Prospective Palestinian state

THE 1993 Oslo accords on autonomy under which Israel and the Palestinians are due to complete negotiations on a permanent settlement and status for Palestinian territories were to be complied with by May 1999. John V. Whitbeck, an international lawyer who writes on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, has observed that by the “criteria of International law, Palestinian state already exists” on the soil of Palestine.

At the UN Security Council level, China and Russia have already recognized the state of Palestine.

President Bill Clinton on a visit to Gaza City in 1998 explicitly backed the Palestinian state and so does President Bush to see it through by 2005.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan agrees that the UN resolutions Nos. 181 and 194 provide the basis for the establishment of a Palestinian state. A draft resolution prepared by the EU foreign ministers states: “The European Union supports the inalienable and unrestricted right of the Palestinians to self-determination, including the option of establishing a state, and envisions its realization with hope.”

Moshe Ma’oz, professor of Middle Eastern studies and director of the Harry S. Truman Institute for Advancement of Peace at the Hebrew University of Al Quds, says there are three hurdles that must be removed before the so-called “final status” or the statehood of Palestine. These troublesome issues of the Oslo peace accords are the control over Al Quds, return of Palestinian refugees and the borders between Israel and a would-be Palestinian entity.

As a matter of fact the fate of the Oslo peace process has been in jeopardy ever since the hardline Likud Party won the Israeli elections in 1996. “The number of settlers has more than doubled in 10 years to around 230,000, to which the Palestinians point as proof that Israel never had intention of allowing a Palestinian state to exist.”— Christian Chase.

Yasser Arafat once announced a Palestinian state by May 4, 1999, then retracted. Netanyahu arrogantly boasted: “He (Arafat) backed down because he knows we won’t give him what he wants, he knows as long as I’m prime minister, a Palestinian state will not be established.” Netanyahu is known for his “Five Nays”: no to the Israeli withdrawal from the Golan Heights, no to Palestinian capital in East Al Quds, no to return of the Palestinian refugees, no to a Palestinian state, and no to freezing the Jewish settlements in the occupied Arab territories. In the face of this inflexible stance, the United States submitted to the will of the arrogant Israeli prime minister without a murmur.

Noam Chomsky has observed there has been for 25 years a near-unanimous international consensus for a full peace with the establishment of Palestinian state after Israel withdraws and that enjoys a wide support even within Israel. It has been blocked by Washington ever since its veto of a UNSC resolution to that effect in 1976.

Israel hopes to create bantustans in the West Bank and Gaza just as South Africa is dismantling its own as a relic of apartheid.

Edward Said once told Reuters in Beirut, “It really doesn’t matter whether he (Arafat) declares a Palestinian state or not, because he will never have a state without real borders — they are controlled by the Israelis — no real sovereignty, no real country. It will be cut up into cantons and he won’t have East Jerusalem.”

PROF (DR.) P. NASIR

Gujrat

Foreign faculty hiring programme

This is with reference to the government’s policy of hiring of foreign faculty. According to the Constitution, every rupee of the federal budget is to be spent, every drop of river water is to be distributed, and every job is to be given according to the provincial quota. But the Higher Education Commission has announced 300 jobs for foreigners (by default) with a salary of Rs200,000 per month, per post, without mentioning the quota, i.e., nobody knows where they will serve, and whether these professors are really foreigners, qualified and productive.

— Is the commission working above the constitution?

— Is there a special selection board, for each post, with representation from the provinces, including judges?

— Is any minister or adviser empowered to appoint so many people with such huge salaries, and spend Rs0.9 billion without any feasibility report?

I fear that in the absence of a minimum infrastructure (laboratories, chemicals, equipment, research journals, intelligent and well educated students), without verification of the degrees and research papers of the prospective candidates, the money spent by a single authority, without provincial representation, may produce a few more Mr 10 per cent or 20 per cent, or an atmosphere of favouritism as has happened in the past in the case of permits, plots and evacuee property.

Recently, the HEC had announced 10 posts with a salary of Rs25,000 per month, for those loyal Pakistani experts who have degrees from famous foreign universities. Their only crime or mistake was that they had served Pakistan till their retirement, as a result they have been humiliated by a reduction of a one-eighth ratio in their salaries (i.e., 200,000: 25,000 = 8:1) as compared to that offered to foreigners.

I am afraid that by such an action some members of the ruling class are helping their own kith and kin, (in the name of expatriate Pakistanis) on the one hand, and punishing the patriotic Pakistanis on the other hand (by adopting a two-tier policy), and encouraging the young scientists and experts not to return till they are offered more than Rs200,000/month, i.e., eight times the salary their teachers, supervisors, and seniors are getting in the same institution, for doing the same job, and with the same qualifications. What a justice! What a reward! What a punishment!

I appeal to the authorities to take necessary action to preserve/defend the constitutional rights of the provinces, to abolish the double standards, to follow the rules and to conduct a study regarding the cost-benefit analysis or input-output ratio of the scheme (foreign faculty hiring).

