Gang war in Lyari Town

Social crimes in Lyari Town, an extremely neglected part of Karachi, have increased manifold and now reached an extent where many families have been forced to leave the area. There is no rule of law, and the town has become divided into small pockets, under the sway of local thugs.

Instances of car and motorcycle lifting, mobile theft, burglary and armed robbery are so common that residents have become used to them. Extortionists are also active in the area who take 'bhatta' from contractors, transporters, mill-owners, and shopkeepers. Similarly, all types of drugs, arms and ammunition, and alcohol are available in the area. But the real threat to peace and security of the local residents is being posed by two notorious and powerful groups.

Members of both groups are well-trained and equipped with sophisticated weapons. They are presently at daggers drawn and their clashes have claimed several lives in the last six months. Local police keep themselves out of the picture and have left Lyari's population of one million at the mercy of these criminals.

In a recent newspaper interview, the SHO of the Kalakot police station said that he and his force were unable to deal with the situation because the criminals were better equipped and trained. According to him, the police station has only one mobile and it too remains out of order for most of the time.

After 10 pm the streets of the area become deserted and are occupied by gangsters. They put obstacles to check every passerby.

The mental agony that the residents are going through has aggravated after one of the groups imposed a ban on the burial of dead bodies coming from areas dominated by the other group.

What is perhaps equally if not more unfortunate is the response of the local administration and the city government which seems to have ignored the many killings of innocent people that have occurred because of this gang war.

The Sindh chief minister and governor should take note of this situation and personally intervene in the matter. A clean-up operation should be conducted and not by the local police as at present but by through the Rangers or the Pakistan Army.

M.R. BALUCH

Karachi

Ban on JI leader

Qazi Hussain Ahmad seems to love being in the spotlight, albeit not for the right reasons. Recently, he announced that he would visit several areas in the country, presumably in an attempt to keep alive his controversial image.

First, he said that he would lead a 'peace march' in Karachi knowing well that it could lead to law and order problems with the MQM-supported Sindh government.

He also probably knew that he would be denied entry to the province which happened and after which the whole story made the headlines in newspapers.

These days Qazi Sahib is making similar noises. He has made several attempts, all unsuccessful, to visit the tribal areas where the Constitution does not allow political activities.

Recently he made an abortive attempt to enter Bajaur Agency on the plea he wanted to rescue the mazloom tribals. He forgot that back in his home district of Nowshera two sisters were raped and till today the culprits have not been punished. Why doesn't he show similar sympathy and support for them?

Then, he tried to visit Landikotal in the tribal areas and was refused entry. Such actions only end up giving him undue publicity in the media and are proof that he is contributing nothing to the welfare of his electorate or doing any service to Islam.

SAYED GB SHAH BOKHARI

Peshawar

Computerized passport

The interior minister, mr Faisal Saleh Hayat, announced on July 11 that with effect from September 15 new computerized passport would be introduced. He also mentioned that a fixed period would be given to the existing passport holders to submit to the passport office the old passport in exchange for the new.

May I suggest to the authorities to keep the existing passports valid till the expiry date and issue the new passports only when the existing passports are surrendered after the expiry date.

If an earlier deadline is given to the passport holders it will result in a heavy rush at the passport office. Looking at the confusion normally found in passport offices throughout the country, this will result in a situation which the passport office staff will find itself ill-equipped to handle.

I was astonished to read a Dawn report (July 19) giving a regionwise breakdown of some 21,000 passports stolen throughout the country since 1999.

The minister is urged to introduce the new passport, covering all segments of society, from labourers working in the Gulf states to the business entrepreneur.

SHIRAZ SACHEDINA

Karachi

ATM card

On opening my PLS account with one of the affiliated banks, I was asked to sign a printed form requesting for an ATM card. I explicitly inquired from the officer on the counter whether there were any charges for the facility.

He answered confidently that there were no charges. So I was trapped. I have not yet used the card. The bankers have now informed that Rs325 will be debited to my account.

He also informed me that there was no way of cancelling the card. My wife has her account in two banks, and she was trapped by both.

Now she is holding two cards at the cost of Rs650 per annum. She went to the bankers to return the sealed envelope containing the ATM card but the bank officer said that an amount of Rs325 has already been debited from her account by the issuing authority, Is it not highhandedness? Can the State Bank render some help to the victims?

KHALIQUE A. QURESHI

Karachi

Beware drinking from a can

A girl went on a picnic one Sunday, taking with her some cans of a soft drink which she put in the refrigerator of a boat. On Monday she was taken to an ICU and on Wednesday she died. The autopsy revealed that the can she had drank from had been infected by rat urine, which contains highly toxic substances. Probably the top part of the can on the outside had become infected.

