Frank and forthright

THE Wapda inquiry committee on the countywide power breakdown on Sunday last has completed its job in time. It also needs to be commended for being frank and forthright in its observations. The report is both a self-confession of institutional weaknesses and also a severe indictment of the institution itself. The government would do well to take the report’s conclusions and its recommendations seriously. The report has made two telling observations: one, precautionary measures were not taken and standard procedures were not observed in repairing the transmission line, causing massive outage and; second, Wapda’s operating procedures are not of international standards and require a lot of improvements. It has also made three seemingly appropriate recommendations: one, the operating procedures for repair of transmission lines and power generation plants should be improved substantially; second, advanced technologies like automatic switching boards, up-gradation of computer network and alternative back-up support should be inducted and; thirdly, the Wapda workforce should be imparted training on modern lines to avoid such eventualities. Never in its history has Pakistan suffered such a massive power collapse. Even the one in 2001, which at that time was considered to be the worst ever, was not as strong in its impact and as wide in its reach.

The economic repercussions of Sunday’s breakdown have been enormous. Losses have been estimated in billions. But more than the economic losses, it was the socio-political anxieties and uncertainties that had extracted a bigger price in terms of nationwide mental agony lasting for over four hours when rumours had taken hold of the entire country. Has the enemy finally struck? Are we in the grip of another military take-over? Wapda is the second largest institution in the country after the defence establishment. It is the transmission lines of this agency and that of the KESC that keep the nation’s economic lifelines alive and active, its factories running and its homes lit at night . On the health of these two institutions depends the economic health of the country and the quality of life of its citizens. The nation, therefore has a right to expect these institutions to be managed efficiently, with the state-of-the art technology and by people who know their jobs. Ironically, this major incident of institutional failure occurred at a time which, if going by the tall and vociferous claims of the government, is supposed to be a period of institution-building and improvement in the working of public sector institutions. Last Sunday’s massive power breakdown showed these claims to be what they are in reality.

The government often talks about an economic turn-around as a result of efficiency of management. Why then such institutional failures from time to time? Perhaps, the government is working on wrong priorities. It is, therefore, time now for it to go short on talk and long on action, at least with regard to institution-building and management. The government should go back to the basics and start rebuilding important national institutions from foundation upwards, rather than confusing patchwork for the real thing. The second inquiry of Sunday’s incident being conducted by the ministry of water and power is also in progress. Once that is completed and submitted to the government, a comprehensive action plan for the management of Wapda’s power system should be prepared and set in motion without the least delay.

Another army man as VC

THE appointment of a retired brigadier as the vice-chancellor of Bolan University by the Balochistan government is contrary to what FAPUASA and the HEC had expected. Barely a week ago, Dr Attaur Rahman, chairman of the Higher Education Commission, had assured a delegation of the Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff Association that no army person would now be appointed VC in any university. It is shocking that in total disregard of academic requirements, the governor of Balochistan has proceeded to break the rules to accommodate yet another retired military officer as VC. The prescribed procedure is pretty clear and straightforward. It calls for a ‘vice-chancellor search committee’ to be formed with the governor’s approval, followed by an announcement by the HEC for the position of vice-chancellor in all national dailies. The applicants are then short-listed and interviewed by the search committee after which it has to forward the names of three candidates for the chancellor’s (governor of the province) approval. The chancellor will then have the prerogative to select a person from amongst them or ask for fresh recommendations.

Obviously nothing of this sort has been done in this particular case. Thus Balochistan University becomes the third institution of higher education in the country in recent years to have an ex-army officer at the helm. Punjab University, the oldest university in the country with a proud tradition of learning, is headed by Lt Gen Arshad Mahmood who is not a PhD but just an MSc in War Studies and Defence and Strategic Studies (QAU). The Quaid-i-Azam University is also headed by a retired captain of the Pakistan army allegedly with a questionable degree. At this rate, Pakistan which has the dubious honour of having no university of world standing (to quote the HEC chairman) will do serious harm to the few institutions it has. At one time, the Balochistan University was headed by giants such as the venerable Prof Karrar Husain, the founding vice-chancellor. The HEC, headed by an academic, understands the negative implications of such appointments. In the case of Balochistan, a province suffering from the throes of a military crackdown, an army man at the head of its premier institution of learning has serious political implications as well. How will the HEC react?

