| September 20, 2008 | Saturday | Ramazan 19, 1429 |
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Fudging reality
Contrasting treatment
Why is Pakistan not progressing?
Sickening example
Another appeal of hapless candidates
A better city
Autumn of discontent
US allegation
Time to act
Naked lunch
Killing women
Democracy’s best revenge
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
YOUR excellent editorial (Sept 12) which calls the US policy toward Pakistan to be unwise is a fact no one, even the Americans with some rudimentary knowledge of international relations, would deny. I want to go a step further and call the US policy unwise as it is based on selfishness and a desire to dominate other countries. America under George W. Bush cannot see reason — 6 would be seen 9 by it from across the front.
This is evident from the statement by US Joint Chief of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen who said that the US would adopt ‘a new, more comprehensive strategy’ that would cover areas on both sides of the (Pakistan-Afghan) border. Earlier at a mid — sea meeting on an aircraft — carrier with Gen Kayani, he had agreed to resolve some of the irritants that characterise their relationship. Why and how he went back on his words so soon? Perhaps this is US national trait. Pakistan has its experience from 1965 and 1971 wars.
The editor is apprehensive, and so am I, that attacks by US forces inside Pakistani territory — like the one on Sept 8 in North Waziristan — would undermine the international efforts to fight terror, as also voiced by the French foreign office. Can’t they see that these incursions are already proving to be counter-productive? The people of Pakistan are, and were, wary of US intentions – this new element would add fuel to the fire of suspension, especially in the cooperation at the government level.
The equation between Washington and Islamabad, if there was one, would seriously be damaged by such moronic decisions by shortsighted officials, and presidential candidate Barack (Hussain) Obama. In an interview to a TV channel last week Mr Obama accused Pakistan of using the US military aid to prepare for war against India (the country he seems to be in love with). Let this be known clearly that US military hardware is ‘bought’ and not received by Pakistan as aid.
Secondly, Pakistan is trying to be on guard. It is the Bush administration, supported by Mr Obama, that is arming India to the teeth. India can, though it does not indicate, go to war with Pakistan with American arms and these very morons would not blink an eye.
To resolve such irritants, I suggest that the US should bring about a drastic change in the policy; and reconsider the Indian desire or demand expressed by New Delhi before the US attacked Afghanistan in 2001 to be an active war partner to fight the terrorists – Taliban. It is still time to swap Pakistan with India. India can’t be a frontline state like Pakistan which has 2,500km-long border with Afghanistan. But it does not matter. It has friends in Afghanistan – the Northern Alliance, the deadly enemy of Taliban.
Admittedly, Pakistan would face difficulties if such a change comes about – but it would be a lesser evil. Pakistan seems to have learned to live in difficulties – the US and India have not.
M.K. NAQVI
Karachi
ON Sept 13 our Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar was interviewed by the BBC Radio about the recent American commandos’ raid inside Pakistan that killed about 20 men, women and children.
When the BBC correspondent asked him some pointed questions about how Islamabad proposed to protect the country’s sovereignty in view of this unprecedented provocation, the minister tried to greatly play down the incident.
He even went to the extent of saying that the US troops had only come a 100 or 200 yards inside our territory and that, in any case, it was not clearly marked because the border is disputed regarding the Durand Line.
The first thing is, if our own minister implicitly admits that the border is open to question, how can we expect Afghanistan or other countries to recognise it? Compare his meek stance with that of India.
The whole world, including the UN and Britain, consider Kashmir to be disputed territory but India unashamedly calls it an ‘inseparable part,’ while the Durand Line problem was already settled by the British.
Even some American officials have in the past admitted that the British had already resolved the issue and Kabul must accept it.
The latest example of this is a statement by Bruce Riedel, a former high-ranking CIA official and National Security adviser to the then president Bill Clinton.
He said in an interview: “We have some leverage in Afghanistan now with the Kabul government.
And we ought to think about whether we should use that leverage to make this border line drawn by the foreign secretary of British India in 1893 into a real border.
That would be in Pakistan’s interest and I think in the long term it’s in everyone’s interest (Dawn, Sept. 15).
