| February 23, 2008 | Saturday | Safar 15, 1429 |
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Nato forces’ firing
Being vigilant, for ever
A report deep in thought
Computer-based exams
Where there’s a will
Enter the PM
Persistent inflation
Culture capital
A dead dog in the pond
MQM in opposition
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
DO we Pakistanis as civilians, journalists, human rights organisations, NGOs or our ambassadors and government ever go to the US to tell the Americans what to do in their country? The answer is ‘no’. Then why should American consulates and ambassador in our country intervene in or interfere with our national affairs advising our newly-elected party chiefs to do this or that? This naturally creates great suspicion about their offering, ie money, for favours such as continuity of their proteges.
A democratic wave has finally taken a turn, provoked by American policies working in this country till Feb 18. We Pakistani masses wish this new democracy to be nurtured rather than be nipped in the bud by American influence.
America claims to be a great supporter of democracy, then why not give us a chance to implement the will of our masses as it is they who have brought this change in our country by their vote and from here we wish to make this country rather than break it, as has been happening almost every day in the form of bomb blasts against American policy working in this country.
It is my anticipation that if our leaders now do away with American influence, the destruction of our country through bomb blasts will reduce.
As far as terrorism is concerned, it is Pakistan’s own priority and whether America asks for it or not, pays for it or not, we have to do it at our own cost of money and men to save this country from chaos. But saving the US in their country is not our problem. Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif both have the great responsibility on their shoulders to join hands and and steer clear this nation through all the temptations on offer, all threats to their lives, and all other conspirational moots organised inside or outside the country to trap them into following a wrong direction.
A local channel is commendably playing these days the line of a song, Jo waada kiya woh nibhana padega. Let them add one more line to it: Rokay zamana kitna bhi tumko, karke dikhana padega.
The masses admire this reminding message to our national leaders at this critical time. If they failed to deliver now, then some new parties and new faces will emerge out of our national need to plant democratic norms for ever in the country and will snatch the next election from them.
It is Pakistan which has to live long (Long Live Pakistan) and not the individuals unless they sacrifice themselves for the country. If we did not stand firmly now against all odds, it will be most unfortunate as never again in future elections such clean sweeps may occur. So the two parties’ leaders must employ all their wisdom and very sincerely unite their political strengths together to run this country according to wishes of the masses who have voted for them in great hope.
A PAKISTANI
Karachi
NATO forces are present in the neighbouring country, Afghanistan, and engaged in the war on terror under the banner of US-led international coalition, of which Pakistan is also a partner.
It has been noticed that every now and then Nato forces fire missiles which most unfortunately hit residential areas across the borders in Pakistan’s tribal areas, killing some persons in every hit.
Only a few days back, a Nato missile hit a village in North Waziristan tribal areas killing seven members of a family. This was quite unfortunate, deplorable and condemnable.
What is more unfortunate and deplorable in this regard is that neither the Nato forces apologised for the unintended incident nor somehow the Pakistan government lodged a protest with the Nato forces command in Afghanistan.
Such an apathetic and arrogant attitude on the part of Pakistani officials concerned is just not understable and forgivable. After all, those killed in the missile mis-hit across the borders were peaceful and law-abiding citizens of Pakistan.
As a matter of fact, Nato forces cannot and should not venture to target anyone across the borders in Pakistan. Even targeting of militants, extremists and terrorists inside Pakistan cannot be accepted as our armed forces are tackling them on their own very well and no outside interference — intentional or otherwise — is acceptable under any circumstances whatsoever.
President Musharraf, as well as Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvaiz Kayani, should take due notice of
Nato forces in Afghanistan’s wrong targets and killing of innocent Pakistanis, and that too without even tendering an apology.
QAZI EHSANUL HAQ
Lahore
HAS a wiser sense started prevailing on the Bush administration? This is an important question asked in the backdrop of the US officials insistently stating that the American troops will venture into Pakistan in hot pursuit of this and that.
They have been saying that the US has the right to carry out any operation inside Pakistan’s territory for elimination of increasing threat of militancy, extremism and terrorism.
Now, the visiting US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Michael Mullen has come out with a rather sensible and positive statement that his country will not carry out any operation inside Pakistan unilaterally as Washington duly respects its sovereignty.
Talking to media people in Islamabad the other day during his three-day official visit to Pakistan, Admiral Michael Mullen said that whenever Pakistan wanted, we would help it for a possible joint military operation.
As per reports in the print media, the US chiefs of staff chairman also expressed satisfaction over the safety and control system of nuclear assets and categorically stated that the nuclear assets of Pakistan, which is a sovereign independent nation, are properly guarded and safe.
All this is quite appreciable and encouraging. But we should continue to be on guard and watchful. There should be no laxity or relaxation whatsoever in safeguarding and protecting the nuclear assets. Needless to say all the world’s eyes are on Pakistan as an Islamic country is an atomic power, which bitter fact many around the globe cannot accept within their hearts irrespective of what they say publicly, the US being no exception at all.
