21-3-2010

Destruction of Larkana

After almost a decade I had the opportunity to visit famous Larkana; the city which is well-known world over not only for the reason that country’s two luminaries ZA Bhutto and his illustrious daughter Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, both popularly elected prime ministers belong to it but also because of its proximity with Moenjo Daro; one of the largest city-settlements of the Indus Valley Civilisation of South Asia.

Unfortunately during this recent stopover I found the entire city almost devastated. There is not a trace of any improvement/development despite allocation of enormous funds worked out in billion of rupees during the last eight years of Pervez Musharraf regime and thereafter in two years of present government. All roads are either dug up or because of total neglect simply do not exist at all. Some of major arteries of town are occupied by the encroachers erecting permanent stalls thereon. There is no road in the town on which car or jeep can be driven without breaking its tie-rod or causing some major damage to vehicle.

Rice Canal which passes through the town is littered with plastic bags, garbage and industrial waste discharged into it from various outlets. The high content of arsenic materials has caused many diseases in the people of Larkana and Dadu whose source of water is only rice canal.

The playgrounds, parks and gardens have either disappeared because of non-maintenance or encroached by the builders’ mafia with the connivance of local government/district administration functionaries. Moreover law and order situation has worsened so much that people avoid travelling after sunset. The outskirts of the town is infected with dacoits and robbers and kidnapping for ransom is a norm. This has resulted in influx of population from the rural areas overburdening town’s already scant social services and infrastructure.

Larkana, the fourth largest city in the north-western part of Sindh, is surrounded by fertile lands; perhaps the finest tracts in the whole of the province. Although the town is full of old and beautiful architecture mostly built during British period, these magnificent buildings especially Collector’s Darbar Hall, bungalows of district and sessions judge and residential bungalows of irrigation department mostly built in 1903 are in ruin because of non-maintenance.

The affluence and splendor of Larkana which added a proverb in Sindhi literature ‘Hujai nanro ta ghum Larkano’ meaning thereby that one can visit Larkana with pocket full of money has been transformed into misery and plight. Because of the lack of accountability funds allocated for maintaining buildings, roads and infrastructure have been embezzled for the last many years. The worst that can happen to the town is that its residents have become apathetic to what has been done to their town which has affected their quality of life adversely.

I draw attention of provincial government authorities to take note of Larkana’s miseries at the earliest else this formerly beautiful town of Sindh will be transformed into another Moenjo Daro.

Altaf Ahmed,

Badin.

Asian bloc

Iran Pakistan gas pipeline project initiated in 1993 has finally entered operational phase. On March 16, the heads of this agreement were signed between Iran and Pakistan in Turkish capital. According to this agreement Iran will supply 750 million cubic feet gas to Pakistan in next 25 years.

This deal is crucial to averting a growing energy crisis already causing severe electricity shortages in the country. Foreign office spokesman Mr Abdul Basit in his official statement about this project have said “It is our legitimate economic interest.”

Trade and economic cooperation is the key to the bilateral relations among two states. Pakistan and Iran due to their national interests in Afghanistan went far from each other. Still their trans-national responsibilities as Muslim states and their geo-strategic presence in the region, specially after 9/11 incident asks them to join hands of cooperation and collaboration to face the regional challenges.

Iran, Pakistan and China are major powers of this region having same trans-national responsibilities as well as national interests. We are in contact with each other but not extending our full cooperation as required. For Pakistan, Iran and China are major allies who never turned their backs in testing times.

USA and NATO are interested in the potentials of this region, we have tested these powers many times leaving no good results. Our common interests are very few. They left us alone in 1971 and again deprived us in war against former USSR. We have to derive a foreign strategy based on our national interests and trans-national responsibilities which is also acceptable to our time-tested friends in the region.

Making it simple, I must say that Iran, Pakistan and China must build an economic and defense bloc in the region, in which these major powers of the region and the main focus of the world powers must evolve common strategies to protect their common national and international interests.

We must improve our economic and business relations, China and Iran are exploring the world in this regard based on their national interests. We must make it feasible to transfer this gas up to China as this pipeline could become a lifeline, and a bond of cooperation among Iran, Pakistan and China. China is the leader in technology it can fulfil technical requirements of Pakistan and Iran.

Through mutual cooperation and collaboration we can emerge as Asian tigers. Which is not only in the better interests of our nations but also is good for the region.

Syed Asad Abbas,

On email.

20-3-2010

Wheat under viral attack

Regarding your report “Wheat rust threat rising” creeded by, Integrated Regional Information Networks, (IRIN) (March 9) that “The Experts say it is only a matter of time before wind carries a deadly wheat stem pathogen into Pakistan, the ninth largest wheat-producing nation in the world. Known as Ug99, the disease could potentially decimate the country’s highly vulnerable wheat crop and cause a huge food security problem”.

Although media has much earlier drawn attention of the agricultural higher-ups sitting in Islamabad and provincial capitals regarding impending threat to the most vital crop of our country, yet sadly no remedial measures seems to have been initiated so far. So much so that even the farmers have not been informed /educated/warned about the threat of virus.

The Ug99 was first discovered in Uganda in 1999, and spread with the wind to Iran where it was discovered two years ago. Crop scientists say that next destination of this ‘time bomb’ is obviously Pakistan and then India.

The scientists have though identified a mere half dozen genes that are immediately useful for protecting wheat from Ug99 but incorporating them into crops using conventional breeding techniques for each of the thousands of wheat varieties is a nine- to 12-year-long process.

I request the prime minister to issue directions to the federal and provincial ministries of food and agriculture to enlighten our farmers about the looming threat through media campaign and also suggest precautionary measures to minimise its effect when it hits the crop. At the same time the international agricultural scientists who are already working on the threat may be contacted for seeking their help to face the lethal viral assault.

Z H Jatoi,

Dadu.

Zardari donates his body

Good luck to those who would accept his organs knowing his pious past history. Many would tell him thanks but no thanks.

Dr. Ghayur Ayub,

London.

Development thru industrialisation

Pakistan is going through a transitory phase. The old world based on feudalism and tribalism is dying out. Our urban population is rapidly rising whereas the rural population is on constant decrease. The water crisis is speeding up the process of rural translation into urban centres.

Most of our problems are not new to the world. When nations begin to industrialise, economic disparities are bound to increase. The worker’s wage, the industrial conditions, the need for specialised labourer increase poverty and unemployment.

The availability of surpluses encourages corruption, nepotism and favouritism in controlling cadres of society. The inflexible ideological and political landscape of Pakistan, with visible differences amid various classes, has given rise to conflicts.

The freedom of the media has hastened the cultural diffusion and made people aware of their rights. The inability of resources to meet needs has caused frustration and the unavailability of means to obtain socially expected goals has caused a sense of deprivation.

Our problem is not terrorism, corruption, poverty, bad governance or unemployment. Our problem is anomie. We are living in a state of lawlessness. The old norms that have held the state together for so long are no longer applicable. The new norms are still embryonic. The transition from agrarian to industrialised nation is marked by transition of cooperative society into competitive society. The social infrastructure needs to accommodate itself to the new requirement.

What our government should do at this point is speed up the development projects and intensify industrialisation. It should try to reduce provincialism and increase nationalism.

The seventh NFC award was a ray of hope. Educational institutes should no longer be a luxury but made available to everyone. Education should be standardised. Research and development should be given priority and alternative ways to cope with energy crisis should be implemented.

A good policy for completion of transition of industrialisation is required. The long-term solution to Pakistan’s problem lies in post-industrialised phase.

It is a time-tested trend that post-industrialisation marks an era of political equality and truly representative democracy. It also encourages constructive competition and transparency, efficiency in system of governance.

It is characterised by narrow disparity between classes. The sooner we will enter the post-industrial phase, the sooner our problems will be resolved.

AYESHA AIZAZ QURESHI,

Lahore.

19-3-2010

Imposition of VAT: An imprudent decision

The chairman Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), in a briefing to All Pakistan Chambers presidents and leaders of the business community disclosed that “Value Added Tax” is a suggestion, not a law unless approved by the National and Provincial Assemblies.

While allaying the fears of business community FBR chief disclosed that according to World Bank report, Pakistan can still collect Rs700 billion to 800 billion in terms of tax every year therefore he finds it crucial for the health of economy to levy VAT.

The chairman, it appears, has misconstrued the World Bank statement. The report has in fact disclosed loopholes in the tax system which causes enormous leakage of taxes and desires recovery by implementing tax laws effectively. However, instead of recovering concealed/untaxed from wealthy section of society who have accumulated massive riches during the last ten years’ laxity in tax policies, the FBR has found an easiest way i.e. to impose VAT that will be payable by the consumers, mostly poor strata of society and not by those who are making profit.

Moreover VAT is also not the other name of General Sales Tax (GST) as stated by the FBR spokesman in response to a question raised by the representatives of business community. If this is true then why impose a new tax when GST is already in the field?

The Value Added Tax, if implemented, will aggravate the already hyperinflation and make the lives of general public with limited or fixed incomes extremely unbearable. The FBR instead of adding misery to the already retched conditions of people, if strengthens its existing Income Tax law and make those who are earning taxable income to pay what is due to them, there will be no need to impose another tax. If the loopholes are plugged by checking corrupting in the tax machinery and every person liable to tax is brought to book on the one hand and on the other what is due is collected from them, I am sure that more than 800 billion extra taxes (pointed out by the World Bank) will be added to government coffers.

Another thing that one fails to comprehend is why FBR is consistently trying to appease only business community though it is not they who are to bear the burden of VAT? They are only collectors of VAT from the purchaser at the time of making sale. Only snag might be worrying them that they will be registered with the department therefore will not be able to hide their real transactions.

I hope the four provincial Assemblies and National Assembly, before whom VAT law will be presented for approval, will seek expert advice from the tax/financial professionals otherwise then FBR officials and also reach the general public, the main stakeholder for their opinion while taking any decision.

Amanullah Turk,

Dubai, UAE.

Fund for terror victims

Nowadays the entire nation is fighting a battle for life against terrorism. Obviously, the terrorists are fighting on behalf of their masters who have plans to either dismember Pakistan or at least strip it of its nuclear weapons.

The will of the nation and the determination of the security apparatus to defend Pakistan stand in the way of the enemies of Pakistan.

However, one thing seems clear — this fight for survival will be a long-drawn-out battle. Our security forces — armed forces, Frontier Constabulary, Rangers, police forces, etc. — will be offering more and more sacrifices for the motherland.

While provincial governments and their respective departments look after the heirs of our martyrs, it is the need of the hour that the entire nation, including expatriate Pakistanis, came forward on a voluntary basis to financially support the heirs of martyrs who have laid down their lives for providing us with a safe and better future.

I suggest that the government should take the initiative to mobilise public opinion and take the following action:

1) Declare the salary of all persons serving in all security forces/agencies (armed forces, Frontier Constabulary, police service, intelligence agencies, Rangers, etc.) as tax-free. Plus, they should be exempted from property tax.

2) The government should create a fund with initial investment of Rs1,000m (the amount to be released from the US grant of the Kerry-Lugar Bill.)

The rest of the amount should be collected as donations from overseas and local Pakistanis, on a regular basis, till such time that the war with terrorists continues.

This fund should be managed by people having a good reputation from government and non-government sectors.

SYED NAYYAR UDDIN AHMAD,

Lahore.

Application of biotechnology

Pakistan has ample natural resources available in the form of agricultural lands, water and a variety of seasons. There is a great need to take full advantage of these bestowed natural gifts by the touch of latest technology like Biotechnology. The two things that Pakistan needs to apply Biotechnology are the skilled manpower and investment. We already have skilled manpower in ample quantity fortunately and the latter can be achieved by attracting foreign investors and multinationals through effective governmental policies and incentives.

Active involvement of the government is the key to success in establishment of a strong Biotechnology platform in Pakistan. Industrialising the nation in true sense can help us lessening our dependence on rest of the world and overcoming our weak economic condition and the general rate of un-employment. If we can be a nuclear power despite being a Third World nation and limited resources, why can't we be able to establish latest technology platforms by using what we already have in the form of manpower and investments or funds that we get?

There is need to spend a part of national budget on the advancement of Biotechnology through skill building of local people, establishment of research institutes and setting a research trend in this area of science because advancement in research is the key to success in the present world. This will surely help in "brain gain" instead of "brain drain". Strong determination, positive intentions and strong leadership are the key words in establishment of strong roots of Biotechnology in Pakistan however.

Sidra Saeed,

QAU, Islamabad

They’ve done it again

As India has not so far reconciled with the creation of Pakistan, which is little more than six decades old now with the ever-showering blessings of Almighty Allah, our so-called old ally USA has not been able to realise and appreciate the historical fact that an Islamic country had turned into a nuclear power in 1998.

This is duly reflected in the reports which appear every now and then in The Washington Post and other US, British and Western countries media. This is with reference to latest report in The Washington Post in its issue of March 14, which has more or less been reproduced by the national press.

The very title of the somewhat detailed report "Pakistani scientist Khan describes Iranian efforts to buy nuclear bombs" from its Islamabad based reporter Joby Warrick reflects their intentions.

It is a known fact that Washington for some years is after Iran for ensuring that Teheran does not develop and possess nuclear technology, keeps showing concern about safety of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal mainly to lay hands on Islamabad's nuclear arsenal only after which its illegitimate babe, Israel, would be considered safe. The US senior officials every now and then keep saying that Pakistan's nuclear assets are safe but vulnerable despite repeated assurances by the highly placed official quarters of Pakistan that the country's nuclear assets are well protected and safeguarded and there is not even remotest possibility, with the blessings of Almighty Allah, of these being falling into some wrong hands.

Needless to mention here that as India and Pakistan cannot be friends on the basis of equality, respect, dignity and honour, similarly USA cannot be a sincere ally and friend of Pakistan. This has been established more than once and even now when Pakistan is paying very heavy price for its forced participation in the US-led international coalition war on terror for the last more than couple of years in an unending manner.

Publication of such ill-intended malicious reports in Western media in an unabated manner with ulterior motives in all fairness calls into question the role of the nuclear scientist himself who likes to remain in the media both nationally and internationally and lack of efficiency and performance on the part of our missions in Washington, London and elsewhere to effectively project Pakistan’s point of view forcefully and vigorously.

Tariq Javed,

Lahore.

Directive to teachers

The NWFP government has directed the government teachers to send their children to government schools. We ask them what about about their children? They should lead from the front and start sending children to government schools and set an example for others to follow.

ROHUL AMIN,

Swat.

18-3-2010

Karachi’s transport problem

The Statesman published a short report on March 8 about the transport problems of Karachi, painting a pathetic picture of the situation, which is exactly how it is. It is really shameful to see the fare-paying passengers travelling perched dangerously on the rooftops, crowding at the entry-gate and even standing on the rear bumpers at times. The report has partly blamed the people of Karachi for their submissive attitude of accepting this shabby semi-medieval public transport system in their city. However, masses not only in Karachi, but in the whole country seem to be almost powerless and the authorities do not care much for them, being engrossed almost full time in their own problems and petty feuds. The exception, of course, was the City District Government of Karachi, which worked wonders during its tenure but even this system is under pressure from the provincial government which seems determined to alter it to gain electoral advantage and more powers.

In Pakistan, public gets some importance only at the time of election and soon after coming to power, our leaders normally say “See you in five years.” If ever people complain and point out deficiencies in the government’s performance, they are reminded that the government has got a mandate for five years, meaning perhaps that they should keep their mouths shut during this time.

Coming back to Karachi’s transport problems, it is unlikely that the present set of private bus owners will be able or willing or both to solve this problem. Obviously, the number of commuters is fixed and if they can transport them with the limited number of buses on the road, they are unlikely to increase the number of buses which will not bring them extra revenue and will only increase their costs and thereby reduce their profits.

At a time, luxury coaches were introduced which were supposed to carry passengers only seat-by-seat, with no standing passengers at all, but due to the extreme shortage of buses, the scheme did not last long and these coaches also adopted the existing pattern.

A few years back, large-bodied buses were introduced in the city but due to high cost of operation, they survived only in the densely populated areas and soon disappeared from other routes. Another factor contributing to their failure was that perhaps the people operating most of these fleets did not have much experience of the transport sector. However, these wide-bodied buses can still be quite successful in medium and high population-density areas, provided these are run by institutions which do not have profit as their sole motive.

Government’s attitude towards this problem can be judged by the fact that this city had a functioning train service which covered large area and provided cheap, comfortable transport to Karachi commuters but instead of expanding and improving it, the government chose to close it down for making a small loss which arose more due to inept management than any inherent defect in the system.

It is surprising that in our country where some institutions get bail-out packages worth billions of rupees every few years, a small loss made by Karachi Circular Railway was considered enough to close it down without any second thought.

Karachi desperately needs a city railway and there have been attempts to revive the circular railway but they hit snags at some stage, and in the meantime costs keep rising. Even at the present time, there are plans for reviving Karachi Circular Railway for which Japanese government has promised to provide funds. Feasibility and revalidation studies for this project have also been done and it seemed like there will be no hitch now but I just learnt through the newspapers that the KCR project has hit snags again because of the land transfer issue between federal and Sindh provincial governments. The work on KCR was to start this year and completed within three years but it cannot commence unless the land transfer issue is solved, so we just have to keep our fingers crossed.

S.R.H. Hashmi,

Karachi.

RAW behind Sikhs’ killing in Bara

Though the Indian propaganda gives fillip to the minority welfare officials for exploiting the insecurity of Sikhs in Pakistan, yet the January 21 abduction and killing of two Sikhs from Bara tehsil near Peshawar was reported to be the handiwork of RAW. There had been reports of the presence of RAW agents amongst the rank and file of Pakistani Taliban fighting in Swat. The recovery of Indian-made weapons and equipment during the recent Swat and Waziristan operations clearly established direct Indian involvement. It has come to fore that RAW is conspiring to shift the world’s focus from India’s homegrown Maoist movement to Sikhs ‘freedom’ struggle.

In most of the cases India tried to implicate ISI in the East Punjab fiasco since RAW miserably failed in halting Maoist movement in its northeast. Various incidents occurred so far clearly indicate that RAW usually floats alerts, creates panic and then gear up blame game against Pakistan. The killing of Sikhs must be viewed in this context.

There are about 25,000 Sikhs living in different parts of Pakistan, including the militancy-hit tribal areas. According to investigators, two Sikhs were abducted from Bara. The miscreants demanded huge ransom while they knew the Sikhs were neither rich nor prominent. Their abduction for ransom appeared strange.

The recent recovery of two abducted Sikhs (Jaspal Singh and Mahan Singh) by security forces during an operation in Chapri Ferozkhel, remote Khyber-Aurakzai areas, reflects that Pakistan is committed to its policy of respect for minorities. Pakistan needs to step up its diplomatic and media efforts to countering the Indian propaganda. Pakistan should also come out hard on such an organised crime having deep roots in the tribal society and should put an end to the trend of kidnappings. However there is a need to unearth and unveil hidden hands of the enemy behind such incidents.

Eschmall Sardar,

Peshawar.

Sectarian killings

In last decade sectarian killings became a daily routine. Dozen of doctors, engineers, lawyers, politicians, scholars, students perished due to sectarian rivalry. The latest incident happened in Karachi is engineered in a way that it must look like a revenge for Ashura bombings. Leaders of both Shia and Deobandi sects are laudable who in their statements nominated external elements responsible for these acts.

Government must investigate and catch the true culprits behind these attacks. Still greater responsibility falls on the shoulders of the followers of these sects as today’s Pakistan is base camp for external elements who can use any confusing situation to destabilise this homeland of ours economically and administratively.

SYED ASAD ABBAS,

On email.

Congrats, Aussies

Aussies have once again proved themselves that they are world champions not only in the field of cricket but in the field of hockey as well. A special congrats to their team for winning the hockey world cup second time in their life after a gap of 24 years with a 2-1 win over defending champions Germany. As Germans looking themselves to become the first team in history of hockey world to hold a hat trick of titles. Australia last won the world cup way back in 1986 and the current coach of the Australian team was the member of that squad.

Sarib Ijaz,

Rawalpindi.

Postpone the census

I am of the opinion that the national census should be postponed until next year or it will be 23 years before we are back on track. Census accumulates latest data on population and is held every 10 years to compare it with past decades. If the data is not for a full decade, it cannot be compared with previous and following decades. We had census in the first year of some decades, in 1951, 1961 and 1981. The next was due in 1991 but was done seven years later. The census due in 1971 was postponed to 1972, as conditions in East Pakistan were disturbed.

Unfortunately, we had data for a full decade only once in six decades: in 1951

After 1981, our politicians got us into quite a mess. Instead of holding the census in 1991, both the PPP and the Muslim League continued to postpone it year after year. The reason was the fear of the zamindar lobby, that an increase in urban population might reduce the Assembly seats of rural areas (The constituencies are redrawn on the basis of the latest census).

The unjustified delay continued for seven years. The census did go ahead in 1998 only after the Nawaz Sharif government gave an assurance that there would be no change in the number of seats, whatever the census results. Why couldn’t the government give the same assurance in 1991?

There are two other good reasons for its postponement to 2011. If census is held this year, large areas of Fata, the NWFP and Balochistan will have to be excluded because of disturbed conditions there.

The Americans are negotiating with the Taliban in Afghanistan. Peace may be at hand late next year, as the US starts withdrawing after July, which will make conditions conducive for holding census in the whole country.

Secondly, there is talk of mid-term election later this year. If it occurs, holding census at the same time will be quite a problem. The staff for census will be busy in election duties.

The next census, therefore, must be in 2011 so that we again have a decennial schedule. Postponement for another year will be a small price for restoring regularity. After a few decades, the normal practice can be resumed.

If it is held this year, it will not be possible to compare the data for 1998-2010 with any other decade, previous or next.

ZOHAIB SHABIH,

Karachi.

Gen Kayani’s contribution

The inclusion of Gen Kayani in the delegation for the forthcoming Pakistan US strategic dialogue that is aiming to cover multiple issues of serious intensity that concern Pakistan is being welcomed as the COAS is a person the nation has come to rely upon after bitterly being betrayed by the politicians. The Pakistanis have experienced a series of futile talks that initially raise the people’s hope and ultimately bring them shattering down as no tangible results are achieved as can be observed in the secretary level talks with India along with an inadequacy of resolving any issue.

A change was observed after the COAS had competently communicated his views to the International community in a conference in Brussels. First time in the history of Pakistan, someone has overtly and publically asserted Pakistan’s concern and presented a fully developed vision through which we are now being seen.

It is being hoped now that Gen Kayani will again present Pakistan’s point of view to the US powerfully and logically so that this conference would yield all that the Pakistanis are aiming to achieve which includes energising the power sector and enhancing the economy by foreign investments.

The recent invitation extended to the foreign minister by the Saudi FM is significant for Pakistan as it may provide an opportunity to patch up differences with the other country by coherently conveying Pakistan’s stance against terrorism and its strategic interest in Afghanistan which may prove useful in resolving any misunderstanding amongst the international community against Pakistan’s role in the south Asian region and may create better understanding between the two neighbours.

A more sociable relation with India can help Pakistan be accepted as a peaceful nation and increase its credibility which may help Pakistan to assert itself forcefully and ultimately accomplish the target it has set for itself.

Lubna Umar,

Islamabad.

Shahbaz’s remarks

“The entire counter-terrorism effort being spearheaded by the country’s security forces went into a tailspin on Monday following a bizarre statement made by Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif a day earlier, pleading the Taliban to spare Punjab from terrorist attacks” (news).

These are the politicians of the country! The real threat to Pakistan! Can the incompetent brothers explain to the country how they are going to convince the world?

Kadar Khan,

On email.

Where are law enforcers?

A photograph appeared in a local daily showing some angry young men (mostly teenagers) of Aqil Village, Naudero, who were supposed to hold books, seizing weapons in their hands. As per caption they were anticipating possible attack by a clan with whom their family had enmity over some matrimonial affair.

A glance at the picture reminds one a scene of some western Cowboy movie where every citizen used to carry a gun for his personal protection.

If the state of law and order of such an important place like Naudero, a constituency of late Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto is so precarious, one can imagine the worsening conditions of other areas of the province.

Unfortunately it was after the changes brought by the previous regime, in district administration and police setup that system of governance prevailing in country went completely out of hand. In the urban areas street crime has increased exponentially whereas ever-increasing tribal feuds have destroyed the peace and tranquility of the rural areas completely. The police force either does not intervene in the tribal warfare or when it does was discouraged by the politicians in power who are party to the dispute.