The other thing is that the US military sources told the National Public Radio that the raid last week by an elite US Navy SEAL team was a planned operation and took place miles inside Pakistan….
Thus, it is clear they knew they would be crossing the Durand Line and also that the defence minister has only tried to fudge reality, presumably to make Washington’s crime look insignificant and absolve our government from responsibility of protecting the border.
A PAKISTANI
Karachi
IT seems strange that at a time when the Americans have exerted themselves fully and prevailed upon the Nuclear Suppliers Group to facilitate their civilian nuclear deal with India, its military has started attacking areas inside Pakistan regularly.
That even included a commando raid and all this has killed hundreds of innocent Pakistanis, mostly including women and children.
While easing India’s acquisition of energy, Washington is obstructing Pakistan’s efforts to import gas from Iran through a pipeline to fulfil its energy needs, thus perpetuating the enormous suffering of the people due to loadshedding and losses to our industry.
On the other hand, Hindu fanatics have been burning churches in India and have also killed many Christians.
After causing the disintegration of the Soviet Union with enormous help from the Muslims, the Americans have turned their guns upon these allies because they needed a new enemy to keep their military-industrial complex profitable, while also trying to grab the Muslims’ fossil fuel reserves.
By refusing to heed Mulla Omer’s offer of trying Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan or a mutually acceptable Muslim country if evidence was provided, they forced him against a wall.
Similarly, they didn’t accede to Osama’s legitimate plea to pull American troops (men and women) out of Saudi Arabia because their dress code and behaviour were incompatible with the Islamic injunctions for the Holy Land.
Through their arrogance, the Americans have pushed the Islamists into suicide bombings and other terrorist acts to malign the whole Islamic world and win the support of the non- Muslim world.
The outcome has hurt America’s own security and also caused a global turmoil.
M.P. CHISHTI
Karachi
PAKISTAN is suffering from a large number of internal and external problems, subcategorised as social, political and economic problems.
All the problems are connected with each other and their only solution is education.
The greater loss which Pakistan is facing is in the area of education. A glance at Pakistan’s overall literacy rate will show that only 37.8 per cent are literate (50 per cent for men and 24.4 per cent for women).
This means 61.2 per cent are illiterate (50 per cent males and 75.6 per cent females).
There are two causes of continuously decreasing literacy rate: high population growth, and no progress in the area of education.
Women are poorly educated about family planning and this has become the main reason for increased population and decreased literacy rate. Poorly educated population makes Pakistan a poor choice for foreign investors that it so desperately needs.
Today Pakistan is the seventh highest-populated country in the world with the growth rate of 2.17, and it is predicated that by 2050 it will jump to the third position.
We can control excessive growth by education, awareness and by introducing some new laws, rules and regulations like in China where every couple is allowed to have only one baby.
Education is the only solution to the problems of Pakistan, and to spread awareness is the responsibility of every educated citizen.
MUBASHIR SHAIKH
Hyderabad
THERE are many people today who think of Muslims as intolerant barbarians.
Unfortunately we, in Pakistan, seem determined to provide them one sickening example after another to prove their point.
As if honour killings, suicide bombings, public beheadings, women being buried alive were not enough, we now have a TV anchorperson openly encouraging murder.
According to Asia Human Rights Commission, in a programme aired on Sept 7 the anchor of the religious programme ‘Alam Online’, Dr Amir Liaquat Hussain — also former federal minister for religious affairs — declared the murder of Ahmadi sect members to be necessary (Wajib-ul-Qatal) according to Islamic teachings.
Dr Amir urged fundamentalist Muslims to kill without fear, and this statement was repeated by him and two other Islamic scholars several times during a popular television show.
This was not a one — off. On Sept 9, Mr Hussain answered a query with the comment that blasphemers are liable to be put to death.
According to information received by the AHRC, within 48 hours of the broadcast two Ahmadis were murdered in cold blood – one a physician, another a district chief of the sect.
No one has been arrested so far. The point here is not that the victims were Ahmadis, but that they were firstly human beings and secondly citizens of Pakistan.
What is shockingly disappointing is the channel’s decision to continue to retain this anchorperson and run his programme.
