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| February 08, 2008 | Friday | Muharram 29, 1429 |
The debt trap
Dying to kill
Islam preaches peace, not violence
OTHER VOICES - Pushto Press
WHILE all religions call for love, peace, tolerance, freedom of belief and mutual understanding, some extremists commit acts of violence in the name of religion and consider themselves religious. They commit a gross sin by, saying, “we found our parents doing this, and God has commanded us to do it.” God never advocates sin.
BAITULLAH Mehsud’s decision to order a unilateral ceasefire will be viewed with some scepticism. It is difficult to hazard a guess as to what prompted this fanatic rebel chief to make a move which is, on the face of it, sensible. The security forces claim credit for the change in Baitullah’s stance and say their troops have broken the militants’ back in Swat and Waziristan, where they are claimed “to be on the run”. But a spokesman for Baitullah says he has ordered a ceasefire because the security forces have ‘minimised’ their operations. The army denies having received any communiqué from the Taliban offering a ceasefire. Hence its operations will continue. An army spokesman even hinted that Baitullah’s offer could well be a ruse for gaining time to regroup.
What is disturbing is that the unilateral ceasefire coincides with Interior Minister Hamid Nawaz’s disclosure that the government has decided to form a ‘grand jirga’ to ensure peace in Waziristan. Although the minister claimed that it is the Mehsuds who have initiated the peace moves, because the security forces have cut off the rebels’ supply lines from three sides, one can only hope that the government does not plan to go soft vis-à-vis the militants and let them have their way. Which way the war is going is difficult to tell. But if the government is right in claiming that the troops have gained the upper hand and the Taliban leadership is willing to negotiate, then peace should be given a chance, albeit on the government’s terms. Let us note that Baitullah’s offer extends to the entire country, which means that — if the Taliban do not violate their word of honour — suicide bombings and car-bomb blasts should stop. Therefore, one should not have to wait long to test the credibility of this peace offer.
The grand jirga the government is planning to constitute is to include representatives from all tribes, besides some political leaders as guarantors to ensure that the parties abide by the peace terms. In the past, deals have often broken down, with both sides blaming each other. The government, however, must not betray any signs of leniency. While it ought to demonstrate understanding for the customs and traditions which all central governments have followed in dealing with the tribal people’s historical rights, it must make it clear that the security forces will carry out their duty and take immediate action if the Taliban show any signs of breaking the law. The deal, if it is clinched, must obtain guarantees from the Taliban that, besides ceasing armed activity, they must abjure all terrorist acts that target not only security personnel but also innocent men, women and children. Baitullah is a criminal whose men have slaughtered captured soldiers. It should not turn out to be a measure of the government’s weakness that it has to negotiate with this criminal instead of giving him justice.
PAKISTAN’S external debt burden has gone up to nearly $40bn from about $33bn in the last seven years. A whopping additional load of $7bn has been added since President Pervez Musharraf came on the scene. In this period, the country has received a record $12bn in overt aid, over $6bn in privatisation proceeds, including substantial foreign direct investment, and annual remittances flows of $4.5bn on an average. Over and above this, it has also been blessed with a relief of $1.6bn in loan write-offs by foreign governments in the last eight years and the rescheduling of Paris Club debts that has provided an additional relief of $1.2 to $1.5bn annually in terms of debt service payments. Meanwhile, Pakistan has become a large borrower of the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. So, 90 per cent of Pakistan’s borrowings continue to be official, which makes it beholden to foreign governments particularly the US and the multilateral aid agencies under Washington’s influence. Direct assistance from the US — both economic and military — is said to have reached levels that make Pakistan the third largest US aid recipient after Israel and Egypt.
Clearly, Islamabad’s increasing dependence on the US largesse has drawn it into Washington’s not-so-savoury influence. And some even view this US dole as a payoff to our ruling elite for their support and aid in helping the US in achieving its foreign policy objectives some of which clash with our national interests. All this cannot but have adverse impact on Pakistan’s political economy. There is no easy way out of this trap. But governments which have the confidence of their people and also their mandate could without worrying about their popularity graph going down take hardship steps like expanding the tax-to-GDP ratio from the current 11 per cent to at least 15 per cent in the next five years; curtailing imports (most of which currently are consumption oriented); diversify the direction of exports and exportables and; setting up a special fund in a hard currency to accumulate all the privatisation proceeds and use that for the early retirement of our external debt. And finally FDIs into sectors without any export bias like banking and telecommunication should be discouraged because profits earned in rupees in these sectors are converted into hard currencies before repatriating them which further widens the current account gap and increases the need for external borrowing.
