‘Bureaucracy is against LG system’

Despite being coalition partners in Sindh, when it comes to Karachi, the Pakistan People’s Party-Muttahida Qaumi Movement relationship can best be described as uneasy. Especially after the February 18 elections, when the PPP took the reins of power in Islamabad as well as in Sindh, there seems to be a constant tug of war between the provincial government and the MQM-backed city district government of Karachi.

One man who knows about this tussle between the province and the city all too well is Niamatullah Khan, the veteran Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) politician who was nazim of Karachi from 2001 till 2005. Niamatullah Sahib, who was the first nazim of the metropolis after the devolution plan was introduced, had quite a stormy relationship with former chief minister Arbab Rahim. In this interview with Dawn, he discussed the parallels between his tenure and the present scenario. Here are excerpts.

Q: When you were city nazim, you at times also had a very rough relationship with the provincial government. Is history repeating itself? Can a clash be averted?

A: These people are being treated the same way they treated me. But I believe the current issue is different. This (city) government has been in power for three years, and in the past three years they were part of the provincial government. The MQM had representation, especially in the local bodies ministry. They took full advantage of this fact. Even the president had an inclination towards that party.

My situation vis-à-vis the provincial government was unnatural as a Jamaat man was nazim of Karachi, while the provincial government was the MQM’s. I believe I had the special protection of God.

Nowadays there is serious criticism of the local government system. People are saying the system is a failure, that there was huge corruption, but I believe Karachi is the only district in Pakistan where this system was successful. Even the president has admitted this. He would present Karachi as a model of the system’s success.

There’s nothing wrong with the system. I’ve always believed that. This is a very good system and should continue. The bureaucracy is dead against it. In fact devolution took power away from the bureaucrats. Our politicians are useless and the bureaucracy controls everything.

Q: You’re adamant that the local government system is a success. So is all the criticism of the system politically motivated?

A: I’ve been saying that since the beginning. The system is not a failure, but the people who were running it were not right. If the system was a failure, how come it worked in Karachi? When I took over, Karachi’s budget was Rs6 billion. The first budget I presented was of Rs20bn, without imposing any new taxes. The second budget was Rs27bn. My fourth and last budget was of Rs43bn. We built 32 colleges in three years; we built about 25 parks, while the parks the towns built are separate.

I’m not saying all this to tell you how great I am. I’m telling you this to prove that if the system was a failure, how did we manage to do all these things? Everyone knows the problems my government faced. I was developing a park – Daman-i-Koh – and a senior MQM leader stopped the project by sending several police mobiles to the site. When we asked them why they stopped the project, they said it was because we were demolishing a reservoir. The reservoir they were referring to had been out of order for 25 years. It’s on the record.

Another senior figure in the last government wrote a letter instructing the relevant departments not to release funds to the city nazim before consulting the provincial government.

Corruption exists all over the country. Stamp out corruption countrywide and it shall also disappear from Karachi. I tried my best to reduce corruption during my tenure.

The people that were running the system were corrupt. They were hand in glove with the bureaucracy. The system isn’t the problem: corruption is. Change this system and bring another one in; the same corrupt people will also fail that system.

Q: How do you rate the present nazim’s performance?

A: It’s not for me to say, but for the public and the media to judge. All I can say is that the work I did has not disappeared. The roads, flyovers, colleges etc are still here. I feel that the present nazim has started many projects at once. All the roads were dug up at the same time. When it rained, the roads turned into lakes. That didn’t happen in my time.

When I was leaving, I had about 50 projects in the pipeline. My time was up, and they have continued and are still working on many of the projects that I initiated. The public knows the work I have done.

Q: Out of all of Karachi’s problems, which do you think need the most attention?

A: I believe the most work needs to be done in the health, education and infrastructure development sectors. Of course one can’t forget law and order. Karachi is the industrial and commercial hub of the nation. What effect will lawlessness have on the city’s commercial activities? Industries need protection. They pay taxes for this.

