| November 18, 2007 | Sunday | Ziqa’ad 07, 1428 |
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Give her back her dues
Officials’ statements
Imran Khan’s arrest
American achievements
Pakistan: a victim
Dreamers wanted
Mother’s appeal
Singers & sailors
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
THIS is apropos of Aijaz Khawaja’s letter, ‘Commonwealth ouster’ (Nov 16) in which he requests Lord McKinnon not to suspend Pakistan from the Councils of Commonwealth because it will badly affect civil society organisations and poor people.
The Commonwealth ministers have demanded that Gen Musharraf restore Pakistan’s Constitution and ease other measures imposed when the president declared a state of emergency on Nov 3 before their next meeting on Nov 22 in Uganda.
I am inclined to agree with Mr Aijaz as far as some jobs and development projects are involved, and appreciate his concerns for poor Pakistanis.
However, I believe that the removal of membership will serve the purpose of pressuring President Musharraf to bring the country back to the road of democracy, which is in the greater interest of Pakistanis, as well as the international community.
The general still intends to cling to power, which is evident from the imposition of emergency and subsequent gag on the media, more than 5,000 detentions of political people, lawyers and civil society members, above all, amendment to the Army Act, which gives wide-ranging powers to the army to court-martial civilians.
“According to one of the ministers in the cabinet, before the 1985 elections, nobody was allowed to speak of democracy, because Zia didn’t like the word,” Emma Duncan writes in her book, Breaking the Curfew.
Eventually Gen Musharraf has started following in the footsteps of his predecessor.
At present Pakistan is going through a critical time: Balochistan and tribal areas are simmering with tension and seem to be mishandled by current rulers. If this all continues, as it is generally feared, we may witness another shameful situation like East Pakistan.
Our military rulers seem to be lucky because America and other western countries in one or the other way often helped them to tighten their grip over the power, thus smothered the process of democracy in Pakistan. Zia was blessed with luck, and in 1979 he had his break. The international community was down on him for executing Bhutto, and introducing Islamic punishments of flogging, amputation, and stoning to death.
America had cut off aid because of suspicions about Pakistan’s nuclear intentions. Suddenly with the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979, Zia changed from being a mediaeval tyrant to a bastion of the free world holding back the flood tide of communism. The foreign money started to flow. His 11-year military rule over Pakistan was a disaster.
Like Zia, Gen Musharraf has also been basking in the American and western countries’ attention because of war on terror since October 1999. Now we all have seen both periods; ‘Islamisation’ and ‘enlightened modernisation’.
Having martial law and emergencies for a long time, Pakistan has unfortunately induced undemocratic and intolerant behaviour among politicians and common citizens, of which May 12 is a big example.Civil societies cannot bring about a substantial change in the lives of the poor. Pakistanis are without the rule of law and democracy, therefore any action from the international community, even if it is hard, which helps the country return to democracy must be welcome, because we all need to contribute our bit to make Pakistan successful at this critical juncture.
ASGHAR SOOMRO
Karachi
THE most enduring memory of our mother, Parveen Akhtar Chaudhry, over the years has been of her passionate sense of duty towards her teaching profession. She taught Chemistry at Bachelor’s and Master’s levels at the College of Education in Karachi for over 25 years.
Whether it was presiding over election duties or invigilating examinations, conducting classes or counselling students, she placed her duty over everything else.
As vouched by her colleagues, such was her sense of loyalty to the college that she would even return pieces of chalk back to her lab if one of us took it home.
When Karachi was witnessing turbulent times in the mid-90s, a lot of people advised her to switch over to some other college to be in a safer location, yet she was always optimistic. She would always remark that she was putting in this hard work so that she could be at peace in her retirement days with her pension.
Ironically, our mother since her retirement in October 2002 is yet to receive a penny of her pension, gratuity and LPR dues. She had proceeded on a scholarship to Australia in 1991 and returned after several months without completing the course due to health reasons.
