| December 03, 2007 | Monday | Ziqa’ad 22, 1428 |
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No boycott of election
Sincerity in politics
Premature captain
Traffic congestion
Customer services
Nobel peace prize concert
Kashmir peace
Health priority
Freedom is a right
Law violation
VVIP aircraft
Importance
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
APROPOS of your incredibly courageous reporting of Dr Mubashar Hasan’s views in your article, ‘US preparing to invade Pakistan’ (Nov 22), I have to sadly say, ‘Precisely!’
This seems to be the first time that someone from within Pakistan has seen glimpses of the neo-con plan on the ‘grand chessboard’ for Pakistan — at least publicly — one that was already publicly made known in 1996 by Zbigniew Brzezinski, the principal architect of ‘CIA intervention in Afghanistan’ in 1979 and the subsequent Soviet invasion, both entirely deliberately and causally crafted, by Brzezinski’s own admission two decades later in 1999, by the Jimmy Carter administration of which he was the erstwhile National Security Adviser.
As of late, I have seen at least six redrawn maps of Pakistan. The ‘arc of crises’, defined, since the Berlin Wall fell, to redraw these borders in precisely the same interests as Mubashar Hasan notes as reported in your article: “... It wanted an elected government of millionaires under civil and military establishment to serve its interests and those of millionaires in Pakistan...”, except it is not only true for Pakistan but in the entire ‘arc of crises’.
All of it is together serving the ruling interests of a handful of very elite billionaire ruling class worldwide in the natural culmination of this pyramid path into a one world government by the world’s ruling elite on the top. We already see the world’s financial control in their hands — and these already transcend national boundaries — money can already come and go across geographies in the fleeting of a butterfly’s wings, and most of the developmental economics and national policies of nations in the entire global South are already entirely beholden to western arm-twisting institutions like the WB and the IMF and their sister organisations.
We are merely seeing the baby-steps being played out today as well as in the near foreseeable future, and Pakistan is the heart of the matter in all these baby-steps — the only nuclear armed state that can change the tables overnight on the grand chessboard were it to acquire a truly independent government working in the interests of its own people. This will never be allowed to happen willingly in any nation, least of all in Pakistan, as should be obvious to anyone with half a brain.
If there was a statesman like Zulfikar Ali Bhutto alive today and in any position of national leadership, we may have seen interesting alliances and mutual defence pact treaties with our neighbours coming into existence. ZAB was, after all, whatever one might think of him — as a tyrant or saviour — the first person since the invention of modern nation-states to bring together all the Islamic countries in Lahore in an amazing summit in 1974 which is what actually sealed his fate.
The pursuit of the ‘Islamic bomb’ was merely the icing on the cake as promised by Henry Kissinger — ZAB would have been removed as all globally nationalist leaders who have thought of ‘independence from hegemony’ have always been removed, lest the trend becomes contagious and a global example for emulation by the have-nots!
So felicitations to Dr Mubashar Hasan on his courage to speak loudly what should be entirely obvious to all unco-opted peoples on this planet. The real issue is — and we already know the ailment whether or not some have the courage to express it — what is the remedy and who will beard the hungry lion, the self-described ‘hectoring hegemons’ on the ‘grand chessboard’?
ZAHIR EBRAHIM
Via email
IN 1998, Netanyahoo could become prime minister of Israel by defeating Shamoun Peres by 30,000 votes, who was the lesser of the two harmful candidates from the point of view of the Arabs, instead of losing by 50,000 votes because 80,000 Israeli Arabs boycotted the elections en bloc.
Their reason was that they felt Peres had dragged his feet in implementing the Oslo Agreement when he was the foreign minister in the previous government.
The All Parties Hurriyat Conference of the Kashmiris, which was against the Indian rule, boycotted the elections from time to time, leaving the field clear for the benefit of the quislings. Its reason was that the elections were not under the neutral supervision of the UN as required by the UNSC resolutions. If the APHC had put up its unanimous single nominee for each of the constituencies, it would have won more than two-thirds of the seats, if not all.
The APHC would have gained valuable experience of administering the Indian-Occupied Kashmir and, secondly, it could have, at an opportune moment, passed a Unilateral Declaration of Accession to Pakistan or Independence.
If the APHC were asked by New Delhi that it could contest the elections only by signing affidavits that it is contesting the elections under the Indian Constitution, it should have done that too but renege on coming to power.
When the PPP had the majority in the National Assembly in 1988 for the first time
in Zia’s presidency, it could have and should have formed a national government by persuading the PML-N to join it just as the Conservatives joined hands with the Labour Party and formed a national government in London during the World War II under Churchill.
The history of Pakistan could have been a whole lot better. The opposition’s political parties should make it a point to contest the forthcoming elections jointly or separately, instead of leaving the field clear for the PML-Q failing which they will be shooting themselves in the foot.
JALAL AHMED
Via email
THE man in ‘uniform’ doffed his second skin (which he used to call) with utmost dignity and handed over the command to his successor in a very graceful martial fashion. The words of appreciation to his fellow soldiers are commendable to boost up their morale and to stand upright for a strong nation.
