| December 05, 2007 | Wednesday | Ziqa'ad 24, 1428 |
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Bomb hoax threat
Kudos to the new COAS
School parking a traffic hindrance
And now sugar crisis
Eroding value of coins
Train robbery
DHA Lahore
Inflation control
A silver lining
A dearth of libraries
Call for help
Readers are requested to restrict their comments to a maximum of 400 words. We reserve the right to edit letters for reasons of clarity and space. Letters, including those by e-mail, should carry the complete postal address of the sender. The views expressed in these columns do not necessarily reflect the views of the newspaper.—Editor
THIS is apropos of the article “Why Polls should not be boycotted?” (Nov 28) in which Mr Ashraf Mumtaz urges that the political parties should not boycott the upcoming elections. To reinforce his argument, he goes on to add that if anti-Musharraf parties participate in the polls and subsequently manage to obtain a two-third majority, then they would be in a position to make amendments to the constitution, reinstate the deposed judges and even to impeach President Musharraf.
I would like to take exception to this view by showing “why polls should be boycotted.”
First, even a political novice would be conversant with the fact that these polls to be held under the auspices of the present regime would not be free and fair as claimed by the now-retired general and that participating in the elections would amount to lending legitimacy to them.
When judiciary is far from being independent with all the conscientious judges shown the door; when the election commission is the handmaiden of the Musharraf regime; when media is facing the worst clampdown of history; when the political forces are being denied the freedom of expression and association, which is a requisite requirement for the elections; and when the Q leaguers are being supported by the agencies, how on the earth can one expect that these elections would be free and fair?
Second, to achieve the objectives mentioned by Mr Ashraf, opposition parties should be united in heart and mind on every issue of national interest. Quite contrary to this, these parties are a divided house among themselves with each having its own views on different matters -- whether to take part in the elections or not being the latest dilemma. Considering these profound fissures among the ranks of these parties, it is highly unlikely that they would be able to participate in the elections from a single platform, thus giving themselves a semblance of a chance to obtain a two-third majority.
Third, if the anti-Musharraf parties do decide to take part in the elections, then this would be a victory of a sort for President Musharraf, as he would be able to divert their attention from the real issues at hand, like the restoration of judiciary and the subsequent holding of free and fair elections. This, in fact, is already happening as all the political forces are busy in deciding their candidates and filing the nomination papers to the utter shock and disappointment of the legal and journalist fraternity, who alone are thronging to the anti-Musharraf protests.
In short, the objectives mentioned by Mr Ashraf can also be obtained by boycotting the elections, whereby the political parties would be able to focus their attention solely to anti-Musharraf protests and demonstrations. This would sooner or later culminate in the overthrow of the President Musharraf, thereby bringing in an interim government of national consensus, which would restore the judiciary and organize free and fair elections.
This overthrow could be as soon as before the elections, or as late as six months to a year after the elections, but what is needed is perseverance on part of the opposition parties. They should take a leaf out of the successful anti-Bhutto agitation of the late 1970’s when the opposition parties continued to agitate against the government of Mr Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto even after the latter managed to obtain a clear majority in the elections.
In this context, one should welcome the decision of APDM to boycott the elections, Musharraf’s announcement of lifting the state of emergency and PCO notwithstanding. One hopes that PPP and JUI (F) would also jump on the bandwagon and boycott the elections as well. This would create a propitious environment for the anti-Musharraf agitation and would ultimately bring victory to the people of Pakistan.
NAUMAN QAISER
Lahore
ACCORDING to a report published in a section of press on Sunday, (Dec 2), “Rs3m cash missing during bomb hoax in a bank”. A huge amount of Rs3.1 million was found missing on Saturday, Dec 1, amid a bomb hoax at a Muslim Commercial Bank branch at GT Road in Peshawar. Police said that on Friday, (Nov 30), a DVD placed by some unknown person under a table of the bank branch played a recorded sound about the presence of a time-bomb inside the branch, that created panic among the staff members of the bank. Resultantly, there was a stampede-like situation in the bank premises as frightened staff members stormed out of the building.
The police however, described it a hoax warning allegedly by some bank official to justify the missing of Rs. 3.1 million. Two officials of the Muslim Commercial Bank have been arrested and are being interrogated.
In a hoax bomb threat in any place like Commercial Complex, Business Center, Bank Building or schools etc. People generally run in panic for their lives. In the absence of any bomb threat management plan people do not know what to do or where to go. Similarly the organization concerned is also unaware about the actions required to be taken for the security and safety of the employees and the property. Sometime such panic is intentionally created by some dishonest and criminal minded persons within the organization for their vested interest.
Therefore, there is need to formulate a bomb threat management plan in every bank and organization which should be made known to all the employees of the bank / organization and should also be rehearsed and tested from time to time to ensure its effectiveness.
