| September 01, 2008 | Monday | Sha'aban 29, 1429 |
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World religions course
Glaring similarities
Faulty power bills
Best teacher award
The political chessboard
O and A level equivalence in Pakistan
Let us pray for our country
Dual posts
Let Kashmir go now
Bank robberies
Mobile police
Posting of lecturers
Loadshedding
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
NO political party in the recent election has mentioned in its manifesto solution to corruption. Perhaps the pots were in no position to call the kettles black. Politicians cleverly duped the media, civil society and the people by making the issue of judges and unfettered democracy as an end to all our woes.
It never occurred to them that neither the enlightened justice system nor democracy can function in an environment seething with corruption.
A good justice system begins at honest police stations, while democracy with men and women of integrity in our assemblies. Both are lacking drastically.
Having manipulated Mr Musharraf to enact NRO, our politicians have gotten their cakes and are eating them too, proving ourselves yet again a nation of the blind, by bringing the same self-seekers in our assemblies, thus denying this nation the economic power and progress that should have been ours.
We must not allow the corrupt to enjoy the fruits of their corruption.
Singapore’s former PM once said: “You give discretionary powers to bureaucrats, you invite corruption.” Almost all government tenders contain this telling clause: “The signing authority has a right to accept or reject one or all tenders without assigning any reason.”
Corruption in this regard includes allowing the corrupt to be one of the signing authorities to cream off 40 to 50 per cent of the funds for various projects and procurements, costing this nation thousands of billions over the last 40 or so years.
New sets of rules and procedures need to be adopted, followed by strong laws. Some suggestions are mentioned below:
— Misuse and embezzlement of public funds, assets, etc., and accepting bribe or illegal gratification should be compensated with 20 to 40 years’ imprisonment and confiscation of all assets of the accused and all family members.
-- Two to seven years’ imprisonment for inefficiency and negligence towards duty.
— A police officer who refuses to record an FIR by any citizen should be liable to five years’ imprisonment.
— Any police officer who, at the behest of any citizen, acts against any citizen, without due process of law, should be liable to 10 years’ imprisonment.
The last two laws will ensure justice for the poor.
The media and lawyers must now get together and make amends to rescind NRO and relentlessly pressure the corrupt within and without our assemblies and administration, irrespective of their party or personal affiliations.
S. HUSSAIN
Karachi
I ENDORSE most of the curriculum recommendations made by Prof Anjum James Paul (Aug 28).
I would suggest one change though. Instead of developing different courses for minorities and Muslims, the subject of Islamic Studies should be replaced by a ‘World Religions’ course so that all students, Muslims and non-Muslims, will learn about all major religions in the same classroom. The students must also study the subject of Ethics which could be part of World Religions course.
Erroneous statements that put down contributions of minorities or their beliefs must be removed from our textbooks on Pakistan Studies/Islamic Studies and honest, truthful statements should replace them, if needed.
I have taught Physics at a university in America for nearly 17 years. Their World Religions class was the most exciting class that students looked forward to. The professor had the insight and vision to invite professors from each faith and request them to talk to his class about their faith and answer students’ questions. Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism and Buddhism were generally discussed by the followers of these faiths.
Every year, I was invited to speak about Islam. The students had to first study the English translation of the complete Holy Quran by an Egyptian scholar and prepare any questions. I told the students I would try to answer their questions to the best of my ability and understanding of Islam being a follower of this great religion, though I was not a religious scholar by training. They were appreciative, listened carefully and enjoyed the beauty of Islam and the logic of its injunctions.
At times, my husband was also invited so that students could understand the Muslim family life. After the first time I spoke, the next day I received in the mail 40 ‘Thank you’ letters from students. Each letter stated what the student did not know before but learnt from my talk. This was a great surprise for me and also a feedback to do even better next time. From then on, such letters followed every talk.
I am now on a contract to teach at a university in Pakistan. How I wish my country would adopt and encourage such an open attitude to other religions and let our students learn about the beauties of all major religions and not restrict them to just Islam.
Our students will learn that all religions have a common theme: they all inspire their followers to do well and be good. We will be helping our students to remove some of the hatred that our biased books and extremist mullahs have taught them. I invite all educated people to join me in the demand for a “World Religions” course to be taught to our students, at least at the university level.
DR. TAHIRA ARSHED
Karachi
THERE are glaring similarities between former president Pervez Musharraf and Asif Ali Zardari, PPP co-chairman.
