America’s welcome mat

THIS is with reference to Mr Ammar Hamdani’s letter, ‘America’s welcome mat’ (Oct 13). I disagree with Mr Ammar Hamdani and fully support America’s welcome mat. I have been living in the US for a while now and I have found this country as a land of peace and prosperity. America is definitely a symbol of freedom.

Prior to 9/11 everything was smooth and fine but after the tragic event, all of a sudden everything has changed. America is not only concerned about its freedom but also worried about the world’s security.

Every country has a right to defend itself and America is no exception. America is taking all possible precautions in order to avoid any further attacks on its soil.

Mr Hamdani has told us about his experience; now I would like to add more. Not only are American Muslims being held but also white Americans are being questioned. I personally know a few white Americans who were interrogated by the US agencies after 9/11.

The nationals of some Muslim countries are being photographed and finger-printed on their arrival at the port of entry, so what is the big deal about it? If the US government and the law enforcement agencies feel that, by doing so, they could prevent the entry of terrorists in the United States, then we should fully cooperate with them instead of criticizing them.

I have visited many Arab countries where Pakistani passport is looked upon as a shame and a dishonour. Why don’t we criticize them? We Pakistanis keep on criticizing the US. We spare no chance of showing our hatred and disgrace for the United Sates. But look what our President said when he visited Washington: “I feel honoured while standing at the Pentagon, a place which I have been watching all my life.”

Why does every Pakistani president or prime minister turn to the US for help and support? Why is our government helpless in this regard?

If that remains the case then I am proud to say that America is the land of peace and has all rights to protect its freedom.

KHURRAM SHIRWANY

Virginia, USA

The Kurdish problem

THIS refers to Mr Ghori’s article ‘Will a post-Saddam Iraq survive him?’ (Oct 5).

I think it is not right to assume that the Kurdish problem in Iraq is merely a result of decades of tribalism in the structure of the Iraqi state. We should not forget that this is the argument of the advocates of US imperialism like Thomas Friedman to make US intervention sound legitimate, and even preferable to a change wrought by the Iraqi people themselves.

I have been closely reading the commentaries in international magazines regarding Iraq in the past few weeks, almost all support regime change by force, most are in favour of ‘democracy’ even if that democracy panders more to imperialist interests than the interests of the Iraqi people. Almost all have been oblivious to the fact that the right of national self-determination of the Kurds must be treated differently.

The Kurdish liberation struggle is one of the oldest liberation struggles in the world. They are right now the only large group of people in the world (estimates range up to 15-21 million) without a state of their own. And it is not because they do not deserve a state; in fact the British guaranteed an autonomous state to the Kurds like all other oppressed nationalities in the Treaty of Sevres in 1921.

The Kurds have repeatedly failed to actually win a state for themselves mostly because of the opportunism of their leaders, people like Masud Barzani (KDP) and Jalal Talabani (PUK).

If a true measure of democracy is to be provided to the Iraqi people, it must include the right of self-determination to the Kurds who have waged decades of struggle for their freedom.

The problems of national integration in Iraq which would manifest themselves on a grander scale if Saddam is removed serve a relevant example to how rotten the ruling classes in post-colonial states have actually turned out to be in treating their multi-ethnic citizens.

RAZA NAEEM

Leeds, UK

Politicians’ claims about rigging

THE reaction by Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif to the outcome of the recent elections makes one laugh. They both have stated that the elections were rigged. Can they please define their perception of the rigging?

Does the understandable poor performance of their parties automatically mean that the elections were rigged? Do they believe that the people Pakistan are so unwise that they will continue to reward them regardless of their murky past?

How could the people forget that a prime minister had sent his goons to physically attack the Supreme Court judges? How could the people forget the terrible days of the brutal abuse of power and shameless acts of corruption? How can these two self-declared champions of democracy prove that their parties’ dismal performance was because of rigging and not voter’s disdain of them?

This attitude reflects a complete disrespect to the choice of the sovereign and can only be attributed to an undemocratic mind. If either one of these two politicians had done well in the elections, he/she would have welcomed the results while the other still would have cried foul.

Mullahs, who have done well, are not using the word ‘rigging’. They are acting like a child who suddenly and unexpectedly got a bag full of candy. When politicians behave in such a diverse fashion, it only reflects their absurdity.

Hypothetically speaking, if President Musharraf, somehow invites either BB or NS to form the government, she/he will jump at the opportunity totally ignoring the absence of the mandate to do so. She/he wouldn’t be tired of praising the General enough. Ms Bhutto had once given the ‘medal of democracy’ to the army and she would do it again if allowed to sign on the dotted line.

As far as the President is concerned, ‘his day’ has just risen. If he wants to bring in either BB or NS, all he has to do is to issue a PCO, LFO or an order that will legalize his action and no politician would be able to do anything about it except issue a few statements or invoke the religion like a broken record.

This is just a hypothetical statement and this scenario will not materialize. General Musharraf is no Yahya Khan, who held elections and then refused to accept their results, banned the majority party and jailed its leader whom he, earlier, had called the future prime minister.

