The politics of dams

PRESIDENT Gen Pervez Musharraf has stated that the Kalabagh and other dams will be built. All the controversies of the past have been overlooked; his earlier stand that dams will be built after achieving consensus has been unilaterally side-stepped and, presto, the dams will be built. As regards consensus, the government machinery has been directed to build the dam since the general has spoken: it is up to the king’s party to show that the consensus is there.

In the background of the rising tempo for rejecting the LFO and restoring democracy, a new move was required. The general elections had been brilliantly tailored giving the Americans the option to take, as Benazir Bhutto has said, to the khakis or to the beards. But with the ARD in the wings, the MMA is not ready to swallow the LFO, in spite of the mysterious flexibility the president has shown in this regard. The tilt of the MMA towards other opposition parties has created a dilemma for the president and the king’s party, which is already showing signs of disarray.

The developing unity of society is ringing alarm bells for the military. The khakis fear becoming irrelevant once society starts sorting out its own problems. The one issue that has the potential to weaken democratic unity is ethnic nationalism. Military planners have been alive to this contingency since 1998.

On September 26, 1998, Mumtaz Bhutto, Zafarullah Jamali, Asfandyar Wali and others addressed the National Defence College, Rawalpindi. On October 01, 1998, PONAM was launched in Islamabad. On October 6, 1998 COAS General Jahangir Karamat suggested the formation of a national security council. The next day Ajmal Khattak of the ANP supported the initiative. However, things went awry, and General Karamat had to resign. Subsequently, the ANP quit PONAM. Military rulers were of course not in a mood to grant national rights, which can be achieved only in a democratic set-up. But the issue of national rights can be used to break the growing solidarity of the democratic forces. Issues like that of the dams without consensus of the regions concerned are divisive and can provide military rulers with an opportunity to intervene in the name of law and order.

The fostering of disunity is a dangerous game. Pakistan has the experience of Bangladesh. A repeat performance will have unforeseen consequences. Asfandyar Wali has already said that the Kalabagh Dam and Pakistan cannot co-exist. A section of Sindhi nationalists and other ethnic groups as annoyed by the growing democratic solidarity as the military itself is waiting in the wings for ethnicity to erupt.

In spite of all the efforts of the government the level of lawlessness in the country shows an upward trend. American aid may be pouring in, reserves may be soaring, but the per capita income in 2002 was stuck at $389 whereas in India it shot up to $420. With avenues of livelihood not opening up, people have no option but to go in for banditry. And on the top of this the divisive politics of building dams is being initiated.

Perhaps the fears being expressed are belated; 2003 is after all not 1971, nor have fragments of the country any space to move out. They may quarrel but are fated to live together. Moreover, Pakistan may be multi-ethnic but it has no closed communities. Its Constitution recognizes the federation. The concurrent list is still there, though it was stipulated to last for a mere ten years. There is no denying that the government today is federal in name alone. That also shows the absence of democracy.

But there is no reason for despondency. The movement against the LFO and the restoration of untailored democracy is gaining momentum. National rights are an integral part of democratic rights. Whether Kalabagh and other dams are built or not depends on the consensus of the constituent parts of Pakistan. It cannot be thrust upon unwilling regions.

Democracy is not merely a political slogan. It is a way of life. It implies solving contentious issues by debate and negotiation. Fortunately in Pakistan secular multi-ethnicity is growing and the world environment is such that it cannot be stopped.

The government is already threatening dissolving parliament if the carrot of flexibility does not work. The general can certainly do so, but given the opposition unity in parliament, prolonging military rule is difficult. A secular democratic Pakistan can not only solve the problems of the country over a period of time, it can facilitate solving such bilateral issues as Kashmir. Given goodwill and a spirit of give and take, talks are bound to succeed. Hopefully Pakistan will turn out to be the home of a proud people, confidently building farms, factories, bridges and dozens of dams.

JAMALUDDIN NAQVI

Karachi

Tolerance of various hues

MORE often than not our leaders are advising us to accept the habit of tolerance as a way of life. I would prefer to believe that this is meant for misguided zealots engaged in sectarian activities. The overall sense of tolerance is a complicated issue, particularly when countries interact.

To begin with, let us know what is tolerance and where should it end? It is better defined by Sir James Goldsmith’s golden words: “Its immediate neighbours are weak ...”. So, there is always a line — a risky one, separating tolerance and weakness. So, where and how to draw the line becomes important. While our leaders advise us to be tolerant, we expect them to care for both the situations.

I have given some time to revive my courage to write that Pakistan did cross this line when it allowed the FBI to collect complete data of three millions of us to be used against us in a variety of ways.

We also ought to know that South Asian Muslims have a history of their own for tolerance since our forefathers, starting with Bahadur Shah Zafar when he has no alternative but to accept the heads of his sons on a platter duly covered with a piece of cloth from the Britishers. The latest being the refusal of our president’s request by the Americans for F16s. Instead, they offered these to India without any request from it.

