'Back to the beginning'

This is with reference to the column by Irfan Husain, entitled "Back to the beginning" (April 17). Mr Husain's analysis of the religio-political aspects of events leading to the formation of Israel and the current support of this state by the United States was excellent reading.

Jews, like the Christians, are respected as 'the People of the Book' by the Islamic faith. It is unfortunate that events of the day, especially in the Middle East, have steered these three monotheistic faiths into a collision course which seems to be escalating by the day.

Mr Husain downplays the role of the Jewish lobby in American politics. The reality is different. The Jewish (or pro-Israeli) lobby wields enormous power in the United States. Various interest groups such as the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC; www.aipac.org) and the American Jewish Congress (AJC; www.ajcongress.org) have full-time employees working to promote Israel's interest in the United States.

In 1998, for instance, Fortune magazine's annual survey (titled "Power 25") of Washington's lobbying elite listed the AIPAC as the second most influential lobbying group in the nation's capital. In 2001 it was again listed in the top five.

The fascinating part of the story however is that this group had far fewer employees and much less funding compared with other lobby groups on the Power 25 list. The lobby works through starting and maintaining contacts with a vast network of Jewish voters beginning at college level.

These contacts are then fostered over time. The lobby then utilizes these votes to help pro- Israel representatives get elected (through both funding and votes). Further workings of this lobby have been well researched and described by former Illinois congressman Paul Findley in his book "They dare to Speak Out" which he published after losing an election when he came into confrontation with the Jewish lobby.

In US politics, interest groups play a vital role. The Jewish lobby only furthers the interests of those whom it represents. Muslim lobby groups are yet to gain influence.

However, given that Jewish lobby groups had a headstart of decades (the first Jewish senator was elected in the late 1800s), the situation is not yet hopeless. With time and effort, the day may yet come yet when Muslim groups will wield enough influence in the US to further their interests at home and abroad.

MUBASHIR KHAN

Indianapolis, IN., USA

The rank of field marshal

The situation in the country is fluid. Statements from people who flatter themselves by the title of patriots and democrats are coming thick and fast for General Musharraf to go on in his fatigues. To cover his base, some have suggested that he should declare himself field marshal.

Let us see how Ayub got himself promoted to the rank of field marshal. Few may remember it was Bhutto who had suggested to Ayub to keep him head and shoulders above the grumbling generals (including Musa) who wanted continuation of martial law ("Friends, not Masters", OUP, 1967, p.79).

Shoaib, the finance minister, took care of financial ramifications. On the first anniversary of his "revolution" on October 27, 1959, the military secretary to Ayub rang up Bhutto, then in New York with a UN delegation, thanking him profusely on such a sound suggestion (Stanely Wolpert, "Zulfi Bhutto of Pakistan", OUP, 1993, p.60).

Around that time, Sir Claude Auchinleck, former supreme commander of the two dominions (India and Pakistan) was on a visit to Pakistan. Ayub's aide borrowed his baton for a few hours and after copying it, returned it to the owner. Thus, Ayub assumed the baton of a field marshal.

Sir Claude was having lunch with his old pal, ex-president of Pakistan Iskander Mirza in a London restaurant. His remarks on Ayub were poignant: "I earned my rank for my efforts in World War II against the Germans in the Middle East and the Japanese in Burma.

What battle has Ayub won that he presumes to call himself a 'Field Marshal?'" Iskander Mirza, with a wry smile on his lips and a twinkle in his eyes, replied mischievously: "'Field Marshal, I am afraid you are wrong, Ayub won a much bigger battle than any of yours - he got rid of me!' The field marshal had a hearty laugh and then proceeded to enjoy his lunch." (Humayun Mirza, "From Plassey to Pakistan", UPA, 1999, p.252).

ASLAM MINHAS

Karachi

Establishment of NCEL

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan has granted permission/licence for the establishment of the National Commodity Exchange Limited (NCEL). The barons of the Karachi Stock Exchange are the moving spirit behind this project and for that purpose a huge hotel building is being purchased to house the commodities exchange.

Every commodity - be it foodgrains, pulse, cotton, cotton-yarn, edible oils, fats, or items of daily use - shall be put to sale and purchase on a present and future contract delivery basis.

It will be a sort of satta. Investors will be free to buy and sell the commodities at their own options. The result will not be dissimilar from that of monopoly and imperfect competition.

Hoarding and accumulations of foodgrains and other commodities will cause speculative rise in the price of food and clothing items. Artificial scarcity at the hands of the traders interested in money-making shall put the people, already groaning under the yoke of ever rising cost of living, to untold miseries.

It seems that SECP is working as a state within the state, feeling no necessity to get prior approval from the president or prime minister or even from the finance minister to establish this business enterprise.

Something seems to have lured them to license the NCEL. This will be a licence to snatch away one square meal from the mouths of the masses, on the one hand, and create a bonanza for a few, on the other.

GHEEWALA A.G.M.