Health affairs in this city have been politicized. The supply of clean water is a major issue, while the quality of hygiene in some of the city’s areas is so low that people are living like beasts. There’s food adulteration and crushing poverty. There are so many issues.

Q: Did JI’s boycott of the Feb 18 elections have a negative effect on the party’s standing in Karachi?

A: One should not sacrifice one’s principals. If you’re committed to something, then remain steadfast. The lawyers have been running their movement for about 14 months for the restoration of the judiciary. The 60 sacked judges took a principled stand by not taking oath on the PCO. Our party also took a principled stand. This is not the first time JI’s boycotted elections. The MQM has also boycotted polls, as has the PPP. At one time or another nearly every major party has boycotted elections. Did these boycotts have a negative effect on the parties’ standings?

We stand by our decision. We’re not bothered about seats. We’re bothered about principles. The boycott will have no effect on our standing, Insha’Allah. The people of Karachi have seen how a Jamaat man works. We’ve shown people how to run an honest administration.—QAM

The three ‘Ps’ of politics

Though the wave of euphoria that swept the nation after the February 18 elections has pretty much disappeared into the ether – thanks largely to the bumbling of our crusading democrats – a few things have come to the fore after observing the antics of our respected parliamentarians who sit in the hallowed hall of the Sindh Assembly.

Firstly, no matter what the politicians may say on TV and in the papers, the whole game of politics – both here and abroad – revolves around three Ps: pelf, power and privilege. All that talk about serving the people is balderdash as the vast majority of our politicians are in the game to serve themselves, their families and – if they’re large-hearted – their cronies.

All this sound a bit harsh? Not really. I’ll let my observations speak for themselves.

Sure there was much talk of presenting a ‘people friendly’ budget. Well, perhaps it is indeed a people friendly budget … for all the right people that is. You see, bread-lines in the city and the country are growing, prices are going through the stratosphere while there is a very tangible threat of extremist violence breaking out across the nation, with Taliban posters and graffiti even sprouting up in Karachi. And what are our respected parliamentarians worried about on the floor of the house? For one, getting special passports for themselves and their families. One wonders why. Perhaps the documents might come in handy when a quick exit is required, just in case the political winds start blowing in the opposite direction. This was one of the demands roundly endorsed by members of the house during the tail-end of the budget discussion for 2008-09.

Another pressing matter of national importance a respected member raised was increasing the salary of legislators, as according to him, the present amount isn’t even enough to cover the members’ expenses for providing tea to guests. Wheat flour has crossed Rs30 a kilo, but to hell with that. Where will the milk and honey for our respected legislators’ kitchens flow from if their salaries aren’t increased?

Then of course there is the matter of the criminally expensive vehicles our representatives of the people love to drive around in, especially when the assembly is in session and preferably without number plates and with tinted windows. Gotta love it. And there’s also the issue of bringing an armed to the teeth goon squad along posing as bodyguards.

I remember reading about an incident that left a striking impact on me. A man in Iraq went to one of the leading scholars of the time. When he finally met the shaikh, he asked him the price of tomatoes. The shaikh’s confidantes immediately took offence. How dare this insolent man ask such a learned scholar such a stupid question? The shaikh quieted the crowd and told the man the price of tomatoes.

He was delighted. He told everyone present that he had asked the question as he was not interested in scholars who led a cloistered existence, detached from reality, but wanted a guide who knew the problems of the people. And here he had found what he was looking for.

In contrast, we must ask ourselves what planet our legislators are living on. They’re light years away from the people and their problems. God pity the nation with ‘leaders’ like these.—QAM

Host and hospitality

Pakistan was proud to be the host of the ninth Asia Cup cricket tournament which ended last evening with the final between India and Sri Lanka played at none other than our own National Stadium with Sri Lanka retaining the title.

Karachi had the honour of hosting 10 of the matches while Lahore hosted three. It was a welcome relief for Karachians. Although the first match between Pakistan and minnows Hong Kong did not draw crowds the match with India the next day made up for all shortcomings.

