| January 25, 2009 | Sunday | Muharram 27, 1430 |
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An open letter to SBP governor
US visa for PhD
A dream comes true
Exploiting young minds
World needs a new lender
Israeli savagery
The long view
Offloading of nine Muslims
Omissions from the list of Hall of Fame
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 his letter, ‘Cowasjee and Durrani’ (Jan 21), Mohammad Aleem Sheikh showers praise on Nawaz Sharif for carrying out the nuclear test and professes the erstwhile prime minister’s ignorance about Kargil. Let’s concede that he knew nothing about Kargil. However, he and his supporters have gone hoarse saying that he gave us the ‘bomb’. So there should be no doubt about that. But the question is: did he really give us the bomb?
Just after 1971 we were in dire straits. The country had been split asunder. We were completely shattered. Mr Bhutto had begun to put the pieces together when the first atomic test was carried out by Indira Gandhi. He immediately took up the challenge. A secure site was provided at Kahuta. Islamic countries were taken on board. We even named a stadium after Mr Qhadafi. Financial support was acquired very skillfully. Above all, Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan was discovered and persuaded to migrate to Pakistan. Who can forget the famous words: “We will make the bomb even if we have to eat grass”. Without Mr Bhutto we could never have had the ‘bomb’.
Accessing the right sources scattered all over the world, acquiring dual purpose components and technology from places which were frequented by the Mossad, Raw, CIA, KGB and the likes, where murder and kidnapping were the order of the day, did take some doing. Dr Qadeer at tremendous risk to his life eventually had everything in place. Without Dr Qadeer we could not have had the ‘bomb’.
Ironically, Mr Bhutto laid the foundation but it was his tormentor Gen Ziaul Haq who followed his policies relentlessly in this respect. Whatever his religious negatives might have been, he did keep the Americans engrossed with the Russians in Afghanistan while work on the ‘bomb’ was going on feverishly. Mr Reagan was made to close his eyes, cunningly if you like, for eight years towards our not-so-secret pursuit of the ‘bomb’. We had almost completed the task when the general’s C-120 was mysteriously blown out of the sky. Giving the devil his due, without Gen Zia the bomb would not be possible.
The test was in fact carried out in China in 1990 (Dawn, Jan 3). But what good was the ‘bomb’ without a delivery system. It was Benazir Bhutto who had charmed the US into selling F-I6s, and the PAF promptly fitted the first lot with racks that could carry the ‘bomb’. Under her watch we had the ‘bomb’ and the delivery system.
So as late as 1998, how could Nawaz Sharif give us what we already had. We had the ‘bomb’ but without the ‘bombast’; Nawaz Sharif provided us that. He had removed a president, a chief justice, an Army Chief of Staff and the sacking of a second Army chief was in the pipeline. The Ameerul Momenin (well, almost) had decided! He had to add this feather to his cap. What did it matter that we already had the ‘bomb’.
It was like shooting the ball back into the net after a goal has already been scored. In football it doesn’t matter much but in real life it spelled disaster for us. Back-breaking sanctions were imposed. Our foreign exchange reserves dried up. The sweat and blood dollars of our expatriates were frozen. We came in the limelight and the so-called ‘Islamic bomb’ became fair game for the evil eye of our enemies.
Israel has enough bombs to blow the entire Middle East off the face of the earth but it still does not qualify for sanctions. We also could have had twice the number of atomic warheads and avoided economic misery, the remnants of which we are still recovering from. Nawaz Sharif should have taken Gen Durrani’s advice. The nuclear test was unnecessary.
CAPT. S. AFAQ RIZVI
Karachi
THIS is apropos of Sajjad Haider’s letter (Jan 5). I agree with the writer that the SBP, being the supreme regulatory authority of the banking sector, should not only focus its attention on the most burning issues being faced by the country, but also exercise its authority for their execution.
Instead, the SBP indulges in trifle matters, such as dispensing of currency notes to the public, which have absolutely no bearing on the economy or financial improvement of the country — a wasteful exercise, I must say. Here, I would like to quote one personal instance to substantiate the above.
I am a cash teller at one of the largest private banks in Pakistan and drawing a monthly take-home salary of Rs15,000. Recently two inspectors from the SBP visited the branch early in the morning, after meeting the manager they walked straight to the cash enclosure, while I was busy with the customers.
They started checking the cash and demanded various records for their observation. The inspection ended in two hours, and a report was received by the branch in the next week. The report was not good and the manager was furious because a penalty of Rs21,000 was imposed on the branch, which I was supposed to bear being in charge of cash.
