UGC permission: genuine or fake?

THIS refers to the Aug 6 news item captioned ‘PU issues notices to two varsities’ which states that the Punjab University has issued notices to Iqra University, Lahore Campus, and Hamdard University, Faisalabad Campus, to wind up their operations with an immediate effect.

The stance that the Punjab University has taken in the notices is that both the universities had opened and have been running these campuses without prior permission of the Punjab government and the Punjab University.

The registrar of the Punjab University has described as ‘fake’ the written permission which, the aggrieved universities say, was obtained from the University Grants Commission (UGC) before opening the campuses. The UGC also disowned the document (permission) when the PU administration contacted it.

I sincerely advise the PU administration to investigate the case thoroughly before taking any legal action against the two universities.

I am fully aware of the duality in the UGC’s dealings vis-a-vis different private institutions of higher learning currently operating in the country. With profound apology to those at the helm of affairs at this august body, the UGC’s discriminatory attitude is very well known to those institutions that have had the opportunity to confront it at one time or the other since their existence.

I can’t believe this. How could it be possible that the chief executive of the organization is totally unaware of what his colleagues around him are doing? If he is, then God help those institutions that have always been and are being discriminated against ruthlessly by the UGC.

If this helps in setting things right, I would dare to mention that the claim of at least one of the aggrieved universities regarding the permission being granted to it by the UGC could be correct.

This I say with confidence because I had seen a letter issued to the Iqra University by a very senior UGC official heading the accreditation and coordination department, granting recognition to one of its campuses other than Karachi.

Many private institutions that have had the experience of interacting with this UGC official must have been flatly denied this privilege that he had extended to the Iqra University.

Whenever other institutions approached him for the grant of NOC/recognition, their requests had been turned down forthwith on the grounds that “UGC recognizes only that campus of an institution on which a charter has been conferred either by the Provincial Government or by the Federal Government.”

If that is the case, then why undue favours had been extended to the Iqra and other private universities?

In view of the foregoing, I take this opportunity to humbly request the Chairman of the UGC to take immediate cognizance of the anomalies that exist in the organization’s accreditation and coordination department.

To help him deal with the situation effectively, the incumbent acting Director Accreditation and Coordination must, instead of keeping him in the dark, immediately inform him about the irregularities committed in the past.

What has held him back from doing so, so far, is at least beyond my stretch of imagination to understand.

M. ZUBAIR

Karachi

Mishandling peace rally

I WANT to bring to the notice of our so-called liberal class this government’s attitude towards peace activists.

I got an opportunity to visit Wahga with a group of human right activists on the independence day. There were thousands of people celebrating the occasion and the atmosphere was quite festive as none was aggressive or ill-behaved. But the attitude of the rangers and army personnel there reminded one of colonial days. Mounted rangers were riding up and down with a stick. They had serious and arrogant looks. Every now and then they would ‘lathi’ charge the public, who were simply enjoying themselves.

Amongst our group were Asma Jahangir, Salima Hashmi and Shahtaj Qizilbash along with many of us from various fields. If I had not been there, I would not have believed it but the way the officers in-charge there lashed out at Asma Jahangir, when she waved back to Kuldip Nayar and other peace activists on the other side was humiliating — to say the least.

Nobody from across the border was being shouted at or beaten. The glares, frothing at the mouth, shouts and abusive language was a spectacle to watch.

One of the officers kept calling Asma Jahangir, ‘this woman, ‘you woman’ and screamed that “I will throw you out” and “get this woman out.”

It was disgusting. I hope that next Aug 14 many more peace activists will visit the border and wave out to those who believe in peace for all of the region and do not represent the two governments.

The brief encounter was emotional. After all bigotry cannot stand in the way of the desire of the people.

SALEEM SHAHZAD

Lahore

Four phases of the economy

THIS refers to Jamila Khatoon’s letter “New definition of recession?” (Aug 16).

Economic activity usually passes through four phases - recession, depression, recovery and boom. When the GNP and employment are declining, the economy is said to be in recession, which, when deep, becomes a depression. When output and employment are rising, the economy is said to be in a phase of recovery, which becomes a boom as full employment nears and industries operate at maximum capacity.

A recession usually lasts for about one to three years, during which the rate of unemployment rises. When a recession is prolonged and/or the rate of unemployment shoots up, the economy may be said to be suffering from a depression and business stagnates to confront a great depression. Thus depending on its severity in depth and length, the down-swing of business cycle may be defined as a recession, depression and a great depression.

Regarding the rates of currency exchange, let us recall that, pursuant to the breakdown of the Brettonwoods system of fixed exchange rates in 1971, the exchange rates were allowed to find their own levels in the foreign exchange markets. Many economists believed that adjustment in international trade would be made more easily than under the fixed exchange rates.

