| April 25, 2006 | Tuesday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 26, 1427 |
To send a letter to the Editor
Click here
Elections 2007
Relaxed security
NBP insurance scheme
No more fumigation
Strike at KU
Inviting foreign investment
Democratic future
Minor’s arrest
Violence
The real Islam
Morning walk
‘Setting the course right’
STARTING the Thar Express before the opening of consulates in Karachi and Mumbai is like putting the cart before the horse. The number of empty seats on the train to and from Pakistan shows that we have got our priorities wrong.
If someone living in Karachi or the rest of the Sindh has to go all the way to Islamabad to get a visa and then come all the way south to board the Thar Express, then is it worth spending all the time and money? The worst plight is that of Pakistanis going from Umerkot or Digri or even Sukkur to Islamabad.
At least the residents of Karachi have the facility of sending their visa applications and passports through a courier appointed by the Indian high commission.
In India the Pakistan high commission offers no such facility. The sight of people camping outside the high commission in Delhi in the biting cold of Delhi winter and the scorching heat of the city’s summer, not to speak of heavy monsoon rains, is pitiable.
Why doesn’t Pakistan offer courier facilities to visa applicants in India? Not too long ago this writer met a poor old woman outside the Pakistan high commission in Delhi who had come all the way from Bangalore, not once but twice to get the visa.
The man who fills the visa application forms for less educated people outside our high commission said that hers was one of the many cases in hundreds, if not in thousands, who apply for Pakistani visa. The apathy of the people inside the fortified walls of the high Commission is to be seen to be believed.
If Pakistan doesn’t get a suitable place in Mumbai to open its consulate in the main city, it can always look for a place in the suburbs, and until that happens, our high commission can open a camp office in Baig Mohammed School, Mumbai, as it used to do in the 60s and the 70s.
If nothing else we can offer the facility of sending visa applications to Delhi through selected couriers. The one in Karachi is doing a fairly good job and one can be reasonably certain that their counterparts in India could be equally efficient.
ASIF NOORANI
Karachi
IN a country where kite flying and the number of dishes that can be served at weddings have received the optimum attention of all pillars of the state, proposals to establish proper democracy in our political system are dubbed as “simplistic”. It is time that we minutely examined our past blunders so that a civilised system is established in the country.
We have missed many opportunities to create a proper political system for the country. Two were golden. One when the 1956 constitution was approved and we failed to hold elections. Second, when in early 1989 a young lady was sworn in as prime minister and the leader of the opposition promised to extend all possible help. The subsequent hounding of Mian Nawaz Sharif and his own style of governance in turn brought us to the present situation.
Elections 2007 may be considered as the third golden and perhaps the last opportunity to establish democracy in the country. It is therefore important that our leadership especially those who are very fond of surrounding ‘Islamabad’ and toppling the government assume a more reasonable stance.
Simultaneously, let us see what happens in the rest of the world and compare it with our own situation. In Australia to vote is mandatory. If you do not vote you can be fined. In France one must win at least 50 per cent of the votes cast to be elected. In Pakistan, with a 45 per cent turn out, even with only two candidates in many constituencies, the one who gets elected may have the support of only 28 per cent of the electorate. A person in an urban area is elected with 50,000 or more votes while a person from the tribal areas is elected by 500 individuals. There is not even provisional representation for the people of Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas in the National Assembly.
There is need to address apprehensions, to make the next election free fair and truly representative. In democracy lies the future happiness and prosperity of the people of Pakistan. But all of us are required to work for this goal in a more responsible and constructive manner.
KHALID HASSAN MAHMOOD
Karachi
ONE had vowed never to attend any function where the president, the prime minister or the Sindh governor chief guests.
One did not wish to waste hours waiting for them to show up, suffer the many security checks, take long walks from the parking lot or listen to oft-repeated speeches.
An exception was made on Sunday, April 2, for a function organised by the Pakistan-Sri Lanka Bilateral Forum at a five- star hotel, the scene of bomb blast on the eve of President Bush’s visit to Pakistan. But this time the chief guest was the Sri Lankan president. I had expected the governor or chief minister to be there too. I had also felt that there would be gun-toting commandos all over the hotel and in the hall. I was amazed to see a very relaxed security environment. There was the usual checking but very casual, and the depositing of cellphones at a counter where a charming Sri Lankan lady performed this task. The organisers, all well-known businessmen, were taking care of the guests while waiting for the chief guest who was late by 75 minutes. It transpired that the governor was hosting a tea party for him.
When the president and his entourage entered the meeting hall, most of the noise and hustle-bustle was created by the cameramen and photographers. The president was then escorted to the dais and one could sense that he was in a good mood, sharing jokes with the forum office-bearers sitting on his side. The ministers were also relaxed and comfortable. There were three short speeches plus one by the chief guest. One also got the opportunity to make some new contacts among the two dozen Sri Lankan businessmen accompanying the president.