The penalty was imposed on the following violations made by the branch:
1. The cash-sorted stamp was not affixed on a few packets.
2. It was assumed that unsorted currency notes were being dished out to customers as they were kept in the drawers.
3. No register was being maintained to keep record of fresh currency notes being issued to customers.
My question to the SBP governor is:
a. Did the inspectors, who had supposedly had the welfare of the customers at heart, realise that with their presence how much disturbance was created in the branch, as the time which was meant for the customers was given to them?
b. The customers of today are very conscientious about their rights. Besides, the market is very competitive. If a customer does not get the desired level of service, he moves his business to some other bank. Banks on their part are also mindful of this fact and can ill-afford to annoy their customers on an issue such as currency notes.
c. How much responsibility is the SBP shouldering to cater to the needs of the public by way of dispensing fresh currency notes to them? Why can’t they open special counters for this purpose at their own premises in order to remove the grievances of the public?
The purpose of writing this letter to the SBP governor is to draw the attention of your readers to the fact that the SBP is more concerned about issuance of fresh currency notes to the public instead of concentrating its attention on curbing the skyrocketing inflation. What good is a currency note, whether soiled or new, if it cannot meet the needs of the man on the street?
In the end, I would just like to mention that the new management of my bank does not accept any ifs and buts, although on that particular day I was handicapped as I was filling in for two other tellers, who were absent.
The penalty will ultimately be charged to my salary account, I will be poorer by Rs21,000 while the SBP will be richer by the same amount, the real issue being unaddressed.
A CONCERNED PAKISTANI
Islamabad
AFTER my successful completion of BA (Honours) in Economics from one of the oldest colleges in the US, I got a fully-funded scholarship at the University of Colorado at Boulder. After successful completion of the interview process on Aug 15, 2006 I was asked to wait for clearance, which could take from a day to two to three months (on average).
Two-and-a-half years later I received a call that I have to submit my I-20 (renewed college admission letter) in two weeks. Anyone who has gone through the process of applying for foreign institution knows that such feats cannot be achieved in such a short time. Therefore, I am suggested to apply for the next year (i.e. August 2010).
A sheer waste of four years! To add to the insult, I have to go through the process of two-and-a-half years clearance all over again.
I ask US authorities to please reconsider my case (as I have been a law-abiding student all along) and keep the process of clearance continued without my new I-20; meanwhile, I will try to renew my admission at the University of Colorado. This would allow me a great relief.
UMER KHAN BALOCH
(Passport # AB3765341)
Turbat
IN the background of the Lincoln Memorial built in memory of Abraham Lincoln who abolished slavery in the US and where Martin Luther King 46 years earlier shared his dream of a time when Americans would be judged not by the colour of their skin but the content of their character, the current President of the US, Barack Hussain Obama, took his oath of office as president and the first step towards realisation of the dream of Martin Luther King.
The American people made a choice, ignored the colour of President Obama’s skin and relied mainly on the content of his character and his promise of ‘change’.
It was truly a historical occasion and the world was heaving a sigh of relief on seeing George Bush depart from Washington as the outgoing president after eight long disastrous years which saw two wars, hostilities, tension, violation of human rights and ultimately an economic turmoil with a financial meltdown leading to recession and depression unseen in the world since 1930.
In the midst of a precarious condition of the US economy and the evident lack of faith and confidence in leadership by the US as the sole surviving superpower in the world, stood President Obama and delivered a magnificent speech. The world and Pakistanis in particular must really ponder over his words which will go down for ever in history.
“We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus and non-belivers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; united not by religion, race or language but by our freedom.
“To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict or blame their society’s ills on the West, know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy.
“To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.”
The above words are truly inspiring but President Obama has a great deal of work to do, promises to keep, challenges to meet and miles to walk before he sleeps.
President Obama pledged a change to his people and to the world. He said: “Yes, we can do it,” and the president promised to overcome all problems facing his nation with the help of the people. It is not possible to predict the impact of his policies on the world and we must not be encouraged or disappointed by an occasional observation. The true and full effect of President Obama’s policies on the world, in general, and the Muslim countries, in particular, will emerge slowly but surely. His mission has just begun.
LIAQUAT H. MERCHANT
Karachi
RECENTLY I bought a CD and was looking for some interesting games. I tried many of them but I didn’t like any. However, one game called ‘the lion king’ grabbed my attention and when I opened the game I found that under the title there were some vulgar pictures etc.
