| August 24, 2008 | Sunday | Sha'aban 21, 1429 |
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Aafia’s plight: need for a fair and public trial
Avoiding premature split
Pakistan’s failure at Beijing Olympics
Suicide bombings in Wah
Role of religious parties
D. I. Khan bomb blast
Incumbent SC
Medical college admissions
Rescuing Sindh’s coastal communities
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
SHAHID Javed Burki, in his article ‘Democracy and economic development’ (Aug 19), has held the present regime squarely responsible for poor economic performance. Although no laudable efforts have been made during the post-election period, the responsibility for deterioration undeniably lies at the door of the previous dispensation whose economic managers depended more on fudging the statistics than making real improvement.
Even dollar was maintained by the State Bank on artificial repository system at lower rate, injecting billions of rupees at national cost. This serious anomaly that caused a colossal loss to national exchequer was pointed out by the commercial audit of the federal government and the matter at present is sub judice before the Public Accounts Committee and the Senate.
Mr Burki has accepted that strongman rule doesn’t work for economic development except for short periods whereas on the long run it causes more damage because of its contempt for institutions.
However, I tend to differ with him absolutely when he tries to establish that Ayub Khan, a self-proclaimed field marshal, who was under oath to protect the Constitution, pioneered its ‘abrogation’ and ‘takeover’ as a rule, was an institution-builder.
The terms ‘institution’ and ‘history’ are anathema to a dictator; whose very basis of usurping a legitimate authority is mainly disdain to established institutions. Ayub Khan also tried to damage established institutions; some by cajoling and some by threatening. The judiciary he tried to overpower was spared because the judges like Justice Kiyani stood firm against all pressures. The civil services saved themselves by collaborating but the system of education got permanent harm when syllabus was changed to suit the dictator.
Fundamentally, a dictator always considers himself a ‘law unto himself’. Therefore, even those organisations or institutions which, Mr Burki has believed, were developed to serve the cause of that individual crumpled the day he is removed from the scene.
This happened exactly to Ayub’s ‘Basic Democracy’, the constitution he made, etc, the day he handed over power to the C-in-C instead of the speaker of the assembly. What he implanted and left for posterity was only serious economic crises, and socio-political dissensions which a nascent nation could not sustain and in the year 1971 half of the country was lost.
If the country’s economy is suffering one of its worst downturns, it is because of last nine years’ mismanagement. I, however, agree with Mr Burki that removal of one-man rule will not bring political and economic relief to the country automatically.
His suggestions that priority should be given to establish the authority of the civilian government over the military; strengthening of the legislature; allowing greater autonomy to the provinces so that policymaking does not get stuck in a blind alley when politicians working in Islamabad are unable to resolve their differences are worth serious consideration.
Mr Burki, however, has failed to refer vital role an impendent judiciary plays in the development of a just and equitable social order, a sine qua non for the economic prosperity of a country. Thus, unless free, fair and impartial judiciary is established by restoring the pre-March 9, 2007 bench, the lofty goal of just and orderly society is a far-fetched dream.
DR MUSHTAQUE AHMED QURESHI
Islamabad
AS the true story of Dr Aafia Siddiqui’s plight unfolds, it gets more and more gruesome. It really distresses me to learn about Dr Siddiqui’s condition.
The US ambassador to Pakistan, Anne W. Patterson, has asked us, i.e. Pakistanis and readers of Dawn newspaper, to be ‘open-minded’, saying that ‘sensational allegations have no basis in facts’ (Aug 16).
But the facts (which have really opened our minds) show that American agencies have throughout been acting in a very inhumane and biased manner. A question I want to ask the US ambassador is: was it a mere coincidence that for five years nothing was mentioned about Dr Aafia Siddiqui’s whereabouts and then, after much hue and cry (that began to be raised since July 7 press conference by a British journalist), that Dr Siddiqui suddenly appeared outside Ghazni’s government compound on July 17 with dangerous documents and chemical weapons. I quote (Dawn, Aug 6):
“Numerous documents describing creation of explosives as well as excerpts from Anarchist Arsenals, descriptions of various landmarks of US and also substances sealed in bottles and jars”).
I just don’t know what was the purpose of these weapons and maps in Afghanistan! Then she attacked US officials with M4 rifles and then kicked them! Even the lawyer, Elizabeth F.M. Fink, appointed to defend Dr Siddqui, asked: “How could a woman weighing 90lb attacks Americans with a gun?