They agreed this way. If a country is running a trade deficit, i.e. export earnings are less than payments for imports, the value of its currency will go down.

This depreciation will make imports more costly and exports more competitive.

Thus the strong rupee or weak dollar erodes the competitive strength of prices in the world markets which is fraught with a great risk of adverse effect on our exports.

HAJI ESSA KATCHI

Karachi

Human evolution and nationalism

THIS is with reference to the report headlined “Nation-states can’t survive with N-bombs: Arundhati Roy” published on Aug 16.

One may say that Ms Roy’s speech was a flawed piece of ”sentimental analysis.” In fact, I wonder what really led her to ”devolve the art of political analysis to sentimental analysis.”

Beginning with her statement “if I am given basic human rights and have the right to speech and to live my life with freedom and dignity, it does not matter which flag one does that under. It become irrelevant.” What Ms. Roy fails to realize is that even if she attains her utopian concept of being a citizen of the world what will always remain relevant is the fact that she is “that citizen of the world from India.” Just like naturalised and by birth citizens in any country are still identified by their country of origin decades after having lived there, in the same sense our country of origin and in some cases our religion, is something we cannot get rid of, much like our own shadow.

She further goes on to state that instead of the cause of nationhood “let us focus on human evolution and progress.” Human evolution has, as a proven fact, ensured the diversity of the human race, providing us with an identity and sense of belonging to “funny bits of cloth which shrink the human mind” that sustain and comfort us in an ever competitive world. And I feel it is pertinent to point out that competition is a necessity progress cannot do without.

Then she goes on to dismiss nation-states as mere “spurious theatrics,” once again ignoring history, precedence and evolution in understanding that all over the world, nation states are what has become the primary unit of identity, through evolution itself. As a proof of that evolution, forget about war but even on the sports field people from all walks of life cheer the man wearing their country’s “funny bits of cloth” as a matter of pride.

She further intones: “Human society cannot exist when they are administered by nation-states.” I shudder to hear such a statement from a prominent writer who fails to understand that she herself is in fact a product of a society that is administered by one of the strongest nation-states of the world.

AMMAR SARWAR

Lahore

A pathetic portrait of helplessness

A PICTURE appearing in Aug 13 issue shows Ayesha Bibi, a pregnant woman, in chains. She is holding her son who is innocently looking at the chains.

According to the text accompanying the picture, a court has ordered investigation into the case in which a sub-inspector of police has been accused of abducting Ayesha Bibi who has been subjected to gang rape repeatedly.

The pathetic picture, a portrait of helplessness, should have jolted the conscience of everyone.

The lawlessness of the police personnel has become very common and we come across such news items almost daily. What is news, is that the feminists and the self-styled moralists have yet to come out against such an outrageous behaviour of the black sheep among the law-enforcement authorities themselves.

PROF P. NASIR

Gujrat

Save a heritage building

THE building on M.A. Jinnah Road, Karachi, bearing survey No. 4, survey sheet No.RB-7, is a ‘heritage’ building according to a notification issued by Sindh Government’s Culture, Tourism, Sports and Youth department. Such buildings cannot be sold, transferred or demolished for constructing a new building.

However, in February 2002, this building was sold out for about Rs50 million. Subsequently, the papers related to this building were reported stolen. As such, now no record related to this building is available with the KDA/KMC. The building is now likely to be declared as dangerous and, therefore, the government might issue orders for its demolition.

We request the media and the concerned NGOs to raise a voice against this and save a heritage property from being demolished.

ABDUL GHANI USMAN AND OTHERS

Karachi

Constitutional amendments

THERE has been a general welcome to the 73 proposed amendments which include some very essential points. However, those concerning political parties have been drawing strong criticism.

Now that the government has already imposed the condition of graduation on all the aspirants of a seat in an assembly, it should also ensure the implementation of Article-29 giving access to education to every citizen as a principle of policy.

We do need a National Security Council like those in the UK, USA, Russia, China and some other states. But such a body would be welcomed only if it is provided with a shield against political intervention. Such a body should deal with real security issues and its members should include the foreign and defence ministers.

The President may appoint his own advisory cell and include in it the interior minister and the chief ministers.

The NSC would be helpful if it has a purely advisory role. Its interference beyond the role would never be accepted because a non-elected body cannot be placed above the elected House and cannot be allowed to decide the latter’s fate. If the NSC is empowered to dissolve the parliament or assemblies, it would destroy the supremacy of the legislature.

During the review case of Zafar Ali Shah, when the court asked S. S. Pirzada: “Will you return the powers to the civilians after three years?” He answered in the affirmative. However, the present situation does not seem to be a question of transfer of powers. It is rather the President’s wish for non-civilians to share some powers with the civilians.