Karachians, being hospitable people, made the guests feel welcome despite traffic gridlocks at certain spots and other problems that they faced.

Unfortunately, not everyone thinks alike as one of the guest teams, Hong Kong, was – according to reports – shabbily treated by the PCB officials when the team went to watch the match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka after exiting the tournament. They may have been ousted from the tournament but they were still our guests and I see no harm if they were allowed to be seated in the PCB gallery or other enclosures where they wanted.

As it is, due to the security reasons the teams could not mingle with the general public, which would have been a good thing, especially with the Indian team for they could have contributed to some worthy charitable causes with their magnetic presence. However, the Indian team did manage to enjoy their leisure day by visiting one of our luxury water parks outside the city limits.

All in all, the whole affair went off rather without any unpleasantness except for a slight dampener at a press conference in which our own coach lost his cool and told the media people to improve their English. Well, to sum up things all I can say is that with his Australian twang and our Pakistani accent the airwaves do get garbled at times.

The champions trophy is scheduled for September, so Karachians better get ready for some thrilling cricket.—Syed Ali Anwer

Military takeovers

The Sindh government’s decision to get educational institutions and hostels vacated from the Rangers augurs well for those who honestly feel that it will help improve the image of the government and the paramilitary force.

Fluttering of the Rangers’ flag at the top of a historic building opposite Quaid-i-Azam Park on Dr Ziauddin Ahmad Road, known as the Jinnah Courts, reminds one of military takeovers in the country, though the force was first deployed to tackle ethnic violence and terrorism in the city on the provincial government’s request in the nineties.

No doubt, renovation and addition of a new block to the Jinnah Courts has added to the city’s beauty, but it will be appreciated if the Rangers are provided some alternative premises along with compensation for shifting the headquarters and the historic building is put to use for running an institution of excellence, for instance a law university named after Mr Jinnah.

The building was used as a hostel for the Sindh Law College students before the Jinnah Courts was preserved under the Heritage Act. It will be a step in the right direction by the democratic government if the college, which at present finds it difficult to accommodate so many students, is upgraded and renamed as the Sindh Jinnah Law University after declaring the Jinnah Courts as its main campus.

—Habib Khan Ghori

Strict surveillance

While going about our daily lives in this bustling metropolis, most of us might be unaware that our movements are coming under increasing surveillance. The expanding network of closed-circuit cameras being installed by the city government covers major traffic arteries, important infrastructure, sensitive security zones and localities with a high rate of street crime.

The use of cameras to manage major urban areas is not a new phenomenon. The technology has been in widespread use for quite some time in cities like London and New York to manage traffic, protect assets, deter crime and even prevent acts of terrorism.

The induction of this technology in Karachi is a welcome initiative. The rapid pace at which the city is growing makes it nearly impossible for law enforcers and civic agencies to maintain a physical presence throughout the city at all times. By utilising the system, authorities can monitor the sprawling metropolis from the strategic control centre round the clock.

In a city where traffic violations, muggings, kidnappings and acts of violence have become very common, this technology can benefit Karachians in many ways – from provision of emergency services to accident victims and easing out traffic gridlocks to curbing street crime and terrorist activities. But all this can be achieved if the technology is put to good use. Over time, if the system is successfully utilized, the cameras by their mere presence can become deterrents against crime.

However, any type of technology is simply a tool that relies on the honesty, efficiency and competence of those who handle it. Let’s hope the city managers utilise this tool wisely.—Wasif Khan

Compiled by Syed Hassan Ali

karachian@dawn.com

Jirga to decide fate of dejected girl

LIFE for 16-year-old Nadia started turning into a nightmare more than a year ago when she was residing in Quetta with her family. During the last one year she thrice attempted to commit suicide to escape from the agonies she has been facing but fate had something else for her in the store. She has turned into a living corpse whose future is now dependent on decision of a jirga which would meet in the next few days.

