Keeping Pakistanis away from US

THIS is with reference to Ardeshir Cowasjee’s article, “Give me seven years ...” (Sept 15). I am a Pakistani student at the University of South Alabama. After the beginning of summer this year, Pakistani students have stopped coming here. Before 9/11, this university probably had the largest Pakistani student population in the state of Alabama. However, everything has changed. Nowadays, instead of Pakistanis, there are lots of Indians and Koreans coming to the US.

Moreover, it is becoming more and more difficult to find a job anywhere in the United States. Those students who have graduated complain that the recruiters have some kind of ‘Islamophobia’ and they’d rather not hire a Pakistani.

There’s a complete freeze on Pakistani students entering the United States. I can’t help but think that this is part of a planned strategy to keep Pakistanis away from the US universities and filling them up with Indian students.

Muslim community leaders’ worst fears are coming true: all the patriotism in America after 9/11 is translating into racism and Islamophobia. The detention of three medical students for a full day on a fake charge is just one example.

The Ashcroftism of today is dangerous for any country, especially the United States with its extremely diverse population. The other day, former President Clinton made a comment on a late night television show to the effect that the United States should in fact allow more Muslim students to enter the country in order to increase international contacts.

The Pakistan government should take up the issue with the US government and ask for an end to this blatant racism. If there has to be more investigation before the issuance of a US visa, it should cover everybody and not only the people with specific nationalities.

MOHSIN ALAM

Alabama, USA

Sixth NFC Award

YOUR editorial, ‘Sixth NFC Award’ (Sept 17), has advocated the case of smaller provinces vis-a-vis the coming NFC Award very well. Being a leading newspaper originating from one of the smaller provinces, it is the duty of Dawn to do so.

However, the calculation of the share as given in second para needs clarification. It is said that the federal government may increase provinces’ share from 37.5 per cent to 40 per cent and if share from subvention amount (Rs20 billion) and 2.5 per cent GST (Rs32 billion) is added, it is projected to go up to 44 per cent.

The factual position is that the GST share is already due outside the parameters of the NFC Award. Provinces (for that matter the local governments) used to collect octroi/toll tax till late 90s when the central government abolished this major source of income of local bodies with promise that this loss will be compensated from the GST central government would levy on the items whose transportation created toll tax/octroi for provinces.

In fact the entire GST collection should be in the hands of provinces, as is the case in many developed countries as well as in our immediate neighbour, India, but that seems a far away probability in this country.

So, whatever amount the central government gives to provinces from GST is in lieu of toll tax/octroi hence it should not be included in provinces’ share in the NFC.

However, if at all this amount is counted in provinces’ share then the total amount collected in lieu of toll tax/octroi should be added to the central divisible pool and the result will be the same, in terms of percentage, as without inclusion of GST.

ABDUL KHALIQUE JUNEJO

Karachi

Iraq: US must consult allies

THIS is with reference to Henry Kissinger’s article ‘Iraq: US must consult allies’ (Sept 12). He has tried his best to back President Bush’s stance regarding Iraq.

Well I’m really with Dr Kissinger when he speaks about the war against terrorism because this is the main issue which is simmering like a volcano endangering the entire world. But here I may point out that as it was decided in the famous Treaty of Westphalia in 1648 that all countries would be legally obliged not to intervene in the domestic affairs of each other, how does President Bush have any legal or moral authority to disturb the domestic harmony of a sovereign state like Iraq?

In his article, Henry Kissinger opines that “preemption is inseparable from the war against terrorism,” because, “if there is a serious prospect of the emergence of a terrorist threat from the soil of a sovereign country, some preemptive action is inherent in the definition of the challenge.” At this I think everybody would agree with Henry Kissinger. But the question arises: why this criterion only for Iraq? If it is accepted that Iraq is doing some damage or even posing a threat to international peace, then what are Israel and India doing?

If America wants some action against Iraq, then one thinks Israel and India deserve the same treatment.

OBAIDUR REHMAN

Islamabad

Economic stability needed

PEOPLE now see a relationship between democracy and bad government. They now want governments that can ensure economic stability. They worry less about its institutional character.

The recent record of politicians indicates that democracy’s chances are worryingly low because people have little trust left in the political parties. Look at the recent low voter turnout in elections in European countries. Statecraft in democracies, including Western democracies, resembles a decadent art. The slow but sustained economic decline of Britain, Spain and Italy, and now Germany and France, has shaken peoples’ trust in democracy. Pakistanis experienced the same during the last ‘decade of democracy’. How much they believe in democracy now will be proved by the turnout in the coming elections.

Democracy is succeeding only in countries where elections brought to power new groups rejecting the corrupt that ravaged national economies. The PML(N) and PPP should accept the bitter reality that people are disgusted with the blind (but self-serving) economic policies these parties followed when in power. Besides, they treated Pakistan as their ancestral property turning it into their private battleground. They tarnished the image of all institutional arrangements.

