| December 07, 2007 | Friday | Ziqa'ad 26, 1428 |
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Middle East conference
Shunning short-cut politics
Of judges’ reinstatement
Itch bite
PIA’s woes
Saddle of schooling
Threatening statements
High cost of wheat import
Supreme sacrifices
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
ONE agrees absolutely with the letter, ‘Appeal to Mr Bush’ (Nov. 26) that ever since America twisted Pakistan’s arms to make it join the war on terror, the citizens of this country have been subjected to unbearable stresses. The US has cleverly managed to confine all the bloodshed to the Islamic countries, while there are no bomb blasts in the US. Pakistan has reached the breaking point and close to 2,000 civilians and soldiers have died so far.
It is also true that almost every Pakistani’s nerves have been burned out. Those, for whom President Musharraf’s special ire is reserved, including the Supreme Court judges, led by the CJP, along with the lawyers, journalists and politicians, they are being particularly targeted. A notable example is Munir A. Malik, who was a member of the team of lawyers that had defended Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry against the president’s reference.
First, his home in Karachi was fired upon a few days before the carnage of May 12, but he and his family were lucky to escape unhurt. Now, after the imposition of the emergency (read martial law) on Nov 3, Mr Malik was held incommunicado in a prison. During this time, his condition deteriorated so much that he had to be shifted to a hospital due to renal failure and put on dialysis, apart from suffering from a liver malfunction.
His colleagues allege that he and some others had been subjected to ‘rough treatment’ by the authorities (Nov 25), while hospital sources have said he is in ‘acute condition’ as a result of criminal negligence and delay in medical treatment (Nov 26). I heard him talk to the BBC radio (Nov 26) and was shocked to note how, from his voice, he was unrecognisable and appeared to be about 15 to 20 years older.
Is this the kind of ‘democracy’ America wants in Pakistan? What is extremely disturbing is that the Bush administration knows that its unflinching support for the dictatorial regime has emboldened it to treat its opponents very brutally and arbitrarily. All the talk of democracy, freedom and human rights from Washington is nothing but hypocrisy and its contempt for the rights of the Pakistanis has been thoroughly exposed.
Compare this with a statement and activism of the Canadian PM Steven Harper at the recent Commonwealth meeting. According to the Toronto Star of Nov. 23, he said that Canada and its partners now must bring what extra pressure they can to ensure that the people of Pakistan are heard, not the generals.
In Mr Harper’s words, Musharraf’s ‘flagrant disregard’ for freedom, democracy and the law makes him unfit for high office. He should go. The people of Pakistan can do better. Is anyone in Washington listening?
In view of all this, the people of Pakistan would like to tell the American establishment two things. First, to stop lecturing the world on democracy and the rest of the nonsense. Second, it is now faced with the same choice Collin Powell had given Musharraf after 9/11: “You are either with us or against us.”
If it is with us, then it must act accordingly by demanding the restoration of the judiciary, resignation of Musharraf from the post of the president, as well and the formation of a truly neutral caretaker government to hold the elections.
Otherwise, the Pakistanis will conclude that the Americans are against them and make their future policies towards Washington accordingly. The Americans will have to go back home and stay there and the former should not be expected to care whatever Al Qaeda or anybody else does to those responsible for hurting peace of mind, democracy and human rights here.
We would, however, not want the many good Americans, who include people like Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Senators Tom Harkin and Joe Biden and ex-ambassador Nancy Chamberlin, whose support for Pakistanis has been noted by various correspondents in these pages in recent weeks, to be targeted by anyone.
IQBAL
Karachi
AFTER the farce of Oslo and Madrid and the terrible consequences of Camp David, yet another conference on the Middle East is under way in the US sponsored by the US itself.
Needless to say, all participants in those conferences knew fully well that it would be impossible to persuade Israel to accept the legitimate rights of Arab Palestinians. Yet they participated in order to mislead the Arabs who as usual were more concerned about protecting their regimes than the rights of the Palestinians.
Camp David neuteralised Egypt and other Arab countries leaving the Palestinians isolated, thus opening the way to Israeli invasion of Lebanon. Sure enough Israel invaded Lebanon and committed the most horrible massacre of helpless Palestinians, including women and children, at Sabra and Shatila. Anwar Saadat paid with his life for that blunder.
Again none of the participants in the ongoing conference in the US has spelled out the aims and objects of the conference, which should be just one - item agenda, that is, recognition of the rights of Palestinians and the setting up of a sovereign Palestinian state.
Sure enough, Israel has set the pre-condition of ‘recognition of Israel’ by the Arab countries prior to any discussion, not to speak of acceptance, of Palestinian state.
The conference will achieve nothing and, as usual, will lead to the isolation of Palestinians, this time Hamas in Gaza and in Lebanon, which will be the target of yet another post-David of invasion and massacre. Lebanon is already seething with political and communal problems which may explode any time soon after the conference, thus opening the way for yet another invasion by Israel prompted and aided by the US.
