| December 14, 2008 | Sunday | Zilhaj 15, 1429 |
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Brand of the Year Award
Biased US sympathy
Ajmal Kasav’s testimony
Child labour
How much is enough
Europe’s deep concern
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
PAKISTAN was a major and recurrent election issue in the United States. Government officials, politicians, generals, think tanks and the media in America keep saying that the next terror attack on the US would emanate from Fata. The international community was convinced that the terror attack on Mumbai was carried out by outfits based in Pakistan, hence the Security Council Resolution and the resultant crackdown on Al Dawa and Lashkar-i-Taiba.
Some commentators also say that Pakistan has been surrounded, and its very existence is in danger. Some believe that a message has been conveyed to Pakistan that if it did not act against terror outfits allegedly based here, the international community itself would act to dismantle them.
We have a high intensity insurgency, no more confined to Fata and Swat, and the insurgents are now targeting our security apparatus and our economic interests.
Our economy is a shambles because of the law and order situation. The situation is worsening allegedly because of the war on terror and our foreign policy.
The rulers still in line with past practices are not taking the nation into confidence on the dangers it is faced with, and the strategy to deal with threats to national solidarity and progress. But to be fair to them, it must be conceded that they have a huge baggage of history that they are carrying.
As a firm believer in democracy, I therefore think that the rulers need to be helped. And such help can only come from the people of Pakistan. For the people of Pakistan to help the rulers they need to be told how serious the situation is and also need to be involved in policymaking.
We should develop a national consensus, a well-thought-out, fact-based policy on our relations with the US, on the insurgency and on terror outfits if they indeed exist — and to save Pakistan, and to put it back on the path of peace and prosperity. To achieve these objectives, I propose that a commission, to be called the Citizens Commission to Save Pakistan, be established in the country.
The commission should not only seek the truth behind our present grim state of affairs but also formulate policy options on these three issues and propose a direction, especially geo-strategic direction, for the country for the immediate future and the next five to 10 years.
Why should there be a citizens’ commission when we have a democratically-elected parliament? The reason is our politicians have little or no knowledge of world strategic issues. The commission will support the parliament and its relevant committees, and not supplant them.
The mindset of our rulers right from the early days of our independence has been autocratic. Far-reaching, vital decisions, the consequences of which the nation is suffering now, were taken by autocrats without taking the nation into confidence. The proposed commission will dilute this mindset by bringing policy development practice into public domain.
In America, Europe, Japan, etc. policy decisions are taken on the basis of deep, research-based study of world affairs and national requirements with inputs from economists, social scientists, researchers, scholars, writers, media personalities, defence and security experts, military personnel, intelligence operatives and civil servants. Pakistan does not have this system of policy formulation. The proposed commission will fill the void and set in motion the process of involving various segments of society in policy formulation.
The proposed commission should consist of 12 to 15 members with expertise in fields listed in the previous paragraph. Its sessions should be open to public, and should be telecast live. It should invite other experts from different fields to present their ideas, give their presentations and file with the commission their research-based papers.
The commission should study reports and projections for the future not only from America, but also from Europe, Russia, China and Japan. Pakistani expatriates abroad should also be encouraged to participate in the commission’s deliberations.
The commission should present its report to the nation and parliament for debate and adoption within six months.
Will the establishment allow such a commission to be set up? If the nation wants it, yes. One individual took on the entire establishment in its full glory, and we know what happened.
Where will the funding for the commission come from? From the people, if they know they are being involved in determining their future, in saving Pakistan. Commission members and experts who appear before the commission should do so voluntarily.
M. ASLAM KHAN
Karachi
AREN’T we living in interesting times? The Pakistan International Airlines, the sole national flag carrier which because of its mismanagement has suffered a colossal loss of Rs32 billion in the last 10 years while in the first three months of the current year has lost Rs3,954 million, has been awarded ‘Brand of the Year 2008’.
The award was conferred by the prime minister on Nov 30 at a ceremony held on behalf of the Brands Award Council and was received by Capt Mohammad Aijaz Haroon, managing director of the national carrier, as reported in Dawn’s advertisement supplement of ‘Brand of the Year Award’ (Dec 8).
The ‘Brand of the Year Award’ has been organised by a Brands Award Council of Pakistan (BCP) in collaboration with the Brands Bureau International Ltd, UK, and the first awards were distributed in the year 2007.
