| February 03, 2008 | Sunday | Muharram 24, 1429 |
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Change of academic year
Separate federating units
Imran in US
American folly
Chemical and biological terrorism
Talagang hospital management
Popular with the masses
A cruel joke
A tall order
Fighting terrorism
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
RECENTLY concerns and opinions have been expressed by the expats and the young generation about conditions in Pakistan and its future. An article by Ayesha Siddiqa, ‘The foreign Pakistanis’ (Nov 25), also addresses the same concerns. These concerns and opinions hit home. Those are real and valid.
I am one who after spending 34 years in the West studying, establishing and tottering the globe decided to return to Sohni Dharti to try out how it feels. With my realistic approach and tolerance for the worst, it has been compelling that the things are even going to get worse than better in the near or even the mid future. I attribute that to the following factors: (a) cultural values, (b) economic conditions and (c) political drama.
Cultural values in Pakistan are mostly based on religion and traditions. The sad part is both the bases are parroted rather than practised with understanding the purposes of them. With a few exceptions, not material to impact society, there is lack of understanding of both the factors.
Religion is used for ulterior and sanctimonious motives. Traditions are blindly followed without regard to understanding why were those necessary in eons. People have entrenched themselves in just talking without regard to what does it mean what they say. It’s like there is a fear that if anyone thinks, they will be taxed heavily or incur a massive debt.
Examples would be a household of eight to 10 with an income of Rs2,000 to Rs 3,000; Pakistan has wilfully chosen not to get rid of colonial shackles like the use of previous position as retired for something or something else; lawyers wearing black jackets in the heat; people of positions having the escorts. Why? Colonial masters needed those because they were afraid of their subjects. Who are you afraid of? What have you done wrong to have escort? Public servants do not need escorts.
Economically speaking, on my arrival I studied three years’ records. I was exuberant to note that there was real economic growth of 21 + per cent. A remarkable achievement. by any measure. The question then was: how has that growth filtered down to the masses? It has not. It is the opposite. The lot of masses is even lower and the fall is a freefall as evidenced by the rate of inflation and shortage of essentials.
The majority lives in villages. Seems no attention is being paid for even maintenance of a normal life. There may be plans but how are those executed that actually benefit the citizens? Just chat a little with your household help. You will find out these folks do not live. They just exist.
Political drama is comical. The basic function of the government, among others, is to protect the fundamental individual rights of citizens. Seems this fundamental function is non-existent. Might is right. There is no law and order. There are inept, inadequate and corrupt civil and judicial infrastructures and practices. Will there be a Pakistan as we know it? Our recent history, to my utter dismay, suggests ‘no’. We lost East Pakistan to the designs of hegemony and our own lack of cohesive national purpose. Further dismemberment is a matter of time.
Each of these factors can be expanded in sub-factors in an appropriate forum. What is then the point here other than expressing an opinion? Well, expression of opinion is necessary to create awareness. Then the questions are going to be: What do we do? Is there anything we could do to prevent the fall?
Yes, two things: Let’s be human first and do unto others what we would like to be done to us, Second, make a difference in someone’s life by our actions and attention. We all have this ability. Just the awareness and determination, followed by conscious and consistent actions, are needed. The oceans are subtotal of the drops they contain, so are we the people of Pakistan sum total of us individuals. Let’s be cognizant of our responsibilities rather than just simply resign.
Despite all these, on the positive side, folks, this is our Sohni Dharti. Compared to current situations in Kenya, Egypt, Gaza, Palestine, Indonesia and even in Indian Reservations in the US, we are much better off. This, however, is not our lot. Each one of us has a responsibility and a choice. Let’s not be apathetic.
ISMAIL PEERANI
Karachi
PROMINENT educationists seem surprised at the demand by the teachers’ association and by the All Private Schools Association (APSA) for an April start to the academic year (your coverage of Jan 31 dexterously avoids providing the ‘real motives’ as for starting in April). The ‘powerful’ Steering Committee of the Sindh ministry of education has shown greater understanding of the elusive subject.
With the year commencing in August, Grades IX and X board examinations are conducted as late as May and practical examinations spill over well into June. The August year eats into the teachers’ holidays. A “teachers’ association” duly ‘represented’ at the Jan 12 meeting of the Steering Committee protested for an April start.
As did APSA, a remarkable outfit that claims to represent ‘hundreds of private schools, mostly from the interior of Sindh’, but whose names it refuses to reveal.
I spoke to certain schools that support APSA, but could not find any that is a member. However, the discussions were enlightening and I share:
First, an August year is hard for these private schools for a variety of reasons. Foremost, these schools become obligated to pay the leave encashment demanded by the teachers.
Second, fee charging schools earn less when the academic year commences in August. Students admitted in April would pay the fee not only for April and May, but also for June and July. Students admitted in August avoid having to pay for June and July, thus lowering earnings.
Third, for a complicated set of reasons, fee collection for these schools is easier if the year starts in April (fee collection is a major concern of schools of a certain class).
