| March 04, 2008 | Tuesday | Safar 25, 1429 |
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No shaming the shameless
ANP stance
Parallel education systems
Political alliance
Students’ role in politics
Holocaust: the new trend
PPP candidate for PM
Musharraf’s advisers
Traffic police
Rise in oil prices
Plea to British Council
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 lawyers’ movement in Pakistan will complete its first year on March 9, the day on which, in 2007, the chief justice of the country was illegally and unconstitutionally deposed by the then President Gen Musharraf. There was an immediate response from the lawyers throughout the country with peaceful demonstrations, protests and boycotts of the courts in solidarity with the chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry. The movement has been maintained and is as strong today as it was from day one. The lawyers, without considering their own economic losses continued to fight for the rule of law, the reinstatement of the chief justice, the supremacy of the judiciary and the restoration of the Constitution. The lawyers’ movement was peculiar in that even the lawyers’ clients and the masses in general joined the movement without any reservations. The journalists still continue to support the movement though many of them have been ill-treared by law enforcement authorities. Several media houses were prevented from performing their normal duties, their equipment was confiscated and ordinances were issued against the freedom of the media. Civil society also participated. Many lawyers were beaten, killed, tortured and arrested. The judges were also arrested and many of them remain under house arrest, including Justice Chaudhry.
Asia has no parallel to this movement. Because of the movement, the Feb 18 polls were possible in which the people gave their mandate to the parties that stood up against the tyranny of the rulers etc. The lawyers’ movement exposed the superpower for not supporting the movement of the judiciary on the lame excuse of ‘the war on terror’.
The movement’s deep penetration into the masses should be realised and the politicians and the new parliament should be aware of its impact on the future course of a democratic society.
Some positive outcomes of the movement are that:
1) The lawyers will not sit aloof in future political affairs and will continuously monitor the developments and pace of the rule of law.
2) Human rights issues will dominate politics and will not be so easy to dismiss as it was before March 9, 2007.
3) A strong civil society will emerge on common points, particularly for an independent judiciary without any political and official interference.
4) The media and particularly the journalists have proved their independent position for the rule of law, supremacy of judiciary and freedom of expression. The journalists will continue to monitor the issues of corruption, nepotism, violations of human rights and curbs against their professional duties.
5) It will also be difficult for the legislators to make amendments to the constitution according to their wishes or to please the powerful lobbies. There would be such strong checks and balances on their actions that there would be an open fight between legislators and civil society.
The contributions of the lawyers must be treated as a positive direction for the future political and democratic setup. The movement can be termed a strong foundationstone of future democracy in Pakistan and it should be recognised by the new parliament. July 20, the day on which Mr Iftikhar Chaudhry was restored to his position by the judiciary, backed by the powerful and well-organised movement of lawyers which had the strong support of the media, journalists and civil society, needs to be remembered by future generations as a historic date and it will be a welcome move to recognise this day as the day of the independence of the judiciary in Pakistan.
SPOKESPERSON
Asian Human Rights Commission
Hong Kong
ONE cannot kill the dead or for that matter probably cause pain by injuring a limb one has already lost feeling in.
That is why it is easy to agree with my good friend Ardeshir Cowasjee’s contention, ‘No shaming the shameless’ (March 2), of the impossibility of the occurrence of the phenomenon (and a much desired one) of shaming the shameless -- as a unified ‘body politic’ (our local media’s favourite word), the specimen in this matter being identifiable with the phrase ‘Pakistani politician’ and if one were to keep the general mood of the country which entails democratic order giving added legitimacy to anything under the sun -- something he has got confirmation of through responses from his many readers.
But then if one was looking to the possibly intriguing activities for some mentioned in the first sentence, it is to start off on the wrong foot. The plan of action should not be for our television channels to hurl ridicule and hope those under scrutiny succumb to their hollow witticisms.
Yes, some of it is just entertainment and makes the farcical seem real. And without the intent of downgrading the social purpose of satire or overselling the burden of an added moral (and thus educational) responsibility, our media carries perhaps the punishment for its poverty in style and quality (not popularity) was when Pervez Musharraf decided to make the real seem farcical with his actions on Nov 3, 2007. A resigned look at ourselves but always through a light-hearted prism was turned into a tragicomedy of enormous proportions.
The cure (if there is one; and if there is, it is only a partial remedy) lies in the much more fundamental process of realisation through reorientation and realignment of our moral principles and aspirations with the general spirit of the times and not realisation through just throwing everything they have done wrong at them like in an adjudicatory court of law expecting them to defend themselves, especially if one is already desensitised to it.
For that often brings very little truth forward and mostly just makes people defensive (which is probably why the system is made to be thus as truth can often be told in one word. Where would that leave the wayward desire of many to, one day, witness an ‘epic’ trial?) and in any event it is superfluous to our current needs as a nation.
