| December 25, 2008 | Thursday | Zilhaj 26, 1429 |
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Pathetic treatment for animals
Pessimism growing
Haj flights fiasco
Learning to fish with buffaloes
Senior citizens
Treatment of minorities in Pakistan
Citizens’ commission to save Pakistan
Admiral Mullen’s endorsement
Talibanisation in Karachi
An early sunset in Lyari
‘Shoe throwing’
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
AFTER the Mumbai terror attack, the chemistry of war on terror is fast changing and every peace-loving person whether in India or Pakistan is vociferously condemning it and demanding more cooperation between Islamabad and Delhi for the sake of peace and economic prosperity in South Asia.
It is good that finally sanity has prevailed and things are getting cooler. Thanks to sagacity demonstrated by Pakistani democratic government by pursuing diplomatic course and intensive international diplomacy carried out by the US and the UK which finally prevented the possibility of war between two nuclear neighbours.
Despite initial success on the diplomatic front, there is further need to build on this and address the core issue of terrorism between India and Pakistan, which has roots in the non-resolution of the Kashmir issue. India is a democratic country and should calmly think over that if the people are denied of their rights and their identity is mutilated, then they would resort to desperate actions like the one that took place in Mumbai on 26/11.
Terrorism, by and large, is social a phenomenon and it is true that in societies where there is no justice and there is frequent violation of fundamental human rights, people frustratingly resort to violent methods as a means for realisation of their inalienable rights.
And the history of Kashmir is replete with such blatant violation of fundamental human rights as a result of Indian hegemonic designs, denying the Kashmiri people the right of self-determination duly sanctioned by UN resolution passed from time to time.
Essentially Kashmir is a political problem which needs political solutions but Indian democracy has so far failed to offer and resolve it in accordance with the aspiration of the majority of the people.
Democracy is not about suppression of the people’s fundamental rights but it is largely about respect of the people’s rights and broadly about crisis management and empowerment of the people to decide things as they want. But in the case of Kashmir the people have been disempowered and have landed in a state of desperation and hopelessness.
I don’t think that the issue of terrorism between India and Pakistan can be resolved without addressing the key issue of Kashmir but unfortunately there is less realisation on the part of Indians of this reality that they have to take concrete measures to put an end to this chronic issue.
In fact, already there is a framework available in the shape of the Shimla agreement signed by the then prime minister Indira Gandhi and the president of Pakistan, Z.A. Bhutto, in Shimla on July 3, 1972, which binds both the countries to resolve political issues through dialogue and diplomacy. Let us have look at some of the provisions:
i. That the two countries are resolved to settle their differences by peaceful means through bilateral negotiations or by any other peaceful means mutually agreed upon between them.
ii. That the prerequisite for reconciliation, good neighbourliness and durable peace between them is a commitment by both the countries to peaceful coexistence, respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.
iii. That the basic issues and causes of the conflict which have bedeviled the relations between the two countries for the last 25 years shall be resolved by peaceful means.
iv. That they shall always respect each other’s national unity, territorial integrity, political independence and sovereign equality.
It is abundantly clear that the Shimla agreement provides a comprehensive mechanism for the resolution of controversial issues through negotiations but unfortunately in Pakistan after the overthrow of the first elected government of Z.A. Bhutto, different dictators, first Zia and then Musharraf, terribly messed up with the Kashmir policy by mixing it up with the Afghan policy in desperate search for the proverbial ‘strategic depth’.
Instead of solving it through political means, they supported the private religious groups for carrying out jihad in order to liberate Kashmir. This policy has backfired and has proved very costly for Pakistan, especially after 9/11.
Some ray of hope has arisen with the establishment of the democratic government, and President Zardari has offered a number of peace overtures to the Indians in recent interviews to the Indian media but still the Indian security establishment is doubtful about the control of security establishment of Pakistan by President Zardari. They still nurture the view that the civilian government is not calling the shots in Islamabad.
The need of the time is that the Kashmir and Afghan policy is demilitarised, and the civilian setup in Islamabad is fully empowered to take all decisions. This alone will help to reduce the level of terrorism, as well as normalise relations between India and Pakistan.