With its recent recommendations, the Steering Committee has addressed the concerns of teachers and private school owners. On Feb 4, however, ministry officials will receive their counterparts from Balochistan, the NWFP and Punjab in a seminar that will also discuss the academic year. Perhaps the committee should explore why its guests are more interested in the welfare of the students.
ALI SYEDAIN
Karachi
THIS is apropos of Anwar Syed’s article (Jan 13). His logical analysis of inter-provincial mistrust is thought-provoking. But I do feel that we need some fresh thinking ‘out of the box’.
The ‘old box’ here is our set-up of four unequal provinces. Historically, the present provincial boundaries are fairly recent. Sindh used to be part of the Bombay province.
The old Punjab included East Punjab but the Bahawalpur state was not part of the province. Similarly, Qalat, Swat, etc, were autonomous states. Also, for several years, we had no provinces at all, except the One Unit of West Pakistan.
If we look across the border, several new provinces have been created in India, under an act of Parliament in 1956. Another very relevant example is Nigeria.
They had four provinces and one out of four decided to secede from the federation. This led to the Biafaran civil war in the 1960s.
After the war, Nigeria decided that if they should keep a set-up of four provinces, each province would have a feeling of self-importance, so any complaint of real or perceived injustice could lead to a threat of secession.
Therefore, soon after the end of civil war, the Nigerian government created 12 provinces. Thus the threatening posture of any province was out of question. They have many more provinces now.
If India could be divided into Bharat, Pakistan and Bangladesh, and, also, if Punjab and Bengal could be sub-divided in 1947, there is no argument that our present provinces cannot be sub-divided. Of course, such a decision should be based on the merits of the proposal.
There seems to be a strong case for having about 10 provinces. Thus the problem of domination by ‘Big Brother’ will be eliminated.
If the choice is between the breakup of the federation or the subdivision of the provinces, all patriotic Pakistanis should opt for the latter.
Khalid A.
London UK
THE chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, Imran Khan, was invited to the United States of America on the behest of thePakistan American Society to address and explain the current situation prevailing in Pakistan.
He emphasised to the expat community that the American interference in Pakistan is causing great damage to the relationship between the two countries. The anti-US sentiments are spreading due to the US backing of a military dictator against the democratic movement.
He further stated that the US should refrain from supporting any political party like brokering the deal between Gen Musharraf and the Pakistan People’s Party and instead insist that the democratic process be established. Mr Khan emphasised that the reinstatement of the deposed judges can ensure that a free and fair election is conducted and that the country is put on the path to real democracy.
Mr Khan also underlined the point that it is time the US changed its strategy on the war on terror as it has become a ‘war of terror’.
He said that those who are fighting against the Pakistan Army have nothing to do with Al Qaeda. The manner in which society is being radicalised and the rate at which militancy is increasing, Pakistan’s existence is at stake.
The number of casualties borne by the Army is growing unsustainable as it is much higher than that borne by the United States in its incursion into Iraq and Afghanistan.
ENGINEER IFTIKHAR CHAUDHRY
Islamabad
A SENIOR US State Department official, Richard Boucher, faced scores of grilling questions from a congressional panel on the US refusal to endorse the demand of restoration of the previous Supreme Court in Pakistan (Jan 30).
He said that the country could deal with the dispute involving the judiciary after the election, as it is important to hold the polls first. Also, that he wasn’t in a position to judge if the previous Supreme Court overstepped its jurisdiction while hearing a case against President Musharraf, but agreed that it was wrong to sack the judges over this dispute.
Didn’t Mr Musharraf overstep his jurisdiction as COAS when he imposed emergency and suspended the Constitution? Mr Boucher would know very well that the Supreme Court had not yet delivered its verdict, so there was no question of exceeding its authority.
It is most unfortunate that instead of learning a lesson from the violence following Benazir’ Bhutto’s assassination and in Kenya after allegations of rigging, the US administration is stubbornly and foolishly persisting in supporting Mr Musharraf and refusing to ask for the reinstatement of the sacked judiciary.
What good will the election does if there isn’t a judiciary the nation’s majority trusts for rectifying any wrongdoing in the election? The harebrained proposal of Mr Boucher amounts to giving the medicine first and then seeing what ailment it can cure. Those sensible American legislators who are demanding the restoration of the pre. Nov 3 judiciary are urged to pressure their government not to alienate 160 million Pakistanis for the sake of one man.
I. SIDDIQUE
Karachi
THIS refers to the front-page news, ‘Attempt to strike Karachi processions foiled’ (Jan 20). The professional efficiency shown by the intelligence agencies and the police in averting a disaster in Karachi is commendable. The terrorists, apart from their nefarious plan to launch grenade and suicide attacks on Muharrum processions, had also planned to mix the deadly cyanide poison in ‘sabeels’ (water distributed at kiosks during Ashura), which could have resulted in huge fatalities to the mourners.
This is the first incident in Pakistan’s history that terrorists had planned chemical attack on the people. This reveals their new strategy to kill and terrorise people by using a deadly chemical. Possession of deadly cyanide poison with the terrorists arrested in Karachi shows that Pakistan has also become vulnerable to chemical attack by terrorist groups. Therefore, prudence and common sense, not alarmism, should be our guide to anticipate the future terrorist threats.