If the provincial government is interested in restoring the writ of government it has to take on the one hand stern action against those police functionaries who are sitting as silent spectators when flagrant violation of law and order is reported and on the other hand shun political interference in tribal warfare. This will not only restore peace in the province but faith of local population in the strength law and order institutions will be revived once again.

Qazi Altaf,

Hyderabad.

Pak-US partnership

The way America has been treating Pakistan also speaks of the flawed foreign policy of the US to which Admiral Mullen pointed out in unequivocal terms. The US military, he said in a policy statement in Washington on March 4, still plays too dominant a role in American foreign policy and Washington needs to place a higher priority on diplomacy and “soft power”. The military is a vital tool of national power but “should never be the only tool”, he said and added “US foreign policy is still too dominated by the military – too dependent upon the generals and admirals who lead our major overseas commands and not enough on the State Department. It’s one thing to be able and willing to serve as emergency responders, quite another to always have to be fire chief”.

The admiral backed calls by Obama to balance the military’s role with diplomacy, intelligence and other civilian efforts but said, “My fear, quite frankly is that we aren’t moving fast enough in this direction. We ought to make it a precondition of committing our troops – that we will do so only if and when the other instruments of national power are ready to engage as well. If Washington relies solely on US troops to exert influence, we should expect to see that influence diminish over time.

Citing his experience advising Mr Obama, Admiral Mullen laid out three principles that should govern the use of the military: (a) the military should not be the last resort of the state, but should complemented by vigorous diplomacy and other civilian efforts; (b) Military force should be used in a precise and principled way to protect innocent lives; and (c) policy making cannot be separated from military strategy and debate among civilian and military leaders should be encouraged.

The US will also have to address Pakistan’s India concern. Islamabad resents being hyphenated with Afghanistan. Pakistan also needs more American officials to speak publicly in the manner that Mr Holbrooke did the other day. At the very least it helps shed some much-needed light on areas of US-Pakistan cooperation other than the issues of militancy, nuclear weapons and security.

Holbrooke told a briefing in Washington that a “positive shift in sentiments” in Pakistan had forced him to change his opinion about that country. If Holbrooke wants to return to centre stage via the energy/economy route, Pakistan should welcome him with open arms. And the change must impact the US-Pakistan talks as well.

F Z Khan,

On email.

UN troops in Sudan

The United Nations is going to deploy UN Peacekeeping troops including contingents from Pakistan in the troubled region of Sudan. This speaks of Pakistan and its armed forces’ contribution in the world peace despite gigantic tasks and engagements at home owing to the ongoing campaign against terror, as well as the world community’s trust on Pakistan because the Pakistani contingents have proved with their character, professionalism and dedication to the cause that they can deliver and work in any kind of environment to complete challenging tasks which the other nations cannot do. While the deployment of UN peacekeepers in Sudan is a questionable step or not, the United Nations must ensure that appropriate safety and security apparatus is in place for UN troops’ deployment in Sudan.

Fawad F Ashraf,

Sargodha.

15-3-2010

When City was red circled

We remember the late 50’s when an American spy plane used to operate from an American facility established at Badhber near Peshawar, to reconnoiter the territorial boundaries of the USSR. This plane was under the close observation of the Soviet government and all its movements were being closely watched, through their effective monitoring system. They finally hit the reconnoitering plane and the U2 was no more there to ‘survey’ the USSR.

The interesting development before hitting the plane was that the Soviet government sent a threatening call asking the administration in Islamabad that a red line circle has been drawn around Peshawar, with the warning that everything within the circle will be wiped out if the things were not stopped. Thereafter the reconnaissance plane was hit and the pilot captured to be released years later to cross over through the Berlin Wall.

The Russians had marked red the place wherefrom the plane used to take off. We are today confronted with more serious situation as the American drones are targeting our soil almost on the daily basis killing many of our innocent people declaring them to be linked with al-Qaeda. To what extent those children, women and old aged people killed in these strikes, are al-Qaeda, God knows better. Officially, it is denied that these planes are flying from somewhere in Pakistan. If it is correct, and must be correct then they are definitely flying from the American bases in Afghanistan. If so, have we ever had the courage to warn the puppet administration in Kabul of any consequences for the crime? Are we not a sovereign country, at least to ask in very stern words a neighbouring country, which is used as a launching pad for unpiloted planes to kill us? Can’t we warn that country to stop the heinous activities or be ready for a red circle to be drawn around the spot used for the takeoff of the drones used against our soil?

‘Ghairat’ and ‘mardangi’ is something that we have lost and it is time to resuscitate it back lest it is too late and a point of no return is reached.

Mohammad Faheem,

Timergara.

After-effects of colonialism

Every other country except Pakistan seem to be moving progressively forward by enhancing its power structure to its optimum capacity including our neighbourly rival India who has just signed a multi-dimensional deal with Russia thus empowering itself economically as well as militarily. Unfortunately, we have no such nation building maladies neither the three famous viruses of ‘unity, faith and discipline’ could manage to penetrate the thick Pakistani hide.

The international community is criticising and blaming Pakistan for a series of offences that seem to be cropping up one after the other. Every Pakistani organisation is being portrayed as either a part of a lethal militant organisation or if not, then it is supposed to be funding and backing them in some ways. How can a state that is unable to manage itself, be so well balancing this underhand activity and deceiving the entire world?

The intelligence agencies especially the ISI are being blatantly accused of promoting terrorism in the region. Similarly the Pakistan army, despite its magnanimous sacrifices and sincere struggle which the world is a witness to, is condemned for its not so very satisfactory efforts and are being pressurised into doing more.

But the ultimate tragedy that shatters our inside is not what the world falsely represents but how this colonial mindset travels into the natives and forces them to mimic what the West is uttering to malign our own nation and its precious organisations, including religious ones as well. This internal hatred stops us from taking any step forward as it serves as an invisible chain binding the nation to stagnation.

How can a large strata of our society be so brainless, opinion-less and blind to believe and reinforce the enemy ideologies. An apt example of this exemplary treacherous behaviour is the continuous criticism that emanates from within our society against the Pakistan army where a simple move such as the extension of the ISI head done clearly for the benefit of the state, becomes so controversial that a multitude of insignificant debates stem from it that yield nothing but mistrust and prove detrimental for the nation. We have to take a close look at ourselves by critically analysing our beliefs and deciphering the motives behind our actions and the direction we are taking our future towards.

Muhammad Abdullah,

Islamabad.

The aerial tanker issue

As reported in The Statesman on March 13, America’s European partners, or rather slaves, are up in arms against it and are accusing it of unfair treatment over the building contract for an aerial refuelling tanker plane for the US air force. The precise charge is that the Pentagon altered bidding rules for the $35 billion contract to favour Boeing’s all-American offer over the European bids.

Complaining about the matter, the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was “disappointed” at the changing of rules in favour of US aerospace giant Boeing. French President Nicholas Sarkozy said “I admit that I did not appreciate this decision,” while a German minister accused the United States of protectionism, warning that Berlin will take up the issue at the political level and at the World Trade Organisation. The European Commission has also protested over the move.

Obviously, if the European countries behave as America’s poodles and feel proud of it, sending their armies to wherever the US wants, irrespective of whether they have any dispute with the America’s victims, and in complete disregard of public opinion at home, there is every chance that the US would not take them seriously and would treat them in the manner it has done, so why complain now when the US is applying to them the service rules appropriate for the particular category: the slaves, which role the European countries have themselves taken on willingly?

It also shows that the only time they work in perfect unison is when they are together hunting and killing Muslim men, women and children, which seems to have become their top priority and a cherished goal now.

S.R.H. Hashmi,

Karachi.

Indo-Russia agreement

The success of a multiple nuclear pact between India and Russia in which Russia will build a total of 12 atomic plants in India coupled with another pact to supply India with a $2.5 billion refurbished aircraft carrier and a $1.5 billion deal on the supplies of 29 fighter jets clearly indicates India’s farsighted war vision.

The Indian authorities need to be asked what brand of ‘aman’ or peace is being preached by accumulating such modernised military devices and weapons of mass destruction at an extensive scale and with a defence budget ceaselessly soaring every year. Are they actually interested in the proverbial ‘peace process’ or is it a newly devised ‘aman’ which would be enforced by using such sophisticated arsenal?

Apparently, backed by the International community as it has recently signed defence deals with France, Israel and US, India is busy building a war empire in order to gain full control over the south Asian region which would satisfy its age-old dream of becoming a superpower.

If this fails to detach our politicians from their non-productive personal pursuits to take a look at important matters then nothing ever will. The entire Pakistani nation is experiencing continuous spells of lacks and deficiencies and the state miraculously remains unable to tackle and actually resolve a single concern, whereas India is speedily signing pacts and agreements and progressing in all areas.

We have to wake up to a mortal threat that India now poses, not only to our sovereignty but to our continuation. Do we possess the power to curb any evil designs that India harbours against Pakistan? what are we doing about it? why is the International community all against us and why aren’t we able to empower ourselves? These are a few questions we have to ask ourselves before it’s too late.

Lubna Umar,

Islamabad.

WAPDA in Chitral

When people of Chitral are facing multiple problems created mainly by long hours of load-shedding and frequent disruption of electricity from national grid, WAPDA has started harassing the consumers by sending them inflated bills.

It is very strange that power supply remained suspended during the whole month of February, but bills sent by WAPDA to many consumers show unreasonable charges.

For example, many bills show 5 units and 10 units consumed electricity but have been charged Rs177 and 320, respectively. When WAPDA officials are approached they admit their mistake but instead of correcting bills, they persuade consumers to pay their bills.

WAPDA meted out another injustice to the people of Chitral by excluding them from Malakand package announced by the prime minister under which utility bills from May to Sept 2009 of war-affected areas of Malakand division were written off. But Chitral was not included in Malakand package despite the fact Malakand operation left deep effects on Chitral. WAPDA consumers of Chitral had to pay their bills during the same period and Chitral was deprived of Malakand package.

Is WAPDA there to serve the people or only to earn money by exploiting its poor consumers?

Bashir Hussain Azad,

Chitral.

Karzai on FCR

President Hamid Karzai was right to say that Frontier Crimes Regulations commonly known as FCR is a terrible legacy of the British colonial rule being applied on Pashtun people in FATA. The sooner it is taken out the better. It is also against human dignity. As far as I understand this important question was posed by a Pashtun journalist in Pashto language in Islamabad.

Some of the Pakistani-minded journalists who were present on that occasion criticised the remarks of Pashtun President Hamid Karzai and termed his reply as an intervention in internal affairs of Pakistan. This criticism was illogical and nonsense. They should realise that FATA is a place where Pashtuns live and Karzai is also a Pashtun/Afghan and he has the right to ask for his people’s right in FATA.

People in FATA do want change and are not ready to remain in old and outdated system which has given them nothing except humiliation and destruction. FATA is an area where there are no human rights. Political parties are not allowed to do politics and political parties act has never been extended to this part. Resultantly, extremist religious forces were made stronger and stronger with manpower and other resources with strong state support of Pakistan. Today we see that this part is like a hub of terrorism and terrorists use this area for their vested interests.

Zar Ali Khan Musazai,

On email.

Be magnanimous, India

Recently India decided to resume peace talks with Pakistan and therefore invited Pakistan to participate in secretary-level talks in India. The secretary-level talks took place but the outcome was discouraging as India showed her double face by maintaining her intransigence to press her irrational demands on terrorism while keeping the core issues of Kashmir and water terrorism out of focus. India once again managed to sabotage the decretary-level talks and failed to create the environment to resume a composite dialogue.

Will India realise her unjust and irresponsible stance is a multi million question? India must show magnanimity matching her size.

ASAD ALI,

Peshawar.

Dual nationality

During a question-answer session in the National Assembly, the house was informed that wives of at least nine senior federal government employees holding important positions in civil as well in army whose names were also disclosed in a national daily enjoyed dual nationalities: mostly American, British, Canadian and British.

A non-resident before acquiring citizenship has to take the oath of allegiance of that country, declaring:

a) Allegiance to the Constitution of that country;

b) Renunciation of allegiance to any foreign country to which the immigrant has had previous allegiances to;

c) Defence of the Constitution against enemies, both “foreign and domestic”;

d) Promise to serve in the armed forces required by law (either combat or non-combat);

e) Promise to perform civilian duties of ‘national importance’ when required by law.

Meaning thereby that after taking the above oath, the holder of dual nationality will have to serve the interest of the other country and not Pakistan, allegiance to which he has renounced.

I ask the government why the holders of public offices and their spouses and politicians have been allowed dual nationality when their loyalties are not with the motherland but with the country whose citizenship they have obtained.

I agree with the suggestion given in a letter ‘A plea against dual nationality’ (Jan 31) that parliament should enact a law forbidding all dual nationality holders from joining any government or semi-government service or contesting elections as public representatives.

As for those who are already working as civil servants or public representatives, they should be provided with the option that both they and their spouses and other family members should relinquish the nationality of the other country; otherwise they must surrender the post they hold either as civil servants or as public representatives.

KHAIR MOHAMMAD BROHI,

Larkana.

Karzai’s visit to Pakistan

Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have been complicated, if not strained. Against this background, President Karzai’s visit is a remarkable step towards acceptance of the important role Pakistan has in solving the current problems in Afghanistan.

Pakistan’s critical role has also been recognised by US officials. The CIA and the ISI are working together and have been successful in capturing militants in metropolitan areas such as Karachi and Faisalabad.

Pakistan’s ability to influence the Afghan Taliban can help the Afghan government to carry out the reintegration process with the Taliban, for which a special jirga is to be arranged by President Karzai in April.

There is a need to understand that Afghans in general have respect for Pakistan, many have benefited from Pakistan’s educational and technical institutes. Even today more than 6,000 Afghan students are studying in Pakistan.

Afghan official Farooq Wardak was educated in Pakistan, and is planning the peace jirga under President Karzai’s supervision. Officers like him can help build bridges between the two countries. Important discussions by Pakistan officials with President Karzai can be fruitful in building trust and cooperation between the two nations.

Talks about India’s role in Afghanistan should be successfully concluded so that an acceptable role of India in Afghanistan is defined. Problems of Afghanistan and Pakistan are interlinked. The two together can overcome many challenges faced by them.

BEENISH JAVED,

Islamabad.

Rising prices of essentials

There has been a sharp increase in the prices of daily commodities over the last two years.

People had high hopes that the PPP would ease their economic discomforts by checking artificial price increases through a tight and clean administration.

It is also the need of the hour that the government should adopt absolute austerity and run its financial affairs cautiously to contain the rupee-dollar parity.

Unfortunately, the government has not delivered anything positive so far, rather it has allowed inflation to go up.

It is worth noting that just after the induction of new administrators into the local government dairy farmers have again increased the price of fresh milk. It is now selling at Rs52 a litre. This is the fourth time that the price of milk has gone up within the past two years, starting from Rs37 a litre.

The irony is that the evaluation of the price of milk is under consideration in the Sindh High Court; its price has been revised upward many times without having any regard and fear of the court.

The opposition too is not working up to the expectations of the people. It is rather serving its own interests.

It is time rights of the people were protected, and the vicious cycle of price increases stopped.

A. HUSSAIN,

Karachi.

A security suggestion

The intelligence and security agencies are doing a great job in combating terrorism. However, it seems that the agencies are missing something when it comes to their own protection. In boxing, it is always advised that one should not only concentrate on punching one’s opponent but should also guard oneself against a counterpunch. Unfortunately, this protection against the counterpunch technique is missing. The offices of intelligence units in civilian and crowded areas make security officials too vulnerable to defend themselves, let alone protect others.

Suppose these offices are located outside the city, with fields on all sides. There is a long half-mile road that leads to the entrance; CCTV cameras line this pathway and snipers stand at the ready. What could be the worst-case scenario? The suicide bomber can, at best, make a hole in the road or destroy a couple of CCTV cameras. This will increase the opportunity cost for the terrorist because he can neither destroy the security apparatus nor harm civilians. In this way the phenomenon of terrorism will die its own death.

In my opinion, this strategy is better than making forts in the city because forts will neither protect the guards nor the guarded.

JAMSHED HUSSAIN KHAN,

Lahore.

13-3-2010

‘Belagaam Pawindas’

In a well-known talk show on ARY, Dr Firdous Awan, tore the concept of CoD by announcing that the document is not acceptable at the grassroots level by the workers of PPP. Apparently, she hasn’t read the document prepared carefully by the stalwarts of both the parties and signed by late Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif.

It is people like Dr. Firdous Awan, Salman Taseer and Fauzia Wahab of PPP who pour down bitter liquor down the throats of PML-N and expect thank notes in return. The sooner PPP leadership control the ‘belagaam pawindas’ (unrestrained gypsies) of their party, the better it would be for continuation of democracy in Pakistan; unless the Man-on-the-Hill in his unique wisdom wishes them to say so.

Dr. Ghayur Ayub,

London.

The general & the scientist

Most unfortunately, country's fourth military dictator in the line of General turned Field Marshal Muhammad Ayub Khan, General Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan and General Muhammad Ziaul Haq, General Pervez Musharraf, is living a luxurious life on a foreign soil for some time after he had first relinquished the Army Chief charge and then also stepped down as the President. It is a matter of record that the then President/Army Chief was involved in an ugly episode with prominent nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan who was publicly disgraced for allegedly for his crime of nuclear proliferation after making Pakistan a nuclear power. It is generally said and believed that the ugly episode between the Army General and the scientist was enacted at the behest of the world number one Policeman, the USA.

Since then while the general lived happily afterwards as the President/Army Chief and now living abroad as the former military dictator of Pakistan. On the other hand, the nuclear scientist is very much in the country. Both the former military dictator and the former nuclear scientist are trying their known and otherwise all tactics to remain in the print and electronic media somehow or the other. Either of them have not yet made their intentions clear as to what they want to do in future.

The nuclear scientist is availing every opportunity coming his way to blast the former military dictator in order to settle the old score by way of writing, public addresses and interviews with foreign and local media and denying the same afterwards once or twice.

The nuclear scientist claims that he was wrongly implicated in the ugly episode. To establish the same for all times to come, the nuclear scientist should either file a case in a superior court against the former military dictator in oder to set the records straight or otherwise, try leading a retired life like several of his former colleagues are doing. This will do him lot of good mentally as well as physically as he would then be leading a tension-free life provided he accepts my suggestion.

Khalid I. Khan,

On email.

Responsibility of the world

It is upon the international community to pressurise India to refrain from destabilising Pakistan through covert involvement in Balochistan and tribal areas of FATA, NWFP. Indian officials privately admit and media publicly boasts of Indian involvement in Balochistan – they are illogically equate Kashmir with Balochistan. The huge Indian-made caches of arms and ammunition unearthed by Pakistan security forces during the operations in Swat and South Waziristan has established that India is physically involved in acts of sabotage, funding Taliban and its own launched terrorists.

The world has to see whether the destabilised Pakistan is in its interest or not. If Pakistan is destabilised, the world will not remain safe and the interests of America, allied forces and NATO will remain affected in the region. Pakistan has proved its sincerity in the war against terror and it has offered a number of sacrifices which the other nations have not. In return Pakistan needs world community’s help, especially it needs to be economically strong. The upcoming dialogue between Pakistan and US on strategic partnership demands the world to see Indian involvement in Pakistan’s internal affairs and if India is not stopped, and its eastern borders remain unsafe, Pakistan cannot fully concentrate on weeding out the menace of terror from its soil, which ultimately threatens the world peace.

The world community will have to help solve the Kashmir imbroglio, unless Kashmir is resolved, stability in South Asia cannot be achieved. In this regard US intent to make Pakistan-India dialogue successful will help in achieving the much-desired stability in South Asia. The world community must realise that the Indian approach to involving Pakistan in any terrorist act within India will assist terrorists to achieve their objectives. It is also upon the world community to fulfil its pledges to assisting Pakistan for rehabilitation of IDPs of Malakand and FATA.

Eschmall Sardar,

Peshawar.

US-Pakistan strategic talks

As reported in The Statesman on March 8, Pakistan is to hold strategic talks with the US on 28th and 29th of this month. The Pakistani delegation will be led by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and may include ISI chief while the arrogant woman Hillary Clinton will lead the US delegation with senior intelligence and defence officials forming part of the US team and perhaps FBI director who just returned from a trip to Pakistan, may also join them. Discussions will focus at finding ways and means to put into effect strategic partnership, including additional cooperation in military and economic fields offered by President Barack Obama in his 2-page letter delivered sometime back to Pakistan by a brusque Gen. James Jones (retd), the US National Security Adviser. It is expected that ties in different fields including defence, trade, energy, education and health will come under review.

However, the way the US has been taking us for a ride, it is unlikely that the talks will bring any real benefits to Pakistan. If the US really wanted to help us, it could have released the coalition support funds which have been held up for over a year and have piled up to $ 2 billion. Under the pretext of offering and organising economic help, the US will want visas for hundreds of its operators who would probably help in establishing and expanding terrorist networks for use in the not too distant future.

Offer of military cooperation by the US would mean more US troops on Pakistani soil and more drone attacks, with increase in frequency as well as the area covered. The US wanted to extend drone attacks to other Pakistani regions, including Quetta, and this point may be hammered again. The US government has already set aside $ 12 billion for additional drones most of which will end up in our region.

According to press reports of March 11, the US Congress is holding a hearing titled “Bad Company: Lashkar-e-Taiba and the growing ambitions of Islamist militancy in Pakistan” which will be presided by the pro-India Congressman Gary Ackerman and will discuss LeT’s alleged role in terrorist attacks inside India, with perhaps an attempt to accuse Pakistan government of involvement in the issue.

Also, speaking before the committee on US strategy for countering violent extremism, deputy commander of the US Special Operation Command, Lt-Gen. Francis Kearney expressed the fear that LeT could trigger a war between India and Pakistan. He expressed the opinion that the militants can also arrange attacks on the American soil. Senator Bill Nelson observed that nine years after 9/11, the US is still grappling with al-Qaeda, and now with its associated groups, particularly in the Afghan-Pakistan region. From its bases in the Pak-Afghan region, al-Qaeda had spread it tentacles to Africa, the Arabian peninsula and other regions as well, he added.

All this shows that occasional praise for Pakistan’s contributions to war on terror is nothing but a ploy to fool us into believing that they consider us their friend whereas actually, they are going about in a very methodical manner in their endeavour to paint a grim picture of Pakistan which, in their opinion, is at the root of all trouble, be it in Middle East, Africa, India, USA or anywhere. Almost certainly, they are preparing American public opinion for their ‘irregular wars’ in Pakistan, on top of their covert activity. With this background, it is quite clear that that during the strategic talks, the Americans will mount more pressure on Pakistan to accept their unreasonable demands, in exchange for some vague promises. The Americans will expect us to put our heads on the chopping block towards which we seem to be moving steadily, quite oblivious of what is in store for us.

There appear to be some real suckers among us.

S.R.H. Hashmi,

Karachi.

Zaid Hamid backlash

With reference to the editorial you published few days back regarding one of the renowned defence analysts Mr. Zaid Hamid under the title “Zaid Hamid backlash” and accusing him of being a fundamentalist and controversial speaker. The demand to ban Zaid Hamid’s and his likeminded people’s entry into the educational institutions seems to be unjust and unwise.

In the current scenario when the enemies of Pakistan are knocking at our door through different channels and are active to further destabilise the law and order situation in the country we are trying to target our patriotic figures and heroes. Is this fair or just? Zaid Hamid and his ilk are the only hope left with the youth of Pakistan. So instead of supporting his patriotic cause some elements are constantly criticising him and trying to put hurdles in his way which is totally wrong approach.

We should not criticise anyone on our personal likes and dislikes. If someone is really trying to do something for the country we should give him full support and join his hands in this noble cause.

Umer Khan,

Peshawar.

Sports’ nadir

Surprisingly the dismal and all time low performance of our hockey team in the world cup has resulted only in the dismissal of the hockey team selection committee and the office bearers of the hockey federation. Similarly the depths of despair caused by our cricket heroes by their unenviable feats in New Zealand and Australia has resulted only in banning the two indefinitely, two for one year and imposing heavy fines on the other four.

What’s gone wrong with our politicians? None of them has cashed in on the opportunity of throwing the blame and castigating right and squarely the rulers of the previous government for these catastrophes too like all else going wrong in the country?

Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd),

Rawalpindi.

A public-relations disaster

According to American media reports, Pakistani lawmakers refused to go through extra airport screening at Washington airport and returned to Pakistan.

This tour was arranged by the US government with a view to improving ties with the Pakistani lawmakers from tribal areas. This was a public-relations disaster. American officials said that the Pakistanis were specifically warned that the United States does not believe in "VIP culture," unlike Pakistan, where politicians are often exempted from unpalatable procedures that other people have to suffer.

