| July 28, 2008 | Monday | Rajab 24, 1429 |
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Jirga: a dreaded institution
Inter-faith conference
Bonded workers
Improving agriculture is priority one
Price hike
An appeal to govt
Application for visa
Plea to revert DST in Ramazan
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 Democratic candidate for the US presidency, Senator Barack Obama, warned the Pakistanis that if they cannot root out terrorism from the tribal area, America will do i for them (July 16). Specifically, “We must make it clear that if Pakistan cannot or will not act, we will take out high level terrorist targets like Bin Laden if we have them in our sights."
He is not the first American to have said that; some senior US officials have also been saying things to this effect in recent months. The Americans never seem to learn from history. In Vietnam they had set out to ‘do it’, i.e. free its South Vietnamese allies and the rest of the ‘free world’ from the communist menace and ultimately suffered a humiliating defeat.
Mr Obama had very sensibly opposed the invasion of Iraq from the outset, like the worldwide Muslim community as well as some of America's staunchest European allies such as France and Germany. Now, the Muslims stand vindicated, like the Illinois senator, about the correctness of their stand. However, while the Bush administration ‘did it’ for the opponents of Saddam Hussain and, more importantly, for the sake of Israel, instead of curbing Al Qaeda or terrorism, it ended up doing just the opposite.
In Afghanistan, too, Mulla Omer was willing to try Osama bin Laden in his country or a mutually acceptable third Muslim country provided evidence was made available to his government, but Washington very arrogantly refused to do that.
Similarly, OBL, who had been a product of the CIA and was a US sponsored mujahid against the Soviets in Afghanistan, fell out with the Americans only after they refused to honour his request to withdraw American troops from his country because their dress and behaviour violated the code of conduct for the Holy Land of Saudi Arabia.
In his autobiography, President Musharraf has written about how the US soldiers had got into a sticky situation in Somalia and were rescued by the Pakistan army's Seventh Frontier Force Regiment:
“When the UN decided to pull out its force from Somalia (around 1993), the rearguard action was given to US and Pakistani troops to execute. It was a Pakistani that battalion threw a security cordon around Mogadishu, under cover of which all UN contingents withdrew into waiting ships.... It was this battalion along with a US contingent that executed a tactical withdrawal under fire.”
He then notes with regret that the American film ‘Black Hawk Down’ ignored the role of Pakistan in Somalia. When US troops were trapped in the thickly-populated Madina Bazaar area of Mogadishu, it was our Seventh Frontier Force Regiment that reached out and extricated them. "The bravery of the US troops notwithstanding, we deserved equal, if not more credit; but the filmmakers depicted the incident as involving only Americans," Mr Musharraf laments.
Thus, the Americans must not underestimate the capabilities of Pakistani military. If OBL or any other Al Qaeda leader had been in Pakistan, it would have taken them out. The real need is for the Americans to realise that we have a better understanding of the ground realities, most importantly the sensitivity of the Pakistani masses about the killing of Muslims supposed to be fighting the ‘enemies of Islam’, be it in Afghanistan or anywhere else, including Pakistan.
This war can never be won by military means. The only way is to win the hearts and minds of the ordinary Muslims, who are mostly moderate in their views. The best thing the US can do at this time to win over Pakistanis is to respect the majority's wish (totaling 70 to 80 per cent), as determined by many American and other surveys, that they want Mr Musharraf to go and the deposed judiciary led by Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry to be restored.
Also, Washington must stop interfering in Pakistan's internal affairs and its representatives shouldn't act like viceroys. The results of doing this will pleasantly surprise the Americans, just as the Feb 18 polls' outcome in favour of the moderate political parties did. After that, the extremists will stop getting recruits and things will start returning to normal. Additionally, they must put a leash on Mr Karzai and advise New Delhi not to keep maligning Islamabad while also resolving the Kashmir dispute fairly.
IBNE INAYAT
Karachi
THE image Humera Alwani has depicted in her letter (July 20) as regards jirga is horrifying. The question, however, is: why should people, despite the availability of judicial system, resort to such abhorring antediluvian process?
The reason is obvious. People have lost faith in the system of justice, as they are not getting fair deal in the normal course of legal procedure. Although when the British handed over the subcontinent to two sovereign nations, it left behind a very strong administration to maintain law and order and viable legal system which, if not speedy and inexpensive justice, was at least providing an arrangement to which people approached for redressal of their grievances.
