| June 11, 2008 | Wednesday | Jamadi-us-Sani 06, 1429 |
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Renaming NWFP
Building institutions
Wheat scandal
Misleading toothpaste ads
NFC award and Sindh
Building dams
Breaking news
Doing accountability
International relations as subject
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
I AGREE with Mubarak Ali’s article, ‘Black coat movement’ (June 8), that in a society, suffering from myriad socio - political afflictions, the emergence of new ideas always inspires people who hitherto have remained desensitised to come out and participate vigorously in the struggle for the attainment of a defined goal.
The movement started by the lawyers for restoration of the judiciary is the best illustration of such state.
Mr Ali has, however, failed to acknowledge the role which the media has played in the present movement in spreading the message despite severe odds against it.
The media -- print as well as electronic -- has even braced physical hardships; some of their workers were killed and many injured while covering the events. An office of a private TV channel at Islamabad that was reporting the protests live was ransacked by the uniformed men and in Karachi the headquarters of another private channel was attacked by armed thugs who came in government vehicles only to stop them from transmitting their hooliganism live. They even faced bravely the dreaded Nepra ordinance putting restrictions on their freedom of expression.
The longevity and ultimate success of any movement depends on how far its message is delivered and kept alive among the masses. This significant role obviously is being played by the media in Pakistan in taking the torch to the length and breadth of the country.
Although lawyers’ refusal to surrender before the machination of politicians is testimony to their strong commitment to the exalted cause but not giving due place to the labour of the media will amount to undermining the resistance itself.
While those who are gaining time and expect that the movement will fizzle out in due course must know that they are dealing with the most vibrant, dynamic and unyielding part of civil society, i.e. lawyers, who in their struggle are supported fully by another equally vital arm, i.e. the media.
It is the unremitting endeavour of these two most significant components of society who have joined the cause of independence of the judiciary and committed themselves to keeping the flame of movement alive until attainment of the ultimate goal.
Anwar Syed in his article, ‘Zardari and the judges’ (June 8), has rightly concluded that the judges’ issue if presented before parliament as part of an 80 - item package, it is hard to say how much of the document will be accepted and how long will it take to reach its fruition. In that case, lawyers’ struggle will continue incessantly.
It is, therefore, time for introspection by the government: either to get the judges’ issue decided independent of the 80 - item package and expeditiously or allow civil society to slip into one more long struggle that in its course will be bound to bring more miseries to the masses, already reeling under a serious economic crisis.
SHAFIQUE ANSARI
Dubai, UAE
ALTHOUGH the proposal in the constitutional package about renaming the NWFP as Pakhtunkhwa has been appreciated by most of the sections of the province, however some quarters of the NWFP have also some reservations regarding the proposed name .
They are of the view that the name Pakhtunkhwa is only representative of a specific ethnicity or language while there are substantial numbers of non - Pushto-speaking people in the province. So, according to them, the name Pakhtunkhwa does not represent them.
Of course, people who speak Pushto as first language are called Pakhtuns and also the word Pushuton is some time used for people of specific ethnicity. However , Pushto is more than a language or ethnicity as in a broader sense it mean a specific culture or way of life.
It is true that there are several areas in the NWFP where the first language of its residents is either Hindko, Siraiki or Kihwar. However, it is also a fact that most of them not only understand and speak Pushto but also follow Pushto culture and way of life
In other words, those non - Pushto-speaking people of the province are culturally Pakhtuns and so the name Pakhtunkhwa also represent them. Therefore, I think, the name Pakhtunkhwa should not be opposed on linguistic or ethnical grounds
ANWAR JALAL
Peshawar
THIS is apropos of Ayesha Siddiqa’s article, ‘Building institutions’ (May 30). I appreciate many points that have been made. There is a lot of truth in it. There is a dire need to improve the quality of work that our think tanks produce.
However, there are a lot of points that we fail to take into consideration. First, education of our young researchers is mostly of Pakistani origin. Given the quality of teaching and standards of education at our universities, it is unfair to equate our researchers with foreign scholars and researchers who have greater resources and world-class education to groom them.
Second, there is a lack of willingness to polish up the researchers at Pakistani think tanks. These think tanks are victim of a personality cult, whereby the head of the institution has the final word on everything.
If the head wishes to use the think tank to voice his or her particular views, which may be coming from somewhere else anyway, and use the place for certain goals and gains, then it is anybody’s guess that no attention will be paid to the quality of work that is produced or to grooming the researchers.
The result is that even researchers who enter these think tanks with great initiative and drive end up being ‘deadwood’ after a few years.
Third, the culture of hiring people as favours to somebody’s friend’s uncle is really destroying the potential of these places.
Fourth, the culture of favouritism that prevails throughout our society is further dragging down our think tanks. The culture of promoting certain people (which has nothing to do with their academic potential) while undermining others further undermines the potential of these places.