Karachi

Pakistan, Nato and Iraq war

I would like to rebut the views of Mr Imran Khalid Arain ("Major non-Nato ally status") and S.M. Kazim Naqvi and Z.A. Kazmi ("A war founded on lies") published in Dawn on April 19.

First, Mr Arain "mocks" Pakistan's new major non-Nato affiliate status. Yet he recites huge trade advantages that come with this designation for Pakistan. He also omits any awareness that Nato is now into as much of an economic association for mutual trade benefit as for any other consideration.

Mutual defence and public security and safety which Nato association also offers are neither resented nor feared. Thus, I respectfully refute the mistaken premises which Mr Arain maintains, as he is solely looking at military considerations, which is not the entire case, as his own letter admits, although in a vague manner.

Secondly, both Messrs S. M. Kazim Naqvi and Z. A. Kazmi attack the coalition forces' purposes and plan of action in Iraq as replacing one "dictator" for another. Very untrue.

Right now there is more individual freedom inside Iraq than ever before. There is an interim constitution which allows for both men and women to vote, and for respect and safety for all religions and faith systems in Iraq.

Both letter writers somehow overlook radical religious zealots who are visibly self-serving, with attempted private armies, to gain advantage and succeed in a repressive fashion the former dictatorship of Saddam Hussein.

GEORGE SINGLETON

Birmingham, Alabama, USA

Suggestions for budget

The ministry of finance is inviting suggestions for the next budget, which, to most people, is merely a formality. For a common man, the budget means taxing the people to cater for the luxurious lifestyle of the ruling class; publicity, rallies and miscellaneous grand receptions and ceremonies to glorify the rulers; beautification of VVIP routes and residential areas; Umra and foreign tours by the rulers; monuments to immortalize the name of the top ruler and the like.

I suggest the following:

- Non-productive and low-priority projects of comforts for the elite, such as beautification of Islamabad, the monument in Islamabad worth over Rs427 million, interchange at Zero Point at Islamabad worth over Rs278 million, should be dropped and be excluded from the next budget.

- Tax rates should be minimized keeping in view the financial condition of the average citizen. Tax returns should include only the taxable income to facilitate hassle-free voluntary tax payment and to obviate harassment by taxmen.

- The Protection of Economic Reforms Act 1992 should be restored to encourage for inflow of forex instead of forcing it to stay in overseas banks. However, suitable checks by banks such as "know your client" should be enforced to obviate funding terrorist groups.

SHAKEEL AKHTAR

Rawalpindi

Soiled currency notes

The everyday problem of soiled currency notes, affecting the lives of high and low, remains unresolved. It was expected of the State Bank of Pakistan that they would take strict action in response to the numerous letters published from time to time in these columns. However, they have not gone beyond issuing press releases.

The other day I went to a commercial bank where I had to submissively accept torn and soiled currency notes of Rs1,000 denomination, in view of the apathy and indifference on the part of the central bank.

The fault lies equally with the State Bank and the commercial banks. It appears that there is complete lack of understanding and coordination between the two vital sectors.

The SBP expects the commercial banks to regularly send their representatives to the State Bank counter to get soiled, mutilated and torn notes in their possession exchanged with new notes. But owing to laxity on the part of the SBP, the commercial banks are oblivious to the public suffering, they are only interested in publicizing data on deposits and profitability percentage while quality of service to their customers is none of their business.

Will the State Bank wake up and realize it responsibility, thereby affording the much-needed relief, without any rigmarole.

GHOLAM HASNAIN

Karachi

Bouteflika's re-election

Algerian sitting President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's victory with a thumping majority provides him with another five-year term (editorial "Bouteflika's re-election", April 12) and certainly furnishes an opportunity to the country to jettison the stigma of extremism and usher in an era of prosperity.

A Mediterranean country - the second largest in the African continent after Sudan - and rich in natural resources of oil and gas, it had first come under Islamic influence in the seventh century. After the fall of the Umayyads, local Berber empires followed, the most famous being the Almoravid (1130-1269), which extended its domain even up to Spain. They are remembered as nurturing the golden age of north African Islamic civilization.

In the early 16th century, Christian Spain's intrusion in Algeria forced the populace to look to the Ottoman empire for succour which by 1536 established effective control of the region.

As soon as the Ottoman grip over affairs loosened, the French entered Algeria under the pretext of exterminating the pirate menace from the Mediterranean. In the beginning they faced severe resistance, but by 1847 France was able to control most of the country, though, people's confrontation still continued in pockets as late as 1884.

The most crucial period in the history of Algeria begins with the movements for national independence from France. This resulted in a local uprising and augmented war of independence in which 500,000 French troops were deployed by France to suppress the FLN movement.

It was president Charles de Gaulle who ultimately realized the futility of the French presence in Algeria and initiated peace parleys, which culminated in a plebiscite and independence. After gaining independence in 1962, Ben Bella's misrule paved the way for military intervention. Ben Bella was removed from power in 1965. Till the election of 1999, Algeria was governed by the army.