He has shown his commitment by spending 46 years with the strongest institution of our country.
Let’s hope such gorgeous ceremonies of handing and taking over will be a guideline for our future leadership to be followed in its values as a legendary milestone.
It is for the first time in the history of Pakistan that the nation is seeing national and provincial assemblies completing its five-year tenure and walking away smilingly for the newly-elected members to join. Such ceremonies are definitely remarkable, since the nation has seen only an accidental changeover, assassinations, toppling each other and coups.
Although some opposition critics call it a rubber-stamp ruling alliance but if that stamp consists of NA 253, Punjab 253, Sindh 102, NWFP 31 and Balochistan 33 members, it deserves its significance. Then critics should feel the power of bonding, harmony in one character for this elongation and elasticity and accept it with a positive uptrend step.
Another angle is that the ruling party has shown that the party president and the prime minister were two different personalities. The other democratic parties should come forward with a similar approach that the party president should not be a candidate for any designation but remain strong vibrant party leader. Step by step, political cultural changes are crucial for a prosperous Pakistan rather than traditional agitation.
I conclude here with a request to all political leaders to cherish tolerance, patience and to create progressive trends for our future generation, which is high in number.
ZIA KHAN
Via email
FOR the last few days Shoaib Malik, the newly-appointed captain of the Pakistan cricket team, has been under fire for the team’s poor performance. Former star players, commentators and cricket writers have all given adverse comments on his conduct as captain.
This is unfair to the young captain at this stage. No one learns the tricks of cricket captainship in a short time. Shoaib Malik is no exception. What he needs at this stage is guidance and encouragement rather than criticism and condemnation.
I would blame the PCB and the selection committee for appointing him to this coveted position in their eagerness to build a new young team. They ignored the basic fact that seniority is a major factor in appointing leader of a national cricket team.
They also failed to learn from our own cricket history when young Javed Miandad was made captain in the late 70s which resulted in a rebellion of senior cricketers. Also, Javed Burki, the promising player back in the 60s, was thrust upon this honour during the 1964 tour of England which remains one of the most disastrous tours of the Pakistan cricket team.
I am convinced that the appointment of Shoab Malik as captain was premature. Even worse was the appointment of Mohammed Asif and then Salman Butt as vice captains and, subsequently, replacing them in quick succession.
BRIG ( r ) SALAH UDDIN
Karachi
WHO says that what this country needs is education? A recent letter captioned, ‘City School-PAF Chapter’, tells of the havoc being wreaked on the traffic on major arteries of Karachi, Shaheed-i-Millat Road and Sharea Faisal, by ‘educated’ families who are determined to provide a ‘good education’ for their children by having them attend a prestigious ‘educational institution’. What are the children learning while going to and coming from school? How to boldly violate traffic and parking laws?
If one wants to understand what type of people live in a country, the simplest method is to observe the traffic in the centre of the country’s major urban area. One will comprehend their sense of discipline (let us forget ‘unity’ and ‘faith’ for the moment), their respect for the law, their concern for the environment, their courtesies to others, and their adherence to the golden rule: “Do to others what you would have done to you”.
Four months ago, when Shehri became an intervener in the Supreme Court’s suo motu case on traffic congestion in Karachi (has it died with the PCO?), we emphasised that, aside from the medium- and long-term strategy required for an affordable and convenient mass transport system to replace the mushrooming of single-occupancy vehicles (cars/motorcycles) in the city, the government must immediately tackle the flagrant and growing violations of traffic laws and the increasing clogging of thoroughfares with illegal parking and other commercial encroachments. Apparently this is not being done.
Parents, teachers and institutions must educate by example, not by word. Obeying simple traffic laws would be a good place to begin.
ROLAND DE SOUZA
Karachi
I HAVE been using Standard Chartered Bank Credit card for the last 10 years with spotless credit history and quite decent monthly spending on credit card. By all standards, such commitment and loyalty towards the SCB cannot be termed as routine and usual. And it should be noted that the SCB has not played any vital role in keeping this relationship intact.
On the other hand, they have actually tried their best to end this relationship. For the last three months, I have been running from pillar to post just to obtain my wife’s renewed credit card. I have already paid the annual renewal fees without receiving the card. I called their telephone banking centre, just to hear the bank’s irritating ads and wait for minutes before I could hear the most rude customer services officer.
I was told that it was sent to my residence once but was returned as there was no one at home. I asked them to send it again and let me know the time so that I could be at home myself and leave all other work just to receive prestigious credit card.
It was never sent again. I can submit names, dates and timings of my calls to the SCB telephone centre. I am really surprised the way the SCB attaches importance to their loyal customers.
I emailed to the SCB’s country head, consumer banking, to let him know the state of his bank customers services but so far in the last 10 days I just received a reply ‘saying that he will look into this matter’. I am disappointed and have decided not to continue my association with the SCB.
Also, I want to draw the attention of State Bank authorities to take immediate measures to safeguard the interests of ignorant customers using credit cards and who are being severely abused by the banks. The SBP should restrict further takeovers and mergers without evidence of proper infrastructure and competencies to support such growth.
