| January 17, 2008 | Thursday | Muharram 07, 1429 |
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An issue of racism
Land reforms
Reducing energy consumption
President thanked
Beware of rumours
Selfish citizens
Play on drug menace
Moderate Islam
Lecturers’ problems
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
IT was good to read that PPP (SB) leader Ghinwa Bhutto wants a reconciliation with Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and that she had laid aside the family feud to attend Benazir Bhutto’s funeral (Jan. 10).
What is more, she appears to have a good opinion of the new, youthful PPP chairman. Ms Bhutto observed, “He seems to be a nice boy” and described him as a “sweet boy, always willing to get in touch, always willing to speak, always willing to hug and kiss his cousins and even me” despite the strains in the family.
The report also noted that these cousins include a young woman widely seen as another potential heir to the Bhutto heritage — and one who had continued the feud with Benazir’s side of the family: Murtaza and Ghinwa Bhutto’s 25-year-old daughter Fatima.
The lady’s words seem to confirm the initial impression one has formed of Bilawal in recent days, who had remained largely absent from public view until his mother’s tragic death thrust him into the limelight.
The report also revealed that the late Ms Bhutto had once scathingly referred to Ghinwa as a ‘Lebanese belly dancer’. One recalls that many years back there was a story that the latter had actually been a teacher of Fatima when Murtaza Bhutto was living in exile in Syria. Interestingly, it was Fatima herself who, even as a schoolgirl, had the wisdom to recommend to her father (who had been divorced from his first wife, i.e. Fatima’s mother) that her teacher is a very good person and he ought to marry her.
As a person who has no interest in politics but only in Pakistan’s well-being, one would whole-heartedly recommend that the two families do forget their past grievances and embrace each other now, regardless of whether or not Bilawal joins Ghinwa’s faction of the PPP, as desired by her.
Both Bilawal and Fatima (who writes poetry and has published a collection) appear to be very sensible people and, given the importance that the Bhutto family has assumed in the life of Pakistan, could in the future provide a sincere and capable leadership. Until that time it is hoped that Asif Zardari would carry on as the much chastened and improved man that he now appears to be, conscious of the acute need to preserve Pakistan’s unity and become well-loved.
There is a beautiful Chinese proverb that one dearly wishes to share with the young Bhuttos in particular.
If there is light in the soul,
There will be beauty in the person.
If there is beauty in the person,
There will be harmony in the house,
If there is harmony in the house,
There will be order in the nation.
If there is order in the nation,
There will be peace in the world.
Being a very democratic-minded person, one would normally be opposed to dynastic politics. However, given the realities of South Asian politics and the “light in the soul” apparently possessed by these young members, it may be okay for the party to have them at the helm. While sympathising for the enormous tragedy undergone by them, one wishes them and Pakistan very well for the future.
KHALID CHAUDHRY
Karachi
This is in reference to Mr Mohammed Ejaz Rasheed’s response to the letter, “Fair and not so fair skin” (Jan 14).
First and foremost, where did Mr Rasheed quote from that Harbhajan abused Symonds racially? (”....he had gone too far in racial abuse against Symonds....”). Mr Rasheed makes sense when he says “The umpires are humans and they can make mistakes”. Well, to avoid such mistakes, a 3rd umpire is used. Has Mr Rasheed seen a 3rd umpire making mistakes? Moreover, why on earth does an umpire have to ask a fielder for a decision? If decisions were to be made by asking the fielding team, then every appeal should be given out.
Secondly, I don’t understand why Mr Rasheed gave a hats off to the Aussie team? Is it because the Aussies have won the series or Indians have lost it? Well, today, for any cricketing team in the world, it is important to beat the Aussie team, and not beating any meek team.
Third point, I still have not seen any one praising that team, except for Mr Rasheed, for winning the series against India. Many Australians have expressed their concerns over the arrogant behavior of Mr Ponting and his team.
Lastly, it is not a matter of winning or losing, good umpiring or bad umpiring, it is matter of racism (calling one a “monkey” does not sound racism), but the attitude towards sub-continent teams by the rest of the world. I hope the point is clear. In cricket, Pakistan is my favorite team, if India is not playing.
P M JOSHI
Bangalore
Ahmad Faruqui’s article (Jan 14) calls for land reforms as means to uplift the masses. I condemn this proposal as being counter productive and having a negative impact on the rural economy and society.
We have seen two land reforms in the past, one in the Ayub era and the other one in the Bhutto era, both have resulted in creating leadership vacuums which have been filled by thugs, robbers and dacoits. Also, areas where land reforms had taken place, the lands were not given to the haris or the farm labourers but were instead given to army officers. A case in point is the vast tract of land in Cholistan, Rajunpur and such other districts in Punjab.
Mr Faruqui should awaken to the fact that feudalism is a dead horse and a non-issue. It is not the feudals now who are running the country but the newly emerged class of capitalists and retired generals who form the policies of the country. I would also like to take this opportunity to place before the readers a judgment as quoted by V.D. Mahajan in his book Jurisprudence, that the Indian Supreme Court has condemned land reforms as being against the natural rights of man and also against inheritance rights of the individual and the Indian Supreme Court has stated that in India there would be no further land reforms. As this case was filed after the commencement of land reforms in India, hence the judgment could not have a retrospective effect on the policies of the Indian government.
