Kashmir: plebiscite, not elections

INDIA has been persisting in its colonial anti-democratic ways in Kashmir. Even

Indian leader Jayaprakash Narayan had told Indira Gandhi in 1960: “We profess democracy but rule by force in Kashmir... We profess secularism but let Hindu nationalism stampede us into trying to establish it by repression... (The Kashmir) problem exists not because Pakistan wants to grab Kashmir, but because there is deep and widespread political discontent among the people.”

P.K. Dave, former chief secretary of the Indian Jammu and Kashmir government, confessed in 1991 that “elections in Kashmir have been rigged from the beginning.”

Fraudulent elections in 1987 extinguished the last flicker of hope among Kashmiris that India would bow to a free and fair plebiscite as ordained by the UN Security Council. Indigenous protest erupted in the occupied territory.

In 1996, Kashmiris boycotted phony elections en masse despite intimidation by India’s military.

The cure for counterfeit elections in Kashmir, however, is not more of the same, but providing the genuine democratic article. The people of Kashmir would participate in the current elections if they are conducted with the trappings of free and fair choice.

That means six-fold assurances from India that:

(1) The elections will determine an interim administration pending execution of India’s plebiscite obligation.

(2) International monitoring of the entire electoral process, including preparation of voter lists, will be guaranteed.

(3) Candidate oaths to support India’s Constitution and its claim of sovereignty over Kashmir will be waived.

(4) The elected representatives will be crowed with a mandate to negotiate the final status of Jammu and Kashmir with India and Pakistan.

(5) All political prisoners will be released with freedom to seek election without fear or harassment, including the leadership of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference.

(6) India’s military and paramilitary forces will desist from voter coercion or threats.

The status of East Timor was resolved in 1999 by a free and fair vote of the East Timorese. The same, championed by the United States and the European Union, is in train for Kosovo, Montenegro, and Serbia. The solution to Kashmir’s indigenous movement is no different. The irrepressible coveting of dignity, liberty, and pride that comes with self-determination knows no territorial or regional boundaries.

Dr GHULAM NABI FAI

Executive Director, Kashmiri American Council

Punishing the honest consumer

THROUGH its timely editorial (Sept 14), Dawn has rightly pleaded the cause of those consumers who, in spite of their limited income, pay full charges of electricity through their noses. They not only pay the charges for the power used by them but also for those who are not paying anything because they have a kunda connection or pay much less than what they should as they have rigged their meters in collaboration with the KESC staff.

You have rightly pointed out the root cause. The most important reason for frequent increase in the prices of petrol, electricity and gas is that those who take these decisions are not at all affected by this enhancement as they get them free.

Another aspect to be considered is that the effect of an increase in prices of these items is not confined only to them but it affects most other items where these are used, and therefore, there are increases in the prices of many essential commodities. This chain reaction gets released from time to time and the common man is the real sufferer.

AZHAR HASAN SIDDIQI

Karachi

SPSC exams for revenue department

SOME letters published in your newspaper (Sept 15) have pointed out typing errors in the recently conducted examination for Mukhtiarkars. The Commission received almost 10,000 applications for 38 posts, and written tests were conducted in three cities at 17 different centres.

Three typing errors were spotted by the staff and communicated to the candidates well in time. However, due to logistical problems one centre in Hyderabad was informed late. The Commission is not unmindful of the distress caused to some candidates and action has been taken to review the procedures in order to obviate such occurrences in future.

CONTROLLER OF EXAMINATIONS, SPSC,

Hyderabad

Challenges and opportunities

THE Federal Finance Minister, Shaukat Aziz, in his article ‘Asia 2015: challenges and opportunities’ (Sept 17), has outlined the model followed by East Asian countries with clarity. He has noted the four main areas which East Asia focussed on in the 60s followed by Southeast Asia and China (in the 70s-80s) which led to the “remarkable rise in prosperity.”

These are: high rate of literacy; educated and disciplined workforce; good governance; and economic and political stability.

Mr Aziz laments that South Asia has fallen behind for reasons largely of its own making. He has chosen not to mention the main countries of South Asia, namely Pakistan, India, Bangladesh etc. However, the article does not provide a clear roadmap for Pakistan as to how we can seize the opportunity, with specific reference to the above noted four success factors attributed to the East Asia countries.

In this context the essential imperatives of putting Pakistan on the fast track to economic development and poverty alleviation need to be clearly understood. Effective policies need to be formulated and implemented.

The nation has been subjected to numerous visions, poverty alleviation and economic development programmes in the past three decades. However, our GDP growth has declined from a high of about six per cent in the 80s to as low as 2.6 per cent in 2000-2001.

If Pakistan aspires to close the GDP and PCI gap with East Asia, let alone the West, by 2015 and eradicate poverty, it is essential that some key issues be first focussed on and a specific target for GDP growth to US$100 billion be set for 2010 and US$150 billion for 2015. This must be coupled with a reduction in population growth rate from the current 2.6 per cent to about 1.5 per cent in the next five years and increase in the national savings to at least 20 per cent from the current 12.7 per cent.