I would like to let the American public know that the same American officials, when they come to Pakistan, expect to enter Pakistan without going through proper immigration procedures. Some of them "order" that their luggage should not go through "scanners". In George W. Bush's days once the US government dared to ask Pakistani leaders to allow American officials to enter Pakistan without any visa (which was not allowed by Pakistan). Now tell me what is the worst - "Pakistani VIP culture" or "American imperialist culture"? American government wants others to follow the rules and regulations of their country while they expect "VIP" treatment when they travel to Pakistan.

It is because of such imperialist and arrogant attitude of American officials that people consider them their enemy. These officials arm-twist the leaders of nations and bribe them (another worst culture introduced by America in Third World countries) to follow their "dictates". As a result these political leaders lose their standing in the eyes of their public.

Now American people should decide who are the real culprits - those lawmakers who protested against discriminatory law or those American officials who openly break the laws of sovereign nations.

SHAH AFFAN,

Canada.

Wasting public money

The government is bent on wasting public money on project like ‘New Sindh Secretariat’ which it has decided to build at a cost of Rs6 billion on an area admeasuring 19 acres. The proposed new complex will be constructed on both sides of the High Court Building, comprising two 15-storey towers and six small units.

The provincial minister for Works and Services, who is also convener of the project, while revealing the details informed the participants that new secretariat complex will comprise of most modern faculties and security systems.

The Sindh Secretariat is presently functioning in five main blocks (multistorey buildings) and numerous barracks spread over on both sides of High Court. One fails to comprehend why in the presence of these huge complexes, which successfully cater for the needs of provincial setup, government is determined to built a new complex at a huge cost to the provincial exchequer.

The proposed complex is gigantic and will definitely take lot of time to complete. Besides looking at the provincial works department’s ‘efficiency’ and corruption the budget allocated for the project at Rs6 billion will automatically escalate many times. The buildings so far built by the works department in the province are also worst example of bad workmanship.

Moreover during the period of completion, which may take years the visitors especially coming from remote areas of province for resolving their grievances will have to suffer agony as departments presently located in barracks will move to other places available in the city. Furthermore building multi-storey complexes in the few open spaces of the city will affect the environment adversely.

I hope that looking at the grim scenario of finances, non-productivity of scheme, adverse impact on environment and difficulties people of province will face as a consequence of construction the chief minister Sindh will review his decision. The funds allocated to the scheme may be utilised for education and health, the most neglected social sectors, requiring more attention of the government than constructing huge complexes to earn ‘fame’.

S. Ahmed,

Canada.

PCB’s bold decision

In the light of recommendation sent by the probe committee headed by Wasim Bari Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decided to ban Muhammad Yousaf and Younis Khan for life from international cricket, and awarded fine and ban for Shoaib Malik, Rana Naveed, Kamran Akmal, Omer Akmal and Shahid Afridi. It is first time in the history of PCB that the board took such a bold step to save the future of cricket in Pakistan. Obviously very drastic step from PCB will help to unite and strengthen the cricket team. In future any player while involving in malicious activities will think hundred times before going for such activities.

It is time that Pakistan Hockey Federation also probed the poor performance of hockey team in World Cup in India. One can hope that Pakistan Hockey Federation will learn the lesson from the PCB and will save the national game from destruction.

Zahid Rashid,

Rawalpindi.

A welcome operation

This is unprecedented to note that the residents of Malakand division are forthcoming to assist the security forces in apprehending remnants of terrorists. The arrests of over one thousand suspects from all over Malakand division indicates that the local population will not allow terrorists to resurface.

In FATA terrorists are playing with the lives of innocent people portraying their violent acts as service to Islam. This has now come to fore that people have got aware that the leadership of terrorists is not sincere with Islam as well as Pakistan – they want to sabotage peace in the name of Islam and further the agenda of the enemy. It has now been established that they are taking funds, weapons, ammunition and other aids from India and its collaborators to disturb the peace of Pakistan by killing Muslim brethren.

Dr Tahirul Qadri’s fatwa that those who provoke innocent Muslims for suicide bombings are buying jahannum for themselves, has been widely welcomed across FATA and the ulema are duly quoting its references during their Friday sermons. They are also countering the terrorists’ continued propaganda to hide their own casualties and losses.

They are also eulogising the military’s role for establishing peace which has made the return of 2.5 million IDPs possible within three months, which is a result of comprehensive planning and professionalism on part of the security forces. The forces are also ensuring that the rehabilitation process is completed within the stipulated time without any pilferage of funds and lack on the administration’s part.

FATA residents vow that the terrorists and their hideouts will be eliminated with the help of people because the terrorists are violating locals’ traditions and values of the area. They get money and training from non-Muslims who are enemies of Pakistan and working to destabilise the country of Muslims. If the law and order situation improves in FATA, opportunities for business, employment and better education will be available to the residents. That is the reason they are fully backing the security forces and they believe that the ongoing military operations are not against any particular tribe but against the terrorists who are working as tools in the hands of the enemy.

The security forces have offered huge sacrifices, they will continue sacrificing in order to root out the menace once and for all, besides they are making comprehensive plan for return of IDPs to their homes in South Waziristan and other areas.

Sher Khan,

Mardan.

Looming water shortage

Now that the government and security agencies have succeeded in defeating the terrorists in Malakand division and other FATA areas, the cooperation of people, especially local is very important in the post-operation environment. They have proved that the fight against terrorism is in national interest, because terrorism is not only affecting the economy of the country but also the entire national fabric of society has been damaged. People’s help in restoring the law and order situation, participation of the entire community is a must to ensure that peaceful environment prevails in the country.

With the determination of nation, it has now been proved to the world that Pakistani people possess appropriate potential to come out of various crises. We can overcome the most challenging energy crisis: alternate sources should be explored and awareness be created about water conservation for the nation to meet the looming water shortage.

Marya Mufti,

Lahore.

Is Obama likely to trail Bush?

In the primaries ‘Change’ was the buzz word that Obama stamped in the American mind. His winning the Democratic presidential nomination against the much impressive Hillary Rodham Clinton, the former first lady, confirms an aspiration among many of his countrymen to see life differently. When the Republicans are beset with countless messy affairs — both internal and international, of the Bush administration, what could be better for a Democratic presidential hopeful than gaining precious electoral currency by pressing for a change? Obama is wise enough not to miss it and so he found himself in the position of the 44th American president.

Nevertheless, his projecting himself as a man of change has proved to be insincere too soon — at least in one aspect now. Despite his previous records of being strongly sympathetic towards the Palestinians, he has publicly revealed an unswerving commitment to Israel, which has conflicted with his motto for change. One such deviation is too early, but it may not be too early to predict that he would inherit nothing but a set of Bush ideologies.

When Obama avows that, ‘Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided,’ he rather endorsed the plea of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC that any idea to share Jerusalem is inadmissible. This position is an exact copy of the president Bush.

And this is enough to make him seem poised to kowtow to the pro-Israel lobby in a way that may rule out any lingering chance of an Israeli-Palestinian settlement.

Abdul Akbar,

Peshawar.

11-3-2010

Joe Biden visits Israel

The US Vice President Joe Biden is on a visit to Israel. Such visits to Israel are essential for the US leaders in order to secure Israeli blessings which, in turn, ensure their own survival. So obviously, Joe Biden assured Israel of his government’s total commitment to Israel, as if that has ever been in doubt, and also to inform Israeli leaders that in accordance with their wish, which in turn, is their command, the US government, and its top leaders personally, are planning ‘crippling’ sanctions against Iran. So, here we have two top terrorist states of the world, US and Israel, accusing Iran of supporting terrorists.

Joe Biden also declared that the agreed resumption of Israeli-Palestinian talks through US mediation was a ‘real opportunity” for peace. The joke is in a really bad taste. We know that George Bush proved himself to be the worst thing that ever happened to the Palestinians, and Muslims for that matter, but there are clear indications that Obama and his team will leave even George Bush far behind. On meeting resistance from Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu, Obama went down on his knees so early in his presidency, dropped his demand for a settlement freeze and, scaling down his own expectations, agreed to a partial freeze for a limited time, but even this is being violated by Israel but the US is of course not perturbed at all. The US is also trying to improve its relations with Syria but that is more to draw a wedge between Syria and Iran, who are warming up to each other, and to smooth the way for Israel.

Israeli government’s thuggish behaviour of killing Hamas leader in Dubai, involving the misuse of the passports of ‘Israel-friendly’ countries, which is the worst form of international terrorism, is sure not to be discussed by Joe Biden as it could ‘upset’ Israel, a risk that he cannot afford to take. So, the US commitment is to international thugs, scoundrels and murderers, who violate every rule and humiliate even its patron, financier and benefactor, the US but the US leaders do not feel insulted at all and will confine their role to Israeli-appeasement, which they are all very good at, and consider as their national duty and their personal survival kit.

Israel has successfully buried US roadmap and Maryland conference and even before the start of the present ‘useless’ indirect peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians, the Israeli government has announced 112 new homes in West Bank included in the partial moratorium, and 1600 new settler homes in East Jerusalem, which Palestinians want as their capital. As usual, the Americans will not get upset in the least over these dangerous moves, such is their commitment, goodwill and patience towards Israel.

It is really a shame that the US, which is governed by useless, incompetent, murderous and timid leaders, has become the sole superpower.

S.R.H. Hashmi,

Karachi.

 Strategic partners

The ‘do more’ rhetoric perhaps has lost its significance for the US as its own influence is diminishing over time due to its severely militarised foreign policies. Being involved in a war that was organised and triggered by Washington, Pakistan has been a key ally but the status it enjoys is not of one, rather the eruption of a serious economic crisis further dismantles the entire social and moral fibre of the nation. This is an inevitable outcome as the defence budget leaves little for the public welfare. The expenditure has far exceeded the meagre amount given for fighting terrorism by the US, as the weapons used are made locally in contrast to the sophisticated weaponry and devices used by the Taliban, which greatly increases the risk our army officer and jawans are left facing.

A little reluctance from Islamabad to fully support the US strategy for the Af-Pak region, forces the US central command Gen Patraeus to glance back at a ‘chequered past with Pakistan’ which reveals the cruel and horrid twin betrayals of the US inflicted upon the Pakistanis as they were left to deal with a massive exodus of millions of Afghan refugees and a large number of aimless religious organisations.

It has emerged as a surprise that Washington has realised and actually voiced Pakistan’s concern over its lack of strategic depth and that Pakistan has indulged in many endeavours and need to ‘consolidate their gains in those areas’ before moving any further and finally recognising that “there’s a limit to how much you can do”.

A wind of change can be seen blowing from Washington as Mr Holbrook feels a need for re-establishing its relationship with Pakistan by focusing on the economic and energy sectors which would be a great sigh of relief for Pakistan. The greatly talked about diplomacy and “soft power”, which legitimises America’s international aims, reveals the US desperation of amplifying its global influence which it should try to achieve by winning the hearts and minds of the Pakistanis and not by mere words. Also concrete measures need to be taken by redefining the US attitude towards Pakistan and by giving it its due credit as a strategic partner.

Lubna Umar,

Islamabad.

Code of conduct for MPs

It is very honourable to be elected to the provincial or National assembly. The moment you are elected, you are representing the aspirations of the people of the whole province or in the case of National Assembly, the whole of Pakistan, and not of one particular constituency.

If you are elected on a party ticket, then you are bound to act on the manifesto of the party and bring changes in the country to benefit the common man of the whole country or of the province, whatever the case may be.

I think it is a breach of conduct, if you ask for money to pave the streets of your constituency, or induct your favourites in the government department, or transfer your friends to the lucrative jobs. This is the job of the concerned departments to run their affairs. If you interfere in the posting, transfers or any other matters, this weaken the institutions, and you cannot expect them to work properly. This is the main cause of mismanagement, and corruption in our country and we are, all suffering, because of this behaviour.

They can better serve your people, by making laws to make life easier for the people, and bring credit to their party. For example, if they make all hospitals and schools autonomous, give the MS, or the principal, the budgetary money to manage the institution (of course with the help of a few local board of governors,) they can hire or fire any one efficient or inefficient, to their staff. Leave it to them to work out. But this should be made clear to them, that they want results. Then see how much benefits they give to the nation. Just see how many jobs they create. How much good they do to the people, and how much they improve the image of their party.

I appeal to the media, civil society or even to the judiciary, to make a code of conduct, and get it signed by every representative, before they take oath that they will not interfere in the working of institutions and they will not ask for getting people of their constituencies into the government departments. But they will see, and will not tolerate any mismanagement in any departments, and will try to correct the deficiencies in the departments by executive or legislative means, whatever is necessary. To my mind that should be their duty, which is required of their esteem positions.

Dr. Habib Ullah Khan,

Swat.

Extension for Pasha

Extension given to ISI Chief Lt General Ahmed Shujah Pasha depicts government’s sincerity in its resolve to bring out Pakistan from the menace of terrorism. Anti-Pakistan elements are trying to make Pakistan hostage by fulfilling their conspiracies of destabilising Pakistan. The ongoing wave of suicidal attacks and terrorist activities in Pakistan is a sign of Indo-US and Israel nexus and intrigues against our nation. Obviously during this time frame it was not a wise move to retire such an experienced, patriotic and responsible person. Lt General Pasha must be carrying along an experience of more than three decades which has to be used in greater interest of the nation and the country.

I think President and the Prime Minister have taken a very right step by keeping the existing DG ISI for at least for one more year, in office. Because the time when US and allied forces are thinking of withdrawal from Afghanistan and Pakistan are busy fighting war on terror such official should not have gone home. One must appreciate President, PM and their government for taking right decisions - though few - as well.

Shahbaz Khan,

Peshawar.

10-3-2010

Afghan troops & cops training

Reports are that Indian military experts, under an agreement reached recently, have started imparting training to the Afghan National Army (ANA) and Afghan National Police (ANP) and groups of Afghan forces personnel have already been sent to India for the same purpose. In the recently concluded London Conference lobbies were made to convince the world community that the Afghan forces personnel must be trained by India to which Pakistan objected.

The Karzai government’s relations with India and in return the increasing Indian influence in Afghanistan is not only the cause of concern for Pakistan but also for the international community. In his pre-Afghan strategy report, Gen McCrystal had clearly pointed to the troubles created by the expanded role of India in Afghanistan which is causing hindrance to the smooth functioning of Nato and ISAF. My point in this regard is if Pakistan is given the role of imparting training to Afghan forces personnel, that would serve the purpose of bringing peace in the region. Because engaging Indians serves to Karzai’s anti-Pakistan stance and Indian designs against Pakistan, which has already prolonged and complicated the GWOT and in fact has resulted in the scheduled withdrawal of allied troops. The question is if growing Indian involvement in Afghanistan is agreed upon, then there seems no ray of hope in resolving the already messed up situation. Rather it would further aggravate as Pakistan would lose in words of Pakistan’s chief of army staff Gen Kayani’s words its strategic interests which would be threatened with Indian presence. Indians-trained Afghans cannot be expected to do any good for regional peace, rather they would prove to be Col Prohit’s like who used the Indian army and military intelligence cover to blow up Samjhota express and killed Pakistani passengers.

Secondly Indians have no role in quelling terrorism. Nor have they experience of fighting terrorism head-on. On the other hand the Pakistan military has proved its professionalism in the battlefield. Take Swat and South Waziristan operations as example. A similar spirit of Pakistan military if infused in the Afghan forces personnel can do wonders within days, weeks or months to fight the menace out of this region. It is on the world conscience whether to give India this role to further fuel this fire, or assign the task to Pakistan to clear the mess as early as possible.

Eschmall Sardar,

Peshawar.

Newsweek’s LeT projection

Newsweek in its March 8 issue has published a title story on Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and linked it with al-Qaeda, warning that it might conduct devastating attack – not in Mumbai, but in Manhattan or Miami. This is followed by bombing in a Kabul guest house for which an earlier claim of responsibility by Afghan Taliban was intriguingly diverted to LeT like that of Mumbai incident of hotels Maharaja and Oberoi. This smacks of conspiracy theories against Pakistan and its government not taking action against the LeT head Hafiz Saeed and its activities.

Linking LeT with al-Qaeda hardly bears any logic because al-Qaeda is involved in attacks across Pakistan and Afghanistan and is doing the TTP but LeT though happened to be a militant organisation primarily formed to fight for freedom in Indian held Kashmir has nowhere engaged in subversive activities, either in Pakistan or in Afghanistan and the claims of its involvement in Mumbai attacks or elsewhere in India have not been established as yet. What has come out of the latest investigations, the Indians have unearthed local links and patrons responsible of Mumbai mayhem and for the Samjhota express bombing the Indian army Colonel Prohit and company’s involvement has been proved. In Pakistan the LeT seems to be dysfunctional, neither it conducts any public engagements nor its brandishes weapons like other organisations had been doing. Above all, the government of Pakistan has already banned this organisation twice and particularly after the Mumbai incident, its activities are being closely monitored.

The fact that the LeT has only a role responsible for the wellbeing of the families of shuhada-e-Kashmir, it had remained focused on rehabilitation work in post-earthquake Azad Kashmir and looking after the displaced persons from Swat. The charge that it was patronised by ISI tantamounts to claiming that the ISI has links with al-Qaeda whereas the recent arrest of Quetta Shura top members and the March 7 arrest of al-Qaeda spokesman Adam Yahiye Gadahn from Karachi speaks of Pakistan government’s seriousness in handling the anti-terror war with which the world, especially the US are satisfied. Pakistan has by force eliminated the Taliban in Swat, South Waziristan, Bajaur and elsewhere, has taken heavily on the members of Quetta Shura and the campaign is going on. It seems the world leaders now conspire to push Pakistan towards acting against the LeT which is already banned and is not seemingly involved in acts of terror. LeT’s work has been IHK-specific and the hallabaloo shows Indian desire to convince America for forcing Islamabad to act against it – to get their desired results sabotaging the Kashmir freedom movement.

Abu Hasan,

Azad Kashmir.

Not releasing CSF

The defence and diplomatic circles in Pakistan must be questioning the logic of being used by the world powers under a mere ceremonial status of non-NATO ally in the global war against terror. Despite its relentless efforts and successful operations against the terrorists, Pakistan is subjected to the mounting pressure of ‘do more’, whereas the allied countries on their part have done not enough to play their role in fulfilling the defence needs of Pakistan as are required under the agreement.

Pakistan must be seemingly annoyed over the non-reimbursement of its outstanding bills worth more than 2 billion dollars due to be paid out of the Coalition Support Fund (CSF) under the agreement as major Non-NATO ally, which they have kept pending for one pretext or the other, since last one and a half years.

The Coalition Support Fund is not part of any aid; it is the reimbursement of Pakistan’s expenditures in support of US operations in Afghanistan. The bill has already been forwarded to US administration, which has not been paid for reasons unknown.

Pakistan has so far received only $450 million in the first half of year 2009; that too as reimbursement of pending bills of year 2008. The remaining one and a half years bill worth more than 2 billion dollars is still awaited. The authorities in Pakistan express their dismay as to why such an attitude is meted out while the burden of war expenditures is huge in addition to the loss of life in wake of continued suicide bombings, terror attacks and military’s engagement in the operations.

Pakistan has suffered the most since it has joined the global war against terror as a front line ally. Pakistan was declared major Non-NATO ally and a drumbeat to support Pakistan in a big way was heard all over the world. The hype of $10 billion aid to Pakistan is used to mount pressure on Pakistan. While it has suffered the most in terms of human and property losses, and economic and infrastructural damages, its expenditures in the WOT have exceeded $70 billion during the last 9 years. This US$10 billion assistance was far less than its $653 billion aid for Iraq and $172 billion for Afghanistan since 9/11.

Pakistan has deployed more than 120,000 soldiers on its western borders and using all types of equipment like jet aircraft, helicopters, tanks, guns and vehicles. The expenditures on this ongoing WOT is colossal as the President mentioned in the Friends of Pakistan meeting held in Tokyo last year that “Pakistan has spent more $34 billion on WOT. Besides that Pakistan is looking after the millions of Afghan refugees who have not yet returned to their country because of the non-cooperation of world community.

Almost 56% of the US aid ($5.64 billion) has gone to the Coalition Support Funds. The 18% ($1/81 billion) has been spent on the security assistance, 16% ($1.62 billion) to the budgetary allocations. This money was supposed to provide macroeconomic stability and to free up funds for social spending. The remaining nine percent had been given for development and humanitarian assistance.

As per Congressional Research Service (CRS) report released in July 2008, the total funding for GWOT (2001-2009) was $859 billion: $653 billion for Operation Iraqi Freedom, $172 billion for Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan – with a peanut amount of other counterterrorism operations, including Pakistan, $20 billion for enhanced security of bases and $05 billion unallocated.

A GHAFFAR,

Islamabad.

9-3-2010

PML-N’s good governance?

I watched Live with Talat with interest on a private TV channel. He raised the issue of land mafia in a very powerful way. This is a very important issue in Punjab. Particularly government lands attract these land grabbers and local politicians are either involved directly or provide the needed shelter.

But I am writing to you to share even a more interesting probably...shahkar...of good governance in Punjab where PML-N is in power third time, two terms of "Khadim e Punjab" and one term of Nawaz Sharif. Khadim e Punjab is considered to be a good administrator also.

For the last 30 years, there are more than 40,000 farmers in Sheikhupura district who have been deprived of their share of irrigation water by some big landlords with support from the irrigation department. Farmers approached and knocked at every door including the department and Khadim e Punjab but no one listened to them. There canals tell the whole story. Anyone can see that these canals didn't see water for a long time. Grasses and plants growing inside these canals provide the needed evidence.

The Shahkar part of the story is that these farmers are still paying water rates. Few villages got "justice" from the court where court provided them the relief that they should not pay for the irrigation water. But court failed to see that depriving them of their right to water was a criminal act and who was responsible for that?

A rough calculation shows that farmers have suffered a loss equivalent to Rs4 billion in terms of the Abiana they paid, tubewell water they were forced to buy in the absence of canal water and loss of their crops.

What a good governance!

Dr. Shahid Zia,

On email.

IIU blast victims

I want to draw the attention of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani to the issue of compensation for International Islamic University (IIU) blast victims.

The IIUI was hit by twin bomb blasts on October 20, 2009 due to which some students and an employee lost their lives while about 40 students and employees were injured severely.

The government after so many requests from the university, students, teachers, employees, parents of students, media and civil society had announced compensation of Rs0.3 million each for deceased persons and Rs0.1 million each for injured persons. This announcement by Mr. Rehman Malik, Minister of Interior had been widely welcomed. The scars of the incident have still not healed and memories of the horrific blasts are still fresh in the minds of the victims and their families. Not only victims but their whole families have suffered due to the attacks. The parents of the victims have been demanding the amount from the university officials and the university had sent many reminders to the Interior Ministry as well to pay the compensation to the victims but the procedural delays on part of the ministry caused hurdles in the release of the amount. Now the ministry has asked the university officials to wait as the summary has been sent to the prime minister for approval.

We hope Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani will honour the promise of Mr Rehman Malik and will release the said compensation at the earliest.

SYED ASHRAF,

On email.

Int’l Women’s Day

The world community observed the International Women’s Day (IWD) yesterday, on March 8 — a day when women are recognised for their achievements without regards to divisions — national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political. It is an occasion for looking back on past struggles and accomplishments, and more importantly, for looking ahead to the untapped potential and opportunities that await future generations of women. Organisations, governments and women’s groups around the world chose different themes each year that reflect global and local gender issues. The UN theme for this year is ‘Equal rights, equal opportunities: Progress for all.’

Beginning at the turn of the 20th century, women began to enter the paid workforce in countries that were becoming industrially developed. They could only work certain jobs in such fields as textiles, manufacturing and domestic services. All of these areas had terrible working conditions and the lowest wages.

In 1903, the Women’s Trade Union League was formed in the United States by women trade unionists and professional women who considered themselves liberals. The intent was not only to continue the campaign for women’s right to vote, but to organise them in an effort to improve their welfare in the political and economic arenas.

The first Women’s Day was initiated on the last Sunday in February of 1908, when women who considered themselves socialists held large demonstrations aimed at calling attention to women’s voting rights and welfare. Recognition of International Women’s Day and the causes it supports continued to grow throughout the 19th century. Its celebration date, in those countries that recognise it, is March 8.

Over the years, United Nations action for the advancement of women has taken four clear directions: promotion of legal measures; mobilisation of public opinion and international action; training and research, including the compilation of gender desegregated statistics; and direct assistance to disadvantaged groups.

