| December 21, 2007 | Friday | Zilhaj 10, 1428 |
To send a letter to the Editor
Click here
Feudal mindset
An open letter to president
Mass movement absent
Costlier lab tests
Pakistan’s foreign policy
Haj entourage
Tourism in Pakistan
Officer in dire straits
Comparison & cooperation
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
IF there was any single individual who could have made a constitution for Pakistan or moulded it to his liking or exercised influence in its making, it was Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah but even the great Quaid, the founder of this nation-state, refrained from doing what Generals Ayub, Zia and Musharff did.
When asked what the future constitution would be, Mr Jinnah replied that it would be what the people wanted it to be, but he expressed confidence that it would be democratic in nature and embody the essential principles of Islam which had taught us equality, tolerance, justice, fair play, protection of minorities, rights of citizens and the rule of law.
Mr Jinnah said the Constituent Assembly had been entrusted with this task and they would frame the future constitution of Pakistan. Sadly, after Sept 11, 1948 we have not seen leadership of this nature in Pakistan.
A democratic constitution and dispensation has as its prerequisite an independent judiciary whose function is to preserve and protect the constitution,, safeguard fundamental rights guaranteed to citizens under the constitution, act as a watchdog over executive actions, decide cases filed by citizens challenging executive actions, test legislative actions if challenged as being in violation of the constitution and exercise the inherent right of judicial review, including suo motu exercise of jurisdiction.
It has been reported in the press that the president reluctantly took the action of imposing an emergency and issuing the PCO because “there was a political conspiracy to obstruct a smooth transition to democracy and some members of our superior judiciary were a part of it”.
The people must be taken into confidence about the political conspiracy in which some members of our superior judiciary were allegedly a part and who were the other conspirators who wanted to destabilise Pakistan?
As far as this nation is aware, the superior judiciary was hearing petitions which challenged the election of President Gen Musharaff notwithstanding the right, protection and immunity given to him under the 17th Amendment.
On the other hand, renowned presidential lawyer S. Sharifuddin Pirzada is reported to have said in an interview with New York Times that he was asked by the president for help when he decided he would get rid of a Supreme Court which was threatening to derail his re-election for a second term.
The net result of all this is that Pakistan’s image has suffered, its democratic credentials have suffered and the nation has suffered in so many ways that it will take a very long time to come out of this situation but the scars like before will always remain.
As for validation of all these actions by the next parliament, the possibility of following past practice cannot be ruled out but the new parliament may not surrender and tow the line in the interest of a transition to democracy and parliamentary rule because these validation bills have been passed once too often.
How the political parties fare in the elections, what sort of a parliament will emerge and whether it will pass a validation bill of some sort or refuse to do so, only time will tell but the protection and validation of all actions taken during the emergency and PCO have been sought to be saved by the President himself with a view to presenting a fait accompli to the new parliament.
Notwithstanding the effort to give validation to the extra-constitutional measures by pesidential ordinances and orders, the fact remains that only the parliament can amend the Constitution in a permanent manner. What a sovereign parliament will do when this stage arises will be of utmost significance. So much for democracy, parliamentary sovereignty, independence of the judiciary, rule of law and representative government. All this has happened in Jinnah’s Pakistan.
LIAQUAT H. MERCHANT
Karachi
THIS IS apropos of Tanvir Shahzad’s letter, ‘Feudal mindset’ (Dec 14) that speaks of the role of feudalism in our society. Polemics apart, the fact is that that we still are a multi-tribal and feudal-denominated society.
At the time of Independence, India had maharajas and nawabs galore, but they were felled in a clean sweep and some are now earning their livelihood by running tourist hotels in their erstwhile palaces. But our feudals are a different cup of tea.
Much smaller but more numerous, feudals are still important functionaries in our agriculture-based economy, particularly in the southern Punjab and in Sindh where their interplay with civil servants (both revenue and police) has become part of what may be called an ‘established tradition’.
Any change in this equation cannot be expected at least in the foreseeable future. Here I am reminded of a conversation I had (some time in 1970) with the late Mr Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who said that “ . . . . if I ever had my way, the first thing I would do is to really fix these waderas” – by which he meant the CSP/PSP officers who at that time were being used by the Ayub government to harass Mr Bhutto with such pin-pricks as the famous tractor case.
As history is witness, this is exactly what Mr Bhutto did. His sweeping reforms effectively abolished the CSP. Mumtaz Bhutto’s letter is much in the same vein. It is not the military-bureaucracy axis that has upset the apple cart. The feudals have always leaned on the military for support; and vice versa.
It is only when industrial development finally overtakes agriculture as the prime mover of our economy that a really effective middle class will emerge. But that day is still far off on the distant horizon. Until then the feudals will remain a power to be reckoned with, for the reason that they effectively control and influence the vast majority of the country’s rural vote bank.
This is immediately obvious from the fact that influential feudals are now being courted by major political parties for contesting in the forthcoming election.