DR N. M. SHAIKH

Dadu

Lakhdar Brahimi’s warning

MR Lakhdar Brahimi has warned about the UN abandoning Afghanistan. According to him, countries committed to supporting Afghanistan can’t expect UN personnel to work in unacceptably insecure conditions.

The warning comes on the heels of a virtual UN pullout from the war-torn Iraq after the failure of the US-led coalition forces there in restoring order. Observers believe that a force comprising moderate Muslim country army units under the UN command, not the dreaded Americans, could have brought this about both in Afghanistan and in Iraq.

Besides, such a force could succeed faster in raising and training an army under a unified command, and civil defence forces capable of establishing order.

Until October 2001, Mr Brahimi shunned this idea. But with Afghanistan firmly in the grip of the West by mid-November, this unworkable idea suddenly began to appear “logical and workable” to him. But the realization was pathetically late. It was unfortunate that a neutral Muslim country’s army units were not allowed to form the major component of the coalition forces. Had he been resolute (and not influenced by the US), things would not have reached their current state. It cost the impoverished Afghans dearly at the expense of arms merchants and those thriving on the pervasive chaos.

Initially, the Taliban-bashing seemed justified given the repulsive style in which they portrayed themselves as protectors of Islam. But its downside is that frequent targeting errors by the US-led coalition forces antagonized even neutral Afghans, which is a monument to the short-sightedness of the UN.

The fresh wave of violence in Afghanistan is being downplayed by the US media but self-respecting Americans are talking about it, at times too loudly for the liking of Bush Jr. Yet, none among them suggests a peace-keeping force comprising a neutral Muslim country’s army units. What a pity!

A. B. SHAHID

Karachi

Plight of under-trial prisoners

I AM deeply shocked to read the news about the recent hanging of an 80-year-old convict in Peshawar jail (Dawn, Dec 3). According to the news-item, the convict was charged with murder in 1988. This means he had to undergo dual punishment: 15 years in prison and death by hanging, and that too at the age of 80. The maximum life imprisonment for murder is 14 years.

Time and again, we come across news and articles depicting the miseries of under-trial prisoners, but nothing seems to have been done to alleviate their untold suffering. The UTPs continue to suffer colossal physical and mental agonies by languishing in jails for undefined time periods, waiting for their trials to commence and to conclude.

The families of the UTPs have to undergo a more traumatic time. They not only have to pursue the cases of their near and dear ones, they also have to suffer the pain and torment of being separated from the accused. The financial strain of the court and jail expenses, and the loss of income, if the accused is a bread-winner, can be formidable.

Recently the departing governor of California commuted the death sentence of all the 167 prisoners on the death row, expressing his doubts about the efficacy of the US criminal justice system.

I appeal to the authorities to review the cases of all under- trial prisoners and release those who have already served the maximum sentence for the crimes they have allegedly committed, to give relief to the accused and to reduce the overcrowding in jails and piling up of cases in courts.

MUMTAZ A. PIRACHA

Karachi

Expatriate pensioners

PENSIONERS Benefit Account (National Savings Scheme) is one of the investment schemes designed to benefit pensioners retiring from their government service. Without prejudice whatsoever to government pensioners, I would like to stress the fact that expatriate pensioners, who during their employment abroad benefit the country with their remittances, and who on retirement return with government pensions in foreign exchange, also deserve to be accommodated for the purpose of investment in this more favourable scheme.

My own employment abroad has been a source of almost 50 million rupees in foreign currency. When I applied for investment in the scheme meant for government pensioners only, my request was declined.

Expatriate pensioners have been doing a yeoman’s service to the country, without being a burden on it — no lucrative perks and no coveted privileges. Pension contributions made by local pensioners can be justifiably equated with foreign exchange benefits accruing to Pakistan.

It is hoped the Central Directorate of National Savings will consider the grievances of expatriate pensioners in respect of investment in the scheme concerned, and the Overseas Foundation for Expatriate Pakistanis will take up the issue with the government.

AKBAR KHAN

Karachi

Saddam’s capture

THE news and images of Saddam’s capture have been received by billions of people all over the world. There are important lessons that we can learn from this incident.

For those who suffered at Saddam’s hands, there is some consolation. Those who consider him a hero should reflect. He never put up a fight in the face of a stronger enemy and never showed mercy for the weak.

The man’s character and the life he has lived are also a qualitative reflection on the true measure of the allied forces’ triumph.

NADIR ABBAS

Islamabad

Deaths on the road

THIS is with reference to the news item “15 die in accident” (Dec 14).

The number of deaths in traffic accidents in Pakistan is one of the highest in the world. This means that every time we are out on roads, our lives are at risk. It is quite unfortunate that we are not safe from a lawful activity like driving, let alone an unlawful one.

The high number of accidents can be attributed to many factors. The majority of people who have driving licences have not even taken the driving test. They prefer paying bribes to obtain a licence rather than follow the procedure laid down for acquiring a licence. Thus, people who would probably fail the test are driving vehicles and the situation is aggravated when they drive public vehicles.