S. AUSAF HUSAIN
Karachi
FIRST OF ALL, I would like to congratulate General Ashfaq Kayani for having the privilege to command the Pakistan Army and want to inform him, that people of Pakistan would like their armed forces to be back in their hearts as they have been in the past as a professional military force capable of defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country.
People want that the armed forces should do the task required to do under the constitution of Pakistan. This task and the role were clearly communicated to the army officers’ way back in Quetta when the Quaid-e-Azam addressed them. They must not forget under any circumstances, the oath as army officers take, which forbids them from getting involved in politics.
As a proud nation, we must learn to play by the rules, the legislators and the judiciary are the important pillars of state and are final arbiters. There should be no more interference from outside. You will do a great service to the country by disengaging ISI from politics, and involvement in election process.
You should establish a respectable and civilized democratic order in Pakistan and have a respectable place in the comity of the nation so that the 160 million people are proud of being Pakistani.
S.T. HUSSAIN
Lahore
THE City school (PAF chapter) should fix their car parking problem on a very urgent and immediate basis. They should arrange the parking in the wide space area inside the school compound rather than blocking and creating hurdles right at the main road having cars parked in the middle of full or high volume traffic.
We believe that schools are noble institutions, because they educate and teach how to respect the basic rights of the people. However, putting the general public into trouble for the sake of their own interest, does not match the good things taught at schools.
We live very next to the school, and the residents of this area are daily affected by this problem. Children get late and also come late from school, while patients also face a big risk being taken to hospitals. Nearby residents also get late for offices. Vans, buses for office, schools and universities refuse to pick the residents from our vicinity in such situations.
Kindly understand and realize the anguish, and solve the problem at the earliest.
Let’s start respecting the rights of people.
MUJEEB HAROON
Karachi
ARE we expecting another crisis engulfing the common man as the caretaker government has removed 15 percent duty on sugar export? Briefing media men after the economic coordination committee (ECC) meeting, Dr Ashfaq Hasan Khan, economic adviser to the ministry of finance said that the country had a record sugarcane production of 62 million tons, enough to produce 4.3-4.5 million tons of sugar. He claimed that a carryover stock of 52,8000 tons had brought about a surplus.
Rather than making the stock available for the local market, the government has given an opportunity to export the commodity. The common man is still facing difficulty in procuring wheat as a long queue can be seen at subsidized purchasing points. Why doesn’t the government realize how much pain a common man feels when essential items become sparse?
In May this year, our economic wizards allowed export of wheat that caused the deficiency of the commodity, resulting in the sharp rise in the prices at home. The government had to import wheat at relatively higher price. What kind of economic policy is this and can the government claim progress when people are pined away for basic necessities of life?
The government evolves polices to give boost to its economy besides passing maximum benefits to masses.
However in our case, the elite class gets maximum benefits and the poor masses suffer. One example is of electricity and gas as the government increased the prices of electricity in this summer and decreased it in winter without realizing the impact.
The prices of gas were also decreased in summer and increased in winter.
MUHAMMAD AMIR
Rawalpindi
OF late 50-paisa and 25-paisa coins have gone out of circulation as if they have been (unofficially) demonetised, though there is no clarification to that effect from the mint of government of Pakistan. Or may be the aforesaid coins have no buying power whatsoever left in its metal. One can say, on the basis of this trend, that the existing one-rupee and five-rupee coins are also headed to meet the same fate, if not now, then in a distant future in view of the unabated price hike of commodities and utilities.
Those who have seen the British era might reckon that one-rupee had 16 annas, and ¼th of that mighty anna, i.e. one (old) paisa, used to be counted in settling accounts.
A RAUF SOZER
Karachi
PAKISTAN RAILWAYS is supposed to ensure protection of life and personal belongings of its passengers during journey by trains. Unfortunately this obligation is not being fulfilled by the railway authorities despite its tall claims.
I was traveling with my family by Quetta Express from Quetta to Gujranwala recently. At about 01.15 Hours (midnight), the lights of the entire sleeper coach were switched off.
I suddenly woke up from half sleep and noticed the door of the compartment open, which I had bolted before going to sleep. I got up and suspected that something had gone wrong in the compartment. With the help of my cell phone light, I tried to check my belongings and found that the handbag of my wife and my waistcoat were missing.
The handbag contained jewellery (gold ornaments), cash and her personal documents while my waistcoat’s pocket contained cash, personal documents and railway tickets, etc.
I immediately attempted to stop the train by pulling the stop lever, but all in vain. I also tried to contact police escort accompanying the train, but of no avail. On the other hand, there was complete darkness in the entire sleeper coach and it was not possible to seek any help.
However, when the train had a stopover at Khanpur Railway Station, I contacted the police escort and recorded my statement about the occurrence. The police personnel assured me to apprehend the thieves, but nothing has happened even after a lapse of considerable time.
I may add here that in a traveling train, without the connivance of police escort or the train boarding staff, it was not possible for a culprit to succeed in such a theft. From the disconnection of light of the coach and the staff’s lukewarm attitude on the incident, it is evident that all this was committed either by the police accompanying the train themselves or at least with their connivance.