The selection criteria for nomination are: a) Company profile, b) Current Year Brand Market Standing and c) Nationwide Consumer Survey. Of course there is no free lunch as the aspiring company has to pay Rs35,000 as fee and subsequently Rs65,000 (net of all taxes) through cheque in favour of ‘The Exhibitor (Pvt) Ltd’, which organises the whole show, just to find place of its ‘success story’ in the brands year book.
The condition for prequalification is prior registration along with submission of complete company profile, which is to be reviewed by the BCP according to the selection criteria which will be forwarded to the Brands University for Focus Group and Survey.
This organization, in collaboration with Brands Bureau International, London, will then conduct a nationwide consumer survey to determine current market standing of the brands and their popularity amongst the consumers. The report prepared on the basis of the survey shall then be handed over to the Brands Awards Council which will congratulate the successful candidates for achieving the ‘The Most Acclaimed Brands of Pakistan’.
At least from a consumer satisfaction point of view no company in Pakistan, barring some exceptions (if there are any), can satisfy the ‘Nationwide Consumer Survey’ if the assessment is conducted transparently.
Here, because of the non-availability of effective consumer protection societies and proper regulatory systems, the companies find themselves at liberty to make as much profit as they can without maintaining even the required health standards; they feel hardly any moral and ethical duty in providing standard goods to the people.
The resistance of the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association towards installing equipment to purify sugar, as referred to by Badar Jatoi in his letter, “Pakistan’s standard enforced on sugar quality” (Nov 26 and Dec 7), is a case in point.
Similarly, the BCP’s selection of an organisation like PIA on the basis of ‘quality’, ‘familiarity’, ‘affordability’, ‘availability’ and ‘brand market standing’ as the best airline leaves much to be desired. How the loss-incurring airline that has lost its most lucrative European market recently for not maintaining aviation standards can turn out to be the best in 2008 is quite baffling. Besides, adverse reports published sporadically through the Letters to the Editor coloumn about poor consumer services is an everyday affair.
I think it is time we accepted our failures instead of living in cocoons by saying that “the winning of this award is a proud reflection of PIA’s popularity”.
This is the only recipe to put an end to self-delusions so that right decisions can be taken to come out of the serious and multiple predicaments the organisation is suffering from.
The ‘Brands of the Year Award’ group, claiming to be associated with a UK-based organisation, having registered with the Chamber of Commerce, Stock Market, IPO Pakistan and, above all, the organisation like the Pakistan Standard Quality Control Authority can only prove its worth and credibility if it selects those businesses/companies which are providing best quality services to the people of Pakistan.
ALTAF HUSSAIN QURESHI
Hyderabad
ACCORDING to your report (Dec 6), contrary to the formal statements issued by the Pakistani authorities and the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, sources have revealed that she “pushed the Pakistani leaders to take care of perpetrators (of Mumbai attacks), otherwise the US will act.”
Also, when the Pakistani leaders tried to convey their grievances about India’s interference in Balochistan, the role of Indian consulates along the Afghan border in promoting instability here and other such matters, she refused to discuss them, saying she only wanted to talk about the Mumbai issue.
Ms Rice should be told that this is the 21st century and Pakistan isn’t Africa and that we will only talk to them if they treat us with respect. Unfortunately, the weaknesses of our leaders keep them from looking the Americans in the eye and speaking courageously, preferring to let the nation’s arms be twisted instead. They should try to emulate Turkey’s bold rulers.
SHAFI MUHAMMAD
Karachi
II
A WHITE House deputy spokesman has said that the US sympathised with India on the issue of the Mumbai terror attacks and had sent Admiral Mike Mullen and Dr Condoleezza Rice to the region to “express solidarity with the people of India who have been victims of this attack” (Dec 7).
On Sept 20, a terror strike on Islamabad’s Marriott Hotel had killed about 60 Pakistanis and injured 250 or more. The nation had been badly jolted by the carnage and some had even described it as Pakistan’s 9/11.
From a confession of one of the suspects being tried for the Islamabad case and also from conclusions reached promptly by several analysts, the attack was carried out to target a couple of hundred American intelligence operatives and marines staying at the hotel.
This shows that America was the direct cause of a tragedy that could easily have been prevented by not stationing the US personnel at such a perilous public place. However, nobody from Washington came down to sympathise or express solidarity with us.
Similarly, when nearly 2,000 Muslims had been massacred in the Indian Gujarat genocide of 2002, along with the slashing of the bellies of many pregnant women whose fetuses were then thrust into fire by the rampaging Hindu extremists, Dr Condoleezza Rice had said nothing in the Muslims’ support. It appears that American sympathy is biased against the Muslims.
