‘Bulls’ on the rampage for the Senate
IN present-day Pakistan, democracy is not about counting people; it has also become a system wherein you count money to get yourself into parliament.
The stock exchange analogy may also be apt. Imagine the Senate to be a stock exchange. There is a whole array of people associated with the exchange. There are traders and there are brokers. There are the ‘bulls’ and there are small-time shareholders. The ‘bulls’ are the wealthy, moneyed candidates who are out and about to ‘buy’ votes (not shares). Substitute the stockbrokers with go-betweens, the ones who liaise and get the former the best price. And then there are the visible and not-so- visible “market forces”.
Now, in the contest for the Senate shaping up in the Frontier, the ‘bulls’ are out on a rampage, with offers that would move even a mountain. Literally, it is a clash of the titans — a wealthy gentleman from the northern district of the NWFP vs another moneyed personality from the otherwise poor and backward southern district of the province. It is a contest between the ‘dollars wali sarkar’ from Mansehra and an industrialist and his son from Dera Ismail Khan. And when the ‘bulls’ lock horns, there is plenty of action for everyone to watch and enjoy. The share (vote) price has gone up. In fact, it is at a record high, beating all previous records in Pakistan’s mired political history.
The brokers are there too, to help the sides come to a settlement, but it is the ‘bulls’ that are pushing up the price tag. As of Thursday, the price of one vote, according to one MPA, was Rs6 million, having started off from Rs3 million.
Obviously, the MPAs could not be happier. Most of them are new to the business of parliamentary politics, but the more the merrier. The ‘bulls’ aren’t stopping either. One of them is said to have borrowed a huge sum to finance himself as well as a few ‘others’ reach the upper house of parliament. It is said he has been asked to do so by you know who — the forces that influence the shape of political events in Pakistan.
Now all this has made political parties worry and scurry. There are several politicians whose hearts have missed quite a few beats at the mere mention of the going price — the millions which wouldn’t even fit into a briefcase. In fact, so huge is the price tag that all political parties that have representation in the assembly know they won’t be able to hold their vote bank together. And if anyone thinks that the MMA is immune to the money-game being played by the rich and the affluent of our parliamentary politics, he should think again. For there are rumours galore that some ‘puritans’ may not in fact be as pure as they make themselves out to be.
There is fear that the ‘bulls’ will push up the price so high that it will make it well neigh impossible for them to persuade their MPAs to vote for their own party candidates. The ‘bulls’, of course, are independent and do not owe allegiance to any political party. It is another matter that one of the independents, Azam Swati, has secured three votes from the MMA, the JUI-F to be precise, and speculation is rife as to how this gentleman managed to woe its leaders.
His rival from Dera Ismail Khan, former Senator Gulzar, and his son Waqar are facing a more daunting challenge. Not only do they want to ensure their own victory, they are said to have been tasked to ensure that ‘others’ make it to the Senate too. These ‘others’ are Dr Shaheen Sardar Ali, a law teacher who ended up heading the ministry of health in the military government, her cabinet colleague and education minister Imtiaz Hussain Gillani, and the adviser to the governor on health, Robina Gillani.
The law requires a contesting candidate to appear in person while submitting his or her nomination forms. As it happened, Dr Shaheen Sardar Ali was out of the country and, therefore, could not file her nomination forms. It took Dr Mehr Taj Roghani (the lady who succeeded Dr Shaheen Ali as minister for health upon her resignation) to turn up at the office of the Election Commission, wearing a veil, and filing her predecessor’s nomination forms.
Those who are watching the ‘bullfight’ from a distance know that the wheeler dealers of our polity are bound to end up with plenty of egg on their faces. In the mad race to buy votes, no matter what the price, the ‘bulls’ may be unable to pay anyone, leaving the MMA to send over a dozen of its nominees to the Senate. Four of the five opposition parties, the ANP, the PPP-S, the PML-Q and the PPP-P, are desperately trying to reach an understanding and save themselves from what appears to be a big embarrassment. The PML-N has capitulated to the MMA, although it faces the risk of losing votes to the ‘bulls’ too.
The pro-Musharraf parties fear that the ‘bulls’, unable to find many votes in the MMA, will eventually turn to their MPAs and buy them off, thus, spoiling the chances of their own party candidates as well as the whole scheme to thwart the MMA from gaining a majority in the Senate. The schemers need better watch out.