SIDDIQUE MALIK

Louisville, USA

Property tax and corruption

THIS refers to letter by Mr Riazul Hasan Khan, ‘Property tax and corruption’ (Oct 12).

Whereas the Excise and Taxation Department is highly indebted to Mr Khan for highlighting an important lapse causing inconvenience in the service delivery to the public, the department also wishes to clarify that the property tax stands devolved on district governments and the CDG, Karachi, as on Oct 18, 2001.

The Excise and Taxation Department has also transferred about one-third of its total staff to the CDG, Karachi, and other district governments to work under the command and control of the EDO (Revenue and Taxes)/DO (Property Taxes).

Presently the major tax receipts (Rs700 million) come from property tax earning for the resource-starved CDG.

The E and T Department is providing only technical assistance to the CDG to overcome problems such as those pointed out by Mr Khan. The department understands that CDG will not take much time to overcome these problems due to its representative character.

The E and T Department is, however, advising the CDG to once again publicize through print media the admissible concessions/rebates as provided under the rules for the general information of the property owners/tax-payers.

AFTAB AHMED MEMON

Secretary, Excise and Taxation Department

A drift towards totalitarianism?

THE signals being transmitted from Washington are ominous. It is much more than President Bush’s vow to remove Saddam Hussein, ‘dead or alive’.

The real issue is the unwitting drift towards a totalitarian kind of governance in the United States. A few days ago, German Interior Minister Herta Daubler-Gmelin had said that Mr Bush wanted to divert the attention of the American people from the domestic problems through the ‘popular method’ of stirring a war hysteria. The minister had added, “Hitler also did so.” The remark triggered a diplomatic row between Washington and Berlin. Today the whole world says the same thing and more.

Analysts are drawing other parallells also. They recall, for instance, the similarity between the burning of the Reichstag (1933) and the attack on the World Trade Centre. The former had catapulted Hitler into absolute power; the latter shot Mr Bush to the pinnacle of popularity. He has been playing on people’s anxiety and fear in the aftermath of 9/11 and exploiting their trust to achieve his ambition of securing a second term as president.

Among other parallells cited is the similarity between Hitler’s closest associates, Hess, Goering and Ribbentrop, and Mr Bush’s colleagues, Cheney, Rumsfeld and Rice. They perceive the embryo of an American model of the Gestapo in the proposed Department of National Security with a Himmler prototype as its chief. Another department to bolster US image through propaganda and publicity, that recalls Goebbels, has already been created.

Americans have already surrendered many of the freedoms that a US citizen has been proud of. Yet, Mr Bush’s appetite for more power seems insatiable. He seeks unfettered power, especially the power to wage a war unilaterally.

Simultaneously, Mr Bush’s language towards dissenters has become more aggressive and acerbic. His recent remark that the Senate “is not interested in the security of the people’ had the ring of the Nazi rhetoric. And far from offering regrets, as Senator Daschle demanded, the Republicans exultingly circulated the obnoxious remark all over the place.

The drift threatens America’s cherished values of freedom and justice. It must be arrested.

SYED JAWAID IQBAL

Karachi

Robbing bank customer

THIS is with reference to the letter ‘Robbing bank customer’ (Oct 14). Here I would like to state that on Sept 3, I fell victim to a similar robbery and lost cash at the door of my house.

I had drawn cash from the same bank’s Gulshan-i-Iqbal branch. The robbers knew exactly the amount drawn by me and the place where I had kept them. I was wearing jeans and the cash was distributed in three pockets. During the course of robbery, the robbers took money from the only three pockets while the fourth one was not even touched.

Moreover, one of my friends faced a similar robbery after drawing cash in the same days and from the same bank.

Can these robberies be treated as one off case, or an organized gang is working in this bank’s various branches with the help of someone in the bank itself?

AN AFFECTEE

Karachi

Imports malpractices

WE are a group of businessmen importing various kinds of goods from abroad. All of us pay customs duties and other applicable taxes regularly. However, for some time past, our business has been ruined by the smuggled goods that have flooded the market.

Items like aluminium foils and sheets, imported fabrics, sanitary tiles, BOPP-rolls, autoparts and many banned items are being imported as ‘waste material’ and scrap.

These goods, packed in containers and declared as scrap material, are cleared regularly with the connivance of the customs officials on payment nominal duty on waste material. Besides its illegal import, the goods escape the appropriate duty and thus the government is dodged and caused a loss of millions of rupees.

On the other hand, the genuine importers of these items have to suffer losses because they cannot compete in the market as the smuggled goods are available at a much low price.

We request the concerned authorities to direct the officials at the port to examine all the containers, carrying waste material, perfectly and thoroughly to ensure that the contents are really the same as declared by the consignees. The official should also ensure that deliveries from the containers be made through open vehicles.

This would help salvage a significant amount of revenue for the government and would ultimately save our business.

