| January 31, 2008 | Thursday | Muharram 21, 1429 |
To send a letter to the Editor
Click here
A difficult choice
Gojal’s health problem
Shift in academic year
Benazir’s enactment
A different perspective
Provocative statements
Tribute to policemen
Lord of battle line
Stock Market working
CSS exams
Definition
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 the death of comrade George Habash, the founder and former secretary-general of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), reported briefly in Dawn in its Jan 27 issue.
The PFLP represents the only progressive, grassroots component within the Palestinian struggle.
Habash’s experience with the defeat of Nasserist ideology in the Arab-Israeli war of 1967 correctly led him to deduce that the only way a state armed to the teeth with American weapons and helped by the impotency of US client regimes in the Arab world was to utilise the well-established principle of armed struggle, well-documented in almost all the national liberation struggles in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, whether it was the French maquis, the Algerians against the French or the Vietnamese against the Americans.
Those in the West who unjustly criticise Habash and the PFLP’s tactics are in bed with the same pro-colonial and pro-imperialist forces who never wanted the French to be free from Vichy, or the Algerians from the French or the Vietnamese from American occupation.
George Habash was the only giant amongst all the mediocrities left by Yasser Arafat’s tragic death. Arafat’s successors are all a pack of grovellers. Habash was in fact the only Palestinian leader who enjoyed a moral stature equal to Arafat because of his uncompromising politics and personal integrity, and that too from the left.
Arafat unquestioningly submitted and agreed to whatever the Israelis and Americans told him, which Habash opposed. The presence of the PFLP under the umbrella of Fatah is also proof to detractors of the struggle who always painted the Palestinians as fanatical jihadis. The PFLP is Marxist, secular and believes in a bi-national state for both Arabs and Jews.
In fact, he wanted an end to the client states in the region and realised that the Palestinian struggle was not an end in itself but a front for the eventual liberation of the entire Arab Middle East from the yoke of the Israeli-American protectorate status imposed upon it. Such is his stature that Palestinians from as diverse sides of the political spectrum as Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah and Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas have condoled his death and praised his relentless sacrifices for the Palestinian cause.
One only needs to look at what happened after the Gazans broke through the wall with Egypt. The only way to halt this is principled guerilla war which will make Israel ungovernable and make the regime in Tel Aviv come to its senses.
I believe that future events in Palestine will vindicate Habash’s turn after 1967 to armed struggle and confirm him as one of the great revolutionaries of the 20th century in the lineage of Fidel Castro, Ahmed Ben Bella, Ho Chi Minh and Mao Zedong
RAZA NAEEM
Lahore
THIS is apropos of Irfan Husain’s article, ‘Lectures on democracy’ (Jan 26). Mr Husain need not be vexed by anyone sermonising to Pakistan on democracy. Essentially it is the country’s political situation, and less because of President Musharraf’s speech, that has deservedly elicited responses, in this case from the likes of Condoleezza Rice.
I believe we don’t have to upbraid others for their thoughts and utterances as long as they don’t smack of utter insolence. Is there not a clear perception within our own people that the country’s administrative and political institutions are manifestly in a dilapidated state?
Mr Husain’s contention that democracy can grow only if allowed to is irrefutable. The military leader’s customary response that coups in Pakistan were brought because of the politicians’ exhortations is crass sardonicism, if not subterfuge. Discounting any credit to politicians, they seek military’s help to eject an incumbent government since it is indubitably the most powerful force in the national affairs.
Furthermore, military leaders listen only to part of the demand made upon them; the ensuing appeals that they should hold a fresh election following military takeover is ignored altogether. In reality it is this predisposition to lord over the country that compels some in the upper hierarchy of armed forces to recognise the call for a change of government only.
Today we are reaping what was sown by the last military dictator. If he was so committed to democracy, then why did he have to adopt a ‘phased approach to implement true democracy’?
By allowing the two main political leaders to return from exile, things have gone full circle to the same starting point. President Musharraf could have done the same in the 2002 election, instead of waiting all this while and experimenting with prime ministerial candidates in the intervening period.
Nothing fresh is expected to come out of the upcoming election. The exiled leaders and their parties have gained considerable political capital by positing themselves against Mr Musharraf.
The two (now one) main leaders received a hero’s welcome upon their return just because they vowed to be in the van of opposing Musharraf, notwithstanding their penchant for deals. This then is the sum of their claims to accomplishment in their ‘unceasing efforts’ for the people of Pakistan.
It is indeed truly heartening that amidst all this, people are still pinning their hopes on democracy. But it is hard to make a choice as to which political party or leader can fulfil this aspiration.
If it were for me, I would choose neither Musharraf nor PML/PPP. Democracy as political creed appears well beyond their grasp.
BABAR KHAN SARAI
Peshawara
GOJAL is one of the most neglected tehsils of Gilgit district as far as the availability of health facilities is concerned. A 10-bed hospital, constructed recently, is the only healthcare facility that caters to the need of 17,000 people of the area.
