With reference to the lead story Groping in the dark (May 9), I would like to add that the role of unions in many public sector bodies has been unhealthy, leaving a negative impact on the discipline and efficiency of the department. However, it is also largely due to the corruption and incompetence of the management that is appointed on the basis of political whims and fancies, rather than sound criteria.
The corrupt management easily succumbs to blackmail of the trade union leaders and besides giving fabulous increases in pay they allow the union leaders to share the loot.
In many public sector organizations, trade union leaders enjoy the facility of company maintained staff cars for personal use, besides other perks not sanctioned for in the Regulations. Due to fabulous increases in pay every two years, many drivers, chowkidars etc. draw salaries much higher than journalists, doctors, engineers and even PhD professors.
In Municipal bodies, almost 90 per cent of the menial staff moonlights during their regular jobs and carry on with their other jobs or businesses. Their attendance is marked regularly by corrupt supervisory staff, in exchange for bribes. Action against corruption or inefficiency often results in strikes or agitation which is not dealt with effectively due to the inexperience of Nazims or their deputies and often politicians interfere on the instance of trade unions.
ARIF KHAN
Karachi
Of fears and beliefs
With reference to the article, Of fears and beliefs (May 23), the writer has misinterpreted the role of monkeys, pipal trees, crocodiles, etc. in these matters. These are quasi-religious practices due to the association with religious personalities, not superstitions.
The number 3, is in fact a sacred number in many cultures and religions. In Greek mythology, sea god Poseidon is depicted with a trident in his hand; in Hinduism the sign for ‘Om’ is three pointed, Ashoka’s pillar is three-sided, in Christian’s believe in the Holy Trinity and in Islam three is thought of as a magic number. Some religious practices are repeated thrice.
Thirteen is unlucky because teh great Saladin beheaded Christians on Friday the 13th. It has no negative association for Muslims. According to the Old Testament, God has rested on Sabbath Day after the creation of the universe.
Some superstitions, long forgotten, are now multi-million dollar industries. Primitive man believed there were evil spirits who entered human body through nostrils and ears. The nose and earlobes were pierced and rings worn to ward off evil spirits. To do so these days is fashionable.
In all cultures sneezing associates with the same superstition. In Islam, when a person sneezes he says ‘Thanks be to Allah’ and his companions say ‘God Bless You’. In Christianity, Pope Gregory of the sixth century advised to say ‘God Bless You’ on sneezing. The practice progressed to ask for God’s blessing on sneezing among the Zulus and even North American Red Indian tribes.
Walking under ladders is associated with gallows of mediaeval times. The cat is associated with the devil and the colour black with darkness, thus a superstition in all cultures.
QAMAR JAFAREY
Karachi
The most beautiful gal
With reference to the Net-Clip, The most beautiful gal (May 30), I am quite sure that the writer thinks that agendas are more important than religious obligations and that giving incentives to people to be involved in watching almost naked women just for the sake of wondering about petty agendas, is not at all nefarious!
And if he is really concerned with agenda alone, then why does the fact that no Miss Pakistan is seen among the beautiful women contesting for Miss Universe bother him?
SUMAIRA KHALID
Lahore
Romancing the wolves
With reference to Ms Anjum Niaz’s contribution, Romancing the wolves (May 9), the whole story is narrated in a style and language that is intriguing, confusing and far from being lucid and beautiful.
It is laden with slang and a diction which is not fit for serious readership. Ms Niaz knows her vocabulary but deliberately uses it for her own enjoyment only. Please, ask her to be simple, lucid and more pleasing in her writings, that certainly contain useful information.
