Supremacy of the people

THE army chief reporting to the civilian leadership may be normal for recognised democracies. But for Pakistan, where the army called the shots even when elected governments were in power, Wednesday’s event was seminal in more ways than one. The day saw a welcome departure from the militarised past not only because it was Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani who went to the Prime Minister House — instead of the usual other way around — but also because those who heard him were anything but a handpicked lot. They were men who were there on their own electoral strength. Appropriately, thus, did the Chief of Army Staff report to those who between them represented the top leadership of the parties in whom the people of Pakistan had reposed their confidence in the Feb 18 vote. Besides Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and Asif Ali Zardari, there were their partners in government — the Sharifs, the ANP’s Asfandyar Wali and the JUI’s Maulana Fazlur Rahman. The fact that such a diverse and disparate group should sit together and hear the army chief on the security situation, especially the on-going war on terror and the Fata insurgency, indicates the genesis of what could be a new epoch in which it is the people’s will that will reign supreme.

This is perhaps for the first time since the Junejo era that a conscious attempt is being made to develop a national consensus on key issues facing the nation. Mohammad Khan Junejo, in spite of being hamstrung by Zia’s stifling presence, had the courage and common sense to realise that he needed a national consensus to end the Afghan war, because the Geneva accords were around the corner. He even committed the cardinal sin of inviting Benazir Bhutto to the multiparty conference and earned Ziaul Haq’s ire. But Junejo was picked by Ziaul Haq to be prime minister after a party-less election. Today, Prime Minister Gilani is there because it is the people’s power that has catapulted him to the position of the country’s chief executive. He can afford to be bolder, and the nation wishes him unalloyed success.

The country has now entered an era where the people have rejected the ridiculous, anachronistic notion that dictators have the monopoly of patriotism. Today, government is no more synonymous with state. The problems facing the nation are gigantic: the deteriorating economy, the war on terror, and ties with India. The mechanics of the solution are in place i.e. a broad-based coalition of parties at the centre as well as in the provinces. Let the parties perpetuate the spirit of accord and harmony that is in evidence and develop a consensus on all issues of the day.

Burying the past

THE bonhomie witnessed on Wednesday at the MQM headquarters in Karachi between the PPP and the party enjoying the mandate of urban Sindh goes beyond the symbolism which marked the occasion. Mr Zardari and Mr Hussain pledged to forgive and forget the bitter past, and bury the dead at long last. The agreement to form a bipartisan committee to decide the details of power-sharing at the provincial and possibly at the federal levels was the substantive outcome of the day. The move comes as a relief for the people of Karachi, in particular, since it is they who have for years endured the fallout of the PPP-MQM rivalry.

The stage was set for a rapprochement last year when the MQM welcomed the return of Ms Bhutto to Pakistan on Oct 18; the late PPP leader had thanked the party. The tragic killing of Ms Bhutto in December, its aftermath and then allegations of foul play in Karachi during the Feb 18 elections somewhat chilled the thaw in inter-party relations. Hopes of reconciliation were rekindled when the MQM, on Mr Zardari’s request, withdrew its challenger for the slot of prime minister against the PPP’s man for the top job. The vote of confidence given by the MQM to Prime Minister Gilani further cemented the understanding between the two parties. It was now time for Mr Zardari to reciprocate. He did just that by going to Nine Zero in Azizabad on Wednesday and praying for the MQM’s dead. Mr Hussain followed with the gesture of sending a delegation to take part in PPP founder Z.A. Bhutto’s death anniversary being observed today at Naudero. The two parties have never been this magnanimous to each other.

It is now up to Mr Zardari to manage the ripples that may surface among his other coalition partners at the centre and in the Frontier and Punjab by his wholehearted embrace of the MQM. To his credit, the PPP leader in the aftermath of the Benazir tragedy has been consistent in his advocacy of national reconciliation as the defining feature of a PPP-led coalition government. He promised to reach out to all democratic forces to forge a national government, and he has done it. One expects the PML-N, the ANP and the JUI to take the PPP-MQM understanding in that spirit of national reconciliation aimed at keeping the country’s unity intact — all considered. One hopes that the Sindhi nationalists will also see this as a move that will bring peace and stability to the province. Support from all quarters is imperative to empower the new government to scale the mountain load of internal and external challenges facing it. Political maturity on the part of all concerned demands that a national-unity government be given a chance at this critical juncture.