The hospital is being run by a general physician with a number of male and female nurses, but lacks basic facilities like life-saving drugs and necessary equipment. The doctor remains absent most of the time making patients to wait endlessly at the hospital. He does not miss a single opportunity to go on leave on public holidays and prolongs his leave.
The only hope for the people are the three maternal and child healthcare centres being run by the Aga Khan Health Services in different villages of the Gojal valley. There has been a sharp decline in child and maternal mortality rate in the region, thanks to these centres. But these three centres are also not properly staffed with experienced doctors and lack well-equipped ambulances. Most of the centres are run by nurses who lack the expertise of performing major surgeries.
Emergency and serious cases are referred to Aliabad in central Hunza, or Gilgit city. Many a time patients lose their life en route to hospital.
There is a need to discuss the sorry state of affairs. Dollar-yielding careers in multinational development organisations cannot be the yardstick for human development.
We can call ourselves a developed society only if we have the capacity to provide proper healthcare facilities to people. Otherwise we are making a fool of ourselves.
I would request the government and the NGOs to join hands and provide a complete and updated health delivery system in Gojal.
NOOR MOHAMMAD
Gulmit Gojal
AS a parent, I am appalled at the recent zig-zags executed by the education department of Sindh.
Two years ago, they changed the start of the school year to August. Now they are reverting to April.
Two years ago, they announced the abolition of board examinations for Grade IX; eight months later, they reinstated the examinations (the students had only two months to prepare).
For two years, students have not known which books to study in Grades IX and X. Books prescribed by the board for the examinations were never published by it.
This year we do not know whether the final examinations will be in March or May. It is said that the announcement will come in the middle of February; students might only have one month to prepare.
Parents may have to buy new books and copies in March, in the same month when private schools would be collecting the fees for June/July.
To rub salt into the wound, books may not even be available for the first couple of months and parents will have to find secondhand books for the first two months.
In the last few years, schools have been forced to close every time there is a cricket ODI in Karachi. A holiday was once declared following another day as well, to celebrate Pakistan’s victory.
Responsible officials of the ministry of education publicly and regularly admonish schools to remain closed on holidays the ministry announces.
What do we do?
IRATE PARENT
Karachi
THIS is with reference to a letter by Khushbakht Vaka (Jan 12) where the writer has shown her profound concern on Indian actors playing the role of Pakistan People’s Party leader and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, in the film which is being made on her life.
Let me inform the writer that I always admired and followed Ms Bhutto for her dynamism and charisma, but let it be known that perhaps everyone knows this that Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah was an even towering personality in Pakistan’s politics and in Jamil Dehlvi’s film ‘Jinnah’ we saw Christopher Lee playing the role of the Quaid.
A renowned Hollywood actor, Lee was famous for his role as Dracula and also the main villian in one of the James Bond flicks of the 70s.
When such a versatile actor playing the father of our nation can be accepted on the screen, then why not an Indian actress, namely Shabana Azmi, could play Benazir Bhutto.
There may be good actresses here in Pakistan too for this role but making an unnecessary issue of this by saying that the PPP should take note of this and perhaps adding fuel to fire.
MANSOOR RIZVI
Karachi
THIS is apropos of Zubair Faisal Abbasi’s letter (Jan 9) in reply to mine (Dec 25). As I wrote on the subject from an uncommon point of view, I did expect some brickbats. I belong to an older generation and, as they say, “have seen it all”, over the last seven decades. I remember how, even as children, we used to parade the streets shouting for the creation of Pakistan before 1947. Disintegration and turmoil was never foreseen by that older generation.
About the present political situation, it is easier to comment with hindsight, but I could see it coming long ago. I expressed my apprehensions as early as March 2007, soon after the removal of the chief justice of Pakistan. My letter, “Knowing when to stop’ (March 27), described how we, as a nation, always manage to extract defeat from the jaws of victory, as we did it in 1969, 1977 and 1997. It gives me no pleasure to say that my premonitions have come true.
All of us wish to get rid of the curse of military rule. My only point of difference is the strategy for achieving the goal. In other words, we have to distinguish between the ‘desirable’ and the ‘achievable’ at a given moment in time, lest we lose what has already been achieved. This approach does not preclude the option of fighting for greater freedom, in our future struggles.
Lest I be accused of defeatism, let me remind Mr Abbasi that the Constitution we want to protect was not an ideal document but was the best achievable under the prevailing circumstances. Even the creation of Pakistan became possible when the Quaid-i-Azam decided that this was the best achievable, under the circumstances. And no one, not even his enemies, can accuse our great leader of defeatism.
The history of mankind is an eternal debate about idealism and pragmatism. There is no absolute answer to the question of choosing one against the other. In the recent history of the subcontinent, Chaudhry Rehmat Ali was the idealist who disagreed with the Quaid. Similarly, Subhash Chandr Bose disagreed with Gandhi. Yet no one can doubt their commitment to the common goal of independence. All I am appealing for is that we as a nation should be ready to listen to others’ points of view, without accusing them of insincerity.