Tormented and subjugated throughout all times and ages, women have fought their way through exploitation, harassment, and have managed to secure their rights in the public domain. In spite of continuing exploitation and injustice against women both in the domestic and work sector today, several milestones have been achieved in terms of education, freedom of choice and liberty, equality etc. With growing literacy and financial independence women feel more empowered today to assert their right to a life of dignity and self worth.

M Hussain Khan,

On email.

Punjab govt affairs

A lot is being said and heard for the last two years about the “good governance” of Khadim-e-Aaala Punjab. The other day an adviser to the Khadim-e-Alaa went to Bahawalpur when his protocol made a women widow and a child “yateem”. A columnist rightly commented that the Khadim-e-Aala on this act of his adviser’s good governance will send a cheque now from his fund to the widow and add a new feather of good governance in his cap.

The Khadim-e-Aala last year created an online complaint cell in his office with much fanfare. A labourer from abroad sent a complaint by airmail to the cell. The complaint cell refused to accept it with the direction that the same be sent “online” if any action was required.

Last month I went to Lahore. Outside the railway station I tasted the taste of the good governance. I waved to a rickshaw at the barricades of the railway station but it did not stop despite being empty. Two minutes later a person approached me saying he was the rickshaw driver I signalled. He had stopped the rickshaw about 30 yards away in a wrong direction. When I boarded the vehicle the driver informed me that policemen charged Rs20 per rickshaw.

So much for the good governance.

Javed,

Karachi.

India’s challenge

During his recent Indian visit, the Pakistani foreign secretary wisely took the opportunity to warn India that “New war doctrines, a tremendous boost to defence spending and the induction of new sophisticated weapons systems, are prejudicial to regional security and stability.” However, the world also needs to realise that Indian defence policy and mammoth military spending, do not add up to peaceful objectives and betray the ambitions of a regional hegemon, which is determined to waste the wealth of its poor majority not on their welfare but towards browbeating its smaller neighbours. Meanwhile, New Delhi is also forging close strategic ties with Washington and Riyadh, two of Islamabad’s vital allies, apparently at Pakistan’s expense.

It seems that in the absence of a clear threat or provocation from any neighbouring state, Indian coercive diplomatic posturing, aggressive doctrinal orientation and large scale conventional and strategic military muscle flexing will force Pakistan to depart from its policy of ‘minimum credible deterrence’ towards developing a robust second strike capability, in the form of an elaborate triad of nuclear delivery systems, to foreclose all Indian conventional and strategic options. Moreover, Islamabad should use the forums of UN and SCO to consolidate its diplomatic position over Afghanistan. Pakistan desires a peaceful neighbourhood but if India understands only the language of power politics, then so be it. In the interest of regional peace and security, Pakistan must and will make it understand just that.

Syed Muhammad Ali,

On email.

8-3-2010

Baizai irrigation channel

The NWFP chief minister, Mr. Amir Haider Khan Hoti performed ground-breaking ceremony of the mega project of Baizai Irrigation Channel costing Rs1800 million to irrigate 25,000 acres of Barani land of Mardan and Malakand districts on March 5, at Ghundo near Katlang, Mardan.

It will be recalled that East Baizai area of Mardan comprising Kohi Bermol, Pipal, Ghazi Baba, Mian Khan, Sangahoo, Babuzai, Shamozai and Matta villages lack irrigation water facilities and are totally dependant on rain for agriculture. These villages comprise about 21,000 acres of barren land which were included in Malakand III Project. Baizai Irrigation Channel is proposed to irrigate lands of these villages.

It is pertinent to mention here that underground water table has dropped down to an alarming level. Besides, there is also an acute shortage of drinking water in the area.

The completion of this vital project would help in reclaiming thousands acres of barren land in Mardan District and Malakand Agency which would be a significant step towards self-sufficiency in agriculture sector. It is also hoped that it will bring green revolution in the area and will play an active role in the country’s economy.

The people of East Baizai area of District Mardan are highly grateful to Mr. Amir Haider Khan Hoti for giving a practical shape to the long-standing demand of the people of the area, besides announcing the following projects of vital importance for the area:

Establishment of Tehsil at Katlang;

Mega project of the construction of Expressway connecting Swabi, Mardan and Malakand;

Establishment of girls college at Katlang;

Speeding-up construction of Mardan- Buner road via Katlang.

Muhammad Adil Khan,

Mardan.

Mullen’s recipe

As reported in the press (March 7), in an address to the US Army Command and General Staff College, in the US, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Adm. Mike Mullen said that in the fight against religious extremists, the use of military force should be the first and not the last option. He, however, added that the use of military force should not be the only tool. He said that America has been at war continuously over the last nine years against a syndicate of Muslim extremists, led by al-Qaeda and supported by a host of both state and non-state actors and believes that the Pak-Afghan border area will play a key role in the larger war against terrorism. He also conceded that America’s foreign policy was still too dominated by the military.

Mullen’s definitive opinion of the use of force as the first option is not surprising coming from a man who has learnt and done nothing except firing guns, killing people and waging wars which, in his case, were not against formidable adversaries but against weaklings and irregulars who were no match for the US might. Obviously, to shine in his chosen career and to keep gainfully employed, he has to ‘invent’ new wars where there is none available. The earlier US invasion of Afghanistan was to avenge the 9/11 which itself was a retribution for the US mistreatment of Arabs and undue patronage of Israel. The criminal and brutal US invasion of Iraq was unjust and totally unnecessary which introduced and established al-Qaeda in Iraq where it had no presence. Therefore, by its own unjust acts, the US intentionally creates hostile environment in different regions for the benefit of its armament industry and businesses like Blackwater and other lobbies and this way, it returns them the favours received earlier by Americans state officials by way of campaign contributions etc.

The US soldiers are just a curse on earth and they cause widespread destruction and loss of human lives wherever they go. They messed up Iraq thoroughly and these vultures have now descended on our region. With this in mind, it is very worrying to hear from the mercenary that Pak-Afghan border will play a key role in the larger war against terrorism. It is unfortunate that the US foreign policy is dominated by the military, and the war-mongering soldiers hold the US government hostage and for this unfortunate situation, Muslims have to pay dearly.

S.R. HASHMI,

Karachi.

Interpolation in land records

The maintaining properties record accurately is the most important prerequisite for peaceful and prosperous existence of any society and the one relevant to agricultural land occupies even more significance.

Unfortunately two years ago, at the time of Benazir Bhutto’s assassination almost all government establishments including taluka revenue offices where records of agricultural properties are kept were set on fire. Thereafter taking advantage of confusion lot of tempering is being done in records which are available in different offices by the unscrupulous officials for earning few bucks. So much so the even deh and taluka maps have not been spared.

As a result of tempering records and deh maps innumerable disputes have cropped up in the rural areas which forced the parties to either go in protracted litigation or settling quarrels through use of arms.

I therefore request the revenue authorities to intervene and ensure that old deh maps and taluka maps pertaining especially to recently divided districts such as Dadu etc are kept secured from the hands violators of legal proprietorship.

Ali Ahmed Qureshi,

Dadu.

6-3-2010

Misuse use of govt schools

I am stunned to learn that the “Bachat Bazaars” are now even organised in the precincts of government school buildings. This is not case of some remote area of province, but it is happening right in the middle of metropolis; its capital and under the very nose of ministry of education.

As per details reported in a local daily Sunday bazaar is being held regularly in a government school building Jamshed Quarters in which on different timings of the day primary and secondary schools of both genders are functioning.

Running bachat bazaar is not an insignificant activity. It requires three uninterrupted days; one day before the bazaar when shops are established and material is brought from remote places and stored, and third day when entire setup can be wound up as bazaar functions late in the night.

Thus for three consecutive days not only school buildings are misused by bazaar shopkeepers and customers who visit the place in thousands, causing serious damage to public property, but education of hundreds of students enrolled in these schools suffer irreparably.

The idea of establishing educational institutions is to impart education to our children. However the most unfortunate fact is that those running the affairs have transformed these institutions into money-making instruments.

I make an appeal to the chief minister and minster of education Sindh to look into the affairs and ensure that no further misuse of school building is allowed and also take appropriate action against those education department officials who have allowed precincts of a school to be as Sunday bazaar.

Shafqat Qazi,

Hyderabad.

 Talks with India

As reported in The Statesman (March 2), while addressing the Majlis-al-Shura (Saudi Consultative Council) in Riyadh, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said “We seek cooperative relations with Pakistan. Our objective is a permanent peace because we recognise that we are bound together by a shared future. If there is cooperation between India and Pakistan, vast opportunities will open up for trade, travel and development that will create prosperity in both countries and in South Asia as a whole. But to realise this vision Pakistan must act decisively against terrorism. If Pakistan cooperates with India, there is no problem that we cannot solve and we can walk the extra mile to open a new chapter in relations between our two countries.”

While it is indeed true that cooperation will be to the advantage of both countries, Manmohan Singh’s harping on the tune of terrorism has gone on far too long and ought to stop now. His effort to paint himself and his country as angels and Pakistan nothing but a devil, makes his offer more like a point-scoring exercise than an honest and genuine desire for peace. He does not even have to go an extra-mile. It would be good enough if he just stayed in position instead of backtracking, which his government does all the time. It was India that discontinued the peace process and even now, restricted the present round to no more than a photo-session rather than a meaningful dialogue.

The Mumbai attack was no doubt a tragedy that did not have to happen. It was a detestable act perpetrated by extremists of which there is no dearth on either side of the border. An operation like Mumbai could not have been carried out with local help and even Indian leaders are admitting that fact now. Pakistani courts are dealing with the case which will take its course and cannot just hang them all merely because India wants that. Also, while India is mourning few hundred dead, it is totally unmindful of thousands of innocent people in Indian-held Kashmiris who lost their lives, honour, home and hearth due to Indian state repression. How can India hope to have peace and tranquility while it is itself committing worst form of atrocities which have given rise to the creation of numerous freedom fighter groups within India whom India prefers to call terrorists, to hide its own crimes there. While Pakistani forces are fighting extremism valiantly and have suffered thousands of casualties, what has India done, except to kill the innocents and to protect its murderers through state legislature which has enacted black laws to enable its law-enforcement agencies to get away with murder.

As for extremists and trouble-makers, India had enough on state and private levels. We all know that it was a Hindu extremist and fanatic who assassinated Mahatama Gandhi. How much India respects the rights and feelings of its nationals was demonstrated quite clearly by Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi’s assault on Sikh holy shrines which infuriated her Sikh bodyguard so much that he just shot her dead. I remember seeing on television her son, Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi stagger on being hit by a Sri Lankan soldier who formed part of a contingent that was offering him ‘guard-of-honour’. Obviously, the Sri Lankan soldier did not like Indian meddling in Sri Lankan affairs that ultimately cost him his life. India also physically attacked former East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), which it had no business doing. Even now, from Afghanistan, it is helping insurgency in our Balochistan province. Also, despite court orders, centuries-old Babri Mosque in India was demolished by Hindu fanatics and extremists, with not even the minutest of efforts by Indian authorities to save it or to bring the culprits to justice. Every now and then, there are attacks on Muslims in India, sometimes with the connivance of state officials, as was the case in Gujarat, but he culprits get off scot-free.

A state, which has so much blood on its hands and refuses to give the right of self-determination to majority Muslims in the Indian-held Kashmir, for which it gave a firm commitment to the United Nations, can hardly claim ‘innocence’, and be justified in pointing fingers at Pakistan, which it does basically to hide its own crimes.

Recently the Indian army chief boasted that India can sort out both Pakistan and China, and that is more like the true Indian design. India’s huge increase in its arms procurement and its buildup as a major power in the region, can hardly be for peaceful purposes. Pakistan is striving to maintain a minimum deterrent, for defensive purposes only and there is no way it can, or will, attack India. China is the only match for India with which it fought a brief war, in which India suffered humiliating defeat. If China wanted, it could have occupied Indian territory but it did not, which shows that China has no territorial ambitions and no offensive designs towards India. India’s huge expansion in all sorts of defensive and offensive armament and setting up of bases near Chinese and Pakistani borders, can only be a cause for concern among its neighbours, large and small.

I think the recent Indian move to hold junior-level talks with Pakistan was nothing more than an exercise in diplomacy and an insignificant move on which no one should build high hopes. It should also not be seen as a great success of our foreign policy which forced Indians to come to the conference table because it produced no results; neither did it turn out to be a gateway to meaningful future talks.

S.R.H. Hashmi,

Karachi.

US dependent on China’s largesse

Unlike Rome and Britain, that faced catastrophic military crisis before collapsing economically, the United States is dwarfed economically by China’s industrial might. By the middle of 2007, China achieved several historical milestones: it displaced Canada as the biggest exporter of goods to America; it displaced America as Japan’s biggest trading partner; it displaced Japan as Australia’s biggest trading partner and it displaced America as the European Union’s biggest trading partner. All this happened at a time when the United States has been facing a financial meltdown and massive budget and trade deficits.

Although the United States runs trade deficits with all major economies, its trade deficits vis-à-vis China are massive. By the end of 2007, China exported a staggering $321 billion worth of goods to the United States while America exported a paltry $65 billion worth of good to China, leaving a massive $256 billion trade surplus in China’s favour. In fact, China is now bankrolling the US budget deficits. As former US Vice President Al Gore said during the 2008 Democratic Convention at Denver: ‘We need to borrow from China in order to buy oil from Saudi Arabia. In fact, America must borrow from China in order to buy manufactured goods from China.

Another casualty of financial meltdown in the wake of sub-prime mortgage crisis if the collapse of American consumer confidence. With most Americans facing a mountain of debts after indulging in unaffordable mortgage, they can no longer act as an engine of growth and collapse of consumer confidence has become the biggest obstacle to any economic recovery.

As opposed to anaemic growth of the American economy, the Chinese economy has resumed its stellar growth after a brief slowdown. In fact, the Chinese economy has replaced America as the engine of growth for the world. The quick jaunt from deep recession by Germany and France can be attributed, in good part, to fairly strong demand in China. French exports to China rose by 14.2 percent in the second quarter of 2009. By all accounts, China is providing a shot in the arm for the struggling world economy. The driving force behind the rapid recovery has been the Chinese government’s stimulus package worth 4 trillion Yuan (about $600 billion).

With heavily dependent on the Chinese largesse, the United States is now reduced to the role of the only military power capable of projecting power. Undoubtedly, the military remains the United States’ strongest card; in fact, it is the only card. Today, the United States wields the most formidable military apparatus. But how long a military power, suffering from seemingly insurmountable economic problems, can hold to its unique status as the world’s only superpower?

Mahmood Elahi,

Canada.

4-3-2010

Rapid reaction force

The Statesman reported on March 2 that the US Congress has been requested to allocate $22.9 million to form a Quick Reaction Force, comprising specially trained Pakistani personnel, who would be deployed at the US Embassy in Islamabad and its Consulate in Karachi. The US will deploy 25 additional special protective specialists and four diplomatic security agents at its missions in Pakistan. To complement this, the Obama administration has also sent to the lawmakers a plan for $50 million “Comprehensive Communications Strategy”, to sort of counter extremist views (I suppose anti-Americanism) and create America-friendly environment here for which purpose a “Rapid Response Team” will be set up.

The Quick Reaction Force will primarily be responsible for providing a tactical and medical emergency response capability at the compounds but in addition, could also be called upon to provide support to high-level visits or attend to security incidents affecting US personnel outside the compounds.

The last bit i.e. providing services outside the compounds could be most undesirable because this could undermine our own law-enforcement agencies. Worse still, and as is most likely, these would be vastly expanded and the personnel used to carry out subversive activities within the country. We know in Iraq the police had once arrested a team of British special services group personnel red-handed and locked them up in a police station but the British Army raided the premises and got them freed. Coming to our region with the useful experience gained in Iraq, this US-British nexus could wreak havoc in our cities.

In our country, unfortunately there are divisions on sectarian and ethnic grounds, which could easily be exploited by these skilful operators who could start riots here. For example, by blasting a Sunni mosque and later targeting a Shia Imambargah, they could start Shia-Sunni riots in Pakistan and could use the ethnic divide in Karachi, using it the same way. We saw at the time of Ashura blasts in Karachi that due to shortage of equipment, staff, or whatever, our law enforcement agencies do not have adequate capacity to deal with such emergencies. The killing and riots in Faisalabad also present another disturbing picture. The tribal areas are in a state of turmoil and the situation in Balochistan is very grave indeed. In these circumstances, giving a free hand to Americans and their likes would be suicidal.

Recent statement from the American embassy that the US wants hassle-free visas for Americans and wants no interference from our law-enforcement agencies in their work, is perhaps meant to clear the way for the covert action and ‘irregular wars’ about which Robert Gates gave a presentation towards the end of Bush rule.

Iraq should be an eye-opener for us. We have seen that despite the sacrifices made our forces and the spectacular success achieved by them, American leaders still express doubts about their commitment and intentions. Lately, they have also been saying that Pakistan has become more important for them than Afghanistan. Obviously, Afghanistan was only means to an end and their real target is nuclear-armed Pakistan which they are trying their best to destabilise and dismember, preferably on a low budget. If Obama can do that, he would guarantee a second term for himself in the White House.

Due to the ongoing operations, Pakistan is facing serious financial problems and needs urgent help but at this critical juncture, the US has chosen to hold back Coalition Support Funds which have now piled up to a figure of around $2 billion. Amounts pledged under the Friends of Democratic Pakistan Forum have also remained unpaid. This can only mean that the US and other Western leaders want the situation in Pakistan to deteriorate as much as possible because that would make their disruptive and subversive activities much easier.

Enough is enough and it is surely time to take bold steps. For a start, the useless ‘dignitaries’ from US and elsewhere who descend on Islamabad alone, in small groups or by plane-loads, almost on weekly basis, should be discouraged because they have been unable, unwilling or both, to help in alleviating Pakistan’s problems and come here only to open their big mouths and make unreasonable demands, and on occasions, throw in derogatory remarks as a bonus. While claiming to be our friends, they are anything but that and are in fact our worst enemies. There is absolutely no reason why we have to suffer their company on a regular basis.

Secondly, the government has to put its foot down and stop American attempts to create state within a state in order to wage ‘irregular wars’ from within while also pushing saboteurs from across the border. As it is, the masses have enough problems and cannot really take any more.

I hope the message gets across.

S.R.H. Hashmi,

Karachi.

Request to VC of AIOU

Through your paper I would like to request the Vice Chancellor (VC) and Head of Department of Mass Communication, Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU), to review the eligibility criterion for the admission to MSc Mass Communication. Subject of Journalism in Bachelor is a prerequisite for admission to Master’s. There are thousands of candidates who do not have the Journalism as a subject in Bachelor but they have the Master’s degree in different subjects and experience of years and years in the field of media. Due to this condition they are unable to take admission to MSc Mass Communication in spite of Master’s degree and experience in the relevant field.

Furthermore, it is a hard fact that many students who apply for this course are doing job somewhere in the media organisations all over the country. Due to lack of time they prefer AIOU for improving their qualification. But due to this condition they are unable to meet the condition. So this matter should be reviewed.

Zahid Rashid,

On email.

Civilians death in Helmand offensive

As the US-led joint military operation “Moshtarak” takes a horrible turn and the blood of innocent civilians continues to be shed incessantly in the town of Marjhah, situated in Helmand province of Afghanistan, many questions arise regarding the eventual fate of the already devastated Afghanistan.

General Stanley McChrystal seems very confident and optimistic about the operation ‘Moshtarak’ that focuses on maximum protection of civilians and growth of Afghan governance. The US has assumed this operation in accordance with the wishes of Afghan people but whether they will succeed in overtaking Helmand—the strong-hold of Taliban and will they be able to protect civilians alongside? The answer seems a clear no.

The civilian death toll continues to rise. President Karzai is filled with consternation about that. His appeal for the halt in air strikes by the US forces has been rejected by Washington. His appeal came out when a recent air strike killed as many as 130 civilians. Given the US incapability of fighting on ground, it is heavily relying on air strikes. If the air strikes continue in the same manner then the civilian deaths are inevitable. Their death graph will continue to rise. This is in utter violation of Geneva Convention that forcibly asks for the protection of civilians from all sorts of raids in case of war. I fail to understand why no such laws are binding upon Super Powers?

The US and NATO forces are facing extreme difficulty in carrying out ground fighting given the tough ground realities, complicated topology and limited capability of US troops in coping with such adversaries. The Taliban favor classic guerrilla-style hit-and-run attacks which put them at an edge over the US led forces. For this reason, they have been inflicting heavy causalities upon the US and NATO forces. This has rightly perturbed General Petraeus since the recent start of Marjah operation. Taliban have time and war tactic that has made them formidable. Once again Helmand province is proving a hard target for the US led forces. They have admitted of ‘determined resistance’ from the Taliban.

The consequences will be severe if US intends to march further towards Qandahar—another stronghold of Taliban. Many expect that US will march onward. If this is the case, then it will unleash more violence and civilian deaths. Asia Times Online quoted Taliban spokesman Qari Yousuf Ahmedi stating that a faction of the Taliban known as the Khalid bin Waleed group have entered Qandahar to carry out suicide attacks on strategic positions in the city.

Given the Afghanistan's strategic location, great rival powers have tended to view the control of Afghanistan by a major opponent as unacceptable. The truth is that US has failed to absorb the fateful events of history. The Russians tried their best to establish their rule in this area but failed to do so. If viewed from the lens of history, the British attempts in the early nineteenth century that aimed at dominating our tribal area failed desperately despite several reinforcements and heavy artillery. The US is not reading the writing on the wall. There are loud voices from within US that ‘War on Terror’ is simply lost war. A victory from Afghanistan is undoubtedly impossible for Uncle Sam.

Badar ul Islam,

On email.

3-3-2010

Shutterdown in Chitral

Through the courtesy of your esteemed paper, I would like to invite the attention of higher authorities towards the shutterdown in Chitral town for the last four days to press for public demand to provide electricity to the 8000 consumers of PESCO in the town. This is highly deplorable that during the last four days higher authorities and public representatives have paid no attention to the shutterdown. Trade union and drivers’ union have joined hand against the power cut.

It is pertinent to note that the problem of power breakdown is 10 years old. It was during the district government of Maghfirat Shah that the problem to the peak and the nazim did nothing for the town of 70,000 population. In July 2008, the incumbent MNA Shahzada Mohiuddin had promised to the people at Chew bridge to solve the problem of power breakdown in Chitral within two months, but he did not solve the problem after the lapse of two years. Provincial Minister Salim Khan did nothing despite his promises and posters. This is wrong to say that the problem was created by snowfall. As a matter of fact, the problem was there even before the snowfall. This problem is not linked with national grid. Chitral town has its own hydel power-house and four diesel power generators. The power breakdown is not because of power shortage, it is just because of mismanagement. Therefore 70,000 population of the town is supporting the shutterdown. The only way to call of the shutterdown is rehabilitation of old machinery in the power-house and providing diesel for running the generators. Had there been a will, this problem would have been solved two years back.

Bashir Hussain Azad,

Chitral.

Suicide attack in Karak

The suicide attack on a police station in Karak, the first ever in the district history, is not a good omen It is feared that from now onward Karak - the most peaceful area of Pashtunkhwa so far - may also be a target of terrorists. This is naturally a matter of great concern for the people of district Karak, most of whom are well educated and are moderate in their outlook.

District Karak is known as the land of soldiers as, many thousands of its people are serving all over the country, in armed forces or in FC and police while numerous of them have sacrificed their lives for the sake of the country in the ongoing war against terrorism.

It is fairly supposed that the suicidal attack in Karak will be taken seriously by the government and all possible arrangements will be made so that no such incident is repeated in the district.

A J Khattak,

Peshawar.

Reformation

The ill-timed military show in which India has boasted its airforce capabilities by blatantly demonstrating war exercises during which mock enemy hideouts were hit and targeted with rockets and bombs engulfing the entire desert of Pokhran in a huge dust nebula. This mighty display of air power signifies India’s deep-rooted need to establish supremacy over Pakistan and reveals its true war-centred psyche. The hope that people of both the countries were harbouring of the re-emergence of a friendly atmosphere between the rival countries was shattered.

Pakistan, at this point, needs to wake up to the realisation that no foreign force can be relied upon for improving the current state of chaos that has swallowed the country. Neither India nor the international community is interested in Pakistan’s stability. Therefore, reformation has to start from within the nation when measures will be taken to educate the people of Pakistan and thrusting upon them on basis of merit and talent the responsibility of safeguarding and propelling frontwards all national affairs. Investments have to be made in the human resource sector that would ensure tangible result in every sector instead of statistical figures that are no more than apparitions that haunt the nation and hinders its ascend.