Tolerance is also a barterable and purchasable commodity at the peril of losing of national pride and honour by the sellers. The American offer of loan to non-permanent members of the Security Council for obtaining their votes for a resolution for war against Iraq is an instant case.

This letter shall remain incomplete without a reverse gear, i.e. where the West stands as far as tolerance is concerned and how authorities in the West cover up their intolerance. Have not Americans framed Dark Age rules for Guantanamo prisoners for such a cover-up? Has not France expelled Muslims girls from schools for wearing head-scarves, whereas Christian teachers of mission schools in Pakistan put on the cross while taking classes?

What is true of tolerance is also true of being a moderate.

Z .A. KAZMI

Karachi

Frere Hall book bazaar

IT has been 10 days since the Sindh government decided to close the weekly book bazaar at Frere Hall in Karachi. The move aims at providing security to the US diplomats and the US consul- general, who happen to live in the vicinity. The Sindh government having promised to provide another venue for the consulate has failed to deliver once again.

Although it is difficult to pass judgment on the issue of the perceived threat, the threat, if it exists, is certainly because of the extremism prevailing in many quarters. And without doubt, the only solution to address the issue is through the spread of a higher degree of social and moral awareness.

I totally agree with Mr Wajahat (Aug 25) that by snatching away the best opportunity from Karachiites for self- development, the Americans are crushing an intellectual tradition. I would request all intellectuals, journalists and others interested in the development of the nation to come forward and make their presence felt.

It has been ages since the embassy in Karachi closed issuing visas at the Karachi outlet. This effectively put to an end all kinds of public dealings at the consulate. For the continuation of the menial tasks that remain, if the consulate still wants to have foreign diplomats posted, they should make sure that they are not causing too much inconvenience to the host.

One of the major tasks of the consulates in any country is to promote an environment of friendship and collaboration within the host country. And through this action they are not doing their country a great service. On the other hand, the consulate is creating enemies in the intellectual quarters as well.

NOORALI SURANI

Karachi

Turkish embassy’s clarification

THIS refers to the article “Crafting intelligence to win the Iraq war” by Kurt Jacobsen & Sayeed Hasan Khan (Dawn, Sept 1).

Their claim about Turkey “killing Kurds in its territory”, as well as the biased comparison with what “Saddam Hussein did in Iraq”, is blatant distortion of facts. The struggle against the PKK (now renamed as KADEK), which is responsible for the murder of more than 30 thousand innocent people, most of whom were civilians and civil servants, should be seen as a part of international fight against terrorism.

The Turkish government has pursued a determined policy to root out this scourge in its territory. The PKK has carried out its terrorist activities, including drug and arms trafficking, to those European countries where it has found a safe haven for a while and, consequently, banned in Germany, France, Britain and other European countries. After the Sept 11 attacks the PKK has also been listed among the most dangerous terrorist organizations by the USA and the EU.

Turkey strictly dealt with PKK terrorism. It is a well-known fact that Turkey, while fighting against PKK terrorism, with the full support of its citizens, regardless of their ethnic origins, had been careful enough to isolate terrorists from the civilians in order not to give any harm to the civilian population.

Thus the claim that Turkey “killed Kurds in its territory” without making any distinction between the Turkish citizens of Kurdish origin and militants of the PKK terrorist organization, as well as any such comparison with the atrocities in Halabja, is unacceptable to our embassy.

MUHSIN OZCAN

Press Attache, Turkish Embassy,

Islamabad

Oil spill and schoolchildren

INFORMATION we are getting through Dawn is very good and useful, specially from Mr Kamal Siddiqui who stands out as someone with some courage. There is, however, a case of private schools like Frobels, Bayview, Beaconhouse and others which have been issued directives through the Defence Housing Authority to close but are ignoring them. Besides this, none of the schools have bothered to set up any medical camps.

I know that many children, including my own, are getting headaches and bad throats and there is no one in the media who is paying any attention to this issue. Our children are missing tests and classwork because school administrations are refusing to close despite the obvious health hazards.

Many parents like myself have decided not to send our children to school for a couple of days. Today I read an article in the Review which said that crude oil contained one of the most toxic compounds in use today, benzene.

Shouldn’t our schools and the government be hiring experts to conduct a thorough survey of the soil and to measure the air pollution in the area close to the Clifton Beach? What is the so-called high-powered committee constituted by the government doing about this? Where is the chief minister of Sindh and what is his government doing to ensure that the adverse health effects of the oil spill are minimized?

AMRA ALI

Karachi

NAB certificate for police

PRIME Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, addressing a prize distribution ceremony of the National Highways and Motorways Police (NHMP) on Aug 19, at Islamabad, lauded the performance of the NHMP. He also acknowledged the NAB’s certificate for them as a corruption-free department and directed/urged other departments to emulate the NHMP to ensure a better performance.

The reason that the NHMP has set up a high standard of performance is obvious; the NHMP staff are getting three times the salaries and benefits, as compared to the employees of other law-enforcement agencies, including the intelligence agencies. Moreover, the NHMP employees have a shift system and work eight hours a day, whereas the employees of other LEAs are duty-bound to perform their duties round-the-clock.

