| February 18, 2008 | Monday | Safar 10, 1429 |
To send a letter to the Editor
Click here
NRIs’ contribution
Misreading the writing on the wall
UK debate
Gory incident and its aftermath
Indian official’s charge
Taken for a ride
No titles, please
Muslim treatment
Reading habits
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 above-captioned article by Mubarak Ali (Feb 9) was indeed commendable, timely and accurate in highlighting the destructive role that the state of Pakistan itself has played in the country’s descent into fundamentalism, bigotry and mediaevalism.
The state’s sponsoring of Islamic fundamentalism and extremism itself has thwarted Pakistan’s progress and prosperity, prevented it from becoming a modern state, stunted its economic, political and social growth and also deprived the people of the joys of living.
Generally, a state is supposed to remain neutral in matters of establishment and promotion of religion, leaving this domain for its citizens to define and practise. But no, not in the case of Pakistan. It arrogated and anointed for itself the role of a messianic and ‘tablighi’ player, enacting and enforcing the Islamisation of Pakistan’s Constitution, policies, laws and regulations.
However, Mr Ali has perhaps inadvertently overlooked the equally sinister and pervasive, if not more, role played by two other non-state actors. The first, of course, was the relentless drive towards Islamisation of the country by none other than Maulana Maudoodi and followers of his Jamat, the torch-bearers of fundamentalism in Pakistan in its nascent years.
And as we are painfully aware now, the Jamat’s Islamist goals and agenda have been frenziedly and forcibly taken over by the Taliban/Jihadi/AQ/Lashkar/Tehrik juggernaut. Jihadi suicide bombers and mass murderers have replaced the Jamat’s danda-wielding zealots. Some progress we have made. I thought we will never see the day when the Jamat would be deemed as a ‘moderate’ and mainstream party. But there it is.
There’s no question that this vile, extremist ideology, which destroys life and celebrates death and destruction is stalking our land with impunity. Mr Ali’s article is a barometer that extremism has created a feeling of despondency and defeatism in the four corners of our country.
Once there was the Quaid’s and our nation’s dream of a just, democratic and free Pakistan, now only shattered illusion bedevils us. Once there was a vision of prosperity and modernity, now only the wrath of a merciless and fascist ideology to contend with. Once there were great expectations, now only the shadows of expectations and serendipity of what might have been to seek comfort from the glare of confounding reality.
But we should not lose hope in the ultimate destiny of our nation as a free, tolerant and prosperous people. The march of time is unstoppable. History teaches us that all evil, anti-people and totalitarian ideologies, whether they are in the name of a religion or not, eventually run out their course and are subsequently discarded into the dustbin of history, along with vile, tinpot despots.
Some day our great nation will emerge from the gloom and despair; and someday sun of hope and promise will shine on our country.
The twin , dark forces of religious totalitarianism and tyrannical absolutism will not last forever. Time is on the side of decent, tolerant and forward-looking people. Truth and justice will triumph in the end.
DR TAUSIF KAMAL
Sanaa, Republic of Yemen
THIS is with reference to Ayesha Siddiqa’s article, ‘The Cinderella syndrome’ on (Feb 15).
Ms Siddiqa no doubt does not mean to generalise but when she makes sweeping conclusions about how NRI’s feel and act, I cannot help but write a rebuttal.
We (NRIs) who have been here for a long time realised how insignificant our ‘powers’ are to affect change in India. Very soon after we leave India, most of us realise that there are literally millions more like us back home in India who are extremely, if not more, capable than us who are outside.
Only those who are new, the ‘nouveau riche’ if you will, think they are needed badly back home to fix problems, just because they have travelled a little and earned a few dollars.
All of the changes that happened in the last 20 years came about not because people like me went back with dollars and set up foundations, but because the Indian government’s trade policy changed dramatically and it cast off the socialist policies that had shackled growth for 40 years. By the way calling it the ‘Hindu rate of growth’ was another red herring; Hinduism had little to do with it, as much as Socialism and Marxism did.
All the success stories of Indian industry are results of people in India working hard and not some foreigner coming in with a bagful of dollars. Infosys, Wipro, Reliance the list is endless, of the great companies that were founded by men and women who chose to live in India when they could have left.
It is an illusion to think NRIs were the reason India succeeded in IT. No doubt NRIs played a key role, but it is more like a 99 per cent of Indian effort aided by one per cent of ideas from NRIs.
Having said that, I do not minimise the effect of the NRI ideas at all. But it is to the credit of Indians in India that they used the experiences of their brothers and sisters abroad, to nurture and grow the industries of the future, in India.
As the great Ibn Batuta said: “He who has not been seduced by a foreign culture, knows not the fetters of his own.” The best thing we as NRIs can give back to India are not dollars, it is experience, wisdom and humility.
B.K. VASAN
United States
Addressing a conference, ‘Unite for Election’, organised by the information and broadcasting ministry on Thursday, President Musharraf said he was the “greatest believer” in democracy, which could take the country forward on the path of socio-economic development and not towards economic bankruptcy and a failed state.