Mr Musharraf said he was compelled by circumstances to reluctantly assume power in October 1999.
Mr Zardari also took over the reins of the party in most tragic circumstances, in the aftermath of his spouse’s assassination. Mr Musharraf’s policies found an acceptance and support of a large majority in his initial years in power, including for his difficult decision to side with the US on war on terror.
Mr Zardari won the hearts and minds of the people when he reprimanded his own party workers from Sindh for chanting anti-Pakistan slogans and roared ‘Pakistan Khapay’.
Mr Musharraf made some pledges to the nation, including removing his uniform but later on deviated from these promises. Similarly, Mr Zardari signed accords with the PML(N) to restore the judges and vowed, not once but several times, to do so but failed to act on his words for the last six months, because of which the PML(N) walked out of the coalition.
After clean governance of two years, Mr Musharraf opted for corrupt and opportunist politicians and handed over the nation’s resources to the looters and plunderers. Mr Zardari embraced all, and recently the PML(Q) members are lining up and extending their support for his presidential election. Most likely the majority of them may join the government.
Lastly Mr Musharraf wielded absolute power and his rubberstamp parliament endorsed all his actions.
Likewise Mr Zardari took all decisions outside parliament and it is most likely that after being elected president he would take all decisions and parliament would be little different from the one under Mr Musharraf.
GULSHER PANHWER
Johi, Dadu
THE public utility monopolies like Wapda and Hesco are not only financed billions of rupees from public money but these organisations rob their customers through faulty bills and the worst kind of electricity service.
This has happened to me, resident of B. No.04 GOR Colony, Hyderabad, meter reference No. 04 7111 01393003. My normal electricity bill ranges from Rs3,500 to Rs4,500 per month, depending on my consumption during the month. And this is dutifully paid every month.
The monthly bill for July (received in August ), out of blue, was Rs12,378 with 1,594 units consumed during the month. This is preposterous! The bill also shows 30,633 as total units consumed as per reading taken on Aug 4.
The undersigned also took the reading on Aug 23 (which is 19 days after Hesco reading and also took a close-up photo of the meter through a digital camera, which showed the reading as 30,735, i.e., just 102 units consumed in 19 days.
How is it possible to consume nearly 1,600 units in one month when in 19 days the same electricity meter has consumed 102 units? Also we have to keep in mind there is at least six hours’ loadshedding a day.
As per my duty and practice, I had to pay the bill which was received only 48 hours before due date. The payment of bill was against the advice of a friend who promised to bring a middleman to me who would work as intermediary between me and Hesco and get me the correct bill after a deal.
I have approached Water and Power Minister Raja Perviaz Ashraf, the Wapda chairman and the Hesco chief engineer to do justice to me by giving me the normal bill of Rs4,000 to Rs4,500, with a request that the remaining amount should be shown as my credit to Hesco in the next bill.
AIJAZ A. NIZAMANI
Hyderabad
THIS refers to S. Shah Nawaz Shah’s letter, ‘Best teacher award’ (Aug 22), in which he questions the rationale of the Sindh University administration to confer the “the best teacher award’ on a person who has been working as the controller of examinations. Mr Shah also justifiably points out that the price of this favouritism is to be paid by the students and society.
This is not the first instance when a favourite of the troika of the administration of the retired officers (the vice chancellor, the pro-vice chancellor and the registrar) has been awarded with a special favour. But for the last eight years the patronage has become the order of the day.
One more example of rewarding the protégés at the expense of merit is given here. Recently for filling the post of the director of Pakistan Studies, an interview was conducted. In it the vice chancellor and the federal secretary of education sat as chairmen of the selection Board.
Two candidates appeared in it. One of them was recommended for the position by the vice chancellor. It has been learnt from reliable sources that Ahsan Iqbal, the former education minister and a respected intellectual, disapproved of the vice chancellor’s recommendation.
The case is still pending for final decision at the ministry of education. One wonders if the merit is scarified at the alter of favouritism, where will this state of affairs lead the institution?
In 2007 the university was rated by the HEC as No 11 out of 33 teaching-cum-research public sector universities. The ranking for 2008 is expected at anytime. But I am afraid it may not be different from the previous one. If so, the policy of favouritism pursued by the university administration will be responsible for this national loss.
