Scourge of honour killings
I WOULD like to assure Mr Aamir Aqil, who has made an impassioned plea (Dawn, Nov 20) to legislators and activists to take action on the scourge of karo-kari and honour killings, that the Pakistan People’s Party is committed to changing both the laws that permit acquittals of known criminals associated with such crimes and the culture that sanctions such heinous acts.
I would also like to inform him and all such friends who are concerned about the matter that many of our legislators, both men and women, have been working with civil society and women’s NGOs for over a year now to formulate a series of amendments to the Pakistan Penal Code, as well as to the Code of Criminal Procedures, to address the issue of honour killings.
Since the process involves a complex web of amendments which are arrived at after an exhaustive consultative process involving all stakeholders, the actual amendment bill has yet to be presented in either the provincial assemblies or the National Assembly. It will, of course, be tabled and supported at the first available opportunity in the first half of the next year.
Since the PPP has formed a Women’s Parliamentary Policy Committee at both provincial and federal levels, we are engaged in reviewing old laws and in framing new ones that seek to ameliorate the distress caused to women by such customs.
The first bill relating to the Protection and Empowerment of Women, 2003, was already introduced in the National Assembly in October. This is the first comprehensive legislative initiative taken by this parliament to redefine the public and private space that women are located in across the country. It seeks not just to redress the precarious situation of 48 per cent of the population of Pakistan, but to also accord us the requisite units of justice, rights and equality guaranteed under Article 25 of the 1973 Constitution.
Drafted in several parts, the bill deals with entitlements as diverse as the right to an education, the right to equal pay, the right to marry without coercion, increased public service and political participation. Given that this bill also seeks to repeal anti-women and anti-minority ordinances imposed without debate on this nation by a military government in 1979, many have joined us in calling this act historic both in its breadth and in its vision.
Similar bills, resolutions and notices will be introduced in the provincial assemblies as well, without prejudice to our battle for restoring the supremacy of parliament. Legislation aimed at curbing the alarming growth in the incidence of crimes against women in the name of honour, spiralling under the mantle of a growing Talibanization of our tolerant local culture, will certainly be a part of this policy package.
We are grateful for the support given to us by courageous voices such as yourself, by a few dedicated women’s NGOs and activists in this effort. I would be happy to communicate with anyone with questions or suggestions or assistance for this campaign at srehman@sat.net.pk.
SHERRY REHMAN
President PPP Women’s
Parliamentary Policy
Committee,
Karachi
Opposition and LFO
THIS is with reference to S. M. H. Rizvi’s letter on “Opposition and LFO” (Nov 20).
Our 56-year chequered history is pretty grim as we (as a nation) have been unable to lay down foundations of strong and durable institutions. We have a very few national assets that we could be proud of and the 1973 Constitution is among those few achievements. Despite being mutilated and deformed by many armed individuals, the Constitution continues to be accepted as the basis of our system of government.
However, it is grimmer to learn that some people are even questioning the validity of the Constitution which was prepared and put together after exhaustive consultations and deliberations and agreed upon by all the political parties having representation in the parliament.
I am sure Mr Rizvi will agree that had there been a re-election in Pakistan after the debacle of East Pakistan, the electoral results would not have been any different. The validity and credibility of the 1973 Constitution could not be tarnished even by our longest-serving military dictator.
The reconstituted apex court after the promulgation of 1977 martial law, in the famous Nusrat Bhutto case, had categorically accepted the Constitution as a supreme law and the basis of running the affairs of the state.
The Supreme Court had temporarily allowed the military takeover, using the ‘doctrine of necessity’ only for the purposes of holding fair and free elections. If we are to encourage such voices which question the authenticity of the only agreed-upon document we have, we are at serious risk of putting our sovereignty and national integrity at stake. We are unlikely to achieve a national consensus as we achieved in 1973, thanks to our sagacious and farsighted leadership at that time.
Today, we as a nation are far more fragmented and have failed to achieve consensus on issues such as water distribution and building of water reservoirs. Can we take a bigger risk of unsettling the settled issues?
There can be different views on the mode of protest by the opposition on the issue of the LFO, but it is also worth pondering as to why the entire opposition, which represents nearly half of the electorate in the parliament are finding it hard to reconcile with the proposed changes (LFO) in the Constitution brought about by a non-elected, ‘civil servant’, which negates the very spirit of undiluted parliamentary democracy and makes it subservient to the whims of one individual.