Acid-treated ginger

JUST when one had thought that it was safe to buy ginger after a crackdown on ginger-processing plants three months ago in Islamabad, it appears that acid-soaked ginger is back in the market. This is bound to cause alarm among people. This type of ginger — imported from various countries and then treated in an acidic solution that increases its weight and makes it look cleaner — is hazardous to health as it can cause different types of ulcers, or worse, even cancer. News of it being sold in the market was first reported three months ago and that prompted authorities to crackdown on ginger-processing plants in Islamabad. However, it now appears that such factories simply shifted operations and are now back in business in areas around Rawalpindi. Authorities are investigating these claims and have promised strict action against those making and selling acid-treated ginger. But they must move fast if they are to contain the menace. This is especially important given that people cannot differentiate between safe and unsafe gingers.

There is a clear demand for ginger, a staple in our diet and with Ramazan on, it is no surprise that traders would want to take advantage of that increased demand. The question of peoples’ health or violating food safety law matters little when pitted against maximising profits. This must not be allowed to happen. A one-time crackdown clearly did not achieve anything. It needs to be an on-going process against not just ginger traders, but fruit and vegetable sellers as well. The government must monitor the quality of food being sold and take action against violators.

Essence & spirit of fasting

FASTING daily for one month has been prescribed for the Muslims. The Quran, while prescribing it, says: “O believers fasting has been made obligatory on you, as it was made obligatory on the followers of other religions before you, so that you become righteous” (2:183).

It means that the Muslims are not the only people on whom fasting has been made obligatory. It was prescribed for the followers of other religions as well. Respite in the prescribed period of fasting is allowed only during illness or journey on the condition that the days so missed are made up later i.e. after the expiry of the month of Ramazan. Of course, if a person is permanently unable to fast due to continued ill-health or similar other reason, he has to give ransom for it if he can do it, which means feeding one hungry person for each day of fasting. In this connection the Quran specifically says that “Allah intends every facility for you. He does not want to put you to difficulties” (2:185).

It is generally being asked that after all what could be the object of fasting? Why should a person remain hungry and thirsty from morning till evening daily for full one month in a year. The Quran answers this question in a nutshell when it says “so that you become righteous” (2:183). Thus, the main object of fasting, as spelled out by the Quran, was for Muslims to become righteous.

Fasting, among other things, reinforces God-consciousness i.e. the conviction that Allah sees whatever one does, hears whatever one says and knows whatever is in one’s mind. As the Quran says “He is with you wherever you may be and sees whatever you do” (57:4). The person in a state of fasting may be very hungry and thirsty, yet he avoids taking meals or drinking water, even if he is all alone and there is no one to see or know what he is doing.

It is only the conviction that Allah sees what he does and the fear that he will be duly requited for it that impels him to avoid taking meals or drinking water. The same conviction and fear can also make him avoid doing all other wrong and sinful acts. In fact, one cannot become righteous in the true sense without such conviction and fear.

The Quran specifically points out certain frailties and weaknesses common to all human beings. They are: inability to resist lust (4:27,28), inclination towards unfairness and injustice (14:34), hastiness (17:11), ingratitude (17:67), niggardliness i.e. not prone to parting with what one has (17:100), contentiousness i.e. not prone to accepting one’s own faults and shortcomings (18:54) and anxiety (70:19-21). All these frailties impact in one way or another on Nafs-i-Ammarah thereby impelling one to do wrong and sinful acts. At the same time they tend to suppress Nafs-i-Lowamah and Nafs-i-Mutmainnah as a person under the influence of these frailties neither repents over whatever wrong he does nor is he ever inclined to do good and righteous deeds. These frailties have, therefore, to be controlled or made up to a desirable extent in order to become righteous.

Allah, in His wisdom, has bestowed such faculties on the human beings and has provided them such guidance with the help of which they can control or make up, to the desired extent, all the frailties as mentioned above. The guidance so provided comprises several ways. One of these ways is the direct injunctions, admonitions and exhortations. For example, the Quran repeatedly tells us not to follow lust or to avoid commission of excesses. The other comprises citation of examples and parables spelling out excellent lessons. For example, the story of Hazrat Yusuf tells us that the plotting of evils coils ultimately on the plotters. And the third comprises exercises and practical demonstrations like salat, fasting, payment of zakat and performance of Haj.

Fasting strengthens one’s will power. In spite of having water to drink and meals to eat, ready at hand, one controls oneself and avoids drinking water and taking meals till the appointed time. This exercise, daily for one month, among other things, helps one develop his will power and patience. In fact, there can be no better way of doing this.

