Surviving a fall into a manhole

I am not only a paediatrician but also head of the department of paediatrics at Liaquat National Hospital. I was always concerned about children falling into manholes and open drains. But I didn’t think it would happen to me. I almost drowned and ended up swallowing gutter water.

This is what happened on May 25. I went with my family to a dinner at a friend’s house, which is a street across from St. Michael’s school in Clifton behind Jason Paradise Apartments.

I was accompanied by my sister-in-law, sister and brother. The was parked close to the sidewalk. One could see garbage lying all around, especially plastic bags and pieces of waste paper. However, it was night, around 10 pm, and I had no idea that the garbage was lying over an open manhole. As I got out of the car, my left leg did feel the water, but since that happens in many places in Karachi I just ignored it.

We all went inside the house and had a very good dinner after which we got up to leave. A family friend was chatting to us on the driver’s side of the car as we were leaving so I decided to get into the vehicle from back door. As I stepped forward I could feel my left leg going down in the water. I tried to get it out but that made it only worse. Soon, both my legs and my body were sinking in the nullah. I started to scream for help but for a while my family members could not hear me. By the time they came to my rescue, I had sunk enough to be submerged up to my mouth in water. I am still not sure if I touched the bottom or not. The manhole must have been more than five feet deep.

I was finally pulled out, much after quite a struggle.

Once I was out, I felt my throat going sore from the swallowing of the gutter water. I could not talk for a while could stand up.

My family members who had seen me submerged up to my mouth in the manhole were quite scared after the incident. My sister thinks that if two more minutes had passed I would have drowned. I called one of my colleagues at 2.00 am to ask for advice. He told me to take antibiotics and an immuno-globulin injection to prevent possible typhoid and hepatitis. I went to Mideast Hospital and did all that.

I have survived this incident but what do I do. I might be successful in getting one open manhole covered but what about the thousands of others in Karachi, which swallow countless innocent children? I wonder if I can file a lawsuit against the city government.

Apart from the mental anguish caused by the incident, my mobile phone and my daughter’s little toy computer, both in my bag when I went under, are now unusable. I have returned to this country after having lived for 25 years in America only to give something back to it. Recently, there was another accident involving my young daughter whom I managed to save from harm after finding a short circuit in her room when she was asleep.

Isn’t there any way to hold the authorities responsible for all this. All my friends tell me that I can try but that it will be an exercise in futility.

DR MUMTAZ LAKHANI

Karachi

Giving in to pressure

SO it has happened once again: General Musharraf has given in to pressure. In the recently concluded Seerat conference, one maulvi, along with some others, asked the general that if he ordered the re-introduction of the religious declaration in the voters form again, he (the maulvi) along with many others would join him (the general) in fighting the enemies of the country.

With us there are no preconditions, Mr. President. No matter how you and others treat us, we love and care for this country. Pakistan’s enemy is our enemy.

MAJID AHMAD KHAN

Rabwah

A two-day Seeratul Nabi meeting was held in Islamabad under the federal ministry of religious affairs and its inaugural session was addressed by the president. The session was conducted in a smooth and dignified manner.

But it seemed some disgruntled political maulanas had come to the meeting with ulterior motives. As President Pervez Musharraf ended his speech, these elements started shouting and demanding that the Qadianis be declared non-Muslims. This was a wrong place to make such a demand.

The Seeratul Nabi conference was not the forum for raising such issues. The ministry of religious affairs should hold an inquiry into this behaviour of the agitating mullahs, and that too at the cost of the national exchequer.

If the ministry wants to uphold the sanctity of the occasion, it should initiate proceedings under the blasphemy law against these political maulvis.

SHAMIM A. SHEIKH

Faisalabad

Benazir’s statement

HERE comes another shocking statement from Benazir Bhutto. She has said that “war between Pakistan and India can be prevented only with a change of regime in Pakistan” and is “likely, if Musharraf stays” (May 31). Did she ever consider how grave the implications would be of this statement in respect to Pakistan’s position in the current sensitive situation?

The dark clouds of war are hovering over our heads and still this lady is criticizing the present government and trying to destabilize the country for her own selfish motives. We should unite and support the general and the armed forces of Pakistan to ensure the integrity and existence of Pakistan.

Such irresponsible statements are the last thing we need. I wonder how Ms Bhutto still expects to become prime minister for the third time.

ALTAMASH JAVED LONE

Karachi

Benazir Bhutto’s statement (May 31) gives the impression that Pakistan is responsible for the present crisis with India. In her lust for power, she ignored the fact that through her statements she is projecting Pakistan as a country which sponsors terrorism.