The armed forces have a role of defending our frontiers particularly at this point when the country is facing a serious security threat at our eastern and western borders.

I firmly believe that if these points are considered while bringing about the amendments to the Constitution, it will bring a positive change to the political structure of Pakistan.

MEHREEN JAFFER MOHMAND

Islamabad

Insanity as defence

THIS refers to the editorial ‘Insanity as defence’ (Aug 11). From an academic point of view, I may submit that as far as abnormal psychology is concerned, a paranoid is likely to suffer from delusions.

According to the book, Introduction to Psychology by Ernest R. Hilgard (p.525): “Delusions often take the form of either delusions of grandeur (the patient believes he is Napoleon) or.....” And according to the same book (p 617): “Delusions stand for false beliefs characteristic of some forms of psychotic disorder.” Such a person is believed to suffer from megalomania, an exaggerated self-evaluation or sense of worth.

Even according to old Greek of medicine, (Tibb-i-Unani) such a person is diagnosed as melancholic, having the symptoms of claiming himself/herself to be a king/queen, a high profile scholar, a saint, etc.

PROF ATAUL HAQ SUBHANI

Faisalabad

Educational facilities

I WISH to draw the attention of the Punjab education authorities towards the miserable condition of the educational facilities in Rajanpur district.

Recently, I was stunned by the news that the Punjab government had given the status of a university to the Government College, Lahore.

Lahore is already the city of colleges. It is not expedient for the Punjab government to spend lavishly and quite unnecessarily on the provision of more and more educational facilities to the developed and highly talented students of the city of colleges.

I think the government is deliberately depriving students of the backward Rajanpur district of what they deserve. In the whole of Rajanpur district, there are only three colleges for boys which is shocking.

Moreover, the staff at these colleges has always been insufficient due to the indifference of the Punjab educational authorities.

The backward students of Rajanpur district fail to make the best of their abilities due to the situation and the absence of modern educational facilities.

Hence they grow more and more inefficient unlike the students of Lahore who are uncommonly talented and efficient.

To me, their extraordinary talent owes a great deal to the modern educational facilities and to the complete staff provided at their doorstep.

May I know the reason for the unequal distribution of resources among the sons of the soil?

Why are the governor, the chief secretary and the secretary education, Punjab, so kind to the developed and talented students of Lahore and harsh to the students of Rajanpur district?

INAMUL MOHSIN

Kot Mitthan

Visit visa for Netherlands

LIKE several other European countries, the Netherlands has also stopped issuing visit visa and processing of legalization cases at its embassy/consulate in Pakistan.

A large number of Pakistanis have been in a fix for the last four months as the Netherlands authorities has closed the section which had been processing legalization documents. The worst-hit have been those who wanted to reunite with their families in that country and have already submitted their documents. They have no option but to wait indefinitely.

I request the Netherlands government to have a pragmatic view of the issue and take measures to normalize the visa process.

DR AMNA IQBAL

Karachi

Democracy and experiments

I FULLY endorse Mr Kuldip Nayar’s views expressed in his article ‘The spark that Pakistan lacks’ (Aug 3). He has written on the political history of Pakistan.

It is true that the Muslims League was highly influenced and dictated to by the Muslim elite, big landlords and tribal chiefs as compared to the Congress which had succeeded in developing a relation between people and their political leaders in the early period of their political struggle for independence.

At the birth of Pakistan, the Congress leadership had made various plans to sabotage the new country and not to let it stand on its feet. So it is right to say that since its inception, Pakistan has been facing the crisis of true and sincere political leadership.

Taking advantage of the failure of the political parties, the military took over with great pomp and show and tried different political systems and made several constitutional changes. But all proved fruitless.

Even when political parties again came into power, their leaders did not make any sincere efforts to establish democratic institutions in the country.

Political parties are influenced by the personal charisma of their leaders rather than political workers who are backbone of a political party.

That is the reason the common people did not take to the streets when political regimes were overthrown undemocratically.

While India had not experienced this kind of leadership crisis, it had succeeded in establishing strong democratic institutions in the country. Bangladesh, with all its shortcomings, has been moving steadily towards strengthening democratic culture. Street protests and demonstrations are part and parcel of a democratic culture. In Pakistan, this culture could not take root.

Recently, the Musharraf government had introduced a devolution plan at the grassroots level throughout the country. Though this system has numerous handicaps, it should not be interrupted because people would modify it and make it more effective according to their social requirements in the future.

I would like to request our military rulers as well as political leaders not to make constitutional experiments, because we have paid a very high price for them in the past, and make sincere efforts in establishing and strengthening democratic institutions and culture at the grassroots level in the country.

ZAHEER OMAIR SAYAL

Okara