These institutions have been gradually destroyed by the incessant dictatorships in the name of ‘reforms’ and ‘change’ and finally these established systems are overtaken by political expediencies.
The authoritarian regimes, intrinsically antithetical to popular will, always sought support from feudals/tribals in rural areas and urbanite traders to perpetuate their hold. This, in turn, provided a fillip to business cartels and the decadent tribal sardari system. The destruction of education by successive governments, through inadequate allocations, accelerated the downfall of social values more precipitately. The so-called devolution plan of the previous regime, through which the established institution of district administration was abolished, played a proverbial role of the ‘last nail in the coffin’, turning the country into a police state. So much so that an important quasi-judicial assignment in Sindh, that of the provincial ombudsman, is now headed by a retired police officer, as revealed by Badar Jatoi (letter, May 12). I hope this aspect has not lost sight of Ms Alwani, a provincial legislator herself.
As a result of continuous fissure in the social values a time came when in Zia’s era even innocuous caste like Qureshis and Memons established separate and distinct cocoons of bradari/tribe. Thus tribalism and caste system, which was abolished by the teachings of Islam 15 centuries ago holding that clans are created only for the sake of identification, resurfaced.
The malevolence has rooted so deep in society that unless top level is sensitised and a grand strategy is envisaged in the right earnest, attempts by civil society, politicians, NGOs, human rights activists, as suggested by Ms Alwani, will hardly be effective.
The change has to be brought through spread of education for which allocation of funds have to be doubled, i.e. from two per cent to four per cent of the GNP right away. Moreover, faith of the masses in the legal system needs to be restored, strengthening the judiciary by giving them independence from the clutches of the executive so that they can dispense justice without fear or favour.
SHAFIQUE ANSARI
Dubai
THE interfaith conference in Spain sponsored by Saudi Arabia has ended. There was considerable show of goodwill, brotherhood, etc, to be followed by yet another session at the UN.
What was exactly the purpose of this conference? End of terrorism, peace, amity and goodwill? Is this at all possible when one faith is subjected to brutality?
The forces which are doing all this would welcome nothing more than a cessation of all resistance to their aggression, control of victims’ resources and acceptance of occupation.
The victims of this brutality see no consolation from the conference. The winners are aggressors in the name of goodwill and amity; the victims must accept the ‘brotherly’ treatment they are receiving from their so-called brothers.
Politically and theologically the Muslims gain nothing from the conference. Theologically Islam is the only religion in the world which enjoins upon its adherents to treat all prophets equal to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). When the European cartoonists denigrate Prophet Muhammad, Muslims cannot respond in the same way. The Holy Book repeatedly say that Islam is the continuation of the religion started by Adam. Muslim countries are not invading nor occupying any country. On the contrary, they are supplying oil without any restrictions and … reinvesting the proceeds in the buyer country!
One fails to understand why are we being apologetic. We do not denigrate the other prophets as the others do to our Prophet. We do not occupy any foreign country. We are not destroying or massacring any foreign country or population.
In short, the conference should have addressed these terrible facts obliging the offenders to abandon their offensive attitude to Islam for the sake of justice and peace in the world.
F. HASAN
Karachi
ALMOST every week I read in your newspaper that ‘bonded workers were freed’. Not once it is mentioned that the landlord who kept these people under illegal confinement has been arrested.
Even if a landlord claims that he lends money to these people and on default he imprisons them, he has no right to put these people and their families in his private jails.
Why don’t NGOs involved in human rights issues take up this matter with the government? The media can also bring this issue in a forceful manner to educate its readers about this inhuman practice.
HASSAN PARVEZ
Quebec, Canada
AGRICULTURE refers to production of agricultural goods through the growing of plants and the raising of domesticated animals. Cultivation of crops on arable land and the pastoral herding of livestock on land remain at the foundation of agriculture.
Modern agronomy, plant breeding, pesticides, fertilisers and technological improvements have increased yields from cultivation. Modern practices also helped in raising poultry and fish farms that increased the output of meat.
Selective breeding and modern practices in animal husbandry such as buffalo, cow, sheep and goat farming were not practised. This neglect has resulted in sharp decrease in animal population, specially buffaloes, cows, goats and sheep in the country.
For instance, in Mandi Bahauddin district there was a time when every farmer had a herd comprising not less then 20 to 30 animals. Big zamindars had herds of more than 200 to 300 animals each. Even non-farmers in rural areas would keep one to three buffaloes each for milk.