Historically too the feudal lobby has always supported and been comfortable with a military government being in power, and there is little chance of any change in this equation, election or no election.
The army apparently will always be the final arbiter in Pakistan. One is reminded of Rudyard Kipling’s famous lines: “Away you bullock-cart man, can you not hear the bugles sound? The Army is marching down the Grand Trunk Road”. Are we deaf? Cannot we too hear the bugle’s sound?
S. ASIF MAJEED
Karachi
MR President, congratulations to you (and to the nation) on becoming a civilian president; some more congratulations for lifting emergency, and restoration of the Constitution is in order.
You have led an eventful life — in the army as well as in politics — and were at par with successful people. Either the fairy of luck is kind to you or your advisers were intelligent (which I doubt) or you are yourself capable of fighting the opposition effectively.
The two biggest problems – which at present are nagging you (and the country) are the enemies within and enemies without – the rebellion of the clerics cooked up locally (perhaps internationally also) and the terrorism brewed up in Afghanistan.
I think you can subdue the rebellion; catch their masterminds, cut their supply lines and eliminate their operatives.
What I am chiefly worried about is the tidal wave of uncontrollable tsunami: the rising prices of food items – the flour, oil, ghee, pulses, etc. This monster has been awakened by your ‘friend-looking’ enemies – also within and without.
You can overcome heavy odds, surmount problems after problems, just as you did in the past, even survive attempts on your life (by God’s blessings, I believe) but this Frankenstein has the power of doing to you what you have been doing to your opposition. The sugar crisis took the toll of Ayub Khan; lest flour crisis lays you down.
An opening narrative or a warning, borrowed from an American television serial, may explain the situation: “If you do not, with weapons and techniques as effective as their own, attack them before they do, they will destroy you”.
I suggest – please have the smuggling of wheat and flour to India and Afghanistan stopped, send the hoarders to jail and kill the system of middleman who is eating away the poor and middle class.
M. K. NAQVI
Karachi
THIS is apropos of Anwar Syed’s article, ‘Political participation’ (Dec16). While endorsing his most realistic analysis of participation of the masses in political activity, may I add here that the sense of alienation and indifference on the part of major section of Pakistani society is also because of the fact that elites, both ruling and others, do not seek a mass movement on the basis of real issues faced by society. This is because it may ultimately lead to a social change that is against their class interests.
In this sense, all mainstream parties, whatever their backgrounds, have common agenda and understanding, i.e. not to involve the working class. Pakistan’s feudal class, the major partner of ruling elites, is characteristically against the basic principles of democracy and rule of law but ironically no one championing these slogans is raising voice against it.
The lawyers’ movement has reached a section of civil society that is only the literate urban upper middle and middle strata of society. It has not attracted the lower classes, labourers and peasants because it has nothing to offer them. To the working class, constitutionalism and rule of law do not earn bread (and not butter which is beyond their imagination).
It is for this reason that the courageous movement does not transform into a people’s movement that can ensure its sustenance. The pro-working class left-wing has never existed in Pakistan meaningfully. During the Cold War era the small bunch did nothing worth but inner groupings and ideological sectarianism blindly towing the lines of Moscow and Beijing. When the Soviet Union disintegrated, most of them evaporated and became irrelevant. Finding the left non-existent, Islamist parties have picked up their slogans and rhetoric.
And without the understanding of political economy of imperialism, it is the former US-cum-military collaborator, the mullah, who is openly opposing the neo-liberal onslaught.
Unless there is a vibrant popular democratic movement, Pakistan cannot get rid of its miseries.
SULTAN MADAD
Gilgit
THERE is a growing concern among patients of middle income group over the rising cost of various pathological tests.
On my visit to a pathological lab in Karachi the other day I found their charges of blood analysis reports on the higher side compared to the preceding year.
In reply to my inquiry, the lady at the counter clarified that it is the policy of their management to revise their charges (not in favour of the suffering patients of course) on the first of every January.
That is to say that they greet their sick and ailing customers with a New Year’s gift in the form of increase in their lab charges.
I write these few lines for the benefit of your readers should any one of them want to avail himself of their lab facilities to do so before the year is out.
A DAWN READER
Karachi
IN his letter, ‘Pakistan’s foreign policy’ (Dec 18), Kunwar Khalid Yunus has given some strange arguments to prove his contention that it’s okay for Pakistan to have supported the recent Israeli resolution in the United Nations.
First, we and other non-Arab Muslim countries have traditionally espoused the Palestinian and other Arab causes as our own, whereas the Arabs never reciprocate.
Second, the Arabs treat Palestine as an Arab issue whereas our foreign office has always confused this and other problems as Muslim issues.
Third, why doesn’t the FO take up other Muslim issues, such as Mindanao, the ones in Russia and in Myanmar, which shows it acts selectively and uses different standards vis-à-vis these and the Arab problems.
Fourth, what have we got by supporting the Arab world, except fanaticism and extremism?
Fifth, we should change our policy towards South Asia (read: India) so as to resolve the thorny issues simmering for 60 years and adopt the stance of non-interference and live and let live.