MUHAMMAD ZOHAIB QURESHI
Lahore
WHEN a report about a routine incident takes the shape of a natural comment, in tone and texture, then think that a futuristic form of something unusual is surely around the corner.
A reflection of this feeling emerges in the mind when reading the report on the arrest of a lady protester among many civil society activists to demand release of former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. Under the caption, “Don’t trample the national flag”, the reporter (Feb 10) has portrayed the true picture of the enthusiast participants of the protest, mainly composed of the lawyers’ community, comparable with those of the same community in the struggle for Pakistan, under the leadership of the Quaid-i-Azam.
Now, for ‘new Pakistan’, the lawyers and the human rights activists have jointly launched the campaign to awaken and activate the people to accept the challenge thrown to them by the government motivated by one objective of perpetuating its rule, whatever the consequences.
The trampling of the national flag “under the boots of the policeman”, on the occasion, was most tragic and horrifying. “Tahira Abdullah’s desperate cries to hold on to the national flag resonated in the air long after she was whisked away in a police mobile”, says the report. This reminded one of a treatment meted out to the strugglers by the British colonial masters during the pre-independence days.
The decaying system, at present witnessed, is bound to fall as did that of the British rulers before, because it had become outdated. This entire reportage in Dawn of the above-mentioned incident stimulates hope and encourages the people for resistance to the usurpers of their rights. The report has turned into an opinion for force of truth of the story, behind the prevailing conditions in the country. Hats off to the contributor, Arshad Sharif, of the news report, reflective of wide silent public opinion that symbolises the writing on the wall.
DR AZIZUR RAHMAN BUGHIO
Islamabad
The computer-based examinations, which are being conducted in Liaquat University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, are not satisfying the mind of the candidates and their parents. Though the technology is introduced to create positive results and to deliver the goods to the deserving candidates, it is unfortunate to mention here that no one out of the intelligent / deserving candidates is satisfied.
The mechanism has been formulated in such a way that the computer result favours those candidates who secure below average educational record during the period of graduation. In this context I can give one example that at the time of examination the candidates are allotted computers already prescribed by the university authority.
My plea is: why doesn’t the authority allow the candidate to have a computer of their own choice? Passwords should be given after shuffling the cards, and the candidate should pick on his own. Thus intelligent and deserving candidates suffer on account of this practice. Moreover, candidates who are children/relatives of teachers get the most benefit.
The vice-chancellor should review all the recent results and examine the academic record of the candidates who are qualifying the examinations. Let no genuine candidate should be made to suffer.
BASHIR TUFAIL
Karachi
THIS is apropos of Dr Mubarak Ali’s article, ‘Where there’s will’ (Jan 13), in which he has tried to trace the origin of writing a ‘will’ and also discussed law of primogeniture: a tenet followed by the western mediaeval monarchies to evade succession problems.
The law of primogeniture, whereby right of succession or inheritance goes to the first-born, is derived from the root word L. Primus, first + geniture, the condition or fact of being the first born of the same parents, the exclusive right of the eldest son to inherit his father’s estate.
In mediaeval England this law was espoused at the time of Norman Conquest (1066).
Dr Ali has, however, failed to indicate that it was Islam which 1400 years ago settled the issue of succession by giving not only all-encompassing law of inheritance that fulfils requirements of even present times but enjoined the Muslims to leave a ‘will’ in accordance with the given commandment.
The law of inheritance enjoined in the Quran is an important mechanism and is unique in the range of beneficiaries. It is so comprehensive that not only shares of descendants are determined but, besides children, wives and parents, it includes even uncles, aunts, and, in some cases, even living grandparents. It also encourages giving something even to non-heirs but at the same time ensures that the corpus is not unnecessarily reduced to the disadvantage of the heirs.
As regards leaving the bequest, it is enjoined in verse (2:181-3): “It is prescribed for you, when death comes to any one of you, if he leaves much wealth that he makes a will to parents and near relatives to act with fairness; it is an obligation on those who fear God. And he who alters it after he has heard it, the sin thereof shall surely lie on those who alter it. Surely, Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing. But whoso apprehends a partiality or a wrong, and makes peace between them, it shall be no sin for him. Surely, Allah is Most Forgiving, Merciful.”.
Given that, in Islam a comprehensive law of inheritance is provided whereby every successor is left with a determined amount of share in the bequeathed properties: tangible as well intangible, and, besides, hereditary monarchy is not in accordance with Islamic tenets, the law of primogeniture finds no place in Muslim system.
After Caliphate-i-Rashida — which was consultative and not heritable, hence nearer democracy — began caliphate by inheritance, wherein power remained within the family of Umayyad and Abbasids. Both these houses most of the time, however, accepted the will as legitimate, therefore transition from one caliph to another most of the time remained peaceful.
In the non-Arab world, especially in Ottomans and Mughals, sword was the decisive factor in settling the question of succession. In the subcontinent the Mughals upheld these feudal customs insofar as ‘jagirs’ were concerned and this tradition was continued by the British.