WHAT makes human bombs tick may, perhaps, never be known. But what is clear is that they are unlikely to run out of surprises while they terrorise. Three incidents have been reported in Karachi in the last week that point to a new strategy of taking human shields to accomplish a mission — to attack the police and the Rangers. Or were they pranksters with a weird sense of humour? After all only one case has been officially registered so far. This is one of Zahid Shah, a nephew of former chief justice of the Supreme Court, Sajjad Ali Shah, who was taken hostage by a man who asked him for a lift in the city’s Kalapul area. The alleged bomber asked to be taken to a locality in the upscale Defence Housing Authority. However, upon arrival, he refused to disembark and demanded that Shah ram his car into a police mobile at an imambargah. When Shah refused to comply and parked his car in a vacant plot, the suspect walked away. Other incidents reported in the press, one on the bustling Tariq Road and another near the Saudi Arabian Embassy, were of the same pattern but were not registered with the police. Why? In both, men allegedly showed strapped equipment to hapless families and asked them to drive to spots with police or Rangers, while trying to lure them with promises of paradise.
This strain of misguided self-sacrifice has overshadowed all else, turning the city into a live time bomb. The blame must fall on the failure of intelligence agencies to rein in the demon of ‘fidayeen’ that is now at our doorsteps. Beleaguered citizens remain gripped by fear to the point that the megapolis has become hostage to mere rumours. There should be media campaigns that promote a sense of security in the city and urge citizens to take safety precautions. Authorities have made negligible efforts to either guide or pacify people by giving them insight and teaching them personal protection measures like the ones taken in the eighties and early nineties — the only way to combat the growing power and prevalence of the militants.
Like all other religions, Islam (promotes peace, love and harmony / among the people.) The word “Islam” in addition to meaning submission (to God) is derived from the Arabic word “Salam” (peace). The Muslims greet others by saying ‘Salam’.
The Quran says 49:13) “0 People, we created you from the same male and female, and gave you a distinct identity so that you may recognise one another. The best among you in the eyes of God is the ‘mightious person.’”
Islam advocates freedom, peace and mutual agreement and admonishes aggression. (Quran 5:67)…. And do not aggress; God dislikes the aggressors. (Quran: 7: 199) you shall resort to pardon, advocate tolerance, and disregard the ignorant. The relations of Muslims with others are based primarily on peace, mutual respect and trust. The theme in the Quran is peace as long as there is no oppression or injustice that cannot be resolved by peaceful means.
Islam forbids the killing of innocent people, irrespective of the causes, religious, political or social beliefs. (Quran 6: 151) “….You shall not kill anyone. God has made life sacred–except in the course of justice. These are His commandments to you that you may understand.
The laws of the previous scriptures that applied to earlier generations are repeated and emphasised for the Muslims in the Quran. Muslims are commanded to follow such laws. The Quran reiterates, “… we decreed for the children of Israel that anyone who murders any person who had not committed murder or horrendous crimes, it shall be as if he has murdered all the people. And anyone who spares a life shall be as if he spared the lives of all human beings.
Islam condemns the killing or even the persecution of people merely because they embrace a different religion. The Quran mandates absolute freedom of religion in society. It does not allow Muslims to fight except in self-defence and to enforce peace. It does not allow restrictions on those who disagree on religions matters. It urges the Muslims to treat such people kindly and equitably. (Quran 2:256)
“There shall be no compulsion in religion….” (Quran 60: 8) “God does not enjoin you from befriending those who do not evict you from your homes. You may befriend them and be equitable towards them. God loves the equitable.” (Quran 8:61) “If they resort to peace, so shall you and put your trust in God. He is the Hearer, the Omniscient.” (Quran 4:90) “… Therefore, if they leave you alone, refrain from fighting you and offer you peace, then God gives you no excuse to fight them.”
Regrettably, many terrorist groups have used the name of Islam to promote their cause. This gave many non-Muslims an opportunity to label the Muslims as terrorists deliberately ignoring the fact that there are many terrorists who happen to be non-Muslims. This does not make these laws evil but rather brings to light the evil nature of the criminals.
