| December 15, 2007 | Saturday | Zilhaj 4, 1428 |
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Wrong historical ‘facts’
Longest year of the soldier
Amended constitution
Benazir’s policies
Visa applicant
A difficult plot
PIA clarifies
Lawyer of the year
Arrest of Baloch leaders
Trainee boxers
Utility bills
Sacrifices
KESC: promise & performance
Corporal punishment
Roti politics
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 refers to Amber Darr’s letter, ‘A lesson for the judiciary’ (Dec 12). I highly appreciate the views of the writer since she has been my ex-tutor in one of the leading law schools in Karachi.
But at the same time I respectfully disagree with her most precise and objective notion that the ongoing development or judicial crisis is a lesson for the judiciary only. For I believe that the current socio-political and judicial crisis is a lesson for the whole nation to learn.
On the other hand, I totally agree with her views that the purpose of emergency was just to remove the judges of the highest calibre, who declined to play by the rules set by Musharraf. Musharraf also said in his speech to the nation that one of the paramount reasons for imposing emergency was also the worsening law and order situation and suicide bombings in the country.
I ask those who vehemently support the imposition of emergency rule: has suicide bombing been controlled in Pakistan? Is our nation out of socio-economic crisis? Are we providing fundamental rights to the people of Pakistan?
I wonder if the Constitution was put in abeyance, how did Musharraf take the oath under the same and made himself a president of Pakistan? Where in the world does a person, who is the COAS, transfer his powers of lifting the emergency to himself? Where in the world are judges of the Supreme Court and high courts put under house-arrest? Where in the world are people like Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, who is regarded as a hero of democracy and rule of law, not allowed to move about freely outside their homes?
Finally, where in the world is the ex-Supreme Court Bar president taken to hospital with chronic health illnesses after physical and mental torture and after sheer negligence of the so-called law-enforcement agencies?
I am sure such treatment to the elite members of society is only made either in Guntanamo Bay or in Pakistan. We as citizens feel ashamed of being called a democratic country. Unwanted and self-serving amendments are made to the Constitution just to bring legal covers to the actions made by one man.
Amending articles of the Constitution and putting mind-boggling clauses in articles like 270AA and making it 270AAA is deplorable. It is also learnt that Musharraf loyalists have suggested amending Article 209 for giving the president the freedom to remove the judges of the Supreme Court and its CJ.
So we can say that in future we shall not have any scope for the Supreme Judicial Council, but we will be surviving on the National Security Council, whose members would also include the man in uniform.
It is better that an amendment is made to legitimise the role of the army in Pakistan’s politics, so that supreme institutions may not be destabilised by such ridiculous amendments.
QAZI NAZIM NAEEM
(Advocate) Hyderabad
WITH reference to S. M. Moin Qureshi’s article, ‘Custodian of four civilisations’ (Dawn Magazine, Nov 9), I would like to point out some of the mistakes in historical records mentioned in the article. In fact, the article is full of blunders, not mistakes.
• How can the “Nile meter”, built in AD 245, be the oldest Islamic monument when Islam emerged on the world scene in the seventh century?
• Egypt was not colonised for 150 years but for a period of more than 2,000 years since Alexander conquered it in around 332 BC till British occupation in 1952 when Gamal Nasser took control.
• More than 30 dynasties of Pharohs ruled Egypt since 3100 BC till around 330 BC, not 12 dynasties.
• Salahuddin was not an Abbasi caliph. In fact, he ruled Egypt about two centuries later.
• Khan al Khalili was not founded in the Ottoman period. In fact, it was built during the Mamluk dynasty’s reign in Egypt about 200 years prior to the Ottoman rule.
• The citadel doesn’t belong to Mohammad Ali. It was founded by Salahuddin Ayyubi as the writer later mentioned. Mohammad Ali mosque is the actual landmark he is referring to.
• Pyramids have not been excluded from the list of wonders. In fact, they have not been included in the competition of ‘New wonders’, with the declaration at a ceremony in Lisbon that they are the only wonder of the ancient world that still survive. They were granted the title honorary due to their pre-eminence over other wonders.
The list of mistakes is not exhaustive. I ‘ll advise the writer better refer a good encyclopedia before writing on historical subjects.
TAZEEN HASAN
Karachi
THERE have been three interesting happenings, outlined below, that have tempted me to write this letter.
The news media has been touting our new Army chief, Gen Ashfaq Kayani, to be a thoroughly professional soldier, but I think the media should have also mentioned what do the rest of our army personnel do as professionals and why do they not adopt soldiering as a profession?
The general sahib told a military gathering that the Army could not work alone and always needed people’s support, but doesn’t he think that after 60 years of getting ample support from the people, this is time the Army supported people towards a change?
Finally, the general has also declared year 2008 to be ‘The Year of the Soldier’. Pakistanis, having endured a long episode of ‘the Night of the Generals’ for the last 60 years, are shivering in their boots to think of a whole year.
