| December 31, 2008 | Wednesday | Muharram 02,1430 |
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Israeli massacre in Gaza
Murad Bey remembered
Buy Pakistani, be Pakistani
Cantonment Board’s attitude
A sigh of relief
War on terror and Pakistan
Huntington passes away
Bird poaching
Women and scourge of Talibanisation
PhD allowance
Oil payments
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
IN the aftermath of the Mumbai tragedy, a flared-up media managed to create a war hysteria among the masses on both sides of the India-Pakistan border, churning out flashing news stories about troops deployment and jet fighters undertaking pre-war flights incessantly.
Although correct in essence, such news items are being blown out of proportion with talk-show hosts taking the lead in spelling out an imminent threat of war between the nuclear armed arch-rivals.
The Indian media especially went overboard in its oft-repeated war mantra, providing scattered evidence and clumsily putting all the blame on Pakistan’s shoulders.
Media outlets may have their own vested interests at hand, but they need to realise that they leave a deep impact on the teeming millions of viewers many of whom take everything at face value.
While surfing the web too, one could find a somewhat tense situation with war talk being the most common subject in online forums, social networking sites and discussion boards.
The ‘blogoshpere’ too presented a somewhat similar state. Even the usual university gossip, almost invariably turned towards the looming threat of war, with some having begun the ‘countdown’ already.
Owing to this shadowy situation, President Zardari needs to come up with a solid stance on the issue and dispel the rumours that abound once and for all.
M. JALAL AWAN
Lahore
(II)
IF we look at some facts, the game that India seems to be playing to ward off global attention from Kashmir and due to next year’s elections, gets revealed.
1) It is claiming to have provided ‘sufficient evidence’ to Pakistan without actually doing so. Even the Interpol chief who visited India with an offer to help was turned down and has said later, in Islamabad, that his organisation, too, hasn’t been given any proofs (Dec 24).
2) The letter written by Ajmal Kasab and handed to Pakistan embassy is said in a media report to contain words of Hindi and refers to his mother in a way not found in the local culture (“Jang.” Dec. 24), among other faults. There’s something fishy about it.
3) The way attempts are being made to cover up the killing of Hemant Karkare both by India’s Hindu extremists and now by the government also make it look very suspicious. The issue must be probed by independent UN and human rights entities.
4) The latest allegation implicating a so-called soldier of the Pakistan Army and two others in plans to attack targets in occupied Kashmir has been shown by the ISPR to be a lie (Dec 24). It turned out that he had deserted the army over two years back and the unit he is alleged to belong to is not even deployed in Azad Kashmir.
The army has opined that he must have been arrested earlier but the story has now been cooked up to capitalise on the current situation.
Same is likely to be the case with Ajmal Kasab who, according to earlier reports, was kidnapped by Indian agents from Nepal two years back.
It is likely that he is being used by New Delhi’s intelligence or Hindu militants to defame Pakistan. Islamabad must put its diplomats in high gear to expose all the Indian deception before the international community.
NASEER AHMED
Karachi
(III)
THIS is apropos of the news item, ‘Iran trying to defuse Pakistan-India tension’ (Dec.28).
In this context I have to say that America’s global influence is now on the decline. In the 1990s, America exerted leadership in almost all the regions of the globe, from South America to Central Asia. Now the United States has largely left the field in many regions, leaving others to show the way and George W.
Bush is widely blamed for the erosion of America’s prestige.
The rising nations have now more influence and in our area Iran and China are the ones amongst them.
A decade ago, the United States might have been able to bring enough economic pressure on its own to force an end to Iran’s nuclear programme, but now this country has built viable economic ties with other countries so as to withstand the power to close or crack open the door of its political administration.
Iran is a good friend of both India and Pakistan and it is in the interest of the two great neighbours that they should heed to the advice of their common friend to defuse their tension and take steps for resolving the standoff and restoring each other’s confidence.
P.L.BAKHSHI
New Delhi
THE latest Israeli massacre that rained death on the Gaza strip on Saturday, killing at least 225 people, is yet another testimony to the brutality and terrorism of the Zionist regime. It is utterly depressing to see Mr Bush defending the raid and holding Hamas responsible.
What is more depressing is to see how the world’s superpowers and the media they control have obliterated facts and maligned our perceptions that we fail to see the grim realties.