There is one point I would like to correct Ayesha Siddiqa on. She said the management of institutes and that of research should be separated to ensure that the research staff is treated with respect.
The management of institutes is separate, it is the senior research staff that is given powers to order around junior researchers and humiliate them at will that is the real problem. That is, in my opinion, one of the biggest problems young researchers face.
Also I would question the particular timing of these articles? Why at this particular moment? The think tanks were there for years, why suddenly everyone has remembered the ISSI and other think tanks that are producing substandard work ?
I do appreciate the writer’s criticism because a lot of it is true. However, it would be wise enough to consider the points mentioned above.
There are always two sides of a coin. And while there are a lot of problems with the think tanks, remember there are honest young researchers who are trying to fight their way through the quagmire of problems.
We should not be unfair to them by lumping everybody together and writing in newspapers. We all carry a moral responsibility to speak the truth, but the truth should not be coloured by somebody else’s propaganda.
MUSTAFA NAWAZ
Islamabad
IMMEDIATELY after the departure of Shaukat Aziz an inquiry, under the orders of the president, was expected regarding the wheat scandal, not to punish the guilty but to improve his own image and not to remain unaware of the inner story of the scandal and its main characters.
It is no secret that persons responsible for this scandal belonged to the inner circle of President Musharraf or you can say were his companion when the president wanted to enjoy or relax after hazardous and long tiring days or weeks.
I was of the view that since he was going to continue, he won’t like its repetition. But it appears that starving to death of a few wasn’t going to unsettle his presidency as the death of a few lawyers or people on May 12 in Karachi could not change his commando nature.
Therefore, he was not pushed to order an inquiry, especially when public representatives were about to take over the government.
But then came MNAs and MPAs as standard - bearers of national interest. None so far even has demanded any inquiry into the worst food scandal of this country. I think most of the persons involved in the scandal are millionaires with whom the present lot of MNAs are likely to rub shoulders to learn secrets to become millionaire.
Will the people involved in wheat scandal be allowed to go scot-free?
ZAKRIA QURESHI
Multan
IN recent months there has been a spate of toothpaste advertisements claiming cure of dental diseases. Some go to the extent of claiming their toothpaste to be a ‘home dentist’. Nothing can be further from the truth.
Undoubtedly, toothpaste, along with toothbrush, has a major role to play but only in preventing dental diseases, specially dental caries (tooth decay) and gum disease (pyorrhoea). But under no circumstances can they cure dental diseases as, directly on indirectly, claimed in these advertisements.
By succumbing to such unscrupulous advertised claims, patients only worsen their existing dental problems which, undoubtedly, need a professional dentist and not a toothpaste ‘home dentist’ to treat.
Moreover, it must also be emphasised that ‘curing’ dental pain or bleeding from gums does not mean that the underlying dental disease has also been eliminated.
Many types of toothpaste have ingredients which can temporarily relieve dental pain and/or control gum bleeding.
But so also can many over- the-counter mouthwashes and medicines.
It must be realised that these are symptomatic and temporary relief remedies and which absolutely do not cure or eliminate the underlying dental diseases like tooth decay or gum disease which keep on progressing even without pain or bleeding symptoms.
As such, claiming control of dental diseases by masking these superficial symptoms is highly misleading and unethical.
Similarly, toothpastes claiming to eliminate tobacco and/or paan stains and making them ‘sparkling white’ should also be used with caution. Such toothpastes usually have a high abrasive index which helps to remove these stains.
Unfortunately, these stain-removing toothpastes can also abrade the outer covering of the teeth, the enamel. Prolonged use of abrasive toothpastes can cause irreversible damage to the tooth enamel.
Last, in the interest of public health it must be emphasised that any good quality toothpaste containing fluoride, which incidentally is the only toothpaste ingredient which actually strengthens and protects the tooth against potential tooth decay, along with correct tooth brushing technique to prevent gum disease also, remains the hallmark of good oral and dental hygiene.
Moreover, dental pain and gum bleeding are symptoms of underlying dental diseases, and which should be professionally treated.
DR MAHMOOD SHAH
President, Pakistan Dental Association (Sindh)
Karachi
SHAZIA Marri says if Mumtaz Bhutto were to be loyal to the cause of Sindh, he wouldn’t have signed the 1996 National Finance Commission award.
Being a minister of the government and that too of information, Ms Marri should have known that the chief ministers are not signatories to the NFC award nor have anything to do with it. Mumtaz Bhutto as chief minister of Sindh at that time had indeed disowned it on the files and, perhaps, also publicly.
The 1996 NFC award (signed in April 1997) may not have been the best for Sindh but certainly was good enough to have remained in force for six years now after its statutory five - year term expired in 2001.
Second, the subsequent governments of Sindh did not receive even that much as was committed in the award nor could press the case for a new award. Hopefully Ms Marri’s government would get a better deal before its own time runs out.
