responsibility by saying just that because collectively we are also responsible for this state of affairs. We failed to play our due role in the community.
I think if somebody had taken these unfortunate people to the nearest Edhi centre, the incident could have been avoided. I can say this because on a few occasions when, as an ordinary citizen, I contacted the Edhi Foundation to provide help to some needy people, they responded well.
So much so that once they even sent their ambulance, free of charge, to the outskirts of the town to pick up an injured stray kitten.
On another occasion, I saw a destitute woman abandoning her children at an Edhi centre and they accepted them all.
I have never seen a ‘house full’ sign at any of their centres. Because of their open-arm policy and the financial constraints they have like all organisations, they may not be able to provide all the facilities they would like to, on each location, but they surely do the best they can.
Our people are quite generous in giving charity. We see so many organisations like the Edhi Foundation, various orphanages, hospitals, madressahs and mosques, etc., all built and run through public donations.
However, due to lack of awareness, a significant part of this charity goes to professional beggars, which is not only wasteful but also positively harmful because it gives rise to social ills.
With so many NGOs around, I think there is a need for some public-spirited person to start an NGO with the express aim of eradicating beggary.
They could develop a mechanism to collect even small donations by placing outside shops etc, plastic/wooden statues holding boxes asking for alms, on the lines of Spastics Society’s appeal in the UK.
Plenty of donations would be forthcoming from Pakistanis within and outside Pakistan, if only they could be satisfied as to the proper use of their money. This way, enough funds could be generated to help people in distress and to ensure that unfortunate incidents like the above do not recur.
Needless to say, any such campaign would have to be a well-planned, coordinated effort with active support and cooperation from government departments, specially the law-enforcement agencies, as opposed to the half-hearted attempts made in the past that met the fate they deserved.
S. R. H. HASHMI
Karachi
US intervention is creating trouble all over the world. The problem of deprived and weaker nations today is that more and more imperial globalists are dreaming of world control.
Their dream of total dominance from the top keeps them oblivious to the all-pervading rot at its foundation.
There, at least, the world should realise that something vital is missing in the glamorous edifice of a ‘democracy’ built upon shifting sands of the Middle East and Asia.
Their inability to create a true democracy in the countries they invade is nothing more than a reflection of their failure to have done so at home.
Instead, the naked tyrannies they create abroad are a magnified projection of their inner heart of darkness.
Recently we have been witnessing a new chapter of American interference.
President Bush in his speech at the 64th United Nations General Assembly meeting was announcing the imposition of sanctions against the dictatorial regime in Burma since 1990.
At the same time his government is not only sponsoring the dictatorial regime of Gen Musharraf for its obedience in the so-called ‘war against terror’ but loading once again in a planned scheme of things with self-exiled leaders, whom the general had termed plunderers of national wealth, but now required to generate support for American hegemony in this region.
Every eye can discern in Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine and Lebanon how the US is delivering ‘justice’ and ‘democracy.’
Still in Pakistan this US interference has reached a level where it is endangering the very existence of the state.
The nation is stunned on the manner in which the election commission, in league with the executive, performs illegal acts to complete the process of presidential elections in haste.
A new trio under Gen Musharraf comprising the PPP, the PML-Q and the PML-N is possible because they all are US camp followers.
People feel unprotected by their own government and such leaders, and regional strife and Islamic militancy have grown due to western policies and funding.
The longer this trio is allowed to fester; the more unstable Pakistan will become.
ALI ASHRAF KHAN
Karachi
IN the recent carnage many people lost their lives, most were Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) sympathisers, who travelled long distances to have a glimpse of their leader.
They may have been unaware and oblivious of the hazards. Along with them many policemen lost their lives doing their duty.
Who knew what was in store for them. Some of them may be PPP sympathisers, though not most.
The chairperson of Pakistan People’s Party, Benazir Bhutto, risked her life again and visited hospitals to meet the injured and also visited homes of her party loyalists, who lost their lives.
Maybe this was also done for the policemen too. However, one did not see reports of the same being done for the injured policemen and the families of the fallen by either the government officials or the PPP leadership.
In the West even a constable is respected and addressed as an officer, and he reciprocates accordingly.
Many of our poor officers spilled their blood to save the life of Ms Bhutto and the PPP high command.
As a nation we are indebted to them for their bravery. One would expect that their families are taken care of and get compensated adequately.
S. NAYYAR IQBAL, RAZA
Karachi
TO involve the judiciary in the political process is not the wisest thing to do. Consensus is the spirit which carries democratic evolution and progress in the required and needed direction.
The present political setup must do the following to put the country on political and democratic map of the world:
1. An interior government with the participation of all the political parties of the country.
2. If needed, all the political parties must agree to present an election commission or new autonomous setup with the consent of all the political parties.
3. The president (as indicated by himself) preferably should take a vote of confidence from the new assembly.
4. A free and fair election then should be the responsibility of all stakeholders.
5. Election campaigns must also be evolved with a consensus so that political parties are made responsible for unfortunate happenings.
S. A. JAFFAR NAQVI
Karachi
TRADITIONAL version: The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer building its house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.
Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed. The grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.
Modern version:The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer, building its house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks the ant’s a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.
Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while others are cold and starving.
1. A local channel, BBC, ARY, CNN show up to provide pictures of the shivering grasshopper next to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food.