Perhaps Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry is an idealist. That does not diminish his stature as a great fighter for the freedom of judiciary. Mankind would be poorer without the idealism of great thinkers. But nations also need pragmatists to survive and prosper.
The non-PCO judiciary has made great personal sacrifices for the sake of their cause. In my humble view, they should have tried their best to stay ‘in saddle’ till after the election, even if it meant being a bit lenient in certain matters. Not for their own sake, but for the sake of their cause, they should have followed the ‘survival instinct’ rather than the urge to be martyrs. Their judgments should have been honed with acumen and astuteness to avoid the risk of emergency at all costs. Even after the elections, they held other trump cards to play, for example, by announcing the following:
1. The president’s election by the old NA will expire in 90 days, unless endorsed by newly-elected body.
2. The Supreme Court will decide the legitimacy of the NRO.
3. The Supreme Court will look into complaints of election rigging.
In other words, they should have concentrated on a few important issues rather than going for 100 suo motu cases. The president was already weakened. Why use a sledge hammer, when a chisel can do the demolition job, especially if the splinters are going to hurt you.
KHALID
London UK
NEITHER our generals nor any of our politicians have the courage to stand up against the provocative statements issued by presidential aspirants of the US or the current establishment against Pakistan. This is a blatant interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state.
On the contrary, they all queue up to gain their favours. Are we truly independent? Do we expect any honours for the country from these so-called leaders? Our heads drop in shame and depression due to the current affairs in Pakistan.
SOHAIL ANSARI
United Kingdom
THIS is apropos of the shootout at Shah Latif Town, Karachi, on Jan 29 between the militants and the police. I would like to offer my sincere gratitude to the police for extraordinary skill showed by them, and my condolences to the families of the ones who so heroically and gallantly laid down their lives in countering terrorism.
I would request the government and the commissioner of Sindh police to decorate valiant officers such as Asghar Dahri, Head Constable Raja Tariq and all 50 policemen who raided the hideout.
Also, compensation should be made to the families who have lost their loved ones to this evil which has engulfed the entire world. All security forces involved should be rewarded to motivate and raise their spirits.
I hope this act of bravery has silenced all critics of our police force. I would urge the government that necessary steps are taken to improve the standards of our police force and also to eliminate the vice of corruption from the police force.
ALISTAIR A. D’SOUZA
Karachi
THIS is apropos of Aitzaz Ahsan’s article, ‘Benazir Bhutto as I knew her’ (Jan 29). The writer analysed the political wisdom and democratic values which Benazir Bhutto inherited as well as practiced. The crude reality of our history reminds us that those who stood for the common man and rule of law are mercilessly eradicated from the scene either in the form of death or left languishing behind bars.
The rich soil of Pakistan gifted us with numerous able personalities, but this is our dilemma that those figures keep us from progress.
I salute the intense struggle of Aitaz Ahsan as he is the “lord of our far-flung battle line”, a battle for the restoration of justice and law.
ANWAR CHISHTI
Lahore
AS a small investor and a student of the stock market, I wish to inform and caution small investors to be very careful till the election. I would also like to give some advice to small investors.
These days the brokers are talking of 16,000 to 18,000 points. Do not get carried away by the figures as it’s how your individual stock is performing. Also the fair values are very misleading as they give 137 to 147 as fair value of OGDC. A few months back, it was available for Rs108 but then why were they not bought at all? So is the case with other stocks.
Secondly, the PE price earning ratio is the best indicator to invest. Dividend yield is miserably low for most stocks – a three to four per cent. So my research on the KSE is: it’s best to buy a share at PE of eight to nine and sell it at PE of 11 to 12. PE is stock price divided by EPS earning per share. If you look at the KSE every year, it makes two lows and highs, it crashes or goes down every year. The reasons are many but what goes up comes down like in March 2005, June 2006, August 2007.These are best times for investing in the market. If one is not sure, please invest in mutual funds.
Another word of caution with all the claims of KSE, the market is awash with speculation, manipulation, etc. You can see the cases of KAPCO, Callmate Tel.ps and JVOa, etc., last year. The NIT is very successful because, in the words of Tariq Iqbal, they sell in a rising market and buy in falling markets.
M. IQBAL
Karachi
I AGREE with Numair Malik’s request (letter, Jan 28 ) which he made to the president of Pakistan, chief justice of Pakistan and the FPSC chairman that CSS examinations should be delayed for at least a month. The reasons that he gave in support of his demand are valid.
There have been great power outages in the recent weeks that have badly affected the preparation of CSS candidates. Six to eight hours of loadshedding in Lahore and other parts of the country have created great miseries for CSS candidates.
It is, therefore, requested to the authorities concerned that they should postpone the CSS examinations for at least a month so that the candidates can make up for the lost time.
QAMARUDDIN RAHPOTO
Hyderabad
THE definition of democracy is: government by the people, of the people, for the people.
It is re-defined for Pakistan: Minus people.
ANWAR AHMED
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.