An emerging cause for global wars

During the past couple of centuries, wars have been fought in the name of religion and ideology for the sake of establishing a presence in regions rich in natural resources and to unfairly exploit them for financial gain. However, it seems that in this century we shall be faced with a series of wars with a new reason behind them. The rapidly emerging cause for these political and economic wars possibly even leading to military confrontation is going to be global climate changes.

Countries such as Britain and Japan are getting increasingly uncomfortable because of the reports being published about the consequences they may have to face if they fail to rein in greenhouse gases and carbon emissions. Sea levels could rise flooding the coastal areas. A drastic increase in temperatures across the globe before the turn of the century could lead to Britain becoming a tropical country with floods, droughts and other natural disasters causing mayhem and poverty. Impoverished countries could face mass starvation on an unimaginable scale and the recent tsunami disaster might seem like a minor incident as compared to the ones this planet could face in the future.

This is compounded by the fact that the United States, the largest contributor to such gases, has abandoned the Kyoto Treaty and is adamant that it shall neither sign it nor reduce industrial emissions which poison the climate. Even though a vast majority of nations have ratified the treaty, America's refusal to sign the treaty, viewing its short-term economic goals as more sacred than this impending threat to the entire planet, will eventually cause disastrous consequences for its own allies. This is more than likely to lead to serious confrontations between present-day friends in the coming years.

China's economic boom with its consumption of oil and other resources such as steel at such a high rate is also causing alarm in developed nations. Instability in the Middle East and a changing political climate in countries such as Saudi Arabia is forcing developed countries to invest heavily in research to come up with alternative sources of energy. Hybrid car engines being developed at present comprise one example of how the future might look like without dependency on oil, hence causing the focus of attention of western countries on the Middle East, especially in terms of military presence, to shift.

America's historic stubbornness and its aggressive attitude towards common issues have brought misery to the entire world many times. Its cowboy mentality does not allow it to behave rationally or allow civilized discussion to take place. This self-centeredness focused around its fragile dominance over the global economy and the fear of a decline in the standard of living, which European and other countries are already prepared to face, will lead to a situation where the EU and Japan with a coalition of other nations facing impending hardship due to America's actions might be forced to act. They will probably use the same rationale that the US has used frequently in the past three years - self-defence.

The US needs to be reminded that in order to maintain its influence on other nations it will need to lead them by changing its present behaviour and that it should be prepared to act positively to tackle the global issue of the environment's deterioration.

DR SHAAZ MAHBOOB

London, UK

War against rape

This is with reference to the news item "Burnt maid dies" (Jan 24).

The police took the maid's thumb impression on a prepared statement according to which she tried to commit suicide. When she regained conscious, she denied the statement and said that she had been raped and then set on fire.

Police officials who use fake dying declarations to save the culprits or to falsely implicate an innocent person stand on the same footing as those involved in crimes. The attitude of our police force is one of the major reasons why rape victims remain silent as they fear that the police instead of registering a case against the rapists may arrest them on charges of adultery. After the enactment of the Criminal Law [Amendment] Act, 2004, it has become binding on the police that no official below the rank of superintendent of police should investigate cases falling under the Zina Ordinance.

Moreover, no woman can be arrested without the permission of the court concerned. The amendment to the law is welcome but it is unfortunate that many police officials are unaware of the amendments and continue to make arrests.

The religious parties, as always, have remained silent over the rape. They show their connivance over atrocities committed over women. They want Muslim women to wear a veil but never condemn acts in which women have been stripped naked. They have made the Hudood laws a political issue, which has played havoc with the lives of thousands of women. It must be realized that people seeking amendments to the Hudood laws wish for a change in the law of evidence which is man-made and not the Hudood punishments which have been prescribed by God.

Rape is common in Pakistan and we must not be shy of admitting it. Unfortunately, in a majority of the cases it is the relatives of the victim who are involved and which makes it even more difficult for the victim to report the offence. The topic of rape has always been considered sacrosanct and it is only after the opening up of private TV channels that debate has started over the issue. It is hoped that laws are enacted which aid the rape victim rather than the rapist. Let's start the war against rape.

ANIL KHAN LUNI

Karachi

'The politics of religion'

This refers to Ms Zubeida Mustafa's article "The politics of religion" (Jan 26).

In trying to explain and understand the causes of the revival of religion in politics, a very important factor - at least with respect to Islam being revived as a political force - was not mentioned: the organization of jihadi militia by the US and its allies in the late 70s and early 80s to fight 'communism' in Afghanistan, and our own love of jihad in Kashmir later.

Eqbal Ahmed in 'Confronting Empire' observes that jihad as a political force was organized for the first time in recent history because of the billions spent by the US-led West.

