Bush’s desire for a new UN

AMERICA’S quest for seeking UN Security Council approval for its war agenda against Iraq, as well as the statement of President Bush that if the UN does not support the solicited resolution, its future might be at stake, has driven the UN to the brink of dissension and uncertainty. More so since there exist among three other permanent members of the Security Council — Russia, France and China — certain reservations and opposition regarding the US justification for taking a military action to disarm Iraq; hence their warning to use veto power against any such US move.

Knowing the fact that the use of a veto would certainly upset the apple cart of its war designs against Iraq, the US is pressuring the non-permanent members, including Pakistan, because it requires votes of nine members out of 15, including the five permanent members.

The use of the veto power, which has now become the American discomfiture and obsession, was the brainchild of Winston Churchill which he had proposed at Yalta Conference in February 1945, and the idea was co-sponsored by President Roosevelt of the USA and Stalin of the USSR.

The use of veto has remained the most controversial issue of the UN because its use by the powerful prompts a constant threat to the future of the small nations. It is a fact that, during the Cold War era, the two superpowers, i.e. the US and the USSR, used this weapon frequently to defend their designs and interests. The fate of Palestine and Kashmir has been rather sealed by the vetoes of the USA and the USSR, whereas the US still uses veto in favour of Israel and hence backing the Zionist designs against the Palestinians.

Credo of the formation of the UN in June 1945 clearly says that the organization aims at saving the succeeding generations from the scourge of war, at reaffirming faith in the fundamental human rights, at establishing respect for international law and at promoting better standards of life in larger freedom. The US is openly transgressing the UN charter, as Washington is engaged in scourging a war.

Since the League of Nations lost its future with the outbreak of World War II, with Hitler’s attack on Poland in 1939, the same now seems to be the fate of the UN if the US unilaterally takes the course of war against Iraq. The responsibility then for saving the UN goes to the member states in the General Assembly, which must intervene with the mandate of its members to resolve the crisis.

S. Q. AFZAL RIZVI

Karachi

I SHOW my concern on the statement of the president of the United States of America that the US may create a new United Nations Organization. What this reflects is that according to the US in a unipolar world, a UNO with other powers having a veto is incongruous and a challenge to the sole superpower.

On the contrary, France, Germany, Russia and China believe that there is and will be a multi-polar world and that their veto alone can provide for world security or can sustain a UNO. The difference in point of view has come into the forefront on the issue of attack on Iraq.

The statement of the president of America, therefore, raises the question whether we are living in a unipolar world or a multi-polar world. The litmus test will come as and when Iraq is attacked.

If the US goes with its plan of “disarming Saddam Hussain” unilaterally, it will send a message that humanity is living under a unipolar world. If, however, the process is continued and finally decided through the Security Council, hope of a multipolar will be strengthened.

S. M. ZAFAR

Lahore

Confrontation over LFO

THE possibility cannot be ruled out that the current rumpus in the National Assembly over the LFO may build up to a point where parliament may be dissolved.

Keeping our past history in view, it is not difficult to visualize the following scenario. It is almost certain that the ousted politicians would file cases in courts against that the hypothetical dissolution. With our legal acumen in the use of ‘doctrine of necessity’ and reshuffling of judges, at best, the court verdict is not likely to be in favour of the ousted parliamentarians, nor the strengthening of democracy in the country.

The point to ponder for our pompous statesmen and stateswomen (“So what if the assembly is dissolved, it won’t be the first time.” Naveed Qamar, Dawn 11/3/2003),is: wouldn’t it be wiser and more far-sighted to use the current opportunity of being elected parliament for reforming and fortifying the judicial system first, in the country?

By doing so, at least they will have a stronger position to fall back to, in case they are ousted. Moreover, with a strong judiciary, the chances of dissolving the assemblies can also go down, because an independent judiciary is a deterrent for all kinds of illegal acts, including constitutional violations.

The process of bringing about judicial reforms would not be easy, but it should not be too difficult either if the political will is there. There were committees formed for this in the past and recommendations made, and stacked away in the archives. However, adopting this strategy, of reforming the judiciary first and fortifying its independence, requires great moral courage, specially on the part of the politicians in power who may have become more used to working with controllable courts only.

However, if the politicians can muster the required level of moral courage, and mobilize their colleagues towards this goal, they will be doing a great historical service to their country irrespective of how long — or short — their current tenure may last. Not to mention the additional multifarious social and economic benefits of this basic institution for any civilized society, they would certainly be resurrecting their own battered image in the eyes of the people while increasing the chances of present parliament completing its tenure.

IMTIAZ PIRACHA

Karachi

Rise in property prices

I AM writing with reference to the news published on the business pages (March 9) regarding a 30 per cent rise in real estate prices in Karachi’s DHA and Clifton areas. My points of disagreement are as follows:

The headline given to the news item is not appropriate and seems aimed at ‘glamorizing’ the situation by creating a hype in the market to the advantage of property dealers. Creating a hype like this may in turn result in an actual price rise or just create confusion. Should Dawn be involved in creating such a hype?