It is often observed that the drivers of buses and coaches are involved in rash driving and every time a person gets into such vehicles, his/her life is at risk.

There are also incidents in which people drive under the influence of alcohol or other drug. It is also observed that in the majority of cases the drivers involved in accidents are freed as they belong to influential families or work for transport mafias who secure their release by bribing the relevant authorities.

Unless and until the delivery of the driving licence by payment of bribe is stopped and accountability of drivers involved in accidents is done, the graph of traffic accidents can never be brought down.

ANIL KHAN LUNI

Karachi

Combating hepatitis B

I would like to emphasize the need on the part of the government and the various NGOs to initiate a serious campaign to create awareness about, as well as to contain and control, the killer disease called hepatitis.

Hepatitis B is a silent killer. It is spreading at a fast pace only because of a lack of proper knowledge and responsibility in this regard of the people/organizations concerned. Lack of responsibility is reflected in the improper cleanliness found in hospitals, slackness on the part of doctors, and random donation of blood by professional donors.

The government should establish a separate department for disseminating information to the general public, similar to the polio eradication campaign. In this way, the public in general and related persons in particular will be able to get information about this life-threatening disease.

Moreover, the cost of an anti-hepatitis vaccine is so high that it is not within the reach of the common man. As such, the government should at least provide this vaccine at a reduced/reasonable price, if not free of cost. In this way, the poor will also be able to afford the burden of immunization against this deadly disease.

ERUM HASSAN

Karachi

A misleading claim

TOBACCO companies often advertise the large sums they pay in taxes to the government of Pakistan.

As a health professional, I would like to explain to the public the real cost of tobacco use incurred by this country. Every day people burn away Rs560 million worth of cigarettes in the country and then spend over one billion on the treatment of diseases caused by this powerful addictive substance.

According to recent research, tobacco is the most important preventable cause of disease and death in Pakistan. Every year over 100,000 people die in the country as a direct consequence of tobacco use. Lung cancer and mouth cancer are the two leading cancers in Pakistan and both are directly caused by tobacco.

Our country also loses a huge amount of foreign exchange every year in importing costly medicines required to treat various diseases caused by smoking.

The tobacco industry is advised to read the recent report of the World Bank and WHO, according to which tobacco is not good for any country’s economy. In fact, it makes the poor country poorer. The resources which could have been spent on food and education in Pakistan are being wasted on tobacco which is extremely dangerous to human health and responsible for more than 20 fatal diseases in this country.

DR JAVAID A. KHAN

Karachi

Yardstick for employment

I AM doing my A-levels. Recently I approached a school about a job. The management agreed to hire me but wanted me to do away with my abaya (coat) and scarf — I shouldn’t wear it while coming and going. The reason: it conjures up a picture of a conservative person. I told them a person is judged by his/her character and not by how he/she looks.

Is this a criterion for getting a job in our country?

FATIMA AYUB

Karachi

Learning from history

ALL developed nations have prospered after learning lessons from their past — their history. However, in our case if we see the history taught to our younger generation, unfortunately there is no lessons to be learnt despite the continuous downfall in the fortunes of Muslims in the last few centuries.

We are taught that all Muslim rulers and kingdoms of the subcontinent were great, providing justice to all, and launching welfare schemes to facilitate the masses. Is it true? If that was so, why has the fortunes of the Ummah nosedived to the current situation? Our religion demands of us to be truthful and honest to the facts, and until and unless we acknowledge our shortcomings, we can never be successful.

The subcontinent’s history as taught seems to indicate that if there had been no Mir Jafer or Mir Qasim, things in South Asia would have been quite different. Is it logically possible that two lousy characters can change the course of history? The fact is they just acted as catalysts to bring down the Muslim rule earlier than expected.

The inevitable was obvious: the English invaders were a lot more educated, resourceful and better equipped and, above all, united. Why don’t we accept that the Muslim emperors, specially the Mughals, did nothing for the welfare of the people and discouraged educating the masses. All they were concerned with was their own comfort and luxuries. The West accepts a certain era as their dark age. That was when the masses were devoid of any facility, and education and knowledge ws not even secondary. They learnt their lessons and followed the path of the then Muslims, got knowledge and prospered steadily to reach the current heights.

But we have yet to determine which era is our “dark age”. We acknowledge all the past Muslim rulers as our heroes and portray only the good things about them, while their mistakes, blunders and plunders are omitted, or not considered worth mentioning. How can a nation learn from the past when it thinks that its ancestors never committed any mistakes?

Secondly, we have to separate Islamic history and the subcontinent’s history, since the only bond between the Arabs and us is religion, but their cultural values are quite different from ours.

We have to evaluate our weaknesses as a nation and rectify our mistakes. Someone has to take the initiative to provide an honest picture to the youth, otherwise the current moral and social evils will keep haunting us and our future generations.

YOUSUF AHMAD

Lahore