| May 18, 2008 | Sunday | Jamadi-ul-Awwal 12, 1429 |
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Judges’ reinstatement & PPP’s role
Power crisis and businessmen
Majaaz the poet
Grow more wheat
PAF’s firing range in Balochistan
Food crisis
A plea to CAA
Easy money
Mob justice
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 valued suggestions given by you vide editorial, ‘Tax and tears’ (April 12), in view of finance minster’s commitment to introduce ‘progressive taxation’ through the forthcoming finance bill, require serious consideration.
It was, however, during the last eight years that the entire tax structure went through transformation from progressive to regressive.
The military junta in order to win the hearts of commercial class introduced general sales tax at the rate of 15 per cent and widened the withholding net of taxes almost covering all transactions.
By doing this, they earned not only accolades of the business community but also increased the revenues substantially through easy collection.
The consequences of handy taxes through GST and withholdings inflated the rates of every consumer item which obviously burdened and hit extremely hard the consumers; majority of whom are poor and lower middle class who ultimately pay such taxes.
If the present regime wants to improve the lot of the common man, this regressive taxation has to go by shifting its burden to those who are making huge and unchecked profits.
Another most important aspect of our taxation, which needs serious deliberation, is numerous exemptions allowed to various clauses such as the Army Welfare Trusts and hundreds of businesses/industries.
These exemptions are allowed as a special case for one or the other reason which for the short of space I am not allowed to dilate.
However, as a citizen of this country, I have failed to understand why anybody should have privilege not to pay tax. Is the cause or reason for which someone is enjoying exemption is more exalted than paying tax on income which subsequently goes to the coffer of the state and spent for the well-being of the whole country whereas facility allowed benefited only a chosen class.
I have also failed to comprehend as to how a country, burdened with $58 billion foreign loans, besides enormous local debt, can maintain its sovereignty with dignity and honour. I am also at loss when under these strained economic compulsions the so-called leaders in expensive Savile Row suits are seen roaming around the world at national exchequer, hobnobbing with billionaire businessmen in five-star hotels lecturing austerity and tightening of the belt to their hapless ‘masters’ instead of visiting them to ameliorate their miserable condition. Don’t they have brains to reflect? The world must be laughing at their myopic approach towards our state of affairs.
The independence was definitely not won for a few hundred thousand businessmen and some members of bureaucracy — civil and military — to prosper but was achieved in the name of socio-economic justice for the masses living in this part of the world.
If the present rulers are in actuality interested in the welfare and prosperity of the country and the people, they should adopt austerity right from the top, not in words but in deeds, and also change anti-masses tax polices without further loss of time.
The immunities from payment of tax of all sorts allowed in the income tax law should be discontinued immediately and anyone who is earning in the country be made to pay tax and contribute to the general well-being of society, irrespective of the nature and status of source.
Let the government collect every single rupee of tax across the board and then let every single citizen reap its benefit through spread of education, availability of quality healthcare and clean water, accessibility to roads, proper sanitation and, above all, availability of day-to-day consumption articles such as flour and sugar at affordable prices.
SHAFIQUE ANSARI
Dubai, UAE
ASIF Ali Zardari, PPP co-chairman, recently said “reinstatement of judges was not the focus of his election campaign” and that “we were not given a mandate for restoration of judges. People voted for us to save Pakistan and to change the system” (April 29).
The people of this country may ask Mr Zardari a simple question: if the restoration of the deposed judges was not in the agenda of the PPP’s election campaign, why the PPP leaders and workers used to join the lawyers and leaders and workers of other political parties and also used to be part of processions when the chief justice used to go to address different bar associations.
Now coming to the PPP’s belief in an independent judiciary and not in individuals (i.e. judges) it is manifestly vague and meaningless. I need not emphasise that the pre-requisites for an independent judiciary are the competent, credible and independent judges.
There is a time-tested principle that it is not a particular system or institution, which is important and significant but the human elements behind the running of that system or the institution. What could be a better example than that of the deposed chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, who laid down the basic foundation of an independent judiciary by saying ‘no’, for the first time in the 60 years’ history of the judiciary, to a military dictator on March 9 last year.
This was yet followed by another shinning example, when the same military dictator struck the judiciary again on Nov 3 last year, packing the entire judiciary in a military coup but Justice Iftikhar Chaudhary and over 60 other judges of superior courts again stood like a wall and demonstrated to the nation the supremacy of the Constitution and the oath taken by them to keep the Constitution supreme.
Those few judges of the Supreme Court and high courts, who, in violation of their oath under the Constitution, took the fresh oath of office under the PCO were, of course, rewarded but with humiliation, for declaring the usurper president in sheer violation of the Constitution.
The judges’ issue has been made complicated by the PPP’s top leadership, notwithstanding the Murree declaration. The issue, unfortunately, remained confined only between the top PPP and PML (N) leadership.
