Provincial autonomy

In a series of press conferences, Baloch leaders have accused the government of launching an 'unannounced military operation' in Balochistan. They have accused the army of conducing operations in the Mekran, Dera Bugti and Kohlu areas, employing jet fighters and helicopter gunships. There are reports that the operation is leading to serious violations of human rights. What's more disturbing is the fact that the government has not made public the purpose of the action and the intended targets.

Balochistan is the most impoverished province. It has suffered at the hands of one regime after another. This has led to a sense of deprivation among its people.

Instead of dealing the situation in a political manner, successive governments have been using force against the Baloch to suppress their legitimate voice. At first, it was a struggle for independence. Later, the Baloch moderated their views and took a very practical approach. They started demanding 'complete national autonomy' within the federation of Pakistan, together with constitutional protection to provincial governments against any forcible action by the centre, as Z. A. Bhutto did in 1973.

History shows that time and again Baloch leaders have tried to reach a respectable compromise with Islamabad, but to no avail.

In a proposal to Gen Zia in 1980, Mir Bizenjo's PNP, in addition to autonomy, had called for "reinforcement of the articles providing for equal representation of the four provinces in the Senate, and a concomitant strengthening of the Senate's powers, as the key to successful federalism in Pakistan."

Autonomy basically meant that the central government would have control over only four subjects: defence, foreign affairs, communications and currency. All other subjects would be controlled by the provincial governments.

In the preliminary report of a recently-conducted fact-finding mission in Balochistan, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan reported that "serious complaints about continued denial of provincial autonomy were received.

The people were quite agitated about their exclusion from decision-making at both federal and provincial levels and resistance to the LFO was vigorously expressed. Anxiety at erosion of rule of law, declining faith in the judicial system and procedure and difficulties in access to justice were quite pronounced."

In his book In Afghanistan's Shadow: Baloch Nationalism and Soviet Temptations, Selig Harrison analyzes Balochistan problems as purely "political in character and are likely to be resolved only through major constitutional reforms." In trying to find a way out, he suggests the world powers "should seek to further a liberalization of political life based on devolution of powers and resources to the provinces."

KHURRAM MUSTIKHAN

Karachi

Rights & power politics

Does Mr Kunwar Idris, reference his editorial page article of the same title (August 1), believe that humans have some rights? Don't make me laugh. Humans are of two kinds - the loud voiced (the powerful) and the voiceless (the weaker, the 99 per cent of the unfortunate 160 million).

Since Mr Idris talks of the National Human Rights Commission, constituted by President Musharraf to review the Hudood ordinances, I will also restrict myself to abuses of human rights by these oppressive ordinances. These were promulgated by the martial law administrator, Gen Zia, in 1979 and no parliament or assembly had passed them since none existed then. Therefore, another general president is - and should be - sufficiently empowered to repeal them. Who says he can't do it? Why a fuss should be created by reviewing them first in the select committee, then in the Council of Islamic Ideology and finally in parliament? It is like inviting opposition.

The president wants to follow the norms of political decency and fair play. For this reason he wants these bills to go through normal and routine law-making - and by so doing he wants to avoid religious extremists' opposition in the assembly and its fallout in the streets. The writer rightly suggests that the president should intervene to repeal the Hudood ordinances, and introduce a bill to ban karo-kari, called 'honour killing' (by the way, what's honourable in killing?) and get it quickly through the assembly. The intervention should also assure that the commission formed by him some months ago is, in actual terms, independent and will not be intimated by the verbal or violent opposition of religious extremists.

I will give you a pointer. The hanged prime minister of Pakistan, Z.A. Bhutto, once said: "Foreign aid is a monster if you recoil from it; and a worm if you stamp on it". You have only to replace 'foreign aid' with 'religious extremists'.

S.M. KAZIM NAQVI

Karachi

Death of a campaigner

Paul Foot died on July 18 of a heart attack. He was one of the leading campaigners for human rights in Britain. He fought many battles against unjust sentences by courts and succeeded in getting innocent people released after retrials. One came across him as early as 1960s when he was active against the use of nuclear bombs. Since then he was at the top of every protest, whether it was the war in Iraq or racial discrimination in England.

During the protest against the imposition of a poll tax by Margaret Thatcher, he reminded a mass demonstration that it was in the year 1381 that 140,000 peasants had marched to London and forced the king to withdraw the tax that he had imposed earlier.

Apart from being a zealous crusader against global capitalism, Foot had a lifelong belief in socialism. During the last decade of his life he was very active for the freedom of Palestine where his father was once the governor. Within a year of Edward Said's death, we have lost another sympathizer of the Palestinians. His columns in the Guardian, Mirror, and Private Eye remind how effective he was.

Foot's was a political family. His uncle Michael Foot was the leader of the Labour Party in parliament where his grandfather also served.