DR MEHTAB ALI SHAH
Jamshoro
AS the presidential election is drawing near, so are strategies of political chess boards also taking place. Nawaz Sharif said if Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani sought a fresh vote of confidence from the National Assembly, his party would not vote for him.
Furthermore, talks with the PML(Q) are also on the cards as Mr Sharif has reportedly said that talks can also be held with the Chaudhry brothers if they respect our principles.
Prime Minister Gilani also held a telephonic conversation with Pakistan Muslim League President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and requested him to support Pakistan People’s Party
Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari.
It is ironic that it was the very thing that Mr Zardari said at his first press conference after Benazir Bhutto’s assassination calling the PML(Q) ‘Qatil League’. It just shows that our political leaders have no scruples or self-respect and they would sell their principles and souls for the very corridors of power.
SARDAR ALI
Peshawar
This is in response to Miss Rooha Tariq’s letter “O/A level grades and injustice” (August 28). The statement that A-level students getting 98 to 99 per cent (A-grade) are given 80 per cent (A-grade) after equivalence by Pakistan educational board is pure misconception.
I think the writer is not aware of statistical approach that is used for computing O/A-level examination scores. The scores for A grade are not 98 to 99 ‘per cent’; these are 98 to 99 ‘percentile’. The scores of all students appearing in a particular region are arranged on a percentile scale with highest score equal to 100th percentile. So a student getting 98 to 99 percentile is not getting 98 to 99 percent, his actual scores may be anywhere near 80 per cent depending upon the 100th percentile score.
So saying that equivalence system adopted by Pakistan is not fair is totally based on misconception. The writer has indicated that students are forced to get admission abroad and honoured by foreign universities. This is also not true. In fact every country gives first preference to its own students matriculating with their system of education.
Whether it is medicine, engineering, sciences or humanities, every country follows its indigenous examination system and international students are judged by their scores on some international examination, their school transcripts and their ability to demonstrate a strong interest in whatever field he/she is opting for higher studies.
There is no preference for O/A levels. There are thousands of students getting into Harvard, MIT and Johns Hopkins (ranked best in the world) after completing education in Pakistan’s education system.
O/A level equivalence criterion is based on statistical standards and one should not blame it. I think students should prefer Pakistan’s education system, with all its merits and demerits, instead of O/A levels. Many hundreds of our students, educated in our very own education system, have excelled all over the world.
There are countless names in every field; but I should state Pakistan’s only Noble laureate Dr Abdus Salam who did his matriculation and FSc in Pakistan. Pakistan is an independent nation (not a British colony) and we as Pakistanis should be proud of our own education system.
UMAIR M. PANNU
Lahore
NASEER Ahmad has written an informative column, ‘Prayers haven’t worked for Pakistan — Anwar Maqsood’ (Aug 21). As per his statement, when Mr Maqsood was asked if he saw any improvement in the situation in Pakistan, he said in his typical witty fashion, and I quote: “We have been praying for Pakistan daily for the last 61 years. Prayers haven’t worked. Now we should try to curse, in the hope it will have its reverse effect on the country”.
He was, however, happy that democracy has initially arrived in the country. Democracy is a good thing indeed.
I feel that it is not only Anwar Maqsood, but most of the countrymen are not happy with the prevailing political situation and the attitude of our politicians. We, nevertheless, have to be practical, which we are not. The Holy Quran says: “God helps those who help themselves”. Do we really help ourselves? Let us not lose hope and pray to our Lord for the betterment of the nation and the country.
DR S. IFTIKHAR AHMED
Karachi
IN A recent TV interview Asif Ali Zardari has indicated his intention to continue as co-chairman of the PPP, even after his election as president of Pakistan. He wants to hold both the offices simultaneously.
In this connection he has given the example of Z.A. Bhutto. It may be pointed out that this example is not applicable in his case.
Z.A. Bhutto was the executive president under the interim constitution and the head of the government whereas in a parliamentary democracy the president is merely a titular head of the state and is supposed to be above party politics.
R.R. ALVI
Lahore
AN accalaimed Indian author, Arundhati Roy, has summed up the feelings of Kashmiris in the best possible way: “India needs freedom from Kashmir as much as Kashmir needs freedom from India.”
Let Kashmir go now. India has dragged the Kashmir issue for 60 years and never showed any seriousness to resolve this dispute.