The words do not match with his personality, because he has derailed the democratic process, destroyed the constitutional bodies, mocked with the Constitution of Pakistan and also expelled the beloved political leaders out of the country.
The most popular leader, Benazir Bhutto, was assassinated during his rule. A true believer in democracy never gives way to dictatorship and never encourages anti-democratic elements to come into power. It is because of the policies of Mr Musharraf that his popularity among the masses is touching the record lowest level nowadays.
In such a situation, the president has to quit and give relief to the people of our country. Through these lines, I want to convey my message to the people of Pakistan to support all the pro-federal parties and not support regionalist and extremist in the next coming general election for the survival and progress of our beloved country.
BASHIR HUSSAIN AZAD
Shahi Bazaar, Chitral
(II)
THE news item, “Musharraf hits out at ‘biased’ opinion polls” (Feb 15) reminds me of Rose F. Kennedy’s quote: The time will come when it will disgust you to look in the mirror.”
Anyone around Mr Musharraf may give him the advice which mother Rose had given to her son John F. Kennedy!
MUSTAFA MAHESAR
London
(III)
THE news item, “Musharraf hits out at ‘biased’ polls’ (Feb 15), instantly reminded me of a humorous twosome -- husband and wife -- skit telecast by PTV, Peshawar, not a long time ago.
The husband’s stock answer ‘Mein na manoon’ to everything said by his wife in the skit is not much different from Mr Musharraf’s ready refutation of everything said about him by the world at large.
RASHED H. LODHI
Karachi
IN A jibe at the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan William’s recent remarks in favour of Islamic Sharia, The Independent noted on Feb 10 :
“The law in a liberal democracy should apply to everyone equally…with exceptions in only the most difficult cases for conscientious objectors…It should not include turning a blind eye to forced marriages, or to the use of arranged marriages as an immigration scam; nor should it include paying state benefit to multiple wives.”
One entirely agrees that no law should be abused. However, it must be pointed out that the number of Muslims having more than one wife is tiny compared to that of western men who have several mistresses. Also, the number of illegitimate children ranges around 50 per cent in some countries in the West.
Isn’t it better for a few to have two to four wives and legitimate children rather than otherwise?
NUSRAT CHAUDHRY
Karachi
THIS refers to the contents of the open letter of the Women Action Forum and others (Feb 12).
To term a gory incident, specially the brutalities against the women, as ‘rumours’, ‘unsubstantiated’ and ‘politically exploited’ seems to be a subterfuge or a lame excuse for not coming to the rescue of the tormented souls.
It is incredible that those who claim to be the saviours of the oppressed are ignorant of the value system (taqdees-i-mashriq] in Pakistan.
Don’t they know that no Pakistani girl or the parents would rush to the police ‘where angels fear to tread’ for lodging an FIR against the unknown rapists?
However, ‘truth lies wrapped up and hidden in the depths’ and only a little effort is needed to find it.
But what is the justification for this segment of civil society to remain deaf and dumb to the murders, arson and loot of the private vehicles, factories and the banks – events that are fully substantiated?
The MQM is not the exploiter, rather is the exploited, and where “ahle shaher ney pahen liyey hain dastaney,” Altaf Hussain is the lone spokesman for the oppressed.
SYED SARDAR AHMAD
Karachi
INDIA’s National Security Adviser M. K. Narayanan has said India faces threats from “authoritarian, anti-democratic and anti-secular” countries and expressed concern over risks from nuclear weapons in the hands of ‘volatile states’, a possible reference to Pakistan (Feb 11).
He also asked: “What are the key challenges to Asian and global security today?” and then listed existential threats and vulnerabilities faced by pluralistic, secular and democratic countries – that of course included India – as being the foremost.
The biggest challenge to Asian stability in his mind is from terrorism and the activities of violent and extremist non-state armed groups due to which “quite a few countries consequently face an uncertain future.”
I would like to apprise him about what the world-renowned authority on religion, Karen Armstrong, said recently in an interview to Dawn regarding secularism, fundamentalism and terrorism (Feb 12).
First, that human beings are religious, rather than secular in nature – a theme explained originally in her book, The Battle for God. Fundamentalism to her is a revolt against secularism in every region where a modern secular-style government establishes itself. It is there is Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism as well as in the three monotheistic Abrahamic religions.
The fundamentalists perceive their religion to be in danger and try to protect it, emphasising its more belligerent aspects and playing down its compassion and respect for others. Attacking fundamentalism is counter-productive. History shows that under attack they become more extreme. That means attacking them in the media as well as with guns. As an example she noted that the membership of Al Qaeda has grown enormously since the invasion of Iraq.
Ms Armstrong cautioned against equating fundamentalism with terrorism because only a miniscule proportion of fundamentalists engages in acts of violence. Most of this terrorism is far more political rather than religiously-motivated, and in Pakistan it is almost tribally-motivated.
The solution is to redress the political grievances, to sort out the outstanding problems such as the Arab-Israeli conflict and Kashmir.