Paul was the obvious choice for a seat in the House of Commons but as he said once after reading Ralf Miliband's book on parliament and democracy he decided not to choose that path. It is a pity that Miliband's own sons are in Tony Blair's government. One of Paul Foot's uncles served at the well-known Doon school for years; thus the family also had subcontinental connections. In his death the British press has lost one of its brilliant investigative reporters and the world peace movement a militant activist.

SAYEED HASAN KHAN

Karachi

Haj medical mission contingent

Every year a Haj medical mission contingent, comprising about 240 doctors and paramedics, is selected to perform duties during the Haj season at Makkah/Madinah. Many of the senior doctors/paramedics are denied selection because of overage (above 45 years).

Interestingly, these persons are deputed at the local Haji Camp dispensary to perform duties round the clock, year after year. In other words, these overaged staff is fit for local duty, but unfit for similar duties at the holy places.

This is the justice meted out to the senior health staff at the hands of the ministry of religious affairs and the ministry of health.

As a result, many of them retire without preforming Haj ever, after rendering years of service to the Hajis. This contrasts with the practice in respect of the staff of the ministry of religious affairs who can go on Haj duty to Saudi Arabia irrespective of the age factor.

They do not even get a fitness certificate from the competent authority which is otherwise compulsory for foreign duty/posting.

Nursing attendants/vaccinators and chowkidars are also never included in a medical mission, although they have been serving Hajis at the Haji camp dispensary, Karachi, for the last 25 to 30 years. Aren't they deserving of selection as Khuddam-ul-Hujjaj?

AFFECTED

Karachi

'Principled stand'

My hats off to Mr Ayaz Amir ('Who said we were the Philippines?', July 30). So the two Pakistanis have been beheaded and our smug, self-confident leadership has refused to budge from its 'principled stand' that it will continue 'to take no decision on sending troops to Iraq'.

One wonders how a secular country with a Hindu majority can say 'No' to the US pressure and we keep on shuffling nervous feet even when it is a matter of saving precious human lives.

Why do we tend to behave in a mercenary manner in matters of the utmost importance, matters that shape the character and the future of a country? Fighting surrogate wars, shedding the blood of our own sons for protecting other nations' interests?

Why as a nation, we respect and value foreigners (read foreign masters) more than our own people? This attitude is corroding the soul of this country.

Our leadership owes an explanation to the nation for their failure to take a clear policy decision and protect the lives of the two victims.

YOUSUF SHAHID

Karachi

Crocodiles and canaries

News that crocodiles are deserting the Haleji lake (Dawn, August 4) is disturbing indeed. In coal mines, there is a practice to keep a canary in a cage where the workers are digging so that there is some indication of the quality of air in that enclosure. If the canary dies, that means that the air is polluted and working there is not possible.

In similar circumstances, if a crocodile deserts the Haleji Lake, it means that this otherwise tough creature finds pollution levels unbearable. This in turn means that Haleji lake is no more safe for humans either.

Haleji Lake has become one of Sindh's worst environmental disasters. The government has not taken any notice of the problems being caused due to pollution there as well as the death of its wildlife and flora owing to the bad quality of the water. Given the importance of this lake, the government or some other organization, be it a group of concerned citizens or an NGO, needs to work on changing the state of affairs there.

SYED FARAZ

Karachi

Pakistani citizenship

Securing Pakistani nationality for Indians is a most impossible task regarless of gender, caste and creed. Perhaps acquiring American citizenship is easier.

Those who migrated as long ago as more than half a century are refused passports while millions of other immigrants from other countries are not only residing, but continue pouring into Pakistan without any hindrance from the respective ministry.

Officially, a senior police official has reportedly said that 0.2 million madressah students from Afghanistan are being taught in Karachi.

Unofficially this number may be far higher.

We are simply talking about the registration of foreigners in FATA areas but have we really started registration of foreigners in Karachi? If such an exercise has been conducted, would someone enlighten us how many foreigners are registered in Karachi?

For the past few months, one of my bills in the National Assembly is being ignored. This bill relates to amendments in the 1951 Citizenship Act, in which a Pakistani woman's foreign husband is not allowed Pakistani nationality.

I have wondered many times at the logic behind such an illogical decision. Last month, I got the answer. A woman from India embraced Islam and married a Pakistani youth, came to Pakistan with her husband, and applied for Pakistani citizenship. Instead, the pregnant lady was asked to leave Pakistan.

Perhaps one should try to introduce another legislation that those entitled to citizenship should not be asked to leave Pakistan. Islam teaches us about the special provisions for women, especially those who are pregnant. Are we abiding by these?

If both India and Pakistan wish to have better relations in every field, they would have to modify the mindsets of their bureaucracy. Not only in their respective foreign offices but also in the other major ministries like interior, media, defence, commerce and culture. The fact is that an animosity of more than 50 years can't go away in a few months.