In my opinion, the whole story has been fabricated by US officials to save themselves from worldwide embarrassment. At this point, I will quote Kashif Khan’s e-mail (Aug 5, Dawn): “The western media is projecting the Muslims as terrorists, extremists, throughout the world… this (so-called war against terrorism) is neither fair, nor against terrorism, it is simply War of Civilisations!”
I, an MBBS doctor by profession, strongly appeal to the government of Pakistan and all NGOs to work together to ensure speedy and fair justice to Dr Siddiqui and all the prisoners detained illegally. All of them should be presumed innocent until proven guilty by a fair and public trial.
DR FARHANA MASOOD
Karachi
(II)
THE pictures of Dr Aafia Siddiqui before and after her capture speak a thousand words.
I’ve been thinking for quite some time as to why did the American officials expose her to the media after all those years. Couldn’t they just finish her off quietly? After all, nobody knew her whereabouts for the last five years.
I come to the conclusion that she is presented as an example to us all. I am a graduate from the US too and am working and living in Pakistan for the last 15 years. Dr Siddiqui’s photo bears a strong message for people like me that if we dare to challenge their socio-economic and political systems, we should then keep in mind what happened to Dr Siddiqui. My US diploma, my profession and abode in the safe haven of my own country may not be my source of security. May Allah help us all.
ZAFAR SALAM
Karachi
AFTER the coalition government managed to get rid of President Musharaf prematurely thanks to the support of independent Fata members and other smaller parties in the opposition, the major coalition partner PPP considers restoration of the defunct maverick judges a threat to smooth functioning of government affairs, especially international policies, in the light of prevalent lacunas in the judicial system and its culture.
Thus it prioritises judicial reforms and makes restoration of the defunct judiciary conditional to it.
Priorities of the second major coalition partner PML(N) are quite different.
As they are focusing on the upcoming election, thus they prefer public politics.
Also, they could view any kind of failure of the coalition government as a future opportunity for their solo flight.
But any premature split at this crucial juncture of our history would be fatal and considered failure of democracy.
Thus the role of leaders of coalition partners, especially Asif Ali Zardar and Nawaz Sharif, is important.
They should avoid dictating and outmanoeuvring each other for scoring political points and prove that Pakistani society is worthy of democratic rule by sorting out democratically their differences of
opinion on political issues and continuing their joint struggle for democracy till its logical end.
AZHAR GHUMRO
Karachi
THE Beijing Olympics are nearing their closure and as expected Pakistan’s contingent is returning empty-handed.
Pakistan last won an Olympic medal at Seoul in 1988 thanks to Hussain Shah.
Our constant failure to win any medal at the Olympic games for the last 20 years is a clear indication of failure of all the sports bodies, specially of the PHF and the Pakistan Boxing Association, as in the past Olympics these two events remain medal hopes for Pakistan but due to poor planning and total disregard of merit, none of our boxers qualified for the Beijing games and we all know that our hockey team is not capable of winning any medal.
It’s shame on all our sports bodies that a war-torn country like Afghanistan also managed to win a bronze medal at this game. Other than Afghanistan, many countries much smaller than Pakistan in respect of area also managed to win medals at the ongoing Olympics.
It is now the need of the hour to revamp all the sports bodies and also appoint professional and sincere persons in POA and Pakistan Sports Board. And we should start planning for England 2012 right now.
KHURRAM ZIA KHAN
Karachi
(II)
A LINE from William Shakespeare’s Macbeth: “A tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing”. But this mild, factual description in no way conveys hopeless performance of the Pakistan hockey team in the Beijing Olympics. The scornful show by our inept sports officials have landed us in this rocky state of sports affairs in global events. The worst hit is the Olympics.
The vibrant and living days of Pakistan sports are long gone. The glorious past is eyewash. Intellectual poverty to uphold sports as a specialised subject is on the peak. In a nutshell, the dismal state of Pakistan sports has been the hallmark of those who matter in the corridors of power.
Be it Zafarullah Khan Jamali, Nasim Ashraf, Squash administration or Gen (r) Arif Hasan, just sacking them will not serve the purpose, but the ‘order the day’ is that such incompetent officials should not be spared for their deeds.
SYED NAVEED ABBAS
Islamabad
(III)
WITH the Olympics now over, Pakistan’s performance can only be described as completely dismal, pathetic and possibly the worst ever.
Our only medal hope, our hockey team, finished eighth. One wonders why the other athletes were sent when they performed so poorly that there was no way they could justify their inclusion in the squad.
Perhaps it was only to provide them with an opportunity to fulfil their personal aspirations and dreams of competing in such an event with the best of the best.
It did make their dreams come true but at the expense of the hopes of a nation which at least expected a competitive show, but which was instead sadly let down.