ZAHEER ALLAHWALA

Chairman, Karachi Traders Group,

Karachi

Water management

DR M. Yaqoob Bhatti’s letter (Oct 10) suggesting the establishment of a university for Water Management is worth consideration.

We have got several universities specializing in certain subjects, such as the IT universities. So, why not an institution on a subject which is of supreme importance to our country.

HADI BUX MEMON

Karachi

Mullahs did it

THE mullah came, saw and conquered the wide open and vacant political centre-field. All this while our brilliant military rulers were too busy protecting their flanks and their privileges.

As a lover of democracy and a committed secularist, I feel pains immensely in admitting that the only voice echoing my concerns over the US domination of Pakistan is that of the fanatic religious right. Mullahs got it right this time.

RAJA M. KAIQOBAD

Lahore

Entrance test

THE results of the entrance test and the merit list of the medical colleges of Sindh were announced recently. I fully appreciate the government’s endeavours to keep the system as transparent as possible but it should be remembered that the intermediate is considered to be the most important platform for the students to decide their future.

As an inter student I experienced the pressure on myself to work hard for entire two years so as to accomplish my goal. I wanted to become a doctor; I have been an A-1 grader throughout, and maintained my grade in intermediate also with a solid score of 84.5.

On Sept 15, I was indeed very much delighted to see an easy paper, but to my dismay I did a very silly mistake of filling in half of the physics portion in chemistry. I certainly do not blame the system for the blunder I did. But this is indeed a tragedy that my years of hard work went all in vain. I missed admission to a medical college by only three points.

I am not against the entry test at all, but would request the authorities to consider that intermediate is more capable of judging the calibre of a student than only an hour’s test. They are giving this test a whole 50 per cent and inter just 40 pet cent, which should be at least 65 per cent.

When we are talking about a system it should be fair to all. The merit of engineering students is totally based on intermediate marks, then why is if not for pre-medical students?

SYEDA AISHA SAYEED

Karachi

Plantation campaign

IT is a well-known fact that pollution has now emerged as a major hazard to human health throughout the world. The world community has, therefore, imposed certain restrictions on industries and vehicles — the main source of air pollution. One of the main measures at hand is plantation which plays a vital role in controlling pollution.

Like other large cities, Karachi is also confronted with the high degree of pollution. However, there appears no plantation on a large scale to contain pollution.

The city government launch a massive plantation drive. I am sure that many NGOs and citizens would come forward and cooperate in this drive.

SHAMIM AHMAD

Karachi

Purani Numaish

THESE days, the Purani Numaish roundabout is in the process of being remodelled, renovated and face-lifted. It is, therefore, time to get rid of its ugly sounding name, ‘Purani Numaish’. The most logical and meaningful alternate name would be ‘Mazar-i-Quaid’.

I hope the city government and other authorities, if any, would agree to this name and would take the necessary measures for its official adoption.

ENGR. NIZAMUDDIN QURAISHI

Karachi

Afghan reconstruction is still largely a dream

THIS refers to the article ‘Afghan reconstruction is still largely a dream’ by Rory McCarthy (Oct 8).

Afghans are most unfortunate as their miseries are reflected in the media only by foreigners who explain them to the outside world with the flair of their personal and national interests.

In his very interesting article, Mr McCarthy took Orfa as an example and explained her miseries in a unique way. Orfa went to visit relatives when the American fighter plane destroyed her house and when she came back her neighbours told her, as he writes, “an aircraft, almost certainly an F-16, had mistakenly fired a precision Mk-82 500lb bomb directly at her small mud and stone house.”

Imagine a remote town of Afghanistan where vast majority is illiterate, Taliban had banned television and, according to Encarta Encyclopaedia, in 1997, there were only 132 radios per 1,000 people. How can they tell her that an American plane had mistakenly hit her house and how can they be so knowledgeable?

When such attacks are carried out in any part of the world there certainly are some public sentiments which are inappropriately reflected by words, ‘mistakenly hit’.

Another important point is the number of people killed in airstrikes. Not to forget that apart from the flying machines described, Cruise missiles were also used which deviate to such an extent that in earlier strikes some of them fell in Pakistan, thousands of miles away from their target.

These missiles might have killed many people which should also be counted. If the claim that all bombs were dropped at particular targets is accepted, than question arises for what kind of targets one need to use Daisy Cutter Bombs. As there are reports that the DCBs were also used.

By giving the analysis only of people killed in airstrikes, the writer wishes to part killings committed by American forces and those killed by Northern Alliance. Turks were defeated by allied forces; Hitler was whitewashed by allied forces; Kuwait was liberated by allied forces; this time it was Northern Alliance with which they had an alliance. If they had shared the victories, glories and benefits with their allies, then they have to share sins, too. We should count those killed in air strikes and those killed just after invasion together.

West will not leave Afghans alone this time as they did after Russian withdrawal is not as good news as it is being presented.

Go through history, has there ever been durable peace created by foreign forces? They can give rise to yet another civil war.

MUBSHAR KHURSHIDTHORI

Lahore