| November 23, 2007 | Friday | Ziqa’ad 12, 1428 |
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What next after Swat?
Student awareness
Stop garbage dumping & burning
Channels under siege
Socio-economic issues & emergency
Light at the tunnel’s end
AJK import
Democracy for the country
Poverty elevation
Far off
Indispensable?
Turmoil
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
HISTORY keeps on repeating itself in Pakistan because people refuse to learn from it and those who do not learn from it suffer the fated end of Hubris.
Today there is much in Pakistan that we can be proud of as evidenced by the achievement of the large numbers of individuals and organisations that have boosted the morale and image of Pakistan.
The enthusiastic resistance put up by men, women, old and young shows that this besieged nation has still both spirit and conscience.
Putting curbs on the media and student activities will not blanket the truth — the international media is challenging the action taken by Pakistan’s ‘self - appointed saviour’ – in a highly advanced technological era billions can know the truth with one click.
To stifle the communication channel of the Pakistan media, discrimination against those who report the truth, is an exercise in futility.
If there is any sanity or wisdom left in the rulers, they must accept the advice given by their own countrymen and women and their friends abroad. Confidence-building measures should be instituted immediately:
— To restore the Constitution, reinstate the judiciary that existed on Nov 2, lift the ban on the media, release all those arrested under the emergency (lawyers, journalists, students and human rights activist).
— Ensure free and fair elections, build up a workable consensus with all political parties so that there is full participation in the election, which means participation of all political parties and high voter turnout, without which the electoral process becomes meaningless.
As a veteran journalist remarked yesterday, people corrupted by power become so shortsighted that they forget their own mortality and fail to remember that when they go to their graves, their shrouds will not have pockets in which they can stuff their power, wealth, and fame.
There is still time to retrieve past errors — to make a new entry into Pakistan’s history as those who took their people and the nation to the paths of peace and unity giving them a positive future and hope, rather than the black epitaph of those who betrayed their trust and betrayed the whole nation.
NARGIS RAHMAN
President, Pakistan Women’s Foundation for Peace
Via email
MR Adil Zareef has asked a painful question the panting tongue of which is hanging out to be answered (What next after Swat?, Oct 12). My answer would hurt the actual creators of problems in Waziristan and Swat. But Mr Zareef should know that terrorism, insurgency, dissidence, rebellion, sabotage and destruction are not state-sponsored.
Anybody can ask him a question: why should the government instigate such trouble and have its own security personnel killed, beheaded and have their heads shown around in the bazaars and streets of Matta, Swat, by the disciples of Mulla Fazlullah? It is indigestible. What the writer implies by state sponsorship is that this malady is created by President Musharraf himself to bolster his regime.
If I agree with Mr Zareef, for the sake of argument, would the president sacrifice his own men, have notoriety in and outside Pakistan? He is already a military dictator – at least after clamping emergency over the country – would he forgo the honour and prestige of the country, and attract the wrath of the West with the support of which he stays in power, as accused by the opposition?
You can differ with him, this is your democratic right, but please do not differ with logic and intelligence. Speaking of ‘democratic right’, I have to remind you (or should I break the news?), this is President Pervez Musharraf — the only general out of the four that Pakistan has endured — who has allowed democracy and the press freedom in the country which is against the dictum of dictators.
M. K. NAQVI
Karachi
THIS is in response to the concern expressed by Nabiha Chaudhry (letter, Nov 14). It was indeed very nice to see that at least some of our students in medical and engineering universities are getting politically aware and wants to mobilise their fellows in efforts to restore democracy and sovereignty to our beloved nation.
As a former NEDian, I can say that at NED and all other major institutions of Pakistan there is no appreciation from faculty and the administration for students who want to contribute in other socio-political arenas besides regular course work studies. However, we as students should consider as to how long we will wait for our administration and authorities to help and support us in our efforts for our society. As a step towards a better Pakistan, we can still take part in small efforts which will eventually have a larger impact.
Creating better ties and relations among our class-fellows, department mates and other university/college students from all around Pakistan should be the basis of our mobilisation. Unless we are united, we all will fall apart. Efforts can also be done in establishing various student societies (social, environmental, literature, political, sports) which will provide a platform to students to get mobilised, which can also help them in raising their voices and expressing their ideas.
Such societies should have their chapters in all major universities so that a harmonic countrywide effort can be made in all universities. As students, we can also ask our university administrations to provide us internship/volunteer opportunities in various government departments in order to have a better insight at the the grassroots’ level.
Further, we can work with our faculty members and alumni to initiate some series of talks and seminars on current affairs related to social values, science and technology, medicine, politics, media and global issues to evoke awareness among our students. Also, we should motivate people to pool in their efforts and work as a team with joint collaboration from students, faculty, and administration, alumni, peer universities and overseas Pakistanis.