The lawyers’ stand and that of the PML(N) and its leader, Nawaz Sharif, on the judges’ issue are, no doubt, clear and positive but the PPP’s tactics are not understandable, particularly in view of the heavy mandate received from the people.
”Why are they doing so? Because they are (a) equally allergic to the rule of law and independent judiciary and (b) are bound by pre-election deals to serve the system (presently being led by Pervez Musharraf), which has cleared skyhigh heaps of their past corruption under the National Reconstruction Ordinance and has given them the licence to do much more in the future”, so rightly concluded by Masood Mufti in his article under the caption, ‘One and half ray of hope’ (May 3).
SYED IQBAL AHMAD
Barrister-at-Law
Karachi
THE power austerity measures announced by the federal government: Sunday as an open business day instead of Friday, saving power in public buildings by using energy savers and turning on airconditioning after 11 o’clock in the morning, using alternate poles of streetlights and closing commercial centres and shops at 9pm are well timed.
However, these measures, which are applicable with effect from June 1 and will continue for three months, are not sufficient to improve power distribution to a larger extent but at least will reduce some miseries of the people a little during these inclement hot days.
The first reaction to these tough measures announced by the minister of water and power came from the business community. They have opposed the decision of closing their shops and market at 9 o’clock and threatened the government that in case this measure is not dropped forthwith, they will proceed on indefinite agitation.
The reaction of the business community is highly reprehensible and anti-state to say the least. They probably do not realise that under the circumstances when not a single kilowatt of electricity has been worked on in the system by the previous regime, how can the demand, which has increased manifold during the last years, be met?
Thus unless new power plants are installed and generation capacity enhanced, which may take four to five years, every Pakistani has to share the burden, be that a businessman, a bureaucrat or an ordinary citizen of the country. It is, therefore, time the businessmen demonstrated some responsibility towards the country. They should be prepared to sacrifice for the great public cause.
I hope that the business community will understand the enormity of the situation and extend full cooperation in implementing this decision by finishing their businesses at 9pm sharp. They have, however, an open option to start their commercial activities at 10 o’clock in the morning when the power consumption is at the least and the timing most feasible for the common man to shop, temperature being substantially low.
This is now a great challenge for the government to persuade people and see that its decision is not violated but implemented in letter and in sprit. In public offices, committees may be formed to ensure that electricity is not misused. The labour department whose primary function under the shops act is to implement labour law and to monitor the timings of the shops can be reactivated for ensuring strict implementation of the decision of closing business centres and shops at 9pm sharp.
QAZI BASHIR AHMED
Old Hala
THIS is with the reference of Jawed Naqvi’s article on ‘Majaaz the Muslim’ (May 1). I would like to add two more incidents to his splendid piece of writing, relating to the death of this great poet.
Mr Naqvi correctly referred that he was admitted to Balampur Hospital in Lucknow, but in a general ward, as initially no one could recognise this great revolutionary poet. It was Mr Anand Narayan Mullah, a literary figure in his own right, who got him shifted to the private ward immediately.
Secondly, a condolence meeting was held in Rafah-i-Aam Club, where all the luminaries of progressive writers and poets, who were attending the conference, were present. Rich tribute was paid to Majaaz and a young boy recited the famous poem of Majaaz, ‘Awara’, in the same manner as his uncle would have done. The young boy was none other than the very intelligent lyricist of today, Javed Akhtar.
I cannot thank Jawed Naqvi enough for his splendid work and wish to see similar efforts made from this side of the border. All I can say is
Ae gham-e-dil kiya karoon
Ae wehshat-i-dil kiya karoon
DR ALEY H. BILGRAMI
Karachi
IN south Punjab, harvesting of wheat crop is in progress, and will end soon when the sowing of cotton starts. Meanwhile, the Rangers and operatives of agriculture and revenue departments have become active, raiding and harassing the wheat growers, blocking and ambushing movement of wheat with only one aim: to force the growers to sell their produce to only the food department or PASSCO.
Denying the growers their right to sell their produce in the open market is both illegal and immoral in a system of market economy. I would like to ask the chief minister why this yardstick is not applied to the sugar and ghee mills.
I would like to bring it to the notice of the prime minister, in whose constituency I am myself a wheat grower, that the coercive steps of the new government have broken the will of the growers. This will lead to unfortunate consequences, restricting the growth at home and requiring import of wheat at much higher prices next year.
BRIG (r) NASEEM KHAN
Sura Miani, Multan
APROPOS of Mir Muhammad Ali Talpur’s article, ‘Testing times’(May 13), I would like to present the facts to allay the unfounded apprehensions. The JF-17 Thunder aircraft, which is being co-developed and co-produced at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Kamra, with the help of Chinese Aircraft Industry, has to be converted to a weapon system from its present status of being only an aircraft.
This necessitates initiation of exhaustive weapons’ tests and trials in Pakistan. The entire effort, if carried out in any foreign country, would entail exorbitant charges in precious foreign exchange. Moreover, all over the world, such trials are conducted over sea, or barren and uninhabited marshy land. The article by Mir Muhammad Ali Talpur is based on lack of information, misunderstanding and misconception. The absolute facts relating to the issue are as follows:
• To date, PAF has not acquired any land at Aghore, Balochistan.