Z.A. JALALI
Karachi
AJMAL Amir Kasav — or whichever one of the several names being ascribed to him — who appears to be the only attacker captured alive during the Mumbai carnage, has reportedly provided information to the Indian police about himself and his colleagues.
It appears that mainly on this basis the Indians have managed to get sanctions slapped on some religio — charitable organisation and personnel, notably including Hafiz Saeed and his Jamaatud Dawa.
A few days back there was an informative article in Dawn titled ‘Detecting the truth about lying’, by Steve Connor. In it, the writer examined the various methods used for extracting information from people accused of crime(s).
He had also mentioned the use of intravenous anaesthetics such as sodium amytal and sodium pentothal, as well as some other drugs that have been used for their purpose by the US police since 1920. However, it soon became clear that the drugs had the same problem as torturing methods — they made people say things that they thought the interrogators wanted to hear.
Mr Connor has further revealed that scientists have produced fairly convincing evidence that drugs such as sodium pentothal do not extract truthful memories.
Instead, they tend to make interrogated person more talkative in a way that makes them suggestible to cues elicited by interrogaters.
A few days back there was news that the Indian police were debating the idea of using such drugs on Mr Kasav. However, prior permission is required from a court in order to do that. On Dec 11 it was reported in a section of the electronic media that the judicial remand of the captured terrorist had to be extended.
But due to security considerations, instead of producing him before the magistrate, the latter was taken to his prison, where the official asked Mr Kasav whether he had any complaints against those who were holding him. He is reported to have had an expressionless face and apparently did not give any answer.
This raises the strong possibility that he may have been subjected to some drug in order to extract certain information. This process, as we have seen above, could have been akin to torture and puts into doubt the value of the intelligence obtained from him.
While the Indians are likely to deny that such a method has been employed, for securing the interests of Pakistan and its citizens affected by the outcome of the man’s interrogation by way of UNSC sanctions, some protective measures are required.
Thus, some human rights organisation, such as Amnesty International or, better still, Pakistani experts should be allowed to observe the proceedings to ensure such torture isn’t being used.
If he is then found guilty, appropriate punishment could be given, as it should, to the likes of Col Sirikant Purohit responsible for killing scores of Muslims in the Samjhota Express and Malegaon blasts.
A. HAKIM
Karachi
THIS is appopos of the article, ‘UK move against products by child labour’ (Dec 9), which is a potent reminder of how the road to hell is paved with good intentions. No one is denying the fact that children should not be used as slaves or be working in factories rather than going to schools. However, in our very typical and liberal approach, we are targeting the very children we want to help.
If the world stops exporting Pakistani products that are made by youngsters, these very children whom we want to help will without livelihood succumb to poverty, or worse still end up on the streets begging, being used in prostitution and being exploited by criminals.
Why can’t we advocate that these children be given basic human rights and education and at the same time be able to earn through honest means in a healthy environment? Why can’t we insist that the people who employ them must commit to their welfare ? There is nothing impossible or immoral about learning a trade while earning a living and attending school without cost to the employers.
By abandoning these children due to the pressure from foreign consumers, we resolve nothing and increase a social burden that only Pakistan will suffer from. What Pakistan needs is a well-planned, compassionate and cohesive social policy that builds a civil society where the welfare of its citizens is a priority and not merely a political slogan.
SHAHINA SIDDIQUI
President, Islamic Social
Services Association Inc
Canada
FOR the last 10 years Pakistan has been bending backwards to accommodate the world community’s concerns in its fight against terror.
It has sacrificed more than 1,000 military personnel and innumerable civilians with hundreds of thousands dislodged from their homes just trying to save other nations from this menace.
Though this is grudgingly acknowledged by different leaders, a reminder is always added that Pakistan should do more. The amount of damage suffered by Pakistan cannot be quantified by any standard or yardstick so far devised.
Pakistan is being hemmed in by all our so-called allies in war against terror with strange logic and equally strange remarks being showered every now and then.
Pakistan has suffered so much at the hands of these terrorists and caught such a big number of them that none of the players in this field can match this performance.
Pakistan has endured so many attacks by the suicide bombers and lost so many people, still it has not put blame on any other nation because we feel that inside our own country it is our responsibility to do something about it.
But if some such thing happens somewhere else, the blame is put on Pakistan. It is the inefficiency of these nations that in spite of advance warnings, they are unable to stop a handful of terrorists from carrying out their missions. To hide their failures they have found a perfect scapegoat.