I soon closed that but I was in a great state of shock, because I had bought that CD for my younger brother. I tried to imagine then what if my brother had opened it instead of me! He is just so young and entirely unaware of harsh realities in the world.
I have often heard of cases about such vulgar pictures and movies found on various websites, cellphones, etc, and the only way we can protect our generations from falling prey to such things is to remain ever vigilant about such sorts of CDs.
In fact, most parents do not know the reality and are thus not able to keep any check on their children when they play games on these CDs.
I now expect parents to first check all games individually before their children start playing the game. Moreover, the government should take stern action against those who want to corrupt innocent minds.
ZEHRA BATOOL
Karachi
The IMF programme: does it aim at “financially assisting or financially burdening”? Experience shows that the countries in need of a bailout do not like to go to the IMF as a first option even when it looks to be the only option, as is the case with Pakistan.
The German foreign minister, while on a visit to Islamabad, was too frank to say that Pakistan urgently needed an IMF loan to avert a default. “A loan in six months or six weeks will not help. It needs to come in six days.”
The countries are in a state of dither because an IMF bailout is considered a stigma and the finance bureaucracy tries all options before approaching the IMF. For the politicians in power, it means a loss of face.
The International Monetary Fund is providing $7.6 billon credit to Pakistan under a two-year standby arrangement. Two pertinent questions are: one, should Pakistan have gone to the fund for assistance? Two, will the agreement with the IMF be financially assisting or financially burdening our country?
The IMF provides credits to countries facing a balance-of-payments crisis. Under a standby arrangement, an IMF member-country is provided a specified amount in installments. Typically, the IMF demands reducing fiscal deficit, devaluation of the domestic currency, liberalisation of trade and investment regime, privatisation of state-owned enterprises, tightening of the monetary policy and overall deregulation of the economy.
Some politicians say that it was better to eat grass than swallow the IMF’s bitter pill.
As an IMF conduct, since the loan amount could not be spent on the development of infrastructure, so Pakistan’s trade deficit, its crumbling infrastructure, particularly its aging irrigation system and electrical grids, and small skilled labour force remain as ‘structural’ constraints to sustainable economic growth.
As an IMF condition, for a country like Pakistan which depends on import of capital equipment with the devaluation of rupee, the increase in import prices increases the cost of production of exportable goods, which adversely affects their competitiveness. It also makes product available for local customers at a higher price.
Thus it harms our exports in terms of its competitiveness and also increases inflation.
Besides, trade liberalisation, which is generally a component of the IMF-sponsored packages, leads to de-industrialisation as domestic firms are priced out by cheaper imports.
The result will be loss of employment and incomes. Already during the last decade, in the wake of trade liberalisation, Pakistan’s trade deficit has increased from $2 billion to $21 billion, which means that imports have grown at a much faster pace than exports, resulting in loss of jobs and incomes.
There is a growing body of opinion that the world needs a new lender of last resort — a role that the IMF has failed to perform for being under the influence of the western powers.
M. HUNAIN & M. TURAB MEHDI
Karachi
“I WANT nobody to sleep at night in Gaza” said Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert in 2006, unleashing Israeli military savagery for release of an Israeli soldier who had been abducted by Hamas to bargain for the release of two Palestinian civilians earlier kidnapped by Israel.
The latest outrage was justified by Israel as a “response to Hamas’ rocket attacks,” rejecting both the doctrine of proportionate response and the fact that Hamas was reacting to the breaking by Israel of the existing truce.
Israel’s use of excessive force is unacceptable, but not unexpected, given its state-level paranoia arising from the history of Jewish suffering and massacre at the hands of the Christian West.
The greater dismay was at the reluctance of the US and its European allies to even condemn, let alone stop, the outrages by their puppet state and their attempts to rationalise Israel’s actions.
Such silence of the heavily-armed democracies does not bode well for the future. In his book 1984, George Orwell wrote: “….and in the general hardening of outlook that set in ….practices which had been long abandoned — imprisonment without trial, the use of war prisoners as slaves, public executions, torture to extract confessions — not only became common again, but were tolerated and even defended by people who considered themselves enlightened and progressive.”
SHAHID SCHEIK
Karachi
THIS refers to Ahmed Faruqi’s article on the subject mentioned above (Jan 19). The writer has quoted the most discouraging predictions from the National Intelligence Council report, a branch of the CIA, for the bleak future of Pakistan.
He has stated, and I quote: “It is not surprising to see that some experts do not expect Pakistan to survive by the time 2025 rolls around, at least not in the form that even remotely resembles the nation that exists today.”
