| October 04, 2008 | Saturday | Shawwal 04, 1429 |
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Olmert loses a shoe
An intelligence failure
The spirit of Eid
War on terrorism
Injustice to students
An open letter to the prime minister
National Savings centres
Economic crisis
Threats by and to Obama
FIA’s clarification
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
AS reported in your paper (Sept 27), the Sindh cultural department has decided to establish ‘Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Chair’ in the universities of Karachi and Jamshoro. The decision is rather laudable, especially in view of Ms Bhutto’s immeasurable sacrifices towards establishment of democracy in Pakistan and the stature she acquired through incessant struggle in the world political affairs as a great statesman and selfless and intrepid fighter for the cause the downtrodden.
Establishing chairs in the name of eminent educationalists, scholars and statesmen is a standard practice in institutions of higher learning. The rationale for establishing such chairs is not just to attach names of those eminent personalities to some entity but is primarily for keeping their mission alive through spread of learning and education.
It is done mainly by providing opportunities to young and talented scholars to study in research-oriented projects; conducting special studies by inviting prominent educationists and leaders from different walks of life; giving scholarships and rewards to well-deserved students; publishing books; conducting periodical seminars and studies, especially focusing on the personality and role that eminent person has played in the filed of his interest, for the greater good of society so that his mission remains animated in the minds of generations to come.
In universities of Sindh alone various chairs have been established from time to time, prominent among them are Sachal Sarmast Chair, Shaikh Ayaz Chair, Allama I. I. Kazi Chair, Allama Qasimi Chair, Shamsul Ulema Mirza Kalech Baig Chair and Shah Latif Chair. During the second tenure of the Benazir government a chair in the name of Z.A. Bhutto, leader of a towering stature, was also envisaged but unfortunately with the change of the government this project remained immaterialised.
It is, however, noted that barring a few chairs, no notable activity in the field of education has been reported in most of the places so much so that some of the seats have almost become totally inactive and exist only in name.
I hope that the minister, with the Sindh culture department, who has visualised such an exalted undertaking in the name of a great leader, should, after establishing the chair in her name, also ensure that it does not fade away like other such institutions but functions vibrantly for the benefit of future generations.
I also suggest that the chair envisioned previously in Sindh University in the name of ZAB should also be revived.
ALTAMASH M. KURESHI
Karachi
THERE is a picture in Dawn of the Israeli prime minister, Ehud Olmert, who resigned recently to face charges of corruption, showing him lose his right shoe after kicking a ball on a soccer field, which can be seen floating upside down, through the air (Sept 24).
One wonders what the famous psychoanalyst, Sigmund Freud, known for analysing slips of the tongue, among other things, would have made of this episode. Perhaps he would have viewed it from the following perspective.
A shoe is something that enables us to walk on all kinds of terrain and keeps us from getting injured. A well-designed and well-fitting shoe enables the wearer to run away quickly from a situation of danger. Also in terms of dream interpretation, a foot and, by extension, a shoe represent our ‘standpoint’.
Thus, the chance losing of the shoe by Mr Olmert can be connected to a number of events in his life during the past couple of years. First, there was the debacle in Lebanon at the hands of Hezbollah, when Israel attacked the country in August 2006. The unexpected defeat was ultimately put at Mr Olmert’s feet, since he was blamed for taking his nation to war without adequate preparation.
Second, the many charges of corruption being investigated by the Israeli police have also forced him into a corner and, ultimately, he found it better to resign. Thus, the losing of his right shoe (or righteousness) rather than the left one is even more meaningful and appears to mirror his present plight beautifully.
Thus, the gentleman doesn’t have a righteous standpoint, nor is he protected from injury. In addition, he doesn’t have a stable or solid standpoint either, that would enable him to defend himself against the allegations, nor can he even run away fast enough, to escape unscathed, from the plight he has got himself into.
Finally, the inverted position of the shoe would be viewed in the East as signifying an insult to the sky, that is, to God Himself, by causing the Israeli forces to kill hundreds of innocent Lebanese Muslim believers in God needlessly. The one moment, frozen in time by a snapshot, has quite a tale to tell!
S. QADRI
Karachi
“The federal cabinet expressed concern over deteriorating law and order situation in the country and said that the Marriot tragedy was the result of the intelligence failure”(Sept 25). Since the cabinet was presided over by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, I will ask him not to put gloss on a clear-cut failure on the part of a few lethargic and clueless individuals.
He should have had the moral courage to apportion blame squarely on those in whose hand the responsibility of maintaining law and order was entrusted.