The reason given for the price hike was the new immigration laws in the US resulting in a rise in investors (not genuine buyers) investing in these areas. The news does not clarify as to when this trend began. Would it be logical to assume that the increase happened overnight? Or during the past two months? Or was it just a normal increase that happened over a year’s time?

Incidentally, the rents do not seem to have been affected by the trend according to an investigation I just conducted, even though there has been an increase in the number of people returning home. Shouldn’t they logically rent houses while they wait for theirs to be constructed or their investments to bear fruit?

As for the reliability of the figures given by property dealers, everyone knows most of them do not maintain any log books or records for previous or even current market prices. A good number of them say most dealers do not even know what their competitors are dealing in or compare notes on prices or rents. How, then, were the figures of 80 per cent investors against 20 per cent genuine buyers reached? Did someone conduct a survey?

M. HASAN

Karachi

Jamali’s wise step

PRIME Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali’s decision to cancel the extension in service granted to bureaucrats of beyond the age of superannuation augurs well for the unemployed and highly qualified youths of the country.

In fact, the premier should consider reducing the age of superannuation to 57 years for all government and semi-government corporations. If taken, this step will provide an opportunity to the government to rid itself of corrupt and incompetent officials who have plagued our civic agencies for decades.

Extension in service beyond the age of 57 years should be granted to only scientists, engineers, doctors and PHD holders. Such a bold decision will provide employment to more deserving and highly qualified candidates. Unless fresh blood is injected into the bureaucracy, there is no future for this country.

The provision of jobs on merit will not only prevent brain drain, but help this country develop its human resources as well. The prime minister should order an inquiry into the alleged irregular appointments and promotions of underqualified persons in semi-autonomous corporations such as Wapda, PIA and KESC.

No government or semi-government organization’s head should have discretionary powers to reduce the minimum basic laid down qualifications for appointment or for promotion to a senior management cadre, nor should he have the authority to appoint those undergoing investigations for financial mismanagement.

Discretionary powers of all executives need to be curtailed if the government desires to keep a check on corruption.

NAZEER ABRO

Hyderabad

Torture by intelligence agencies

THIS is with reference to the kidnapping and torture of the deputy opposition leader of the Punjab assembly, Rana Sanaullah Khan. He was beaten up by iron rods by his kidnappers and his moustache, eyebrows and much of the hair on his head were shaved off. He has publicly accused the Inter Services Intelligence of being behind his kidnapping and torture saying one of the kidnappers was a major whom he recognized.

Members of the assemblies who vote against the government are thus being targeted by the law enforcement and intelligence agencies. First it was the Mohajir Qaumi Movement MPA Younus Khan, who was dragged out of the premises of the Sindh Assembly by policeman a few months ago and now the deputy opposition leader of the Punjab assembly has been subjected to torture. Is this the “true democracy” which General Musharraf had promised us?

The only positive aspect of such episodes is that perhaps now the members of our assemblies would realize as to how a common man is treated by the law enforcement agencies. They should be glad that being the members of the assembly they were not tortured to death.

Deaths in police custody are a common occurrence. It is time action were initiated against the police and the intelligence agencies which routinely torture people.

ANIL KHAN LUNI

Karachi

Taking on smoking

THE meeting of the World Health Organization at Berne the other day was a landmark in its battle against big tobacco companies and in its efforts to ensure that public health be given top priority.

At the meeting, WH0 passed a resolution that will ban all cigarette advertising throughout Europe and the USA. This ruling by WHO was long overdue. Millions of people die every year of tobacco-related illness — 70 per cent of these figures come from the underdeveloped world where tobacco companies are helped by unscrupulous governments.

In Pakistan the government has long practised double standard with regard to cigarette advertising. On a recent visit to Bahawalpur, we were shocked to see the extent of aggressive advertising of cigarettes — railway stations, PTDC parks everywhere huge posters advertising cigarettes, targeting mainly the impoverished youths in our country who have nowhere to go and no future to speak of, the most vulnerable members of our society.

It is time the government stopped this exploitation of our young citizens. Public health should be given top priority, and land be made available to create recreational parks, where the poor may find such facilities available as football, basketball and other sports free of costs.

K. ABBASI

Karachi

Pensioners’ plight

FOLLOWING a recent announcement by the government to allow increased profit to the pensioners on savings certificates, I went to Savings Centre, Gulberg, Federal B. Area, but the officer at the counter insisted that I should deposit one million rupees in lump sum, in the light of the instructions issued by the government. Since I did not have that much money, I could not open a savings account there.

There are thousands like me who would want to deposit their savings for a better profit that has been drastically reduced by the government. It is now between nine and 10 per cent against 13 per cent over a couple of years ago.