MANZOOR ALI ISRAN
Karachi
WITH reference to Dawn’s photograph of Dec 15, showing a leopard lying motionless in a corner of its cage in Landhi-Korngi Zoo, despite prodding with a stick by a callous visitor, presented a pathetic view and the accompanying text made very depressing reading.
What struck me, apart from the obvious cruelty, was that the person had his hand inside the cage, which exposed him to injury in case the animal charged suddenly.
The normal safety measure in such cases is to have an additional, outer fence, to protect visitors from the beast as well as, and more appropriately in this situation, to protect helpless animals from some of our humans who appear to be more ferocious and beastly of the two.
If something like society for the prevention of cruelty to animals exists in our country, it should ensure that the zoos that practise such extreme cruelty are permitted only to keep stuffed animals.
The way things are going, the poor leopard would not last long and could soon be ready for stuffing; assuming it has not reached that stage already.
S.R.H. HASHMI
Karachi
AN opinion survey conducted by the US-based International Republican Institute concludes that a high degree of pessimism and discontent is growing in Pakistan (Dec 20).
It said that about 80 per cent Pakistanis feel their country is headed for the wrong direction; next year will be worse than the outgoing year and that democracy has made no difference to their well-being.
It also pointed out that 76 per cent people are not satisfied with the performance of the government.
Another survey by the same organisation found that majority of the people in the country held inflation as their main concern and the quest for the independent judiciary remains the second most important issue.
The survey by a foreign institute, albeit, may not be taken as a yardstick for its accuracy or truthfulness, yet its contents do speak the truth, and nothing but the truth.
These speak loudly and clearly of the general unrest and dissatisfaction with the present policy (if there is any) being pursued.
The factors causing the pessimism are many. Most of them, no doubt, may be described as the backlog or ‘arrears’ from the previous undemocratic regime. But quite a few are the present government’s own ‘production’. People, in general, and the political leaders, in particular, had been accusing the Musharraf regime of all the wrongdoings.
They were unanimous in thinking that an elected democratic government would use the opportunity to set gradually everything right. But unfortunately this is not happening.
The Musharraf regime is no more. It died an unexpected death. A democratic era has dawned as envisioned by the people.
But, what has changed? A rapid deterioration has, instead, taken over the improvement. For the democratic government it may be the last chance to act sincerely, and resolutely to deliver, otherwise, it would be too late.
Foremost of all is to set the economic conditions right by pursuing pragmatic policies. The issue of the judiciary must not be sidelined and the political dichotomy, particularly in Punjab, needs to end at the earliest.
One who interacts with people like political workers, intellectuals, writers, teachers, lawyers and the common man finds all of them complaining with despair, discontent and the height of pessimism: “Raat dhalti nazar to aati hai,/Din nikalta nazar nahein aata”
ANIS SIDDIQUI
Islamabad
ALMOST 70 per cent of the people who perform Haj hail from Pakistan’s lower middle class, with most of them doing so with their lifelong savings.
The Pakistan People’s Party government with its history of pro-poor policy needs to be aware of the ground realities, where the majority of people has pinned hopes for a change — a change for the better.
The Hajis have been taken for a ride by the PIA management, assuming that most of them will never bother to complain.
In the first instance, the Hajis were overcharged by anything ranging from Rs18,000 or more, by calculating their fares on fuel bought by the airline at $120 per barrel, when the actual price of fuel was under $70 per barrel before the start of the Haj operation and is now under $40 per barrel in post-Haj flight period.
This is a gross error made by an incompetent management, for which the poor Hajis are being penalised. This fact can be ascertained by comparing with the fares paid by Indian Hajis who travelled by Saudia or Air India from Delhi etc.
The Hajis were also briefed not to bring ‘Zamzam’ on their own, since the same will be provided by Pakistan International Airline when they depart after performance of Haj.
The national airline having already paid this to a local contractor in Jeddah and this payment was taken into account when the Haj fares were being tabulated, yet most of the Hajis have not been given ‘Zamzam’ on arrival.
The Hajis report at least 18 hours before the scheduled departure of their return flight. Until now not a single Haj flight to my knowledge has arrived on time, with delays ranging from five hours to 10 hours.
Why were Hajis from interior booked for flights arriving at Karachi when airports at Peshawar, Islamabad and Lahore are fully equipped to handle these flights?
Who is responsible for all this fiasco, the poor Hajis, or the ministry of Haj or the PIA management with a history of financial indiscipline?