It has further been predicted that in the climate of continuing domestic turmoil, the central government control probably will be reduced to Punjab heartland and the economic hub of Karachi.
There is a strong feeling that it is an absolutely wrong time to express any hypothetical and prediction-based opinion concerning the very existence of Pakistan.
Unfortunately, the negative messages which these opinions convey include the destabilisation of the state, demoralisation of public and the government and the benefit of the enemy.
With reference to the existing terrorism and religious extremism, it is hard time that the public and the government must realise their respective responsibilities and work hard towards elimination of terrorism without losing any further time.
The journalists, the electronic media, the press and all concerned must play a serious role to control the terrorists and the religious fundamentalists so that the country may be saved.
To make these objectives successful, it is important that the government must involve the clerics, leaders of the religious groups, religio-political parties, media and all the other organisations and institutes.
Planning, execution and, above all, the will make the important ingredients for the desired success.
DR S. IFTIKHAR AHMED
Karachi
THIS is apropos of Mian A. Ahmed’s letter about offloading of nine Muslims(most probably of Pakistani origin) from a flight in Washington DC. I fully agree with the writer’s opinion and want to add that we Muslims today, especially Pakistanis, are a soft target in the US and other European or non-Muslim countries.
By displaying such behaviour and appearances, like our nine brothers and sisters did, we are not serving Islam but in fact we are giving a bad name to it. Islam does not teach us to terrorise other people by any means at all. What to say about these innocent people who believe that practising Islam is only to grow beard and cover women in burqas, and the rest is OK!
TARIQ RAFIQUE
Karachi
ALL worthy human activities have concepted its role model of perfection. The ideal following which will ensure best results as well as be pleasing to the senses.
Cricket, too, has developed its perfect model in scores of manuals and iconographic representations of the right method in batting and bowling. Cricketing history is full of variations from the ideal and in my book only two cricketers have filled the role of Mr Perfect, Hanif Mohammed in batting and Fazal Mehmood as a bowler.
And I am happy to see that Hanif has been included in the Hall of Honour. The ICC should also ensure his method is captured on film and a manual is made for the benefit of aspiring Mr Ideal.
However, it is a great shame that bowling maestro Fazal Mehmood has not been included. He was the best exponent of swing and cut, and with his stock leg cutter he was devastating to handle at that pace. It was acknowledged by all that his leg-cutter was better than Sir Alec Bedser’s.
With deadly accuracy, he was capable of hitting a coin nine times out of ten. He had demolished all the great sides of the world and his 12/99 against an impregnable England with Sir Len Hutton (whom he accounted for in both innings) at the Oval remains as the best seen on that ground according to an article appearing in The Times, London, on Aug 17, 2005, and that includes Holding’s 16 wickets haul.
You cannot conceivably deny top billing to the King of Swing. His action blow-up should be prominently displayed at the Oval for generations of bowlers to follow.
The other glaring omission is that of the Asian Bradman, Zaheer Abbas. He jointly holds the world record with Wally Hammond of a double hundred and a single hundred in the same game three times. He also has the distinction of having scored over 100 first class hundreds. Surely this should have been enough to secure his place in the honours list.
And, above all, he was a divine endowed with grace gifted by God. His beauteous walk to the wicket alone was a joy to watch, let alone the fact that he lighted the very grounds he played on. In the Test Match against Australia at Karachi in September 1982 just before tea, his cover off Bruce Yardley was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen and when the soul is depressed a recall is all to send it soaring to ethereal heights.
The pleasure of watching cricket began with him and ended with him.
”... The odds is gone,
And there is nothing left remarkable Beneath the visiting moon.”
In God’s name, how can you drop a man personified by the gods.
Then we come to Wasim Akram. What greater tribute that in an all-time World XI the second name after the great Sir Donald Bradman will be Wasim Akram since he will be opening the proceedings with the new ball at one end.
Apart from his other tremendous achievements, the delivery that did Sir Ian Botham in the World Cup, perhaps has not been matched in the history of the game. Pegged to his crease, he was not even allowed a flicker, and that was the World Cup. Odes could be written on that delivery alone.The selection committee’s performance has brought to mind my remark to the Russian diplomat at a dinner in Sri Lanka in 1965, who declared that “a mango is a carrot that pretends it is a peach”. I replied” “It’s not your fault, your palate is not educated enough to know the difference.”
FAKIR S. AIZAZUDDIN
Karachi
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