| November 30, 2007 | Friday | Ziqa’ad 19, 1428 |
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Judas in disguise
Nawaz Sharif’s return
Bush’s full support
Taliban station
What a contrast!
Updating security in trains
Of people’s army
A sad moment
Lagay raho …
Remembering Faiz
In memoriam
Callmate scam
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
RECENT events regarding the television industry have divided people, most say a part of the media was sensationalising things. On the other hand, the masses miss their daily dose of entertainment via the various talk shows.
This letter is not, however, about what television has become, but rather what it can be. I was moved recently by the portrayal of Edward R. Murrow’s 1958 speech at The Radio-Television News Directors Association and Foundation (USA) in the Hollywood film ‘Good Night, and Good Luck’.
For those who do not know, Mr Murrow was the host of the programme, ‘See It Now’, on CBS, and is credited with bringing Senator Joseph McCarthy to task on his anti-communist witch- hunt during the ‘Red Scare’ in the 1950s. Mr Murrow is regarded as one of the most respected broadcast journalists of all times.
With apologies to those who have already seen this film and have dwelled on this speech, I would like to share it with the readers of this esteemed newspaper. The speech’s relevance to our television industry is incredible. Its text is as follows:
“This might just do nobody any good. At the end of this discourse a few people may accuse this reporter of fouling his own comfortable nest, and your organisation may be accused of having given hospitality to heretical and even dangerous ideas. But the elaborate structure of networks, advertising agencies, and sponsors will not be shaken or altered.
“It is my desire, if not my duty, to try to talk to you journeymen with some candour about what is happening to radio and television. And if what I say is responsible, I, alone, am responsible for the saying of it.
“Our history will be what we make it. And if there are any historians about 50 or 100 years from now — and there should be preserved the kinescopes of one week of all three networks (CBS, NBC and ABC) — they will there find, recorded in black and white and in colour, evidence of decadence, escapism, and insulation from the realities of the world in which we live. We are currently wealthy, fat, comfortable, and complacent. We have a built - in allergy to unpleasant or disturbing information.
“Our mass media reflect this.
“But unless we get up off our fat surpluses and recognise that television in the main is being used to distract, delude, amuse, and insulate us, then television, and those who finance it, those who look at it, and those who work at it, may see a totally different picture too late.
“I began by saying that our history will be what we make it. If we go on as we are, then history will take its revenge and retribution will not limp in catching up with us. Just once in a while let us exalt the importance of ideas and information. Let us dream to the extent of saying that on a given Sunday night, a time normally occupied by Ed Sullivan is given over to a clinical survey on the state of American education. And a week or two later, a time normally used by Steve Allen is devoted to a thoroughgoing study of American policy in the Middle East.
“Would the corporate image of their respective sponsors be damaged?
“Would the shareholders rise up in their wrath and complain?
“Would anything happen, other than a few million people would have received a little illumination on subjects that may well determine the future of this country – and, therefore, the future of the corporations?
“To those who say people wouldn’t look, they wouldn’t be interested, they’re too complacent, indifferent and insulated, I can only reply: There is, in one reporter’s opinion, considerable evidence against that contention. But even if they are right, what have they got to lose? Because if they are right, and this instrument is good for nothing but to entertain, amuse and insulate, then the tube is flickering now and we will soon see that the whole struggle is lost.
“This instrument can teach. It can illuminate and, yes, it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it towards those ends.
“Otherwise, it is merely wires and lights……in a box.
“Good night and good luck.”
In his review of a legendary McCarthy episode, NYT’s TV critic Jack Gould wrote that “last week may be remembered as the week that broadcasting recaptured its soul.”
We, at best, can only hope for the same.
ZULFIQAR ABRO
Karachi
JUDAS Iscariot (JI) is documented as having betrayed his master, Jesus, delivering him to his eventual crucifixion.
When Imran Khan was physically manhandled and delivered to the ‘agencies’ by the Punjab University’s ‘Taliban’ of the Jamaat Islami (JI), one realised that Judas’ descendants were still alive and well and continuing on the steadfast path of ensuring that Pakistan does not make it past the Middle Ages.
Even today, as Maulana Fazlur Rahman happily continues to scupper Pakistan’s hope for democracy for his own personal gains, we are sadly reminded of the role that these ‘men of the cloth’ have consistently played in bringing us to the brink.
That this reprehensible act occurred in the oldest public university of the country reminds us of the total collapse of what used to pass for institutions of higher learning. Across Pakistan our public colleges and universities have been taken over by extensions of political, religious or ethnic parties each with multiple axes to grind.
Education, and more importantly letting others receive education, is the last thing on their agenda.
We must be grateful to the young students of LUMS, an expensive, semi-elitist and totally private, institution, for coming to the fore and putting up their voices for democracy. Obviously, a few of our students remain intelligent enough to realise the true value of education: free thought, free speech, equal rights and similar life quality as those smart humans who now control us. And none of that comes for free!
