| May 27, 2008 | Tuesday | Jamadi-ul-Awwal 21, 1429 |
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Moving towards a revolution
Misplaced loyalty
Fighting propaganda
Cosmetic deals
No cavemen
Responsibility of the media
Change in mindsets
Tampering with the clock
Sugar-coated pill
Increase in seafood exports
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
This is with reference to Dr Anwar Syed’s article ‘Charter of Democracy’ (May 25). He has tried to find faults with the Charter of Democracy in the sense that it will shift the position of top decision makers from the President to the Prime Minister in relation to appointment of judges and thus politicize it unnecessarily by taking such decisions to the house of parliament.
However, isn’t it as per the spirit of parliamentary system; and what Dr Anwar Syed has been teaching to his students as a professor of political science? This is also in line with the constitution and federalism of Pakistan.
When Dr Anwar Syed indicates at the cumbersome and slow procedure of appointment of the judges of the superior courts as suggested in the Charter of Democracy, he also makes a comparison between Pakistan’s political society and that of the United States. Dr Syed has tried to convince his pro-American readers that there was a big difference between the well behaved, educated and disciplined western citizens and the potentially corrupt Pakistani parliamentarians and politicians. And how much safer it would be to keep on staying with the age old procedure of appointments through the military backed Presidents of Pakistan (and the recommendations of status quo Judges who always supported martial laws and validated wrong actions of dictators under the law of necessity). Dr Syed forgets that the present political maturity of the Americans has been the result of almost a hundred years of undeterred democratic process while the people of Pakistan are only patiently learning every day about their friends and foes, waiting and hoping to see genuine democracy progressing day by day.
In the ‘Charter of Democracy’, by differentiating the appointment of judges from Army chiefs and Ambassadors/other top appointments, an important principle of rule of law and democracy has been laid down. In a democratic and parliamentary state, the judges are appointed by the Parliament, and not the heads of the government. The judiciary is not responsible to the Head of civilian Government. The judges hold their offices under the constitution till their retirement. A Judge once appointed cannot be removed by any executive authority except through a constitutional procedure. The judges decisions once announced become law and hence can affect every citizen.
Dr Anwar Syed should be aware that even in his own country of present nationality i.e. the United States, an army officer of any rank being an employee in the defense services is responsible to the elected civilian head of the Government. Same is the situation specified in the constitution of Pakistan. To compare the position of a judge and a General or the appointment procedures of the two is simply misguiding. Dr Syed must re-read the procedures under the COD to understand that one role of PM describes him as the leader of the nation and the Parliament where (on advice of Chief Justice, other judges, and the members of the legal profession), he initially nominates a name for the consideration of appointment to a committee of an equal number of members of Opposition and the Treasury and formally complete the process only when such approval is received from this committee.
The other role of the PM as the head of administration is quite different from appointment of judges. Therefore in matters of appointments of Governors of provinces, heads of armed services, ambassadors etc., the same procedures of appointment as of judges are not felt necessary or required.
MIAN TARIQ MAHMUD
Via email
Pakistan witnessed the worst riots in history immediately after the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. Even the safest places were echoed with blasts, air firing, torching of vehicles, commercial buildings and looting of grocery shops and private banks. Soon the whole country was burning which caused a loss of assets in billions and scores of violent deaths.
Indeed a country lost a great leader, but the reaction of the rioters largely had nothing to do with this grief. This actually was the pent up rage in them that had poured out as a fallout of this incident, the rage of despair and a bleak future that laid ahead of them. Due to the incompetent rulers, indisciplined governmental institutions, division of religious schools of thought, a defective judicial system, worse government education institutions and above all the menace of feudal system. After decades of deprivation of citizen rights under both military and democratic rules which have dragged them to pay heavily for internal strife, corruption and rising national debts, they have shown a glimpse of what could ensue in future. They can take the law in their hands by beheading people in tribal areas and burning people in the cities.
It was a common cause of social stress, which led to the revolution in France in 1789. Like the present VVIP of Pakistan, the French king and nobles enjoyed their social lives and powers without thinking that might is not always right. Negligence caused an acute food shortage, spread of epidemic diseases, tensions between rich and poor, dirty air and water supplied in cities and sharp price increases in the rural area where the living conditions were even worst. Finally the peasants decided to press for a social change through drastic actions. They stormed the Bastille on July 14, 1789 and the king was executed. The power of the oppressed against the oppressors finally brought drastic changes that paved the way to the progress of the country.
Every revolution in the past had three things in common: oppressed and oppressors, revolt and execution of the oppressors. We are getting close to these conditions.
ADIL SHAMSUDDIN
Karachi
THIS is apropos of Dr Imran Qureshi’s letter (May 17) in which he states that he has applied for Canadian immigration because he feels the Pakistani passport brings disgrace to him. It is unfortunate he used the pretext of security checks at airports being the reason for his action.