The aim of this aggression has been clear beyond any doubt, that is the elimination of Hamas both in Gaza and in Lebanon more so as Hamas is seen as an ally of Iran. Essentially the US and the West have always frowned upon any sign of defiance by the Arabs or any Afro-Asian country which must accept their hegemony and dispensation.
These conferences are a lullaby to keep Arabs quiet, especially in Iraq. This suits some Arab rulers who wish to be seen pursuing the Palestinian cause vigorously.
F. HASAN
Karachi
THIS is with reference to S. A. Qureshi’s article, ‘Why are we alone?’ (Dec 5). I fully agree with the writer’s assertion that “the dynamic of change in a polity has to be through political parties and parliament — not the judiciary.”
Furthermore, I believe the writer is correct in pointing an accusing finger at Pakistan’s elite class for distancing itself from politics in the country. Although I believe it is necessary and desirable for greater participation from this class of Pakistani citizens, I disagree with the claim that the “only way they can do is by joining established political parties.” Rather, I feel that to do so would be the very type of short-cut against which the writer cautions us.
The established mainstream political parties are, in fact, partly to blame for the lack of political participation amongst Pakistanis. The memories of crimes, some very violent ones included, committed by them are still fresh. Their autocratic structures are an additional disincentive for people to become involved.
It seems clear to me that the political process that is ‘on offer’ in Pakistan today is an illegitimate one. Acceptance of such a process will not move the goal of participatory politics any nearer. Additionally, a political process cannot simply be ‘offered’ in the manner of a candy or a toy from points of authority down to the populace.
It must be built from the ground up. What is needed now — what has been needed for many years — is a thorough renewal of Pakistani politics.
This can only be achieved by creating new groups and political parties that are not tainted and burdened by blood and money.
This is certainly a longer, more difficult, and more idealistic route towards greater and more meaningful political participation, not a short-cut.
ASAD SIDDIQUI
Via email
AS reported (Dec 2), a former judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim, has spelt out the various suggestions being a way out of the present political crisis.
He has dwelt at length as regards the reinstatement of the judges of the superior judiciary rendered ineffective under the controversial PCO, because it is imperative for a free, fair and transparent election.
Mr Ebrahim further suggests that the president and the governors should go on leave for three months and the chairman of the Senate should assume the office of the president and speakers of the provincial assemblies should be made governors of their respective provinces.
I am inclined to say that as to the appointment of the chairman of the Senate, it is learnt that many political parties, including important persons of civil society, have expressed their reservation. It is said that the chairman of the Senate, Mohammedmian Soomro, is a favoured person of the president.
It is also claimed that his coterie of ministers include mostly loyalists to the king. Perspicuity so warrants that a former judge of the apex court should be appointed to head the interim cabinet with the consensus of political parties. This should set at rest any scepticism as to a pellucid elections.
SAIFUDDIN E. CONTRACTOR
Karachi
THE saying, “A stitch in time saves nine”, has become particularly relevant to a highly contagious infestation of the skin with a mite that burrows into skin, breeds there, and spreads among other family members. Symptoms of the disease, scabies, develop as a severe body reaction against the mite in the form of itching all over the body that becomes worst at night, pimples develop at the site of entry of the mite, usually the inter-digital webs, flexures of the arm, axilla, the nipples, area around umbilicus, genitals and buttocks.
Endemic in many parts of developing world, the disease is more prevalent under low socio - economic, overcrowded and unhygienic conditions; disease spreads in epidemics and is transmitted from one person to another.
As a practising dermatologist, I have noticed increase in the number of cases, but the situation in certain overcrowded and poor areas is alarming and frustrating because of lack of treatment. People are affected by the disease and also relapse in case of infection from the locality, schools and madressahs, where it is extremely prevalent.
A delay in treatment results in complications of the disease, usually secondary bacterial infections and eczematisation, which is often the first presentation in skin clinics as a result of misdiagnosis from different types of health professionals, lack of sleep due to severe itching at night and discomfort caused by itching all over the body. The disease also causes considerable suffering to the affected families, who need attention.
There is a desperate need for creating awareness about the disease and control measures. Some dermatologists invited on television are very enthusiastic about expensive cosmetic and laser treatments attracting only rich people. They should not forget the ugly and painful sores of the poor caused by scabies.
DR ASAD KAZIM
Karachi
Your editorial, ‘What ails PIA’ (Dec 4), is apt and timely, as with a new government in the offing and the lifting of the EU ban, PIA can strive to retrieve at least some of its lost glory. Except the chairmen, the present management of the airline has remained greatly intact for the last few years and miraculously survived all the disasters the organisation has had to face. Routes have been cut down, the market share surrendered, priorities misplaced and its reputation in tatters, suffering a loss of a billion rupees a month and the most serious problem: the despondency and low morale of the employee. Yet the senior management continues to survive.
The blame has for years been placed on the changing ground realities, rising fuel costs and surplus employees whose total salary bill is 17 per cent as compared to 24 per cent of other regional carriers, as if other airlines of the world do not have to face the same conditions or worse. The easiest thing for this management seems to be to send employees home and the same has been done many times, resulting in the situation getting graver as such actions result in further insecurity and a low sense of belonging to the organisation.