At present this district has approximately a population of 1.5 million and it is primarily agricultural district. For this population the approximate number of animals is as under:
Cows 225,784
Buffalo 568,458
Sheep 16,480
Goat 183,033
Horses/mares 6,369
Donkeys 77,775
Total 1,077,899
Sufficient veterinary support is not available for the above population of animals. There is only one veterinary hospital located at Mandi Bahauddin. It is right at the centre of thickly-populated area of the city with a small place.
It is difficult for farmers to bring sick animals there. Veterinary staff is also short. A large number of sick animals die due to lack of treatment that causes a great loss to farmers. Besides, there is no stallion for breeding good quality horses at veterinary hospital. Similarly no good quality bovine and cow bulls are available to improve breed of buffaloes and cows.
Industrialisation has badly affected the agriculture scenario. People from rural areas are migrating to urban areas. Workers’ percentage employed in agriculture is sharply decreasing due to lack of incentives. Because of mismanagement of the government, profit accrued to farmers is meagre. Middleman, traders, smugglers and hoarders benefit most out of agriculture produce.
The government should take notice of the deteriorating situation of agriculture and initiate some long-term measures for improving the agriculture sector. For better future of Pakistan this sector deserves number one priority for development.
GANGLY KHAN
Mandi Bahauddin
WITH the unjust and unfair hike in the prices of oil, petrol, gas, power, telephone charges and other essential commodities, crimes of all sorts are bound to increase proportionately.
Have the rulers ever thought of this or are they deliberately pushing the country to total disaster?
KASSIM YOUSUF
Karachi
THIS is apropos of the news, ‘World Youth Congress’ (July 9). I was shocked to read that visa applications of all the delegates intending to participate in the World Youth Congress, scheduled to be held from Aug 11 in Quebec, Canada, have been refused by the Canada high commission on the assumption that the participants will stay back in Canada after the congress instead of returning to Pakistan.
When Canada can give permission and visa to participants from Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka, it should have no reason to turn down requests for visa from the Pakistani participants.
One thing more: according to the news report, the participants tried for several months to find sponsors -- 100,000 Canadian dollars for one individual – but failed. I would request the government of Pakistan to look into the matter, and help the deserving participants in getting their visas for Canada, making it possible for them to represent Pakistan at the World Youth Congress.
MUNTAZIR MAHDI
Karachi
MY son was recently accepted for study at a prestigious institution in the Netherlands. However, recent events have cast a shadow over this possibility. Following the Danish embassy bombings, the Dutch embassy too had to shut its gates after receiving separate and repeated threats from unknown individuals.
To add to the problem, we have been informed that the temporary visa for my son has to be picked up from New Delhi.
Anybody privy to subcontinental politics is fully aware that this is a very difficult proposition. The journey entails exorbitant ticket rates, restricted internal movement and, most of all, being a source of suspicion the entire time one is situated there.
As my son’s passport has to be handed in to the Dutch embassy for a duration of at least 10 days to two weeks, this means that he will face the huge risk with regard to Indian authorities and their demand for having a passport and other identification on hand throughout.
While I am all for neighbourly love and brotherly relations, present circumstances, unfortunately, dictate that the Dutch visa and immigration authorities should try to provide a more viable alternative, including Tehran, Kuala Lumpur or Dubai.
My elder son too is studying at the same university, and also had to go through a hassle to get a visa, delaying the start of his academic year. I hope my other son does not have to go through the same, and thus have an adverse start to his studies.
The Dutch authorities are requested to accept the documents via courier.
RAZA HUSSAIN SHAH
Karachi
THE government’s step to boost energy savings by moving daylight saving time by advancing its clocks by one hour has been of little help. It is apparently a waste of time and efforts.
Adding daylight benefits retailing, sports and other activities that exploit sunlight after working hours but its effects on health, crime, farming, and entertainment is less clear. Clock shift disturbs sleep and reduces its efficiency.
The government of Kazakhstan cited health complication due to clock shift as a reason for abolishing DST in 2005. We must appreciate the government that it has left no stone unturned to add miseries to the life of common people. There are many feathers in the government’s cap such as increasing inflation, reducing subsidies and aggravating power and food shortage crisis.
The DST shows arrogance of our policymakers….. that they can do whatever they want. They forget that a biological clock cannot be fooled. Our natural clock is in tune with the natural change in light throughout the year.
We expect the government to act proactively before Ramazan, keeping in view that DST can cause a significant disruption that might have effects on the people’s health.
SAIMA HUSSAIN
Karachi
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