Nations will continue to be tested by new and more deadly attacks carried out by both domestic and foreign terrorist groups. Because it is effective and cheap, and sponsorship can be disguised or denied, terrorism increasingly represents a weapon of choice for extremists and rogue states.
After the fragmentation of the former Soviet Union, control on chemical, biological and nuclear technologies has become either uncertain or doubtful. Availability of knowledge regarding improvised chemical, biological and nuclear devices combined with rogue scientists and technicians prepared to sell their skill anywhere in the world cannot be ruled out.
In 1995, a Japanese cult released sarin gas (nerve gas) in Tokyo’s subway, killing 12 people. But the Japanese nation was well-prepared in surviving such attacks. In addition, as the Japanese police and primary healthcare providers were trained and equipped to deal with chemical and biological disasters, they quickly controlled the situation and saved many lives from the effects of the nerve gas attack.
An act of chemical or biological terrorism might range from dissemination of aerosolised anthrax spores to food product and water contamination, and predicting when and how such an attack might occur is not possible. However, the possibility of chemical or biological terrorism should not be ignored, especially in the light of terrorists’ intention to mix cyanide poison in the water on Muharrum 9 (Jan 19) in Karachi. Preparing the nation to address this threat is a a formidable challenge, but the consequences of being unprepared could be devastating.
To meet this challenge there is a need to enhance epidemiologic capacity for detecting and responding to chemical and biological attacks. Awareness of chemical and biological terrorism among emergency medical service personnel, police personnel, firefighters, physicians and nurses is of paramount importance.
Similarly, awareness regarding chemical and biological terrorism and precautions to be taken by them during and after a chemical or biological attack is a must.
SQN LDR (r ) S. AUSAF HUSAIN
Karachi
THE purpose of this letter is to warn the people against believing the government propaganda of improving health facilities at district and tehsil headquarters hospitals. I want to narrate an incident which happened to me recently at Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, Talagang.
I reported to the hospital at 6.30pm, carrying in my lap my 18 months old son who was vomiting and suffering from loose motions. He needed immediate treatment. At that time no doctor was available. The receptionist collected the fee from us and asked us to wait for the doctor. After 10 to 15 minutes the doctor came and had a cursory look at the patient and advised the nurse to inject drip.
The nurse left and returned after almost 30 minutes and injected the drip and left the patient lying in his mother’s lap.
As there was power outage at the time, no alternative arrangements were there and no heating system was in place, though it was extremely cold that day. After almost 30 minutes, my son died but there was no doctor and no nurse to record the death of my child.
KHURRAM ASHFAQ KHAN
Gujranwala
Kamran Shafi in his article, “‘Unpopularity’ of Benazir” (Jan 29), convincingly calculates the contribution of both the Bhuttos -- Zulfikar and his brave daughter Benazir. ZAB negotiated the release of demoralised POWs from India and laid the foundation of major industrial projects and all that we are boasting of today. And the credit for sophisticated submarines, fighter jets and missiles goes to Ms Bhutto.
In the light of all this, if we presume President Musharraf’s words, “Benazir was unpopular with the army”, to be true, then the question arises: “After all, why are the leaders popular with the people and the major contributors to the army ‘unpopular’ with the institution?”
WAHEED TUNIO
via email
WHAT a joke it is that the president of a political party is visiting London to initiate a legal process to punish Brits for humiliating his sons and relatives. What a leader he is who cares about his family and never thinks how many Pakistani citizens may have already gone through this before many times. I would just ask the Chaudhry to just let it go.
SALEEM KHAN
Chicago
DOES the caretaker Sindh minister for education want us to believe that while the government has announced a cut in the annual development budget, he is serious about his plan to impose on the incoming government the ‘decision’ to have an English-medium school in each district of Sindh?
This would require teachers who can communicate fluently (and as confidently as Sheikh Rashid) in English and are trained to teach various subjects. Even if the Shujat Ali Baig model is to apply only up to the elementary level, at least eight to 10 teachers per section of 30 students will have to be trained to teach from the (ghost?) English medium books, understand the English teachers’ guides and assess examination papers in English. Tall order? Poppycock? Calculated deception?
To make matters worst confounded, there is the ‘pressure’ on schools to change the school calendar. How come a government that should be out in about 30 days and is expected to have only one priority – hold elections – saddles the next government with this baggage?
ANITA GHULAM ALI
Karachi
THIS is in response to Bilal Masood’s letter, ‘Strategy against terrorism’ (Jan 20).
He surely tried to mention the root causes of terrorism, specifically in our country. Ostensibly, poverty, unemployment and lack of education contribute a lot to this ruthless phenomenon. But the lack of education is the most prominent and influencing reason for this.
Most people in Pakistan, especially in the Northern Areas (from where come most of the terrorists), do not understand Islam’s true concept. The terrorists do not even know that what they are doing is not the teachings of Islam, which teaches tolerance and patience. Our ulema should guide such people.
QURATUL AIN
Lahore
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