HASSAN KHAN
USA
THE government has taken some of the practical initiatives in the recent past to improve the urban air quality by introducing green buses and four-stroke rickshaws, etc. These initiatives must be appreciated by society regardless of the other socio-economic issues.
But it seems that some initiatives have been launched without creating awareness among different departments of the public sector about the importance of the clean and healthy air.
The town administration and others are dumping a huge quantity of the garbage being produced on a daily basis at causeway near Defence View locality.
The activity is causing a series of environmental and health hazards. The situation becomes worst when tons of garbage are openly set on fire.
The smoke and other harmful gases cause adverse effects to residents living near the area, many of whom have developed asthma and respiratory tract risks, especially infants and old-age people.
The smoke produced is so dense that it may cause accidents at the causeway. The open burning of the tons of garbage produces huge quantity of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide which is one of the greenhouse gases causing world climate change.
Another environmental problem posed is when this huge quantity of garbage will wipe through the rainwater into the sea , it will result in aquatic pollution.
Being an environmental professional, I must request the relevant authorities like the CDGK, Health Department and Environmental Protection Agency to look seriously into the matter.
They should stop dumping and open burning of the waste and if authorities are serious about making that landscape an engineered landfill site, then they should start conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment Study.
NASAR U. USMANI
Karachi
YOUR editorial, ‘An attack on the media’ (Nov 18) fittingly calls for the unification of the journalist community for the freedom of speech. However, in the very beginning the same editorial states that the enlightened moderation is fast becoming the farce.
In reality, the enlightened moderation was a farce from the outset. After the imposition of emergency, the myth of enlightened moderation has broken and the happenings thereafter are a testimony to the fact that since Oct 12, 1999 Pakistan has been under the army rule.
On Nov 3 all private satellite news channels were closed (later most of them reopened after agreement with the authorities concerned).
Not being satisfied with this, recently the government coerced two Dubai-based news channels to take off their international transmission as well. The government, through its security agencies, is also making sure to ban the use and sale of the dish antenna and equipment that facilitates the transmission of the news channels in Pakistan.
Most regrettable aspect of the jamming of transmission is that in addition to the news related to political events, citizens are also being denied access to business, trade, weather updates, science, health and medicines, entertainment, showbiz and sports news.
All the satellite news channels were presenting a rational true and objective image of the present-day happenings in Pakistan.
Thus, forcing the news channels to change their transmission ethics will not do any good. Instead, the government needs to change its image. Now the world has become a global village and the citizens cannot be kept in the dark for too long. Still the people are getting to know what is going on in the country.
With no hope of sanity from the government, now the attention of the world community, human and civil rights organisations and media institutions should be drawn toward the ban on the transmission of private television channels in Pakistan.
International community should side with the Pakistani journalists for the restoration of their right of expression and with the citizens for their right to know what is happening in the country.
ARIFUZZAMAN
Karachi
HOWSOEVER short-lived the emergency may be, which is known only to its authors, the reason sounded for it in its proclamation was a concern for the misery of the masses.
Those very masses now appeal to the emergency authorities to kindly set right some grave social and economic irregularities, such as unprecedented increase in prices of daily necessities, hoarding of commodities leading to its price increase, which the civil government failed to check in spite of many letters written in these columns on this subject.
Prominently the following edible items, ie cooking oil, rice and milk packs, products of ‘big name’ companies, have shown 40 per cent increase just in six months’ time: cooking oil price went up from Rs395 to Rs495 and further to Rs530; rice from Rs50 to Rs72, milk-pack price increase runs through a mechanism of shortage of milk for three to four days and then it returns always with an increase of one or two rupees. In the last one year this has happened several times to raise the price from Rs32 to the current selling at Rs44.
Lintel, meat, fish and chicken, all are on spree. Coming to fresh fruits, seedless grapes have surpassed all previous records, now selling at Rs180 per kg. Apple over Rs100 and good quality banana at the rate of Rs48 to Rs60.
Consumers helplessly watch this happen and quietly fall in buyers’ queue if they do not wish to return home empty- handed. How are they affording the price increase? ask them sometime and you will make them cry. How shall a common man with an average earning of Rs6,000 to Rs8,000 a month and supporting a family of five to six will survive after paying for the ever-increasing school fees, rates of utilities and purchase of edible items for a whole month? This is what is causing consistent increase in poverty in the country and who else except the government can help check it by controlling the price spirals. The phrase ‘free economy’ has been abused by the industrialists. It is time they questioned the basis of cost structure versus the price of their products to justify the price increase. Only the state power can do that in a befitting manner so that those punished will serve as an example for others.
The vast resources in the hands of the authorities should now be deployed in eradicating economic and social vices, to uplift employment, to check micro-financing banks from increasing their annual profits instead of devoting themselves to poverty alleviation.