Moreover, he says: “I cannot change the system because I am nobody.” It is this attitude which contributes to the downfall of nations. Each individual in a nation has a role to play in its development no matter how small it is.
Instead of feeling ‘disgraced’ at being asked to remove our shoes and belts at airports, we need to understand why this is happening and how we can stop it. Besides, in today’s prevalent security situation, he would face the same security checks as long as he has a Muslim name.
So, probably, his next step would be to change his name to an English/Christian name, which might lead him to change his religion as well in a bid to improve the treatment he gets at airports.
One day when Pakistan would be prospering and the green passport will command respect, your head will be hung in shame for having ditched your motherland when it needed you the most.
SAAD DURAIZ
United Kingdom
IT is very good news that Senator Dr Babar Awan is making an international documentary on the Holy Quran to present to the world a true picture of Islam. This documentary is very timely when Islam is being targeted through false propaganda campaigns plus Islamophobia in the West.
Islam is facing very crucial and sensitive times. Great efforts are needed for world peace, harmony and conflict resolution.
We need to change the world attitude towards all beliefs, especially Islam.
World peace truly lies in inter-faith harmony. It would be service to Islam if great scholars based their script on real research of the Holy Quran, which is a guidance for all humanity. The film also needs to be presented in a way which will have an all-round positive impact on the minds of all who view it. Peace, harmony and conflict resolution need to be highlighted.
This film should not be in response to, or taken up as a challenge to, Geart Wilders: Fitna, because such crap does not deserve a reply. It is best left ignored to oblivion.
We don’t need to be defensive or apologetic about our faith; Islam is magnanimous and we need to portray it. We need courage, truth and perseverance to see the film completed in 100 days.
SHAMEEM DALLAZY
Karachi
We have recently been reading about peace deals with militants in Waziristan and Swat. There have been similar efforts before in North and South Waziristan and the deals were signed but were of no good. The Wazirs of North and Mehsuds of South only needed to gain time after they were given a good beating by the law enforcements forces and were at the verge of total collapse but they made a wise move to bring in jirga and offer peace while the government, showing sobriety and seeming maturity, in such matters fell into their trap (a tactical move by them).
They got reorganised, replenished (thanks to the neighbouring friends across borders of east and west) and were fit to show their teeth again in no time, which they did again and again.
Militants in Swat in the meantime also picked up the hype in the garb of religion and started controlling the area. The government continued to show tolerance till the time the government machinery was made completely ineffective while civil armed forces were almost neutralised by them, only then did the army move in.
The memories of the burial of the shaheeds of Mardan PRC was probably fresh when news started pouring in that the provincial government has initiated dialogue with the militants of the area and a peace deal is expected shortly. This came immediately after a new peace deal in Waziristan.
I do not understand why the new provincial government is showing such a hurry in such serious matters? It seems they are just keen to show some kind of achievement to the public but at what cost? In both the peace deals, the government has in a way accepted the writ of the militants.
I understand that the dialogue is initiated in cases only after the militants offer to surrender and they are told about their future course of action which includes immediate punitive measures as short-term actions. Health, education and economic developments, however, are long-term measures. A headline on the front page of a newspaper gives the news of gas pipeline and two girls’ schools blown up by the militants while the other lead is a peace deal being stuck with them. This is next to asking for trouble and more trouble.
ARIF KHAN
Via email
This is apropos to the letter, “9/11 attack to come from FATA” (May 25). The writer commented on US Gen. Petraeus statement that the next 9/11 attack may come from FATA. He wrote, “Let’s be clear, 9/11 happened because of the inability of US agencies to prevent it. This was at two levels. First, the abject failure of the homeland security apparatus. And, second, the even more egregious failure of the administration to project core American values of justice, truth and equity in its foreign policy”.
Let me remind the letter writer, that it is indisputable, that 9/11 attacks were primarily planned by Osama Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. To blame the US homeland security lapse for 9/11 attacks is like blaming the Pakistani government for all the terrorist attacks taking place within Pakistan. As for the argument on foreign policy, Pakistan and the US have to share the culpability for promoting “talibanization” for their own interests at a time when it suited them. Now that times and interests have changed vis-a-vis post cold war/post 9/11 scenario, no one needs to be surprised about US policy shifts.
Osama Bin Laden and his terror experts, may have lived in caves, but they were no ‘cavemen’. They took undue advantage of hospitality of the Afghani people. Hundreds of thousands of Muslims are now dead in Osama Bin Laden’s war (not ‘jihad’) and he still lives on. And that my friend is a sick irony of our times.
DR OWAIS A. FAROOQI
USA
PAKISTAN is on its way to media revolution in a big way. We can see a clear change in our society as there is awareness about issues.
The problem, however, is that the media carries a responsibility in reporting on political issues, which unfortunately it seems to be misusing. Journalists should follow some ethics, which seem to be missing in many cases.
The competition between the increasing number of news channels has led to highlighting non-issues. Live telecasts and exclusive reports tend to compromise on the quality of journalism.