ALI HUSSAIN MAZARI
Multan
YOUR editorial, ‘Conservation by all’ (Jan 13), suggests some good measures to bring about economy in energy consumption. May I add that there are many more effective ways to reduce energy consumption. In North America, the campaign to reduce energy consumption has been in place for over 20 years now.
The ministry of industries provides incentives to factories to save energy in their industrial operations. More fuel-efficient cars, buses, trucks, locomotives and aircraft have been developed as a result of government emphasis and incentives to the manufacturers.
The Canadian Mortgage Housing Corporation (CMHC) introduced the programme of Canadian Home Insulation Plan (CHIP) in the early 1980s through which they provided loans and grants to home owners to better insulate their homes so that they would use less energy in heating homes during the winter. Home design alterations in Pakistan would enable the home owners to keep their homes comparatively cooler during summer requiring less use of air conditioners.
Energy-efficient refrigerators, washing machines and coolers are available in the market in North America. Even the light bulbs have been designed and being marketed that consume less than half the energy originally consumed by the older style light bulbs.
Smart electricity meters have been installed in Ontario homes. They will become operational during 2008. Through them consumers will be provided incentive to use less energy during peak hours when the electric charges per unit will be three times higher than the off peak hours. They can reduce their electricity bills substantially if they restrict the use of higher electricity consuming machines, such as washers, dryers, ovens etc. during the day when there is less demand for energy.
Every citizen of Pakistan must accept his/her responsibility to devise means through which they use less energy in their daily chores of home, office and transportation.
HUMAYUN ZAFAR
Canada
THANK you, Mr President, for doing what was requested of you to do in my letters of Dec 21 and Nov 9, 2007. (It may be a wishful thinking, it may be a lot of people’s desire too – but let me take the credit).
In my letter of Dec 19, I had suggested that the smuggling of flour and wheat to India and Afghanistan be stopped and the hoarders sent to jail. We can see the results by the news that 300 trucks of flour destined for Afghanistan were stopped at Chaman from crossing over to Afghanistan; and 25 flour hoarders were sent to jail in Karachi.
Previously, in my letter of Nov 9, I had suggested to the US, that Pakistan was not welcome in Washington because it was not pulling the strings, “to swap Pakistan with India by accepting New Delhi’s offer of cooperation it extended to Washington in 2001 just before the invasion of Afghanistan”. Your retort to the US to find a new partner in the war on terror is a timely manoeuvre which is what we all wanted. It needed to be told earlier. But it is never too late to begin.
As far as flour crisis is concerned, it may subside for a while, but the enemies of Pakistan — within and without — may spring it up again, or any other crisis, as they are out to destroy us and particularly you. Mr President, I ask you — as everybody else would ask you — to defeat them in their designs.
There was one point not clarified by me in the December letter: terrorism. One can tell who the terrorists are. Al Qaeda and Taliban are the names of the factions. They are anti-American elements who are fighting the US for the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. They will go away if the war in these Muslim countries is stopped.
Had Afghanistan or Iraq attacked the US, the Americans would have been terrorists labelled by the invaders, but the Americans fighting them would have been heroes in the eyes of Americans.
M. K. NAQVI
Karachi
THIS refers to a report, ‘Rumours test people’s nerves in three cities of Sindh’ (Jan 10). Rumours about killing of MMA secretary-general Maulana Fazlur Rahman and MQM’s deputy convener Dr Farooq Sattar created panic in Karachi and other cities of Sindh.
Such rumours serve to highlight a sense of insecurity among people who have not yet recovered from the aftershocks of disturbances witnessed after Benazir Bhutto’s assassination on Dec 27 in Rawalpindi.
In the past, the citizens of Karachi were also harassed by rumour-mongers. When in May/June 1995, a rumour about pricking of a needle stealthily in the people’s body at their back during the rush hours on packed buses and in crowded markets by someone with leaving a note, ‘Welcome to Aids Patients Society’, was spread which created harassment and panic among people for many weeks.
Then in April last year a rumour spread like wildfire that a deadly virus is being transmitted via cellphones and anyone answering calls from certain numbers or code would contract a fatal disease. But thanks to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority as they promptly clarified through the print and electronic media that there is no truth in the rumours.
Similarly, in Lahore, according to a report published in the press on Jan 11, after the suicide attack on police officials on Jan 10, the police helpline received seven hoax calls regarding blasts at Chauburji, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Mayo Hospital, the Services Hospital, Lorry Adda, Lakshmi Chowk and Hall Road which created further panic among the people, and traders in various markets closed their shops after the rumours reached them.
Rumours are a perfect medium for unacknowledgeable clandestine propaganda and deception. They are incredibly hard to trace and near impossible to prove their origin; they can spread like the proverbial wildfire.
There is no one in the world who does not relish passing on gossip or a titbit of “inside” information.
