| December 27, 2008 | Saturday | Zilhaj 28, 1429 |
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Pakistan security breached
Mumbai attack
Be Pakistani, buy Pakistani
Killing Pakistanis
Ever-rising tides of despair
Bird shooters
Pakistan cricket in a fix
Harvested rice ruined
‘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
BENAZIR Bhutto represented the federation of Pakistan. The assassin(s) cut short her life at a time when people needed her guidance most. She was the voice of the oppressed.
While father Zulfikar Ali Bhutto paved the way for Pakistan to become a nuclear power, the daughter gave missile technology to the country. On the socio - economic front, she expanded the Port Qasim, Steel Mills, gave jobs to the unemployed, lifted ban on students and labour unions and doubled the wages and salaries of the employees, made land reforms and provided lands to the landless, gave freedom to the media, raised for first time in our history allocations for education and health, etc.
Her many achievements included a strong foreign - cum - defence policy. To speak about Ms Bhutto is to speak about a great period of history.
Her worst enemies were the ones who wanted to perpetuate national slavery and backwardness. Dictatorship was anathema to her.
Here are a few words from her last speech: “I put my life in danger and came here because I feel that my country is in danger.”
I pray and hope that the earlier the inquiry into Ms Bhutto’s death is held the better it would be for the welfare of this country and its people.
Let us, one and all, contribute our efforts to identifying the perpetrators, organisers and financiers behind this crime and bring them to justice.
I would like to conclude that Benazir Bhutto, a mother, sacrificed her life for the cause of democracy so that her children and the children of the country and the future generation and all of us can breathe in the fresh air of a democratic life.
Humera Alwani
MPA. Thatta
(II)
THE stature of Benazir Bhutto as a political leader is undisputed and her struggle for democracy in Pakistan warrants greater tribute on the eve of her first death anniversary, i.e. either renaming of a state institution after her name or bringing to justice her killers and heralding the triumph of democracy over dictatorship.
Traces of killers of three prime ministers: Liaquat Ali Khan, Zulfkar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto: point to the same obscurantist forces and as long as the not - so - mysterious killers of political leaders are unearthed and brought to meet justice, the dream of Benazir Bhutto – a dream of democratic Pakistan wherein democratic norms prevail in all state affairs -- could not be realised.
Azhar Ghumro
Islamabad
(III)
IT was in the 80s when I was working in a makeshift medical camp in Karachi’s Aligarh Colony hit by communal riots at that time. Benazir was brave enough to come to the colony to show her support and solidarity with the survivors of the colony. It was my first encounter with Ms Bhutto, to see her and hear so close. Her feelings for the victims were very real and she sounded equally involved with those affected by the tragedy.
The second time I met her was at Karachi airport when she was at the international departure lounge and was stopped from leaving the country. I was aghast how come a country’s prime minister is without any protocol and security. When I asked Iqbal Haider, the then law minister and close aid to Ms Bhutto, I was told her government is dismissed just a few hours ago.
I saw her talking to someone over the phone (might be a foreign journalist) and she once again sounded confident and unshaken by her dismissal.
Last October the failed suicide attack on her in Karachi on her return from long exile once again proved that she cared for the country more than her life. She proved wrong once again all those who were betting she would immediately return to Dubai. She was all for democracy for which she gave her life.
She symbolised the federation and unity of Pakistan. Had she been alive today, situation in the region could have been much calmer and different. It will be decades before the world sees a leader of her charisma and calibre.
MUHAMMED MANSOOR KHAWAJA AMMAN,
Jordan
(IV)
I HAD warned Benazir Bhutto and expressed my concern about her safety as early as Dec 23, 1988.
However, it seemed she was well aware of threats to her life but preferred to lead the nation over her personal safety. She was desperate to salvage the nation from the crisis and work for the people’s welfare.
When she was alive, many of us thought our country could survive without her. But after her death there emerged a consensus that she was a symbol of unity. Even President Zardari is using the vision and thoughts of Ms Bhutto to achieve unity.
While going through my old letters, written on public matters, I came across the following letter (Dec 23, 1988) which I reproduce for the benefit of your readers:
“I hope this letter will find you (Benazir Bhutto) in good spirit, perfect health and full of vigour and energy to lead our nation at this critical period … . First, allow me to say that I have not liked your attendance and address to open kutcheries in which people crowd you to present their grievances. .…… . Such activities, besides being premature, posed a serious threat to your personal safety.
