| December 21, 2008 | Sunday | Zilhaj 22, 1429 |
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Gender equality
Cosmetic change
KESC bills
Train ticket
Disrespect to a luminary
Conference on Sufism
Why should students suffer
Increase in levy
Reckless consumption
Licence to kill
WMDs in Iraq
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
THIS is with reference to a report ‘WMD attack to originate in Pakistan: US report’ (Dec 4). The bipartisan Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism reported that if there was a WMD attack on the United States, it would originate in Pakistan. The report observed that while Pakistan was a US ally, “there is a grave danger it could also be an unwitting source of a terrorist attack on the United States — possibly using weapons of mass destruction”.
The bipartisan Commission report also said, “should the Pakistani government become weaker and the Pakistani nuclear arsenal grow, that risk will increase.” Interestingly, the Commission also noted that Pakistan was steadily adding to its nuclear weapons stockpile, which remained its chief deterrent against Indian attack. But the Commission’s report seems to be quite biased as it has not included India and Israel in its report which has much bigger nuclear arsenal and hence pose a real threat to Pakistan and certain other Muslim countries.
Indian political leaders have recently started talking about nuclear war with Pakistan. Recently Mr K.S. Sudarshan the powerful supreme leader and head of India’s rightwing Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sang (RSS National Volunteer Corps) warned that nuclear war with Pakistan could become inevitable if peaceful means fail to rein in terrorism and voiced the chilling prospect of a third world war breaking out (Dec 13).
It is generally believed that Israel is covertly helping build India’s nuclear forces with tacit backing from Washington. And the US plans to deploy a new generation of nuclear weapons designed to attack third world targets — such as Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal.
The growing US anxiety that radical Islamists — Al Qaeda or Taliban — may gain access to nuclear material is only a mounting myth or may be mere propaganda to justify some other thing?
In the first place, nuclear weapons, both strategic and tactical, are naturally closely guarded by governments. Their security is the prime responsibility of security forces and secret services in all the nuclear powers. Furthermore, the operational use of nuclear weapons is controlled by highly complex secret code of procedures for unlocking them and making them ready for action.
Unless a terrorist group had confederates within the nuclear military forces, they would be unable to operate such weapons. The most they might hope to achieve would be to damage or destroy them by sabotage.
It is also very clear that no nuclear power, even one engaged in sponsoring proxy terrorism, would willingly allow parts of its own nuclear armory to fall into the hands of a terrorist movement. The danger of the movement recklessly triggering a nuclear conflict or a major limited war or the sponsor state being blackmailed by the movement with threats of nuclear use would discourage any such adventurism. Lastly, without specialized medium and long-range delivery systems (aircraft or missiles), nuclear weapons are useless, even suicidal.
The Bush administration, which cooked up fake evidence to justify launching war on Iraq could not find a single unconventional weapon or to say ‘Weapons of Mass Destruction’ (WMD) in Iraq to date. Now fear is being created through propaganda by the US and the foreign media that Al Qaeda and Taliban having safe haven in the tribal belt may gain access to Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal if the security situation in Pakistan deteriorates which will pose a serious threat to the United States.
Despite repeated assurances by Pakistan that nuclear assets are well guarded; the US diplomats, senators and military high-ups during their unscheduled/uninvited visits to Islamabad almost every week on some pretext are discussing the security of nuclear weapons in Pakistan. However, the message is loud and clear. One can always “read in between the lines”.
SQN LDR (Retd) S.AUSAF HUSAIN
Karachi
I was rather amused to read that the Council of Islamic Ideology wants to uphold the Islamic principles of justice and equality by purging the very term from the constitution itself.
I wonder what women in Pakistani society will think when they read that the CII is telling them that their "mental capabilities" are not equal to men.
While the council is right in pointing out that gender equality is an impractical goal, one would think the response would be far from being resigned to that fact, which the council is implicitly suggesting.
I also disagree with the council's suggestion that women members of the commission should have knowledge of Islamic teachings because the Islamic teachings apparently advocated by Islamic Republic of Pakistan include burying women alive for the sake of honour.
I only say this because our government, the proponent of our Islamic beliefs has no problem assigning people like Mir Israrullah Zehri to the cabinet. In conclusion, the Council's stand on this matter and not the inclusion of the term "gender equality" in the constitution is absurd.