Essence & spirit of Haj
HAZRAT Ibrahim made a moving supplication to Almighty Allah, “O’ my Lord! Bestow wisdom on me, and join me with the righteous; grant me an honourable mention on the tongue of truth, among the latest generations” (19:83-84). Haj, one of the pillars of Islam, is indeed a manifestation of the acceptance of Hazrat Ibrahim’s prayers. Haj and its rites are a continuum of the Abrahamic traditions. This Sunnat-i-Ibrahimi is an integral part of Islam.
The Sunnat of Prophet Hazrat Ibrahim (pbuh), is also enjoined upon Muslims in the Holy Quran. In fact, historical data suggests that the concept of Haj existed even before the time of Hazrat Ibrahim. But the main features of Haj as they existed at the advent of Islam were entirely based on the authority of Abraham. Hazrat Ibrahim was Divinely ordained not only to rebuild the Kaaba but also to purify it from all traces of idolatry, and to institute Haj. “And when we assigned to Abraham the place of the House, Saying, Do not set up ought with me, and purify My House for those who make the circuit, and who stand to pray and who bow and prostrate themselves. And proclaim among men, the Haj”... (22:26-27).
The site of Makkah granted to Hazrat Ibrahim and Hazrat Ismail was pure. Following them, the fundamental change brought about was the placing of idols at all the significant places of Haj. The Kaaba had 360 idols, all of which were thrown out at the conquest of Makkah.
Haj is obligatory on every adult, only once in his life time. “...Pilgrimage thereto is a duty men owe to Allah, those who can afford the journey...” (III:97). The ability to undertake a journey can be constrained by two major factors i.e. physical disability or financial disability. Allah does not wish to burden any soul and therefore any individual falling in above category may not perform Haj and there is no consequential disobedience or sin.
In Surah Al-Baqra, from Ayat 196 to 203, the various rites of Haj are described for the pilgrims to complete. The principal rites are: (i) wearing of the Ehram, from certain fixed points on all roads leading to Makkah. As soon as the Ehram is adorned by the pilgrim, the prohibitive conditions come into operation and the pilgrim is now committed to the worship of Allah (ii) circumambulation of the Holy Kaaba seven times, typifying activity by the kissing of Hajre Aswad (iii) a short prayer at the station of Hazrat Ibrahim (2:215) and then running between the hills of Mt. Safa and Mt. Marwa (2:158), symbolizing the patience and perseverance of Hazrat Hajra (iv) listening to the great sermon of Haj (v) visit to the valley of Mina and the hill of Arafat, where all pilgrims from noon to sunset stand on their feet and invoke blessings of Almighty. In between there is stay at Muzdalifah (vi) the 10th Zil Haj, the Eid day — sacrifice of animal is performed in the valley of Mina.
Here we come, O’ Allah, here come! Here we come. No partner have you. Here we come! Praise indeed, and blessings, are yours — the Kingdom too. No partner have you.
With this Talbiyah, on their lips, chanting incessantly with fervour and enthusiasm, Muslims clad in two pieces of coarse white cloth, converge to they holy city of Makkah from across the globe.
The ‘National Geographic’ in its November 1978 issue, carried an article by Dr. Muhammad Abdul Rauf, Director, Islamic Centre, Washington, where he remarks, on this unusual emotional drive in Muslims, “what is it that impels the Muslims to make this journey involving great sacrifice, hardship and cost, and yet doing so ardently and lovingly?” He then goes on to answer himself and quite aptly, “we each carry within our hearts a divine element. Torn from the womb of existence and ushered, crying into this world, we spend all our energies in the pursuit of a state of happiness. This restless, incessant drive is no more than that divine element within us seeking its origin.”
The purpose of Haj is to attain spiritual loftiness. “...And take a provision, with you, for the journey. But the best of provisions is right conduct...” (2:197). Pilgrims are expected not to resort to begging, hence they must carry or have means of provisions. But in the above verse, Allah almost immediately reminds us to move from physical to spiritual. We all need provision for the final journey and the best of spiritual provision is right conduct, which is same, as the ‘fear of Allah.’