In this particular case Rehman Malik’s name comes first in one’s mind (ask anyone). Second in the hierarchy is Syed Kamal Shah (he does not vanish).
Then you can add to the list an array of security veterans who know Islamabad like the back of their hands. They are (i) Commissioner of Islamabad, (ii) the police chief, (iii) heads of ISI and IB.
Only painstaking planning to thwart such bombing missions was needed. Making a sweeping statement that it was intelligence failure amounts to sweeping the debris under the carpet.
Apparently a semi-literate, misguided, desperate individual (bomber) shook the very foundation of the country. All tall claims of Mr Malik belies the ground realities. He was also in charge of security of Benazir Bhutto but she fell to an assassin’s bullet.
I feel utterly sorry for such a popular and dynamic leader. Why did she trust such untrustworthy people.
Some one has to own the responsibility of the Marriot inferno. It was a preventable tragedy, had the concerned big wigs taken their task seriously, it could have been averted.
But their priority was different, they were busy pampering one man. It was the foremost duty of the holder of high office to protect all vulnerable areas and vulnerable points. But, frankly speaking, they were sleeping nay hibernating like a grizzly bear or a turtle.
Silly statements of Mr Malik and Shery Rahman after the bomb blast were frustrating and mind-boggling. It seems they have a long way to go to attain maturity.
In the end I will appeal to the prime minister not to spare the rod and ruthlessly expose the culprits. They have not only tarnished the image of the country but are responsible for the brutal murder of innocent people who perished in the blast. Heads must roll.
SAFIR A. SIDDIQUI
Karachi
(II)
IN his letter titled, ‘Inept security system’ (26 Sept), Shakir Lakhani has noted how the prime minister’s adviser, Rehman Malik, wrongly claimed that the president and the prime minister were due to have dinner at the Marriott when it was bombed, but the venue was changed at the last minute and that the hotel management has denied it.
Mr Lakhani then observes: “It’s frightening to think that the fate of the country is in the hands of incompetent people who say things which turn out to be false.” Here, I would like to add that even the prime minister had claimed that it was his house that was the original target of the bombing but extreme security prevented the terrorists from approaching it. That, again, was a wrong statement.
The latest news is that President Asif Ali Zardari claimed during his first news conference in New York that he felt the Marriott blast in Islamabad was directed against him (Sept 25). What does one make of all these contradictory assertions? It has become very embarrassing.
Do our rulers not realise that foreign diplomats and intelligence agencies would also be aware of all these wrong claims and would have conveyed them to their own countries’ leaders? The PPP’s most powerful politicians are spoiling the image of all Pakistanis since all of us would get stereotyped as being dishonest people.
A. HAFEEZ
Karachi
AT Eid day, soon after waking up, I remembered the killings going on in the country and the blood that was flowing; of how the Pakistanis have been forced into a war that nobody really wanted. I also missed those loved ones who have passed away over the years.
It made me very sad and, with a heavy heart, I set out to offer the Eid prayers. The imam brought some solace when he sought Allah’s help earnestly and sincerely for peace and prosperity for the nation (without making any political statements).
After the prayers, many people left but others hung around to embrace their friends and acquaintances and wish them ‘Eid Mubarak’ in the traditional manner. Being somewhat new in this locality, I hardly knew anyone but the majority was young, probably in its teens to the 30s. A number of strangers turned towards me as well smilingly and hugged me warmly. I had never seen most of them before and don’t know if I’ll ever do that again.
It made me so happy. We didn’t know each other’s ethnicity, nor did we care about it. Most were probably from a different linguistic group than mine, but, during what may rightly be called a ‘utopian’ span of time, we had no identity other than being a Muslim and a Pakistani. It was religion alone that made this possible – when else do we ever see strangers get so close?
That was a very uplifting experience, although it has happened at other places as well, inside and outside Pakistan, in the past. What made it more intense and meaningful was the current turmoil in the country. My gloom of the early morning evaporated like a mist and I fervently wished that all my compatriots could become as unprejudiced and fraternal as this group was, at the time.
After that, I kept wondering how this unique and tangible spirit might be harnessed so that it could be made to persist and to gather together all Pakistanis in its loving embrace? I am not a psychology or sociology professional but the government is urged to form a think tank of such experts who can come up with concrete and practicable suggestions to achieve this objective.
Television would undoubtedly play a major role in creating this mindset. If it can be done – which shouldn’t be too difficult – all our troubles will soon be over and no power on earth would be able to dominate us.