— The media never highlights that Israel is the only country in the Middle East that has nuclear weapons;
— it is the only country in the Middle East that refuses to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and bars international inspections;
— it is the country that has seized the sovereign territory of other nations by military force and continues to occupy it in defiance of United Nations Security Council resolutions;
— it is the country that regularly violates the Geneva Convention by imposing collective punishment on entire towns, villages, and camps, for the acts of a few, and even goes as far as demolishing entire villages while people are still in their homes;
— it is the country that is in defiance of 69 United Nations Security Council resolutions and has been protected from 29 more by US vetoes;
— it is the country that was cited by Amnesty International for demolishing more than 4000 innocent Palestinian homes as a means of ethnic cleansing, it is the country that routinely violates the international borders of another sovereign state with warplanes and artillery and naval gunfire;
— it is the country where high-ranking military officers admitted publicly that unarmed prisoners of war were executed;
— it is the country that refuses to prosecute its soldiers who have acknowledged executing prisoners of war;
— it is the country that signed the Oslo Accords promising to halt any new Jewish Settlement construction, but instead, has built more than 270 new settlements since the signing.
Why is our media, our perceptions, our reactions so influenced by the disguised truth that the western media portrays?
It is time we realised our obligation and responsibilities to focus on the plight of our Palestinian brethren.
Leaders of Muslim countries must come forth with substantial measures to fight against this terrorism and initiate a massive aid project for the Palestinians.
Egypt must close the Israeli embassy and cut off all diplomatic relations with the regime.
HAFSA MUHAMMAD HANIF
Karachi
(II)
OVER the last few decades the US has enjoyed and enforced its self-appointed role as the police and peacekeeper of the world.
It has used this excuse, and I reiterate excuse, to invade, plunder and downright extort the rest of the world. Might one ask the US administration the reason for its lack of action against Israel during this bloody massacre?
There has been as always a lot of talk, expression of concern, media coverage and then some in the US, yet no concrete action has been taken.
At this time, the only body that can stop this bloodshed other than the Israelis themselves are the Americans.
The Bush administration’s eight years are certain to go down as a dark chapter in the US and the world history.
Perhaps in the twilight of his days as the United States of America president, Mr Bush would like to make an attempt at redemption?
KAMRAN KARIMI
Rochester, USA
I CONSIDER it my duty to inform Dawn readers about the death of Mr K. Murad Bey. He died on the afternoon of December 27, the day his last letter in Dawn appeared. In that letter he had quoted a warning he had given to Benazir Bhutto in an earlier letter asking her take care to save herself from assassins. In fact, a few hours before his death he was asking for Dawn to read his letter when the doctors were trying to save his life after a severe heart attack. He was in his late seventies.
Murad Bey came to Pakistan just after partition as a Turkish newspaper correspondent and then settled here permanently. Despite having an excellent family background in Turkey, he preferred to live in Pakistan. He considered himself Turkey’s unofficial ambassador in Pakistan. Whenever anything was published against Turkey or Kemal Atatuk, he used to react strongly to set the record straight. He was interested in human rights and wrote many booklets on this subject. He also wanted to take part in the 1970 general election but at the last moment left for East Pakistan to carry out social work when an epidemic broke out there.
With his three-piece suit, red tie, felt hat, a pipe or a cigar between his lips, he was a popular figure in Karachi’s social and political circles. He maintained this attire, except the cigar, up to the last days of his life when he came to deliver his last letter in the Dawn office . He later told me on the phone and I quote: “I have given the letter but was told that letters about Benazir were pouring in from all over the world and it will be difficult to accommodate my letter.” The letter, nevertheless, did appear, although he could not read it.
Murad Bey was very much grieved over the demise of Mr Mahmoud A. Haroon, and this tragedy could be one of the causes of his depression. He was also the pioneer of deep-sea fishing in Pakistan. He is survived by his wife and four daughters, Fatima, Aisha, Sakina and Shakia, married to Baloch, Pathan and Urdu-speaking families.
In the last paragraph of his last letter he had mentioned that December had been a significant month in the life of the Bhutto family. The month proved fateful for Murad Bey himself. May God rest his soul in peace.
S.SAJID ALI
Former PRO, KESC
Karachi
THIS is apropos of the letter, ‘Buy Pakistani, be Pakistani’ (Dec 27). The writer should by now have realised that the general public has been taken for a ride by our local car manufacturers.
For years they have continued to dole out out-of-date and overpriced cars. The secondhand cars that have been flooding the market in recent years may well be five years old, but their paint quality is still superior to our ‘brand new’ cars; they have better accessories and other value-added features, like traction control, air bags, etc.