The application of the law of primogeniture thus was sustained till ‘jagirs’ were officially abolished. On the other hand, in spiritual families the first-born is still considered to be a lawful successor to the claim of principal seat.
ALTAMASH M. KURESHI
Karachi
IT was a pleasure to watch ‘Enter the PM’ on Dawn News on Feb 17. It was a wonderful concept. I certainly hope that the concept is applied to the Real Politicians in future, on a regular basis.
However, the ending was very disappointing. We talked about the judiciary in the programme and yet the judges of the show reflected the typical characteristic of not coming up with the true judgment. Sir, no two persons in this world perform equally. But a great effort and would like to see more of such programmes with Real People on the job with an angle of accountability built in, conducted with journalistic decency.
S. JAMEEL HUSSAIN
Karachi
IT cannot be denied that one of the worrying aspects of the current economic scene is the persistence of inflation at an uncomfortably high level. According to Federal Bureau of Statistics, Consumer Price Index for January showed an increase of 11.86 per cent over the corresponding month of last year.
The increase in food prices, with a weightage of 40.34 per cent in the index, was recorded at 18.25 per cent during the above two periods. The Sensitive Price Index recorded an increase of 12.04 per cent in the week ending Feb 7, 2008 over the corresponding week of 2007.
It is now crystal clear that the government’s hope of bringing down the annual rate of CPI inflation to 6.5 per cent in the current fiscal year is not going to be realised.
The importance of containing and reversing the disconcerting inflationary trends in the economy cannot be overemphasised.
Inflation as an aspect of development will never be condoned by anyone who has observed its consequences over a large number of countries across the globe. These include accentuation of inequalities in society, disorganisation of public services, the misallocation of resources, the distortion of incentives and stagnation when ultimately stabilisation is attempted.
The most nearly unrelieved victims of inflation in Pakistan are those who work for the government and its pensioners. Our public administration has consequently been deeply demoralised and eroded. This is reflected in its inability to enforce laws, including those which relate to taxation and other public revenues, as well as in its failure to maintain and improve basic social services like education, health, transport, electricity, water and drainage.
It is generally insufficiently appreciated that many of our social, political and administrative problems have their roots in the persistence of uncomfortable inflationary pressures.
History tells us that countries in a state of inflationary ecstasy are generally prey to administrative breakdown, class conflict and disorder — the precursors of totalitarian government.
Without stable money, neither orderly economic progress nor justice can be assured.
AFTAB AHMED KHAN
Karachi
RECENTLY, when I was reading an English weekly, I came across an article on Lahore, which was very interesting. In that magazine, Lahore was referred to as ‘Paris of the East’ and the culture capital of Pakistan.
From that article, I noticed that Badshahi mosque, Minaret of Pakistan, Anarkali food market, etc, are some of the interesting places. I propose to visit Lahore during my next vacation. I am impressed with the city’s arc lights.
K. PRADEEP
Chennai
MR Y. Khan’s letter under the above caption and your editorial, ‘Musharraf’s outbursts’ (Feb 16), seem in essence to connote inevitability of exterminating the perfidious element first, from the cesspit of socio-economic, political and judicial imbroglio of the state and not keep on ad nauseum purifying the cesspool while the polluting cause is already there to pollute.
There has to be a clean sweep of the stable for a fresh start and a total responsibility to rest on the emerging parliament. All the institutions deadlocked for the self-preservation of the Gestapo should be restored by abrogating the infamous CEO and the rule of constitutional law restored.
The new parliament, elected democratically under parliamentary democracy, has full right as a sovereign body to elect president from amongst the members of parliament. The present incumbent is incoherent, elected by the outgone parliament and, therefore, unqualified to preside, stumbling-block as he has been. With him, the whole set-up would be incongruent.
Autocracy and democracy cannot coexist. Therefore, the autocratic element would have to be purged very first. The sword of Damocles has to be put back into its contraption, never again to hang over the state.
If the state cannot be unburdened spontaneously and elegantly of the fascist element, the only course left is to apply Caesarean section – impeachment.
AKBAR KHAN
Karachi
IT is unrealistic for a political party to expect sitting on treasury benches for ever. There comes a time when a party should be prepared to sit in the opposition too. It is actually a test for a political party to prove that it can sustain itself while in opposition. It is also an opportunity for a party to play a positive role as an opposition in a democratic setup.
The PPP, the PML(N), the ANP and nationalist parties in Sindh and Balochistan have amply proved it. Now it is the turn of the MQM. One expects that it would also do the same, respect the verdict of the masses and let the winning parties complete their term.
One also hopes that the MQM would cooperate with new governments in the centre and in Sindh to improve the law and order situation, build democratic institutions, ensure peace and justice for all, bring an end to the so-called no-go areas, disarm any armed wings of political parties or groups and work for the empowerment of the common men and women.
At the same time it is expected that new governments in the centre and in the province of Sindh would cooperate with any local and city governments headed by MQM. They should not be discriminated against just because they belong to the opposition.
AZIZ NAREJO
USA
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