The UN resolution has always been sidelined by the hawkish Indian media and leaders. But the current non-violent Kashmiri freedom movement has even made Indian media guru realise that Kashmir is not theirs and that Kashmiris have given a referendum that they do not want to live with India by staging large demonstrations.
These large protest demonstrations carried out by Kashmiris have jolted Indian intelligence, policymakers, leaders and media as well.
The highhandedness by Indian security forces and mishandling of Kashmir affairs by politicians and playing in the hands of VHP and BJP (Hindu extremist parties) of Indian leaders has now changed the reality in Kashmir. The reality is ‘independence or merger with Pakistan’.
Indian leaders should reach the final solution as soon possible before they face any humiliation in the world arena. The solution is secession of Kashmir from India. Kashmir has become a Siamese twin for India. The sooner they let it go the better it is.
SHAH AFFAN
Toronto, Canada
THIS is apropos of the letter ‘Bank robberies’ (Aug 28) by N. A. Khan. I second his opinion that in an attempt to save a few thousand rupees the bank authorities are risking the lifetime savings of thousands of people.
I feel great pain for all victims of the bank robbery that took place at Habib Bank, Mansfield Street Branch, Saddar, Karachi. This incident has wiped out the credibility of banks and security companies as far as customers are concerned.
It is unfortunate that no authority has come up seriously for fair investigation and even there was no sympathy shown by the bank in this regard.
I would request the State Bank of Pakistan, as well as local authorities, to play a leading role in finding the culprit. This is the only way they can restore the confidence of the people in the safe working of banks.
ADNAN TURAB ALI
Karachi
I recently had a novel experience that ripped apart the halo I had woven around the image of Motorway Police.
I was traveling from Faisalabad to Islamabad along with some friends. We were in two vehicles. One vehicle was to be handed over to a friend who was waiting at Pindi Bhattian Toll Plaza. I exited the Toll Plaza at 5.40pm and after handing over the vehicle, tried to walk to the other vehicle that was waiting for me just a few yards away on the Motorway.
I was intercepted by a sergeant who disallowed me to walk to the vehicle. On my pleadings he got furious. I was overawed by the sheer rudeness and anger that was writ large on the face of the sergeant. Had I taken a few more paces, he might have manhandled me. I came back to the Toll Plaza. While I was making a call to the driver of the waiting vehicle to ask him to exit from the Toll Plaza and pick me up, my attention was diverted by a white Suzuki Mehran car coming from Lahore side that violated the traffic rules and took turn short of Toll Plaza. It came on the other side.
I was alarmed and feared it might be some suicide bomber who was heading on the wrong side towards the Motorway Policemen. The car drew up to the policemen and stopped.
To my utter astonishment, the same sergeant who got infuriated at my attempt to walk to the vehicle just a few yards away, grinned and wore a broad smile on his face. He greeted the violator and hugged him and started chatting right in the middle of the entry point. I could not resist my desire to capture this moment with my mobile camera and took picture of the car standing on the wrong track and the sergeant gossiping with the occupant. I am simply baffled by this double standard of the Motorway police.
ZAFAR HAYAT KHAN
Faisalabad
LECTURERS were recently selected for the posts advertised in 2005, after being screened through a long process of the Sindh Public Service Commission that included written examinations conducted in 2006.
The successful candidates in the written test were called for interview in 2008, and luckily the results were declared in 2008.
The successful candidates were offered jobs by the education and literacy department of the government of Sindh, and the schedule for the postings had also been announced in different newspapers.
As is common in our country where we often find too many lame excuses to execute orders stringently, the candidates were told again that postings are hereby postponed, but no reason for this was given by the authorities concerned.
Perhaps the authorities are not fully aware that the new academic session is about to begin and the colleges are in dire need of faculty members.
The aforesaid lecturers are anxiously waiting for the orders from the Sindh education and literacy department.
The relevant authorities are requested to look into the problem and expedite the matter.
ABDUL QADIR
Karachi
Minister for Power Raja Parvez Ashraf made a public statement that electricity load-shedding is to be restricted to a maximum of six hours in cities and eight hours in rural areas.
However, we are experiencing at least two additional hours of shedding for the last two days. I was very surprised, but then suddenly it dawned on me the announcements the minister had made were neither words of the Holy Quran nor of Hadith. Therefore, it was foolish on my part to expect implementation of that statement.
NAÏVE
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