3-12-2008

Spend resources on education, not war

The recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai have been condemned in the strongest terms by the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan.

It is ironical that attacks came when just days before President Asif Ali Zardari made a daring set of offers to India by suggesting that he is ready to sign a no-first used treaty on nuclear weapons; and talks between the Home secretaries of Pakistan and India were held in Islamabad and co-operation in fighting terrorism was discussed. The foreign ministers were meeting in New Delhi to ease the visa restrictions and to build friendly relationships.

Unfortunately, a section of the Indian media has been blaming Pakistan for the terrorist attacks and Major General RK Hooda, who was leading the military operations against terrorists, told reporters that terrorists are from across the border, perhaps from Faridkot, Multan, but they pretend to be from Hyderabad, India.

It seems that the burden of a hostile past is still too big on the Indian military establishment, whose core agenda seems to be the destruction of Pakistan.

A joint Anti-Terrorism Mechanism was set up in September 2006, but it remained redundant. It was agreed at that time that there will be no baseless accusation without proper evidence and investigations. Recently, in the Samjhota Express terrorist attack, the Indian army colonel has been proved to be involved in planning and execution.

I strongly believe that good relations between India and Pakistan are not possible without the wholehearted concurrence of militaries and intelligence agencies of both the countries. So, with the political will of the civilian leadership, it is imperative to involve the chiefs of both countries and their intelligence agencies so that both countries, which are now spending billions of dollars on gunpowder, can spend their resources on education of their respective populations.

ENGR. S. T. HUSSAIN,

Lahore.

APC and Pakistan unity

We as a nation are very happy that all political parties, whether small or big, have agreed to sit togather. If these parties suceed in getting united, then we will definitely become a great nation. The decision taken in time can set a policy line for the present government. I as a citizen suggest that the APC more or less must give an agreed declaration to the nation. It is said “to be prapared is half victory”. If not then the parties will not be forgiven by the coming generation.

Mian Sanjid Shah,

Pabbi.

Smoke-free areas

We are young parents of an asthmatic child. Like most young parents, we do not have much recreation in our lives; consequently going out for dinner in a restaurant is a real treat. However, that treat can turn into harassment if someone lights a cigarette. We usually ask the management of such places to request their clients not to smoke, but not everyone is considerate or obliging. The idea of confined designated areas for smokers, which would separate the smokers from non-smokers completely, is the best news for parents like us. Now I keep reading in the newspapers that there is an argument about these areas. Personally, there should be no discussion about it, for the smokers can smoke, be separated and they can play with their health without harming the non-smokers.

Noreen Wahab,

Lahore.

The voice of conscience

A lot of applause came from within and without Britain when (the late) Robin Cook resigned from the prestigious position in the parliament, as a protest against the naked aggression on Iraq. This was a sacrifice for the sake of principles and the voice of conscience. Lal Bahadur Shastri (late) of India resigned as railway minister when a bloody rail accident occured in the early sixties. Many more people big and small in positions, are on the record to have shown a firm stand on principles to admit their weaknesses and slackness in responsibilities with open heart. Consequent upon the tragic happening in Mumbai, a number of important personalities are in the queue to resign. How big they look! Really big they are.

Look at this land of the pure. Have you ever known of a single example like this? Our history is deplete with such honourable deeds. The first dictator Ayub had to leave the chair when all and sundry came out into the streets and forced him to leave. His successor, another dictator Yahya had to stand down when he had completely sunk down the “East Pakistn” into the Bay of Bengal. The third dictator Zia, portraying himself to be “Amirul Momineen” got rid of his sins when he was blown into pieces in the skies. The fourth in the series, Musharraf, the most cheap, coward, unscrupulous and subservient to Bush and Blair, killer of his own people and a criminal of selling his countrymen including women like Dr. Afia Siddiqui in exchange for American dollars, was shown the door forcefully. He is the person who has committed the henious crime of ruining completely the honour of this God-given country.

The unfortunate thing is that the man who should have been dragged to the gallows, is being protected and honoured with protocol by this regime. Nobody cares what to speak of resigning despite all failures in the fulfilment of the pledges and promises prior to the election. They have failed to reinstate the lawful judiciary with honour. They have failed to fulfil the promise of rooti, kapra and makan. Due to our utmost passiveness, America has been emboldend to the extent that it has kept on continued its attacks on our soil without any justification. Internally, peace, law and order are in shambles. Who is behind the unfortunate situation in the city of Karachi, the backbone of the country’s economy? The criminals are quite conspicuous. There is the need for a bold and fair policy for this menace. If not all the leadership, at least the two men, the defence minister and the advisor for the interior should admit that they have failed to deliver.