While commenting on the forthcoming Algerian election of 1999, (Dawn, March 28, 1999), the great scholar and expert on Algerian affairs - himself active member of FLN during 1960-63 liberation movement and later on peace initiatives - the late Eqbal Ahmed had said:

"Hope has returned to Algeria after a long time. Its fulfilment depends on the men who hold the reins of power in that tormented country. As nature is kind to Algeria, sorrows upon this sunny and beautiful Mediterranean land have always been inflicted by men."

Although Professor Eqbal Ahmad is no more with us (he died on May 11, 1999), his political analysis proved correct as amply demonstrated by later events.

MANZOOR H. KURESHI

Karachi

Standard of education

In 1972 the then prime minister, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, had increased the pay of all teachers and brought their scale on a par with the scale of pay of other employees. In doing so, all other privileges like long vacation with pay and short period of duty extending to even only one hour, depending upon the number of classes a teacher had to take, were allowed to be enjoyed by them.

With the grant of higher pay, with other benefits, to the teachers, it was expected that the standard of education in schools and colleges would improve, but it is evident that the situation has deteriorated and almost at all levels education standards have fallen.

In the circumstances, I suggest that a complete analysis of the matter should be undertaken by educationists to ascertain as to where the fault lies and how improvements can be made.

I may mention that education in lower classes in government schools is very poor. Teachers are casual in attending schools and care little for their job of teaching.

G. RAZA

Karachi

Brian Lara's achievement

So Brian Lara has done it again. By scoring the highest Test score he has made history on two accounts. First, he is the only cricketer who has scored 400 runs in a Test match. Second, he is the only cricketer who set a world record of the highest individual score not once but twice.

At first it was way back in 1993-94 when he scored 375 runs and re-wrote the history books by surpassing the highest score of 365 runs made by another West Indian cricketer, Sir Garfield Sobers.

It is a coincidence that on both occasions it was an English team whom Lara demolished on his home ground and before his home crowd. Something most commendable about his innings of 400 runs is that during this innings he just gave half a chance. So in the eyes of the experts of the game his mammoth innings of 400 runs is far better than the one when he scored 375 odd runs.

One can say with a great deal of confidence that among the present lot of cricketers there is none who can break the record set by Brian Lara except Lara himself. All said and done, hats off to him for doing something impossible and turning a batsman's dream into reality.

RAFAT MAHMOOD ANSARI

Islamabad

'Selective amnesia'

This is with reference to Mr Ardeshir Cowasjee's article "Selective amnesia" (April 18). My feelings were hurt when I read him declaring Pakistan as the "unfortunate" state. I agree that there were rulers who didn't care for the future of Pakistan and that was unfortunate for us but still making a mockery of our beloved country in such a widely read paper is like making a mockery of ourselves. I hope our sentiments will be taken care of in the future articles.

FURQUAN KIDWAI

London, UK

Planning Gwadar

This is with reference to Mr Rahman's letter on Gwadar (April 20). Yes, Gwadar must be planned and built the way Islamabad was. God bless Ayub Khan. Let us have, as he points out, another planned city in addition to Islamabad.

There was once a very beautiful and well-planned city on Pakistan's Arabian Sea coast. It was called Karachi. Ignoring the old part, the new areas had wide roads, there were big parks and playgrounds, clean footpaths, a well-developed transport system, centrally built markets, troughs for animals and parking lots for Victorias and taxis.

Today, that city has become a jungle of concrete, characterized by encroachments and pollution. There is no transport system, and the difference between residential and commercial areas has ceased to exist.

Let not Gwadar suffer this tragedy. Let not property shocks turn Gwadar into the chaos called Karachi. Finally, save Gwadar for Pakistani labour. Do not let Gwadar become an Afghan city.

Let us reserve Gwadar for Pakistani, especially Baloch labour. I appeal to Prime Minister Jamali to ensure that Gwadar retains its Pakistani and Baloch character.

JAMEEL SIDDIQI

Karachi

Discussions and talk shows

This refers to the talk shows/discussions being telecast by some private channels. What is the purpose of these discussions and do they contribute to the accomplishment of the goal? I feel that no purpose is served as the level of discussion by the 'experts' who are required to give their views on serious issues, remains far below the par. Whatever is put across is devoid of logic and reason.

The intention, it is very obvious, is to score a point and be a nuisance by shouting and not allowing others to speak. The viewers, after sitting through this ordeal, remain as ill-informed as before. Would maturity ever become a forte of our representatives and leaders?

I would advise the moderator to firmly handle and guide the participants rather than be led and be there just to announce short breaks.

A. SHAMSHAD

Karachi

Medicinal plants

It was heartening to learn on March 31 that the ministry of food, agriculture and livestock had selected 28 medicinal herbs for cultivation under a project to introduce medicinal species.

India and China are cultivating several medicinal plants, besides producing timber and environment-purifying species which greatly help their economy. The forest department is urged to grow medicinal plants to save on their imports and meet domestic needs.

DOST MOHAMMAD DASHTI

Khairpur Mirs