In broad terms the following three-point ‘agenda for the people’ should be followed:

1) Poverty alleviation through human resource development and redeployment of workforce in higher productivity and income sectors.

2) Creation of sustainable employment for the lower and middle classes in mechanized agriculture, engineering goods industry, SMEs and knowledge based sectors.

3) Accelerated economic development and increase in GDP through high value-added exports in engineering/technology based products and ICT sectors.

It should also be realized that the traditional ‘trickle down’ formulas for economic development have not yielded results for the poor and middle classes in South Asia and Pakistan. A new approach should be used to provide for a discernible jump start of the economy with focus on specific sectors which will provide for the maximum multiplying factor and economic benefit to the middle and low income classes.

Meanwhile, the people of Pakistan have patiently been waiting for a programme that could deliver them economic prosperity, education, health, civil services and employment with dignity.

MUNAWAR B. AHMAD

Lahore

‘Committed democrats’

THIS refers to Brig A.R. Siddiqi’s letter (Aug 30). While endorsing his views, I may point out that Mr S.M. Zafar was not the law minister on the eve of the presidential elections held on Jan 2, 1965. The law minister at the time was Sheikh Khurshid Ahmad.

Mr Zafar joined the Ayub government after the 1965 elections. Incidentally, the election commissioner of West Pakistan happened to be Justice Sardar Muhammad Iqbal Khan who was Mr Zafar’s mentor. Mr Zafar, as a member of Ayub’s Cabinet till 1969, had to share responsibility for all acts of commission and omission of the government during the period.

The irony is that some venerable people, after falling out with the military rulers pose before the people as committed democrats. We have before us the examples of Chaudhry Mohammad Ali, Z. A. Bhutto, Raja Zafarul Haq, Mian Nawaz Sharif, etc.

Will Brig Siddiqi, as a very senior journalist and as one having had access to the corridors of real power, throw light as to why the politicians always offer their shoulders to the military rulers and strengthen their rule? Is it due to their class character or are there other reasons?

M. NAWAZ QASMI

Multan

Security in DHA

EVERY day we not only read in the papers but also listen to news on CNN and BBC regarding the recent arrest of Al Qaeda men in Karachi. While watching on TV the attacks in New York on 9/11 last year, who could have thought that some suspects would be arrested in Pakistan.

Being a resident of Phase Vll, an adjoining locality of Phase II in Defence Housing Authority, Karachi, we feel extremely insecure after the recent shoot-out. This insecurity is further enhanced by the attitude of the defence personnel. Last month, they removed the security system of this area which was being run very successfully by the residents for the past many years. This has resulted in increased incidents of dacoities in the area.

It may be noted that the residential colonies of the armed forces are not only enclosed by boundary walls but the visitors are also searched, questioned and asked to produce their ID cards to enter those areas. But the army feels that even one third of such security measures cannot be allowed for civilian residential areas.

I hope the concerned authorities will look into the matter and rethink their policies.

SADIA SALIM

Karachi

Income tax on charities

THIS refers to M. Aslam Khan’s letter, ‘Income tax on charities’ (Sept 10). The author has referred to some advertisement whereby “approval granted to religious and charitable institutions has been withdrawn and donation ....”

It is hereby clarified that first of all, no advertisement has been issued by the CBR in this behalf. However, approvals granted under the Income Tax Ordinance-1979 have been protected through sub-section (10) of section 239 of the Income Tax Ordinance-2001.

Donations received by them will remain exempted from tax or tax-credit allowed, as the case may be under the law. Thus, approval or renewal, wherever required under the Income Tax Ordinance-2001 and rules made thereto, will have to be obtained.

During the intervening period, donations to such charitable institutions will continue to be exempted.

In view of the above, approval granted under section 47(1)(d) and clause (62) of Part-I of the Second Schedule of the repealed Income Tax Ordinance-1979 will remain valid for the period it was allowed.

The organizations will, however, be required to seek fresh approval/renewal under the Income Tax Ordinance-2001 after the expiry of such an approval.

VAKIL AHMAD KHAN

Member, CBR,

Islamabad

Promotion of quackery by radio

IT is unethical in the medical profession to advertise. Yet, the advertisement of a hospital claiming to specialize in ‘Chinese treatment’ is carried regularly on FM 100 radio.

It is a well-known fact that what is being promoted as ’Chinese treatment’ is pure quackery. Yet no one takes any action against it. The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, the supreme body of the medical profession, forbids the doctors to advertise but has left the quacks free to do so. Very often, there are full page advertisements by quacks in Urdu newspapers and no action is taken by the PMDC.

Similarly, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, which is supposed to keep a watch on what is broadcast on private channels, has also not taken any notice of this although our ill-informed and uneducated public is highly susceptible to this kind of radio publicity.

Both of these organizations should take necessary steps urgently to protect the public from the harm that might be caused to them on account of this promotion of quackery.