Lubna Umar,

Islamabad.

2-3-2010

Hassle-free visas for Americans

The report about visas for Americans appearing in newspapers of February 27 makes a sad reading indeed. After showing a bit of courage initially and resisting the excessive and unreasonable demands from the US, our officials seem to have fallen back into the familiar pattern of abject surrender. Most of the requested visas have already been issued and the remaining ones, relating mostly to Office of Defence Representative for Pakistan, are being processed. Against this surrender, Pakistan received $349 million out of the total coalition support fund and arrears which stood at $2.6 billion.

Mind you, this is not a grant or aid but is reimbursement of the expenses which have already been incurred by Pakistan in support of war on terror. Knowing full well that by applying pressure, they can get anything out of our seemingly spineless officials, Americans are reported to have set the bar even higher for payment of the balance of Coalition Support Funds. Perhaps the Americans have realised that the trick is not to pay but just to keep dangling dollars before our eyes and that way, they can get almost anything out of us.

Obviously, Americans are pleased which is demonstrated also by the arrogant statement made by US Ambassador Anne Patterson who said “We look forward to creation of a visa mechanism that will enable US officials to do their jobs without interference.” She went on to say “Prime Minister Gilani’s offer to work with the United States to establish a transparent process on visas that will enable us to undertake full range of activities….is a positive development.”

The Americans also complain that some are given single-entry visa for a month whereas others get multiple-entry visas for a year. Obviously, due to the sensitivity of the issue, government is justified in issuing visas according to requirements and if some one is coming here only once for a special purpose, there is no point in giving him multiple-visit visas but the Americans do not like this and they want him to have unlimited right of entry. They also object to snap-checking by our officials of US personnel found travelling in sensitive locations in dubious circumstances and detest ‘interference’ by our law-enforcement agencies.

Even the irregulars in Iraq gave tough time to Americans and their accomplices and Afghans are resisting occupation as much as they can but we, a nuclear country, with large, formidable armed forces, and being indispensable in the war on terror, are giving the Americans a walk-over, and going out of our way to help invaders in our own undoing.

Due to opposition at home, Americans and their accomplices cannot fight a long-drawn-out war in our region but they would love to dismember us through covert action and irregular wars that Robert Gates talked about towards the end of the Bush rule, and for which we seem to be providing the American all the facilities.

There is not much time; so wake up, enter into a military pact with China and stop these crusaders in their tracks. With help from China, Iran and other Muslim countries, we can also solve our energy and economic problems and be sure that we are with friends, and not with the pack of wolves in sheep’s clothing that we mistakenly take as friends and seem to be proud to associate with.

While all this is going on, members in a provincial assembly, and now even in the National Assembly, are busy having heated discussions about how many wives a member could, or should, have. This is really the limit. The oft-repeated statement that the government will complete five years is beginning to sound like a threat now.

S.R.H. Hashmi,

Karachi.

Sherani shorn of basic amenities

Sherani in Balochistan is shorn of all basic amenities of life. Sherani comprises of seven union councils and covers about 5000 sq kilometres of area but presents a look of a ruined place.

People come from Sherani to Zhob civil hospital for treatment. Because there are no health facilities. More than 10 children died of measles within one month. Two children died in Killi Pasta Sherani area due to measles on 24 February. But health department has failed to overcome this fatal disease. EDO health Dr. Fazal Din Sherani does not even accept this death toll of children due to measles.

Although Secretary Health Balochistan Jalal Mandokhail allocated Rs1 million to health department for the prevention of measles, unfortunately, no action was taken in this regard.

During polio campaign teams do not reach their targeted areas. They merely get their TA and DA. There is no checks on them.

Several mothers and newborns die every month due to causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. Because there is no gynecologist in the entire area.

People of the area demand of the provincial government to take practical steps vis-à-vis deputing doctors, fluent supply of medicines and provision of clinical equipment.

Rafiullah Mandokhail,

Zhob.

1-3-2010

Britain’s belated apology

As reported in the press (Feb.25) British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, apologised to about 40 people who had flown to London to receive the ‘unconditional and deserved’ apology. They were survivors of a total of about 150,00 children between the ages of 3 and 14, some in institutions in Britain, who were sent to Australia, Canada and other former colonies, between 1920 and 1960, with the promise of a ‘new start’. To add another twist, very many of the children in British institutions were told that their parents were dead, while parents were given little information about where their children were going. Unfortunately, for most of the children, the new start meant ending up in foster homes, orphanages and religious institutions where they were abused physically and sexually.

Gordon Brown, with perhaps an eye on the forthcoming election, made quite a speech, throwing in passionate words here and there, like robbing them of their childhood, and consequences of rejection. A six million pound fund has also been established for the former child migrants.

Reading the above, one would think that Brown really felt ashamed over these atrocities but that would be a misplaced impression because if he really cared about human suffering, he would not have participated in the atrocities committed on Iraqis where, as Tony Blair’s Finance man, he organised funds for the invasion. Tony Blair says he has no regret over Iraq and the same seems to be the case with Brown because if he had even a speck of conscience about him, he would not have been so enthusiastic about Afghan invasion for which he announced more troops even before Barack Obama did so. A few million innocent Iraqis lost their life, limb, home and hearth, hundreds of thousands of children made orphans, and women made widows, out of sheer callousness by Tony Blair as an active partner of George Bush, and for no just reason. Yet these gentlemen Blair and Brown, have no regrets, not even a word of sympathy for millions who suffered, and are still suffering, in Iraq. I give credit to British public who at least chased Blair out of office. I hope the present inquiry leads to criminal prosecution of Tony Blair and his accomplices.

S.R.H. Hashmi,

Karachi.

Pollutors of water

Recently Sindh Government has forced the Provincial Environment Protection Agency (PEPA) to withdraw proceedings it had initiated against 100 industrial polluters.

Fact is that during the last sixty years’ bad governance most of the people who have achieved prominence in any field, unfortunately, are those whose major concern revolves around their selfish and vested interests. The people who empathise and feel some pain for the good of country are either sidelined are shunted out in the process.

The discharge of untreated industrial waste in the river, canals and ocean has destroyed the ecology and has also caused many deadly diseases, now spreading fast in the country. The industrial entrepreneurs who are party to this heinous crime are therefore not only liable to action under environmental laws but they need to be prosecuted under the Pakistan Penal Code for destroying the health of people.

The withdrawal of proceedings against 100 industrial units located in and around Karachi initiated by SEPA for polluting the water course and sea, discharging industrial waste and affluences is therefore most reprehensible act.

Those who have been voted to reach the assemblies are obligated to look after the interests of public at large on not the interest of privileged few, the desecrators of our natural resources.

The provincial government is therefore requested that instated of siding with these white collar criminals in their unlawful and unethical activities should strengthen the SEPA so that environmental degradation can be stemmed.

I also propose that provincial Environmental Protection Agencies and their federal counterpart should be run by environmental experts of integrity, who are undeterred by political pressure. Although in present political setup it is like asking for the moon but there is no short cut to it.

Qazi Saleem,

Old Hala.

Suggestions to pacify FATA

Our men and material are being sacrificed for the American war of aggression, turned skillfully into an internal terrorism for us. Our clever and treacherous ‘friend’ (real enemy) does not remain contented with the ongoing miseries and problems it created for us in the shape of Talibanisation and terrorism. She is going with her drone attacks unabatedly killing scores of our innocent tribesmen on the pretext of chasing al-Qaeda and Taliban. The Americans are trying to befool the world with such childish preumtions. American drones have so far killed a total of 2040 tribal Pakistanis out of which only 15 were said to have links with al-Qaeda, according to Hameed Gul and Mushahid Hussain Sayyed.

We must understand that mere slogans or military action cannot prove to be a remedy to the worsening situation and peace cannot be reestablished through these means. Let us think of some useful remedial proposals and think over them seriously for implementation in our own national interest. Here I offer a few suggestions which are very simple and easy in implementation but very much vital to our purpose.

1) FATA should be given the status of a separate province so that it can live like an independent entity like the other federating units. Alternately it should be merged with the province of the NWFP.

2) The cruel law of the FCR should be replaced with the promulgation of Sharia law with all required infrastructure in place. The people have already a sincere inclination and desire for the said change and they will be definitely happy with the Sharia law.

3) The rehabilitation and reconstruction work should be immediately started with the assistance of the Pak Army and the Frontier Constabulary so that the destroyed infrastructure is reestablished at the earliest. This is important for the economic activity as well as for the restoration of the public confidence in the statecraft.

4) All the religious seminaries should be registered and they should be given the status of public schools. The students, both male and female, should be given generous facilities and free education and training opportunities.

5) For the maintenance of law and order in this area, the services of the local retired army personnel and FC be utilised and no deployment of the army from the outside should be done here for the said purpose.

6) To effectively control any interference of the alien elements, special courses and trainings should be arranged for the local government officers for capacity building in that particular field.

7) Those elements responsible for the deterioration of the peaceful environment of the area should be exposed and such anti-state elements should be dealt with an iron hands indiscriminately.

8) The United Nations and the friendly Islamic countries should be approached for assistance for the rebuilding of the area and work should be initiated without delay.

9) Cultivation of opium poppy should be seriously discouraged and the drug traffickers should be checked and the routes used for smuggling of drugs should be vigorously monitored. The farmers of the area should be given free inputs in the shape of improved seed and fertilizer and plant protection equipment and chemicals. They should also be given interest-free loans to be returned on easy instalments. This arrangement will provide the locals with alternative means of livelihood in lieu of the abandoning of poppy cultivation.

10) All the unregistered and non-customs-paid vehicles in these and adjacent districts particularly those of the Malakand Division, be regularised so that the locals can use these vehicles for means of transport in the whole of the country.

Muhammad Fheem,

Timergara.

27-2-2010

India unsafe for sports events

The 19th edition of Commonwealth Games is scheduled to be held in New Delhi, India between 3 October and 14 October. The games will be the largest multi-sport event conducted to date in New Delhi and India generally, which has previously hosted the Asian Games in 1951 and 1982. But this is 2010, an era of terrorism in which terrorists find such a huge event as the biggest opportunity to create terror. Like Pakistan has TTP, India also has terrorist outfits like Shiv Sena, RSS etc. They can try to disrupt the event as they have already threatened IPL organisers not to take Pakistani cricketers.

Rajasthan co-owner Shalpa Shetty has revealed that threats were made against her team and any subsequent Pakistan cricketer picked by her franchise. Preity Zinta, co-owner of Kings XI Punjab, reportedly said. "We would have loved to have the T20 world champions in our teams to bring real joy to the extravaganza but what can we do if we have certain threats about not [only] our own safety but the safety of the Pakistani players too, with no official quarter assuring us of foolproof security of players during the tournament?"

This must be remembered that after Mumbai attacks, Pakistani artists were threatened by Hindu extremists and Shev Sena leader Bal Thakery, who said that they would not allow Pakistani artistes to perform on Indian soil. Would they allow Pakistani players to perform in the Hockey World Cup 2010 which is going to be held in India? Although Delhi police announced it will deploy 17,000 security forces for the event, yet major hockey playing nations are still concerned. There are reports that Australia and New Zealand are reconsidering participation.

The Asia Times Online website published a message reportedly from guerrilla commander Ilyas Kashmiri, whose Kashmir-based 313 Brigade is an operational arm of al-Qaeda. The message warns of potential attacks on the Hockey World Cup, the Indian Premier League cricket tournament and the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

In such uncertain circumstances, would it be appropriate for India to host such mega event as Commonwealth games and Hockey World Cup? And would players take the risk to go to India?

Shehla Zafar,

Rawalpindi.

Sachin, the history maker

Now that Sachin Tendulkar has created history by firing the first double century in one-day internationals, Sachin is a blazing star studded on the sky of Cricket Empire. The 36-year-old star was in indomitable form as he bludgeoned 25 fours and 3 sixes in a stunning 200 off 147 balls. I can't conceive! Sachin has passed the previous best of 194, set by two other glowing stars: Saeed Anwar in 1997 and Charles Coventry last year.

Tendulkar, whose previous best one-day knock was the 186 not out he scored against New Zealand in 1999, is already the leading run-scorer in Test and ODI crickets. The greatest batsman in the world today, Sachin has the cricketing world at his feet. The adoration he commands the world over is unsurpassed, perhaps since the days of Don Bradman. He is perhaps the most complete batsman since Vivian Richards.

Masood Alam Khan,

On email.

Messing up with China

China is emerging and the US is in relative decline. But whether China will be the global power of the future remains to be seen. Remember what we said about Japan 20 years ago and see what is happening now with Toyota. I think the US is playing a silly game by challenging China which in the end could cost them dearly. Dialogue instead of bullying is the weapon of the future and Europe knows this best and that's why in the end the EU will prevail.

UMAR MUSTAFA,

Peshawar.

25-2-2010

US Consulate in City

According to a statement issued by the United States embassy (Feb 24) the Consulate in Peshawar has been upgraded to Consulate General status.

The upgradation supposedly ‘demonstrates’ the growing ‘cooperation’ and people-to-people relations between the United States and Pakistan and has ostensibly come about to administer and monitor the five-year, $150 million-a-year Fata development aid, nearly half of which could be used up as cost of disbursement. The consulate will also be responsible for planning and managing about $1 billion new assistance planned for NWFP, especially for Malakand division and Peshawar city.

Considering the recent blast, and the resultant casualties including Americans, near the Girls’ School renovated with American assistance, we cannot be sure how much actual improvement the aid will bring to the region but one thing is certain: it will enable the Americans to spread their wings and get firmly entrenched, to implement their nefarious agenda for the region. So, despite all resistance to allow more boots on the ground, the Americans have succeeded after all.

S.R.H. Hashmi,

Karachi.

Humiliation of the poor

According to the teachings of Islam the most significant aspect of charity is that while dispensing, self-respect of the needy is to be preserved. There are two forms of charity in Islam—obligatory and voluntary, called zakat and sadaqa respectively. Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam, It signifies “to thrive,” “to be wholesome,” “to be pure” means purification. Giving up of a portion of the wealth one may possess in excess of what is needed for sustenance, is to “purify” or legalise it so that the remainder may lawfully be used by the alms-giver.

The holy Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said that “one of the seven types of people who are given shade on the Day of Judgment are those who give charity so secretly that their left hand does not know what his right hand has given (nobody knows how much he has given in charity).” It is therefore desirable that charity should be given without any display as it will establish that intention of giver is solely for Allah’s pleasure and not self projection besides it will keep privacy of beneficiary unscathed.

However a picture of Chief Minister Sindh’s advisor on religious affairs appeared in a national daily whereby he was shown handing over cheques of Zakat to the deserving people at Nawabshah. Distributing Zakat in full glare of media reflects nothing but self-importance of the giver and mortification of recipients which is against the very sprit of charity.

The photo sessions on Zakat-giving occasion, as a result, create erroneous impression, as if it is being paid by the person distributing cheques; besides it demeans self-esteem of the deserving severely. The Zakat or charity is a religious duty, it is therefore desirable that the same should be distributed discreetly without publishing photographs of the giver and the needy recipients in the media.

Qazi Bashir,

Old Hala.

Excess of everything is extremism

If the excess of everything is extremism then softening is no exception. We were either denying their due rights or we gave the former East Pakistanis a free hand to elect a betrayer to betray. We are either begging Indians just for talks or we are out to fight against them without any preparation. We are either keeping our eyes shut towards the waves after waves entry of the aliens of assortment in our country or we are initiating extradition move against them like we are joking. We are either writing off in trillions to the robbers or we are out to put poor peasants behind bars for petty amounts. We are either attempting to balloon the rude DMG officers extremely or we punctured them with the crude nazims.

Can’t our state confine the hundreds of thousands illegal immigrants (viz the Afghans, Chechens, Uzbeks, Tajiks, Bhutanese, Burmese, Bengalese, Arabs, Iranians, Hindus, Nepalese, Indonesians, Africans and others of mixture) to camps for the time being if cannot throw them back to their native states?

Is our state weaker than the state of Oman, who trashed tens of thousands Pakistanis, who were in search of a living?

Can’t our state merge the terrible tribal areas and form the former as a fifth province of the country, so as to liberate the majority of the subject from the clutches of Masters?

Can’t our state abolish the blood-sucking feudalism, so as to liberate the souls of our cultivators from landlords?

Can’t our state multiply the unmanageable four mammoth provinces into twenty-two manageable provinces?

Can’t our state give deadline to the SHOs of the respective police stations to arrest all the proclaimed offenders, who are involved in all kinds of illegal activities by default?

Can’t our state declare outlawed the mushroom growth of outfits of the separatists, extremists, regionalists and sectarianists?

Can’t our state restore and reform the district management group for the purpose of administration and remove the makeshift local government system from the administration and entrust them with functions of local nature viz drainage, sewerage and repair works etc?

Can’t we act in time and weather we will always react simply at wrong times in wrong direction with wrong strategies?

Aftab Alam Advocate,

Swat.

We need a change and soon

Pakistan is going through a very critical stage right now. We are faced with terrorism, inflation, poor economy, and a very inept government with a poor vision of the situation. The US has produced a monster in our country with the help of our late General Zia and our friendly Muslim countries, which is still very much alive and kicking. Our forces are fighting gallantly, unfortunately on our soil with some of our misguided people, with some successes, but it is not over yet.

Neither our present government nor the incumbent elected representatives are capable of correcting this situation. The military is doing a good job of fighting the terrorists with a lot of sacrifices, but this alone is not going to solve the problem, therefore we have to do something to challenge this problem and solve it intelligently. We have to bring, a real change in this country.

I therefore appeal the civil society, media, judiciary, and those groups who are really patriotic, to form a committee, to search for 15 to 20 intellectuals in the country, who are retired and may be from any walk of life, with no self interest, honest, and have love for this country, to come to Islamabad, and elect a chairman, and form a think tank in the form of a supreme council, to sort out our problems, make a plan and solve them.

They should have the backing of the military, but no direct intervention. The judiciary should give them authority to implement the plan, honestly and diligently. They should have the power of 58-2-B. And make sure, that the parliament runs the country well and efficiently.

I have a few suggestions, but, it is up to them to implement. The supreme council should have the backing of the judiciary, civil society, and the nation as a whole, to put the country on the right path.

This think tank, should immediately form a universal education curriculum tailored to the requirements of Pakistani children, modern, scientific, may include religious knowledge or whatever may be necessary, but one syllabus for all and should be on par with the advanced world.

Education must be compulsory till grade ten or twelve for all children within the boundaries of this country, irrespective of FATA, PATA, Northern Areas, Azad Kashmir, and settled area. After that the student can go to any field that he or she likes. This is the right of every citizen as a basic human right.

The second important item is to control the population growth with effective means, no matter how they do it but it is a must, and we should see the results.

The third is to change the system of the government. From this old imperial, to a modern, lean, and efficient system that can deliver. There are a lot of examples in the world that we can choose from.

They may divide the country into smaller units that can be easily managed by a good and honest administrator, and possibly a modified local body system, elected on non-party basis. The elected people will be loyal to the people of that place rather than to the party. It is alright if the central government is on party basis.

They should have full powers to explore the potentials of that area, and develop so that they have no grievances later.

Fourthly, to suspend all the four provincial assemblies; in a small country like ours, we don't need five legislative assemblies, it is a waste of huge amount of money and duplication of services, and any logical, selfless, and patriotic person will agree with me. We are all Pakistani and that is enough.

Fifthly to put up a barbed wire fence along the Durand line and on the border with Iran with multiple exits so that the divided families can visit each other without any trouble, visa can be issued on the entry points, but there should be no one without proper documentation in either country. The political disputes can be sorted out later and fixed. But now this is a security issue, and we do not want our land to be used for subversive activities in the neighbouring countries and vice versa. Afghanistan should take care of itself. There should be no narcotic trade or other smuggling and no antisocial activities across the line. We want complete peace and harmony. No exploitation in the name of religion. We need economic development very badly, and it is not possible without peace. We should clear our land from the miscreants completely, whatever it may take, negotiations or force. We want peace.

We should aim for a time when an ordinary citizen enters a public office with a problem, that he or she is received with respect, and his or her problem is solved immediately without the hassle of agents and bribes, or if a stranger, ask someone for help in any corner of the country, that he or she is helped without being cheated or robbed. This is the least a common citizen would like to see, which is impossible under the present circumstances. This is our problem, which leads to a loss of basic human rights and trust in our country, it leads to unrest and corruption.

I am afraid, this may take twenty to twenty five years for us to achieve, and it is only possible, when the new generations of educated Pakistanis, that are grown in a clean and honest atmosphere like this, and take the power in their own hands. It is a lot of sacrifice but we have no choice, until then the think tank can run the government through the elected parliament.

Dr Habibullah Khan,

Swat.

24-2-2010

The Mingora tragedy

The Mingora Press Club ceremony in memory of slain journalist Musa Khankhel held by the Swat Press Club, PFUJ and KhUJ, was cut short as a curfew was imposed in the city. According to security sources, intelligence agencies had reported the entry of a suicide bomber into the city who was likely to target the huge congregation of journalists at the press club. So far there has been pretty little reason not to believe the agencies as all their previous accounts had proved accurate, and had our and nobody else’s benefit in mind when orders of curfew were issued.

As falsely represented, the army is not against the freedom of media, in fact it has always served as a driving force behind it and had enabled it to flourish so much that, in the words of Orwell, it has become ‘more equal than others’. Furthermore, it has been observed that the army seems to be cooperating fairly well with local journalists.

Maj. Mushtaq Khan, an army spokesman and head of the army media centre in Swat, told reporters that “we believe the media role in the post-Taliban Swat is very important to inform the masses about what the government is doing to restore peace. There are no restrictions on media now in Swat and we believe partnership with media is very important for the success of the operation.”

The media, government and the army have to preach altruism to create a harmony with each other and start to work in collaboration so that this feeling of mistrust should diminish and give rise to a united nation.

Umar Khankhel,

Mingora.

A limit to ‘do more’

There is a limit to everything and this principle should equally apply to the “do more” loquacity of the American envoys visiting Islamabad every now and then to keep their pressure continued for the war we have owned on America’s behalf. One is at a loss to understand whether they are our friends or masters. How much we have to go along with the faulty and gratuitous policies of America in this region? American war of aggression has now been rendered as ours, due to the follies of the past dictator and continuity of the same at the hands of the democratically elected rulers.

A few days back when Mr. James L. Jones and McChrystal were again reminding us for ‘do more’ we were mourning the Shahadat of our high ranking military officers, martyred at the hands of the insurgents in the tribal areas, where on both sides Pakistanis and Muslims are being killed for the so-called American war on terrorism. Mind that Holbrooke is our regular visitor since he commands the strategic authority for both Pakistan and Afghanistan. Americans have gone blind to the sacrifices of our military officers, jawans and innocent public for their war.

There should be a limit to our going through this dark and blind tunnel of blood and fire. This is the basic question to be pondered by those who matter at home. The root cause of the whole turmoil is the illegal presence and occupation of Afghanistan on the ruses of Osama hiding in those rugged mountains. If you could not dig out Osama through a full decade operation, spraying the soil of Afghanistan with the deadliest bombs and powder, what is the justification of your camping there, where you have been killing hundred of thousands of innocent people, who never harmed you? It is time for you to wind up and go home. Don’t make it a point of egoism. You have been clearly defeated in your war of aggression in Afghanistan by those Afghan fighters who are justifiably fighting their war against the aggressor to liberate their holy soil.

Many sensible Americans, political and otherwise have been reminding the American administration of the bewilderment of this war and it must be seen in the mirror of history lest the story of Vietnam is repeated. Leave this region, peace and tranquility will automatically just step in and prevail. Let us bet on it!

Muhammad Faheem,

Timergara.

Dying forests of Sindh

As per news appearing in a national daily the province of Sindh is being deprived of its already scant forests. It is reported that in order to capture large tracts of virgin land the influential people of the area have recently slaughtered entire trees existed on ninety thousand acres of government forest land in Hala and Saeedabad. The have not only developed roads for accessibility to the area but have installed tube-wells and brought electricity to irrigate the illegally taken lands.

Certainly such a devious design could not have been implemented without the connivance and collaboration of forest officials. Now the lands evacuated by the wily grabbers unlawfully are being put to cultivation. Some of the culprits have the temerity even to sale out same government lands to third parties.