Muhammad Faheem,

Timergara.

Isolate smokers

Being a frequent traveller within Pakistan, I get to spend a great deal of time at the airports. Consequently I witness various misdemeanours taking place, like spitting, littering and smoking. Sometimes, the ironic sight is people smoking right under the no-smoking sign. News of designated smoking areas had given me hope that finally the smokers shall be pushed into little cubicles where they can burn their lungs to their heart’s content. However, I became very hopeful very soon, for now the government is being pressurised into taking its sensible solution back. I wonder when we will ever really learn from the countries that we emulate to be. There have been designated smoking areas in most of the developed world and some of these countries are reverting their ban on designated smoking areas, for they realise that people who have a craving will light up regardless the consequences. They will light their cigarette in toilets or in closets, thus becoming a fire hazard. Just because the ordinance has been passed, does not mean that the humanity will quit lighting their cigarettes. “Smoke Free” is a process that will take time. Meanwhile, why not let these smokers congregate in their own cubicles and leave the rest of us alone?

Durdana Tameezuddin,

Islamabad.

Action re-play

A senior American general has revealed that al-Qaeda is planning to invade America from the FATA area of Pakistan. This is action re-play of 9/11 incident of 2001. Seven years back, CIA had planned an attack on world trade centre and after the attack, it managed to issue a statement through its agent, to accept responsibility for the attack by al-Qaeda, an organisation not known before that day.

It is likely that next year when Barak Obama takes over as Democrat president CIA will attack another city and blame Pakistan for the attack. Pakistani government and people should beware of the conspiracy, and action replay of 9/11 by CIA in the near future.

Bashir Hussain Azad,

Chitral.

Academicians or intellectuals?

Many Pakistani intellectuals often write in newspapers in much interesting way or speak in TV talk shows with much eloquence on many topics, some of which can be, though, termed as oft-repeated ones. However the views of most of them about these topics hardly carry some new thinking or idea. Most of their arguments, views, comments, analysis or suggested remedies etc are often idealistic, bookish and of academic nature or of stereotype. Very few come with original ideas and arguments. The real worth of their intellect is tested when they are faced with such questions or issue on which the related materials are least available or it needs original thinking or realistic logical and coherent and convincing arguments. It is a common experience of many readers that most of these intellectuals never answer back when they are asked with such questions through emails.

Though academicians may not be knowing the answers of many problems as their job is simply learn and present it back in simpler way. However intellectuals can not be absolved easily as true intellectuals are the ones who come with new and original ideas. They are supposed, and justly, to be possessed with creativity and ingenuity and should never be allergic to tough and new questions as true intellectuals always welcome complicated and tough questions so to seek out their answers. And that is the job as well as identity of true intellectuals.

Habib Ullah,

Peshawar.

2-12-2008

Owning up to a failure: Indians set a good precedent

Home Minister of India Shivraj Patel has resigned while its National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan too has submitted his resignation over the attacks in Mumbai that killed nearly 200 people. They resigned for their failure in preventing these attacks. In the admittance of their failure lie their greatness too. Many cheers for both these Indian politicians who showed their moral greatness. There is a great lesson for the Pakistani rulers. Would any Pakistani minister or advisor ever demonstrate such moral courage in case of their failure in their responsibility? Do they have the guts to follow the examples of those great Indian ministers? The answer is likely to be big NO as Pakistani rulers have not yet reached that stage. The greatness that lies behind admitting a fault on one’s part and thus readily resign from the post on the basis of a whim, needs moral courage, a sensible soul and high sense for principles, which are unfortunately badly lacking in Pakistani ruling band as to them posts are more important than principles.

Shivraj Patel and MK Narayanan are really great and thus worthy of salutation.

Anwar Jalal,

Peshawar.

Mumbai massacre

Mumbai massacre is a profound tragedy in which many a family lost their near and dear ones. No innocent person has to die simply because he is an Israeli, an American, a European or for that matter a Kashmiri, a Palestinian, an Iraqi, an Afghan or Pakistani or indeed from any other nation or country.