DR SHAUKAT SALEEM

Rawalpindi

Using ‘Jinnah’

RECENTLY a private residential project has been announced in the newspapers by some builder under the name of Jinnah Complex, may be simply because of its being located somewhere on M. A. Jinnah Road. The name of the project suggests as if the project has something to do with the towering personality of the founder of the nation. If approved and constructed under this name, every new builder or businessman will christen his complex / business like Jinnah Market, Jinnah Restaurant, Jinnah Store, Jinnah Pan Shop, etc.

This trend must be curbed right now before it takes shape by the city Nazim or whosoever is the right authority.

ENGR. NIZAMUDDIN QURAISHI

Karachi

Respect for respectable

I HAVE been watching BBC programme ‘Question Time Pakistan’ with great interest. The lady compere, Ms Mehreen, is conducting the programme tactfully. But I fail to appreciate her manner of addressing the members of the panel. All the participants of the panel in the programmes I saw were older than her. Yet she addressed them without a prefix of ‘Mr’ or their professional title.

When putting a question to Justice (r) Fakhruddin G. Ibrahim, she would just say “Yes, Fakhruddin Ibrahim what would you say in the matter?” Professor Abdul Ghafoor Ahmed was addressed simply as Ghafoor Ahmed.

MOHAMMAD RAFI

Karachi

Meals for schoolchildren

I WOULD like to express my appreciation for the federal food minister’s move to provide meals to the deserving school children. This is an unprecedented initiative in the history of Pakistan and perhaps the other countries.

I feel the government’s action is praiseworthy which has not been properly acknowledged. In fact, in the present charged atmosphere, where criticizing the government in the name of democracy has become a fashion, the above-mentioned step has also fallen prey to this trend.

As has been reported, about 4,000 deserving children will be provided lunch every day for which an amount of Rs2 billion has been allocated.

As I came to know, this idea is the brainchild of the Food Minister, Khair Mohammad Khan Junejo, who has a family tradition for such noble causes.

I also hope that the minister will ensure implementation of this decision in its true letter and spirit and the children will be provided meals not merely on paper.

Private schools charging hefty fees should also be asked to follow the decision and their teachers be advised to avail the opportunity for creating good eating mannerism among the children.

This is certainly a step towards creating a healthy and welfare society.

K. MURAD BEY

Karachi

Wishing Pakistan

THIS refers to James Gammon’s letter, ‘Thank you, Pakistan’ (Sept 18).

We would be extremely obliged if he lets his wish for a ‘quiet world to raise children’ encompass also the Kashmiris and the Palestinians.

M. WAQAR ASLAM

Dera Bugti

Blackmailing by cricketers

AFTER a brief period of excitement and success, Pakistan cricket is once again in crisis with ‘revolt’ by some senior cricketers that seems to be their attempt not only to dislodge Waqar Yunis but also to dictate terms to the PCB.

The rebels are probably calculating that with the World Cup round-the-corner they would succeed in bringing Gen Tauqeer Zia and the PCB to their knees. However, all this blackmail by some of the senior players can be dealt with effectively if the PCB chief does not panic and respond coolly and calmly but resolutely.

Withdrawal of some of senior players has presented the PCB chief a golden opportunity of quickly rebuilding a new look Pakistani team for the three tests against Australia in Colombo and Sharjah. The task may be difficult but not impossible.

There is no dearth of talent as Misbah has proved in Kenya and at the ICC Championship. Faisal Iqbal, Imran Farhat, Muhammad Sami, Muhammad Zahid and Keneria are just a few names. There are many more eagerly waiting on the lines to prove their talent and worth.

Those who have withdrawn from the Test against Australia should not be considered at all even for the World Cup. Undoubtedly Wasim Akram has been one of the greatest new-ball bowlers. Over 400 wickets in tests and one-dayers speak volumes of his skills. But all that is history. His present performances with the bat and ball are well below the required levels.

Sadly, in the last few years his personality and his career has been tainted with controversies and his presence in the team leads to suspicions of dissensions, divisions and groupings.

Saeed Anwar has also probably reached the end. He appears a shadow of his real self. Perhaps his involvement and commitment to religious activities are stronger than his interest in cricket.

Imzamam, the run out expert, if not willing, should also be axed. After his great innings of 329 against New Zealand, he has run into an unusually long pitch. A string of low scores, injuries and fitness problems automatically rule him out — at least for the Australian series — and may even be for the World Cup.

Pakistan cricket in the past decades has been plagued with blackmail tactics by the players.

Defeats in Morocco and Kenya are being widely perceived as ‘deliberate’ and a result of rivalries and groupings within the team. Patience of cricket fans is being tested to the limit. Disappointment will soon turn into resentment against the cricket team and the PCB.

Gen Tauqueer Zia must assert the authority of the PCB so that no player or a group of players dare to dictate and humiliate Pakistan cricket in future.

KHAWAJA FARIDUDDIN

Karachi