I have seen how Al Gore lost to George W. Bush in the controversial election in November 2000. But after September 11, everyone here forgot about that and got united behind President Bush in his war against terrorists and terrorist states. A similar situation happened during the recent conflict between Israel and Palestine when all Israelis rallied behind Ariel Sharon and all the Arabs supported the Palestinian Authority of Yasser Arafat. When I read Indian newspapers I don’t find any Indian opposition leader criticizing Atal Behari Vajpayee for his handling of the present situation.

During US military action in Afghanistan, Benazir Bhutto’s appearances on US television networks like Fox and CNN were also not representative of Pakistan’s views. During those interviews she seemed more concerned with her own agenda. General Musharraf is a military ruler but for Ms Bhutto to say that everything will be all right if the government in Pakistan changes is to be very selfish.

ABID IRAQI

Liverpool, US

Unfair impression

THE article, “Making NFC award fair”, Mr. Imtiaz Shaikh (May 31), sounded anything but fair. After stating that Sindh collects the bulk of sales tax and income tax, he goes on to say that “there is a strong case for the inclusion of collection ... to provide for a more equitable basis for revenue sharing”. This is pure gimmickry.

The point of collection is in fact immaterial. What matters is who pays the taxes. How can it be fair and equitable to give Sindh the credit for taxes paid by people in Punjab, NWFP, and Balochistan?

Most companies have their head offices in Karachi, shown as the point of collection for the taxes paid by these companies. However, the taxes are actually paid by individuals from all four provinces. For example, when a consumer from Faisalabad, Peshawar or Quetta buys the product of a Karachi-based company, he pays sales tax along with the price of the merchandise.

Similarly, the burden of corporate income tax falls on the shareholders of the company which has its head office in Karachi, but many of its shareholders may be residents of provinces other than Sindh.

I am all for a critical examination of the NFC award, but the debate should be straightforward and devoid of sophistry.

ASAF ALI SHAH

Lahore

Pakistan first

MY letter is in reference to Ardeshir Cowasjee’s article of May 26, titled “Going Nowhere”.

I strongly agree with the writer and dare to differ with general public sentiment when he says that the Kashmir issue should be put on the backburner for a while. The reason is simple: Pakistan does not possess the military, economic or diplomatic clout to make any difference at this point in time.

The Western world has been deliberately blind towards this issue for decades now and our hackneyed propaganda or rhetoric has fallen on deaf ears.

I agree in principle with those who advocate jihad or moral support for Kashmiris but I believe that Pakistan and Pakistanis come first, and nothing is worth compromising the good of this nation. I would rather let go of Kashmir then have millions of Pakistanis nuked by an irrational and aggressive nation like India that does not care about its citizens either.

Let the issue of Kashmir rest for a while. The abject poverty and difficult existence of the people of Pakistan, and our national security issues, deserve higher priority.

SITARA AKRAM

Lahore

Politics of water

IT is heartening to note that for the first time the secretary for irrigation in Sindh has spoken to the press in detail on the Thal canal issue.

The Punjab government has rejected the 1991 accord and is continuously violating it despite objections from the federal law ministry. It is painful to note that our government raises a lot of hue and cry when India talks about scrapping the Indus water Treaty but doesn’t even blink an eyelid when it comes to the implementation of water apportionment accord of 1991 among its own provinces.

Given the overwhelming and disproportionate representation of Punjab in the federal government and its virtual control of Wapda, it is unlikely that any formula will be workable unless the majority province is willing to concede or see reason.

SAMIULLAH GHUMRO

Sukkur

Unnecessary parking charge

THE citizens of Karachi have many reasons to feel frustrated and the city authorities keep on adding to their misery by introducing stupid rules and unjustified charges.

A recent example is the introduction of charged parking at Clifton beach. The city already has numerous charged parking areas and all mint money. However, many of the city’s roads, especially around these areas, are quite terrible. So one wonders where all the money collected under the head of charged parking goes.

Charged parking for visiting a public beach has never been heard of anywhere. By taking this unpopular step, the city administration has made it costlier for already fun-starved Karachiites to go to the beach. I request the provincial government to immediately withdraw this unjustified levy.

SYED ABRAR HUSSAINI

Karachi

A matter of economics

FOR a long time India and Pakistan have been playing a cat and mouse game with each other. We have caused mischief over there and they have done the same here. But after September 11 the word ‘Muslim’ has unfortunately come to become synonymous with the word ‘terrorist’. As a result the world has turned against us. And India and latched on to this, saying that Pakistan is behind all the terrorism in the region.

Our close allies have turned our backs on us and are taking India’s side. Why? The simple answer is that over the years in comparison to Pakistan, India has become economically far more powerful. Some clear examples are as follows:

In the year 2000, approximately 48 per cent of all H1-B work visas issued in the US were given to Indians. Most Fortune 500 companies have established subsidiaries in India.

