‘Masses want peace’

REFERRING to Saturday’s worldwide anti-war protests, Ibrat writes that the huge rallies staged by millions of people in 600 cities prove that despite the war hysteria of the governments, the masses want peace. The banners and placards carried by the protesters rejected the US claim that it was going to attack Iraq for world peace and exposed the real motive behind its war plans, which is oil.

The daily adds that the protesters managed to do what the United Nations had failed to achieve. Now the UN must prove the reason for its existence. The organization was formed to provide the world with a platform to settle international disputes through negotiations and not through war. If the UN fails to avert the looming war, it will lose the primary reason for its creation.

Kawish writes that from the very beginning, the local government system has fallen prey to confusion which has increased after the October elections. The feeling of powerlessness among the district governments has deepened with the interference of the Sindh government with different matters that fall within the jurisdiction of local government.

The daily recalls that a clash between provincial and local governments was predicted before the introduction of the latter. The architects of the devolution programme had argued that a clash would not occur as power would be devolved not only from the provinces to the districts but also from the centre to the provinces. However, power has not been devolved from the centre to the provinces, and this has created differences between the provincial and local governments. Kawish advises Islamabad to rescue the local government system, in which billions of rupees and a lot of labour have been invested, by ensuring that the centre gives powers to the provinces.

Awami Awaz deplores the fact that no step has been taken to check the price hike which is adding to the miseries of the common citizens. On the other hand, measures like frequent increases in the prices of petroleum products contribute towards the rise in prices of essential commodities. For the latest increase in petrol prices, the argument offered is that international prices have gone up. But when the prices of petroleum products fall in the world market, why don’t they come down at home?

Hilal-i-Pakistan points out that spring has arrived but no government agency seems to be taking notice of it. This is the best time to launch a tree plantation campaign in order to improve the fast degrading environment.

The daily advises the government as well as NGOs to take advantage of the change in weather and plant as many trees as possible during the season.