Haj, is the best leveller of all distinctions of class, colour, creed, race, sect and origins. All Pilgrims are dressed alike, no one is better than the other, in the physical sense and they have only one chant, “Labbaik, Allah Umma, Labbaik...” Death levels all. But Haj, allows a Muslim, to experience in his life time, what levelling is? A pilgrim travelling first class or on an upper deck and a pilgrim travelling in tourist class or lower deck are all the same in sight of Allah. Only the most righteous amongst them has a higher station and honour and the worldly vulgar trappings of class, colour, etc., become more an embarrassment: a dilution to the high spiritual value of Haj.
Between the 8th, 9th and 10th of Ziaul Hajjah, all Haj rites are performed by the pilgrims. the Hajis leave the gates of Makkah with prayers, “repentant and devoted to the service of Allah, we now return home and bow in humility and gratitude to Him.” Each pilgrim’s heart thunders with prayers, “O! Allah let not this be the last time we pray before the Kaaba.”
In surah Al-Baqra (2:125) the Holy Quran states, “Remember We made the House, a place of Assembly for men and a place of safety...” Later in the same verse, “We covenanted with Ibrahim and Ismail that they should sanctify My House...” It therefore, establishes that the Kaaba stood as a building even before Ibrahim and that he along with his son Ismail rebuilt it, and remember Ibrahim and Ismail raised the foundations of the House (with this prayer): “Our Lord accept (this service) from us...” (2:127).
In fact another verse makes it abundantly clear that the Kaaba was already there when Ibrahim left Ismail in the wilderness of Arabia, under a Divine commandment, “ 0, our Lord! I have settled a part of my off-spring in a valley unproductive of fruit near thy sacred House” (14:37).
Islam was the religion of Ibrahim. His status is described thus: “him we chose and rendered pure in this world; and he will be in the Hereafter, in the ranks of the Righteous” (2:130). The legacy he left for his progeny was to uphold the doctrine of monotheism. His, unflinching faith in Allah is mentioned in Surah Baqr, Ayat 131, “Behold! his Lord said to him, “ Bow, (thy will to me): He said, “I bow (my will) to the Lord and Cherisher of the universe.”
Sindh PA’s demand for new NFC
WELCOMING the Sindh Assembly’s unanimously-adopted resolution on the need for a new national finance commission, Kawish writes that despite having a sea port, the country’s biggest commercial and industrial city, and oil, gas, coal and other mineral resources, Sindh gets only a “burden of debt from the centre”.
If revenue from its resources were spent in the province, its entire population would have become prosperous. However, the daily alleges, due to centralization of governance, lack of effective representation of Sindh in decision-making, supremacy of Punjab and the centre’s partial attitude, the province’s resources have been utilized at other places. The situation has contributed towards the rise of poverty in Sindh and development of a sense of alienation among its populace.
According to Kawish, when a federating unit presents a new demand about centre-province relations through its assembly, the existing arrangement becomes questionable and should be discontinued. After the resolution of the Sindh Assembly, it has become imperative to constitute a new NFC to prepare a new financial award. Islamabad’s refusal to do so would be equal to insulting the opinion of the assembly and the people of Sindh, which can produce harmful results in the long run.
On the other hand, the newspaper adds, it is not enough for Sindh to adopt a resolution: the provincial government should prepare a strategy to get the resolution implemented.
Ibrat says that the Punjab government, in a letter to the Indus River System authorities, has asked them to recommend construction of big dams to the government in the national interest. The daily expresses the opinion that Punjab has always been interpreting the national interest in its own way. It is feared that construction of big dams on the Indus upcountry will deepen the water crisis in Sindh, whose agriculture-based economy has already been devastated by the prevailing water shortage. Therefore, Ibrat concludes, Punjab should sympathetically consider the plight of Sindh and stop insisting on the construction of big dams, which have been rejected by the entire world as they cause irreparable damage to the environment.
Sach points out that Thar has again been hit by a drought, which has produced an acute scarcity of water and food, leading to the death of cattle, the only source of income for a majority of the desert dwellers. In this age of technological miracles, it is not impossible to eliminate conditions which lead to the creation of drought conditions every now and then. As the right of tail-ender growers over water of a river/channel is recognized, so the most backward areas should be given priority in allocation of development schemes, and Tharparkar district should be on the top of this list.
Tameer-i-Sindh writes that local newspapers are teeming with reports of illegal confinement of innocent people by the Sindh police. Besides, reports of police torture have also become very common. The daily advises the Sindh government to take steps to rescue the people from the illegal actions of the force.