AHMAD SULTAN
Faisalabad
(II)
This is apropos of the news item with the caption ‘Gender equality’ vague, un-Islamic term, says CII" (Dec 17).
According to the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) "the concept of gender equality was impracticable because of distinct differences in anatomy and physical and mental capabilities.
I just want to say that according to Islam the above statement is "un-Islamic" and CII should apologise to all the Muslim women on giving such statements because Islam is the only religion which gives complete freedom and respect to women.
"Seek knowledge, it is obligatory on every Muslim, male and female" said Prophet Muhammad (SAW). If our prophet Muhammad (SAW) did not discriminate between two genders than who has given authority to these so called "Mullahs" to give such expressions.
Women have always been much stronger than men in every aspect, and no science of the world has proved that women is mentally different from men, in fact, women is much more emotionally stabled and balanced human being.
I request the Government of Pakistan to condemn such statements and such acts. We are already going through a difficult phase as Muslims in general and as a nation specifically. This is not the time to pass such comments or make an issue but to sit together as a nation.
MALIHA KHAN
Karachi
The Intermediate Board has decided to take exams on a different pattern from this year. Now the students will have to study the whole book in order to score marks in MCQ’s and there is almost no choice for skipping chapters which was practised earlier even by good students.
On the face of it, the change is commendable as it would enable students to not only study only to score marks but also have a conceptual grip on the subject; without this, one would not be able to attempt MCQ’s.
However, I see this change being rather cosmetic in nature, as so many other changes are required before a change in the pattern of the paper. Without an aggregate change, this exercise would seem to be a fruitless effort.
The board should address the following issues first:
1. There is an urgent need to improve the study environment in colleges.
2. The attendance is very low, most students prefer coaching centers, an anomaly that needs to be seriously pondered.
3. The teachers are teaching with utmost sincerity and a sense of professionalism.
4. There should be a sincere effort to improve the standard of books.
5. The status of the libraries in colleges should be emphasized, whether students are issuing enough books.
6. There should be an effort to develop a habit of reading books and newspapers among students.
7. The culture of cheating in examinations should be eradicated.
I see in every sphere of life is a lack of commitment by concerned authorities in Pakistan.
We cannot afford it as far as educating our youth is concerned.
DANEYAL FAIYAZ
Karachi
KESC bills for November have shocked many people. The government-sponsored 40 per cent reduction on inflated billing for October has been reversed this month with a greater amount, i.e. with interest.
In one case, Rs13,000 was deducted on account of 40 per cent reduction but the arrears added in the November bill is Rs16,000 showing arrears of 25.11.08.
This KESC action is in violation of the order of the minister of power and water who had waived the inflated charges by 40 per cent. The government should intervene to straighten the matter between the KESC and its consumers.
M. M. KHAN
Karachi
(II)
FOR about five days around Eid, there had surprisingly been no loadshedding in Karachi, at least in my neighbourhood. But after that not only has it been resumed but is done for eight to twelve hours daily. And, the worst part is that the power frequently comes and goes in a matter of minutes, as if a naughty boy has been handed control of the system switch.
This is playing havoc with the electronic and electrical appliances and is extremely trying for one’s nerves. It also interferes enormously with the work one is doing at the time on computer or workshop / office / factory. The KESC must get its act together and stop tormenting the citizens. The federal minister of power appears not to be doing anything about the monetary losses and suffering caused to us.
A KARACHIAN
(III)
EXORBITANT rise in electricity charges and conversion of Tariff Rate Benefits into Arrears have forced the irritated consumers, till now good pay masters, to resort to steal power through kunda connections, tampering of meters and many other means. As the KESC appears to be the end loser of revenue, why is rationalization of rates to ensure maximum recovery not seriously considered?
NASEER A. MALIK
Karachi
A Few months back after ‘Eid ul Fitr’, a friend took me to the Railways reservation office to buy a ticket for himself to go back home from Quetta.
We were quite surprised to hear that there were no tickets available even for the coming week. More shocking was that the reservation officer said this without even looking at the computer screen. My friend asked if he could get a seat after two weeks and he received a reply in the negative.
What was shocking was not the officer’s prompt reply, but the deficit the Railway continues to face and report despite the huge demand on the sole provider of the rail service in the country.