Many technology companies in the US and Europe have projected that up to 25 per cent of their work in the future will be outsourced to companies in India.

One reason why India has been growing economically is that for better or for worse it is a democracy. It has not seen any coups like Pakistan. This has given the Indian people an opportunity to grow as a nation. Our internal conflicts should send a message to Pakistan’s leaders because they have the most to lose. If India attacks there won’t be anything for them to rule.

They should try and make Pakistan economically strong. As people, too, we need to learn a lesson from this. We must make ourselves economically strong, because an economically strong country has no problems finding allies.

FAISAL GHAURI

Clarendon Hills, IL

US

In defence of dissent

LATELY, I have read letters from your readers criticizing some of your columnists, particularly Mr Ayaz Amir.

I strongly disagree with your writers who are asking Mr Amir and others to stop criticizing the president, government and our military and fall in line. That is precisely what we don’t need.

We need people like Mr Amir who can point out the weaknesses among our ranks. The only way to succeed is to know your failings. We are facing such acute problems that have more to do with our own internal leadership than any other extraneous factors.

I have no doubt in my mind that Mr Amir is a true patriot. His writings reflect the sentiments of many people.

I do not agree with every point he makes or sometimes even his entire article. Nevertheless, I thank God for having people like him among us who speak without asking for any favour.

Before my father passed away, we used to sit around the dinner table and discuss various issues, from religion to politics. Nothing was out of bounds. He started this practice when we are young and lived with him. Even after all his four sons, including myself, started our own families, we would not miss out the opportunity to have a spirited debate over any subject at his home on a hot summer afternoon. He always allowed us to disagree with him.

Sometimes he would inject opinions just to stir further debate. I remember him saying that there were five billion people on earth and, therefore, there were five billion different sets of beliefs in every subject. No two beliefs even though they can be similar, are alike. Whenever, dissension is suppressed, mankind suffers.

Therefore my message to Mr Ayaz Amir is to continue his good work. Let the president and his brass know that they are being watched. Let your conscience be your guide. SALIM AKBANI

O’Fallon, IL

US

Terrible road

I WOULD like to bring to the notice of the authorities concerned the fact that the Cantt station road is in a shambles. The flow of traffic is further impeded by the number of buses stationed around the Cantt area.

This makes no sense since the place chosen by these buses to park is already so congested. Why can’t they instead park their vehicles under the Lilly and Clifton bridges?

The traffic police should try and do something because many commuters also use this area and the proposed arrangement would be convenient for them and for the motorists who use the Cantt station area.

ERUM SAEED

Karachi

Left-hander’s plea

DURING the ongoing Intermediate exams it was very difficult for me to write on the standard chairs provided to the students, which had a writing surface on the right-hand side for placing the answer sheet.

These chairs are not comfortable for left-handed students. I appeal to the authorities to provide chairs that have a writing surface desk on the left hand side so that left-handed students can also write comfortably.

ALI HABIB

Karachi

Planning for a dam

IN the last two decades, we have observed diversified opinions and conflicting interests over the construction of large projects, in particular dams, in places as far apart as India, Sri Lanka, Brazil, South Africa and the US.

A few points need to be remembered by policy-makers whenever they consider large projects. All people who stand to be affected by the project should have a say in the decision-making and planning process.

Many people have benefited all over the world from the building of multi-purpose dams. But such projects have ended up displacing about 80 million people and are often subject to cost overruns and delays.

Governments generally downplay the adverse effects of dams such as the increased foreign debt burden, displacement of local residents, damage to the environment, and the inequitable sharing of costs and benefits.

Gone are the days when there were no debates and opposition to dams. Adverse environmental and social effects are no longer acceptable. Therefore the community has to be a part of the decision-making process.

A worldwide study has revealed that dams meant only for irrigation did not generally yield the predicted economic benefits.

However, multi-purpose dams which were used also to generate hydroelectricity were found to more feasible. Many such dams continue to generate benefits beyond their projected economic life.

The following recommendations should be considered in our case: All people be consulted, right from the start of a project’s planning phase; gains and losses should be distributed equitably among stakeholders; the government should decide in the case of a conflict between national and local interests; people should be adequately compensated for their land and agreements between all parties concerned should be in place before the project begins, to prevent any possible cost overrun.

ENGR RIAZ AHMED BHUTTA

Lahore

Delisting

According to a news item published on May 22, Jahangir Siddiqui Investment Bank Limited and Jahangir Siddiqui and Company have applied to the Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) to delist their stock from the Lahore and Islamabad stock exchanges.

When a firm of such repute takes such a decision — presumably after the SECP introduced some new regulations — what is one to expect of smaller companies?

It should be a matter of concern for the SECP if other companies also followed suit. The impact of the new regulations should be assessed by the finance ministry.

HUSNA ABBASI

Karachi