How long will that year last? ‘A Year of the Generals’ may be a more appropriate title.
MOHAMMAD ALI MAHAR
Austin, TX, USA
CHIEF of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani declared 2008 as “Year of the Soldier”.
If my memory serves me correctly, every year from 1947 to 2007 was the year of the solider.
DR AMJID NAZIR
California, USA
ACCORDING to Attorney-General Malik Mohammad Qayyum, the Constitution of 1973 would be amended and revived on Dec 15.
It is claimed that the Constitution Amendment Order 2007, promulgated under the PCO, allows insertion of a new clause called Article 270 AAA in the Constitution to pre-empt a legal challenge to the actions taken under the PCO by annulling the powers of judicial review of all actions taken under the PCO.
It is deprecatingly felt in certain quarters that the president is driving at nullifying all and any deliberation in the assemblies as to the amendments he is about to bring to the Constitution.
The Constitution cannot be amended unilaterally by an executive order.
It has to be deliberated upon in assemblies and indemnified, it is strongly felt.
However, will it stand the litmus test of judicial review? Will the sacking of superior court judges fall under the purview of an executive order or does it remain exclusively within the jurisdiction of the Supreme Judicial Council?
Or will it be considered res judicata, a closed transaction, by the superior judiciary even after the restoration of the fundamental rights?
SAIFUDDIN E. CONTRACTOR
Karachi
THIS is a letter of special thanks to Benazir Bhutto for confirming my suspicions that she will not deliver her election promises. After championing the cause of the judiciary, she has abandoned it and justified it by pointing to their oath under an earlier PCO. Perhaps, a little lesson in history will help her.
Her own father, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto of Pakistan, worked with a military dictator, violently quashed a Baloch uprising, used intelligence agencies to control politicians and even expanded the role of the ISI in this regard and so on. But he will always be remembered for giving this country a whole-heartedly agreed upon Constitution and dying rather than shaking hands with a military dictator who committed treason and desecrated the Constitution.
To point to someone’s mistakes and shortcomings after they have clearly done enough to show that they are committed to the cause of justice and fairness simply to keep oneself away from responsibility depicts a very low moral standing.
But Ms Bhutto is not alone in this adventure, her ranks are joined by those taking part in the elections on a ‘protest’ basis.
This is a crucial time for all Pakistanis to realise the severity of the situation we are in.
If we are to engage in elections rubber-stamped by a judiciary sworn to protect the hegemony of someone rather than the Constitution of the country, it’s better not to vote at all.
As long as we continue to believe in the illusion of the Army, rather than the Constitution, being the guardian of national integrity, we will remain a failed state – a state that’s completely contrary to the dreams and aspirations of those who worked their lives away to create it.
HASNAIN N. KHAN
Canada
INDIA has imposed several restrictions on the visitors from Pakistan who want to meet their relatives. Pakistan too has imposed similar restrictions.
These restrictions create hindrances for thousands of Pakistani and Indian visitors, upsetting their plans and depriving most of them the opportunity to meet their relatives.
According to the Geneva Convention every person, specially a senior citizen, is entitled to easy and free movement without such restrictions as imposed by Indian and Pakistani governments but it is unfortunate that the two governments are ignoring the decision of the Geneva Convention.
I hope both the governments will relax the restriction for visitors.
SYED MUKHTAR HUSSAIN BURNEY
Karachi
I BOUGHT a house in the Army Welfare Trust scheme called Askari-3 back in 2001. I paid Rs40 million of my hard-earned savings. Since civilians were not allowed to own property within cantonments, I completed the said deal after having been sanctioned the power of attorney by the original allottee who is a serving military officer as per the norm then.
Once property is officially leased to civilians, I found that I had to pay even more. Initially an amount of Rs1.5 million has to be paid to the cantonment board for leasing the property to the original allottee, then an amount equivalent to 1.5 per cent of the current market value of the property is paid to the directorate of housing, GHQ, Rawalpindi, which adds up to Rs3.5 million, based on the current market value.
The bucks don’t stop here and the Military Estate Office has devised some formula based on the covered area of the property concerned which ends up in the buyer having to pay a further amount of Rs1.5 million before the property is leased to him/her. Add up all of the above and one ends up paying a whopping amount of Rs6.5 million to the military in the garb of cantonment board/housing directorate/military estate office. Also, I don’t understand as to why we are made to pay 1.5 per cent of the current market value of the property instead of being based on the amount paid to the seller. This is nothing but profiteering at the expense of the ordinary, law-abiding public of this unfortunate country and it seems that our military has excelled in fleecing and shooting its own people rather than being efficient in the job they are meant for.
AN ASKARI-3 RESIDENT
Karachi
THIS is with reference to the letter, ‘PIA widow’s woes’ (Dec 1), regarding discontinuation of pension after 10 years to the widow of M. Iftekhar Ali, a retired PIA employee.