The moral of this narration is that our leaders are so afraid to be close to the business community that earns dollars and euros for the country. They should learn from this president whose manners and actions reflected an ‘awami’ nature. He was soft-spoken, looking young in his trademark white dress with a red scarf. The Sri Lankans must be proud of their leader.
KARIM “BABU” SOOMRO
Karachi
THIS refers to the news item on the National Bank’s insurance scheme (April 8). The item needs some clarification as it appears that the undisclosed source of the news could not convey the correct facts.
The scheme was launched for the benefit of account holders of the bank especially those failing in the middle and lower income groups. It provides Rs 200,000 insurance cover in the case of accidental death as well as death due to natural calamities, riots, civil commotion and acts of terrorism, etc. Given Pakistan’s recent experience with the unfortunate October earthquake and other prevailing uncertainties, the potential benefit to widows and orphans or other dependents of account holders is clear.
In the case of branches where the NBP Protection Shield scheme is operative, all PLS branch customers are provided one-month free trial coverage without any deduction. The customers are informed of this fact through direct letters and other collateral material like banners and posters at bank branches. They are asked to contact their branches within the free coverage period if they do not want to avail of the product.
The customers also continue to have the option to refuse the product at any time by just signing a deactivation form available in the branches. On deactivation we will not only stop future premium deductions but will also refund the entire previously deducted premium amount to the customer’s account.
All claims are processed swiftly. Claims can be made simply on the basis of a death certificate from hospitals and the union council/cantonment board with a copy of the computerised ID card of the deceased. With these three basic documents along with two printed forms (signed by the physician concerned and the claimant, respectively), the claim is submitted and paid into the customer’s account.
We are aware that there have been instances where letters have not reached the customers. The product features include non-deduction of premium from accounts where letters sent by NBP to its customers are returned as undelivered. However, as explained above, any customer can still get the deactivation done and can get a full refund of all amounts deducted so far. We repeat, deactivation is completely at the NBP account holder’s option with full refund of all amounts deducted and no future premium deduction.
QAMAR HUSAIN
Senior Vice-President NBP
Karachi
ON Sunday evening I took my mother to the Maritime Museum on the main Sharae Faisal, Karachi. It’s a beautiful park, well maintained lawns, with beds of beautiful flowers, a place where one can relax.
However, what is most disturbing is the fumigation that takes place immediately after sunset. This is particularly hazardous for those who suffer from asthma and small children. I saw a mother covering her infant child and another woman was rushed to the washroom complaining of nausea immediately after the spraying of insecticide had taken place.
The management of this beautiful park is requested to please stop fumigating the place when people are around, and do it after it has closed or early in the evening. We’d rather be bitten by mosquitoes than suffer from asthma.
AYESHA MAHMUD
Karachi
I WOULD like to draw attention to the employees’ strike at Karachi University. Due to the strike students are facing a lot of problems. Examinations are about to start but due to the strike students are not able to get the library books they need for preparation. Students also face difficulties in completing assignments and submitting them on time.
IQRA REHMAN
Karachi
AT a luncheon hosted by the American Business Council in Karachi, President Pervez Musharraf sought help from foreign investors, particularly Americans, for the elimination of terrorism and extremism in Pakistan. The president said that foreign investment in Pakistan would eliminate unemployment, which would in turn help to eliminate terrorism and extremism. He said: “It has become vital that we should create more job opportunities and get rid of the menace of terrorism and extremism.”
The president is absolutely right in identifying the link between foreign investment and the notion of an alternative ideology, which the president has termed “extremism” and “terrorism”. However, the claim that foreign investment is going to remove the need for an alternative ideology is baseless. All over the world we are witnessing dissatisfaction amongst the masses with multi-national corporations entering the markets, usurping nation’s resources for their own interests, and then leaving the crumbs behind for the nation to scramble over. India, Brazil, and Saudi Arabia are a few examples where there is a lot of ‘foreign investment’, yet dissatisfaction is rife amongst the masses and discussion on alternatives systems exists. In the West, the alternative idea has socialist tendencies; for Muslims ideology sprouts from Islam.
It is the non-ideological thinking within our rulers that is the root of the problem. It is these rulers who allow western investors to trade in our markets and fulfil their own interests. America twists their arms to establish western-style markets in our countries and to enable western capitalists to trade in them and transfer their capital in and out of the country whenever they desire. This they do under the pretext of encouraging “foreign investment” in their economies, which they claim is one of the new economy’s prerequisites.
The current government in Pakistan due to its adherence to the western economic model is focusing on the creation of wealth rather than the circulation of wealth, which is the fundamental flaw with the capitalist system. The Islamic economic system focuses on circulation of wealth by means of promoting local businesses and giving incentives to local businessmen, resulting in vibrant economic activity which benefits the nation as a whole. This is in stark contrast to the prevailing system where strong economic activity only benefits a handful and creates a bigger gap between the upper and lower income groups. It is this disparity that creates further frustration amongst the poor and leads to crime within a society.