• PAF initially planned to acquire a piece of land on a permanent basis, but later re-evaluated its requirement and decided to have temporary control over the area, only to overfly during conduct of tests and trials of JF-17 air-to-air missiles and dummy weapons. The entire process of tests and trials would last for a few years.
• Out of the total earmarked land (66,000 acres), only three per cent belongs to the private owners. To ensure absolute human safety, the inhabitants of the private land are being asked, through the government of Balochistan, for evacuation; for which adequate funds have been placed at the disposal of the government of Balochistan for paying due compensation to the affected.
• The area of ‘Hingol National Park’ does not fall within the limits of Aghore Range; as such no fauna or flora is endangered.
• PAF will not carry out any live bombing missions, as is traditionally done at any typical firing range. As such, there would be no explosions in that area.
• PAF will only have some mobile electronic sensors placed in this area to monitor the movement and trajectory of the dummy weapons in the airspace above this land.
• The PAF stands by its commitment to return the control of the land to the government of Balochistan as and when the trials finish and the JF-17 Thunder becomes a weapon system in the true sense.
I hope that the above-mentioned facts will not only allay the unfounded apprehensions but also assure the nation that PAF, being a national organisation, is fully responsive to the sensitivities of the people and yet mindful of its extremely essential operational requirements.
AIR COMMODORE SARFRAZ AHMED KHAN
Director, Media Affairs,
Pakistan Air Force,
Air Headquarters, Islamabad
PAKISTAN is at the moment faced with an alarming situation of food crisis. We had a good rice crop last year and everything was fine until the rice prices soared in the world market, due to India’s ban on rice exports. This prompted our rice exporters to capitalise on this opportunity.
Our government, instead of banning it like India, where their people come first, raised the export prices thus unwinding the spiraling price in the local market. The only beneficiary in this game is the exporter.
Knowing that we are faced with wheat crisis, the food supply situation got worst. To overcome this situation, I propose that we should levy an export surcharge of say Rs50,000 per metric ton to be incorporated in the F.O.B. price. The foreign exchange thus collected should be used to import wheat and subsidise the petroleum bills. This will not increase the price of rice in the local market, as well as improve the supply of wheat and oil.
The country will not be able to overcome the wheat crisis unless our borders are sealed. With porous borders we cannot have enough to feed our people.
CH. ABDUL WAIZ
Karachi
THE Civil Aviation Authority has claimed(report, May 9) that ISO standards will be achieved for its facilities across the country.
An employee myself, I would like to draw the attention of the CAA towards the HR policy standards. Like in other organisations, the HR policy has not been properly implemented. It is evident from the fact that the employees have not been promoted in spite of having served seven to 15 years.
Further, increments have not been made even to compensate for the inflationary impact. I would request the CAA to do justice, besides acquiring the ISO standards.
ENGINEER ZAINUL ABDIN KHUHRO
Via email
I REFER to Arif M’s letter, ‘US envoy’s upset’ (May 16), quoting US Ambassador Anne Patterson (partly or fully): “I suspect that those who oppose American engagement in Pakistan have a limited understanding of how our partnerships — economic assistance and financial interactions —changed the lives of everyday Pakistanis in real and positive ways.”
The real damage America did to Pakistan and many such countries is to make available to them the easy money that they did not have to earn but could spend.
Thanks to such aid that came under various disguises like fighting communism, containing China, liberating Afghanistan from Russian occupation etc., Pakistan as a nation and Pakistanis as people never faced scarcity or poverty making them soft and complacent.
As against this, India faced scarcity and poverty including non-availability of foreign currency. But it stood up to such challenges including the economic sanctions it had to face following its nuclear tests.
But finally all this struggle made it a resilient and self-sufficient country and today it has really taken off economically while still remaining a genuine (and at times chaotic) democracy.
It is high time Pakistan as a nation took the oath not to accept dole. It can borrow money for development activity, but it must repay these loans. It should be prepared for an uphill struggle for a few years, and it will eventually emerge as a much stronger nation.
Easy money never made anyone strong, be it an indolent son or an indolent nation. A country which does not generate its own wealth to cover its need always goes down in the final account.
I hope the democratically- elected government of Nawaz Sharif and Zardari takes cognizance of this and decides the course they wish to chart out for their nation.
K. B. KALE
Jakarta
THE incidence of a mob burning three bandits alive shows how frustrated our people have become.
We are living in a city which follows the law of the jungle, where police provide protection to criminals instead of innocent citizens, where cellphone snatchers get away with their loot under the very nose of our corrupt law-enforcers.
So where else does such a situation prevail? This case of burning of three bandits was due to happen.
People don’t trust the law-enforcers anymore and have decided to take the law into their own hands.
ARSALAN FARUQI
Karachi
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