DR SAFIULLAH AFGHAN
Middlefield Drive,
Coventry, UK
SC judgment in SSGC case
THE Supreme Court has accepted the appeal regarding the employees of the SSGC and upheld the decision of the tribunal. But the company management, particularly its managing director, is adamant about not implementing the judgment of the apex court.
Being a lawyer, I would like to state that whenever the decision of an apex court is not an injunction or a stay, there stands no bar in between to its implementation. But the stand taken by the SSGC managing-director is beyond comprehension as it has put all the employees concerned, whose services were to be terminated, in jeopardy.
The height of injustice is that in spite of an undertaking by the MD in the SC that he would be implementing the court’s decision within two weeks, he has failed to do it and thus played with powers of the court.
The Supreme Court is, therefore, requested to take immediate action to punish those who are not honouring its decision in this regard.
KHUDA BUX LAGAHRI
(advocate)
Karachi
Deadline for old ID cards
THE old identity cards will become invalid on Dec 31, as announced repeatedly by Nadra. Although the warning seems to have some effect on the people who are religiously found queuing up in great numbers at various Nadra outlets to get their new cards, it is not a very pleasant experience for the people at large who remain standing for hours together, particularly the senior citizens who find it to be a very taxing exercise.
In such a situation I would like to suggest that the old identity cards be kept valid for the senior citizens till more practical arrangements are made to issue them new cards. It would be greatly appreciated if an arrangement as proposed below is introduced:
After Dec 31, all senior citizens — 60 years and above — who have not been able to apply for their new cards may approach, in writing, the issuing officer for an appointment with him about the filing of their applications for the new cards. It is a purely humanitarian issue and should not create any difficult for the National Database and Registration Authority.
A. G. M. GODIL
Karachi
How a good deed can repay
I WANT to share with Dawn’s readers the following mail I received from a family friend from Zurich:
His name was Fleming and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day while trying to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog. There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death. The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman’s sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Fleming had saved.
“I want to repay you,” said the nobleman. “You saved my son’s life.” “No, I can’t accept payment for what I did,” the Scottish farmer replied, waving off the offer. At that moment, the farmer’s own son came to the door of the family hovel. “Is that your son?” the nobleman asked. “Yes”, the farmer replied proudly. “I will make you a deal. Let me provide him with the level of education my own son enjoys. If the lad is anything like his father, he will no doubt grow to be a man we both will be proud of.” And that he did.
Farmer Fleming’s son attended the very best schools and graduated from St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of penicillin.
Years afterward, the same nobleman’s son who was saved from the bog was stricken with pneumonia. What saved his life this time? Penicillin. The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill. His son’s name? Sir Winston Churchill...
ALEY BILGRAMI
Karachi
Democracies at work
THE world is called upon loudly and forcefully to practise democracy. The question is: what gains are being achieved by the democratic norms and principles? Afghanistan and then Iraq became the target of the champions of democracy. The people of both the countries are ruthlessly killed if they want self-rule of their own liking.
Kashmir and Palestine are other classical examples of the characteristics of the advocates and practitioners of democracy. Can anyone in the world dare to speak the truth? Their voices are silenced through power, force and financial intimidation. The whole world is watching the inhuman treatment being meted out to the prisoners at Guantanamo, but is doing nothing.
In Pakistan, too, there are forces claiming to uphold the cause of democracy. Why democracy has not been successful and does not bear the desired results here? It is only because we have double standards. In the garb of democracy we want to silence our opponents, and we are not ashamed of even attacking the apex court of the country. We do not shirk from wiping out our opponents. Why didn’t a new class of legislators emerge after repeated elections? Why do only the wives, sons and daughters of the same class re-emerge as legislators and ministers? Why is corruption deep-rooted in our culture? Why is there no one to inquire about the source of the huge wealth that is concentrated in a few hands? Why and how is the filthy rich class emerging on the economic scene? Why is there the flight of capital and brain drain?
If anything suits our interest, there is no problem and everything is fine. In case there is anything against our interest, we would oppose it to any limit, whether the country is harmed or the people suffer with mounting problems.
Long live democracy.