The Saudi authorities this year have improved and expanded the Haj terminal at Jeddah. Most of the other airlines are operating on schedule.
Will somebody in Islamabad sitting in the Presidency, Prime Minister’s House, ministry of defence, ministry of Haj or the two houses of parliament — the National Assembly and the Senate — take up this matter, hold somebody accountable or, will this suffer the fate of an inquiry committee, which never comes up with a solution.
GULZAMAN KHAN
Koha
PAKISTAN has 18 buffaloes for every 100 persons and this ratio is the highest in the world, Dawn news report (Dec 15) by Dr Talat Naseer Pasha.
According to the same report, ‘Nil RVI’, the famous buffalo of Pakistan, has the potential of milk production of over 28 litres a day.
The report highlights that a buffalo can pull loads equal to two oxen, has better quality of meat than beef, in terms of cholesterol etc. Buffaloes are used in farming in the Far East. Their dung can be used for producing biogas.
President Asif Ali Zardari has asked Zarai Taraqiati Bank and the ministry of agriculture to implement the Benazir Zarai Card Scheme and tractor schemes for small farmers. It plans to give loans up to Rs500,000 to farmers and also give a subsidy of Rs200,000 to help farmers in buying tractors (Dawn, Dec 16).
How about giving buffaloes to our farmers instead of Rs500,000 loans or subsidies on tractors. A reasonable buffalo can be purchased at a cost of around Rs40,000. This amount can be paid back by poor farmers easily, compared to Rs500,000.
It will not only provide them with milk, cream, cheese and yogurt, which alone can help them survive, but would also help them plough their fields, lighten up their stoves, reduce the pressure on forests and can multiply too.
It will also be in line with President Zardari’s vision of not feeding the people with fish but training them how to fish.
S. NAYYAR IQBAL RAZA
Karachi
ALTHOUGH ‘Senior Citizen’s Day’ is regularly observed in Pakistan, there is hardly anything done for the betterment of elderly people.
However, it is encouraging that the ministry of social welfare and special education is preparing a bill, National Senior Citizen Welfare Bill, to provide facilities to the elderly (Nov 29).
This was stated by Samina Khalid Ghurki, the federal minister for social welfare and special education, during a three-day workshop on ‘Disaster risk reduction for older people’.
To make the said bill flawless, it was decided to involve all stakeholders and constitute a council of senior citizens.
Being grateful to Ms Ghurki for showing kindness towards senior citizens, it is requested that the following considerations (which are in practice in the UK and several other countries) may kindly be kept in view while finalising the bill, hopefully at an early date.
These are: (I) Provision of shelter houses for senior citizens, (II) provision of health service with nursing facilities, (III) concessions in travelling by bus, train and air, especially within Pakistan, (IV) legal service and security, (V) free admission to national museums and galleries; and (VI) provision of pension credits.
DR S. IFTIKHAR AHMED
Karachi
WHILE India’s problems with the treatment of its minority citizens have been debated amongst Dawn’s columnists, and readers, there is a curious lack of interest in examining Pakistan’s record in this regard.
The post-partition minority population in West Pakistan of over 15 per cent has dwindled to slightly more than three per cent by 1998, while the minority population in Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan) has remained stable at 17 per cent. I have yet to see this phenomenon mentioned in my decade-long readership of your publication.
Pakistan’s maltreatment of its sole Nobel laureate is also well-known in the world, but left untouched here.
Similarly, the mystifying urge to record a citizen’s religion on his/her passport, which serves no obvious purpose for the 97 per cent majority, other than to marginalise the remaining three per cent, appears to be unworthy of examination as well.
The oft-repeated concern for India’s minorities needs to be balanced by some introspection about Pakistan’s record. Without it, all such criticism comes off as sorely hypocritical.
MANISH DESAI
Houston, Texas
ARE we really down in the dumps as a nation that we do not seem to react to anything good anymore? On the other hand, we react to violence, though we know violence begets violence.
Yes, when something positive comes up from a concerned citizen (this refers to Aslam Khan’s letter titled “Citizens’ commission to save Pakistan”, Dec 14), there is no response. Why this apathy? How many more wake-up calls are we waiting for before disaster hits us on the head?