In a fair election, these parties don’t stand even half a chance of success. It is time they stopped accusing the present government of ‘pre-poll rigging’ — a slogan later on to be used as the excuse for their bad showing in the forthcoming elections.

A. B. SHAHID

Karachi

SECP-KSE tussle

I REFER to an article by Mr Dilawar Hussain under the caption: ‘SECP-KSE tussle more about power’.

The article on the whole was quite informative. However, I have an observation on the following sentence: “Given the dismal performance record of non-member directors and the ‘independent’ managing director, the attempt by the SECP to install outside directors in majority and a non-member chairman, meant to many that Islamabad would be calling all the shots. Some of the big brokers, who were immediately up in arms, said that it was an attempt by the government to ‘nationalize’ the stock exchanges.”

I, being one of the non-member directors on the Karachi Stock Exchange, would be most grateful if you or Mr Dilawar Hussain could confirm how this general and casual impression was formed.

You will appreciate the SECP, by initiating non-members on the Board, was keen to improve transparency and professionalism of the KSE. Since these members have only been on the Board for around eight months, any rush to judgment is premature. On average, the Board has been meeting almost every six weeks. I and the other non-member directors have made efforts to contribute positively to the workings of the Karachi Stock Exchange and are very conscious of the responsibility which such an honorary appointment carries.

We read all papers circulated to the Board and express our frank views freely without any fear of playing favourites. Since we are non-executive appointees, it is up to the management of KSE to implement the views and guidance of the Board.

SHAHARYAR AHMAD

Karachi

Insurance policy claim

I AM the widow of Allama Aun Muhammad Najfi (who died at the age of 48 leaving behind seven sons and two daughters) without any regular source of income. I did my best to bring up my children. With the grace of Almighty Allah, my eldest son, Ali Raza, completed his education and became a research officer in the Ministry of Defence.

In 1997, my son obtained a life policy No. 46010682 from Alico (Pakistan) Limited and paid the premium for four years regularly.

Unfortunately, he suffered from hepatitis-C. This came to our knowledge at a very late stage and despite all our efforts, he could not survive and died at the age of 36 on Jan 30, 2001.

We approached the US-based insurance company for the reimbursement of claim against his life policy.

But after about one year, it has informed us that the claim could not be entertained and cited the following policy provision:

“This policy, but not any part thereof granting disability or accident benefits, shall be incontestable, with regard to any misstatement pertaining to its issue, after it has been in force during the lifetime of the insured for two years from its date of issue except for fraudulent and wilful misstatement/ concealment of material facts.”

The illness of my son came to our knowledge at a very late stage. If our intentions were to defraud the company at the time of obtaining the policy, my son would not have approached the company in 1998 for cancellation of the policy, which was regretted by the company on the grounds that policy acquires cash value after payment of two full years’ premium.

I am facing financial hardships. The company should entertain and favour my claim.

UMME KULSOOM

Karachi

Textbooks & education systems

IN her article, ‘Different books, different education’ (Sept 15), Farah Khan is correct in saying: “At times, the matric textbook reads like a badly done PR (public relations) job by a government spokesman.”

If she gets a chance to study other science textbooks like physics for the matric system published by textbook boards, she would be astonished to find glaring mistakes, discrepancies, inadequacies and inaccuracies in the material apart from gross printing and proof-reading errors.

In addition to this, textbooks for the matric system are marks-oriented and encourage rote-learning and selective study whereas textbooks for O-level are knowledge-oriented and encourage a spirit of inquiry, creativity and independent and analytical thinking.

Many educationists have expressed their disapproval regarding the flawed textbooks for matric published by the textbook boards but the system remains unchanged which is tantamount to pushing the young children into obscurantism.

Consequently, our system of education is losing its credibility and the well-to-do and those who can afford it always prefer to educate their children in the O-level system.

I have made a detailed comparative study of both the systems and discussed it with many educationists and teachers. It is my considered opinion that if we can afford to do so, we must educate our children under the O-level system in the larger national interest.

I think there is no harm in adopting a foreign system of education when our own system has failed to deliver and we are not ready to change it.

PROF A. H. SUBHANI

Faisalabad

Obscenity through cable

CABLE transmissions have shown us a facet of life in America where actresses on TV and movies, coeds in colleges and women elsewhere have very few inhibitions about uncovering themselves in as casual a manner as we would remove our shoes here.

God save us from this American permissiveness, born of their disastrous First Amendment, spreading rapidly across the world.

Fortunately being 50 years behind the so-called ‘civilized’ world, the most our ladies are wont to display are only their faces (let’s hope we can keep it that way). Go back another 50 years and even the faces, in many families, in many parts of the country, were hidden behind burqas.