MERAJUL HAQ
Karachi
Recognition of Israel
I AM amazed at the lack of depth in the article “Debate, not Fatwa” by Mr Siddique Mullick. The issue of whether to recognize Israel or not is not as simple as depicted by Mr Mullick. By recognizing Israel, Pakistan would, in fact, be signalling that it is OK to steal land from its legitimate helpless owners by states using brutal force.
With the recognition, we will also be in fact withdrawing from our 50 plus years of struggle for independence of occupied Kashmir.
Secondly, what will Pakistan get in return for recognizing Israel, except we as a nation would be guilty of siding with the tyrant? Isn’t this enough of an argument to put this discussion to an end in Pakistan?
Lastly, while I am at it, would our politicians please stop begging for Pakistan’s inclusion in the Commonwealth. Why does Pakistan need to be a member of an association of former British colonies?
SHAKIL KHWAJA
Schaumburg,
Illinois, USA
Criminals in family courts
IT is very disturbing to learn that criminal cases have recently been shifted to the family courts that were hitherto reserved for handling family cases only such as divorce and child custody cases.
The other day when I went to a family court, it was pathetic to see three or four policemen and a criminal, with covered face, entering the courtroom where families were sitting and children’s meetings with their parents were taking place in the courtroom, as there are no separate arrangements for want of space.
This shift is going to spoil the atmosphere of the family courts and have adverse repercussions for children of tender age, with impressionable minds, and for families, specially women.
The relevant authorities are requested to realize the gravity of the situation and transfer away the criminal/other cases from family courts without any delay.
CONCERNED CITIZEN
Karachi
Last laugh
GOING by the recent news that London has been turned into a fortress to protect US President George Bush, it is very clear that the terrorists of the world have achieved their nefarious goals. They aim at creating terror and that’s exactly what they have achieved.
Mr Bush might have won the first round by pulverizing poor Afghans and Iraqis but the last laugh is at him.
DR JAMAL NASIR MEMON
Karachi
Property tax
RECENTLY, the minister for excise and taxation made a public statement that a house built on a plot measuring up to 120 square yards would be exempted from property tax. All those who thought they would benefit from this concession began waiting for the day when the statement would be translated into an official announcement. But instead of hearing of such a notification, property owners concerned are now receiving tax notices.
The minister is requested to issue an early notification in this regard so that the issuance of tax notices is stopped.
RIAZUL HASAN KHAN
Karachi
Tribute to A. B. S. Jafri
IT was with profound sadness that I learnt of Mr A. B. S. Jafri’s demise. I had the privilege of working with Mr Jafri in no less than three newspapers in a short span of time — beginning with his return from exile following the death of General Ziaul Haq in 1988 to his time editing a financial daily from Karachi in 1997.
He was a man of impeccable integrity, espousing the highest standards of professionalism. But what stands out for me, personally, was the fact that he belonged to perhaps the last breed of subcontinental giants of his vocation who are thorough gentlemen. Indeed, at times, it appeared he was a man out of his depth, embracing the vocational concepts of a bygone era.
Mr Jafri’s hard-hitting editorials as editor of The Muslim when Ghulam Ishaq Khan was at the peak of his powers, following the dismissal of first Benazir Bhutto’s government and then Nawaz Sharif’s government was the stuff of dreams. He never flinched even though he lived in a perpetual circle of fear in those heady days of one-man rule in Islamabad.
By the time I last worked with him in 1997, Mr Jafri had mellowed considerably. He appeared like a lost soul, not as a journalist but a deeply frustrated patriot, with what had become of Pakistan. After all, he belonged to a generation which held out so much hope and wove many a dream around the land of the Quaid-i-Azam.
Quite a few of his books abundantly cry in anguish at how successive governments turned the country into a looting enterprise, when in fact, divine intervention in 1988 had allowed them the chance to redeem the battered soul of the nation.
Dawn has enumerated many of Mr Jafri’s fine aspects and passion. He had one other: cricket. He was a passionate fan who seemed to revel in the glory that his country garnered and wallowed in pain when the shoe was on the other foot. He always insisted on sharing the good and bad in this sport with his readers. It made sense in a way, for rarely this nation is united in celebration or, conversely, in castigation depending upon the fortunes of its cricket team!
In the days to come, a sad reality will dawn upon us that we are left with one less voice of reason in a mad world.
KAMRAN REHMAT
Times of Oman,
Ruwi, Muscat,
Sultanate of Oman