Highlighting violence, suicides, riots and accidents should not be the main meat of news bullteins as it incites frustration. People have already grown fed up of such news.
The role of media should be such that people’s problems and solutions are focused on.
FURQAN ANSARI
via email
THIS is apropos of the news item, “Mastermind’s surrender unveils a trail of death” (May 22). The details are shocking and gruesome. It leaves many questions in readers’ minds and only reconfirms the (mis)perceptions about the competence level of the relevant authorities. The person arranged the weapons, crossed the border three times, got the training, went on a killing spree and no agency was able to detect that, the least to say.
On a different note, it appears that this extreme aspect of politically-motivated Islam is not bringing any benefit to society. Killing other citizens, on one pretext or another, actually isolates the masses further with the ideological basis, if any, of such process of elimination and with the proponents of such type of extreme religion. The aspirations of a common person are very simple.
Besides basic necessities, they want education for girls, want to enjoy life, want to remain loyal to the piece of land where they were born or from where they earn their livelihood, sing, and dance and, above all, want to live peacefully with their neighbours.
Women are competing for more space in public spheres. Numbers show that desire for economic security is slowly replacing the earlier-held concept of security associated with marriage. Aspiration for mere literacy has been replaced, overwhelmingly, by the desire to perform better in educational field.
A majority of them don’t prefer veil or hijab. Substantial number of those who take hijab do that as that’s the only peaceful/acceptable way to get rid of male escorts or get the permission from the male custodians to move out of the four walls, preferably at their own.
The conceptual footing of perpetrators is 180 degrees out of phase and actually against the popular practices. The spirit of the times, calling for a dialogue instead of monologue, the contemporary economic system and people’s lifestyle are not in harmony with the mandate of killers.
They are bound to land in the dustbins of history. It’s a matter of time only, but during the course ordinary citizens will bear the cost of this ill-conceived adventurism by mullah bands.
MANSOOR RAZA
Karachi
Pushing clock one hour back will create a lot of confusion.
For example the whole year’s schedules of airlines, railway timetables, diaries showing different time zones viz a viz Pakistan and namaz timing calendars for the whole year printed in bulk and circulated throughout the country will create confusion for the common man and heavy expenses too will go down the drain.
These practices are only good for countries where there is hardly any sunshine. Here in posh corporate offices and even in government offices, either curtains are pulled or Venetian blinds are lowered. Who is going to stop this culture? Stop such practices if you can instead of tampering the clock.
If the government wants to start the day early, offices should open at 8 o’clock instead.
RIFFAT I. SIDDIQUI
Karachi
After reading ‘Peace pact signed in Swat’ (May 23), this I think is what Fazlullah won or was presented with by our dear government: Militants get to keep their arms; Militants in prison will be released; Cases against militants will be withdrawn; Army will be withdrawn; Militants get to keep and run their FM station; Taliban and militants will be part of policing the area; Sharia will be enforced in the Swat area.
Please tell me if I have missed anything here. Sounds more like ‘terms of surrender’ (sugar-coated) rather than a peace deal.
AYAZ SHAIKHZADEH
Switzerland
It has been reported in the national press that non textile exports have increased while the blue eyed textile sector exports have declined in spite of trillion of rupees in subsidies. Seafood, amongst other export items, has increased its share of exports in spite of the continuing ban by European countries due to inadequate and non professional policies adopted by the government institutions responsible for this sector.
Non cooperation by the MFD with processors and exporters and no heed paid to the demands and advice of the stake holders are the cause of this continuing ban and only a marginal increase in exports, whereas the potential is manifold if a proper policy is adopted and all present systems controlling this are changed drastically.
Little interest on the part of the Federal government and a mere change of political non professional administrators are not the answer to this problem. This is a billion dollar industry in its own right and this can only be achieved by listening to the grievances of the stake holders who have proved that even without any help from the government and a sense of discouragement from the private stake holders, they have still kept the pace of exports in order. In fact, they have shown an upward trend.
I had pointed out during my tenure as an MNA to every person, from President Musharraf, PM Shaukat Aziz, MINFAL minister, the secretary MINFAL, commerce minister, and the standing committee of the national assembly but I saw only promises and no action.I appeal to the present PM MrYousuf Raza Gilani and the minister of MINFAL to contact the real stake holders, and not a dummy list of experts on record who know nothing and just misguide to maintain the status quo, to find how this sector is suffering badly. This indirectly affects hundred of thousands of fishermen, factory workers, exporters etc along with their families and more so a sector which has shown improvement. The neglected area of exports is marred by their least interest, an industry which is 100 per cent export oriented but is not listed in the zero rated industries of Pakistan and so is charged sales tax on electricity bills which has to be applied for the infamous method of re-fund. It is requested that an honest effort is made to protect and help this neglected industry.
SYED AKHLAQ HUSSAIN ABIDI
Karachi
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