“Our country, as you know, is full of fanatic - minded people and we have seen murders of Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan and a Polish Deputy Foreign Minister at Karachi Airport at the hands of fanatics, in the past.
“Already some opportunist maulvis have started a propaganda against a woman becoming prime minister. For the time being kindly avoid such type of public exposure. While you have innumerable supporters, admirers and well - wishers, there certainly are some persons who are not your friends. You have to beware of them. I hope you will take my advice in that very spirit in which it is being given to you.
“ ………. . I consider it my responsibility to give you some useful advice.
“You may entrust the job of conducting open kutcheries to your colleagues, ministers and party leaders. Later when applications have been received, you may go through them to take necessary action. Rather it is essential that you personally see each and every letter addressed to you as the late Mr Bhutto used to do.
“I hope you will give some serious thoughts to my suggestion and if you act upon it, it will be in the greater interest of our country.
“I am also enclosing herewith a copy of my letter, dated 13.2.1977, addressed to your father, which contains my advice to him to remain careful.
“Remember your life does not belong to you but is, in fact, the property of the whole nation because on it depends the destiny of our country.”
Here it will not be out of place to reproduce excerpts from a similar letter of mine to former prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (Feb 13, 1977):
“Kindly allow me to take a few minutes of your precious time to place before you a humble suggestion: May I also request you to take all precautions in your moves round the country. As an architect of independent Pakistan and emerging leader of world Muslims and the world, the international Zionists, as well as the US, are against you. They will do their utmost to defeat you in the election and if they fail, they will even harm you personally.
“God has blessed you with stamina, energy as well as courage. But you should not overexert yourself and avoid too close mingling with the crowds.”
It appeared that December was a significant month in the life of Benazir Bhutto. I wrote a letter to her on Dec 23, 1988. She was martyred on Dec 27, 2007. She received the highest UN award for human rights posthumously on Dec 10.
K. MURAD BEY
Karachi
THE recent blast in Lahore was another sad event that took place in our country. For the first time our police and agencies openly accused India, providing solid evidence. All very well as far as we are concerned, but how many countries are going to support us? Or accept and blame India for creating unrest in Pakistan. I doubt if even the Muslim countries will have anything to say.
The Indian national had not one but three Pakistani ID cards. This is something which should be looked into, because this is a serious security lapse. The idea behind the computerised ID cards was to make sure that only Pakistani nationals would be issued this card.
But nowadays it is not difficult to get an ID card, passport and a driving licence. Go to any of these centres and you will be swamped with ‘agents’ who can get you ID card, passport and licence bypassing all or any requirement needed to make these documents.
The rules apply for mortals like us who have no money to spare, or sifarish to get the job done. It is time our agencies woke up and made sure that rules are being followed very strictly for the issuance of these cards.
The sitting government should ensure that the culture of bestowing favours upon their friends and family is dealt with, and no one is allowed to use their position to get a job done without the production of necessary documents.
This is a very serious matter, one which involves our national security, and immediate action shoud be taken.
SHAHNAZ QUADRI
Karachi
EVER since the Mumbai attacks took place on Nov 26, there has been a lot of pressure on Pakistan to hand over Hafiz Mohammad Saeed and other Jamaat ut Dawa leaders to India. For this no proofs were given connecting these individuals to the Mumbai killings.
But a lot of hype backed by the full-throated support of the Americans, British and Europeans has been mounted to hand over the individuals concerned to India. Even the UN Security Council Committee was very quick to pass a resolution dubbing many social and philanthropy Pakistani groups and individuals as terrorists.
I would like to share the following important facts with the readers:
1. While the whole world is waiting for George Bush to leave the US Presidency on Jan 20, the perpetuators of the Mumbai attack were in the opposite situation. They had to achieve a lot before Jan 20, 2009 so that the hidden agendas could be achieved before that date.
2. Why were the attackers clean-shaven, wearing orange arm-bands and drinking wine, if indeed they belonged to some Islamic group?
3. People in Pakisatan hold Mr Karkare in very high esteem. He had umasked the role of Hindu extremists in the Sumjhota Express carnage and the Malegon massacre. There is absolutely no reason why a Muslim group would want to kill him.
On the contrary, if anybody had a reason to kill him, it was Hindu extremists. When Minorities Minister Antulay raised this issue in the Indian parliament, a lot of hue and cry was raised and Mr Antulay had to tender his resignation.