She was falsely implicated in a case of misusing government funds at the time of her retirement even though she was reinstated in her college and served for 10 years without an issue from any quarter.
Her case has been moving from department to department across corrupt bureaucratic offices which demand their own piece of flesh for redress.
The federal government has declared it a provincial matter while the provincial government deems it federal hence keeping the ball effectively tossing from court to court.
Having suffered enough depression as reward to her diligence and commitment, our mother now needs urgent medical care for she has a brain tumour and cannot afford to bear the exorbitant treatment.
Is it too much to ask from the education ministry that was served by this ailing lady for the best part of her life?
Is there a single law which can prevent somebody from receiving pension that they rightfully earned?
The education ministry is urged to put an end to our misery at the earliest.
MOZAMILA, TAIMUR & AFIA
Karachi
ON Nov 5 there was a statement by the acting registrar, appointed after the imposition of emergency, that the Supreme Court (led by Justice Chaudhry) had not passed any order against the PCO.
A couple of days later came a judgment from a bench headed by the newly-appointed CJ that it had overturned the order against the PCO by the previous judges.
If the said judgment had not been passed, there would have been no need to overturn it. This proves that the acting registrar had been untruthful.
In another incident, both the presidential spokesman and the foreign secretary had claimed that the 100-odd foreign envoys addressed by President Musharraf to explain his decision to proclaim emergency on Nov 5 had supported his reasons for doing that.
However, in a rare move, the heads of mission of the European Union, expressing their surprise, came out with a denial and said that the secretary’s statement “did not reflect what really happened during the briefings” (Nov 8).
The present government has, ever after 9/11, been speaking so much falsehood that it has lost its credibility. Some examples include the taking of blame of the attack on a seminary in Bajaur that was actually launched by a US drone.
Other instances include denials of several separate raids inside Pakistan by Nato forces from Afghanistan and the visit to Islamabad by the then CIA chief, a couple of years back.
One dreads to think of the day when there is a real emergency, such as a grave shortage of water or the outbreak of a deadly pandemic and the authorities try to warn the people accordingly, but they refuse to take preventive measures – what will happen then?
The SHO of Defence police station in Lahore, Mustansir Khan, reportedly warned a journalist: “If you don’t move we will strip you naked and throw you in jail. Do you know what happens to pretty boys in jail?” (Nov 8). Everyone can understand this refers to sexual molestation, which is truly shocking.
We are really being pushed into a barbaric or Stone Age, as noted by a correspondent in a letter on the same day.
ABDULLAH
Karachi
IN your editorial, ‘Imran Khan’s arrest’ (Nov 16) you have rightly described the reasons and the circumstances under which Imran Khan, the chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, was arrested from Punjab University on Wednesday.
Of course, like any other politician, he had every right to protest and mobilise the people against the unconstitutional measures. However, at the same time Imran Khan did not provoke or incite the students to get involved in any unlawful activity in the precincts of Punjab University. As it is, there was no point at all to misbehave with a person who is highly respected at home and abroad for reasons besides politics.
The situation demands that whosoever is responsible behind the ugly incident, he must be brought to book without fear or favour.
The bullying attitude of the Islami Jamiat-i-Tulaba needs to be checked by its parent political body, Jamaat-i-Islami. Otherwise, they will continue to vandalise the atmosphere in the academic institutions and deprive the students who seriously want to pursue their studies. Any way, thank you for putting the things across in a matter of fact manner.
WAQAR AHMED RAJA
Media Coordinator
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf
Islamabad
THIS refers to Mujtaba Simaer’s reply (Nov 15) to my letter (Nov 13).
He writes that I probably misinterpreted Ijtaba Zaidi’s letter (Nov 12) as Mr Zaidi did not downplay American achievements and that I needed to look at US history.
Mr Simaer probably did not read Mr Zaidi’s rhetorical claim that the Saudis and Muslims could send the “ ‘first man on the moon’ years before the US” and also that anyone who denied it would be a ‘fool’.