Incidentally, the price of betrayal in Jesus’ time was 30 pieces of silver. Wonder what the going rate is nowadays?
DR MERVYN HOSEIN
Karachi
APROPOS of the report (Nov 26), it was quoted that while addressing his party workers former prime minister Nawaz Sharif stated: “Pakistan was not created for dictators and emergencies.
“It was created for democracy and the rule of law. I am here to play my role in ridding the country of dictatorship and bringing back the rule of law.” Furthermore, he stated that he had not come to the country under any deal.
Accepting his statements at face value, I would like to see how long he lives up to this commitment.
So far as his denial of a ‘deal’ is concerned, it is mind-boggling to observe the sudden change of heart in the Saudi King, who only two months ago had sent his intelligence chief to Pakistan to assure the government of Pakistan that Nawaz Sharif would not be allowed to return to Pakistan before completing his term as per the agreement or at least, not before the elections.
Perhaps the word ‘deal’ should be replaced by the word ‘understanding’.
Sounds more respectable! Deal or no deal, the bottom line for us, the real owners of this country, is, when will our country belong to us?
NAZIM F. HAJI
Karachi
THE US president’s unconditional and full support for President Musharraf is a matter of grave concern for all the democracies of the world and specifically for the West.
The world is right when it considers the US to be interested in issues which have a bearing on its own well-being. It does not matter if the rest of the world is destroyed or is ruled by dictators of the likes of Musharraf whose government has made thousands of children homeless in their own country in the game of making people disappear, where journalists and lawyers are jailed because they are felt to be a threat to the government.
People are not allowed to protest and are confined to their own houses. These peace-loving people are being tortured, beaten and sometimes beaten to death without any remorse and any guilt, on the behest and the backing of the so-called champion of human rights and democracy, the US.
The entire civilised society would not be able to understand the stance of President Bush’s support for a dictator whatever the reason he may be forwarding for such a baseless cause and baseless arguments.
DAWOODI MORKAS
Karachi
A PHOTOGRAPH on the front page of Dawn on Nov 19 shows a masked gunman standing guard outside the Matta police station renamed as ‘Taliban Station’, signifying the control of the Taliban and the contempt of the government.
There have been reports that three towns of Swat have fallen to the Taliban who are terrorising the peace-loving residents of the Swat valley. All their actions show that they have the bravado of a winning army. Why then mask their faces?
They know that they are committing crimes against humanity and the government which has a responsibility to save people from those marauding gangs.
It is the same Matta where a genocide took place on Oct 31 when these Taliban or the disciple of Mulla Fazlullah kidnapped an unspecified number of security forces; killed many of them and went around in the bazaars and streets with a head in one hand and the gun in the other.
It must be a horrible sight. The kind-hearted men and women must be praying to God to save them from these murderers. I join them in their prayers.
M.K. NAQVI
Karachi
THIS is with reference to a minor news report carried by the national and international press regarding frisking of Indian army, navy and air force chiefs at airports.
The report goes on to state that India’s civil aviation ministry has refused to exempt the chiefs of Indian armed forces from being frisked at airports on grounds that it would lead to similar demands from other authorities.
After reading this report, I am beginning to understand why India is a democracy, and why we have strayed from that path. While Indian armed forces’ chiefs are frisked at airports, we are only reminded of the ugly incident wherein the son of our infamous ex-law minister beat a fellow passenger black and blue when the latter demanded that the former be subjected to security checks like all other passengers.
PIR SHABBIR AHMAD
Islamabad
PAKISTAN Railways have spent millions of rupees on renovation and modernisation of their train coaches and cars but no attention has been paid to the security of passengers while travelling in the train. Passengers whether travelling in upper class or lower class are equally vulnerable to criminals and terrorists. Incidents of thefts, robbery, looting, kidnapping, murder and rape keep occurring in the trains from time to time. The existing security arrangements in our trains are not satisfactory and need improvement.
The railway police escorts at present provided in trains are by no means deterrent to criminals as they travel in a separate compartment, at best they can respond to after a crime has been committed. Similarly, there are no means of communication in the train for passengers to contact the travelling railway police or the railway guard in the event of an emergency except the age-old and crude method of pulling the emergency chain.
Passengers of upper class airconditioned coaches have no means to check the identity of the person if knocking at the door of their compartment from outside unless they open the door and expose themselves to the person, which is risky.
Women passengers if travelling alone in the ladies’ compartment are vulnerable to rapists and other criminals, especially at night.