The scholar cautioned that the western habit of promoting awful rulers to get cheap oil or secure that strategic positions in oil-rich regions, as with the Shah of Iran, Saddam Hussein, and others, creates a malaise in society. Under dictatorial regimes, people can’t express their discontent anywhere except the mosque, which makes the whole of religion problematic.
Coming from a product of a secular society, these words should convince Mr Narayanan that his implied praise of secularism as the ultimate replacement for religion is misplaced. So is the implicit demonisation of the religious-minded Muslims who are being pushed towards extremism and militancy through wrong policies of some powerful countries.
Now, let’s see what led to the present situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan. If the USSR hadn’t invaded Afghanistan, there would have been no mujahideen, Taliban or militancy. Similarly, if India had heeded the resolutions of the UNSC regarding Kashmir, refrained from dismembering Pakistan in 1971 or avoided nuclearisation in 1974, there would have been no militancy in Kashmir or nukes in Pakistan.
Similarly, the double standards shown by the West towards the acquisition of nuclear weapons by Israel and India on the one hand, and the Muslim countries on the other (the ‘Islamic Bomb’), caused resentment among the latter. This also resulted in proliferation by Dr A.Q. Khan, in his declared attempt to help Pakistan and the other Islamic states break the monopoly of the ‘nuclear club.’
Therefore, Karen Armstrong has been very fair in advising the world to help resolve issues like Kashmir. Terrorism in India has resulted from the fight of some of its oppressed citizens to get their rights but it shifts the blame on to Pakistan. The blind ambitions and lack of principles smothers the conscience of some powers. They then see the speck in other people’s eyes but not the log in their own.
S. QADRI
Karachi
YOUR editorial, ‘Taken for a ride’(Feb 15) is a heart-breaking tale of a nation, which is being swindled by the business and industrial class with the determined support of its own government.
Although letting 10 per cent deemed duty to oil refineries for one year, enabling them to increase their storage capacity and improving the quality of their product was not justified from any cannon of law and morality but then allowing this inept highhandedness indefinitely with the connivance was a crime of worst sort perpetrated on 160 million people.
It was the government of former prime minster Shaukat Aziz, who now enjoys his riches in a relaxed ambiance of Europe, who is responsible for all the woes the nation is bracing today: be that of sugar, rice, edible oil, flour and now the latest discovery of 10 per cent surcharge recovered from the hapless people to build the assets of oil refineries at their cost.
I entreat the consumer societies to come forward and register cases against the former government headed by Shaukat Aziz and the oil refineries to get back the money recovered forcibly from the people and also ensure that the surcharge is stopped forthwith.
BADAR JATOI
Canada
YOUR editorial, ‘A dangerous game’ (Feb 14), raises two questions. First, why is Pervez Musharraf allowing Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain to meet Abdul Aziz and seek his release and why doesn’t your editorial speak of this aspect of the event?
Chaudhry Shujaat is not that strong that he could make such overtures without the permission of Mr Musharraf.
Invariably, the government of Mr Musharraf seems to be involved in this dangerous game. Second, why are you using the title ‘maulana’ for a person who brought a bad name to our faith and who misguided thousands of our young and innocent minds?
The word maulana is a respected title for a religious scholar and the joke that Abdul Aziz has played with our faith and our young men and women does not entitle him this respect.
You should not use such respected titles as mullah and maulana for those who preach hatred, violence and a perverted version of Islam.
NASIR SHIRAZ
Texas
ISN’T it strange that even after being one of those countries with all sorts of politicians, we still have no genuine political views. There are some who claim to be liberal, secular and others who claim to be conservative and religious. Both of them mould Islam in such a manner that they can justify every single atrocity of theirs.
What I am really amazed to see is that none of these so-called secular or religious politicians stood for the poor Christians of Lahore.
An ancient church was brought down inside the fort of Islam and still not a single community stood by these Christians.
I am particularly disappointed in my Islamist brothers for they claim to hold the banner of Islam. We are portrayed as we show ourselves.
In whatever manner the communities of the world treat us, we can’t subdue them here in an Islamic state in the name of Islam. Either we should renounce our claim of being Muslim or we should realise the real essence of Islam.
I plead, as a Muslim, with those in charge to take strict measures against those who are responsible for throwing dirt on the name of Islam.
RAFID
Lahore
THE government and NGOs have been doing their best to increase the literacy rate in the country but on the national level there is a decrease in our reading habits, which is quite alarming for a nation as a whole.
Even schoolteachers do not take interest in cultivating a reading habit.
Their knowledge is restricted to the knowledge gained in the college or university and to the subject they are involved in.
The reading habit does not mean that your reading should be restricted to your profession.
You should read various issues, articles and studies like a daily intake of carbohydrate, vitamins and minerals to maintain a balanced diet.
Reading is an excellent food for the brain, it allows you to think apart from your professional life and have your own perspective on issues.
There should be a comprehensive nationwide programme on this issue with the involvement of the ministry of education, educationists and schools.
They should encourage organisations to develop a reading habit.
NADEEMUL GHANI
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.