Terrorism is an act of violence committed by people belonging to all religions. Terrorists who happened to be non-Muslims raised their religious beliefs to claim legitimacy for the violence and terrorism that they commit on thousands of men, women, and children in attempts to achieve special interests – political, social or religious. Those who do not comprehend Islam and those who have an interest in distorting the truth about Islam have been trying to make terrorism synonymous to Islam.A mistaken notion has been common in the western media. Several groups have used terrorism to implement their own agenda, issues or beliefs. None of them represent true religion. Attacks on civilians around the world by such groups cannot be justified by any religion. It is strongly condemned in all religions including Islam as clarified by the words of God in the Quran, and the final Testament.
Some terrorist groups which massacre innocent people consider themselves as martyrs. Those who kill the innocent people in the name of their religion or in the name of God and who consider themselves as martyrs should think twice. Their act is strongly condemned by God in the verses of the Quran. These people are disobeying God’s commandments and the truth in the Quran. Instead they blindly follow the views of their corrupt leaders and ill-informed scholars. Quran is very clear on this issue: the believers must defend themselves but never aggress. It is true that Islam advocates use of strength to secure peace, but never to aggress unless aggressed upon. God of the Muslims is the same as is God of the Jews and the Christians and all the other religions. God does not permit any group to kill innocent people belonging to other religions. The blame lies with the terrorists and not the religion they claim to follow. Not everyone who calls himself a Muslim is a Muslim as much as not everyone who thinks of himself as a Jew or a Christian is one. Islam should not be confused with what the so-called Muslims have done. They actually, by the definition of the Quran, are not Muslims in true sense of the term. We should not let our emotions overcome logic and understanding.
Islam stands for peace, harmony and understanding. It does not preach hatred or condones acts of violence. Unfortunately the message of Islam has been distorted by the enemies of Islam.
Suicide attacks and the government’s measures
Khabroona, Peshawar
ANOTHER suicide attack was successfully carried out on a bus, carrying the army medical corps officers, in front of the National Logistics Cell headquarters in Rawalpindi on Feb 4 early in the morning.
The attack left 10 dead and 45 wounded. The president, prime minister and leaders of political parties condemned the attack. The minister of interior affairs, Hamid Nawaz, said that the attack might have been the task of militants affiliated with Baitullah Mehsud.
The Rawalpindi suicide attack was the sixth in a year. Approximately 90 suicide attacks have been reported in Pakistan till the present time. Except for some information on the suicide attack on a former federal minister in Peshawar, the government has yet to…get any information regarding suicide attacks….
Whenever one is successfully carried out in Pakistan, government officials and political parties condemn the attack and hold one or the other group responsible…though none of the groups has ever accepted responsibility for such attacks in Pakistan.
Whenever a suicide attack…occurs in Pakistan, the people only hear condemnation and nothing more. It is true that preventing suicide attacks is very difficult but it is not impossible. The government and the political parties have to find out answers to only a few questions to prevent suicide attacks.
First, what are the causes of these attacks? Second, what are the sources of these attacks? Third, why are security personnel the target of these attacks?
The government and political leaders are bound to respond to these questions. They have to make it a priority to tell the people the truth behind such heinous acts.
The people are tired of hearing only condemnations by officials and political leaders. It is time to act. — (Feb 5)
Bribery needs to be prevented in the lower courts
Wahdat, Peshawar
THE courts are the only source of providing justice to the people who get frustrated in all areas of life in the country. Unfortunately, the culture of bribery in the lower courts and among the subordinate staff of the higher courts has blocked the way for the common people to get inexpensive and speedy justice in Pakistan.
The poor people cannot even think of reverting to the courts to get justice due to the high cost to be paid to the lower staff of the courts as bribes. This trend has caused a rapid increase in the rate of crime because those who are unable to get easy, cheap and speedy justice from the courts adopt illegal methods to obtain it.
The senior staff of the courts has to take serious notice of the bribery and nepotism that permeates the lower staff like readers, record keepers and police… if they wish the common people to get easy, inexpensive and speedy justice.
The senior judges have to make sure that no one takes bribes in return for getting justice because the lower staff’s illegal and inhuman activities…bring a bad name to the prestige of the judiciary.
It is high time that the Supreme Court and the high courts of the country issued strict orders with regard to the supervision of the staff of the lower courts and that of the higher courts. Those who are involved in bribery and nepotism must be brought to book.
The people of Pakistan are proud of the historical role and independence of their judiciary but the bribery and nepotism of the lower staff are maligning it. The culture of bribery and nepotism is also responsible for the creation of a gap in the trust between the people and the judiciary. This culture is to be nipped if the judiciary wants to restore the people’s trust in easy, affordable and speedy justice. — (Feb 4)
— Selected and translated by Khadim Hussain