KHURSHID ANWER

Lahore

Switching over to Linux

A RECENT press report said that the government of Pakistan had issued a notification suggesting the use of Linux instead of Windows as the platform for official operating systems.

It seems strange that anyone at the Ministry of Science and Technology would take a decision like that understanding that our country, striving to achieve reliable data systems and connectivity, should adopt a technology that has not been proven as yet.

Why waste our time and money? We are not in a position to take chances; we must adopt a system that is compatible with that adopted by the rest of the world.

Let’s be honest about it. Windows is the practical choice, the most convenient and affordable as well. If Linux is coming cheaper, technology may ruin whatever remains of our official operating systems.

NOOR-UL-ARFEEN SIDDIQUI

Karachi

Funds for Sindh

THE Sindh Finance Minister, Dr Hafeez Shaikh, while addressing the members of the Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industries, disclosed: “in 1990, the development budget of Sindh was 25 per cent of its total budget which slimmed to four per cent in the year 2000, making one dollar per person in the province.”

He further revealed that on assuming the charge, he had come to know that not a single project, sponsored by the international donor agencies, was in pipeline for Sindh as against 11 for the other provinces.

This is a very shocking disclosure for every Pakistani in general and for the people of Sindh in particular. Sindh, being the prime contributor towards the national exchequer, has been deprived of development funds/projects by the successive governments.

The minister rightly said that lethargic and indifferent attitude of previous governments in the province, disheartened and prevented the international donor agencies from starting a single project in Sindh. The people of Pakistan must think about it.

MUHAMMAD ASLAM

Karachi

A Japanese objection

THIS is with reference to the report and picture regarding Aalmi Mushaira. The fans of Urdu literature were very pleased for the selection and display of the photograph of living legend of Urdu poetry Tabish Dehlavi.

At the same time, it was strange to read, both in the caption and the report, ‘senior poet’ for him instead of ‘senior most’ (refer to the letter, ‘Senior most Urdu poet’ June 9).

Tabish Dehlavi is not only the senior most Urdu poet of today but his classic poetry is a follow-up of Meer, Ghalib, Aatish, Faani, etc.

Tabish, according to Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi, “has got fame in the field of Ghazal, when the whole subcontinent was under the grip of masters of Ghazal like Faani, Firaq, Yagana, Asghar, Jigar and Hasrat. It was a very difficult task for a person to raise his height in the favourite field of above-mentioned masters of Urdu poetry, but the Ghazal of Tabish has done this job.”

While writing a story on the legend, who is an asset for Urdu poetry and has been recognized by Pakistan government by being awarded Tamgha-e-Imtiaz for his services to the Urdu literature, one should take care about his title.

PROF MACHIKO NEMOTO

Chiba, Japan

Cantonment appeals

FORMERLY, district magistrates used to hear appeals against the levy of property tax by the cantonment boards. Now the district magistrate does not exist. Only the powers of the Cr.PC have been given to the district and sessions judges but not the appellate authority. It is requested that the district and sessions judges be given the powers of the district magistrate to dispose of such cantonment appeals.

HUMAYUN AKHTAR

Multan

Our future: bright or bleak

I DON’T find any reason to agree with the writer of the letter, ‘Future of national institutions’ (Aug 30). The writer has based his analysis on the situation in Karachi where multinational companies are active.

Moreover, people who migrated from India or from other parts of Pakistan to Karachi are always on the lookout to migrate anywhere in the world in search of better prospects.

However, the situation is not so in case of people living in the rest of the country, especially in the Punjab and NWFP. The CSS results of the last examination (2000) will bear me out. About 900 candidates were declared successful in that examination against 207 vacancies.

The reason for passing such a large number was to accommodate candidates even with lesser merit from Sindh (urban). Those selected include specialist doctors, engineers, chartered accountants, etc.

So, I am confident that the workforce in future government organizations will be of good quality.

The recent exodus of some technical personnel to Canada is the result of a misconception obtaining in Pakistan about free medical and educational facilities in that country.

Whenever there is an honest government in Pakistan, those involved in loot and plunder cry that the country is lost. There are people around who see the future in Pakistan in their own personal benefit.

If the environment is good and they can earn through illegal means, they say that the country is strong and they pray for it and its founder. But if they find that the conditions are not conducive to their malpractice, they predict a bleak future for the country. They then talk of migrating from Pakistan and some innocent people fall prey to their theories.

Coming to those who migrated to Canada, one would be shocked to know their plight. Can anyone imagine engineers or doctors working there on odd jobs like truck and cab drivers, watchman, etc?

It is time we trusted our new generation which is fully prepared to run the country under an honest and able leadership.

HAFEEZ AKHTAR

Lahore