MUHAMMAD ALI
Karachi
IT is great that Salman Ahmad and his band Junoon have been invited by the Nobel peace prize committee to perform two concerts at the prestigious Nobel ceremony on Dec 9 and Dec 11 in Oslo. The Dec 9 concert will be an acoustic Sufi music performance with tabla maestro Pundit Samir Chatterjee in honour of Al Gore and the other winners of this year’s Nobel peace prize.
Salman Ahmad will dedicate his performance to the Pakistan lawyers’ movement for the restoration of the Supreme Court judges and independence of the judiciary as well as Pakistan’s civil society, media, students and rights activists who have heroically protested against the Musharraf government’s illegal action of imposing emergency in Pakistan.
Salman Ahmad founded the rock band Junoon and is a UN goodwill ambassador on HIV-Aids. He is a contributor to washingtonpost.com’s On Faith. In his recent article, ‘A False Choice for Pakistan’, published in ‘Daily the Nation’, he concluded his article quoting Shakespeare who warned that a dictator’s first instinct is to “kill the lawyers.”
He was right. It is the lawyers and the judiciary that are the hope and future of Pakistan. Let’s stand by them and not surrender to pharaohs and false prophets, whether they wear military uniforms or Hermes scarves.
Lawyers and civil society owe deep gratitude to Salman Ahmad for his showing solidarity and good will for the success of lawyers’ movement. Lawyers, including Gangly, wish him happy life and success in achievement of his noble objectives. His support has further encouraged lawyers and civil society to continue struggle for independent and strong judiciary.
GANGLY KHAN
Mandi Bahauddin
I REFER to Sayeed Hasan Khan’s very balanced and positive article, ‘Kashmir since the peace process’ (Dec 1), written after a visit to that state.
However, two points need to be mentioned. First, Congress is the major partner in the current ruling coalition, with significantly more seats than the PDP in the state legislature.
So, it is not quite accurate to say: “The Congress Party, never a major force, is in power largely because of its power sharing arrangement with Mufti Sayeed’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP).”
Second, even the last state elections were quite fair by all accounts, though the boycott call and intimidation by militants did affect to some extent. So, the statement that “the elections which may be fairer this time” is somewhat misleading.
P. V. IYER
Bangalore
AN editorial on ‘Excesses of private health sector’ (Nov 26) instantly compels me to write a few lines with specific eulogy for an advocacy organisation, Heartfile. This organisation is making tremendous efforts in health sector reforms.
The government of Pakistan is advocating ‘Health for All’ by adopting all steps in the health service arena. The health sector is a leading precedence with a budgetary allocation of Rs11.8 billion.
In April 2007, WHO glorified the undertakings of the government of Pakistan in the provision of sound healthcare amenities to civil society. It is imperative to alter and move towards betterment. All the stakeholders in this field must join hands to eradicate moral perversions as this hampers our will to implement legislations.
SHAZIA JAMSHED
Malaysia
BANNING the media and disallowing citizens from being able to watch news and other political debates would be impossible to justify. The amount of disruptions occurring at any one time in any part of the country is in no way the fault of the media.
The inherent fundamental rights such as freedom of speech, vote, movement and debate are not the gifts from any leader and no one should take credit for them.
The judiciary should be allowed to review such stringent imposition of laws and take their course of action even if it leads to extreme measures. There is no one above the law and if the laws of the land are violated, one should be dealt with without restrain or prejudice.
AMIR A. ZIA
USA
I CANNOT believe my eyes and ears for what is happening in Pakistan. Never in the history of Pakistan was our Constitution and law so vehemently violated, just for the sake of one person.
I salute the owners and journalists of channels that are fighting for the rights of our nation.
Moreover, I would also like to pay my gratitude to the lawyers and judges who did not bow under brute force, which is being exercised with impunity by the government upon its own people.
Furthermore, I have never liked politicians but over the years, I have developed a great deal of respect for Mr Imran Khan.
IMRAN SHAH.
Lahore
ACCORDING to a news item (Nov 30), our government has acquired another VVIP aircraft for exclusive use of the president of Pakistan at a cost of $60 million. This was approved by our ex-prime minister during his tenure. What shall we call this? Who has allowed them to fritter away our (taxpayer) hard-earned money like this? If Mr president or other VVIPs are so desperate to fly in such lavish aircraft, why cannot they buy these from their pockets, and mind you this is the 14th VVIP plane in their fleet, they already have 13. What’s the end?
It will be quoted as another mark of so-called economic development, a country where 34 per cent live below the poverty line, where more than 60 per cent do not have access to drinking water, where there is only one doctor for over 1,000 people.
HARIS MASOOD KHAN
Lahore
ACCORDING to a news headline, President Musharraf has said, ‘Country more important than democracy’ (Nov 19).
Looking at facts on the ground, it may be restated as, “Country more important than democracy and Musharraf more important than either of these.” The American South Asia expert, Stephan Cohen, has said, “(Musharraf) is either suicidal or totally ignorant of the situation” (Nov 20).
DISMAYED
Karachi
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