KUNWAR KHALID YUNUS

Karachi

Troops for Iraq

The wicked execution of two Pakistanis should bury the ongoing debate over 'volunteering' Pakistani troops for Iraq. The situation is Iraq is dangerously unpredictable at this point in time and would remain so for the future. Countries which had pledged troops before the 'insurgency' began are either pulling out or have declined requests to send in more troops.

We have seen two Pakistani civilians slaughtered. Do we need to see a member of the Pakistani armed forces in uniform held hostage and begging for mercy on Al Jazeera before we realize what is in our best 'national interest'?

We should not be drawn in by the idea of a 'Muslim force' spearheaded by Saudi Arabia. Fourteen of the 19 highjackers of September 11 were Saudis, yet there was no pressure on Saudi Arabia. This is not Pakistan's war. Our national interest would best be served by keeping our nationals away from the killing fields of Iraq.

MUBASHIR KHAN

Indianapolis, IN

Commission on Kargil

On the subject of setting up a commission to probe the Kargil affair, Lt-Gen. (r) S.M. Bokhari has brought out the following three points in his letter (July 28): (1) "No premier worth his salt, with all the agencies at his command, will allow that to happen." (2) "It is normal for defence forces to carry out a detailed post-mortem of an operation after its conclusion". (3) "The army achieved the objectives of the Kargil operation, as planned by its high command."

While agreeing with the first two points, I cannot but help disagree with the third. Our country belongs to the Pakistani people, and the army has been assigned the role of the nation's defence in the service of the people. A servant of the people cannot take away the right of the people to evaluate his performance, or his claims.

A probe by a commission is, therefore, a must.

MASUD MUFTI

Islamabad

No notification as yet

Through these columns I would like to bring to the notice of the federal finance minister that no notification has been issued so far regarding the 15 per cent increase in pensions announced in the budget. The banks say that they have not received any such notification so far, neither the one giving a 15 per cent increase to those who retired before 1993 and nor the one allowing an extra eight per cent to those who retired after 1993.

I hope the minister will see to it that a notification is sent to the banks without further delay.

DR S. M. SAJJAD AHMAD

Karachi

CNG hazards

I have been a regular user of CNG for my car. Recently, after having gas filled at a PSO outlet, I observed that the CNG cylinder in the car started to heat up. Soon after, it had gotten so hot that I could not place my hand on the gas cylinder for a few seconds.

I have checked my CNG kit and nothing seems to be wrong with it. The problem seemed to be with the gas itself or perhaps, with the way it was dispensed.

My question to the ministry of petroleum and natural resources is - is it safe to ride a vehicle with an overheated CNG cylinder?

NADIR MITHANI

Karachi

Punishment at the top

This refers to two news items (Dawn, July 5).

In the first case, a maid servant of Darul Amaan, Hyderabad, was arrested for involvement in the scandal of seven women inmates escaping after being forced into prostitution by persons in authority. The director and officials of the institution have not received suspension letters even a week after the incident.

In the second case, the Sindh chief minister, during a surprise visit to the Civil Hospital, Karachi, suspended a doctor for absence of more than a month and some more doctors, wardboys, sweepers and others for dereliction of duty.

Both are cases of extreme maladministration and criminal negligence. Punishing low-grade employees will not do any good.

If any improvement in the functioning of the institutions is desired, exemplary punishment must be awarded to the top three tiers of their management.

ASIF JAH

Karachi

Ban on heavy vehicles

Heavy vehicles such as trucks and trailers continue to ply during rush hours in busy areas of Karachi's Defence, Gulshan-i- Iqbal, Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Malir, Keamari and Port Qasim. They enter the city through the Super Highway or Hub Chowki and then travel across a long stretch of the city to the Mai Kolachi expressway. Many of these vehicles are overloaded and rashly driven.

One wonders why no one is bothering to implement the Karachi city nazim's ban in this regard. He has announced it several times, and in fact has said each time that it will be enforced but everyday we see hundreds of such heavy vehicles openly flouting it. Their presence during rush hour often leads to prolonged traffic delays. The heavy vehicles should travel on Karachi's roads only at night.

Will the Karachi nazim and the DIG traffic please explain why the ban is not being enforced?

LT-COL (retd) IRFAN HAIDER

Karachi

Airport security

I would like to draw attention to the completely inappropriate behaviour of Karachi airport's security staff. When one enters the airport parking lot before the toll tax counter, one or two security guards open the door of the car themselves without seeking permission and peep inside the car. They do this even when women are seated in the vehicles.

I would request the airport management to clarify under what law do the ASF guards open car doors without seeking the permission of those sitting inside.

ADEELA ZUBAIR

Karachi