However, it is rather unfortunate that India is trying to make political capital out of this tragedy by pointing fingers at Pakistan. Now, anybody with an open mind will realise that with so many internal and external problems, on top of the financial crisis, Pakistan is hardly in a position to open an additional front, specially with India with which it has been trying to improve its relations. So far, Indian response has been terribly disappointing. I fail to understand why these two neighbours cannot live together in peace, like decent human beings.

The fact is that India never, ever accepted Pakistan and indeed, dismembered it by attacking East Pakistan. Now, it is depriving Pakistan of water by diverting it to a dam in violation of agreements. These are just two of the very many Indian moves which cannot be described as friendly by any stretch of imagination. In various negotiations with India, Pakistan has at best been successful in securing broad smiles and warm hand-shakes. Apart from some progress on what may be described as trivial matters, there has hardly been any movement on major issues and after every new round, we hear the familiar statement that the talks remained inconclusive but both parties have expressed resolve to continue negotiations to settle all outstanding issues. The statement is now becoming too monotonous and boring. It is just a ploy by India to while away the time and use the intervening period to fortify its position. Were India serious, it would have adopted a realistic approach in order to resolve its disputes with Pakistan. Also, to avoid a repeat of Mumbai-like tragedies, India has got to try to be even-handed in its dealings with various communities within India itself. Blaming others for problems caused by its own repression and mismanagement serves no useful purpose and won’t fool many.

S.R.H. Hashmi,

Karachi.

Mumbai: A reality check

True to habit, India started blaming Pakistan for the terrorist attack on it soil even before the day was out – this time for the condemnable events of Mumbai.

Several facts should provide a reality check. First, the Russians have revealed they had provided advance information to New Delhi about the attacks, but the Indians did not respond.

Second, the BBC interviewed a cook who works for Leopold Café where the terrorists initiated their operations. He said that six or seven people had come to the joint, got something to eat, along with alcoholic beverages but refused to pay, saying in English they had no money (Nov 27). After getting drunk, they started firing at the people in the vicinity.

If these were Lashkar-i-Taiba operatives or some other Muslims, they would never have consumed liquor because Islam forbids that. Also, the Lashkar has denied any involvement. It may be interesting to recall that in March 2000, when President Bill Clinton had reached India on a state visit, 36 Sikhs were massacred by a group of people dressed in Indian army uniforms, as partly narrated by another correspondent (Nov. 23).

That time too Pakistan-based militants were blamed. However, an eyewitness had revealed that these people had been drinking. A subsequent inquiry by a retired Indian judge had found Indian agencies responsible for the killings. The obvious reason for this deceit was to prove to the dignitary that Pakistan was abetting terrorism, so as to get it declared a state sponsor.

Fortunately, Mr Clinton was able to see through this Indian game and has been quoted by his secretary of state as saying it was the work of Hindu militants. But, this slap in New Delhi’s face hasn’t ended its propensity to defame Pakistan.

Similarly, after the attack on Indian parliament, Islamabad was blamed and one of the suspects, a Kashmiri man named Afzal Guru, was sentenced to die. But, some Indian human rights activists had shown the police findings to be wrong and demanded his release.

Third, Indian security people claim to have arrested one of the Mumbai terrorists, saying he is a Pakistani named Ajmal Amir Kamal hailing from Faridkot in Multan (Nov 28). However, a BBC correspondent visited the area and found that there is no such village near Multan. There is one near Khanewal having 2,000 residents, but they said nobody by this name ever lived there (Nov 28).

Fourth, for some of the past cases Hindu fanatics have now been found responsible, such as Lt Col Purohit. In fact, the chief of Mumbai’s anti-terrorist squad, Hemant Karkare, who unfortunately got killed in the latest episode, had reportedly been threatened by some of these Hindu extremists after he found leads to their culpability. From the foregoing facts, it would be prudent to investigate highly trained Hindu militants with army links, for the Mumbai carnage.

QAMAR IQBAL,

Karachi.

Women’s Parliamentary Caucus

Rising above party politics and individual differences, our women parliamentarians have officially launched the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus. It was long awaited and was the need of the day for women’s empowerment, development and emancipation.

The issues of the women of this country are innumerable, such as they are denied justice and suffer on account of male domination.