The past in this case will not us help us to be constructive through questioning because bringing up what has happened will often be accusatory and rather than being a description of what was, it is instead prescriptive in nature and indicates what should have been. That just makes people cringe and retreat or cringe and counter-attack. Accusations and prescription usually signal the end of a conversation or even the start of a conversation between incommensurables: not the beginning of a meaningful one.
HYDER ALI KHAN
United Kingdom
THE ANP secretary-general, Ehsan Wyne, while trying to draw a line between the independence of judiciary and reinstatement of deposed judges, said: “We won’t risk deterioration of the situation just for one person” (Feb 22).
The twist Mr Wyne has given to the whole issue is truly shocking and illogical. It is not a question of only one person, i.e. Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, as he has implied, but that of nearly two-thirds of the superior judiciary. Has he ever heard of so many judges getting fired, in the history of the world?
The ANP leader, by this statement, has also insulted the intelligence of tens of thousands of lawyers of Pakistan as well as numerous others in the US, the UK and elsewhere, who have been supporting the CJP and the other judges’ reinstatement. Several former chief justices and judges, besides civil society, retired generals and senior ex-diplomats and people from all walks of life have been supporting the demand. Indeed, surveys have shown that a big majority wants them back.
The gentleman is also invited to look at a photograph (Feb 22) that shows one policeman trying to stomp on a frail and elderly lawyer who has fallen to the ground while another goon rushes towards him with a raised baton poised for a full- blooded strike.
Are the lawyers bearing all this just for the sake of one man? No, sir, they are doing it for you and me and our children.
Mr Wyne, have a heart! Think of the day when you or other party leaders may be in need of justice at the hands of an upright judge like Justice Chaudhry and his many honest colleagues, who have earned President Musharraf’s wrath in no small measure by trying to rejoin the hundreds of ‘disappeared’ Pakistanis in all provinces with their worried and heart-broken families.
An ephemeral success in elections should not blind one to the dictates of justice and morality or make one ignore other people’s needs.
M.Y. KHAN
Karachi
O LEVEL and A level students like me are frequently blamed for flying abroad and not staying back and serving our own country.
One of the major reasons for this departure is what we have to go through. I, being an A level student, know the hard work required to get a good result in this system, especially in A level.
However, to apply to any government college, we need to get an equivalency certificate in which 10 per cent of our marks are deducted. Secondly, the entrance tests for most government colleges are based on intermediate curriculum. In these unfavorable and frustrating circumstances, an O/ A level student prefers to go abroad, study and serve countries other than Pakistan.
The A level curriculum is much more demanding, requiring sound, factual knowledge and analytical skills as compared to the intermediate curriculum which is merely learning. In addition to this, the method that Cambridge examiners apply in checking papers is more unbiased and efficient than the method that the intermediate examiners use.
There are two possible solutions to this problem: an educational system that is common for every Pakistani student, or a fair method should be adopted to compare an A/O level student to an Intermediate student.
I would like to urge our new political leaders to look into this matter and come up with a permanent solution that is acceptable to all.
USMAN REHMAN
Karachi
A fortnight has passed by since the elections was held but the post-election ‘jor tor’ has not been finalised yet.
No clear-cut nominees for the prime minister and chief ministers have been announced yet by the Pakistan People’s Party and the Pakistan Muslim League – two major partners of the coalition. Are there any insurmountable differences between the two?
This is causing concern in the minds of the general public who had expected the alliance leaders to work hand in glove with each other and decide such matters on priority.
One hopes that the ‘friendship’ between the PPP and the PML(N) is not forged by the age-old adage of “enemy’s enemy is a friend”.
If so is the state while the ‘enemy’ is around, how much would the love be lost between the two with Musharraf gone?
COL (r) RIAZ JAFRI
Rawalpindi
THIS is apropos of Irfan Husain’s article, ‘Yes, we can!’ (Feb 16). The writer says: “For the most part students play a major role to support the politician whether that is Pakistan or the United States. In addition, the students are playing a vital role in the case of Obama in the United States and the independence of judiciary in Pakistan. If politicians want to achieve something, they have to get help of students.”
I totally agree with him. Likewise, students had welcomed the PPP chairperson on Oct 18 with great joy and also helped lawyers grapple with the attack of the army which went on rampage on May 12 last year.
Students always tend to organise effective and knowledgeable debates and functions which can be useful to enlighten people.
In the light of students’ help, politicians can get the nation to their side which they also need. It goes without saying that students are a good resource whether it is for Pakistan or the United States to help politicians in their outreach.
BILAL UR REHMAN
Turbat
AT present in this distressed world it is being witnessed that the so-called peacemakers, in order to achieve peace, have been using the strategies of massacres and carnage. And, hence, this new era that started half a century ago can be named as the ‘Era of Holocaust’. On Feb 29, it was published by many well-known news sources, including the ‘The Reuters’, the terrorising statement from a deputy minister of Israel, which is making the world visualise how easy it is to be a part of the holocaust.