As per the corporation’s rules, in the event of death within 10 years after retirement of any employee, pension shall continue to be paid to the beneficiary until completion of 10 years’ period after retirement from service.
We regret to inform that the resumption of pension discontinued after 10 years is not covered under the rules of PIA.
BASHIR AHMAD
Deputy General Manager
Public Relations PIA,
Karachi
THE American National Law Journal has nominated Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry for Award of Lawyer of the Year 2007. This is the first time that this journal is nominating a non-American lawyer for the award. The editor-in-chief of the journal, Rex Bozert, not only recommended his name for award, but also appreciated the services he rendered for the defence and the rule of judiciary and law.
European countries are appreciating the role of Mr Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. Sadly, the Pakistani government removed Mr Justice Chaudhry along with other judges.
The Pakistani people are missing the honest and truthful chief justice now.
May Allah provide justice to Mr Justice Chaudhry.
M. MAQSOOD KHATTAK
Karak
THIS is with reference to the arrest of Baloch leaders, Faiz Baloch and Hrbyair Marri in London on charges of inciting terrorism. These arrests have been made on request of the Pakistani government. On grounds of justice and fairness, I condemn this act of Pakistani government. The Baloch leaders fighting against the federal government are on the run or have been already eliminated.
The ‘Balochistan Liberation Army’ has been devastated. The military establishment has killed all the top Bugti and Marri leaders. Just a few days back the security forces killed a son of Nawab Marri. Therefore, why can’t the government allow the exiled Baloch chieftains sitting in London to live in peace? Why is the government determined to overkill?
SALMA JAVED BUTTAR
Lahore
BOXERS getting training at the coaching centre of the Pakistan Boxing Federation, Karachi, are not getting fair treatment, as officials of the federation do not provide meal to the boxers as per recommended allowance of Rs350 per head.
For example, if there are 14 players, the officials charge for 18 players. Moreover, food quality, as well as its quantity, is very low.
KHAWAJA JAWAID,
General Secretary,
Karachi West Boxing Association
IT IS proposed that income tax assessees paying regular advance income tax or paying at source should be exempted from payment of income tax + sales tax on electricity bills.
This amounts to double taxation. Hope that FBR will consider this request and avoid unnecessary formality of refund of excess payment.
AFTAB KHALILI
Karachi
APROPOS of Aamir Iqbal’s letter (Dec 13), if the study is to be limited to sacrifice for Pakistan, then Sirajuddaulah, and others would be out of the loop. On the other hand, the name of Syed Abdul Aziz, president of the Bihar Muslim League, who sold his house on a vast tract of land in the heart of the provincial capital to host the 1938 session of the AIML, at Patna, should have a claim for inclusion.
S.G. JILANEE
Karachi
IN their report to the shareholders for the period July-September 2007, the directors of the KESC had said and I quote: “Contract for new power plant – Phase-1 of 220 MW has already been awarded and first Gas Turbine (GT) of 48 MW is likely to be commissioned in November 07. Bid evaluation process with respect to setting up of 560 MW power plant – phase-II at BQPS is in final stage and contract is likely to be awarded in near future”.
It is important that the KESC keeps to its promise and the people of Karachi are spared this summer, the horrendous loadshedding of last year. It is regretted that that there is no word from the KESC about the first gas turbine of 48 MW though half a month has passed since end November.
A briefing by its directors (reported on Dec 8) on the KESC’s progress on system improvement, failed to mention anything about the progress on the promised generation capacity enhancement. The least the KESC can do is to keep its clients fully informed about matters in its domain, which deeply concern them.
WAJIUDDIN NAEEMUDDIN
Karachi
I WAS horrified to read a news item, ‘Corporal punishment: teacher suspended’ (Dec 6), about the beating of a government school student by his teacher.
I suggest the teacher should be given an exemplary punishment and should be called on television to publicly apologise to the student.
Our education department should wake up and pass laws against corporal punishment in schools. All parents, students and educationists should also raise their voice against such treatment meted to students.
I am a principal in a private school where corporal punishment is forbidden. All government and private schools should do the same.
PARVEEN SHAH
Karachi
THE opposition’s silence on the wheat flour crisis is quite disturbing. It seems that either political parties don’t know the real politics or they are themselves also indulging in the crisis, directly or indirectly. Benazir Bhutto has perhaps forgotten the main word ‘roti’ of the slogan given by none other than her great father, the most popular public leader of Pakistan.
About eight years ago, in India, the BJP lost the Delhi state polls just due to high price of onions. They are still trying to get that seat back, though it is tough now. Our political parties can also learn a lesson and get the favour of the masses as a lesson of the ruling party for the wrong export of wheat, earlier in the season. But, will they do so? Perhaps, they are just waiting for another ‘selection’ rather than wasting their energy during campaigns.
JAY ARLANI
Nawabshah
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