| December 31, 2007 | Monday | Zilhaj 20, 1428 |
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Mess in medical education
No accountability
Our 59 years: lost and found
Security while travelling by road
Election: president’s attitude
Communication & credibility
Officer in dire straits
Private Sindhi channels
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
THE exit of Benazir Bhutto benefits most the government or one may say that the president is the beneficiary in the long run. What benefits, one may ask? America has lost its second option and now Pervez Musharraf is its only option and that makes his and army’s position very strong to stay in power without making any significant compromise.
Also, by making international powers believe that this was an act of Al Qaeda/Taliban, America and its allies must continue supporting army rule in Pakistan, otherwise their so- called war against terrorism will be in jeopardy here. In short, the tragic demise of Ms Bhutto has strengthened army rule in Pakistan.
Now some questions regarding the act of murder. Why initially had the doctors said that Ms Bhutto received two bullets in her head and neck if she had not been hit by bullets at all? Dr Mussadiq says she died of head injury and not because of the bullets.
It means that he confirms that she was hit by bullets but Mr Cheema said that Ms Bhutto was not hit by bullets? Why was autopsy not carried out? Why was the scene of crime washed off with water jets in such a short time? What kind of technology does this government have which can tap communication among Al Qaeda operatives? Are Al Qaeda operatives stupid enough to have such conversation on phone? Did Baituallah not get the result from the media? He did not know himself who did it?
The government knows that ‘x’ suicide bombers entered the city on ‘z’ date and even their gender they know, but do not know who they are and how to get them? Alas!
WAHEED HYDER
Karachi
(II)
BENAZIR Bhutto’s demise not only leaves the nation shocked but has orphaned the masses who followed her like a child following his mom. Many people still find it difficult to come to terms with this loss, Sindhis in particular are deeply aggrieved because they feel their only representative has been taken away from them.
Her father had many qualities and although other qualities may well be debatable but there is no doubt that she was as courageous as her father. To me, possessing this quality is enough to mourn her death and my heart goes to her family and all those who admired her. She was a courageous daughter of a courageous father.
ASIM H. AKHUND
Karachi
(III)
MAY I join the myriad in Pakistan in mourning the death of Benazir Bhutto. Pakistan is a nation where democracy is yet to be firmly established. This means that it is a lot more difficult for a political worker to carry out his or her functions as compared to politicians working in advanced democracies, mostly since they have to face persecutions in various forms.
Added to this: when there are terrorist threats, security paraphernalia prevents leaders from mixing with their followers. Ms Bhutto was a brave leader who gave priority to meeting people at the cost of security risks, and paid a heavy price for this.
I am sure that violence in Pakistan will soon come to an end and that people will come together to work for a decent form of democracy and, thereby, justify the martyrdom of Benazir Bhutto.
K.NANDAKUMAR
Bangalore, India
(VI)
I WAS shocked and saddened to hear of Benazir Bhutto’s murder and with her of many others. Ms Bhutto wanted only for her country what we have here in the USA: freedom and freedom to choose the leader of our country.
I am not saying our current leader is perfect, but we have the freedom to choose him.
Democracy is the backbone of freedom and letting the people choose to whom they want to represent them.
Ms Bhutto’s murder shows that she was close to cutting the ties that the terrorist held against nation wanting democracy and freedom of its people.
The murder of this great lady shows how much of a coward these terrorists really are. They run and hide like dogs, with their tails between their legs and in the name of Allah do terrible things that Allah is actually against.
“The Quran is the word of the Lord of the Worlds, which Allah revealed to His Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him), to bring mankind forth from darkness into light.”
I think Ms Bhutto was doing that herself, bringing people out of the darkness into the light of a free world where basic needs should be met, plenty of food, warm shelter and clean water to drink.
I am sad to say that I never had a chance to meet this great lady, but I would have loved the chance to chat with her, even for a moment.
I know I am not a Pakistani or even a Muslim but I think she touched many lives of people across the globe.
PAMELA KREST
Ohio,USA
THIS is apropos of Dr Sher Shah’s article, ‘Mess in medical education’ (Dec 15). It is thought - provoking for all those who have remained associated with the medical profession, vouching for the affairs in this field for the last few years.
The government of Pakistan constituted an organisation, namely the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), under an ordinance in 1962 with the prime objective of regulating and standardising the medical and dental education in this country. At that time medical education was only limited to the public sector and was the sole responsibility of the respective provincial governments.
The PMDC as an organisation of the central government, with statuary authority, has been doing the monitoring to maintain the uniform standard of professional education. The director - general of health of the federal government used to be its president and exercised his authority for getting the deficiencies in medical colleges rectified and, therefore, the standard of teaching and training of medical graduates was of uniform minimum standard prescribed by the PMDC.
During the last five or so years there has been a change of the PMDC due to unplanned growth of medical and dental institutions in private and public sectors. The president and members of the PMDC have a conflict of interest and, therefore, unable to control the deterioration in medical education.