Unless we all play a part in straightening the course of this country, we must accept the guilt of contributing to this perverse and violent culture that is being created.
A CONCERNED CITIZEN
Islamabad
IT is over seven-and-a-half months back — to be precise on Feb 2 — that the Criminal Prosecution Department of the Sindh Government published an advertisement in newspapers for the post of junior clerks in BPS 7.
Accordingly, a large number of matriculates sent their applications. The written test was held by the Sindh Public Service Commission on April 8. The names of successful candidates were announced on Aug 9.
This was not the end. Fortune had played a trick with these hapless candidates.
The new elected government subsequently cancelled the entire procedure adopted previously and invited fresh applications.
I personally visited the office concerned where I saw thousands of applications lying on tables and floors. Only one ‘Baboo’ was busy in arranging them.
I also tried to approach the minister concerned, Pir Mazharul Haque, on many occasions and visited his office , but each time he was available neither in the office nor at his residence.
On inquiry, his staff would say that Pir Mazhar is the senior minister and remains busy in meetings. He cannot spare time even for office in view of the prevailing situation in the country.
The only way left for me is to approach Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah with the request to look into the matter and save the career of these young matriculates and hapless candidates whose future is at stake.
FATHER OF AFFECTED CANDIDATE
Karachi
THIS is apropos of the news report, ‘Planting of trees’ (Sept 16). Usually when I read such reports, my reaction immediately is one of nonchalance based on the notorious history of our nation’s politicians and their track record when it comes to public and social welfare.
Let alone a matter that under the present circumstances may fall well into the category of a luxury when most people in the country are busy guessing where the next meal may be coming from? Not this time though. I saw the headline and was intrigued enough to click to open and read the entire story.
Then I thought to myself, sure all the aforementioned problems exist, however what a great gesture on the part of the politician (city nazim) to show a concerted interest in developing the city neglected for so long.
I remember writing to a friend a while back upon a visit to Karachi and described it as an old lady who is down on her knees, begging for mercy and some fresh air to breathe. I love Karachi for I have some great memories associated with it.
This old lady needs a makeover and a complete facelift. While barely alive and able to sustain, she can be helped in restoring some of past lost charm and charisma as a city of memories to cherish.
I also think it would be appropriate to appreciate the efforts of the city nazim and perhaps, second, the efforts of the MQM in establishing credibility amongst the Pakistanis as a political party with a serious mandate to help people and to bring about a change.
WACAR RIZVI
Gaithersburg, USA
THIS is apropos of Irfan Husain’s column, ‘An autumn of discontent’ (Sept 17). The writer is correct in pointing out that it was inevitable that Wall Street’s euphoric rise had to come crashing down sooner or later.
If the economy of a Third World country is in trouble, people are usually quick to find a link to America and its conspiracy to keep Third World countries poor.
For example, when the Indonesian economy crashed, it was all blamed on Americans and how they took their money and ran.
Do you realize, however, that this is the same thing happening today in America? The point is that American business does not distinguish between America and the rest of the world.
It may be a good thing to keep that in mind the next time someone writes a story about how American business has a conspiracy to undermine the Third World or how they want to keep the Islamic world poor. Only one thing matters to American business — money.
B.K. VASAN
Chicago, IL USA
IN your editorial, ‘Civilians must lead’ (Sept 13) you have quoted a ‘senior American official’ as telling the NYT that it was “difficult to imagine that [Gen Kayani] was not aware” of the plot to bomb the Indian embassy in Kabul in July.
One must point out that George Bush and his associates, including the CIA chief, had falsely claimed in 2003 that Iraq had WMDs while knowing very well that it did not, so that the US and allies could attack it.
There are many other examples of the Bush administration’s mendacity recorded by the Americans themselves.
The Pakistani COAS has all along shown himself to be an honest and honourable man and has also lived up to his word of keeping the military out of politics.
Perhaps the official felt miffed by his tough stand against US incursions into Pakistan.
Sir Walter Scott had described calumny as “Cutting honest throats by whispers.”
Instead of worrying about Gen Kayani’s honesty, he should be more concerned about Mr Bush’s dishonesty.