The continued obliteration of forests has reduced the green cover substantially affecting the ecology of Sindh adversely. This ruthless act has also influenced the large number of local people for whom forests were bread and butter. They depended on woodland not for only grazing of their cattle herds but used to sale many forest-products in the market to earn livelihood.

Unfortunately Sindh has been stripped of this great natural resource and for this mindless act of butchery I hold every provincial government in power since 1947 responsible. These governments despite exhaustive reports about slaughter of trees appearing in the media from time to tome have kept discreet silence.

Now most of the forest lands are possessed by either by “big guns” sitting in the treasury benches of parliaments; national as well as provincial assemblies or those who have powerful feudal bureaucratic power on their back.

Before woodland is totally obliterated from the province the chief minister and provincial minster for Forest and livestock have to act decisively. Not only illegally occupied lands need to evacuated from the unscrupulous land grabbers and reforestation started forthwith but criminal proceedings should also be initiated against the officials of forest department with whose connivance Sindh have lost its green cover.

M. A. Qureshi,

Hyderabad.

Collaboration with Chinese

According to reports appearing in the press (Feb.23), as a followup of Punjab chief minister’s visit to China, a seven-member Chinese delegation is in Punjab, headed by Yan Li, who is also chairman of Chinese industrial group, Asia International Development Limited. The group is planning to build a state-of-the-art industrial city along with an industrial estate of 100,000 acres, with hospitals and other welfare facilities. The group is prepared to invest up to $50 billion over the next ten years, starting with an investment of five to seven billion dollars in the first year. All they want Punjab government to provide is a congenial atmosphere, which is only reasonable.

China is a country which has huge foreign exchange reserves amounting to over $1,400 billion and is constantly looking for, and does invest, in suitable projects all over the globe, including Pakistan.

Now if these parties can invest up to $50 billion in a provincial project, I am sure they would be willing to invest much more than that in federal or federally guaranteed projects. Our government should, therefore, seek investments from China instead of just looking up to the Americans or Europeans and getting back insults, rather than investments.

We had the famous “No more blank cheques” snub from President Obama, as if the US was actually giving us blank cheques. The fact is that even the arrears of Coalition Support Funds (which is basically a reimbursement of the expenses already incurred by us) have piled up to $2 billion, against which they have offered to pay just $349 million soon, with no indication as to when the rest will be cleared. As for amounts pledged under Friends of Democratic Pakistan forum, these still remain just ‘pledges’ with no sign of redemption.

Encouraged by our subservient attitude, even the American Ambassador Anne Patterson, while speaking recently at the National Defence University, took liberty with us and said “American taxpayers will not forever pay for Pakistan’s economic and social development. Neither will Japanese or German or British taxpayers.”

Instead of begging these unworthy partners of ours and getting only insults in return, we could be better off enhancing our collaboration with Chinese in economic, military and other fields. Also, our interests match perfectly with those of the Chinese which is not the case with Americans and Europeans,who, 'encouraged' by their Iraq 'success', are hear only to break up Pakistan and to neutralise our nuclear assets.

S.R.H. Hashmi,

Karachi.

23-2-2010

UK visa discrimination

I submitted my passport No. NQ 4103311 for UK visa to the Gerry’s visa application center in G-9 Islamabad. I needed a UK visa to attend a joint programme of the Environmental Change Institute of the Oxford University and Leadership in Environment and Development International in October. My passport is missing since then. I sent an email to the Abu Dhabi contact of the UK High Commission (AbuDhabi.DutyECO@fco.gov.uk) in December and they confirmed through email on December 20th that my passport is being processed and I will get it back soon. Nothing however received at my end and I again sent an inquiry to the UK High Commission Abu Dhabi in January. In return I got email from Mr. John Galbraith, Entry Clearance Officer, Abu Dhabi Regional Hub, UK Border Agency International Group, British Embassy Abu Dhabi confirming that my passport is lost in the process.

This easily said sentenced has multiple adverse impacts and sides. This indicates to a loophole in the system of UK Border Agency, this indicates to discriminatory treatment with Pakistanis, this indicates to depriving Pakistanis from opportunities of international significance. Although, I am not sure that how much the discriminators will respond to this letter, yet am sure that there is little interest at the UKBA and UK High Commissions and UK Embassies to search lost or STOLEN passports like mine, yet I am making an effort to spread the word against it, as my passport has a valid US visa and can be used for any purpose.

There is a rumour that UK Border Agency has employed Indians in Abu Dhabi for processing of passports and they are stealing passports of Pakistanis that have value, have valid visas and their stealing can deprive Pakistanis like me from attending international meetings and can deprive us from representing Pakistan at International fora.

I would, though not making a case for myself, appeal the Prime Minister of Pakistan, the President of Pakistan, the Foreign Minister, the Ambassador of Pakistan to United Kingdom to intervene and take up the situation with the UK Border Agency that why there is this discrimination with Pakistan and Pakistanis?

Ahmad Khan,

akhan@wwf.org

Defeating sugar mafia

No one from the political elite has come forward even as a mill owner to rescue the poor people queuing up at utility and grocery stores to provide them with the sugar from their own sugar mills. They just pose as they never owned the sugar mills whose very product is under spotlight. They rather chose to keep mum about their ownership and let their coffer swell with unjust, cruel and inappropriate profits made by sugar sale at exorbitant prices. In this way, by the collaborated efforts of millers and traders, billions of rupees have already been siphoned off the pockets of the people of this already impoverished nation.

The statements of the Minister of Sugar (Mian Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo) if collected all shall give an impression that there is no problem of sugar at all in the country. Even if we take into account the statements of all government officials and politicians, there seems no sugar crisis. Alas, despite all their statements and verbal vomits, the situation on ground is totally in the contrast of what they say. And what this all means is that they simply befool the people.

Another necessary and utmost requirement of the hour is to break the cartels developed in different industries and it must be carried out under the aegis of Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP).

It is a pity that we could not become so far a good consumer in the sense that we as a nation run in haste and start buying more and more the scarce items at much higher prices. This frenzy benefits the manufacturers and the black marketers. Whereas the right course of action for the people at large would be that they abandon or discontinue for some time the use of scarce and expensive commodities to make the profiteers learn a lesson. When their goods are left lying rotten at stores and factories, they would surely seek the ways to attract again the buyers and the best way surely is to decrease the prices of their respective commodities. The good consumer behaviour then shall pay the consumers by easing them. This is the ideal condition and I wonder if we achieve it sooner.

RAZIQ HUSSAIN,

On email.

Musharraf must return

According to press reports, General (retired) Pervez Musharraf told a think tank in London that he is prepared to do anything for Pakistan. If he really wants to do something for Pakistan, then I request him to return and serve the country for the rest of his life. Pakistan needs an Ataturk to translate the vision of Quaid-e-Azam into reality. Present politicians have, again, failed miserably to protect the integrity of Pakistan and in solving the problems faced by the people. As they are only interested in protecting their personal interests, the people of Pakistan are fed up. I urge the generous retired general not to waste time abroad. He should come back, face his opposition and, if left undefeated, he should re-enter the political battlefield.

S T HUSSAIN,

On e-mail.

State and education

According to, Diogenes Laertius, "The foundation of every state is the education of its youth." But unfortunately, case of Pakistan is unique in itself. United Nations Development Programme Report, 2009, ranked Pakistan 160 out of 177 with 49.9 literacy rate. Cuba, Estonia and Latvia, tiny European states are the top countries in literacy ranking of the world. India is graded as 147. After these heart-fiery facts, we still did not realise our mistakes.

Our deteriorating education system has radicalised many young people while failing to equip them with the skills necessary for a modern economy. There is two much gap between public and private sector in term of quality of education. Even in public sector there are no checks and balances, or evaluation system of teachers. Writers and analysts should shed light and give recommendations to policymakers for educational uplift.

RASHIDA AHMED,

Rawalpindi.

Younis’ brash behaviour

It was sad and shocking to see former skipper of our cricket team, Younis Khan, beating up a fan during a Karachi Champions League match on Thursday. Younis was leading Malir Gymkhana in the match when some spectators ran onto the ground and by slipping on the wet outfield accidentally tumbled with Younis Khan onto the ground.

This angered Younis so much that he immediately left the field and went into the dressing room. He took the fan into the dressing room with him and later beat him up. He should be fined heavily and should also be banned for at least five matches. He must also apologise to the fan.

MUBASHIR MAHMOOD,

Karachi.

DMG is the linchpin

Apropos of the letter ‘DMG: an obsolete instrument of government’ (Feb 18), I have certain reservations.

The civil service in the United Kingdom is regarded as a strong and respectable institution.

Of this civil service the administrative class is the most important, as it has an excellent record of efficiency to its credit.

The ministers generally rely very much on this class in day-to-day administration. These administrators are recruited on the basis of their ability and qualification for the said post.

It is the same in Pakistan that the respected Federal Public Service Commission selects candidates for the DMG and other groups through a long procedure in which there is no room for favouritism.

The duties of a DMG officer are to carry out the policies of the government on a daily basis. They are policy implementers. These seasoned policy executors have a vast experience in their respective fields.

They are perfectly neutral because they have experience in carrying out the policies under different governments.

The replacement of the private sector with DMG officers will create pressure groups in the administration which will try to influence policymaking rather than policy execution.

Every private sector has its own manifesto which it wants to carry out.

The private sector has always indulged in money-making.

It also relies on the overall economy of the country. Compared to the US and the UK, Pakistan certainly has a weak economy. As such, public-private sector cooperation in the policy execution is not possible.

Work efficiency of DMG officers is hindered by non-continuation of government policies. Members of Provincial and National Assemblies are elected at the grassroots level and are, hence, bound to go to the people to know their problems and formulate policies accordingly.

This would not only benefit the public but would also reinforce the interaction between the ruler and the ruled, instead of relying on the local body system or the private sector.

UMAR MAHBOOB,

Lahore.

21-2-2010

Squandering public money

A report appeared in the media that Federal Board of Revenue has let its official off in Rs140m tax refund fraud case is most disgusting. According to details, the Federal Board of Revenue has exonerated a senior sales tax official who was found involved in illegal payment of refund to the tune of Rs140m to a party not entitled to it.

The fraud was detected by auditors and was brought to the notice of the Public Accounts Committee of the National Assembly.

It was discovered that two companies were allowed illegal refunds during the period of May-July 2005 and 2006.

After detection the matter went to the Peshawar High Court. On the court’s order the delinquent official was suspended and departmental inquiry was initiated against him.

The inquiry established the official guilty of crime and the report was submitted to the higher-ups.

However, at the instance of the finance ministry, the official, against whom culpability was established, was cleared of all charges and reinstated honourably. Although when the news was broken, the PAC, taking the matter seriously, has required the FBR authorities to explain why a corrupt official against whom charges of misdemeanour were proved was reinstated, yet the official is with clean chit and is back to his seat of assignment.

Another unfortunate aspect of this case is that Rs140 million hard-earned public money, given to some unlawful parties cannot be recovered now.

This is definitely not a solitary instance where the exchequer lost a huge amount on account of corrupt practices by officials.

There may be many such cases which could not be brought to the notice of PAC because of collaboration at the lower level.

The irony is that instead of making efforts to eradicate corruption, our state institutions are helping the dishonest to misappropriate public money with impunity.

I am afraid that if appropriate punitive action is not taken against the corrupt official and other functionaries of the FBR and the ministry of finance with whose palpable complicity such a ‘grand scheme’ was devised, people of Pakistan will lose faith in the entire state administration.

Thus keeping in view the involvement of higher authorities and the amount of massive corruption, I invite the attention of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan to initiate suo motu action in this case.

S. Ansari,

Hyderabad.

Thank you, Hoti

While addressing a representative jirga of the elites of Katlang area of district Mardan at the Chief Minister's House, Peshawar  on Feb 19, Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti announced the following to address the long-standing demands of the people of Katlang area of district Mardan.

i) Establishment of tehsil at Katlang;

ii) Mega project of the construction of expressway connecting Swabi, Mardan and Malakand;

iii) Mega project of Baizai Irrigation Channel at a cost of Rs1800 million to irrigate 25000 acres of Barani land of Mardan and Malakand districts; and

iv) Establishment of girls college at Katlang.

The people of Katlang area are indebted to the chief minister for addressing the long-standing demands of the area. This will not only give the chief minister an immense political mileage in the area, but will also remove the sense of deprivation among the people of the area.

Muhammad Adil Khan,

Mardan.

Disciplining our sportsmen

The Senate Committee on Sports has recommended imposing a ban for five years on Shahid Afridi from playing international cricket as he was found guilty of ball-tampering during the last one day match against Australia in Perth.

In the past our bowlers have remained the target of western media for ball-tampering and we resisted the accusation for we believe they were jealous of our reverse swing. But such incidents as this show that they were correct.

The poor explanation given by Afridi was that since the team was losing the matches continuously, he tried to lead them to win through this way. This statement is unacceptable and based on deception.

As Afridi has huge experience of playing international cricket, it is hard to believe that he was unaware that 17 different cameras watched him on the ground.

Winning or losing is a part of game, but playing fairly and with full zeal does not disappoint the crowd even if the team loses. Players are regarded as true ambassadors of a country, for diplomats are not as much known and popular as are cricketers worldwide.

We have examples of Azharuddin and Ajay Jedaja, two renowned Indian cricket stars, who have lost their career due to discipline violation.

Unfortunately, in our country it has become a common practice to get away with discipline violation if some superstar or big gun is involved.

Pakistan is a country full of talent. The only problem is finding the right talent, proper grooming and training. Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Javaid Miandad are some of the legends this country has produced.

Pakistan gave them all a name, reputation, respect and, of course, money. It is players’ prime obligation to uphold its name and not disgrace it.

I think the Senate Committee’s recommendations should be carried forward for stiff action. However, the PCB should also take into consideration as to why such embarrassing events keep occurring repeatedly. Maybe, the PCB should not focus solely on cultivating the talents of the cricketers, but should also try to nurture an exemplary sportsman spirit, moral ethics and discipline, a must for any player.

Discipline is something that should not be compromised as the Father of the Nation has taught us to uphold ‘Unity, Faith and Discipline’.

AAMIR IQBAL,

Islamabad.

20-2-2010

Desecrating NUML?

That the biggest casualty of the recent NUML controversy is the credibility and prestige of this modern institute of learning, one should keep in mind that already the education sector has been treated as a third priority. That we have always invited army to come into frays and clear messes, be it political, law & order or financial bungling, leads us to believe that the civil administration is neither capable nor sincere. That NUML, primarily established by the Pakistan military to meet the requirement of language training of the Armed Forces, was handed over to civil authorities under the Allama Iqbal Open University during the period 1974-1976, the deteriorated standards and “performance far from satisfactory” necessitated the issuance of presidential order handing over the command back to the army.

The fact remains that out of 500 faculty members, only 20 are from the armed forces, most of them retired but duly qualified personnel, and out of 8,000 students only 200 students are from the military. This is also a fact that the Director General, Dr Kamran Jahangir, who has to be a qualified Brigadier of the Army Education Corps, under the law, is a civilian. The propaganda that this prestigious institute is under the military dominance stands uncalled for and aims at giving blows to its prestige and the primary objective of its establishment. One needs to analyse its performance during the last two decades and block attempts to desecrate it.

F Z Khan,

Islamabad.

Muslims’ best friend: Obama

As reported in the press (Feb. 14) following on his first impassioned speech to Muslims around the world made from Egypt, US President Barack Obama has now come up with a video address from Qatar, being the second in his ‘Fooling Muslims’ series. The speech is in line with Obama’s policy for Muslims which is ‘promise much, do little, preferably nothing’ Accordingly, he gave a formidable list of trivial and insignificant steps as detailed in the following paragraph, that he will take / has taken, and which, in his view, will bring unlimited progress and prosperity to Muslims but, in practical terms, will be of little benefit to them.

“A number of important agencies and departments have worked together to implement a number of programmes in the areas of education, entrepreneurship, health, and science and technology. The US has also expanded exchange programmes and online opportunities, forged a global recovery effort to create jobs in all regions of the world, launched a Global Technology and Innovation Fund to invest in technological development in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, worked with Saudi officials to address H1N1 to prepare for Hajj, and partnered with the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to eradicate polio, says a web announcement.

Further ‘concrete’ steps include engaging Muslim communities around the country and appointment of a Special Envoy to the OIC.”

The actual performance is that on meeting resistance from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Obama shamelessly gave up his former ‘firm’ demand for settlement freeze in the illegally occupied territories and neither he, nor any of his officials is talking about it now. Roadmap for peace and Maryland conference are all forgotten. Obama is asking Palestinians to enter into meaningless talks with Israel without any pre-conditions, just to fool the world into believing that the peace process is still on and he is trying to solve Muslims’ problems.

To keep up the aggression against Muslims and in order to make up for the dwindling Muslim fatalities in Iraq, Obama has geared up war efforts in Afghanistan, which he calls ‘good’ war and for which he has already announced extra resources and thousands of additional troops.

American courts are also doing their bit. Blackwater security guards who killed 17 innocent Iraqis have been acquitted. Further, Pakistani Dr. Aafia Siddiqui has been convicted of attempted murder of American soldiers none of whom got killed or injured and the prosecution failed to prove its case; with the benefit of doubt given to the prosecution and not to the accused which is the norm in the rest of the world.

I think we just have to take President Obama’s word for it and accept that Muslims never had a better American friend than him, and that is final.

S.R.H. Hashmi,

Karachi.

Make do with scare water

This is apropos of the PPP’s stance on the Indus River System Authority providing water to Chashma link canal for irrigation in south Punjab.

Without realising that it has a formidable vote bank in south Punjab, the PPP directed the nominee of the central government to vote with the Sindh nominee to deny the much-needed water for irrigation, though this right of Punjab to use the allocated share is in accordance with the accord.

The Chashma link canal was built according to the Indus Basin Water Treaty to irrigate crops and was not meant to serve as a recreation spot.

While the PPP has been expressing sympathies for south Punjab, it considered it appropriate to starve its people by denying their share of water, the lifeline for agriculture and irrigation.

Major political parties that claim the right to rule the federation through a democratic process must also develop the vision to accommodate the legal rights of all federating units, and leave it to their provincial party heads to represent their individual rights.

May I remind Sindh that even during Musharraf’s dictatorial rule it was Punjab that voluntarily gave up a large part of its water share when there was a drought there.

As the demand for water in south Punjab falls within the agreed allocated share of the province, there was no need for this opposition.

At the end of the day the Irsa representatives of three other provinces voted to accede to the legitimate demand of south Punjab, while Sindh and the nominee of the centre voted against it.

Moreover, the legitimate water requirements of Azad Kashmir must be met because the Mangla reservoir is located there. Water in this reservoir is composed of water that originates from Azad Kashmir and there is a sovereign guarantee given by the Pakistan government to cater to requirements of Azad Kashmir.

It is hoped that all federating units would develop a culture to accommodate each other. Today Pakistan faces a water crisis of immense dimension because of useless politicking, with the net result that India has built large reservoirs on its side.

Agreed that Sindh has been facing an acute shortage of water, but so have all other federating units of Punjab, Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and our independent and autonomous Azad Kashmir.

Water shortages have to be shared by all federating units, instead of politicising the issue. As the country faces an acute shortage of major crops, there is a need to cater to minimal water requirements of high-yield areas in the country to minimise the overall impact.

The PPP government needs to adopt the vision of its founder Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who rules the hearts and minds of the people even after his death.

SYED JAWAID HUSSAIN,

Multan.

19-2-2010

CJ’s meeting with PM

As the nation waited eagerly for the promised good news the airwaves emanating from all TV channels in Pakistan from 3:30pm onwards were abuzz with the news and views on the CJP meeting with the PM. Apart from the clippings showing the PM cordially receiving the CJP and the two exchanging pleasantries, the TV anchors remained animatedly engaged in obtaining the views and comments of the legal experts and other analysts on the propriety and outcome of the meeting.

Amongst the commentators a clear divide was visible. Some praised the meeting as a good omen for the future of democracy in the country, while others considered it unprecedented, potentially unproductive and against the norm. However, what really surprised me was the level of the discussions and comments of some of the analysts who were just hollow and shallow.

Imagine the ignorance of one so-called senior advocate who pompously narrated the story of the first CJP Mr. Justice Sir, Abdul Rashid declining to meet with the then PM Nawabzada Liaqat Ali Khan, and – lo and behold – according to the heavyweight advocate – “the Registrar of the Chief justice conveyed to the MILITARY SECRETARY of Nawabzada Liaqat Ali Khan that since there were a number of cases against the government pending before the superior court he could not meet with him.

First of all, for his information the prime ministers then did not use to have military secretaries. This regalia was brought by ZAB who while stepping down from the Presidency brought all the protocol baggage of the President – the ADCs, the Military Secretary, the National Anthem et al with him to the Prime Minister’s House.

Secondly, there were not a ‘number of cases’ before the Federal Court of Pakistan – as was the Supreme Courts of Pakistan known then - but only one case that of the dismissal of the NWFP government by the Governor General Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

Thirdly, the PM Liaqat Ali Khan had not asked for some specific meeting with the CJP but had invited him to an official dinner that he (Liaqat Ali Khan) was to host in the Governor’s House Lahore. The CJP didn’t want to take a chance by attending the dinner lest he was seen exchanging the greetings and pleasantries with the PM, which was bound to happen. So much for the knowledge of the judicial history of Pakistan of one of the most knowledgeable advocates of ours!

Now a word about the gate-crashing by the PM. Such an unannounced, unexpected and uninvited presence of the Chief Executive of the country would have been a pleasant surprise for anyone and an equally magnanimous and modest gesture on his part on any other occasion but not this one. The formal dinner was being hosted by the CJP to bid farewell to Mr. Justice Khalil ur Rehman Ramday on his retirement. As such Justice Ramday was the Chief Guest or the Guest of Honour for the evening. No one superior in status to him should have been, therefore, here as that would tantamount to lessening his importance.

But I suppose these are the finesses of protocol not known to many.

Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd),

Rawalpindi.

Judicial crisis: Now & then

In 2007 the matter of judicial reference against the chief justice by the then president Pervez Musharraf led to a crisis which in turn caused many changes. The creation and intensification of that crisis was mainly caused because of a dictatorial mindset.

This time again a controversy emerged between the government and the judiciary which was feared to be leading to a crisis however it has been amicably resolved due to the democratic mindset. That is the difference between a dictator and a democrat.

A J Khattak,

Peshawar.

India’s water aggression

India’s strategic felony of water strangulation is more dangerous than any other challenges being faced by Pakistan. Pakistan is an agrarian economy. Seventy percent of its population is directly related to agriculture despite massive rural to urban movements. Another 10 to 15 percents are linked with agriculture through farm support businesses.

Shortage of water will therefore directly affect the 80 to 85 percent population of Pakistan. There will be only two choices left; one to solve the issue on permanent basis and second to send 50 to 60 million people for new job huntings across oceans, as the reduced agrarian economy will only be able to support its half the population.

Presently Pakistan has the world’s largest canal command system (if the trend of diverting water continues, soon it will be India). It is the sixth largest milk producer in the world, a country with second largest rice surplus, fifth in fresh fruit production, third largest date producing country and fourth largest range land from Balochistan to Durand line. It is amongst first 10 countries of the world in almost all major crops and food items. Pakistan has never been a water-scarce country. It is endowed with five major rivers, 30 to 40 miles apart, thereby creating the most fertile lands in between. It is at the confluence of two weather systems, Monsoon in summer and westerly winds in winter, both have an overlapping area up to Potohar region. Central and southern Punjab along few districts of Sindh is the granary of Pakistan where surplus grain and food crops are produced. The agrarian surplus is then distributed in the whole country and also exported at premium cost.

The Chenab is the main river which feeds this agricultural heart land. India is very systematically diverting the water of this river. Chenab has nine tributaries on its left bank and 12 tributaries on its right bank. One after the other India has almost diverted the water from all the tributaries. Chenab has one of the most well-defined catchment areas with available places for suitable heads to build dams. Unfortunately as all of these fell in Indian territory India is exploiting the situation with impunity.

It is not only that Baglihar dam is made over the Chenab, there are around 10 mega projects which are either completed or nearing completion. The hydrographic record of Chenab shows that even during four years of drought the flow remained over 40,000 cusecs. Today at Marala the head start, it is not more than 5,000 cusecs.

This water aggression is not a meaningless or benign activity; it is very much symbolising the unfolding of aggressive design to strangulate the complete economy of Pakistan. According to estimates this water aggression is turning one crore acres of prime agriculture land into desert-like territory. Not only agriculture, the complete backbone of cottage industry at Sialkot, Gujrat, Gujranwala and Faisalabad depends upon the pristine water of Chenab river.