Our history show that economic growth and a high standard of living were achieved for over 1,000 years by Muslims. This was due to the implementation of the Islamic system that safeguards the interests of the citizens of the state whether Muslim or non- Muslims. We also see that unlike America, when the Islamic state went to liberate foreign land from the slavery of man-made systems, it did not usurp foreign resources for its own interests; rather it encouraged local development.
What is required is for the people who have conviction in the Islamic ideology to take an active stance, intellectually reject the ‘man-made’ secular system and demand implementation of Islam so that Pakistan can become a role model state.
NABEEL S. ZUBERI
Karachi
IMRAN Khan’s portrayal of present-day Pakistan is grim (“For a democratic future”, April 21).
The deployment of the army — the only institution in the country with a modicum of credibility and respect —against its own citizens, the spread of poverty and the widening chasm between the few privileged and the vast multitude, the subservience in policy making to foreign dictates and the seeming insensitivity of the ruling elite to the inevitable seething discontent among the populace make for a disturbing scenario.
In neighbouring India democratic institutions enabled the disappointed millions to let off steam by heralding a change at the top.
In Pakistan, the absence of similar institutions aggravated by the insatiable greed of vested interests could result in violent confrontation and consequent chaos.
It is indeed the duty of every concerned citizen to prevent the nation from descending on this perilous path.
Too many sacrifices were rendered to create the country and it is too beautiful to be allowed to be disfigured by a privileged few.
IQBAL AHMED KHAN
Lahore
THE atrocities of the police can be well judged from the incidents of unlawful detention of children on charges of theft, etc. They were kept without any lawful authority and chained in the lock-ups. On the other hand criminals get away with murder and courts fail to deliver justice.
There must be scores of cases of similar nature of which the apex court is not aware. There have been occasional reports in the press regarding the highhandedness of the police in confining people behind bars on frivolous charges.
Our government has been weary of the NGOs’ role and intervention. The question is where should the poor man go to get his grievances addressed? A system where there is no accountability is a breeding ground for killers and thugs and deprives the common man of justice and constitutional rights. Justice must be seen to be done. The rule of law alone can deliver Pakistan from this cancer, which threatens to destroy it.
What about the future? What are the steps the government intends to take to avoid the recurrence of similar incidents and ensure that police do not act beyond then legitimate limits. These are matters warranting the attention of our legislature and the judiciary.
M. SHABAN UPPAL
Karachi
YOUR editorial (April 23) is highly biased. It equates the power-wielders and the powerless; the killers and the killed.
Is it a fair and justified comment? Why is it that only the opponents of APMSO always die?
MASUDUR RAHMAN
Karachi
ONE is fed up with hearing about how great we Muslims are. We can carry out our religious duties silently without this hypocritical attitude and all the rhetoric.
Our duty ends after reciting or inscribing a few Quranic verses. It makes one sick to see corrupt ministers saying ‘Bismillah’ before every speech. This hypocrisy is a gift we got from President Ziaul Haq.
What was the point of the mass gathering in Nishtar Park? What does it achieve?
We can spend this time and money on helping the poor. That’s what the Holy Prophet (PBUH) would have appreciated. By having religious shows on TV and radio, we may be doing more harm then good.
We can be good Muslims without the high talk. We should practise Islam’s teachings without the rhetoric. Only one mosque in a radius of two kms should be allowed to use the loudspeaker and that too only for azaan.
One of the mosques near our house plays recording of a sermon till midnight almost daily. I can sympathise with the infirm and the children preparing for the exams.
Our problem lies in not confronting the real problem —- the religion we claim to practise is not in harmony with the way of life we are supposed to follow.
B. KHAN
Mardan
WHILE taking a walk at 6.30 in the morning on April 6, near what used to be the Mid East Medical Centre Clifton, Karachi, I was held up at gunpoint. My cellular phone and wallet were snatched by two seemingly educated and well-dressed youngsters on a motor bike.
If this can happen in an area where a police mobile was present across the road and a few policeman were patrolling on motorcycles one can well imagine what conditions would be like in areas where none of these facilities available.
Perhaps the people in such areas must be taking street crime for granted. After all what can’t be cured has to be endured.
MUHAMMAD IQBAL ABID
Karachi
THE article “Setting the course right” by Shahid Javed Burki (April 18) is enlightening and well-articulated. His view that the ineqalities in society are bound to increase and thereby pose a threat to the stability of society is valid not only in the case of Pakistan but it is also true for the rest of South Asia.
I would like to know what possible social, economic and political impact such growing inequalities could have on individual Saarc nations including India. I hope Mr Burki will enlighten us on these issues.
ANTHONY D’ SOUZA
Mumbai, India
You can also send letters to the Editor
Just send your message to the following address: letters@dawn.com
Make sure you include your full name, postal address, e-mail address, and in the case of Pakistan your day-time telephone number.