We are the most allied ally but are being squeezed from the west by Afghan and Nato forces, from the east by the Indians and from the sky by US drones. Should a most allied non-Nato ally be treated like this? Perhaps time has come to tell these people that enough is enough.
Recently after Mumbai attacks, Indians have started talking as if we are beholden to them in any way and they can dictate to us. They should clearly be told to put their own house in order and ask their agencies to show some performance to justify their existence instead of relying on the blame game crutches.
The theatrics of Mr Mukherji in Indian parliament are a part of the cacophony, obviously meant only for maligning Pakistan and for influencing the western countries, particularly American opinion against Pakistan before Mr Obama takes over the US presidency, especially after his statement concerning the resolution of the Kashmir issue.
IFTIKHAR AKBAR NAQVI
Karachi
I HAVE been reading your Brussels correspondent Shada Islam’s articles with much interest, finding them very informative. She is articulate, patriotic and an ambassador of goodwill on Pakistan’s behalf. Therefore, it was surprising to see her apologetic attitude vis-à-vis her home country in the essay, ‘Europe’s deep concern’, of Dec 6.
Discussing European and her own concerns about Pakistan following the Mumbai attacks, she has been cynical in saying that members of Pakistan’s military and diplomatic services continue to view violence, extremism and militancy as tools for projecting the country’s power and influence abroad, since it’s no longer true.
Ms Islam also appears to disagree with the commonly-held view not just of the Pakistani Muslims but the other ones as well that “terrorism was the result of US policies in the Middle East, Iraq and Afghanistan — and, of course, Indian action in Kashmir.”
The writer has also tried to absolve Europe (and the West in general) of any bias or designs against Pakistan or, by implication, the other Muslims.
Taking this last point first, why is it that maps redrawing the Islamic world, including Pakistan, are being published in the US, in particular, by private and military persons? Also, wasn’t the creation of Israel a conspiracy? The western hatchet job on Algeria’s Islamists who were expected to come into power after democratically-held elections in the 1990s and the throttling of popularly elected Hamas in Palestine are other examples.
Regarding her claim about Europe’s lack of bias, it may be quite revealing for her to find out that it isn’t just the contemporary Muslims who view the Continent warily but a European gentleman himself had similar thoughts even in the earlier half of the 20th century. This was the Austrian-Jewish convert to Islam, Muhammad Asad, whose views on the subject prior to his conversion bear repetition:
“I have witnessed the steady European encroachment on Muslim cultural life and political independence; and wherever Muslim people try to defend themselves against this European encroachment, European public opinion invariably labels their resistance, with an air of hurt innocence, as ‘xenophobia’.
“Europe has long been accustomed to simplify in this crude way all that is happening in the Middle East and to view its current history under the aspect of western ‘spheres of interest’ alone. While everywhere in the West (outside of Britain) public opinion has shown much sympathy for the Irish struggle for independence or (outside of Russia and Germany) for Poland’s dream of national resurrection, no such sympathy is ever extended to similar aspirations among the Muslims.
“The West’s main argument is always the political disruption and economic backwardness of the Middle East, and every active western intervention is sanctimoniously described by its authors as aiming not merely at a protection of ‘legitimate’ western interests but also at securing progress for the indigenous peoples themselves…
“The same people who would never have accepted Imperial Austria’s ‘civilising mission’ as a valid excuse for her interventions in the Balkans indulgently accept a similar plea in the case of the British in Egypt, the Russians in Central Asia, the French in Morocco or the Italians in Libya. And it never crosses their minds that many of the social and economic ills from which the Middle East is suffering are a direct outcome of that very western ‘interest’; and that, in addition, western intervention invariably seeks to perpetuate and to widen the already existing inner disruptions and to make it impossible for the peoples concerned to come into their own (The Road to Makkah).”
These insightful and prophetic words written in the 1950s are remarkably true of what is happening today in the Middle East and other parts of the Islamic world. Space precludes a fuller discussion of the article.
Suffice it to say that many western intellectuals, including Naom Chomsky and Ken Livingstone (the previous mayor of London), have blamed western policies for the radicalisation of Muslims. And, a British member of the European Parliament had described Indian-held Kashmir as “the most beautiful prison in the world” after visiting it along with a delegation two years back. Things have worsened greatly since then.
The militants were killing no military personnel or civilians before Pakistan began siding with the US. Indeed, there were no suicide bombings or comparable violence in Afghanistan, Iraq or Pakistan until 9/11. The ‘democratic’ US has killed millions and brought down many governments around the world but the detractors of the ‘terrorist’ Muslims ignore that.
K. PERWAIZ
Karachi
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