After a few days later my friend called and told me that he had reached home. I asked him how he got the ticket and he said he got it ‘in black’. I concluded that this was one of the reasons as to why Railways still face a deficit of 26 billion rupees.
Railways had never been a white elephant but corruption has pushed it into deficit. Even the dry port transportation has been reduced drastically. Once almost 70 per cent of the goods carriage used to be through the Pakistan Railways, which have now been reduced by 5 to 10 per cent and the goods are now transferred by roads.
To overcome the problem, the Railways administration has reduced fares after the record slump in fuel prices, but the increase in fares from 5 to 15 per cent this year is perceived to overcome the deficit by keeping high fares for some time.
This may not be a good strategy. The Railways administration has to take some strict policies and measures to keep their personnel from corruption. There should be an increase the salaries and more incentives introduced. There should also be a better reservation system by providing online reservation to coup with huge demand of tickets.
KAMRAN NAEEM
Quetta
The report in Dawn’s Dec 17 issue, regarding the high-handed treatment meted out to the family of Dr Zawwar Husain Zaidi, and their forced eviction from their house by the Islamabad police and the Estate Office, was most distressing and shocking to say the least. It was indeed a day of shame, as rightly pointed out by the reporter.
Dr Zaidi has rendered invaluable services to the country by bringing out 16 or more volumes of Jinnah Papers, which serve as important source material, not only on the life and times of the Father of the Nation, but also contain a useful record of the freedom movement. It has been a painstaking effort, spreading over a period of more than 18 years. People like Dr Zaidi are a rare breed, and they deserve to be treated with respect and honour.
That Dr Zaidi’s family was evicted from their house in such a humiliating manner is all the more surprising because the action appears to have been taken without proper eviction orders or authorization. And in any case, the family was moving out of the house by the end of December, the period for which they were officially allowed to stay.
It appears that we as a people, or, at least a section of our society, have touched the lowest ebb in the scale of human values. This trend, which unfortunately, seems to be on the rise, needs to be reversed. And this can best be accomplished through proper education with a strong emphasis on the moral upbringing of the individual.
An official enquiry should be held at the earliest into the unfortunate incident and punitive action should be taken against those responsible for it.
SALAHUDDIN K. LEGHARI
Lahore
As reported in Dawn (Dec 18), the National Writers’ Conference and International Seminar on Sufism was held recently in Islamabad under the auspices of Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) to promote peace and tolerance. A large number of writers, intellectuals and literary figures (presumably from all over the country) were participating in the event.
The report further said that the PAL chairman, Fakhar Zaman, has resumed the scheme of awarding life fellow membership of the Academy to prominent and senior writers of all languages. About 54 writers, largely from Lahore and Karachi, have been nominated as lifetime fellow members of the Academy.
I wonder as to what the “scheme of awarding life fellow membership of the Academy” means and what purpose it serves, but the interesting thing is that only four Seraiki and Sindhi writers, out of 54, are nominated as lifetime fellows. Only two writers from the Seraiki region, Dr Anwaar Ahmad, a literary stalwart who made efforts to establish a Seraiki Centre in Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan; Dr Khiyal Amrohvi, a renowned Urdu poet and writer, and three renowned Sindhi writers; Amar Jalil, Ibrahim Joyo and Shamsherul Haideri are included in lifetime fellow members list.
Sindh and Seraiki regions are known as land of Sufis. There are a large number of tombs and shrines of Sufis spread all over the Sindh and Seraiki region. Multan is known as Madinatul Aulia (city of saints).
Sindhi and seraiki poets, writers, intellectuals have produced many books, magazines and other material while resisting military dictatorship and religious extremism.
I am sure Fakhar Zaman is very much aware of the progressive resistance literature produced in Seraiki and Sindhi languages during the past three decades. However, I wonder why the Academy was not aware of the work of Seraiki writers such as Ashiq Buzdar, Hafeez Khan, Ashu Lal, Shaukat Mughal, Dr Tahir Taunsvi, Irshad Taunsvi, Dr Nasrullah Nasir, Dr Ehsan Wagha, Rifaat Abbas, Prof Shamim Arif, Prof Javed Chandio, Prof Akram Mirani and many others and did not consider any of them, or any Seraiki poet or writer, worth awarding lifetime fellow membership.