In the end, I can only plead: Stay, O spirit of Eid, abandon your flight;
Teach us how to love and how not to fight!
A MUSLIM
Karachi
GOING by the opinion that is making the rounds on talk shows and political announcements by public figures, one would think that peace and quiet would descend on Pakistan if the Pakistan Army would withdraw from Fata and Swat. What to say of the Pakistan Army, even if the American forces would pull out of Afghanistan, rivers of honey and milk will not flow through our land anytime soon.
Our problem stems from social injustice, illiteracy, poverty, governmental corruption and the bad leadership. Add to this satanic concoction, regular doses of Army intervention and flourishing feudalism and one can only begin to imagine the monumental problem that we as a nation have on our hands.
There are no easy or short-term fixes but prior to the overhaul there has to be at least an honest and sincere appraisal of where we have gone wrong. This is the responsibility of the government and those who claim to be opinion-makers. It is very easy to be critical, yes but there is so much wrong that despair and whining is hard to push away.
These days we are talking of security or lack thereof and dumper trucks. Has Rehman Malik given any thought to party bigwigs riding ‘number-and-registration-free vehicles or a plethora of government number plates and political flags claiming immunity from any check on the road? And for that matter public transport without any registration or documentation?
We are talking of miscreants and militants, does anybody dare to listen to what is being openly preached as sermons or being taught in every madressah attached to mosques in the country? Speaking of mosques, are these buildings beyond the pale of the law that they can be constructed at will anywhere?
Let the interior minister, or whoever is responsible for maintaining law and order, take stock of these mushrooming mosques and madressahs that are sprouting from Karachi to the Khyber and they will find what is coming our way. Please let us stop kidding ourselves, the time for business as usual and plunder accompanied by clever announcements is over, we either tackle our homegrown problems or the story of Pakistan is over.
JAVED KHAN TAREEN
Haripur, Hazara
THIS is with reference to admission of A level students to professional colleges. It is unfair that top students in A levels are not rated equivalent to the top students of FSc. The top students of A levels are assessed at 85 per cent marks while in FSc. students get over 90 per cent.
As a result, none of the A level students have been able to get admission to King Edward Medical University, Lahore. The government should take the issue very seriously and not discourage such young talent. It should either have a fair equivalence standard or discourage O and A levels altogether.
MUNEEB SHEIKH
Lahore
IT is a historical fact that though persecution does not disappear from the surface of the earth, the persecutor is bound to vanish.
In Pakistan, since its very existence, large numbers of people have been victimised for being on the other side but those who perpetrated the crime of oppression are now buried with their malicious deeds under tons of dust. They are only remembered by the nation with bad memories.
One such example of harrowing injustice was done to me during my service career in the State Bank of Pakistan. The fact is expressed in the following lines:
1. Against promotion of my juniors as directors, I went into appeal to the Federal Services Tribunal. The FST held on March 10,1998 that appellant might be allowed his seniority and pro forma promotion as deputy governor with all consequential benefit by the finance ministry.
2. The Supreme Court on the appeal made by the State Bank of Pakistan against the tribunal’s verdict on May 13,1999 ordered my elevation as deputy governor of the State Bank of Pakistan.
3.The finance ministry did not heed to that decision, and I, therefore, went into contempt appeal to the Supreme Court. The apex court again issued a directive on feb 22, 1999 for my appointment as the deputy governor in the light of the recommendation of the State Bank vide its letter dated Jan 26, 2000.
4. Again the finance ministry did not comply with the verdict of the Supreme Court and I attained superannuation on Feb 4, 2000. Yet I went into contempt proceedings in the Supreme Court which ordered the finance ministry on July 18, 2002 to produce my appointment order as deputy governor of the State Bank of Pakistan. The finance ministry got manipulated this order of the Supreme Court and again failed to comply with the decision.
5. Now, the people’s government is requested to be kind enough to get me (1) my right of about Rs1 million as cost of suit files, (2) my appointment as deputy governor since the first decision of the tribunal on march 10, 1998 with all benefits and recalculation of my pension and (3) also my posting as deputy governor as there is no bar of age in the appointment as deputy governor of the State Bank of Pakistan.
6. I have already submitted my appeal to the prime minister of Pakistan and leaders and ministers concerned for redressal of my financial problems being faced by me on account of the cruelty, injustice and victimisation done to me by the then secretary of finance Moin Afzal.