The spreading of ‘inspired rumours’ is one method utilised to deceive and depress the public/enemy. Rumours are often generated from imaginative minds of a cynical public or are propagated or assisted by hostile intelligence services. When there is a huge public interest in an event with strong emotional appeal and a lack of verifiable facts, the most fanciful stories can flourish and be given credence.
The only remedy to curb rumours is public awareness regarding rumour-mongering and its adverse effects and a quick action by the government to quash the rumours before they spread, through the electronic and print media.
There is also a need to educate people regarding prevention against rumours by means of displaying precautionary posters against rumours in public places, offices, schools, colleges, hospitals and factories/mills, etc.
During World War II, with strictly controlled and curtailed news media, the rumour potentially was a very valuable and potent weapon in influencing public opinion and for demoralising the armed forces and civilian population. Hence, all warring nations impressed upon their own people not to pass on gossip and hearsay.
Across Britain posters reinforced the message with such famous phrases as “Tittle-tattle lost the battle”, “ Keep mum, she’s not dumb”, and “Careless talk costs lives”. In Germany a poster illustrated how a ‘latrine rumour’ passed onto one person at 2pm would rapidly spread, so by 3.30pm. Thousands of people had heard the scandalous story.
SQN LDR(R) S. AUSAF HUSAIN
Karachi
I AM writing in response to Zohaib Ali Zahid’s letter, ‘Fears of an overseas Pakistani’ (Jan 9).
He says that he wanted to return to Pakistan after studies and live here happily ever after, but given the present situation, he is compelled to review his decision.
Well, he is not the only one, people living in Pakistan are dying to leave it. Ask any young or middle-aged person and their future plan would be to settle somewhere abroad, preferably in the Middle East. Nobody wants to live in a country where there is no electricity, food and, most importantly, security.
True that people who may hope to seek help are corrupt themselves. But how can you blame them only?
We have erratic traffic and we break signals just because it is easy to get away with it. You can evade the law and not get a ticket just by a bribe of Rs50 or just by saying: “Do you know whose car you have stopped?”
It is true that the situation of the country is deteriorating, but who do we blame? We can’t blame everything on the government, because they are not responsible for everything.
There are so many people right now in the country and living abroad who think the same way as us but are we doing something about it? Do we care? We only care about ourselves and our safety; hence we plan on settling abroad. But what about the people who don’t have the luxury of leaving the country?
Mr Zahid wrote out of frustration and helplessness and I’m writing this letter for the same reasons, but then again, nothing substantial will be done.
No wonder Pakistan is in bad shape today.
SANA HAIDER
Karachi
IN many years have I received immense pleasure in watching a long play, ‘Nasoor’ on a local TV channel on Jan 12. Skillfully written and deftly produced, the play was on the burning issue of narcotics.
In the wake of rampant violence and vulgarity in TV dramas, this play was nothing short of a whiff of cool breeze in a hot desert. It was a salutary effort on the part of the Anti-Narcotic Force, Sindh and the Hum TV channel alike.
Surprisingly, however, the names of the writer and the producer were missing from the castboard.
The unknown two deserve kudos for such an excellent play which was not only purposeful but interesting and enjoyable from the first to the last scene.
DR.S.M.MOIN QURESHI
Karachi
With all due respect to Rubina Saigol, she is wrong to attribute ‘moderation’ to the Jamaat-i-Islami in her January 14 article. Au contraire, the Jamaat, much like its Arab cousin the Muslim Brotherhood, represents the very tip of the extremist iceberg, a Salafist aberration at war against classic, normal Islam: the Islam of the Companions and the Four Imams, the Islam of the Abbasids, Ottomans, and Mughals, the really moderate Islam around which in past centuries coalesced whole civilizations. Theocratic governance, an idea totally alien to mainstream Muslims who never lived under a Pope-like figure, has the Jamaat and the Ikhwan to thank for its dangerous ascendance in Muslim societies everywhere.
Suicidal terrorism, or jihadism as some may call it, owes its existence to the breakdown of traditional Islamic structures of religious and political authority, and no one in the subcontinent has adopted, promoted, even sanctified this breakdown more than — painful as this might be to accept — the world-famous founder of the Jamaat, feted as a great thinker when, in fact, he was the first to lend the veneer of scholarly respectability to illegal use of violence in the name of Islam.
In proper Islamic terms, anyone politicizing religion is an extremist, as access to God must always remain open to everyone, the politically disinclined included.
Listen to a Jamaat speaker for some time, however, and one will undeniably get the impression that this political party has the market cornered on eternal salvation.
BILAL AHMAD
Houston, USA
I would like to draw the attention to the accomodation issue of college lecturers. They are appointed through rigorous selection procedures by the Punjab Public Service Commission and posted in far-flung areas of the province on very low salaries, which makes it hard for them to make both ends meet.
In many colleges, there are no residence facilities available. How can a lecturer get a house in a new area where rents are almost as much as his pay?
For those who are posted near cities, the daily travel to and fro eats up a huge amount of money due to high fares, and also poses a risk to their lives. Some of them have even lost their lives during their journey to colleges.
Many lecturers have either left the profession or the country. The teachers should either be posted near their homes or given reasonable accommodation near their colleges, otherwise good teachers would leave for better opportunities.
DAWN READER
Lahore
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