Here are some security measures for the passengers in trains:
a. Close circuit television (CCTV) surveillance cameras with videocassette recorder should be installed in the train’s corridors, dinning car and lower class compartments to allow the travelling railway police to monitor any criminal or suspicious activity.
b. All the corridors in each railway carriage, especially corridors of airconditioned coaches should be patrolled by the police at short intervals throughout the journey.
c. All doors of AC compartments should be provided with a peephole with a sliding lid inside the compartment to enable the occupants to identify the person if knocking at the door before opening it. Similarly, in addition to the existing door locking bolt, all the doors of AC coaches’ compartments should be fitted with ‘dead bolt’ lock (with minimum one-inch throw) which slides a solid piece of steel from the door into the jamb to provide protection against forced entries such as ‘kick-ins’ and ‘body slams’ by the person on the other side of the door.
Such arrangements also exist in the hotel rooms.
d. Panic buttons should also be installed in each compartment of the train in addition to the existing emergency chain.
e. Public address system should be installed in each compartment and corridor of the train to warn or instruct the passengers by the railway guard during the journey.
f. Two policewomen should also be on duty in every train for the security of passengers in ladies’ compartments.
The minister concerned and the railways chairman may like to consider the above suggestions.
SQN LDR ( r) S. AUSAF HUSAIN
Karachi
I WAS amazed by the views expressed by Hafizur Rahman (Nov 21). A people’s army will be a loose canon and a constant threat to the writ of the state. Any army or police force should be under full state control.
Today we do not live in Pakistan of the 1950s when a general mobilisation was a popular idea.
There is abundant proliferation of weapons of all types and sizes in the country. If that situation is further allowed to be aggravated with military training, we will have a potential time bomb.
Soon we will end up with a system of local warlords with private mercenary armies, on the Afghan pattern.
What we need is civic training, not military training for the general public. These days, psychologists and intellectuals are recommending that children should not even be allowed to play with toy weapons.
KHALIDA
London
WHAT an emotional moment it was! The ceremony of the general becoming a civilian. I have to be honest that along with the general, I too was nearly in tears.
But then I also had tears in my eyes on several other occasions.
Like on March 9, or when the chief justice of Pakistan was pulled, pushed and manhandled, or on May 12 when almost 50 innocent people were murdered in a show of ‘political strength’; also on Oct 18 when 200 or more were killed and more than 500 injured while celebrating the return of their leader.
Not to forget Nov 3 and soon after when my favourite live talk show and many others that educated us were put off air.
I can go on and on, but it will take me away from the reason I began to write.
If the president is such an emotional person and finds it so difficult to leave a post, then my advice to him is to leave before he gets too attached to presidency.
AMBERINA IMRAN
Karachi
I FELT very happy when I read M . Rafique Zakaria’s letter ‘Lagay raho …’ (Nov 24). It was a nice letter about peace and about the nice picture of a female journalist offering a red rose to a police official outside the Karachi Press Club. Let us send ‘Get well soon’ card for Pervez Musharraf.
M. SALEEM BALOCH
Karachi
PROFESSOR Khwaja Masud is to be applauded on an enthralling and beautiful piece of his writing on the 23rd death anniversary of Faiz Ahmad Faiz (Nov 26).
It is an expression of the nobility of sentiment together with the wisdom in the admiration of the great poet to read that Faiz is deeply convinced that “all of the arts singly and together are meant to create the most understandable art of all: a humanised society, and its masterpiece, free man”.
Faiz also knows that in our time the destiny of man presents its meaning in political terms, and that it does not do to leave truth to its own power of prevailing over lie, and that truth has to fight to defend itself against falsehood.
How stimulating and inspiring especially in our circumstance today.
AHMED RAZI SIDDIQUI
Karachi
THE death of actor Shafi Mohammad Shah has shocked the nation. Apart from his strong effective dialogue delivery and unique voice quality, with unmatched versatility in acting, he was known for his humility and meekness.
His roles in PTV and private productions are still fresh in the minds of his admirers. He played different roles in popular plays like ‘Chand Girahan’, ‘Dairey’, ‘Aanch’, ‘Bund Gulab’ and ‘Mohabbat Khawab Ki Surat’. Actors like Shafi Mohammad are born in centuries. It would be a befitting tribute to his memory if we are able to set up an institute or an academy after his name.
QAZI NAZIM NAEEM
Hyderabad
IT is shocking to learn that a popular calling card company like Callmate has closed down without any prior warning or notice to the millions of users. I was a regular user of this calling card. I had just bought a new card when I learnt that the company has closed down its operations overnight. There is no response from 1257 – the number used by the company.
There must be millions of users who have been left with the cards. Similarly, there must be hundreds of thousands of shops throughout Pakistan who must be having huge stocks of cards of different denominations. How can this scam involving billions of rupees go without any action from the authorities? The ordinary citizens are under the impression that there is no rule of law.
Can anyone throw light on this latest scam?
OSMAN A. KARIM
Karachi
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