India is even making water storage facilities on river Jhelum, there are also news that mighty Indus will also be facing this aggression soon, as the river meandering territory inside India is going through lot of activities. The enmity does not stop here, India has made Salma dam in Afghanistan not due to some sympathetic impulse towards Afghan people but to reduce the flow of river Kabul in Pakistan.

Water is no more an administrative or an agrarian issue. It is a food security issue, which is an important constituent of national security policy. The diversion of water of our rivers is a paramount security issue, anyone not showing empathy should not later on blame Pakistan for initiating water adventures as it is the water from vales which flows in the jugular of Pakistan and its people will not only defend every inch rather they will vouch for every drop which nature has blissfully endowed.

The application of Indus Basin Treaty is not relevant at this moment, India is trying to redefine the treaty on the grounds that lower riparian (Pakistan) since has not built any storage so upper riparian (India) has right to utilise. Sending of a team to access the shortfall of water flow in Pakistan is also a gimmick to pacify people for time being. Perhaps now is time that Pakistanis should say to big brother that enough is enough.

Abid Latif Sindhu,

On email.

18-2-2010

Bravo, prime minister

The surprise arrival of prime minister at Chief Justice’s dinner is worthy of high praise. It speaks of the prime minister’s greatness and nobility and shows that he can go beyond his self for the national interests. Many, many cheers for the gentle prime minister.

A J Khattak,

Peshawar.

Dist management group

With changing paradigms of public administration the tool of district management as a vehicle of delivering public and social policies is almost obsolete.

Pakistan has to come out of the conventional delivery mechanism by resorting to ideas advanced by the new public management, whereby public policies are delivered with the joint venture of public and private enterprises as experienced in the United States and the United Kingdom under the administration of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, respectively, in the early 1980s.

The coalition of public and private enterprises was put into operation by two means. First through full-fledged privatisation with complete transfer of assets to the private sector, while the other mode was through contracting whereby the state retained the assets.

However, services, especially pertaining to social welfare such as education and health, were contracted out to market forces.

Such contract arrangements have made it possible to present a clear dichotomy between policymaking and policy execution; hence diminishing the effect of politicisation of government machinery.

It is labelled as ‘re-inventing government’ that helped in reducing the size of conventional bureaucracy and increasing efficiency and productivity by taping the enormous potential of the private sector.

Ironically, we still want to stick to the outdated bureaucratic system, wherein the DMG is much out of context in terms of public services.

I, therefore, vehemently oppose the revival of DMG, and advocate the paradigm shift in administrative system by gradual introduction of market forces into delivery and implementation mechanism through contractual arrangements.

It is time we got rid of the outdated DMG and a huge volume of bureaucracy which turns out to be a white elephant as it clung to the power structure to maximise self-extension at the cost of poor people, and, unfortunately, which considers itself far from any accountability.

What they want is pomp and pageantry, which is not possible now in these changing times of globalisation.

Gone are the days when the DMG were perched on ivory towers. Now they have to listen to tunes of change, precipitated by the powerful media and judicial activism.

SAJJAD H. CHANNAR,

On email.

Gillani’s threat to judiciary

This is with reference the recent immature outbursts of our political elite, whom neither time has reformed, nor age made a little more sobre. The world has changed with a virtual revolution in information technology. News is easily accessible to the people today, the media having punched so many holes in the secretive lives of the rulers that nothing is a secret from the public. In Pakistan, though, the ruling political elite still lives in the past when they ruled like kings and the king could do no wrong. Musharraf sent the judiciary, lock, stock and barrel, home with the stroke of a pen for he considered the constitution an instrument of his executive powers. Our elected PM today stood up in the National Assembly in the emulation of that dictator to say that he had restored the judiciary through an executive action that needed to be endorsed by the Parliament. And in true dictatorial traditions, he also indicated that the judiciary can be sent packing home yet again through (yet another) executive order.

So what has changed? Dare one ask the elected PM, or does he consider himself to be the Viceroy of the President, who in turn might equate himself with the Monarch of the Raj, that how did the executive action of the dictator, with an approval of the Parliament, acquired such a legitimacy even though his act was in violation of the constitution? If so, this constitution is a unique document that can be used whichever way required to rule the ordinary subjects, but the elected monarch and his Viceroy are beyond its jurisdiction. Is the superior judiciary so fragile even in a democratic environment?

HANIF BALOCH,

Quetta.

PTV v private channels

All private channels try to cover the angst the nation is going through but if you ever go to the state-owned PTV, you would get an eerie feeling of all calm and quiet—with appreciations of the federal government thrown in for good measure. There is some music too to complete the picture PTV is portraying about a welfare state (somewhere we don’t know) where people are happy as a lark with not a care in the world. The private channels, though, continue to portray the picture of an oppressive state with incompetent rulers that are pushing their people to the bog of crises getting ever more serious, making life for the ordinary citizen ever more difficult to live. Something has to be done to either stop PTV from painting the rosy picture or stop the private channels from showing what a hell we live in.

KHALID MUSTAFA,

Islamabad.

Conspicuous by absence

Aitzaz Ahsan of whom the New York Times wrote “A lawyer who restored Pakistan Chief Justice” is missing from the scene when the president and his handpicked legal advisers have fomented a constitutional imbroglio in the country. Similar is the case of Ali Ahmad Kurd. Both lawyers were in the vanguard of movement for restoration of judiciary. Did the restoration movement catapult Aitzaz into shoes larger than his size in which he found himself too uncomfortable and had to bail himself out? Whatever the reasons, he has compromised his standing by not raising a voice against the presidential move to place judges of choice in various positions.

Aitzaz has undoubtedly fumbled. Perhaps the glory he gained by successful restoration movement was too big for him to live with and real Aitzaz had to come out by shedding the superficial veneer. If he thinks he cannot go against the party line, he must bear in mind the party has seen its last hurrah. From here onward the party will disintegrate.

It reminds of late Mao’s wife who after her husband’s death had gathered three of her closest cronies about her and the group gained notoriety of being called “the evil group of four.” The President too has his inner circle of three who have their own motives but his own stakes, such as the Swiss cases of money laundering, are indeed much higher. One feels sorry for Aitzaz but he himself is to blame for shooting himself in the foot.

DR. A. P. SANGDIL,

Oslo.

VIP movement

Sometime back, a VVIP came to live on Khayaban-e-Shaheen, Karachi. Overnight, a couple of speed-breakers miraculously appeared on both sides of the road, which (along with three police mobiles, one of them jutting halfway into the opposite side of the main road) result in traffic jams throughout the day. As if this weren't enough, cars of visitors are always parked on the main road, which leads to more tension for drivers.

But this is not all. Even the drivers of the VVIP and his guests think they're above the law (like the VVIP himself). One of them almost crashed his car into mine as he drove through a red light at a speed normally associated with aircraft taking off. I escaped death by inches. I know the VVIP has no time to read newspapers, but if someone who's close to him does, perhaps he or she can tell him that traffic rules still exist in this country and are meant to be obeyed.

Shakir Lakhani,

Karachi.

17-2-2010

Painting victims of aggression as evil

Around 1,777 think-tanks based in America and almost an equal number of think-tanks based in western countries are busy in policymaking or influencing policymaking, justifying invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan, painting dark picture of Pakistan and its nuclear programme.

It seems that the respective intelligence agencies have assigned them special tasks to use their pens to spew out poison for further stoking fires of chaos and anarchy, use their write-ups on dictated themes to distort facts, spread disinformation, create uncertainty and keep the pot of war on terror boiling. They portray the aggressors as virtuous free of any faults, and they paint the victims of aggression as evil.

But ironically enough, no one, especially the so-called think-tanks understand that the biggest casualty of their projected theme-points is the American reputation itself. Instead of teaching or advocating peace, harmony and goodwill, they have brought the civilisations at collision course and turned the world into a battlefield. Where would this trend of jingoism, hatred and destruction bring the people of globe to, no one knows. Aren’t the world leaders, superpowers and especially the intelligentsia responsible for all this fuss?

Stop it, please.

Alya Alvi,

Rawalpindi.

Assault on judiciary

By following the steps of General Musharraf President Zardari has revealed himself as a civilian dictator by appointing Justice Saqib Nisar as a judge of the Supreme Court.

Appointment of judges of the high court and their elevation to the Supreme Court is already dealt with by the constitution and particularly in Al-Jihad Trust case. The issue of the consultation of the chief justice has to be given due heed as his advice is binding on the president. Moreover such issues tend to create bad blood between different institutions or pillars of the state. I hope that government would look into the matter and would adopt the best possible way.

Nasir Kamal Yousafzai,

Mardan.

Judges and judges

The present ongoing debate on the appointment of the judges of the higher courts has at least left me with a consternation beyond my comprehension. What is all this fuss in the matter of choosing between the judges? Are the judges going to be partisan in dispensing justice? Would they favour one or the other against the rules, law or the constitution? I hate to read in the papers the adage of Jiyala being used for some of the judges. Does the partisan affiliation take precedence over the competence, integrity and character of a judge? For God’s sake do not degrade the judges. Or, is it all a part of the diversionary tactics to take people’s mind off the NRO issue which was being hotly debated only a few days back but no more? Or, still horrendous, is it an effort to have the judges of one’s choice when the NRO cases come for hearing before them?

Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd),

Rawalpindi.

US envoy’s remarks

As reported in the press (Feb.16), speaking at the National Defence University, US ambassador Anne Patterson said “The Prime Minister announced earlier this week that Pakistan will begin to redress this matter (economic problems) next year, but this is a matter of great national urgency,” and drew armed forces into it as well by asserting “As professionals interested in the security of this nation, I hope you would look closely at this matter.”

Also, referring most probably to our frequent requests to the US and international donors to speed up aid to defray partly the damage done to our economy through our association with the war on terror (which the President estimated at $35 billion), she had this to say “The ultimate solution to Pakistan’s current and future economic challenges does not reside with the US or with the international donor community, it rests with you, the people of Pakistan.” She went on to say “American taxpayers will not forever pay for Pakistan’s economic and social development. Neither will Japanese or German or British taxpayers.”

This is another major slur after the earlier ‘no blank cheques’ remark made by President Barack Obama.

The ambassador seems to think that these are the US taxpayers plus others who are sustaining us whereas the fact is that our association, specially with the US, has done us more harm than good, and far from bringing us incremental benefits, it has not even covered our losses.

It is indeed true that masses are in urgent need of relief and this matter cannot really be deferred. However, the ambassador should avoid trying to create an impression that Pakistanis interest is dearest to her heart whereas the fact is that her country’s policy now, and in the past, has been of Muslim-animosity, as demonstrated clearly by its actions in relation to the Arab-Israeli issue, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and other Muslim countries.

As for her concern for American taxpayers’ money, she should advise her own government not to squander it on cruel, murderous and unproductive misadventures like unjust Iraq invasion. It would have relieved the American taxpayers of nearly a trillion US dollars of their hard-earned money and in exchange, presented them over 4,300 healthy Americans turned into corpses plus thousands of others maimed and suffering mental trauma. So, it is the American government which is doing the greatest disservice to its own people apart from messing around the globe by creating new conflict zones.

Last but not least, there is something definitely wrong with allowing an ambassador to take swipe at our government at will, and get away with it. Unfortunately, we ourselves invite ridicule and contempt by placing even the junior foreign, specially American officials, on a pedestal from where they can only look down upon us.

S.R.H. Hashmi,

Karachi.

Discipline motorcyclists

In spite of the fact that traffic wardens have been positioned in Lahore for quite some time now, their presence has not had a positive impact on disciplining motorcyclists who continue to change lanes at will.

These motorcyclists do not stop before driving over to a bigger road and overtake cars from the left.

When a car gives an indicator to turn left or right, motorcyclists would still overtake from both sides, putting their own lives at risk.

Finding the traffic signal red at an intersection, they look for small openings between cars standing in different lanes and through zigzag movements try to position themselves ahead of everyone.

It is time traffic police in major cities, particularly Lahore, fixed lanes for motorcyclists and carried out spot-checking for violations mentioned in this letter.

The traffic police also need to be more strict and stringent while awarding driving licences to motorcyclists, and their driving test must include familiarisation and understanding of traffic rules.

Making motorcyclists wear crash helmets alone will not make them abide by traffic rules.

RASHID IQBAL,

Lahore.

16-2-2010

Judges’ issue: Govt stance

As John Naisbitt narrates that “Strategic planning is worthless - unless there is first a strategic vision.” General Kayani has no doubt given new vision regarding Afghanistan by defining Pakistan’s strategic depth pertaining to the neighbouring country that instead war-torn and civil war entangled Afghanistan a peaceful, prospering, stable and friendly neighbour favours Pakistan. It depicts the true spirit of strategic vision flourished in General Kayani’s mind and nullifies the ambiguous concept of the strategic depth being defined for years and years by some of the traditional brains who believe the Afghan nation is only meant for fighting, be it with the occupant forces or among their own groups.

According to a famous quote, in business, as in war (and I suppose in politics as well), attack is sometimes the best method of defence. However, like all strategies, this one also has some limitations i.e. before going on the offensive, the party has got to prepare well and to have some minimum strength to carry it through, otherwise it will falter, and will get bruised, and that would be the minimum consequence.

In case of inadequacy all round, a better option would be to stay in the bunker and take the line of least resistance which would at least maximise the chances of survival, whatever they are.

S.R.H. Hashmi,

Karachi.

A hasty decision

The federal minister for privatisation declared before the media that the government had decided to privatise 23 state-owned organisations including Utility Stores Corporation within the next few months. He added that this time while handing over administrative management to successful bidders holding 26 percent shares the strategic control would continue to rest with the government.

The basic idea of privatisation was that the state should confine itself to regulation only and the operation and ownership of industrial enterprises and utilities should be left to the private sector. Although according to Alexander Gerschenkron, a distinguished economist, those states which started late in the race of development, the public sector has to play a vital role in accelerating the economic growth as private sector of developing countries is shy, inexperienced and not equipped to embark on rapid industrialisation.

However despite clear caution privatisation of public sector corporations started in Pakistan during the Zia regime in 1985 but pace was accelerated during 1991-1994 and post-2001 period.

According to latest analyses, out of 83 privatised corporations up to October 15, 2002 only 22 fared better, 44 were doing at the same level and remaining 34 were found even worse than the pre-privatised period.

The cases of Karachi Electricity Supply Corporation (KESC) and the Pakistan Telecom Corporation Ltd (PTCL) (a profitable organisation) privatised after 2002 are the worst examples. Not only services of these two utilities have deteriorated but the objective of bringing foreign investment could also not be achieved. The conditions of privatised banks is no better as in order to show better performance, they, apart from throwing out thousands of their lower staff by “rightsizing” and lowering interest on deposits and increasing interest on loans; mostly consumer loans, have contributed nothing significant for the economic activity of the country.

The purchasers, by paying amounts much less than even the cost of land companies own, have added nothing to the development and enhancement of the utilities except their executives now enjoy fabulous financial benefits and pre-requisites. The privatised units such as cement industry have also formed cartels to exploit the consumers.

On the other hand, the government as a regulator has failed miserably to discharge its responsibility to ensure implementation of terms and conditions of the privatisation agreements in letter and spirit.

The fate of Pakistan Steel Mills could not have been different, had the Apex Court not intervened timely.

Privatisation is a complex exercise with multifaceted implications. Therefore the government, before offering the remaining family silver to private sector, must keep before it the performance of those companies which have already been privatised so that public interests can be safeguarded. Especially in the case of public utilities great care must be adopted so that the case of KESC is not repeated. As for Utility Stores Corporation which provides relief to the general public against the monopoly of sugar and flour cartels it is better not to privatise.

Altaf Ahmed,

Hyderabad.

Independent judiciary

It is naive to say that it doesn't matter who is sitting where as the judges are to deliver justice. If that was the case then we shouldn't have any problem with Dogar courts. CJ intervenes because the people sitting in the power corridors are afraid of the new independent judiciary and are trying to interfere/act that can compel the CJ/team to go for a compromise. We are in a now-and-never situation and we have no other option but to support the adlia and make this change happen. No one but the middle class supports this change. It is not in favour of feudals or capitalists who are in power to have independent judiciary.

According to the constitution, President appoints judges of SC in consultation with CJ and President will have to consult CJ, whether he likes it or NOT.

Shahid,

On email.

SMS rip-off

Not a day passes when one doesn’t receive an SMS enticing the naïve to take part in lotos and lotteries of all sorts. Early this morning I received one such SMS reading “It is the Winning Times. Write JK (most probably Jazz Khazana or some thing of the sorts) and send it to 5555. It will entitle you to win the 50,000 of the day. Charges Rs8 plus Sales Tax plus SMS charges”. Each mobile phone company has tens of millions of their SIM holders and according to a rough estimate 20 to 25 percent people take part in such scams. One can imagine the daily windfall for the mobile companies after dolling out the pittance of Rs50,000! Is it not a fit case for a suo motu action?

Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd),

Rawalpindi.

Parasitic MPs

An analysis of parliamentary activity during the recently concluded session released by the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) reveals that a mere 46 percent (115) of MNAs bothered to turn up for business, leaving 223 who drew a range of allowances despite being absent. According to the statistics, every sitting of parliament started late by an average of 28 minutes, managed to be in session for a total of 50 hours and one minute spread over 15 sessions, thus giving an average of about three hours and 20 minutes per session.

Martin Luther King, Jr, the pivotal leader of the American civil rights movement once said, “The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.” The question to ask is, for how long will our people suffer in silence paying their hard-earned money to feed these parasites who are good for nothing?

DR IRFAN ZAFAR,

Islamabad.

15-2-2010

Presidential order & SC verdict

The Presidency is bent upon committing blunders. Instead of pacifying the ongoing clash between the Supreme Court and government, the Presidency is exacerbating the crisis. This became evident when President Asif Ali Zardari issued orders stating the appointment of Justice Khwaja Sharif as judge of Supreme Court and Justice Saqib Nisar as the acting Chief Justice of Lahore High Court without consulting the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. This was in blatant violation of the Constitution of Pakistan.

According to Article 177, the President is bound to consult the Chief Justice of Pakistan prior to the appointment of other judges. Despite the fact that Article 177 clearly and unambiguously lays down the procedure for the appointment of judges, the Presidency did the wrong and joined the path of conflict. At this time, I must say, the Presidency is posing a threat to democracy. True democracy prevails when all the pillars of state work in complete harmony.

The way Ch Iftikhar himself took notice of this illegal appointment and formed a three-member bench to delve into this matter is commendable. Further, his expediency in announcing the decision and suspending the orders of President is laudable. More appreciable is the audacity shown by the illegally appointed judges when they refused to take their oaths. The government needs to realise that the judiciary is awake and active in all its senses. Gone are the days when the judges would be appointed in the darkness of night without letting anyone know.

I wonder where our prime minister has disappeared. On the floor of house, he eloquently speaks that the government respects judiciary and that all the decisions of Supreme Court will be implemented in ‘letter and spirit’. The deafening silence from prime minister speaks of the presidential form of government where the Parliament and prime minister do nothing but nod their head in consent of the President.

Badar ul Islam,

Islamabad.

SC-government face-off

Seniority in Aljehad case is not mandatory, as per constitution, without CJ’s nod nothing can happen on judges’ appointments. Government is crippling judiciary by not appointing judges in high courts or by going in full-blown confrontation to be able to gain ground for jiyala judges appointments in high courts. Government hampering restored judiciary's resolve to dispense justice to the masses by hatching such calculated moves. Such confrontation is bound to give an impression that SC can take unbiased decision on PPP in general and on the President in particular.

ALI IMRAN RIZVI,

On email.

Support Supreme Court

We have to support the decisions of our Supreme Court. We should not wait for the Army to interfere in it because it is not the job of Army to involve in politics, it is the job of institutions and establishment with the citizens to give a shoulder to support the right way for the benefit of the country.

Faisal Munir,

On email.

Let Intekhab Alam continue

Intekhab Alam is an experienced coach and doesn’t seem to be a problematic man either for the team or for the PCB. He is a lucky coach, because under him Pakistan won 1992 World Cup; played final of 1999 World Cup; and last year became champion of twenty20.

It will be unfair to make Intekhab Alam a scape-goat for the humiliating defeats against Australia. Everybody knows the reasons for nine successive defeats at the hand of inexperienced Australians. Our team lacked self-confidence and also unity, which are keys to success.

Najeebullah,

Swat.

A novel idea for ME peace?

After recovering from his injury: nose and two teeth broken by an inconsiderate assailant, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, during an official visit to Israel earlier this month, promised to turn into reality a proposal which keeps resurfacing every now and then, and this is to make Israel a member of the European Union (February 7).

What surprised me most was the suggestion that such an eventuality will work out to the benefit of the Palestinians because membership of the European Union, will preclude Israel from continuing its inhuman, ruthless, murderous and discriminatory policies towards Palestinians apart from forcing it to withdraw from the occupied territories, etc. It was further suggested that in view of the windfall that it will bring to the Palestinians, the Arab world should welcome and encourage such a move instead of opposing it.

It is outlandish even to think that the European Union and the US who created Israel and who aided and abetted in making Israel the monster that it has become now; and Israel itself, would agree to anything that would have the effect of forcing Israel to relax its murderous hold on the illegally occupied territory.

The attitude of the European Union members towards Muslims can well be gauged by the fact that despite its best efforts, Turkey has not been able to join the EU. As against that, there have been moves, at least by some EU members to bring Israel into the fold, despite the fact that it is too far apart, geographically and otherwise.

There are other instances. Only recently, under international law provisions, a British court issued an arrest warrant against former Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni and hastily withdrew it when Livni cancelled the visit. On that occasion, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband promised to change the British law so as not to put Israeli war criminals to any inconvenience. The attitude of Germany and France, the other major powers of the EU, is much the same.

Also, the former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon, during one of his fits of anger, destroyed even the facilities for Palestinian refugees which were built with EU funding. EU sent a delegation to Middle East to assess the damage, lodge a protest against the inhuman act and perhaps to claim compensation for the damage. Ariel Sharon refused even to meet the delegation which returned unceremoniously. It was thought the EU will impose some sort of mild sanctions against Israel, or will at least issue a strong condemnation but all that the delegation head had to say was “we do not want our relations with Israel to get any worse than what they already are” and that was the end of it. Such accommodating and helpful friends are unlikely even to try to force Israel to adopt a reasonable and human approach, like vacating the territory under its illegal occupation and adopt a humane approach towards Palestinians.

Moreover, Israeli government, headed by hawk Benjamin Netanyahu, has become more hawkish lately, with even the supposedly peace-loving Nobel laureate Shimon Peres becoming as aggressive as the rest, and he received a censure from the Turkish prime minister over Gaza massacre sometime back. Also, the Israeli parliament, which is usually a coalition between different parties, mostly hardliners, is unlikely to approve any arrangement that would amount to yielding on any point when they know that the Western leaders do extend them unqualified support on all matters, irrespective of the legality or morality of the issue.

Israel enjoys unflinching support also from its main benefactor, the US. We remember how the US President Barack Obama saw fit to abandon his firm demand of settlement freeze rather than displease Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

It is quite obvious that if the EU offers membership to Israel, it will make it a special case and will give a few years to Israel to make the required changes, claiming that the bitterness and problems created over several decades cannot be solved in a jiffy. After the expiry of the time, it will give Israel another extension, and so on.

Every few years, the West comes up with ploys to fool the Palestinians . We had the Roadmap, the Maryland Conference and now this proposal for Israel’s entry into the European Union, to solve the Palestinian issue. The joke has really gone too far.

Anyone sympathetic to Palestinians’ cause should oppose moves to make Israel an EU member, or even offering of any relaxation in the trading terms between Israel and EU, while Israel’s criminal and murderous conduct continues.

S.R.H. Hashmi,

Karachi.

Fighting water shortage

A water shortage is what the agricultural Punjab does not need. With a reduced water supply not only Punjab but the entire population will be affected as it could damage the wheat crop which has already been sowed. A need arises for the leaders to show maturity and political wisdom in solving what IRSA was supposed to, but could not manage due to pressure from various directions.

Due to insufficient rainfall and absence of large-scale storage reservoirs precious water, instead of being properly utilised is wasted away. The inefficiency of IRSA leads to a denial to supply water to Punjab and a feeling of deprivation to Sindh, hurling accusations at Punjab of ‘water theft’. Representatives of both Punjab and Sindh remained locked in argument during the IRSA meeting the other day resulted in a delay on the matters at hand. The concerned government officials have to grow up and start dealing with the issues amicably working towards fulfilling the objectives rather than throwing tantrums. Nations are not run by aid alone, but proper planning, implementation and constant monitoring is required.