Countries like Afghanistan, war-torn and with no infrastructure, ended up on the medal table. India won in non-traditional sports. Even Bahrain, a nation many times smaller than us, did better.
I am sure the president of the POA enjoyed his trip to Beijing but now he should be held accountable for Pakistan’s poor showing.
ABBAS HAIDER
Karachi
RECENTLY two suicide bombers blew themselves up outside the Pakistan Ordinance Factory. Over 70 people died and an equal number were injured, according to the latest reports.
Many children were orphaned and many mothers lost there sons.
One reason being repeatedly offered by some sections of society for these suicide attacks is that when the military carries out operations in Fata, Swat and elsewhere in the NWFP, in which civilians become a casualty inevitably, then the persons who have lost their loved ones and have nothing more to lose become suicide bombers.
Their anger and urge for revenge make them suicide bombers.
Well, the question then is: what about the persons who have lost their loved ones in the twin suicide attacks?
On whom should they take out their anger? In reality, there are neither rewards nor punishments, only consequences.
If we can learn anything from the sectarian strife that bled this country throughout the 80s and the 90s, it is that revenge begets revenge, violence begets more violence, pain and suffering beget more pain and suffering. Neither side withdraws.
When the individual has been given the power to decide the fate of another group of individuals, then every individual from either side becomes a foot soldier in this proxy war.
Sooner or later, the terrorists will themselves face the terror. Sooner or later, sons of suicide bombing victims will strap up themselves with explosives and take their revenge from those who claim the credit for these suicide attacks.
The military won’t be able to wipe out the terrorists; the politicians won’t be able to strike a deal with the terrorists; only the common man will continue to be the victims of the terrorists.
This is not a call for arms; it is merely predicting the future.
JUNAID NASEER
Via email
Reference is made to Hassan Siddiqui’s three questions that he has asked me in his rejoinder (Aug 19) to my letter, ‘Silence of religious parties’ (Aug 18). I had a feeling that my letter would make some ripples, if not a storm.
The answer to his first question is inherently wedged in his question itself. Religion never advocated that politics is a good game.
It emphatically tells us that politics is against its tenets and principles – hence the general belief that politics should not be mixed with religion. If you do, you would neither be a religious personality nor a good politician.
He answers his second question himself by commenting on my punch line. My whole effort to differentiate between politics and religion is to tell them that politicians have to correct themselves so that nobody could malign or slander them for their irreligious behaviour. Islam says: ‘Fulfil your promise if you make one”. Politicians never fulfil their promises.
As for the third one, I am on record for not denying the fact of a foreign hand behind the militancy and insurgency and also behind military operations in Swat and Waziristan. It is a complicated and complex problem.
I have explained this on more than one occasion that without praising former president Musharraf’s decision to join Pakistan with the coalition forces to fight terror, he had to save Pakistan from becoming another Afghanistan, or from being pushed into the ‘Stone Age’. You have a democratic right to differ with this reasoning.
Let me tell you another thing. If he had refused to join them – and the threat of bombing us to the Stone Age was carried out, would you have agreed to live in caves?
You would have said that Mr Musharraf caused the destruction of Pakistan – like the western media chides Mulla Umar for letting Afghanistan be destroyed by the US and the UK for just one man – Osama bin Laden.
M. K. NAQVI
Karachi
AS is the norm of any village, when members of my family went to receive the body of a slain boy, they were not aware of what awaited them. I lost brothers, uncles, cousins, brothers-in-law just because they had tried to share the grief of a poor boy’s family.
The bomb blast in the emergency room of the Civil Hospital, Dera Ismail Khan, and later the firing that took place have shattered my family.
We are too shocked and what is making our minds numb further is the fate awaiting the many young men who are left crippled.
We don’t know how to react to the death of 21 young souls.
Even fewer was the number of those who could show up to donate blood because of the curfew in the city.
Will there be any justice or should we make our prayers suffice?
I don’t think my family will be able to lead a normal life from now on or we will ever be able to forget the horrors of that day.
As we pray for the departed souls, I hope justice will be done in the matter.
SUMAIYA ZAIDI
Karachi
I WOULD like to answer the question posed by S. G. Jilanee (Aug 22). He wants to know how the judges can be restored by an executive order when Pervez Musharraf’s action of Nov 3 has been ‘validated’ by the ‘incumbent Supreme Court’.
The answer is simple. The incumbent Supreme Court was illegally appointed by Mr Musharraf. It was, therefore, no court at all, and orders passed by it ‘validating’ Mr Musharraf’s illegal action, were ab initio void and of no legal effect.