The other very important reason, briefly touched in the article, concerning people globally is the religion of neo-liberalism - sustained by trillions of dollars of advertising - to which we are told there is no alternative, which glorifies greed, individualism, and worships profit and material growth as the only value and driving force in human life, where happiness and satisfaction can only come from buying and nothing but buying more and more, and for that to keep earning more and more, whatever it takes.

Water, health and education are also commodities - to be bought and sold on the market in this economic prescription given by the Chicago School Nobel Prize doctors. It is accelerating the breakdown of community, the weakening of state and institutions like trade unions and less and less participation of people.

Talk of democracy with neo-liberal economic make-up is a cruel joke, unless of course democracy is narrowly defined as a series of election extravaganzas.

An increasing number of not just the poor and powerless but the confused middle class and relatively wealthy, even the super rich are getting sucked into the vacuum filled by exploiters of religion to either consolidate or attain power. It is a bonanza for pop psychologists, self-development and spiritual gurus, and marketeers.

FARAZ HUSSAIN

Karachi

Restoring honour through horror

President Gen Musharraf signed the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill 2004 on Jan 5, 2005 which was previously passed by the National Assembly on Oct 26, 2004, and by the Senate on Dec 7, 2004.

In spite of this law, which provides for the enhancement of punishment of honour-related crimes committed in the name of karo-kari, one just wonders how it is still possible for a tribal jirga to reportedly describe the Sui rape victim (an honourable healer herself) as a kari.

Why don't such tribesmen say they will kill themselves because they are dishonoured? Why kill a weak and poor soul who has already been through a lot? How is that going to help restore their honour? We hope the general himself will take a special interest in this pitiable case and call for an impartial and unbiased investigation so that the real culprits are not only punished but an example is made of them so that no one else dares repeat such a heinous crime ever again.

Further, a national campaign should be run in order to educate tribal jirga heads to differentiate between the criminals and innocent victims.

DR FAISAL CHEEMA

New York, USA,

Dr AMNA BUTTAR

Wisconsin, USA

AKU exam board

In recent weeks, the establishment of a private examination board by the Aga Khan University has attracted considerable ire, especially of certain conservative and religious elements in society. Instead of finding out the facts regarding the issue, the critics have made all kinds of allegations and accusations against both the AKU and the government for allowing this exam board to be set up.

The facts are quite otherwise. For one, the board is not going to "secularize" the education system of the country as the critics keep on repeating. The syllabus that the AKU's exam board will use will be approved by the curriculum wing of the federal ministry of education, which also approves the curriculum for the government-operated exam boards.

Second, the AKU has a proven track record of providing quality medical care to thousands of people. That it should be now setting up an examination board should be welcomed instead of criticized. The quality, or lack thereof, of the government's examination boards is there for everyone to see. Instead of encouraging the faculties of analysis and inquiry among students, these exam boards reward rote learning and memorization. Hopefully, the AKU's exam board will provide a much better alternative to this country's students.

SENATOR TANVIR KHALID

Member, Senate Standing Committee on Education, Karachi

Time to restructure the restructuring

"We are passing through a rebuilding process. To test how much backup is available, the new players will be given sufficient time. If they click we will then see whether the team needs the stars or not."

These were the words of a top PCB official in March 2003 at the end of the most wretched performance by the Pakistan cricket team in the history of World Cup cricket. The other day, exactly 22 months after the World Cup, we saw our team not displaying even the slightest of shame and dignity when losing to thorough professionals like the West Indies.

The quandary lies is laid with the team management and the leadership within the PCB. There are plenty of questions that must be answered to justify the selection of players such as Mohammed Hafeez and Shoaib Malik; one fails to understand the grounds on which Younis Khan was dropped after his brilliant knock on Wednesday.

The bowling department is anything but balanced, and well below par. As Mr Omar Kureshi pointed out in his recent article, Danesh Kaneria should not have been sent home. It remains a mystery why Asim Kamal has never been given the chance to play one-day cricket. He is a talented player capable of going places provided he is given time. His labelling as a 'Test only' batsman reminds me of the same game our good old PCB played with the highly talented Shoaib Mohammed. I fear Kamal's fate may also limit him to play only Test matches.

The PCB chief executive is not so simple as not to notice the bizarre decisions consistently made on the field by the captain. For example, the other day Inzamam only had three fielders on mid-on, and among them two were too deep to stop singles and doubles.

We have all seen England getting bashed by New Zealand at home and India getting hammered by Australia at home as well, but their players lose with dignity and integrity. The poor display of teamwork and professionalism by our cricketers does not give me hope of any chances of rebuilding the team of our great cricketing nation.