It is highly recommended that anyone who wishes to drink from a can first thoroughly wash and rinse its upper part. The reason for the caution is that they are often stocked in warehouses and transported straight to retail stores without being cleaned.

A study in Spain showed that the tops of cans are more contaminated than public toilets. Better still, try using a glass or a straw and pass this information this on to everyone you care about.

DR MANSOOR HASSAN SHAIKH

Chandka Medical College, Larkana

Water shortage

We are facing severe hardships because of the fact that we get no water at all. We had bought a house (No. R-22) in the Tariq Bin Ziad Project, opposite Security Printing Press, Malir Halt, in Karachi.

Since about six months, our water pipeline has gone completely dry. A number of attempts have been made with the society to get water but all in vain. I humbly request the authorities concerned to kindly look into the matter and issue necessary instructions and/or orders to the concerned staff of the water and sanitation department so that our supply of drinking water is restored.

Further if there are any dispute between the water and sanitation department, then the punishment should be delivered to the society instead of its residents.

ANWAR AHMAD KHAN

Karachi

Contaminated milk

Referring to your news report of the recent food poisoning that was caused by contaminated milk and affected 300 people, I would like to make a small comment. We have been receiving such milk all our lives, so much so that it has become a tradition.

We have been listening to so many complaints by housewives about the inferior quality of milk supplied by the milk-sellers who go door-to-door selling their product. Some of the more common complaints are that it is 'thin' probably because water has been mixed in it and kept and stored in very unhygienic conditions.

One hopes that news of this particular report will compel people, especially mothers, to realize the potential danger of drinking such milk. Most of the victims of this unfortunate incident were children and older people. My only question is that for how long are we going to keep ignoring the hazards of contamination of milk and water? My suggestion would be to switch to UHT treated packaged milk which is might be expensive compared to the other variety of milk but will at least prevent the death of a loved one.

MRS SHAKILA AZIZ

Karachi

Kashmir for Kashmiris

Using the brotherly feelings of the Kashmiris for the Muslims of India as the basis, many Indian scribes and leaders, including the so-called moderate ones, are trying to make out that the Indian Muslims could face genocide like that of the pre- and post-partition days if the Kashmiris and the Pakistanis do not accept the LoC as the border.

Even otherwise, Muslim massacres have been going on in India all the time since partition. Several thousand were killed in the wake of the demolition of the Babri Masjid and in Gujarat following the Godhra incident.

The Hindu extremists do not seem to be prevented from Muslim-baiting in spite of the aim to make India a regional power en route to graduating as a world power.

India is a big country. The leaders of India seem to be satisfied with being recognized as a big country, enjoying rule over Kashmir as a colony. But it has the option of becoming a great nation provided it is prepared to vacate IHK voluntarily and gracefully so that the process of reducing India's poor from the present 600 million to a 100 million in a couple of decades can be achieved.

A.R. Kumar, an Indo-American, came up with this idea in a letter (Dawn, February 10, 1998) with the heading "Pakistan-India amity".

He said: "All should realize that India cannot be forced out of Kashmir - they (the Indians) will withdraw, honourably if at all it comes to that."

An honourable graceful and voluntary withdrawal has the great merit of preventing haggling between India and Pakistan over details - which would only pollute the atmosphere instead of bettering relations.

By giving Kashmir back to the Kashmiris, New Delhi would be upholding the dictum of Gandhiji: "Never make a promise in haste. Having made it, fulfil it at the cost of your life."

JALAL AHMED

Karachi

Askari master card

One-and-a-half months ago Askari Commercial Banks's senior sales executive visited my office and asked me to apply for a credit card. I was told that there would be no 'joining' fee and the processing time for the application would be 'very quick'.

However, despite the passage of 45 days I have yet to hear about the outcome of my application.

I request the bank officials to stop processing my application since I am no longer interested.

MUHAMMAD IMTIAZ SHAFIQ

Lahore

A shattered family

This refers to the letter by Kunwar Khalid Yunus, titled 'A shattered family' (July 11). The point made by Mr Yunus is well-taken and appreciated.

We join Mr Yunus in expressing our deep sympathy for the man from across the Yamna.

AHMAD SIDDIQUI

Karachi

Dr Hafsa Aman's case

It was very heart-warming to read the story of the young Indian lady doctor Mrs. Hafsa Aman, who converted to Islam and married Aman Khan after having first met him at a medical college in Ukraine (Dawn, July 12). What is more, the story and the photograph accompanying it also showed the effusive love with which her in-laws, particularly her doting mother-in-law, are treating her.