Let us have commissions as suggested by Aslam Khan and invite citizens like Asghar Khan, Naeem Sadiq, Pervez Hoodbhoy, Ayesha Jalal, Javed Jabbar, Ayesha Siddiqa and Arif Hassan, and other social scientists and progressive thinkers should also come forward and volunteer their services.
Alas we no longer have the likes of Eqbal Ahmad and Dr Aktar Hameed Khan anymore, but perhaps we can make this global by including personalities such as Arundhati Roy, Chomsky and Tariq Ali.
In this context I would also like to suggest setting up of public service media, for example, the alternative radio in the US which is run by public support.
One of our philanthropists can do human service, by financing initially, one such institution, later to be followed by public support.
NAJMA V. HUSSAIN
Karachi
THE US chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, said that the intrusions by Taliban from Pakistan have been reduced during the last many days (Dec 24). He said this was because of Pakistani security forces’ efforts despite the rising tension between Pakistan and India in the wake of the Nov 26 Mumbai blasts.
Mullen’s endorsement must be taken as Pakistan’s seriousness in the fight against terror and if Pakistan can help stop Taliban from crossing into Afghanistan, why should Pakistan let any of the groups from what they call non-state actors enter India, conduct attacks or blasts and sabotage the peace process?
It seems there is a conspiracy against peace efforts. India and countries friendly to it should help find out the intriguing hand sabotaging peace.
In this connection China’s statement urging Pakistan and India to restrain, and endorsing the fact that no proofs of Pakistanis’ involvement in Mumbai attacks have yet been provided, is encouraging. The Interpol secretary-general’s statement also helps conclude that India is not sure whether Pakistan is involved in the attacks.
The world must take notice and dig out the conspiracy behind the Nov 26 incident.
ESCHMALL SARDAR
Peshawar
ALTHOUGH there may not be Taliban in Karachi yet, the fear remains. With rampant illiteracy, poverty, unemployment, pictures and news of war on terror being showcased on our TV channels, chances of Talibanisation in Karachi are high.
The only way out to weed out extremism and promote tolerance is education. The government needs to educate the youth because empty-headed/illiterate people are most susceptible to violent theories. Education and employment are the only tools to avoid extremism.
RASHID
Karachi
I WAS delighted to watch recently a documentary titled ‘An early sunset’ on a foreign Sports TV channel.
This well-made documentary highlights the gloomy state of affairs of the soccer game prevalent in Karachi’s oldest locality, Lyari.
Despite each government’s apathy towards football and Lyari, this area has produced many world-class soccer players such as Turab Ali, Maula Bux Gotai, Umer, Ali Nawaz and even pre-partition era’s legend Waja Siddiq Baloch who used to play in the 1940s in Delhi, Calcutta, Mysore and Banglore.
Because of neglect and the discouraging attitude towards football and its players by our successive governments, no new superstar has come forth for a long time.
Many football grounds have been grabbed by the land mafia, with the connivance of the unscrupulous elements in civic bodies, turning them to ugly buildings.
When World War II ended with the Allies’ victory, the West realised the destruction of war.
To erase the devastating effects on minds and hearts of their youths, their intellectuals diverted their youths’ attention from war to sports, games and music. They gave a guitar in their hands and took away weapons from them. Football became a craze and soon became the most popular game in the West.
Exactly the opposite has happened to the poor youths of Lyari. In Pakistan the authorities do not encourage the game, therefore the youths have left the game of their choice. The result is obvious; they have fallen to guns and drugs.
All these factors were in my mind when I watched the above-mentioned documentary, a ray of hope came that many youths are still struggling in sports instead of guns and drugs.
It is very disappointing to note that when a foreign TV channel was showing a documentary on the prevailing condition of soccer in Pakistan, especially Lyari, not a single Pakistani TV channel made an attempt to show this informative documentary to their audiences for the promotion of soccer here.
I think this is a programme to be shown repeatedly on our local TV channels to our viewers and especially to our authorities concerned so that they pay some attention to the plight of football and Lyari, that once used to be the breeding ground of soccer in Pakistan.
GHULAM M. BALOCH
Karachi
THE hurling of shoes by an Iraqi journalist at the outgoing US President George W. Bush was not in good taste, though it was done to show resenment over the US policy and damage caused to Iraq through US intervention.
M. SHAFIQUE AHMED
Karachi
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