Fasting makes a person taste the rigours and agonies of hunger and thirst in a true sense. Who can be in a far better position to empathise with those who are hungry and thirsty and thus be easily tempted to render necessary help to them. Besides, fasting does not mean mere abstention from eating or drinking or from doing wrong or sinful acts. It also demands exhibiting greater degree of generosity in giving alms and charity in addition to doing all such good and righteous deeds as are enjoined by the Quran and Sunnah.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to be more generous in giving alms and charity during Ramazan compared to other months. Allah Himself is also more generous during this month as the Prophet said that it is in the month of Ramazan that the gates of hell are closed and those of the paradise are opened.

Fasting may also have positive effect on one’s health if observed with due regard to the Quranic directive regarding observance of moderation in eating (7:31). In short, the whole month of Ramazan serves as the month of grand exercise for the believers to help them in the process of overall development — physical, spiritual and moral. That’s why Allah has given great importance to the month of Ramazan as is evident from the above saying of the Prophet.

According to another saying of the Prophet, every act of a person is primarily for his own sake except fasting which is observed solely for the sake of Allah (Muslim). The Hadith tells us that whatever a person does, he does it primarily for his own sake. But when he fasts, he does it solely for the sake of Allah. According to yet another saying of the Prophet, with every substance that one owns there is obligation of zakat, and fasting is the zakat of human body. It tends to keep the body as fit, clean and sanctified as the payment of zakat keeps the wealth.

The death of freedom

TODAY you bought the Guardian — or perhaps you are reading it online. Once it may have been the Independent. It is probable that on Sundays, sifting through the mountains of papers at your newsagent’s, you often reach for the Observer. Imagine that very soon — in less than a year, say — you won’t be able to buy any of these newspapers. Imagine a Britain where readers such as you have to choose between the Times or the Daily Telegraph.

That is the nightmare France is soon going to face, as the days of Liberation, the country’s only leftwing daily newspaper, are numbered. “I give it a year,” said journalist and media analyst Philippe Cohen.

Founded in 1973 by angry young men who had embraced politics in the tumultuous year of 1968, Libiration became the quintessence of the French left and was long revered throughout the world for its innovative take on news, criticism and photojournalism. Some think its impending demise is a scandal, but many won’t be crying — including those for whom its decline symbolises a loss of direction among the 1968 generation.

“While its readers matured and settled down, the paper continued to beat the drums of revolt,” says Jacques Buob, an editor for the centre-left to centre-right Le Monde. For Philippe Cohen, today’s situation is the outcome of an acute, irremediable contradiction: “To compensate, and, in a way, apologise for the fact that the paper adopted neoliberal economics, it remained ultra-left in all its social concerns, refusing to address the complex questions of, for instance, immigration, security and education, and preferring to throw abuse at anybody daring to criticise years of leftwing self-indulgence.”

Others, such as Vincent Rimy, editor of the political and arts weekly Tilirama and a Libiration subscriber since 1973, think conformism stifled the legendary paper. In explaining the crisis, all also invoke structural weaknesses in the newspaper industry in France, with its archaic distribution monopoly backed by the omnipotence of the communist-sympathising press trade union.

Beyond the arguments about whether it deserves such a fate, Libiration’s tragedy reflects that of the French left. Its deputy editor, Pierre Haski, says: “The no to the referendum on the European constitution, against which our editor Serge July campaigned all along, proved to be our nemesis and that of the French left. The Socialist party imploded and so did we. Many of our readers felt betrayed.” As in 1995, during the winter strikes, many on the left failed to understand the growing fracture between the people and its left-leaning elite.

So, eight months before the presidential elections, who today caters for the French left? Who dissects and analyses facts and news for the voters of the left? “This is not the right question to ask”, says Alain Frachon of Le Monde. “There is no room in France any more for an opinion-based press. The French are so volatile, they get rid of their government every two years; it would be very difficult to try to follow their mood swings, let alone tell them what to think.” So best be a daily like Le Monde, seeking out the middle ground by constantly oscillating between the laissez-faire left and the liberal right?

Why shouldn’t there be room for enlightened and well-articulated radical views, for complex opinions rather than simplistic analyses? The success of Marianne shows there is hope. This news weekly has won many readers with its iconoclastic views, anchored in the left. Many deride it as being populist. In fact, it is only populaire - “of the people”. But taking such a stand requires political coherence and courage.—Dawn/Guardian Service