If blame for the award must lie somewhere, it is on this writer who signed it on behalf of the Sindh government as its finance minister then. The other member of the commission, Sardar Nabi Bux Bhurgri, is sadly no longer in this world to share the blame. He was a great gentleman and Sindh could have found no better spokesman.
KUNWAR IDRIS
Karachi
BUILDING dams are crucial for future generations of Pakistan. They are a source of development and economic stability for our country. They will be a major boon for agriculture and energy sector and would ensure food sufficiency and energy supply for all provinces.
It would be a major step towards saving hard-earned foreign exchange by reducing the present wheat deficit of the nation and providing the much needed food security to the country.
We have been at a loss in terms of water resource management and development for almost past 35 years. Due to political instability and controversy, only very few reservoirs have been made of some potential.
Please think for Pakistan.
MOHTASIM
Karachi
No doubt that our uprising electronic media is playing its due role in society for public awareness but I just want to know as to what the definition of breaking news is. There is a race of breaking news amongst our news channels. Sometimes these are absolutely hollow, meaningless and just filler stories. Unnecessary interruption during a running show, especially a discussion, is not a good practice. A definition of breaking news must be worked out and followed.
NAILA SIDDIQUI
Karachi
MANY retired generals and key personalities are unfolding the truths and they want to get a clean chit by repenting now or revealing the truths after sharing with dictators and others the task of disrupting political process, molesting the Constitution and causing other damage to the country, or remaining silent on it, or remaining under pressure.
They want to point towards the national crimes and at the same time want to clear their positions.
But why they are saying so after letting the country suffer so much.
Those who were under arrest or under pressure can be exempted but those who obeyed illegal orders and those who kept silent must be held accountable.
Anyhow, their statements are worthwhile because they are unfolding the past events and bringing the realities into the knowledge of people. Like Lt-Gen ( r) Jamshed Gulzar Kyani, former chairman of Public Service Commission, told about many things including disintegration of Pakistan in 1971 and Kargil’s episode.
Lt-Gen (r ) Abdul Qayum, former chairman of Steel Mills, spoke about informing Pervez Musharraf about the selling of Steel Mills at a fractional price of its real value but instead of stopping it, Mr Musharraf let it go and eventually removed Gen Qayum from his position.
Another retired general spoke about rigging in the 2002 election ordered by those who mattered. These are a few examples hinting at the allegation of crimes committed by a dictator.
Many retired and deceased generals who are and were accused of committing national crimes, including Ayub and his group, Yahya and his group, Tikka Khan, Niazi, Zia and his group, Musharraf and his group, Gul, Beg and others should undergo fair trials and if found guilty, the ones still living should face punishment, and the dead ones should have their punishment inscribed on their gravestones.
Those who stand innocent should be set free with full honour and dignity. The same treatment should be given to the accused politicians and bureaucrats.
All the national, political and economic crimes, scandals, assassinations of key figures, military and police operations and extrajudicial killings should be fairly and thoroughly investigated since the murder of Liaquat Ali Khan.
Unless we go through this exercise, we must not expect a good future.
SQN LDR (r) ZULFIQAR AHMAD
Rawalpindi
THE subjects of social sciences are prime subjects without which no country can prosper and get due respect in the comity of nations, and ‘international relations’ is one of them.
Unfortunately, in our country this subject has been deliberately neglected. In the present interdependent world, the study of international relations has enormous significance. It enables nations to comprehend social, economic and foreign policies of countries in international scenario and leads to progress.
It also enables us to have an insight into the problems facing the world and to unravel them rationally. It helps to build bridges among civilisations and reduces the chance of any clash of civilisations.
Those nations which accorded primacy to the study of international relations are now reaping benefits. A person equipped with the sword of international relations can win the battle of minds, economy, and politics.
According to the data of the ministry of education, 89 per cent of students are enrolled in colleges and only 11 per cent are enrolled in universities.
Therefore, to eradicate extremism and terrorism, portray real Islamic values and understand social, economic and foreign policies of other global and regional countries, study of international relations at college level is essential. A brotherly Muslim country, Malaysia, prospered by adopting a foreign policy proffered by academicians and experts in international relations.
Unfortunately, the HEC has deliberately ignored its study in smaller provinces. No student can pass any test/examination for job without the knowledge of this important subject. Therefore, it is the dire need of the people of Pakistan, especially Sindh, to acquaint themselves with the knowledge of international relations, as it will help them to compete.
The reports published by the Federal and Provincial Public Service Commissions vindicate the dismal situation of knowledge, especially in smaller provinces. No job-oriented study is offered in colleges, only international relations can cater to the needs of students.
We have been left far behind in social, moral and economic development, only because we are unable to comprehend world politics. Through the extensive understanding of international relations, we can drag ourselves out of the quagmire of poverty and social backwardness.
The prime minister should direct the education department in Sindh to appointment highly educated and experienced teachers/professors of international relations in colleges so that students are able to benefit and promote peace.
PROF (DR) ABDUL QAYUM MANGI
Sukkur
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