It is regrettable that instead of trying to promote friendship and fraternity between Pakistan and the Arab countries, particularly at a time when we need as much diplomatic and commercial / financial support from them as possible and when the Muslim world is beset by foreign invasions and intrigues, he is doing a hatchet job on relationships.
My understanding is that a Muslim is supposed to act in a helpful and friendly manner with all the other Muslims – indeed all human beings – even if some of them don’t live up to his expectations. A decent person doesn’t treat mutual ties as business, giving in return only as much or as little as what he gets. This negates his human and Islamic spirit.
Mr Yunus is old enough to remember what some of our friends in the Middle East and elsewhere had done to help us in our wars. More recently, Saudi Arabia was the biggest contributor to the 2005 earthquake relief effort, with Kuwait, the UAE and some others also doing a lot.
Also, after sanctions were imposed following the nuclear tests of 1998, Saudi Arabia and, if memory serves, the UAE had helped us out of a deadly financial jam in a big way.
Apart from that, many Arab countries have been assisting other Muslims in times of distress, notably Bosnians, Kosovars and Somalis (as during the famine of the 1990s). We must learn to be thankful, otherwise our ingratitude can only alienate others and cut off future help, although this last aspect should not be our main concern.
As far as India is concerned, it is the real culprit because it has not only occupied several territories in the subcontinent but, as noted by many unbiased western observers, has had problems with every neighbour, including China, whereas Pakistan has had excellent relations with all of them.
It is unfortunate that a Pakistani should implicitly, if not explicitly, defame his own country instead of exposing the oppressor.
I. INAYAT
Karachi
THIS is apropos of Ardeshir Cowasjee’s article (Dec16). Our caretaker prime minister has proceeded to perform Haj. His entourage comprises 35 men and 15 women, all described as ‘his close associates’.
Would somebody care to disclose the names of the lucky ones and also as to who is going to bear the expenses of these royalties?
One should not be afraid of letting the people know about this as our president has already destroyed the independent judiciary.
JOHAR A. KHAN
Via email
I UNDERSTAND that there is a ministry of tourism and a minister-in-charge but unfortunately I find nothing to encourage it here.
In Lahore there are quite a few historical sites and tourist attractions, Jahangir’s tomb is one of them, but there are no indications or directions as to its whereabouts. We have to depend on information given by individuals in the streets. The same is true of other monuments.
Second, to see places and survive here, tourists need safe cash in the form of traveller’s cheques but such prestigious banks as Standard Chartered do not cash travellers cheques from the equally prestigious American Express instantly as is the norm in every civilised country.
They have to send them back to American Express by the DHL and the whole process takes about two weeks.
I had my relatives to help out but what can other tourists do who have no such help. Someone in authority should take notice and rectify the situation.
MRS ZAKIRA BAIG
Karachi
THE other day at the AFIC a retired army officer, known to me, was almost in tears. The poor fellow’s heart ailment required four stunts, costing Rs400,000. He was in a fix as he could either get his heart surgery done or get his daughter married!
With gloom on his face and with a sick and heavy heart, he decided that he had lived enough and that the daughter’s life was more important. I was left wondering as to why the Army could not pay for all implants, specially for heart ailments of serving/retired persons, specially when these very persons are and had been ready to lay down their lives for Pakistan. Things can’t be more unjust and cruel than this.
Those who sit in their huge airconditioned offices and take decisions must realise that many retired/serving persons may not be fortunate enough to spare four to five million rupees to pay for the implants. Therefore, some mechanism must be devised whereby a form is filled for those who cannot pay and the state pays for them. Or if the state is so poor, then a medical insurance scheme be implemented, wherein the person pays a monthly contribution during service and when required, the insurance pays for such heart-related implants while in service or in retirement.
I am sure all the decision-makers would know of such problem. Why can’t we overcome this difficulty? Our decision-makers simply lack the will to find solutions to our problems. Why rock the boat?
Unfortunate as it may seem, this could be some reflection of the underlying thought process, for the inability to act. Ironically, we know the problem, we know the solution, yet we can’t do anything about it.
JAMEEL KAYANI
Air Commodore (Retd)
Rawalpindi Cantt.
OPTIMISM could only provide solace, peace and happiness to our nation if a policy of cooperation and comparison is earnestly followed. Internally two systems of conventional and Islamic banking are being practised; and the latter’s acceleration is being appreciated. Externally China has allowed its Muslim population to follow the dictates of Islam; hence two systems, i.e the conventional and the Islamic, are in vogue there.
It would, therefore, be in the fitness of things if all stakeholders should abhor armed clashes among themselves, giving full facilities to tribal people to follow the Islamic way of life without causing any trouble to their neighbour countrymen.
MOHAMMAD AHMAD
Karachi
You can also send letters to the Editor
Just send your message to the following address: letters@dawn.com
Make sure you include your full name, postal address, e-mail address, and in the case of Pakistan your day-time telephone number.