PTCL’s deaf ear

THERE is little reason to doubt the role of communication services in the creation of the ‘global village’; they break distances to bring communities closer. Therefore, in an ideal scenario, the launch of three new packages from PTCL, designed to cater to various segments of society, should be lauded. However, last year, the service faced considerable flak for the introduction of the Pakistan Package which, it claims, resulted in an estimated 2.7 million calls on the day of its launch. The utility also says that the notorious bargain ‘ushered in a new era of customer care and service’. But where it clocked in a fortune of epic proportions for the company, it came with a catch for the consumer. It was more of an ‘imposed’ offer that was slapped on each subscriber with the ‘option’ of deactivation — wherein lay the real trap. This is a challenging endeavour to date as the helpline number is either perpetually engaged or the system refuses to recognise the relevant number. Consumers then have to venture out to the concerned office where service is far from prompt; repeated visits delay payments of phone bills at the risk of disconnection — and this vicious cycle spins on.

For a service that reaches over 4.5 million subscribers, this is sugarcoated fleecing; a clear bid to rescue the company’s plummeting revenues by making users pay in an unfair manner. The aspect of choice where customers have the right to ‘ask’ for a supposedly client-friendly deal is absent. The concept of convenience is inherent in such a vital utility and a rapid response to complaints and demands should be the rightful luxury of its consumers. However, an impartial mechanism is required to ensure that all aspects of a particular package, including choice and deactivation, are made available with ease. So far, PTCL has been an unusual telecommunication service that does not grant consumers their right to be heard.

Learning from history

THE Holy Qur’an is replete with verses which refer to the remains of ancient civilisations. The purpose of these verses is obvious –– to remind human beings of the deeds and misdeeds of their predecessors so that they derive appropriate lessons from them.

The Qur’an says, “ Is it not a warning to such men (to call to mind) how many generations before them we destroyed in whose haunts they (now) move? Verily in this are signs for men endowed with understanding. (20:128) Another verse says, “How many generations have We destroyed which were given to wrong-doing! They tumbled down on their roofs. And how many wells are lying idle and neglected, and castles lofty and well-built! Do they not travel through the land, so that their hearts (and minds) may thus learn wisdom and their ears may thus learn to hear? (22:45-46)

These and other verses obviously contain a great lesson for humanity. Were we to take heed of them we would surely be inclined to live righteously and with humility. If a nation goes astray, it can only learn from the history of the earlier nations which were destroyed in punishment for their evils. In most cases, their habitations became desolated and they now lie buried under the debris of ages.

Our own country, Pakistan, is dotted with such ancient sites throughout its length and breadth. To name a few, the sites of Mohenjodaro, Mehargarh and Harappa are among the most ancient remains so far unearthed in Pakistan. These sites are in layers which cover centuries of human habitation. There are thousands of old places all over the world which once flourished, but have now been reduced to ruins.

Let us now consider the directive contained in the following Quranic verse:

Do they not travel through the earth and see what was the end of those before them? They were even superior to them in strength, and in the traces (they have left) in the land. But Allah did call them to account for their sins and none had they to defend them against Allah. (40:21-22. See also 40;82 and 47:10)

The Quran repeatedly refers to the rise and destruction of nations as a phenomenon to be studied for guidance. It urges men to sojourn through the world and see for themselves the fate of those who were once powerful and proud, but rebelled against God and were eventually destroyed for their wickedness.

Ibn Asakir’s History of Damascus and Ibn Khatib’s History of Baghdad are not the only examples of their kind. We have much earlier works like al-Azraqi’s Akhbar Makkah which can compare with the best archaeological guidebooks of our times on such sites as Athens, Rome or Paris. One of al-Azraqi’s interesting observations relates to the crown and throne of Kabulshah, that is, the King of Kabul which were placed on display in the Ka’bah by the order of al-Ma’mun with inscriptions narrating the glorious victory of the Arabs over Kabul and the area that now forms part of the North-western Frontier of Pakistan.

The accounts of Muslim travellers are another important source of historical and archaeological information. Abu Yahan al-Biruni recorded observations of his travels throughout the subcontinent in his well-known Kitab al-Hind, which gives a graphic account of the historical and social conditions of the region. Ibn Battutah, who kept globtrotting for thirty years and covered greater distance than probably any other human being could do before the age of steam, has given a detailed and dependable picture of the reign of Muhammad Ibn Tughlaq.

According to the Qur’an (see 10:89-92), the dying Pharaoh was told that his body would be preserved by Allah as an example to posterity. When this was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), it was not known as to where the body of Pharaoh lay buried. But the fact eventually proved to be absolutely correct when the mummified body of Ramses, who is considered to be the contemporary of Prophet Moses, was recovered as a result of archaeological excavations in 1907.