With players getting struck by mystery illnesses, captains missing entire Test series, striking bowlers partying in Sydney night clubs on the eve of one of the most important Test matches and opening bowlers ending up giving 25 extras in the first 10 overs, I sincerely hope that the PCB will one day be held accountable by the government for their policies in the area of selection, revenue-spending, awarding contracts and maintaining the attitude of the players on and off the pitch.

MUHAMMAD SIDDIQUI

West Yorkshire, UK

Bulletproof cars

The government is importing 30 bulletproof Mercedes cars (to the exclusion of other makes) and 20 luxury Land Cruisers costing billions of rupees for ministers and VVIPs. In India, a minister is authorized to use an indigenous Maruti.

Our ministers being elected representatives should feel safe among their constituents and should not seek any special protection. The president and the prime minister are however exceptions requiring special dispensation.

The government may reconsider the decision to import these cars and spend the money so saved on mitigation of the sufferings of the masses.

S.M.H.BOKHARI

Rawalpindi

Abuse of women

The abuse of women in Pakistan is under-reported. Amongst other reasons is the stigma attached to abuse and the role of the authorities during follow-up investigations. I cannot understand why religious parties come out in droves whenever women demand their due rights but are nowhere to be seen whenever incidents of abuse of women are reported in the national press.

Recently, a woman physician was assaulted in Balochistan and a maid servant was raped, doused in kerosene and torched in Karachi. Why did these same protesters not come out in large numbers, demanding appropriate justice and asking the government to take steps to protect the honour and lives of our daughters, sisters, wives and mothers? If this is not a selective and selfish interpretation of Islam, then one doesn't know what else is.

NADEEM ZAFAR

Memphis, USA

NAB and the judiciary

The president of the Pakistan Muslim League, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, recently reiterated his earlier opinion that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), which is headed by an army general, should be headed by a judge of a superior court to make it a judicious institution, with no reflection on the army.

It is surprising that in spite of the assertion by no less a person than the head of the ruling party, the present chairman of NAB has been given a further extension of one year.

The NAB Ordinance suggests that the chairman should be appointed in consultation with the chief justice of Pakistan. It appears that the extension has been granted without taking into consideration the opinion of the ruling party.

It will be in the fitness of things if the chief justice could take suo motu notice of the extension granted to the chairman and advised the government to appoint a judge of the supreme court to head NAB.

MASUDA KHANUM

Karachi

Retired ABL employees

This is with reference to the report "NA committee discusses ABL restructuring" (Dawn, Jan 7).

On behalf of the families of the retired employees of ABL, I suggest that the committee must also probe into the injustices done to the ABL employees and provide them relief by raising their pension as per the government decision.

Reconstruction or restructuring of the bank and an inquiry into the past affairs are good steps but the sufferers must be compensated, and those who have played foul must be taken to task.

MUHAMMAD ALI

Karachi

Balochistan issue

This refers to Mr Qutubuddin Aziz's letter (Jan 21). I agree that an army operation in Balochistan must be avoided in the national interest, as one does not unleash the army on one's own people. But, then, our own people should also learn not to go about destroying public and private property. There is a law in place, and crime should not go unpunished.

Everybody is saying that reprisal actions for attacks on gas fields, railway, bridges or other economic assets will be counter-productive. The government, the intelligentsia says, is best advised to show restraint and negotiate with them. Negotiate what? And who is "them"?

If armed renegades vandalize public or private property and take to the mountains, are the protectors of our lives and property required to 'negotiate' with them? Being fully capable of paying these renegades back for what they have done, the army would definitely not be sending a wrong signal if they teach these subversive elements a lesson that strong-arm tactics never work when our very national interest is at stake.

S. M. KAZIM NAQVI

Karachi

Another Indian project

If the Baglihar dam dispute wasn't enough to sour relations between India and Pakistan, we now have the Kishanganga hydroelectric power project to make matters worse.

One wonders what Pakistani officials were doing in the past 10 years when these projects were initiated. It appears that they were trying desperately to hang on to power. It was internal instability that enabled such threatening external issues to be overlooked.

Secondly, the very existence of these projects exposes the Indian mindset. It is disappointing to know that destabilizing Pakistan remains one of the perennial goals of the Indian establishment.

Nevertheless, the Pakistan government seems alive to the peril now and is trying hard to rectify the situation. A great hurdle in this regard is the fact that in most bilateral or international negotiations the ground realities translate into results on the table. Considering this, it is imperative that the government rallies as much national and international support on the issue as possible.

ALI GHEBA

Via email

Country's name

I received my new machine-readable passport recently and found one very shocking mistake. On the cover page, the name of our country printed in Urdu is "Islami Jamhuria Pakistan" while the name printed in English is "Pakistan". Was it deliberately done or was it a mistake?

MALIK MURAD ALI

Karachi