The tone of this claim was consistent with the rhetoric one hears frequently in the Middle East and rest of the Muslim world.
I would like to add that I consider Israel and George Bush’s policies to be the greatest threat to world peace, as I mentioned before, and am fully aware of America’s imperialistic history.
But the rhetoric in our part of the world never ceases to amaze me.
KHUSHBAKHT VAKA
Karachi
THESE days there’s much talk in the West that Pakistan is the most dangerous country, with some even questioning its right to exist. People forget quickly, but an unbiased look at its brief history of 60 years should provide a better insight. I believe Pakistan has reached this condition because of a great deal of bullying, the fallout of Cold War rivalries and actions of some of its rulers. This can be seen from the facts that follow.
To begin with, India’s bullying stunted this nation’s political, social and economic development by diverting its resources to defence. India’s occupation of Junagadh, Manavadar, Hyderabad state, Kashmir, Goa, Sikkim and Siachen between 1947 and 1984 says much.
A recently published book, Jinnah on World Affairs (Selected Documents: 1908-1948) contains letters and documents about pronouncements of Pakistan’s founder on important matters facing it and rest of the world. In a missive to the British prime minister, Lord Attlee, dated Oct 1, 1947, he wrote, among other things:
“I regret to have to say that every effort is being made to put difficulties in our way by our enemies in order to paralyse or cripple our state and bring about its collapse. It is the case of the wolf and the lamb….”
Besides, first Indian premier Jawaharlal Nehru had ambitions of making it a great power because even in 1948 he had desired India to tread the nuclear path. This was long before China, Israel or Pakistan thought of it. Besides, in 1971, when Pakistan was faced with an insurgency in East Pakistan, New Delhi took full advantage and through military actions broke the country.
Next, it was the USSR’s turn to create turmoil not only in Afghanistan but also Pakistan. The peaceful and friendly Pakistan we all knew until 1979 was brutalised as a result. On the one hand, the Soviets were hurling threats at Pakistan. On the other, in collusion with the Afghan secret service KHAD, they caused bomb blasts in Pakistani cities and aided the separatists in Balochistan. The massive social, economic and security problems caused by millions of refugees and militants have only worsened since then.
However, one must also recall the earlier times when Pakistan was on the best of terms with the West. One remembers the historic visit to Karachi, which was still Pakistan’s capital, by US president Gen Eisenhower around 1960, when he drove through the streets in a motorcade along with Gen Ayub Khan and almost half of Karachi’s population was out there to welcome him.
Where was the ‘most dangerous nation’ then? A few years later, president Lyndon Johnson, too, had paid a trip and the security situation was so good that he got down from his car to invite a passing camel cart driver to visit the US. Queen Elizabeth also was warmly received.
The ‘war on terror’ being pursued by Bush after 9/11 has caused far greater brutalisation of the country, when Gen Musharraf has gone out of his way to oblige the Americans, which has pitted the army against the civilians.
Here, it’s worth quoting Democratic Senator Tom Harkin’s words that the US ought to be on the side of Pakistan’s lawyers and Supreme Court. Also, that ‘cold war or hot war, in every war they (Pakistanis) stood by us. If it were not for Pakistan, I dare say the Cold War would not have been won” (Dawn, April 28).
The West can either continue slamming the Pakistanis and alienate them further or it can be sympathetic and helpful, thereby winning their hearts. Our rulers, too, should be kind to their compatriots and actually start putting them first. They must also remember: “In all times, self love has blinded the wisest.”
KHALID CHAUDHRY
Karachi
President John F. Kennedy dreamed of putting man on the moon. In launching this project he declared that he needed people who could dream of things that never were. Nasa not only put the man on the moon quickly but is also looking beyond. His statement later became the hiring standard for Nasa.
In the early 1970s Brazil was hit hard by the energy crunch. They put their heads together and decided to use the abundant sugarcane, which they had, to produce ethanol, which gave birth to gasohol. They not only became pioneers in this field but also became less dependent on costly imports.