Let us take another instance. The Quranic verse 34:16 mentions dams “But they turned away (from Allah) and We sent against them the flood (released) from the dams.” The background of the incident referred to here is that the people of Saba in Yemen remained prosperous as long as they were righteous, i.e. as long as they remained faithful to the Law of God. When they became covetous and selfish, a mighty flood came upon them and the dam burst and their flourishing country was laid waste. The Arabic word ‘qrim’ occurring in this verse means ‘dams’ or ‘embankments’. Now, the existence of dams in Yemen has been established as a result of archaeological explorations.

The surah 18 of Quran narrates, among other stories, the story of the People of the Cave, who slept in it for a long time and yet thought that they had been there for only a day or less. There is considerable disagreement as to the location of this cave.

According to the Christian version the story of the Cave, which is based on traditions compiled by James Saruj, a Bishop of Syria, in his Sermons and which have been accepted by Gregory of Tours and Gibbon, this cave is located at Ephesus. The earlier Muslim traditionists had also mentioned the city of Ephesus as the place where the cave in question was located.

It is reported that the caliph al-Wathiq (d.232 H/847 CE) had sent an expedition to examine and identify this cave. The breakthrough, however, came in 1834 when Arundell conducted archaeological explorations in Asia Minor and discovered the cave at Ephesus. This city is some twenty to twenty five miles to the south of Izmir (Smyrna) in Turkey.

The application of archaeological methods, as stated above, has been useful in tracing the lost sites of the past. This will certainly lead to a more elaborate understanding of the Quran if more and more traces of ancient civilisations are brought to light. In order to accomplish this, the notion of ‘Quranic Archaeology’ will have to be introduced and developed. But who should do it?

In my opinion, it is ISESCO and the major universities and research centres in the Muslim World which should come forward and play the major role in encouraging the exploration and excavation of the ancient places mentioned in the Quran. The work can be undertaken by organisations in league with those Muslim countries where the places in question are located. Meanwhile a directory of ancient places which have already come to light may be prepared and published with descriptive notes and photographs for the benefit of all who seek a more elaborate and thorough knowledge of the Quran.

OTHER VOICES - Pushto Press

Who is behind the attacks?

Wahdat, Peshawar

THE office of the South Waziristan Peace Committee in the village of Musa Killay in tehsil Gog, Wana, was struck by missiles on Sunday, March 30. According to sources, the office of Maulvi Nazir, located some two kilometres from Wana city, was hit in the afternoon by missiles fired from a reconnaissance plane.

The walls of the office suffered damage but no casualties were reported as no one was in the office when it was attacked. Sources claim that American planes have been flying over the tribal areas in the last few weeks.

An American paper reported a few days ago that US forces had increased their activities in the tribal belt after the new government took over in Islamabad.

But the government refuted the report saying that Pakistan was capable of acting against miscreants in the country and that no foreign country would be allowed to violate the sovereignty of Pakistan.

This is not the first time that American reconnaissance planes have attacked a target in the tribal regions of Pakistan. This has happened several times before as well.

It is suggested here that the Government of Pakistan should either take responsibility for the attacks or tell the public who carries out these assaults and for what purpose.

If such attacks continue and the Government of Pakistan expresses ignorance of their occurrence, the people will start asking questions regarding the utility of the large number of intelligence agencies working for the Government of Pakistan across the length and breadth of the country. We therefore urge the new government under the leadership of Yusuf Raza Gilani to take serious notice of these attacks and save the public from such barbaric acts. — (March 31)

Supremacy of parliament

Hewad, Peshawar

AFTER winning a vote of confidence from the National Assembly the other day, the prime minister of Pakistan made revolutionary announcements. Whether these announcements will take the shape of institutions is yet to be seen but it is clear that democracy’s journey has begun in Pakistan.

For the first time in the history of Pakistan a strong parliament has come into being. The people may not forgive those parties and individuals who fail to capitalise on such a golden opportunity because the people want a strong parliament, an independent judiciary and an independent media in the country. The speech of the prime minister in the National Assembly has actually raised the level of the expectations of the people.

The prime minister’s pledge that he will allow the media to be free is admirable because genuine democracy can never be established without a free media. The move to introduce political and economic reforms in Fata is also praiseworthy as the fire raging there cannot be extinguished through the use of force. Calling back the military from civilian departments is worthy of admiration. This shows that genuine democracy is taking root in Pakistan.

It is of the utmost importance that all the political parties continue to work together for a reconciled and progressive Pakistan. The country is facing numerous challenges and the political parties have to work collectively. The politics of vendetta and discord may increase the problems Pakistan is currently facing. It is hoped that both the government and the opposition parties under the leadership of Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani will take drastic decisions for the future of Pakistan and use the supremacy of parliament for the betterment of the people. — (March 30)

— Selected and translated by Khadim Hussain.