An influential Afghan, Abdul Hayee, who is more than her father’s age, has been chasing her and the poor family claiming that she is his fourth wife. The local police have also been allegedly supporting Abdul Hayee and have declined to offer any help to the family. Presently, the girl has been lodged at the residence of Majnoon, who claims he is a neutral person, and there is possibility that she would be handed over to Abdul Hayee once the jirga met.

While the judicial crisis has yet to end in the country, the parallel judicial system in shape of jirgas continues to function in the society. The deposed chief justice of Peshawar High Court, Tariq Pervez Khan, had taken suo motu notice of various such issues and provided relief to victims in human rights cases. However, after the Nov 3 imposition of emergency the post-PCO judicial setup is shy of taking same kind of action.

Since last couple of months the family was in hiding and had changed various residences. An early morning knock at the family’s residence in Bara Gate area of Peshawar on July 3 proved that they could not escape the influential Afghan. When they opened the door they found a heavy contingent of police including some female cops present there. The raiding team included officials of Mardan and Peshawar police. They soon whisked away the girl and her 18-year-old brother, Najeeb, to Shergarh police station in Mardan.

The father of the girl, Ameenullah, also rushed to the police station. In the afternoon the police handed over the girl to Majnoon stating that a jirga would resolve the dispute.

“When we saw large number of police officials outside our residence we thought as if we were terrorists,” said Ms Sitara, mother of the girl. She added that soon after the raid she went to the concerned Pishtakhara police station, but the officials there claimed they could not help them.

An official at the Pishtakhara police station told this writer that the raid was in fact conducted by officials of Shergarh police station and they had only supported them. He added that they were told that the girl was the wife of Abdul Hayee and a case was registered at Shergarh police station as she had escaped her husband’s residence.

While the SHO of Shergarh police station expressed ignorance about the occurrence, another official said that they knew that the girl was wife of Abdul Hayee. When asked how they could intervene in a domestic dispute when even the Afghan did not belong to Mardan and had been residing in Karachi, the official could not justify their involvement.

The official claimed that the family had received huge sum of money from Abdul Hayee in return of their daughter, but later on they fled away.

Ms Sitara said that a high ranking police official was friend of Abdul Hayee and he was presently deputed in Mardan due to which the Mardan police played active role in recovering the girl.

However, her husband Ameenullah agreed that he was once paid Rs200,000 by the Afghan and was told that this was Zakat money. He added that Abdul Hayee had now prepared some fake documents to show that his daughter was married to him.

Ms Sitara denied that her daughter was ever married to Abdul Hayee. Narrating her long ordeal Sitara, who is mother of 10 children, said that last year when they were residing in Quetta and Nadia was a student of grade IX, she told her mother that the an Afghan man had constantly been chasing her on her way to school.

Few days later, she said, a woman approached them on behalf of Abdul Hayee with a proposal that they should marry their daughter to him. “When we came to know that he is already having three wives and is aged we declined the proposal,” Sitara said adding that after few days Abdul Hayee approached them and made them hostage at gunpoint.

She claimed that due to fear for their lives her husband agreed that Nadia would be married to him. When the girl came to know about this decision she tried to strangulate herself, but they timely intervened and saved her life. Later on, in another attempt to take her life she cut her vein, but was saved.

“Finally, we left Quetta and started living in Tehkal area of Peshawar, but he traced out our dwelling place and took away the girl,” Sitara said. She claimed that Nadia was taken to Karachi and locked in a room, but with the help of a wife of Abdul Hayee she escaped and took refugee at residence of another person named Mukhtiar Shah.

Finally, a jirga in Karachi handed her over to her family and when she came back they again changed their residence but to no avail.

After the occurrence she approached a women rights organisation, but could not move the high court due to fear. While the organisation proposed to her for filing a habeas corpus petition for recovery of the girl from the residence of Majnoon she feared Abdul Hayee would kill them.