4. Mr Karkare had exposed Col Purohit, a serving officer in the Indian army, in the massacre of 68 Pakistanis in the Sumjhota Express carnage. Pakistan is, therefore, justified in demanding the extradition of Col Purohit, Bal Thakray, Chief Minister Modi and A.K. Advani.
5. There is a common vein running in the Marriott blast in Islamabad and the recent blasts in India. According to a report in a section of the oress, a day before the Mariott blast some Americans staying at the Mariott had taken boxes inside the hotel without putting them through the X-ray machine at the hotel.
When the Mariott blast occurred, the room in which the foreigner was staying had blue fire, while all the other rooms had yellow and orange fire. We all saw that on the channel.
Moreover, according to a Dawn newspaper report, the laptop of an American, Kenneth Haywood, was implicated in the Ahmadabad blasts. And in spite of the fact that the Indian IB was investigating the matter, Mr Haywood was allowed to leave India with his family and the laptop. Later some Muslims were arrested in connection with the Ahmadabad blasts.
This points the finger at the connivance of Indian and Americam establishments in organising terror. I think a group of honest Pakistanis and Indians (the likes of Mr Karkare) should form a common team to probe the common vein in the blasts in both India and Pakistan to discern whether the country that is spearheading the so-called ‘war against terror’ is itself engaged in spreading terror.
DR SHAHIDA WIZARAT
Karachi
AS the owner of a car dealership, I have been servicing the auto consumer market in Pakistan for nearly 10 years now. My dealership has been around since the time when there were four million cars on the country’s roads, and today we can proudly claim to have played an important role in taking the number of vehicles in the country to over eight million.
However, the last six months have seen the fortunes of the auto industry, as well as dealerships such as ours, hit the bottom of the barrel. Sales have been falling mainly due to the increased rate of inputs that has increased the cost of cars.
This has been compounded by the interest charged on loans which has dampened borrowing. The 25 per cent high inflation has pushed many potential buyers away, as they spend a lot more money on items if daily use.
In this scenario, we were further burdened by the rising import of second-hand cars, that were being brought in not only by overseas Pakistanis but also by a number of profiteers who would buy used autos from abroad at throwaway prices and then bring these near scrap vehicles for resale in the country. As a retailer, and also a consumer, I am only glad to learn that the government has made a decision to restrict imports of these near scrap vehicles. At a time when the global economy is at a slowdown, it only makes sense that we encourage our own local industry by encouraging growth. These can only happen if they see the potential market for their products, and not if that market share is taken up by similar but used imports that obviously come at a cheaper price.
It is time we realised the importance of ‘Be Pakistani, Buy Pakistani’.
A CONCERNED CITIZEN
Via email
PRESIDENT Zardari announced on Dec 18 that US air strikes inside Fata will continue despite protests that innocent men, women and children are killed in the process. He may feel powerless to stop these but that does not mean that the rest of us have to accept it.
If enough of us made our concern and displeasure known, world opinion will be forced to take notice. One only has to look at what happened in Syria.
By not mounting public protests we are conveying the impression that we don’t care if some outside power indiscriminately kills Pakistanis. It is a terrible stigma to carry for any self-respecting and caring people.
DR JAHANARA JOGAYZAI
Michigan, USA
I AM in full agreement with Shahid Javed Burki’s excellent piece titled, ‘In tandem with India’(Dec 23).
Working closely with India not only to tackle the scourge of terrorism but to obtain a better economic future for the country is an option the current leadership should explore.
The oceans of history are made turbulent by the ever-rising tides of despair and are cluttered with the wreckage of individuals that pursued this self-defeating path of destruction.
The extremist Islamic groups in Pakistan do not want the country to make peace with India. Indeed terrorism is an act of indiscriminate violence that targets innocent people and is a serious threat to democratic values, peace and security.
The thought of having a more peaceful world might seem like an unattainable goal for many, but it is only unattainable if people do nothing. Lao-tse, a sixth century BC Chinese philosopher, reputedly thought to be the founder of Taoism, once said:
”If there is to be peace in the world,
There must be peace in the nations.
If there is to be peace in the nations,
There must be peace in the cities.
If there is to be peace in the cities,
There must be peace between neighbours.
If there is to be peace between neighbours,
There must be peace in the home.
If there is to be peace in the home,
There must be peace in the heart.”
It is in the interest of both India and Pakistan to make a supreme effort to generate the readiness, indeed the eagerness, to enter into the new world.