We have an elaborate system of rivers and canals, spread in all four provinces. I often dream of using this resource for producing power, technically it is possible. All we need to do is to harness the power of water flow to rotate an impeller, increase its speed using a simple gear-box to the required speed of a generator, then run it without using any fuel. That’s it!
It is suggested that we use our engineering and other universities for this research. It will help our students become more practical and make them ready for challenges ahead. It will also cost much less than a standard research.
The Exxon super oil tanker Valdez’s disaster at Prince William Sound, Alaska, cost several billion dollars’ losses to the company. It prompted them to start a research and find out as to what existed on shorelines where Exxon operates.
They decided to get this done through universities and gave grants to many universities in the US to do this research.
Exxon now has one of the most authentic data of life on all the seashores across the world, including corals, fish, marine, life, amphibians, birds, animals and insects.
Many multinational and national companies in Pakistan spend huge amounts under their corporate social responsibility, which is applauded. They may consider giving grants to universities to sponsor this research, which will also be an extension in their CSR.
Dr Ata-ur-Rehman’s HEC is also requested to think about this option. An award similar to Dr Deming’s quality award in Japan can be constituted and given to the winning entry. It will help start a healthy competition amongst universities.
Mr Nur Khan, as the PIA chairman, invited Shavers, USA, in the 1960s to start poultry business, when most Pakistanis thought that poultry business was bad news. It started a revolution, we now have poultry farms in remotest and poorest areas of Pakistan.
Do we have more dreamers like Mr Nur Khan in our corporate sector to pursue this dream?
S. NAYYAR IQBAL RAZA
Karachi
MY five-year-old son has been kidnapped and I need the Sindh governor’s help urgently. On Oct 26, as I brought my son for the weekly visitation, Ghulam Nurie, my ex-husband, accompanied by three armed accomplices, ambushed me outside my lawyer Qazi Faez Issa’s office, beat me up and snatched my child.
Mr Nurie has an ex-parte temporary custody order from a US court, which the Sindh High Court has dismissed as invalid in Pakistan.
He attempted to kidnap my son, Abbas, in October 2005 also, for which an FIR (#347/05) was registered.
He immediately ran off to the US and when he returned nine months later, he was locked up in Karachi City Jail. The Sindh High Court has granted me full custody with strictly limited visitation to Mr Nurie due to his violent track record.
Judge Yasmeen Abbasey has ordered Ghulam Nurie’s name be placed on the exit control list for violation of the Sindh High Court custody order in favour of me -- he cannot leave Pakistan.
The police are not moving at all to help me recover my son. The CPLC is not giving this case much attention. Abbas is my child and my life.
I have raised him alone since his birth. I have received no emotional, physical or financial support from Mr Nurie for raising Abbas. Mr Nurie has refused to be part of Abbas’s life and sought only to take him away from me, that is the only reason he sought custody of an infant, nursing Abbas at nine months of age in the US.
Abbas does not know Mr Nurie at all. Abbas suffers from asthma and needs special care, both medically and emotionally; he will suffer gravely unless he comes back to me immediately. Mr Nurie does not care for the child.
I appeal to the Sindh governor to help me secure the custody of my son Abbas from the clutches of Ghulam Nurie. as soon as possible.
FIZZA RIZVI
Karachi
FAIZ Sahib once said: Woh sahil pay gaanay walay kia hoey/Woh kushtee chalanay walay kia hoey/Hum aap is zamin pay bojh heinh/Woh zameen ka bojh utanay walay kia hoey.
We have been digesting bad news on our platter but it should have a sprinkle of good once in a while. There may be a lot of cruel things happening in Pakistan but there are many great things happening too. All the news one gets to hear on private news channels and print media paints a very gory picture of Pakistan.
Will anyone volunteer and sing at ‘sahils’ and steer our ship?
A PAKISTANI
Karachi
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