A sensible approach from both the central and provincial leaders was observed by the unanimous approval of the new NFC Award. A clear indicator that democracy, if taken seriously, can very easily work by rendering all anti-state elements that are continuously at play in all affairs, ineffective. The central government behaved generously by slashing its share from the revenue pool from 10 to 1 percent, accompanied by an accommodating approach by the provinces.

Such initiatives may take some effort, but are far from impossible. Another show of flexibility and sense of fair play by provincial and the central government is called for towards the resolution of the inter-provincial water dispute, by viewing it completely objectively, keeping the best interest of the state in mind instead of a biased and ‘provincialistic’ approach. Only after this inter-provincial issue is solved, can we pave our way towards a composite growth and deal with all measures taken by India to choke all water supplies of Pakistan with full force. The Indus Water Treaty is being violated and Pakistan is especially concerned about dams and barrages being built by India, which could affect the flow of river water across the border. Therefore, a shift in focus is required so that Pakistan should have water at all.

Lubna Umar,

Islamabad.

14-2-2010

Commercialisation of education

Since 1983 about 239 schools/colleges which were takeover during Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s government, have been privatised in Sindh. Unfortunately more than half of the school/college buildings have been converted into commercial plazas.

On the eve of Independence there was only one institute for higher education, i.e. the University of Punjab. In next 30 years many private and public schools and institutes for higher education mushroomed in Pakistan. In September 1972 all private educational institutions were nationalised under MLR 118.

One of the aims of the nationalisation policy was to provide better service conditions to the teachers as some unscrupulous private school and college owners exploited and maltreated their teaching staff. They were underpaid, forced to sign receipts for higher payments than they actually received and in some cases are known to have been publicly abused.

The aim of improving service conditions was achieved by nationalisation. The teachers' salaries went up and they gained state protection against exploitation and maltreatment. Ironically security of service was used by a large number of teachers for personal advantage rather than to further the cause of education. It brought in its wake the curse of absenteeism, the tuition syndrome and trade unionism of the worst kind to put pressure on the government. To earn extra money, some teachers opened private tuition centres for the same students they were supposed to teach in colleges and schools.

This threat was obviously not visualised by the planners. The exiting government machinery working on the pattern of pre-partition system was not only inefficient but was not adequate to cope with this gigantic problem. This affected quality of education adversely. To face the deteriorating standards as well as shortage of institutions the Ziaul Haq regime, during early eighties allowed private sector to established colleges and schools. Moreover instead of paying attention to bring improvement in the existing public sector process was started to return the nationalised schools and colleges to their previous owners.

The authorities while restoring the nationalised institutions to their owners should have obtained guaranty before handing over, that the restored properties will not be used other than education as envisaged in the original scheme. The authorities however either out of sheer ineptness or connivance disregarded this fact, apparently to facilitate the owners for the reason that the buildings of schools and colleges were situated on the prime locations of the metropolis where land value has increased manifold. Thus unscrupulous owners were assisted by the education department to sell properties meant for educational purposes, to the builders’ mafias to build commercial plazas.

Not only education has suffered adversely but precious plots of land earmarked for education in the heart of city have been lost permanently. There are still many nationalised schools in the process of privatisation. I request the Chief Minster and Minister for Education Sindh to take appropriate measures so that only those educational institutions are restored to their original owners who make a commitment in writing to continue with imparting education and not sell the landed property to gain profit. Furthermore action against those who are found connived with earlier privatisation deals should also be initiated as the right earnest.

Seerat Manzoor,

Karachi.

Hakimullah Mehsud

Its a real pity that so many are concerned with whether the mass murderer is dead or alive, as if it does matter. He is as good as dead, for that is the plight of all who choose the path of violence, death follows them and eventually defeats them. No mass murderer does ever get away, that is one lesson of history many ignore to their own peril.

I find it odd also that so many mix the Afghan Taliban with the indigenous homegrown ones. They may look alike but certainly have different objectives. The Afghans are supposedly fighting for their freedom against foreign occupation and the Pakistan Taliban are trying to ape them and trying to take over our country. That is why failure is the future of Pakistan Taliban and whereas the Afghan Taliban have won the war and are about to see the foreign forces leave much earlier than they thought, for they are going to fight till ever and we all know foreign forces no matter how massive they maybe, do get sick of it and do want to go back home, especially in a no-win situation as is in Afghanistan.

I wonder how the Afghan Taliban will deal with the situation post-western occupation. What will the effect be on the poor Indians who have wasted so much cash and resources which they should have actually be spending to clean up their own country but in order to prick us and not help the poor Afghans, as even the roads they have made are meant to give them alternate routes for bringing in stuff from Iran rather than Pakistan, without understanding the semantics involved.

SHAHID,

On email.

 PTV licence fee

I was taken a back after reading the letter of Mr Ali Akbar, controller public relation PTV, in a section of the press where he tried to convince the reader that PTV Licence fee is legal and viewer pay it happily.

Being a resident of Azad Kashmir I would like to draw the attention of honourable office that PTV signals are almost inaccessible throughout Azad Kashmir except Muzaffarabad city. Almost 5 percent residents of the area watched the PTV, rest rely on the Indian channels because Indian channels signals are easily catchable there. But it is very sad that PTV authorities charged licence fee through utility bills.

Mr Ali Akbar bluntly argue that this fee is charged in many EU countries, but honorable officer did not pay any attention towards the programmes which PTV is telecasting. Hardly any reasonable programmer one can watches on PTV in a week. How one can compare EU channels and their programmes with PTV? Furthermore I am dead sure that Mr Ali Akbar and his family hardly watch PTV.

Zahid Rashid,

Azad Kashmir.

India’s water terrorism

Since the 9/11 tragedy, international community has been taking war against terrorism seriously, while there are also other forms of bloodless wars, being waged in the world and the same are like terrorism. In these terms, India has been practising water terrorism against Pakistan.

In a bid to solace Islamabad’s concerns, while speaking in diplomatic language, Indus Water Commissioner of India G. Ranganathan who recently visited Pakistan revealed, “India had been affected as much as Pakistan due to water shortage in the Indus”. He denied, saying: “Indian decision to build dams on rivers has led to water shortage in Pakistan”, while rejecting Islamabad’s concerns regarding water-theft by New Delhi including violation of the Indus Water Treaty, assuring his counterpart, Indus Water Commissioner of Pakistan, Syed Jamaat Ali Shah that all issues, relating to water between Pakistan and India would be resolved through dialogue.

Now that India has decided to start resumption of secretary level talks with Pakistan paying a greater attention on terrorism instead of equally addressing all the issues of the composite dialogue, therefore, Islamabad must talk about Indian water terrorism as a major focus of agenda in the ongoing and future dialogue.

Sajjad Shaukat,

On email.

Indo-Pak parleys

Probably it is due to Gen. Kiyani’s recent candid assertion to the NATO commanders that his prime concern was defence of Pakistan’s eastern borders (against India) rather than fighting the war of terror on the western front, that has prompted the international community in pressurising India to resume talks with Pakistan. Pakistan must, therefore, view the Indian offer in its correct perspective and not fall a prey to it.

We certainly want better relations with India but not at the cost of Kashmir and water. India would try to talk as usual all about the sun and the moon but not of Kashmir and water, exasperating and frustrating Pakistan to the extent of quitting the talks.

No one today is more shrewd than ZAB in the foreign diplomacy, but even he could not make Swaran Singh utter a single word on Kashmir in his 22 days long parleys in Murree in May/June 1965. At the end of the unsuccessful marathon Swaran Singh triumphantly confided to the pressmen that his sole aim was to gain time which he had done. So did Shastri to Ayub Khan at Tashkent, and made him walk away from the talks just out of frustration as Shastri wouldn’t talk about Kashmir. Kosygin sensing the abrupt deadlock asked Ayub if he was a chess player. Ayub, sort of nonplussed by such a question, said, “no, why?”. “Because it is his (Shastri’s) move and that you must sit at the table till he moved”, was Kosygin’s cool reply. Ayub resumed his seat but was mercifully relieved when Shastri left to meet his Maker. Gandhi kept on talking for hours on end on cabbage to a bewildered Mountbatten, who had invited him for the first time for a serious discussion on the future of India.

Indians are past masters in the art of frustrating others during parleys and talks, and we must, therefore, make it quite clear to them that we want to talk but about Kashmir and water or else thank you for the offer.

Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd),

Rawalpindi.

13-2-2010

Indo-US nuke deal

This deal was in total violation of the NPT. America is big supporter of the NPT, while India is not signing the treaty. The US had refused to grant both Pakistan and India the status of de jure nuclear weapon states following their nuclear tests in May 1998.

Despite being our ally, the US refused to sign a similar deal with Pakistan, saying “our energy dialogue with Pakistan is going to be different from our energy discussion with India.” It is also saying that this deal was more beneficial for India. The big criticism of the Indian opposition on this deal is that the US sole objective of deal was to cap Indian’s nuclear weapon programme. US wanted to keep its influence on the South Asian region.

Although India-US deal on civilian nuclear cooperation is a bilateral matter between the two countries, yet it has serious global and regional implications. The deal poses a potential threat to international non-proliferation regime under NPT. It can trigger a nuclear arms race in the region, mostly involving Pakistan, because India is its adversary country. It can adversely affect the movement of already slow peace process between Pakistan and India. If the peace process stalled it can have overspilling effect, affecting Pakistan’s relation with Afghanistan.

The strategic stability in South Asia is most likely to be disturbed as a result of Indo-US nuclear deal because deal would enable India to acquire additional nuclear material to feed its military nuclear facilities. The deal contains an assurance from the United States for a continued and uninterrupted supply of nuclear fuel. This will enable India to divert its uranium reserves to the exclusive use for making more and improved nuclear weapons. The Indo-US deal therefore would continue to draw critisim on strategic stability in South Asia and universal non-proliferation regime.

Rukhsana Bibi,

On email.

Brown eating bananas

According to a press report (February 9) as part of his preparations for the upcoming campaign trail, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is eating up to nine bananas a day, fully convinced that it will give him “radiance”.

It is a sad reflection on the prevailing state of affairs that he has to rely on poor bananas, instead of his party’s performance, in his attempt to win the elections due within months. However, it is not surprising, considering the ‘esteem’ in which the British public presently hold the Labour party and the manner in which they chased the former prime minister Tony Blair, out of office. Gordon Brown, being a member of that government, shares the blame. Additionally, even before disengaging fully from the unpopular Iraq war, that cost Blair his job, Brown went full-throttle into the Afghan war. Also, in order to maintain the master-poodle relationship with the US, Brown was prompt in announcing 500 additional troops for Afghanistan, while US president dithered over the issue of more soldiers. However, his plan of indulging into the luxury of warfare, and running it on an ‘economy’ budget, is giving him less of a success and more of casualties and blame. The soldiers are up in arms because their genuine needs for security and other equipment like helicopters etc are not being met, which exposes them to greater risks, while the public is angry over the squandering of scarce resources on unnecessary, unwinable and cruel Afghan war. The result is that his party is in no better position than it was at the time he took over.

No wonder he is eating bananas, and hoping for the best.

S.R.H. Hashmi,

Karachi.

We are our own enemies

Some people think that Pakistan is in trouble because of its geo-political position. It may be partly right but this is not the root of the problem. The problem lies within our country.

It is our attitude which is our biggest enemy. Can anybody tell us why there is hige amount of brain drain in Pakistan and why is it happenning? From day one of its independence Pakistan has been encircled by people of least vision. It ran well in the beginning because of characterful, visionful, dedicated, motivated and honest bureaucracy migrated from Indian Civil Service (ICS) to Pakistan. Some military people like General Azam also earned good name.

There was a time in Pakistan when people used to hate their corrupt neighbours but with the passage of time the miscreant shocked the gentle and honest people by insulting them and hence established the reign of terror, dishonesty, financial corruption and satanic traditions. Earning money is not a bad thing to do but doing it through illegal ways is the worst thing on Earth. What is our criteria these day? We do not evaluate a person because of his/her love for keeping and maintaining good values alive but we judge people by the house he keeps, his mobile set and his spendings etc.

We are cutting the same branch of the tree on which we sit and we are not aware of the consequences. We have come to know the blockade of our rivers water right now. Where were we when the inaugurating brick of dams in India on our rivers were put? Now we are crying. The statement of General Zia ul Haq still reminds me of his statement when he expressed his opinion on the annexture of Siachen by India that grass do not grow in it.

In civilised countries whenever somebody buys a car or a new house, people from government come and ask to show one’s source of income to buy these things.

Our priorities have been changed now. We do not know what to condemn because our new generation have opened their eyes in the environments where everything is fair in love, earnings, ethics, creed and war. There is no accounting at any level.

Now tell me honestly who is our enemy?

RIZWAN ZAMIR,

Lahore.

12-2-2010

Well done, PPP

On Wednesday, Mr. Kaira disclosed before the pressmen in the PM Secretariat that his government is considering to bring 3 years budget this June instead of one year as usual. Kaira’s explanations or reasons might be no matter what but this would be a very smart move by the People’s Party to rip off the exchequer in one shot. Who knows, whether, they would complete remaining term of 3 years so why not to gulp this country in one stroke?

No leader has mercy on this country and plundering it from every corner by both hands.

SHAFIQ KHAN,

Canada.

Peace in Pakistan

I think the news of death of Hakimullah Mahsud and elimination of Taliban may be a good news for the people who believe in civil society. I will also be happy that our neighbouring nation is gradually getting free from the terror of so-called jehadi forces. But as the representatives of intellectual community, we also should emphasise to find out the reason behind the insurgence of forces like Taliban and al-Qaeda who misguide the youth and divert their strength towards destruction. I wish peace will be restored in Pakistan as soon as possible.

Hari Govind Vishwakarma,

India.

Need for dams

Dwindling water supply has been the order of the day of Sindh province, causing many to make assumptions regarding the economy of this poverty-stricken, agrarian province.

The meagre water supply has already resulted in the lost of million of acres of land to the barren desert and has rendered many jobless.

It is high time for the authorities concerned to take realistic measures and implement it well, without even a tinge of corruption hampering the solutions to this vital problem.

The story of the tussle over the water share between the provinces is as old as the country itself, but the recent NFC Award has brought hope in the bleak environment that the leaders would now be more attentive to this problem, and, hopefully, would reach some common consensus.

However, the equitable and the just distribution of water resource can not solely solve the province’s problems; much more has to be done.

First and foremost, there is a dire need to create awareness among the general public of water conservation techniques. Unfortunately, our academic education does not practically address our problems; therefore, water conservation campaigns should be launched with the help of NGOs in academic institutes, for increased awareness.

WAPDA and other related agencies like ISRA should be well paid and its officers should be provided with deserved facilities to make them less prone to the bribery for past findings have shown that corruption has been the main obstacle in the attainment of assigned goals.

The government should financially help farmers in planting sprinklers as this would reduce water loss to a great extent.

Though, planting sprinklers is cost consuming, the benefiting advantages would be helpful to the country’s economy in the long term.

Time does not stop and this critical time requires the urgent attention of the government towards the construction of small and large dams.

Construction programmes regarding dams should be processed at the earliest and required measures should be taken to conserve the maximum possible water.

MARIA SHAIKH,

Karachi.

Onus on Punjab govt

The recent attack on Awami Muslim League (AML) Chairman Sheikh Rashid Ahmed is very shocking and sad. I do not understand why proper security was not provided to him. There is a security threat in our country but there is a lack of security itself!

Law enforcement agencies always say that they cannot stop or catch culprits of suicide bombings. Can they catch those who have only fired with guns?

The Punjab government, which is very fond of boasting about the good governance in the province, must now prove its capabilities by catching the culprits.

MUBASHIR MAHMOOD,

Karachi.

India’s talk offer

What softened Indians for table talks surprises none. It is her national interest which our rulers serve by ignoring our vital national interests; be it Kashmir, Kalabagh Dam, Baglihar Dam etc. It appears we approached International Arbitration Commission only to concede legitimacy to illegal construction of Baglihar Dam (due to our sheer negligence of duty), agreeing to minor design changes recommended by arbitrator. Same thing would happen due to the corrupt, ignorant, incompetent government who would likely concede favourably to Indian desired needs with our lead man Jamaat Ali Shah who blundered already by his tall claim of strictly following the articles of Indian Basin Treaty Accord. That is how national interests have been compromised and damaged.

Will opposition, PML-N, PML-Q, TIP, JIP, jurists, civil society rise to the occasion and protect national interests? They must decimate the anti-nation, anti-poor coalition-cartel which has devastated Pakistan in last two years for unlimited power and wealth, self-centred myopic interest. Karachi is the current example which looks a duel between the dons to getting bigger chunk of the city and in the process destroy Pakistan.

A M ALI,

Sahiwal.

Karachi bleeds again

Karachi is again bleeding. Another religious procession has been subjected to brutal bombing 40 days after an inhuman attack on the Ashura procession. The helpless public is again witnessing the same course of lip service that has become a ritual no one bothers about. Condemnation by political and religious leaders who find such incidents an opportunity to appear in the print and electronic media; cash compensation being offered for the dead and injured; inquiries being ordered as the interior minister, chief minister and prime minister race against one another to take credit for demanding one; scores of agencies get involved in investigations while working at cross purposes, etc.

Such inquiries continue on paper till the next mayhem but no one will ever look into the real issues — the lack of political and security resolve to dismantle the terrorists’ ideological factories, which are churning out brainwashed zombies who know nothing but to kill and maim. Why have the intelligence agencies failed to penetrate terrorist groups and why are the bomb detection and disposal squads not properly equipped?

Life will carry on in Karachi and nothing will change. Investigation reports will gather dust, police will continue to be understaffed with no moral responsibility and accountability, political parties will continue to blame each other for institutional failures. This will continue till the terrorists choose and decide to hit another soft target to kill innocents. What a waste of life and humanity in Pakistan!

MUHAMMED JAMIL ATHER,

Karachi.

Need for greater caution

Two top US intelligence officials, Lieutenant-General Ronald Burgess and Dennis Blair, are reported to have said that the Pakistani nuclear arsenal is safe but vulnerable.

These reports are both a cause for concern and alarm. Washington seems to be more concerned about Pakistan’s nuclear assets than Islamabad itself. The reports are alarming because if Pakistan’s nuclear weapons were to fall into the hands of Taliban and al-Qaeda-backed militants, what would happen next?

US apprehensions and fears about our nuclear assets is a continuity of Washington asking Islamabad to do more and more in the war on terror, irrespective of the heavy price being paid by Pakistan. US officials keep pouring out such reports to further their agenda of capturing our nuclear arsenal themselves.

One hopes that the higher authorities concerned are well aware of the hidden threats that are being hurled at Pakistan in the garb of such reports. At the same time, the security of serving and retired nuclear scientists should also be further tightened.

It is no secret that both the US and the UK are still after our nuclear assets as well as prominent nuclear scientist, Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan. His ongoing activities, reported in the media from time to time, are exposing him to hostile elements. I urge vigilance and caution.

MRS TANVIR ZAHID,

Lahore.

Nawaz’s advice to Zardari

In a recent press statement, Mr Nawaz Sharif said that had he been Zardari, he would have gone to the court and faced charges in order to get himself cleared, irrespective of the immunity granted to a president under the Constitution of Pakistan.

Very well said, but when it came to Mr Sharif appealing in the Supreme Court against his conviction by the Sindh High Court in the ‘plane hijacking’ case, he preferred to sign an agreement of 10 years’ self-exile. Along with his whole family, domestic and kitchen staff, Mr Sharif stayed in Saroor Palace, Jeddah, instead of staying in Pakistan and fighting his conviction. What a contrast of action and words!

ANWAR KHALIL SHEIKH,

On email.

A bankrupt superpower

China represents the most advanced business-oriented country in the world with so much to win while the US represents the most muscle-oriented one with so much to lose. The duel between the two is forever. But the observer must realise that the US is practically a bankrupt superpower, it lives on a quicksand that will someday swallow everything. My advice to the warlords of the US is to prepare for reality. To live within its real size and not according to how long it can fool the world.

Taniya Haider,

On e-mail.

11-2-2010

Jazz Ghanta package

The offer seems quite illusory; only the half truth has been told to customers; nowhere do they mention the offer is not unlimited rather it encompasses only 100 minutes in a day, why? The total cost for first time user will shoot up to Rs59 as s/he will have to pay additional Rs30 to reach to the package prior to subscribing to bucket. The total cost thus goes up to Rs59 not including FED. There is a wide gap between the announced tariff and actual cost customer will end up paying. Why is it that the offer places a 100-minute barrier in a given day? Robust businesses require lengthy calls? Can this package be a solution? Certainly not! How many customers know that un-utilised minutes will cease to exist immediately after 24 hours thus raising the overall call charges? Is it ethical on part of the operator to hide certain facts and twist logic?

Those who think the offer is ultimate solution to all problems should think twice. The offer is valid for net calls only. What about rest of the numbers outside Jazz? Subscribers availing the package will also lose the opportunity of availing other packages of the same operator once they OPT FOR Ghanta package. Keeping in mind the aforementioned issues circling the package, I think it’s not worth it! Why pay Rs900 (excluding FED) for Jazz numbers only since it will be a part time solution, not the real one!

Zoha Muneed,

Islamabad.

Anti-Americanism in Pakistan

In an interview broadcast by Fox news on February 8, the US Defence Secretary Robert Gates concluded that anti-Americanism was a real problem for the US (February 10). Further, while paying glowing tributes to Pakistani army, he said “If you had told me 18 months or two years ago that the Pakistani army would be operating in South Waziristan, that they would have gone in the Bajaur Agency, that they had gone into Swat, I would have thought that would have been a miracle.”

While the tribute is very flattering indeed, and is an acknowledgement of the potential of our armed forces that we are very proud of, it gives a clear indication that despite his advancement in years, his life-time spent with the army and his long association with, and involvement in our region, he has not really learnt much and is a very poor judge of the capabilities of the people he closely associates with. Not very flattering for him, I would say.

Also, while acknowledging his problem i.e. anti-Americanism in Pakistan, and narrating the reasons for it, he tells only part of the story. He fails to mention the near-permanent anti-Muslim stance of his country as demonstrated clearly in relation to Arab-Israeli issue, Iraq, Syria, Iran, etc to name a few. What is worse is that now, the US does not move alone but takes the whole crusader army with it, which is only too pleased to oblige. Also, in pursuance of its China-containment policy, the US is accelerating arms race and friction in our region. Expressing apprehensions about our nuclear assets falling into the hands of terrorists has now become a permanent feature of the US foreign policy and through this, it turns world opinion against us by playing on their fears, Iraq-style, thereby paving the way for ‘irregular wars’ on our soil, for which saboteurs seems to be coming to Pakistan in large numbers, in the guise of diplomatic, support staff and whatever.

With this sort of record, Robert Gates wants us to accept the Americans as our reliable friends, for now and for future, and in various sectors like politics, economy and so on. He is some optimist.

S.R.H. Hashmi,

Karachi.

Prize Bond Scheme

Government of Pakistan started National Prize Bond scheme in order to borrow money from public at cheaper rate and give cash prizes in lucky draws. These lucky draws are held in major cities about 24 times annually.

Prize bonds are available in denomination of Rs200, Rs750, Rs1500, Rs7500, Rs15000 and Rs40,000. Highest prize for Rs200 bond is Rs750,000 and for Rs40,000 bond, highest prize money is Rs75 million. Every year 70600 Pakistanis get Rs1.6 billion prize money after tax deduction for their investment. Government of Pakistan borrows/earn billions of rupees but give just peanut prize money.

Four Rs75 million prize winners every year remain hidden from the eyes of general public and media. Their testimonies in advertisements can boost further investment by other people. How much they reinvest in bonds? This is a good question for economic and finance students and professionals.

Ministry of Finance must broaden the total base of prize winners from 70600 to 2 million in a population of 170 million. Some people say that bonds are best way to launder black money into white legal money. That is why bumper prize holders sell their bonds to businesspersons in Karachi at higher rates. In a market economy like America, every activity must be documented and informed to stakeholders in Pakistan. New director general of National Savings, Altaf Sheikh also wants and welcomes healthy competition from private sector but decision lies with Ministry of Finance.

Government of Pakistan, an anti-consumer government does not allow local financial institutions to issue prize bonds on the pretext that these may loot savings of small investors. Several times financial institutions listed in stock exchanges e.g. Kanani & Kalia asked government to allow them to alleviate poverty and increase