If Iraq hadn’t been invaded, the Muslims would not have been dying like flies – over a million killed – and more than 4,000 American soldiers’ lives could have been saved.
IBNE INAYAT
Karachi
HARDLY had the ink of the forceful statement of the Chief of Army Staff, Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kiyani, asking the Americans to desist from violating the sovereignty of Pakistan, dried, when a US spy plane crossed into Pakistan territory and fired two missiles killing 12 persons in North Waziristan.
The overwhelming support that Gen Kiyani’s strong and timely statement received from his countrymen is a testimony to the fact that the entire nation will be behind every action that he may take to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan.
In fact, this is the kind of people endorsement to which Gen Kiyani had earlier made a reference while discussing the relationship between the people and the armed forces.
Gen Kiyani has got that support now as well as the endorsement of his corps commanders. Now it is for him to honour the pledge that he made to the people of Pakistan in his statement of Sept 10.
AMIR USMAN
Islamabad
IN his new column titled ‘Naked lunch’ in the Images (Sept 14), Nadeem F. Paracha has chosen this month of fasting not only to start a column with this title – why did the lunch have to be ‘naked’? But to have a photograph very prominently showing him smoking almost in your face.
While he may argue it is just a photograph and could have been taken after Iftar, one does not see what point this act of his served. It would have been better if he had been mindful of the sentiments of his fellow Muslims.
Besides, at a time when smoking has been completely banned in all public places in neighbouring India just the other day due to its very harmful effects, what message is he trying to send to the readers?
IDREES MEMON
Karachi
THE killing of South African Lady Kerry Winter is a series of murder of working women in the metropolitan of Dubai. The story dismayed many around the UAE about the missing woman for many days.
This violent act of the killing of women in Dubai is shocking when an Egyptian man brutally murdered the Lebanese singer, Suzan Tamim, who was killed in her flat in Dubai.
Now a Briton man killed another lady in the same city. This shows that working women, who belong to executive and professional category, are no more safe.
The government should adopt sterner measures for the security of women who should be more careful about such men as in disguise of love kill innocent women.
M.S. AKBAR
Abu Dhabi
THIS is with reference to Shamshad Ahmed’s article, ‘Democracy’s best revenge’ (Sept 11). I like to complement him for a very interesting and meaningful comment, especially about the point presented by him about Plato (428-348 BC).
Mr Shamshad agrees that democrats of Plato’s time were responsible for execution of his friend and teacher Socrates (399 BC). In fact, once Plato was very disturbed and said: “There was no place for a man of conscience in active politics”.
For fairness and justice, many names come to mind like Nausheerwan, Omer Bin Abdul Aziz, Nooruddin Jehangir, though they did not represent elected governments.
On the contrary, what the democratically-elected chancellor of Third Reich of Germany did to the rest of the world and in return what democratically elected governments of the US and the UK did to the great German and Japanese people by insisting on unconditional surrender during World War II leading to avoidable deaths of millions of people shall remain a black spot in the history of mankind.
Democracy is not always honey, fairness or justice, though it remains a better form of government and this point is perhaps not debatable. What is debatable is the theme of the letter: “Democracy is justice and justice is I. M. Chaudhry”.
The respected justice made some historical decisions, his name will be written in golden letters in the annals of the judiciary in Pakistan. He will always be respected and revered.
Let us, however, not disregard the fact that after the Supreme Judicial Council had restored him, he made certain decisions which do not appear to be very prudent and fair to an ordinary person like me. Taking suo motu notice too many times , appointing a stalwart of a political party as amicus curiae and withholding the notification of the president’s election are some of the examples which can be quoted. An elected president could be removed by parliament: threat of impeachment made Farooq Leghari to resign and also worked in the case of Pervez Musharraf. I do not agree that Justice I. M. Chaudhry is more important than the people of Pakistan. If he was to be restored to the original position, then the government should have done it by now. For anyone to surmise that he should join the Supreme Court in a relegated position will be unfair.
The best course open to the government is to retire him with maximum benefit and honour. I am sure that his Lordship will accept this course in the name of peace, prosperity and security of the people of Pakistan.
PROF KHALID HASSAN MAHMOOD
Karachi
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