These orders can be set aside by an executive order.
ASAF ALI SHAH
Lahore
THIS is apropos of Saadia Mohsin’s letter, ‘Medical college admissions (Aug 22).
I would like to endorse the fact that there is, for sure, an element of unfair treatment when it comes down to converting the grades of Cambridge system graduates to the corresponding FSc/ matriculation system and several bright students from the former system suffer the consequences of the distorted methodology of grade conversion.
However, I beg to have a different opinion regarding the proposal made by the writer to abolish the admission test system and allocating a quota for the A level graduates.
Medical college admission tests (MCATs) have been scientifically proven to standardise the admission process all over the world for a diverse pool of applicants and is considered the strongest predictor of the candidate’s future performance in medical school.
A change deemed necessary in the structure of MCATs offered by the medical colleges in our country is that the questions need to be made more logical rather than based on rote-learning. However, many aspects of the biological sciences need the examinees to rely on their recall power solely, hence such sort of questions for which pure recall is an important tool cannot be completely avoided.
Also, the medical colleges’ prospecti clearly mention that the MCAT test content will be the Intermediate (HSC) course syllabus and it truly is. My advice to the future medical college applicants is that they study the syllabus laid down by the FSc system for matriculation and Intermediate years and they will ace these tests. Changing the system is going to take much longer and is less energy-efficient.
DR. A. PABANEY
Karachi
THE Sindh coastline is a natural treasure, not explored much. The belt extends to nearly 338km, comprising a productive Indus delta, harbouring the sixth largest arid zone mangrove forests of the world. Despite that, the coastal area people are deprived of basic necessities of life.
There are 1.04 million people inhabiting eight coastal talukas of Sakro, Ghorabari, Keti Bunder, Kharochan, Shah Bunder, Jati, Golarchi and Badin. Although the belt is full of natural resources, people there still live a miserable life, 79 per cent below the poverty line.
Fisheries in this belt play an important role in Pakistan’s economy, besides being an important source of livelihood for the coastal inhabitants.
Apart from marine fisheries, inland fisheries (comprising rivers, lakes, ponds, dams, etc.) are an important source of seafood. Fisheries’ share in the GDP contributes substantially, through export earnings, to national income.
Fishery products worth Rs8 billion are exported. Moreover, fishery products have a big market in the country.
But fishermen, like those of the coastal belt of Thatta, Badin and Ibrahim Haideri in Karachi, get very little reward for it.
As former prime minister Benazir Bhutto had much interest in the prosperity of the fisher folks, during her second tenure the Sindh Coastal Development Authority was established through an Act in 1994 by the Sindh Assembly for the development, improvement and beautification of the coastal belt of Thatta and Badin districts.
The Authority aimed at upgrading the socio-economic condition of the vulnerable coastal communities, in particular, and bringing about major economic upliftment and economic benefit to the country, in general. To that end, she had also initiated the Keti Bunder port project.
Unfortunately with the exit of the then PPP government, the cause of the coastal people too was lost, and their suffering continued to deepen.
With time, the menace of growing population, as well as rising industrial pollution, has made life in the coastal area unmanageable.
In the Indus delta about 650,000 acres of mangrove forest is getting ruined.
These forests depend on water in the River Indus, and with any reduction in the volume of sweet water into their roots, they will dry up, resulting into salt water intrusion and, subsequently, into soil erosion.
Neglect over the period has led to illegal cutting of mangroves, overlooking the fact that these forests provide timber for buildings and fuel wood for the vast population living in coastal areas, grazing land for cattle, goats, camels, etc.
It also provided an opportunity to hatch 44 different species of fish in the delta area as well as provide livelihood to 85,000 fisherman.
Sea intrusion is a serious problem with coastal belt agricultural lands. The Sindh Assembly has been informed that more than 1.25 million acres of agricultural land have been ruined by sea intrusion, depriving the people of the coastal area of Thatta district alone of their livelihood.
Sindh now needs 4.5 million acre feet (MAF) of additional water to save 2.7 million population of the Indus delta from starvation and to protect their livelihood, resources, mangrove forests, etc.
Another stark reality is that apart from the poor state of general health, mother-child health problem is a very serious problem in the coastal belt.
Due to illiteracy and lack of awareness about their own bodies, at times they themselves refuse to see the doctor and, at times it is under family pressure that they refrain from reporting their gynecological problems.
Hence, maternal mortality ratio is very high as compared to the rest of the country.
The government must come forward and improve the socio-economic conditions of the vulnerable coastal communities of Sindh in a sustainable manner.
HUMERA ALWANI
MPA, Thatta
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