This is cruel. The policy of twisting the arm must be revised, and pensioners be allowed to deposit bit by bit until they touch the ceiling of one million rupees. It will give them relief at the end of every month as was the intention of the government to provide monetary relief to the hard-hit pensioners, all of whom are senior citizens.

It is obvious that only those pensioners would like to avail themselves of this scheme who are not placed in a happy financial position in this inflationary period.

A PENSIONER

Karachi

Complaining to ‘right person’

DR Sirichand Karera, in his letter (March 5), has complained of receiving inflated power bills for the last one-and-a-half years. He has claimed personal animosity of the local SDO. His complaints against the local SDO, even up to the chairman of Wapda, bore no fruit.

This reminds me of a case of a man, narrated by late Qudrut-Ullah Shahab, an old ICS officer, in a short story written some 50 years ago. The man, being sick of the atrocities of the local patwari, made complaints against him before the tehsildar, deputy commissioner, commissioner and even before the board of revenue, but all in vain.

Finally, he wrote to the prime minister, from whom it trickled down to the same patwari for comments. The patwari wrote that the complainant was a habitual complainant, having complaints already made to the tehsildar, deputy commissioner, commissioner and the board of revenue. The patwari recommended the filing of the complaint.

These comments of the patwari were passed on to the prime minister through the same channel, with nobody disagreeing with him. Accordingly, the complaint was filed by the prime minister’s office under intimation to the complainant. The moral of the story: never antagonize the patwari.

Reading the plight of Dr Sirichand, I am happy we have successfully maintained the status quo spanning over half a century. The patwari in this case is SDO, Pano Aqil.

Therefore, the doctor sahib is advised to immediately contact the SDO for the redressal of his grievances.

HAFEEZ AKHTAR

Lahore

‘Illegal parking’

THIS refers to the letter, ‘Illegal parking at railway yard’ (Jan 26), by Mr Mohammad Iqbal Munshi. The letter’s contents were grossly misconceived.

It is clarified that the parking facility which was available within the basement area of the Karachi Stock Exchange building was removed for tightening security within the Exchange premises.

The shifting of parking of motorcycles of all staff members from the Exchange premises to a new one, acquired on rental by the KSE, has been done with the consent of the employees union. Since the measure was aimed at the security of the institution, members, all visitors and employees of the Exchange, the KSE Employees Union fully supports this decision.

Mr Munshi individually took up the matter through the press, without the consent of the union, and as such we are not a party to this action.

AIJAZ ALI MIRANI

President, Karachi Stock Exchange Employees Union,

Karachi

Cricket: unfair remarks

EVERY Pakistani was hopeful that the national cricket team would do well in the World Cup, but their performance was so dismal that they couldn’t even make it to the second round. Of course, this would mean some heads are going to roll. However, the rolling of heads should be done in a judicious manner.

What one was surprised to read was Rehan Siddiqui’s comments, which seem to hold coach Richard Pybus responsible for Pakistan’s debacle. Instead of focussing his attack entirely on his coaching ability, he points out Pybus’s religious beliefs, a totally irrelevant aspect to the cricket mess. Pybus had been Pakistan’s coach for some time and his place as a coach was being questioned in the past. Never once did Mr Siddiqui mention Pybus’s religious beliefs then. Why now?

The main culprits were the Pakistani players themselves. The way they played gave the impression that they had an agenda of their own. Pakistan’s prestige did not matter. It would be nice if Gen Tauqeer Zia hand over cricket’s affairs to one who understand’s the game. There is no need for a military man to involve himself with Pakistan’s cricket.

JAWAID ZAIDI

Karachi

I READ two columns that appeared in Dawn (March 5), examining the reasons for the failure of the Pakistan cricket team in the World Cup tournament. The first by Khalid H. Khan was an amazing diatribe. Racist remarks such as the cricket board chairman’s “love for the white-skinned foreigners” are frankly disgusting. What would be your reaction to similar remarks based on colour and directed at Pakistanis?

He also suggests that Daryl Foster was hired only because his academy would clear Shoaib Akhtar’s “diabolical bowling action” and thus help him evade the attention of umpires. Your sports editor may want to reflect on the fact that India and Sri Lanka both have “white-skinned foreigners” as coaches and both countries seem to be doing quite well in the World Cup.

He may also want to remember that Muralitharan, too, was sent for the examination of his action by Daryl Foster’s academy at the University of Western Australia, because that is one of the few places in the world equipped to perform an ultra-slow examination of bowling actions.

I can understand Mr Khalid Khan’s frustration and hurt, but he should carefully read the second piece — by Omar Kureishi. That is a very balanced, indeed very wise, article. I am sure that Mr Kureishi is no less frustrated and hurt by the performance of the Pakistan team. However, he is looking for a constructive approach to solve the problem, and is not indulging simply in a childish display of temper.

Writing as exemplified by Mr Kureishi’s column is the reason that people everywhere consider Dawn to be a world-class newspaper.

JACK JOHNSTON

Potomac, MD, USA