As Arnold Toynbee says: “Love is the ultimate force that makes for the saving choice of life and good against the damning choice of death and evil.”
PROf SYED WARIS SHERE
Ontario
THIS is apropos of M. Ali Khan’s letter, ‘Bird shooters’ (Dec 23). Sure, let us shoot all the pesky pigeons that have the temerity to shower DHA buildings with their vile droppings. But why stop there? Let us also shoot the other offending animals such as cats, dogs, eagles sparrows, parrots and others that are ‘infecting’ the DHA.
Moreover, there is a severe shortage of public toilets in the city, maybe Ali Khan would like to bring out his shotgun the next time he sees someone squatting against a wall in the DHA.
Haven’t we seen enough blood? Do we need to kill innocent pigeons too?
RODNEY JUDD
Karachi
IT was appalling to read that the Indian cricket authorities have refused to send their national team for the tour scheduled next month.
It is evident that there is no involvement of Pakistan in the Mumbai fiasco, and terrorism is a global issue faced by the world today. Pakistan has been the worst-affected victim of terrorism in the world.
Yet the Indian government has stopped the Indian team to visit Pakistan.
It was revealed that the Pakistan government, the PCB and the BCCI were very much convinced and positive about the January series.
It seems the rogue and hawkish elements present in the Indian government have led to the cancellation of this tour.
This tour was immensely important for Pakistan as Pakistani team will be playing
a test after a break of 15 months.
The postponement of this series will also be a big financial loss to the PCB as well as a big setback to the diehard cricket fans of the two neighboruing countries.
The Indians must think that this cancellation would be a victory for terrorists involved in the Mumbai blasts and this would not be a good augur for the cricket in the region. Politics must not be mixed with cricket. The game of cricket can help reduce tensions between the neighbours.
I hope that sincere diplomatic efforts are made at all levels to reduce tension as well as to ensure resumption of Pakistan and India cricketing ties.
MUHAMMED ZAFIR ZIA
Karachi
ACCORDING to Gada Hussain Mahesar’s statement (Dec 19), 70 to 80 per cent of the paddy crop in Sindh and Balochistan has been devastated.
If the above statement is correct, it will be wise that the government take immediate measures to ban export of rice from Sindh and Balochistan, otherwise the local requirement will also not be met and the poor consumers will once again suffer due to hike in prices just like they did in the last season.
KAMRAN
Karachi
I WAS shocked and amazed to learn about a provincial assembly which passed a unanimous vote to justify the boot - throwing on Mr Bush and recommended that the culprit be set free. This is a childish and irresponsible action. There is so much against the policies G.W. Bush that one day the UN might consider him to stand trial for all the human rights violation which have been carried out by his troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Until that happens, he as the president of the US, a country which has given to the world many things, deserves proper protocol. Throwing a shoe towards a visiting head of the state was a criminal act and Mr Zaidi should be punished for this act. Had he asked a pertinent question, that would have been a more appropriate performance by a journalist.
PROF KHALID HASSAN MAHMOOD
Karachi
(II)
JUST about every child in the world is familiar with the story of Cinderella and her shoes. Now, it appears, a new pair of shoes have also reached that legendary status.
Muntazer al Zaidi, the Iraqi hack, has shot to stardom: look, how his shoes are rocking the world and bringing him lucrative offers! A Saudi man has bid to buy his legendary footwear for $10 million.
Meanwhile, the American group of peace activists, called Code Pink, held a ‘shoe protest’ near the White House. They were joined by several other American NGOs and said they had come to the president’s residence to remind his administration and the American people that “Mr Bush is directly responsible for the deaths of 1.5 million Iraqis and 4,200 US troops.”
One thing: in this incident is also a lesson for all those politicians around the world who have been or are following Bush’s agenda about the Muslim countries.
TAUHID AHMED
Karachi
(III)
IT has been reported that security agents who examined the shoes of Muntazer al Zaidi to check and ensure they did not contain any explosives have destroyed them (Dec 19).
This appears to be a misleading argument. First, all the participants in Mr Bush’s press conference had to go through several security checks beforehand. Second, if the shoes had contained any explosive meant to kill the intended target, they would have exploded at the time.
Besides, if Mr Zaidi planned to kill or hurt Mr Bush, he would not have taken the trouble of saying the condemnatory words that he did and would have wasted no time to launch the explosive - laden device at the president.
It appears the Iraqi and American authorities did not want those shoes to become a souvenir or relic.
G.CHAUDHRY
Karachi
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