For years local car manufacturers and showroom owners have minted money. And now they are crying hoarse.
Instead of the showroom owner pressuring the local car manufacturers to improve their quality and price strategy, he is emotionally blackmailing the public.
KASHIF NAQVI
Karachi
(II)
APROPOS of letter, ‘Be Pakistani, buy Pakistani’, it was disappointing to see that this patriotic slogan was used to serve a personal interest to promote the sales of the so-called ‘locally made’ cars which are actually Japan-made cars and just assembled in Pakistan.
This is just one example of our national character where even patriotism is used as a sales pitch for personal gains. The honest, pure and sincere patriotism is in very short supply in our country.
The slogan ‘Be Pakistani, buy Pakistani’ is all-inclusive and should apply to all commodities and not just cars. If we are importing everything from chocolates to industrial machinery, then what’s wrong with importing used cars, which give the middle class a cheaper alternative to expensive and substandard so-called ‘Pakistani’ cars.
ZOHAIB QURESHI
UAE
RECENTLY I went to see the lady Chief Executive of the Clifton Cantonment Board, Karachi, to apprise her of the water situation on Khayaban-i-Rahat, Phase VI, and request her to review the revised new additional charges being levied on the residents of the DHA for water inadequately supplied and that on top new and additional charges are being incorporated in the yearly water charges.
Instead of showing empathy, she very in a very brash manner asked me to have my water line disconnected if the present supply of water did not cater to my limited needs which is supplemented by private water tankers.
Then, in a very high-handed manner, she instructed one of her junior assistants to get an application for me for disconnection. I request the authorities concerned to prevail upon the officers to show respect, courtesy and manners to the residents who come to seek help and approach them in high pressure in their dire need.
Let me remind you that Defence Housing is the so-called largest, high-profile and well-administered housing in Karachi
The officials of any stature should be reminded that they are public servants and not masters; they should treat people with respect and compassion.
MASHOOD ABID KHAN
Karachi
The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister recently confirmed the tour of the Sri Lankan cricket team to Pakistan in January. It’s a sigh of relief for every cricket lover in Pakistan. Finally, our team would be able to play in its homeland after such a long period. It’s a very good example set by Sri Lankan cricket team and I wish other cricket teams like Australia, England, etc follow it by touring Pakistan.
MUDASSAR SHAHID
Lahore
WITHIN 24 hours of 9/11, US newspapers splashed pictures of the alleged 19 hijackers and managed to convince not only the American public but the whole world using the CIA/FBI pre-canned story of how Al Qaeda was responsible for the carnage.
Not many stopped to think, what the media was presenting was merely statements of the claim — not a proof of the claim.
Soon after that, the UN without hesitation granted its sanctions that allowed the US to invade Afghanistan under the guise of capturing bin Laden and eradicating terrorism.
Gen Musharraf was threatened and blackmailed to join the US war on terror and forced to provide facilities for the American forces and allow other logistics as required. Consequently, Pakistan ended up sending its Army to Fata to fight against the tribal population opposing the US invasion just as they opposed the Soviet invasion during the 1980s.
Unwittingly, the whole world got duped during the early post-9/11 days sympathising with the US loss as a consequence of the alleged hijackers’ attacks.
By now, the whole world is quite aware of the fact that the war on terror is nothing but a disguise and an excuse deployed as a springboard for United States of America geopolitical interests to support its imperialistic dreams for the world domination through the control of energy-rich regions and the regions with geographical importance for the transportation of energy via oil/gas pipelines.
That is how Afghanistan and Balochistan come under Pentagon cross-hair. Had Taliban, while in power, played ball with the Americans, the Americans would not have invaded Afghanistan in October 2001.
It is indeed the rejuvenation of the Great Game that the British Empire could not win over 100 years ago.
In view of Pakistan’s coerced participation in the so-called American war on terror, it is about time for the Pakistani authorities to take a cold hard look as to where this war is leading to, the short-and long-term negative impact on Pakistan’s socio-economic state and its political stability.
The American hegemony has turned the region into a war zone; under the circumstances Pakistan’s economy cannot be expected to recover in the near future.
Both Nato experts and foreign media correspondents who have been to Afghanistan have repeatedly stated that the Afghan war is not a winnable conflict. But the Americans insist on keeping the war going and it is now spilling over into Pakistan.