It was shocking to read in newspapers that the PMDC has issued letters to recognised medical colleges, of both private and public sectors, to give admissions to students of a private medical college which had been closed because of lack of facilities.
This action of the PMDC is in contravention of its mandate and is tantamount to regularising substandard medical education. The PMDC has, therefore, miserably failed to control the standard of medical education.
It is imperative now that the federal government should take cognizance of the situation and constitute a medical education regulatory authority comprising about five to seven members of high repute having no conflict of interest with high reputation in the field of medical and dental education, members of civil society, and administrators.
The authority shall vouch for the affairs of the PMDC and regulate the working of medical and dental colleges in the country. It will help to clear the mess created in the medical education by vested interests.
Dr MASUDA KHANUM
Karachi
APPROPOS of the letter, ‘Who is responsible?’ (Dec 26), it is quiet appalling to see that some people have the crudeness to blame the CJ of Pakistan Iftikhar Chaudhry for everything that has ever gone wrong.
I would like to ask the writer and the people of Pakistan, whether there were no train accidents, no air-crashes, no robberies, no terrorist attacks, no corruption, no power outages, no water problems, no lawlessness on this land, before the Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry. Is it so hard to differentiate between the rational and the irrational?
As far as the suo motu actions taken by Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry are concerned, let me bring into light some of the suo motu actions which had infused a lot of ‘fear’ in the governments functionaries and our rulers; firstly, the Pakistan Steel Mills case, in which the “fearless” Ministry of Privatization had decided to sell a national profit-making asset at a throw away price. Then there’s the missing persons case, in which hundreds of people. Both the cases were an utter relief to the people of Pakistan, and it seemed as if finally the judiciary has taken its rightful place and has brought the powerful rulers to the book.
I am grateful to Justice Iftikhar Chaudary for these and so many other suo motu actions, that had put a bit of a ‘fear’ in the hearts of our rulers, who had always considered themselves above the law and did whatever pleased them.
Nonetheless, practically speaking, a common railway line repairman has nothing to do with any of the suo motu actions taken by Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, neither has the Justice ever taken a suo motu action on the Pakistan Railways, WAPDA or KESC. So, there’s no reason for any of these functionaries to be in jeopardy because of the CJ. However it’s all over now, my lord the true CJ of Pakistan has been deposed, and this has unfortunately opened the path for corruption and for the powerful to do whatever they may want to do with this nation, as there’s none to hold them accountable now.
AAMER KHAWAJA
Karachi
SOMEHOW it struck me once again, recently, to know as to what remains pure or recognisable about what our Quaid left for us. The margin of error can be my inability for an in-depth study of the same for months on.
I was almost contented with my findings and they were: (a) our national flag, though not of his Pakistan, (b) the continued patriotism of the third generation — large numbers of them from the sidelined, the ignored poor and average families – the three which maintained their status as a political dictionary of Pakistan.
The commonality found among the triplet was that they were beyond interference from any quarter.
Regarding what we lost, it is better summarised as the ideals of our Quaid. Its margin of error can be that it is debatable. What else would be better for Pakistan? Let us limit it up to unity, faith and discipline.
The Quaid’s concept of a strong Pakistan was primarily based on the unity of the people, among the five provinces of his time, the provinces’ unity of purpose with the centre, etc., etc.
This clearly translates that extra-constitutional division of the people is superfluous and may prove dangerous for Pakistan. Best argument is the former USSR: its people were dissatisfied for many reasons.
Regarding faith, I have yet to learn as to how the invincibility of Pakistan is possible without activating the laws of the land, primarily, meant for the good of the people. Likewise, discipline is defined by Webster’s students’ dictionary as: “The system of rules affecting conduct or action, specially the rules of laws”.
The last words of Liaquat Ali Khan were: “Kuda Pakistan ki hefazat karey”. Was he so much worried for the safety of Pakistan for internal or external reasons or both? How come Pakistan so much deviated from the Quaid’s vision?
The reason appears to be, more often than not and since long (began with the illegal dismissal of prime minister Khwaja Nazimuddin in the 1950s), the country is being governed like one’s household affairs.
Pakistan in the current situation must make genuine efforts to go back to the Quaids’ ideals before an expensive leap of unity, faith and discipline.
Z. A. KAZMI
Karachi
PEOPLE some time prefer travelling by road in their own car while going on business or official trips to places at long distances located in other cities or provinces. Similarly, many people plan taking their families by road to other parts of the country on recreational trips and sightseeing especially during the winter.
Making such trips by road were however safe some time back, but under the prevailing law and order situation when criminals and terrorists rule the roost, one has to be careful while undertaking such a venture, especially when the family is accompanying.
Travelling by road in any part of the NWFP and Balochistan these days is not only risky but quite dangerous too due to highly volatile situation and increasing terrorism activities.
While in Punjab and Sindh people travelling by road are vulnerable to highwaymen. There had been cases in the past in which people tavelling in their car were not only robbed but they were also deprived of their cars and were also kidnapped for ransom.