As regards the out of order bolt/socket of the sleeper compartment door, it is also their act to make the theft possible. I request the concerned railway authorities, especially the IG Railways Police, to ensure the safety of passengers on trains and thoroughly investigate such cases, especially the police escort on the train.
MUHAMMAD ILYAS
Quetta
OVER a period of time, DHA Lahore has earned a reputation of leading housing society in the country due to its credibility which was the result of fast on going development work and adherence to systematic procedures. These factors encouraged general public, investors etc. who preferred residing in DHA Lahore over other similar housing societies and also chose to invest in DHA Lahore, generating activity in the real estate business. It was a source of their livelihood as well. DHA Lahore proved an engine of growth that propelled the real estate.
Lately a state of complacency and red tapism has set in DHA Lahore. The retarded pace of development work in phase – VII is proof to this fact. A year back, at the time of ballot of phase – VII, immediate commencement of development work was assured to general public by the people at the helm of affairs. However, the ground realities were totally opposite to the tall claims that were made. This snail’s pace of development work in a limited area of phase – VII is no more than an illusion. This speaks poor of once a prestigious housing society. Resultantly, the general public has suffered heavy losses due to an abrupt falling of prices of phase – VII which is the performance indicator of DHA Lahore. Would somebody take a note of it and alleviate the suffering of the common man by increasing the pace of development works and hold those responsible accountable?
KHAWAJA BALIL HAMID
Lahore
THE Pakistani economy is witnessing snowball effect of inflation due to a number of reasons. The top ones however, are foreign remittances, increasing DFI and back breaking prices of food items. Although the State Bank of Pakistan has tried to contain inflation by various monitory/inflation control tools like OMO’S, increasing interest rates etc., the impact is nominal.
In its monitory policy statement, SBP has time and again mentioned that food prices are the most triggering factor in overall inflation hike. The SBP has taken effective steps but to make them effective, some targeting steps are required.
Despite ample supply, we have seen that food prices are often rising ironically like wheat and rice. Indeed, it is the middleman who is reaping the benefits by hoarding the food item inventories by taking financing facilities from financial institutions in shape of pledge. The SBP must devise a mechanism so that vested interests are not able to hoard food inventories resulting in price hikes. I hope SBP authorities will consider this measure.
FAROOQ AHMED SHAIKH
Hyderabad
THERE cannot be two opinions about the extra constitutionality of the imposition of emergency; the president has himself admitted as much. However, there continues to be debates on whether or not such a step was self-serving. Was it in the larger interests of the country and could it have been avoided?
One positive outcome i.e. the collapse of the insurgency in Swat has already resulted although one wonders why this situation was allowed to linger on so long. The other is the disqualification of the Sharif brothers on perfectly solid legal grounds.
Two scenarios are likely. In one, the ADPM boycotts the elections; the PPP wins a majority but not 2/3rd majority. Therefore, it forms the government but with a new leader.
In the other, ADPM except Imran Khan and Jamiat Islami, does not carry out its threat of a boycott. The MMA loses its effectiveness which is reflected in vastly lower numbers of its members elected to government and the atmosphere of fanaticism becomes less stifling. Mian Sahib debarred from contesting the elections cannot be the prime minister for the third time. PPP and PML-N might join forces to give BB the two third majority for her to become the prime minister a third time; however given their bitter past, it does not seem too probable.
In short, there is a real opportunity for new leadership to emerge and those who feel totally crestfallen by the Hobson’s choice of selecting BB or Mian Sahib might have a chance to see a real change if not in the running of the institutions, in at least the leadership of the country.
MASOOD HAIDER
New Jersey
LIBRARIES provide knowledge to readers but we can hardly find any in many parts of the city. Being a resident of Gulistan-e-Johar, Karachi, I haven’t seen a single library in my area which attracts people towards books. Libraries are also essential places of opportunity because they provide a world of information to anyone seeking it and are essential partners in creating educated communities because they provide opportunities for self-education, learning and self improvement. Unfortunately, not everyone understands or appreciates the value of libraries.
Books are the gateway to a better tomorrow, for books challenge us to use our minds, to find better ways of conducting ourselves and managing the great problems of human existence. By establishing libraries, we can find the resources to examine and confront our most difficult social problems and be able to promote reading habits in our new generation because nevertheless, there is hope to make Pakistan better and prosperous.
NEELUM MURTAZA
Karachi
I RESIDE in Talpur Colony, which is situated near the railway station in Khairpur. I am sorry to say that this is a large colony which still awaits all basic facilities to be provided in the area. Due to an inefficient drainage system, malaria and so many other diseases are common. There is a district health office near the colony but no action is taken against these common diseases.
I would request the higher authorities to look into the matter.
ZAFARULLAH ABBASI
Khairpur
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