In addition it being her right to get the Pakistani citizenship by virtue of her marriage to a Pakistani national, it would be very heartless indeed for anyone to separate her from her husband or to deny her the love she is receiving over here. On top of that, Dr. Hafsa is also expecting a baby almost on Pakistan's Independence Day.

The interior ministry is urged to let this August 14 be a day of deliverance for the couple and their baby, as citizens of a loving, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, by granting her citizenship forthwith.

KHALID CHAUDHRY

Karachi

Rain thoughts

This is with reference to Syed Nusrat Ali's letter on the need to prepare for the expected monsoon season (July 16).

Those who think that the rain brings only disaster and misery should think a bit more positively. Rain is thought to be a blessing everywhere in the world, even in countries where people live in houses built of mud. Pakistan is still better than such nations.

We should be positive and hope and pray for rain because at present our country is in extreme need of water.

ABDUL HAMEED PANHWAR

Jamshoro

Postal facilities in Orangi

The Pakistan Post Office has recently opened a post office in Iqbal Baloch Colony, Sector No. 11-1/2, Orangi Town, Karachi, to cater to the postal needs of the people of the area.

It would be highly appreciated if a similar service is also extended by the Pakistan Post Office to some other important places of Orangi Town for convenience of the people on a large scale.

SHAMIM AHMAD

Karachi

Smart moves

In a smart move our diplomat to the US has been given the post of chief UN envoy in Iraq succeeding Mr. Sergio DeMello. Now surely the Pakistani soldiers would be required to protect Mr Qazi and other members of the UN.

We are well aware of the hostage crisis whereby the Iraqi resistance has beheaded hostages or succeeded in their demands. Why are we heading for the same quagmire, in spite of the fact that Spain, Philippines and others have exited the theatre with burnt fingers?

As the president said a few years ago "Pakistan first", we ask the president what about Pakistanis.

It remains to be seen how far can Pakistan endure the endless stream of pressures exerted on its sovereignty.

RAFI ADAMJEE

Karachi

MV tax

For the past week, I have been visiting the National Bank of Pakistan, PIDC branch, to deposit my motor vehicle tax. On several occasions I have stood for hours in line only to be told that the computer is not working, that the system is not online and, on two occasions, that there is no electricity. One wonders why this facility was introduced by the NBP when it is clear that it cannot provide the service.

M. JABBAR

Karachi

Outside the system

It is not a question of Mr XYZ becoming the prime minister of this country. Rather it is a question of following a system based on established norms of democracy, recognized internationally by the civilized world.

Any person or for that matter any system which is imposed in the absence of popular will is bound to fail sooner or later.

The election of Mr Shaukat Aziz for elevation to the position of prime minister, therefore, needs to be viewed in that very context.

The rest of the world is watching us and I, as a citizen of this country, strongly feel that we have become the laughing-stock.

Perhaps we have lost the sense of wrongdoing. Some times I feel ashamed of for leaving our children with such a bleak future.

I wonder when will there be rule of law, equity, peace and justice in this country for all sections of society regardless of their stature and strength.

M. S. UPPAL

Karachi

American consulate

The US consulate, Karachi, has been a target of terrorists and has been attacked on a number of occasions.

Roads passing around the consulate are closed for public for months / weeks, resulting in traffic jams on adjoining roads leading to Gymkhana, Pearl Continental, Indian consulate, Cantonment Railway Station and Services Mess, etc.

Would it not be better to shift the US consulate to a safer place, which does not jam the traffic or block the traffic flow?

Needless to mention that on the US consulate road there are important buildings like Frere Hall, ABN Amro Bank, Iranian Cultural Centre and Marriott Hotel.

This shifting will do a great service to the public and save many people from great inconvenience.

LT-COL (retd) IRFAN HAIDER

Karachi

PTCL's claims

The PTCL has been running advertisements in leading newspapers that the waiting period for a new phone connection is no longer than 10 days.

My father is a doctor and he applied for a new connection (on doctor's priority) on March 31, 2004, at Karachi's Gulistan-i- Jauhar customer service centre. The number of the application is 331/592/004.

Nearly three months have passed, and we are still waiting for a phone connection. We have asked the exchange staff repeatedly but to no avail.

If the PTCL cannot deliver on its own advertised claims, then it shouldn't be making them in the first place, and that too in the national media.

FARAZ HAIDER

Karachi