If the government brings the emoluments of other LEAs at par with the NHMP, they will also be in a position to emulate the NHMP and certainly the NAB would declare them corruption-free departments. At present, due to their meagre incomes they are living hand to mouth and the prevailing circumstances compel them to indulge in corruption and other unfair means.

M. ATIF KARAMAT

Faisalabad

Unattended civic problems

WE, the residents of Block-C, North Nazimabad, Karachi, are facing multiple civic problems such as overflowing or chocked drains, lack of garbage disposal, absence of streetlights, broken roads and encroachments on roadsides and even in small lanes.

Day by day the area is getting worse. Those who are supposed to solve the problems of the area, i.e. the councillor and others, are busy decorating main roads and roundabouts. Anybody listening?

WASEEM

Karachi

Gang-rape ordeal

I WAS mortified to see the news about a 10-year-old girl being gang-raped in Karachi. The ordeal has ended a childhood forever.

I shudder in fear for all the street children who probably have to face paedophiles amongst other harsh realities of life. I wish instead of investing in arms and ammunition we could invest in our future that is the children of our society.

LAMIYA RIZVI

Via email

Seeking admission

ALL my efforts to gain admission to any of the colleges in both Rawalpindi and Islamabad have failed because, as a college clerk has told me, I am not a resident of any of the twin cities. My question to the authorities concerned is: if the government cannot build college in remote places of the Northern Areas such as mine, why has it made the rule that the candidate must have a residential certificate of either Islamabad or Rawalpindi should he/she wants to study there?

Rules and regulations are made for the convenience of the public, but in Pakistan they work opposite. The government is making claims that it is striving to spread education to every part of the country, but such claims only sound hollow when one comes across illogical policies such as the one mentioned above.

ASHIQ HUSSAIN ASTORI

Islamabad

Filing of IT returns

WE work day and night for a living and contribute taxes to the national exchequer in order to help develop our country. It is an undeniable fact that every year taxpayers are caused gross inconvenience by the lawmakers through different ways like issuing delayed SROs. Moreover, taxpayers are given deadlines that are impossible to meet.

The Sept 30 deadline for filing of returns is approaching fast, but the lawmakers have not yet decided what type of return forms are to be filled in by the taxpayers. I think it will not be possible for us to file returns at the eleventh hour.

I appeal to the authorities concerned to look into this issue and do the needful.

A TAXPAYER

Karachi

Commission on women

THIS is to clarify that while speaking to the press I had never said to your correspondent that “once we have given the (National Commission on the Status of Women’s) recommendation, thereafter it is not the commission’s business”. Actually, answering a question, I had replied that the recommendations would be sent to the government as we are a recommendatory body and it will be for the government to put it before parliament for debate.

A person who is committed to the cause and has taken up a controversial issue like the Hudood Ordinance for an in-depth study cannot reply as reported by you.

JUSTICE MAJIDA RAZVI (R) Chairperson, NCSW,

Karachi

The size of Punjab

I AGREE with Dr Ajaz Ahsan (Aug 27) and Mr Wajih Abbasi (Sept 1) that Punjab ought to be divided into three or more provinces. In fact, we should go further and divide the country into 12 or 15 provinces. In a federal structure, the greater the number of provinces is, the less is the chance of one, or a group of them, dominating the others, and also less is the need for a three, four or five-tier government.

To have provinces almost equal in population is not the only criterion to determine the size or number of provinces in the country. In India and the United States of America, this is not so. The former which started with 14 states in 1947 now have 28 and are reportedly considering plans for further sub-dividing some of the existing states into more administrative and political units. Many states have been created on ethnic or linguistic bases. In the case of the latter, some of the states are much larger than the others, and in fact these larger states enjoy a much greater weightage for election of president.

Afghanistan might not be a good example to refer to in the present day context, but it was for good reasons that the country with a land area about 83 per cent and population about 20 per cent that of Pakistan had been divided into 32 provinces.

In our case, Balochistan is the largest province area-wise, and it should be divided into a number of provinces at least for the sake of better administration, and for providing the people access to government functionaries and facilities nearer their homes. Quetta in the northwest of the province is very far away from many areas.

Similarly, Sindh and the NWFP should also be divided into more units with the objective of having the government nearer the people than it is at present.

In parallel with dividing the country into more units, it is imperative that the Senate where the provinces have equal representation is given more powers. First of all, it must be a perpetual body, as provided in the 1973 Constitution. I do not know what its status is at present, but if it has been compromised, it must be restored immediately.

Passage of finance bills should of course require approval of the Senate. In addition, all appointments to senior positions, whether approved by the prime minister or the president, must be cleared by the Senate committees.

Similarly, if the president must be given powers to dismiss the assemblies, it should be mandatory upon him to refer his views to the relevant committee of the Senate, and act on its advice. It will obviate the need for an extraneous, and superfluous body like the National Security Council.

AMIR ALI

Lahore