In certain cases women accompanying them fell prey to rapists.
During the forthcoming winter vacations in schools many people would like to travel to their hometown or some other place by road to enjoy holidays with their families.
While planning such tripsm, the following security guidelines will be helpful in making your journey safe:
a. Ensure well in advance that your car is mechanically fit and necessary spares are kept in the car. Carry ‘First Aid kit’, drinking water, and a torch/portable emergency light.
b. Plan your journey with the help of a latest road map and discuss your travel plan with someone who has travelled by road recently and avoid travelling at night. Be familiar with the Pakistan Highway and Motorway Code.
c. The persons concerned should only know your travel plan and places where you intend to stay during the journey.
d. Don’t carry more cash than is necessary and keep your ATM and credit cards concealed separately with you.
e. Maintain a low profile; don’t display or keep anything expensive with you visible to the people and also dress modestly during the journey.
f. Don’t plan your break journey en route at isolated rest-houses, roadside, hotels, etc, especially at night. Always book your accommodation in advance in well-known hotels in towns / cities.
g. Keep in contact with some of your relatives/friends through a mobile phone or by some other means and also keep contact numbers of emergency service, e.g. ‘Rescue 1122’, to get help during the journey in case of any emergency.
h. If you are confronted with highway robbers or other criminals, don’t panic and stay calm, never resist if they snatch anything from you and use your common sense.
SQN LDR ( r)
S. AUSAF HUSAIN
Karachi
IN some of his recent speeches, President Musharraf has advised those who fail to get elected in the forthcoming elections to accept their defeat gracefully (Dec 18).
The question is, after the Supreme Court larger bench hearing the petition against his eligibility to contest for the post of president had asked his election results not be officially confirmed until the case had been decided, he did not wait for that.
Instead, as soon as he and his advisers sensed that the verdict was likely to go against him, he initiated a war against the judiciary and the Constitution.
In a move without precedent in Pakistan’s or even the world’s judicial history, he fired nearly 60 judges of the superior courts, installed a new apex court judiciary and got his election confirmed, despite widespread protests in legal and human rights circles here and overseas.
He did not accept his moral defeat and an impending legal one, with or without grace. Nor has he been accepting the results of opinion polls by the International Republican Institute and another one by Dawn showing that most Pakistanis want him to quit. How can he tell others to accept defeat with grace?
Another important fact is that Mr Musharraf has been acting as the judge, jury and executioner at the same time in his dealings with the deposed judges, especially
the Chief Justice of Pakistan, as well as other major opponents such as Aitzaz Ahsan, Munir Malik, Ali Ahmed Kurd and Justice (r) Tariq Mehmood.
The deposed Chief Justice and his family are being held in home imprisonment despite many false claims to the contrary by the government, and was not even allowed to meet Justice Rana Bhagwandas when he was going home after his retirement. The others are under arrest, too.
Mr Musharraf is so fearful of the popularity of Justice Chaudhry and the rest that they are being treated like the most dangerous terrorists. As Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday recently observed, the government has failed to cite even one case where the SC judges delivered a verdict in violation of the law or the Constitution.
The suicide bombings have only increased after Nov 3, which only reflects the president’s unpopularity and inability to check terrorism.
IRSHAD S.
Karachi
BRIG (r) Cheema states that in a crisis the first casualty is the truth. In the assassination of Benazir Bhutto the truth seems to be an ongoing victim. From the cause of death being ascribed to first a bullet, then shrapnel and now a lever which she is supposed to have hit as she ducked seems a ludicrous statement that is being viewed with scepticism all over the world.
Perhaps he might want to reword it to prevent embarrassment. While it is conceivable that she could have been slammed against the lever due to the bomb blast and been fatally injured but then other injuries are lacking. For him to state she hit the lever as she ducked and her brains spilled out is absurd.
I assure him the skull is better protected than that. Clearly these guys do not know what they are doing or have something to hide. Mr Cheema’s designation should be ‘Chief Crisis Spin Officer’.
What he needs to answer is how a gun was pointed at her from less than five yards.
The flashy but useless Rehman Malik should also be made to answer the same.
DR A. AHMED
Kararchi
JAMEEL Kayani’s letter brought tears to my eyes not only because of the helplessness of a retired army officer but because of millions of other Pakistanis who might be suffering from similar heart problems and could not afford any surgery or medication.
As a Pakistani-Canadian I wish we had basic medical care in Pakistan. The government needs to spend more money on beds in hospitals than on bullets killing fellow Muslims.
JALAL HUSSAIN
Canada
THIS refers to Mohammad Khan Sial’s letter (Dec 16) and Khan Baba’s (Dec 25) on the private Sindhi channels. Like me, many Sindhis are fed up with the dangerous trends introduced by private TV Sindhi channels for exhibiting arms and ammunitions in their dramas frequently.
I support the suggestion that the government should ban exhibition of arms and ammunitions in dramas of all private TV satellite channels alike.
MARVI MEMON
Islamabad
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