To create equilibrium with the Nazi genocide, the Iraqis, Afghans and the Palestinians have been chosen to be the part of the feast. As some say that the German Fuhrer died from a bullet shot by him after killing all those Jews, but should that be justified by putting the innocent Palestinians on to a trial. A country with so many renowned social scientists and lawmakers, America cannot even justify its own crimes and it cannot even find a proper location for the Jews. It seems like, to pursue the dream of expansionism, the annihilation of the innocent lives has to be a part and parcel of it.
Unfortunately, on the other hand, a bunch of people given the label of Islam confront these so-called peacemakers and justify their acts with the references of Holy Scripture, as if it was revealed for this purpose: a reference book. But what the common man perceives from their rituals is ‘Islam antagonising the infidels’. The same happened when people like Yasser Arafat, Saddam Hussein and Bin Laden emerged and their achievement was nothing but further polluting the already polluted atmosphere!
This is how, at present, the world is mainly divided into. One group of those fighting to eradicate the Islamic extremists and the other trying to eradicate those who are eradicating them. But what is mainly being exterminated is the Islamic spirit.When looking at the nations which became the target of the latest holocausts, a very common element is strikingly visible: that is their leaders selling their identity at first, irrespective of some price or for free, sold away the blood of the people alongside. And before the nation was able to recognise the traitors and overthrow them, the international 9/11 was wandering in those lands.
UROOJ AHMED
Karachi
Had Benazir Bhutto been alive, it wouldn’t have taken so long for the People’s Party to decide the right candidate for the post of prime minister. Being a leader and co-chairman of the party, Asif Ali Zardari must take the decision himself without getting deep into the confusion being intentionally created by some party men.
This is an attempt to malign the hard work of ZAB and Ms Bhutto and break the party. This should not happen. On the face of it, Amin Fahim is the most suitable candidate keeping in view his dedication, loyalty since the days of ZAB.
Mr Zardari must play a father figure role and avoid getting himself elected as PM as this would further increase the chances of a party break-up.
RIAZ A.QURESHI
Karachi
NO doubt that President Pervez Musharraf is both patriotic and aggressive — requisite qualities of a military commander — but being virtually the head of government and head of state, he should follow the maximum of ‘carrot and stick’ and not only ‘sticks’, to extract solutions.
Also, for him, “discretion should be the better part of valour”.
His selfish coterie of ‘advisers’ has let him down, and has brought the country to its present predicament. I suggest that he should now reduce his ‘advisers’ and also change many of them with a snare.
Lt Col ( r ) SYED JAMSHAID RAZA
Karachi
THE recently-inducted lady traffic police officers have somehow vanished from the traffic signals, leaving many ‘willing’ traffic law-breakers with no option but to follow the law, thus causing sharp decline in the revenue collections pertaining to traffic violations. Can the relevant authorities please bring back the lady traffic police for the benefit of the drivers and the national exchequer?
DR IRFAN ZAFAR
Islamabad
ACCORDING to a news item, “PPP consulted on oil, power rates (March 2), it is disheartening to note that there will be more such increases in price of petrol in coming months.
As it is, we are suffering from high rates of items of daily use and now with petrol at a high price of almost Rs59 per litre, we are in a very rude shock. There will be more price increases in coming days. The middle class is already suffering from the strain of such inflation. I shudder to imagine the plight of the poor.
I would request the incoming government to hold back the increase in oil for at least a year and, in the meantime, devote all their energies, not money, to finding alternative fuel/energy sources.
ARSALAAN HALEEM
Karachi
HAS criticism become our national character? I am surprised to see the newspapers and TV scrolls full of criticism of the government against the increase in oil prices. Does’nt everyone know that the oil prices have record highs in the world.
These are times when we have to wake up to the realities of the world and face them with our hard work and dedication rather than looking for shelter under government protection.
IMRAN SHAUKAT
Karachi
EVERY year the British Council awards Chevening scholarship to a handful of Pakistani students who intend to pursue post-graduate studies in the UK. These students are selected through a highly competitive procedure spanning over many months. In 2007, the interviews of the shortlisted candidates were carried out in October/November and the result was supposed to be announced some time in January 2008.
However, even though March has arrived, yet the British Council has not given any intimation regarding the results. Still worse is the fact that far from satisfying the anxious students, those who try to inquire are treated impolitely by the British Council staff.
It may be reminded here that one of the preconditions for applying for the scholarship is a three years’ work experience. That means that all the applicants are working and have family and other obligations. I, therefore, request the British Council to end this state of ambiguity and anxiety in the minds of those waiting for the final outcome and communicate the decision to them. In any case, the British Council should take such applicants into confidence.
HASSAN SIDDIQUI
Karachi
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