M. M. KHAN
Karachi
THE above-mentioned caption of my letter (Nov 20), to which, inter alia, objection has been raised by a letter-writer (‘Hunting with the hounds’, Nov 22), was given not so much in the context of the present constitutional crisis but more so as an effort to counter grossly demoralising statements and prophecies of doom about Pakistan’s imminent demise.
I have no doubt that the majority of our people still have faith in the future of Pakistan and, therefore, do see light at the end of the tunnel.
The writer has also angrily expressed his intention to question Prof Ralph Braibanti, for his statement, quoted by me, expressing admiration for the Pakistani people and confidence in Pakistan’s prospects. This, I am afraid, will not be possible since the learned professor passed away some years back and the statement quoted by me was written by him in the course of Pakistan’s earlier crises.
The saddest part is that the slightest effort to see a streak of gray somewhere in an otherwise black and white portrait is found unacceptable by some, reflecting the intolerance and imbalance which is the bane of our society.
My letter had clearly focused on the need for President Musharraf to lift at the earliest the emergency involving restrictions on the media, judiciary, etc, etc. Having done so unequivocally, I had also referred to certain transgressions by the media and the judiciary while making it clear that these were not even remotely a justification and that ‘and these could have been handled by means other than the draconian measures taken under the November 3 proclamation.’
MAHDI MASUD
Karachi
AZAD Jammu and Kashmir needs special attention of the government of Pakistan, especially the Federal Board of Revenue, Islamabad, for taking serious steps to increase trade and industrial activities. Under SRO 565(1)2006, the federal government has allowed import of industrial raw materials which are not manufactured locally on applicable concessionary and statutory rate of custom duty to importer-cum-manufacturers, those having suitable in-house facilities in Pakistan. But such concession is not allowed to the industrial units in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir territory.
The AJK government has adopted Pakistan Custom Act 1969 and other federal tax laws, and the FBR is collecting taxes on imports goods/raw materials used or consumed in the AJK area. If such a concession under the said SRO is not allowed in Azad Jammu and Kashmir on import of raw materials, then the industrial units in AJK will be forced to close down.
Price-wise their products will not be in a position to compete in the market. All products or goods manufactured in Pakistan are marketed in AJK.
The FBR should create fair, free and healthy competition among manufacturers of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir and help to expand the industrial activities in AJK.
SAAD HASSAN MALIK
Bhimber, Azad Kashmir
PRESIDENT Gen Musharraf posed the question: “Is democracy more important than Pakistan?” while giving an interview to an American TV channel on Nov 13. Further, he declared that Pakistan is about to be declared a ‘failed state’.
Let me tell the president that the issue is not between democracy and Pakistan: it is between civilian rule and military dictatorship.
Pakistan was not created for the army to rule this country. It is about time we, the people of Pakistan, said: “Enough is enough” and demand that all the pillars of the state should function within their own jurisdictions.
As for the president’s remark that we are about to be declared a ‘failed state’, this is a very serious charge-sheet against himself and his government, which is all the more reason for him to hand over power immediately to a civilian caretaker set-up, which should then take the necessary steps to conduct fair elections under an independent election commission and an independent judiciary.
NAZIM F. HAJI
Karachi
THE article, “Essentials’ prices triple in 8 years” (Nov 7), should be an eye-opener to all those who care to read it.
In eight years, the prices of commodities, specially food items needed by poor people, have shot up three times, thus eroding the rupee.
The income of these people has not increased proportionately, specially for government and private sector employees.
It means their income in real terms has decreased, and more and more people have been pushed under the poverty line.
In effect the ground realities are that in spite of all efforts by the government and millions of rupees in aid to alleviate poverty in Pakistan, even the middle class who were above the poverty line in 1999 are now pushed downwards.
Is there anyone to explain this? Do not go with the number of mobile phones in the country.
This is only a passing show. No doubt the MNAs and MPAs and ministers got themselves elevated much above the affluent line, thanks to our democratic setup.
SYED MUSLEHUDDIN AHMED
Karachi
OSAMA Mustafa in his letter, ‘Oil refinery’, (Nov 22), expects jobs for the Baloch in oil refinery being set up in Hub. He does not seem familiar with the geography of the area. Hub is practically a part of Karachi now.
This refinery should have been set up in Gwadar in keeping with the much-trumpeted assertions by the government about developing the new port. Karachi is already too crowded to take on more load of industry or population.
NAZIR AHMED
Islamabad
“MUSHARRAF is indispensable, said US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte (Nov 8).
“I am not in this world to live up to other people’s expectation,” so thinks famed Fritz Peres (Young World, Nov 10).
Z. A. KAZMI
Karachi
“When there is no turmoil in Pakistan, I will step down,” said our president.
For most Pakistanis (as per IRI survey) the phrase should be: “When I step down, there will be no turmoil in Pakistan”.
ABDUL RAUF
Fateh Jang
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