Obama is planning to increase the number of US troops from the current figure of 30,000 to 60,000 by spring of 2009.
Americans need to be told in no uncertain terms that Pakistan can no longer afford to take part in the charade of war on terror that is inflicting heavy losses on Pakistan, both in terms of lives and property.
It is any one’s guess to figure out the actual commercial and economic losses that have already incurred as a consequence of fighting the US war which is now being forced on Pakistan as Pakistan’s own. In fact, it is a war against Pakistan’s interests as well.
JAVED CHAUDRY
Canada
SAMUEL P. Huntington, author of Clash of Civilizations, died at the age of 81 (Dec 28). He received his PhD from Harvard University and started teaching over there at the age of 23 years. He had also worked at the White House as coordinator of Security Planning for National Security Council.
His areas of interests were national security, strategy, civil-military relations and cultural factors in world politics. However, his theory and thesis in a book, ‘The Clash of Civilisations and the Remaking of World Order’, has given him great fame in this part of the world.
After the post-Cold War the world had hardly breathed peace that the birth of this theory created a sense of insecurity, though the civilisation differences do not exist to the extent that could endanger world peace in jeopardy.
Alas, had he worked for promotion of diversities of civilisation and pluralism and contributed to make the world more peaceful place to live in, instead of creating false apprehensions in the mind of US and western policymakers.
MEHBOOB ALI LALANI
Karachi
WHAT is the big deal if some good officers have taken a few moments of pleasure from tension-filled state affairs. Everybody knows that laws are only meant for ordinary citizens. Who has not poached this country of what not? My advice to poachers, take refuge under NRO immediately.
May God help the poor teeter and batair.
NABEEL S. BALAGAMWALA
Canada
APROPOS of the article, ‘Women and the scourge of Talibanisation’ (Dec 28), writer Aasiya Kazi has depicted the picture of injustices being meted out to women by Taliban, but with an exception that she has used the title ‘Northern Areas’ in her article.
The Northern Areas (the official name of Gilgit Baltistan) is a very peaceful and serene region, free from rudiments of Talibanisation and it wasn’t accurately quoted in the article. I am not sure if the writer has a lucid understanding of the geography of Fata, Swat and the Northern Areas.
It is also a lapse on the part of the government to name a region as ‘Northern Areas’ which makes no sense to a sane mind. Although a resolution was recently passed by the Northern Areas Legislative Assembly (NALA) to change the name of the ‘Northern Areas’ to ‘Gilgit Baltistan’, the name of the assembly itself is still bearing Northern Areas.
I would, thereby, like to inform readers that some print and electronic media, journalists and common people are mistaking Northern Areas for Fata and Swat, the hub of Talibanisation. The Northern Areas consists of Gilgit Baltistan where there is no concept of Talibanisation.
By the grace of Allah, the literacy rate (male and female) of the Northern Areas (Gilgit Baltistan) is higher than in any other part of Pakistan: Hunza has a literacy rate of 100 per cent for both females and males.
The people of Northern Areas (Gilgit Baltistan) are highly educated and literate, with strong cultural values and sound social support for education, in general, and female education, in particular.
KAMRAN AHMED
Gilgit
It is sad to hear that the Sindh Government has abolished the Ph.D allowance of Rs5000 per month given to the college lecturers/professors and has further directed the Accounts Offices to recover the amount hitherto paid to the teachers in installments.
This step is a heavy blow for the academia that was once encouraged by the Government to pursue higher education and increase their proficiency level.
Ph.D is the highest and the most prestigious degree, achieved after intense research and study. Those pursuing a Ph D degree deserve due encouragement and appreciation.
It is a pity that the teachers who groom our future generation are not given their due stipends. Lets hope that this elected and popular Government will do justice to the Ph.D college teachers by taking back its notification to abolish the Ph.D allowance.
IBRAHIM MANGRIO
Sanghar
AN army of 200 plus delegates was taken a few months back on chartered flights to Saudi Arabia just to get concessions on oil payments.
In the wake of Mumbai attacks, the Indian government rushed its delegates all around the world resulting in the passage of a UN resolution condemning our country for involvement in the massacre without any proofs.
Ironically when we needed very effective diplomatic efforts, not even a single person was sent abroad to plead our case effectively in international forums. Will there ever be any sanity on the part of our rulers to get their priorities right, for once.
DR IRFAN ZAFAR
Islamabad
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