Interestingly, as reported in Dawn, none of Sindhi or Seariki writer or intellectual had been included in the list of writers who were supposed to present papers on Sufism and peace and tolerance during the various three sessions of the national conference.
MAZHAR ARIF
Islamabad
In seeking admission to a Masters’ degree at the University of Karachi, a PRC Domicile was required to be submitted alongwith admission forms. I was told by the University officials that the last date was 29th November.
Consequently, I submitted application form for a PRC/ Domicile alongwith all the required documents duly completed in all respect through my father, to the office of the D.D.O. (Revenue), Gadap Town located Quaidabad Landhi. The said application form was submitted and got acknowledged on 15th November. The D.D.O. office gave the date for delivery of the PRC as 20th and then 25th.
My father had been visited the office of D.D.O. concerned, almost daily, but all in vain. He was informed by the staff of the D.D.O. that there that there was some enquiry regarding issuance of PRC/Domicile hence the D.D.O. was not sitting in the office. Almost a month has lapsed and the last date for submission of MA admission form has expired but I have not received the PRC so far, which is my basic right.
Who is responsible fro this mistake? Obviously, the students and residents of Gadap Town are suffering. The higher authorities should take notice of this.
SANOBER KHALIL BALOCH
Karachi
Instead of implementing the Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) proposal to reduce the prices of petrol by Rs7 to 10 per liter, the Government of Pakistan, whose leaders are sabre-rattling that they are the representatives of the downtrodden segments of society, has increased the petroleum development levy by Rs1.86 to Rs5.48 per liter. Despite crude oil touching US $ 44 per barrel in the world market by this increase, the government will likely be collecting Rs7 billion additional revenues from petroleum products which are already heavily taxed by the government.
It is unfortunate that the PPP has no consideration for consumers.
ENGR. S. T. HUSSAIN
Lahore
WWF’s Living Planet report says Geneva: The Earth’s natural resources are being depleted so quickly that “two planets would be required to sustain current lifestyles within a generation.”
The Swiss based WWF further said that more than three quarters of the world’s population lives in countries whose consumption levels are outstripping environmental renewal. The report concluded that reckless consumption of “natural capital” was endangering the world’s future prosperity, with clear economic impacts including high costs for food, water and energy.
Under these circumstances Muslim Ummah all over the world should seriously consider fasting the three holy months i.e. Rajab, Shaban and Ramazan instead of one month of Ramazan only. The abstinence from food and observation of fast will bring in its trail other benefits known to all communities. Besides reduction in consumption of food, it will promote piety, religious fervour, discipline, sacrifice, compassion and brotherhood. This measure will also curtail crime and terrorism.
Other religions also command fasting in one form or another and they will also be encouraged to follow religious practices more vigorously. Economists are invited to deliberate the impact and other ramifications of this measure on social and commercial life of the country.
F H SAYANI
Karachi
Your editorial “Licence to kill” (December 18) is a great shock to those worried citizens of the country who consider wildlife i.e. birds, animals and flora and fauna as bounty that nature bestowed on humankind, to cherish, preserve and in times of need to make use of, and not to brutally slaughter mindlessly on mass scale as has been done in our country.
Unfortunately, it is not only the advantaged ones of this land of pure who are involved in this wanton savagery. Most regrettable is the fact that even the privileged of the Arab world are allowed free hand in the annihilation of birds. When Pakistan is signatory to the convention on the conservation of migratory species of wild animals, keeping the exception clause in the Sindh Wildlife Ordinance for whatever reasons is highly objectionable especially when our politically powerful class is always ready to exploit the exception.
It is high time for the civil society to come forward and agitate against the massacre of birds, especially those declared by the world wildlife agencies as ‘endangered species’. Also legislation is required to remove the exception article from Sindh Wildlife Ordinance, misused constantly by the privileged for their vested ends so as to preserve our wildlife.
ALTAMASH M. KURESHI
Karachi
Perhaps it now has been proved with Iraqi journalist Muntazar Al-Zaidi’s action that Iraq still possesses WMDs which must be eliminated and the entire population of Iraq, too, who are plotting the same.
It is also possible that all shoe factories in the Muslim world may be shut down, especially in Pakistan.
There may be contradiction in his utterance of the word “dog”, because it is held in high esteem in western societies. But he can be excused on grounds that he used the word under his own perception of the animal.
MAJID KHAN JADOON
Karachi
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