2. The world is stunned by the sharp contrast. How can this be that this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so?
3. Asma Jahangir stages a demonstration in front of the ant’s house.
4. Imran Khan goes on a fast along with other grasshoppers demanding that grasshoppers be relocated to warmer climates during winter.
Amnesty International and Chief Justice Iftikhar criticise the Pakistan government for not upholding the fundamental rights of the grasshopper.
The Internet is flooded with online petitions seeking support to the grasshopper (many promising heaven and everlasting peace for prompt support as against the wrath of God for non-compliance) .
5. Opposition MPs stage a walkout. Islamic parties call for ‘hartal’ in the Frontier and Balochistan demanding a judicial inquiry.
6. The MQM coalition in Sindh immediately passes a law preventing ants from working hard in the heat so as to bring about equality of poverty among ants and grasshoppers.
Sheikh Rasheed allocates one free coach to grasshoppers on all the train aptly named as the ‘Grasshopper Shalimar’.
Finally, the president drafts an ordinance, ‘Anti-State Terrorism Against Grasshoppers Act’ (ASTAGA), with effect from the beginning of the winter. Mobilises state agencies.
7. The Punjab government makes ‘special reservation’ for grasshoppers in educational institutions and in government services.
8. The ant is fined for failing to comply with ASTAGA and having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, it’s home is confiscated by NAB and handed over to the grasshopper at a ceremony covered by PTV.
Nawaz Sharif calls it ‘A Triumph of Justice.’ and Benazir calls it ‘Democratic Justice’.
The MQM calls it the ‘Revolutionary Resurgence of theDowntrodden’. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz invites the grasshopper to address the National Assembly.
Many years later: The ants have since migrated to the US, Canada, the UK and the Middle East, have worked harder than they did before, set up a multi-million-dollar business.
Thousands of grasshoppers still die of starvation despite reservation somewhere in Pakistan.
As a result of losing a lot of hard-working ants and feeding the grasshoppers, Pakistan is still a developing country!
ZULFIQAR ALI HALARI
Via email
YOUR editorial, ‘Muslim-Christian dialogue’, ignores the major aspect of world conflict today.
The Muslim world is secluded, does not allow free population movement of various religious groups from every corner of the earth and thus Muslims do not learn integration and assimilation by living side by side with all religious groups as people do in western secular and democratic societies.
The Muslim world has contributed toward dividing the world on the basis of religion by not allowing immigration of other religious groups but demanding equal treatment, equal rights in western countries.
Unless the Muslim world changes, assimilates, integrates, allows immigration of other religious groups to Muslim societies, the gap shall remain and the so-called proposal of dialogue is like a one-way street, meaning the West must change but not the Muslim world.
We do not want to see the future world divided, based on religion, like the Muslim world, the Christian world or the Hindu world or the Buddhist world which, for sure, will be a further source of conflicts.
SAM BAIDYA
Toronto, Canada
MY telephone 5876836 has been out of order for the last many weeks.
I have tried all options — complained over the phone, visited the divisional engineer personally and even spoken to the linesman, but to no avail.
May I request the PTCL, through these columns, to rectify the fault.
TYEBJI SHAIKHALI
Karachi
HAIDER Nizamani, in his article, ‘Facilitating return of Bhutto’, is critical of the NRO but fails to acknowledge that the ordinance is a step forward towards democracy. The choice today is between conflict and dialogue, and between extremism and moderation. The PPP believes in the path of dialogue and moderation.
Democracy would not move ahead if there is no room for negotiation and compromise. The NRO is a serious attempt to bring sanity in the vendetta-driven politics of Pakistan. It will benefit all those whose cases continue to drag on for years for lack of evidence.
However, despite the NRO, the PPP has not compromised on its principled stand of not voting for a president in uniform. This is only the first step towards restoring full democracy in Pakistan.
A neutral caretaker government to conduct free and fair elections is the need of the hour, which the nation and the global community expect the presidency to deliver in the second phase.
Above all, the PPP believes in the supremacy of parliament and the restoration of the 1973 Constitution as on Oct 12, 1999, which we expect will be the final step towards the restoration of full democracy and the way ahead towards peace and prosperity in Pakistan.
DR JAVAID LAGHARI
PPP Senator
Karachi
THIS is with reference to the letter, ‘A comet in orbit’. The writer criticises Ardeshir Cowasjee for not thinking about public money when he has a police mobile to protect him.
Well, the difference between Mr Cowasjee and Ms Bhutto is that he has not been convicted by a Swiss judge to six months’ imprisonment and a $50,000 fine.
Mr Cowasjee could have left this country and settled anywhere else, but he has chosen to live in the land of his ancestors to help the poor, unlike the Daughter of the East, who conveniently went into self-exile when things became too hot for her.
It’s really astounding that despite the stifling atmosphere Pakistan has been able to produce writers like Mr Cowasjee, who should be considered a national asset.
SHAKIR LAKHANI
Karachi
The provisions of Pakistan’s Constitution is not applicable to the cantonment areas, to four-star generals and above.
What is the position of the Army Act? Has this Act been scrapped? After all, what is an Act or Rule -- a 10/12 pages booklet? We can crush it under the jackboot.
ABDUL HADI
Minneapolis, USA
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