Let the people decide

PRESIDENT Pervez Musharraf’s categorical “no” to the possibility of certain politicians taking part in the October election raises fresh questions about the military government’s intentions. Asked at a news conference in Tokyo whether Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif would be allowed to take part in the coming general election, the president said, “Well, the answer is very short — no.” One fails to understand what right this government — any government, for that matter — has to debar any Pakistani from his right to vote or be voted. If the government were to be capricious about it, then the constitutional provisions and the rules and regulations governing the electoral exercise would lose all meaning. Constitutional provisions are clear on this point. While Article 62 lays down the qualifications for a person to take part in an election, Article 63 spells out the conditions for disqualification. Thus, anyone falling within the mischief of this article stands disqualified from his or her right to take part in elections.

Coming specifically to the two former prime ministers: Nawaz Sharif stands convicted, and was to serve a 21-year-old jail term, till he was exiled to Saudi Arabia. Benazir Bhutto is facing three cases — those of SGS, PIA and assets. But, so far, she has not been convicted in any of the cases. In fact, she was convicted by a high court in the SGS case, but the judgment was set aside by the Supreme Court. Thus, unless convicted by the last court of appeal, Benazir Bhutto has every right to take part in elections, the president’s “no” notwithstanding.

Now Washington has made the issue international by gatecrashing into it. Reacting to the president’s statement, a spokesman for the US National Security Council said it was for the people of Pakistan to decide who should and who should not take part in the elections. Must it take a foreign government to remind the generals the basics about a free and fair election? Is not the constitution more important — and sacred — than the “advice” of a foreign government? Let the military government not let its intentions be questioned. So far, in spite of being a non-elected government, its record in terms of human rights and civil liberties is much better than that of many elected governments. It has kept the press free. This is one of the positive sides of its governance. Why should not this spirit also govern the holding of the coming general election?

Let the people of Pakistan decide in October who will govern them. Let us trust their judgment. Invariably, going by the results of general elections in the past, they have avoided voting extremist parties to power. The military government may not like it, but, between them, the PPP and the PML have virtually monopolized the national vote. If they are to be the people’s choice again, then no one should try to stand in the way. Individuals do not matter. Both the PPP and the PML have shown that, in spite of the their leaders’ misdeeds and misdemeanours, they stand on their own. By banning this or that leader from taking part in the election while the constitution allows him or her to do so would only expose the Musharraf government to the charge of attempting to manipulate elections to secure a pliant and docile government.

A most heinous crime

THOUGH fortunate and timely, the recovery of eleven young children and babies between the ages of two months and three years goes to show the toll poverty and social stigma seem to be taking on some Pakistanis. The detection of this heinous crime also reveals the flaws in our criminal justice system, since one of the main suspects arrested by the Karachi police on Friday had been detained by the FIA four years ago for allegedly kidnapping six children and attempting to fly them out of the country. Then, he had pretended to be the father of the six children, and the court had directed him to prove his claim. However, the man later absconded only to carry on with his dastardly ways.

By most accounts — especially from the police’s insistence that the recoveries do not tally with any recent case of kidnapping — it seems rather that parents, either because of extreme poverty or because they could not afford the ignominy of bringing up an illegitimate child, sold the children to these human smugglers. This view is also bolstered by the investigators’ claim that the destination of the children was a foreign country where they would be sold, presumably to those keen to adopt them for as much as 30,000 dollars.

While it is true, and commendable, that for a change the police have been able to detect a major crime, it is also true that had the main accused been tried and convicted in 1998 — when he was first arrested — all this might have never happened. At the very least, the authorities need to institute an inquiry to see what went wrong that time, so that the chances of this happening again are minimized. Unfortunately, eliminating the reasons why anyone would willingly sell their babies for a high price is going to be a Herculean task and is inextricably linked to the government’s commitment to alleviating poverty and fostering economic growth. In the short term, though, the ability of the law enforcement agencies to successfully prosecute those who carry out such reprehensible activities needs to be strengthened.

Implementing NEQS

IT was but natural that the polluting industrial units drew flak at the seminar on NEQS (National Environmental Quality Standards) held in Lahore recently. Industries were refusing to comply with the safety standards despite tax incentives and low-cost loans offered to them for setting up treatment plants, even though ample time had been given to them to establish such facilities after the promulgation of the law. Unfortunately, most were discharging their liquid effluents into canals and rivers and open spaces with impunity, contaminating the sub-soil water to dangerous levels. At many places in Punjab, sub-soil water has turned brackish and become totally chlorinated and is, thus, unfit for human consumption. About a year ago, there was even a scandal involving bone deformity cases in a village near Lahore. It was ascribed to the contamination of sub-soil water by the waste of a wire factory. The hazards of discharging untreated waste into canals and storm water channels were earlier highlighted by a report from Faisalabad, where contaminated sub-soil water was causing stomach and intestinal disorders. The smoke and chemical vapours from mills were a major cause of environmental pollution, causing diseases like asthma, cancer, TB, and liver problems.

Although a total enforcement of NEQS might not be immediately possible in Pakistan’s context, by now a large segment of the country’s industrial establishment should have been able to instal the necessary safety mechanism. The Punjab finance minister had earlier pointed out that 80 to 90 per cent compliance could be achieved in a short period. He disclosed that six industries disposing of their liquid effluents in canals had been served with notices to stop the practice or face closure. The notices were served in December, allowing them a time of six months to set up waste treatment plants. The lack of progress in this connection clearly shows the callous disregard of the basic requirements of environmental safety by the polluting industries. Although persuasion and dialogue still must be used to protect the people’s interests, sooner or later the government will have to demonstrate its resolve to ensure compliance.