DR ALI AKBAR DHAKAN
Ex-Executive Director
State Bank of Pakistan
Karachi
PER chance I got to watch this ticker on TV which said that the government intended to launch a new savings scheme for the benefit of disabled persons. Certainly, the government of the day deserves accolades and kudos for this magnanimous gesture of compassion. Having said that, I shudder at the thought of disabled persons frequenting the various National Savings centres in the city for making transactions or related errands. I am afraid disabled persons’ average two hours sojourn at the centres could turn out to be a real ordeal for they would have to encounter overburdened and at times irate staff having hardly any access whatsoever to latest computers or machines resulting in delays.
If the disabled persons were to be lucky enough not to experience electricity outage on the day, then finding or grabbing a vacant chair to sit in would be a daunting task unless they were already in a wheelchair. Paradoxically even the able-bodied find themselves being stretched to their limits.
Before the venture is finally launched I hope and wish savings centres around town would be able to offer services like provision of ramps and barrier-free access facility to the disabled.
Having rudimentary and extremely shallow knowledge of administrative procedures, I find it mind-boggling as to why do people have to make physical appearance at the savings centres along with necessary instruments every time government decided to enhance the rate of interest. Can’t the procedure be expedited automatically or at least the procedure made less cumbersome.
I guess the directorate of savings ought to put its act together to consolidate and then move ahead to attract more investment and launch more schemes.
DR ASIF SAEED
Karachi
THIS refers to the news report regarding bailout of $700bn. The US and its people must now know that the one and only reason for this economic crisis is their so-called war on terror.
The only way to bail out from this economic crisis is to get back their soldiers to their homeland.
AFFAN RASHEED SIDDIQUI
Karachi
THIS kindness shown by K. Chaudhry towards both the US presidential candidates (‘Gore Vidal’s prediction’ Sept 29) reminds me of a fable written by the famous Muslim mystic and poet of love, Rumi, who had observed that a Muslim can’t help being kind to others.
While both McCain and Obama have recommended financial aid for us but, also, in their own ways, talked of attacking militant targets inside Pakistan. Barrak Obama has been much more vocal and explicit. But, let’s also examine some of the warnings given to him by various people.
As noted in Mr Chaudhry’s letter, famous American writer Gore Vidal feels Obama will be shot by someone, just as Kennedy had been. Some weeks back, your columnist Mahir Ali had noted that the Afro-American religious and civil fights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson had felt so angry by Obama’s perceived snobbery that he had threatened to – believe it or not – castrate the Democratic candidate!
I have now been wondering what would happen if, given his threats to bomb Al Qaeda and Taliban sanctuaries in Fata, these guys are somehow able to capture Obama? My feeling is that given the fact that his father was a Muslim, they might offer to let him off if he agrees to revert to his ancestral religion but if he refuses, it would result in decapitation.
S. KHAN MEHSUD
Karachi
I AM writing in response to Kamran Shafi’s article, ‘All a matter of form, is it?’ (Sept 30).
As it appears, the writing is a mix of patriotic anxiety coupled with agony suffered by a majority of countrymen due to the prevalent security scenario and resulting loss of lives and damage to property. The writer is fully justified, as all Pakistanis are, to question and criticise failure on the part of prevention mechanism.
Nonetheless, it would also be prudent to consider roles and mandate of various law enforcement outfits, as much as to have adequate perspective and full information before venturing on positive criticism, such as this.
In this connection, let it be known that FIA is not mandated to monitor day-to-day security preventive measures in any part of Pakistan. Its role relating to counter-terrorism is only restricted to investigating an incident in terms of forensic examination of the crime scene and following the leads for apprehension of the wrongdoers. For this purpose FIA has to heavily rely on the intelligence shared with it by other agencies as yet. FIA does not have comprehensive ‘intelligence collection mechanism’ of its own.
Briefing given to the Senate Committee was not restricted to routine findings but matters of crucial importance relating to this incident, as well as to overall security scenario. Also, suggestions for improvement were discussed, and all these cannot be made public.
With due regard to a senior, it would be worthwhile mentioning that patriotism and concern on national security is no one’s exclusive domain and I can say this without an iota of blemish on my conscience and fear of contradiction that members of law enforcement agencies, including FIA, have received equal brunt from the terrorists. At the same time, we have whole-heartedly accepted the failures and shortcomings on our part.
I would also take this opportunity to assure our fellow citizens and the respectable columnists that we would remain focused and pay undivided attention to unearthing such incidents as well as following the culprits who are responsible for these acts.
TARIQ PARVEZ
Director-General
Federal Investigation Agency
Islamabad
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