Numerous instances of employees suing and winning against the airline for unlawful and discriminatory acts perpetrated against them are on record, and in situations when the unions are not existing for employee protection, the management is always eager to blame the employee for its own incompetence and failure. Even at this time, taking advantage of the emergency imposed in the country, this management is busy preparing to dislodge employees from their services so as to give a guise of endeavour to put the airline back on tracks.
It is imperative that with a new civilian government, a thorough evaluation of ‘what ails PIA’ is carried out and punitive actions taken which does not only hold to answer the employee but also the management. The bulk of this management, which has somehow stayed unscathed in the last so many years in spite of being responsible for such a state of affairs, is indeed a deep mystery.
In the meanwhile, the caretaker government, specially the prime minister, should instruct the PIA management not to take any major decisions concerning its employees or assets, and that should be left to only an elected civilian government which is only a few weeks away and can accept feedback from the employee as well to evolve an effective and successful strategy for the future.
KHALID ABDUL HAFEEZ
Lahore
THIS is with reference to the article, ‘Saddle of schooling’ by Parvez Jamil (Dec 2).
As a mother of four schoolgoing children and as primary-school teacher myself, I believe that Mr Jamil’s article is the voice of countless concerned parents.
He has depicted a true practical picture of how a helpless schoolchild drags with numerous and needless books and copies just for the sake of a set and stereotype routine.
However, Mr Jamil may realise that people at the helm of our educational affairs are too shy and subdued to fancy the bold and logical thought of his three-pronged strategy towards purposeful education: three books, three copies and three subjects: “moral and ethics, general knowledge/information and maths and science with IT as a tool of study”.
The begums and bureaucrats in our system of education see educational excellence in more of the same: crying wolf over paucity of funds rather than economising of resources, so-called state-of-the-art facilities rather than a creative and congenial atmosphere and a rat race for mere degrees rather than purposeful education that Mr Jamil talks about.
It may sound a pessimistic proposition but the bitter fact remains that the saddle of schooling shall continue to prevail along with the saddle of social ills and evils and the saddle of financial debts and burdens for our teeming millions unless our education policy is tailored to the objective conditions of our people.
ATTIYA NAZLI
Karachi
THERE was a continuous wave of threatening statements from the US asking President Musharraf to lift emergency. US envoys are coming with such demands.
Finally, the deputy foreign minister came and to the surprise of all, including Benazir Bhutto, he was told the emergency was not to be lifted till the law and order situation improves (i.e. threat of protest campaign by lawyers and politicians against the dismissal of CJ and other judges of SC disintegrates).
As I write this, the campaign has already finished before taking a start.
This episode shows that President Musharraf has a good grasp of his affairs and Pakistan’s strength, and of the fact that how far American President can go to cause any damage to Pakistan. We now feel that Pakistan is regaining its sovereignty. As far as existing emergency is concerned, I do not think it is causing any harm to civil and economic situation in the country. In all spheres of life, things are moving as a matter of routine.
MOHAMMAD RAFI
Karachi
ACCORDING to a news item (Dec 3), Pakistan has ordered import of one million tons of wheat from Russia to meet the domestic demand.
Out of this, the first installment of 26,498 tons wheat has already reached Karachi. The second installment of 23,500 tons would be reaching Karachi in mid-December. The authorities, while releasing this news, which occupied a very small space in the paper, very cleverly have said nothing about the huge expenditure in foreign exchange on importing this quantity of wheat. The estimated cost of one million tons of wheat import is $510 million.
The tragedy is that this import was avoidable. It is because of the wrong official policies regarding the support price of wheat and cultivation, production and management of the crop. It is essential for the government to immediately raise the support price from Rs425 per 40kg to Rs600 per 40kg as in India, in order to have the wheat crop sown on the maximum area by giving this incentive to farmers.
If this is not done, there will be even more shortage of wheat next year — approximately three million tons — putting a very heavy burden on expenditure in foreign exchange which will cost $2.5 to 3 billion to import wheat at the international price, which is very likely to increase further.
SULTAN KARIM
Lahore
THE public does not realise the magnanimity of the sacrifice that some of the judges have made in refusing to take the oath under the PCO. I can tell about one of these judges.
Justice Iqbal Hameedur Rehman took the oath just four days before he refused to take another one under the PCO. He has 11 years to retire. This is just one more sacrifice that he has made for Pakistan.
He comes from a leading family of Bengal. His maternal grandfather was the deputy speaker of the Bengal assembly and a big landlord in East Pakistan. His mother lost her inheritance when the family decided to remain loyal to Pakistan instead of shifting to Bangladesh.
His father, Justice Hamoodur Rehman, was one of the most honest judges we ever had. He first lost property in Calcutta when he opted for Pakistan. Then he lost property in Dhaka upon opting for Pakistan again. When he retired, he had to work to make his ends meet. This family has sacrificed for Pakistan so many times only because they believe in its ideology.
Can the so-called civil society reward such men?
AZHAR ZIAUR REHMAN
Abu Dhabi
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