Women are victim of karo-kari, child marriage, domestic violence, rape, feudal and tribal brutalities of all sorts.

This caucus includes women from different political parties, with different views and manifestos but the credit goes to the Speaker of the House, Fahmida Mirza, who brought all like-minded women parliamentarians under one umbrella, with the sole purpose of solving problems faced by the women of the country: their empowerment, equal opportunities, respect at workplaces, abolishing harassment and subjugation of women.

This august caucus has the mandate and will of the public representatives to solve the manifold problems faced by the women of this great country, under the able guidance of the Speaker of the House, Fahmida Mirza.

FOUZIA EJAZ KHAN,

Karachi.

1-12-2008

India must blame itself

Here I shall share one sombre news item about the world’s biggest democracy (or hypocrisy) which highlights the pains and plights of the vulnerable minorities under the roof of this Brahamocracy.

“Untouchable woman dies after Indian medics refuse treatment” LUCKNOW, India, April 24, 2008 (AFP): An “untouchable” woman who gave birth outside an Indian hospital because doctors would not treat her died Thursday, a day after her baby, officials admitted. The newborn boy of Maya Devi, 28, died Wednesday due to lack of medical help minutes after being born outside the maternity wing of Kanpur Medical College in northern Uttar Pradesh state. Devi was only put in intensive care after giving birth but died of a heart attack early Thursday. Several doctors, including the hospital’s chief medical superintendent, refused to touch her or provide medical care as she delivered her baby, the Press Trust of India reported. Devi was a Dalit, or “untouchable”, a group at the bottom of the caste social ladder long ostracised and forced into menial professions despite laws banning discrimination. Many high-class Hindus fear coming into contact with them.

So this kind of treatment meted out to the grassroots Indians irrespective of their being Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs or Christians lay ground for the general resentment which often turns into bloody conflicts and homegrown terrorism. The Bombay tragedy is not the first or the last but it is one of the many previously unheard calls for the lawmakers in New Delhi to change their course, democratise their outlooks and dispense socio-economic justice to all their citizens irrespective of their origin, colour, caste or creed. Indian media should also play a positive (not poisonous) role in the confidence building within and outside of their country’s borders.

Otherwise the prevailing apartheid system and the rising number of Hindu terrorist organisations, their killings of innocent Muslims, Christians and Sikhs would only lead to more chaos, clashes and the ultimate dismemberment of the so-called secular state of India.

The Indian leadership should not only accept and implement the outstanding UN resolutions on the issue of Kashmir but should also ensure and respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of their neighbours for the sake of peaceful and progressive co-existence. A stable Pakistan is as good for India as a stable Afghanistan is for Pakistan. Landing on the moon is good but landing into the hearts of your citizens and neighbours is better.

Ahmed bin Babar

multiways@hotmail.com

Motorcyclists unleashed

In almost all big cities of the country and especially Lahore, Karachi and Hyderabad a new phenomenon has been noticed on the roads i.e. the motorcyclists have been found enjoying unbridled freedom of ignoring traffic rules with impunity. Such violations are common sights on traffic signals where the motorcycle commuters carrying more than allowable persons can be seen frequently ignoring and speeding away at will when signal is red and traffic police available on the site just keeps watching. So much so these delinquents are not checked by the law enforcers while breaking one-way traffic rules. On heavy traffic roads sometimes situation becomes so critical and confusing, especially for those who follow the rules and at times cause fatal accidents.

There is an old saying that the violation of any law starts when a crime howsoever minor is not checked at the time of its happening. Similarly violation of traffic also starts when a cyclist is ignored while breaking the signal being a “petty infringement”. I firmly believe in this age-old dictum and want to say that by giving the motorcyclist unlawful immunity to behave crazy on the roads, the traffic police are creating future hardcore criminals who by routine habit will breach the law at their will. The traffic authorities have probably forgotten in this cold maxim.

May I ask the Inspector General Police Sindh and the Deputy Inspector General, (Traffic), of respective cities whether the motorcyclist have been exempted from following traffic regulations? In that case at least they should notify in the press so that the law-abiding commuters can also know of this fact and become more careful while driving. And if this is the case then is it not discriminatory against the law-abiding citizen who are obviously being “penalised” even if some small error is found in their driving.

I also invite the attention of chief ministers, and the chief secretaries of provinces to the menace the peaceable vehicle users and pedestrians are now facing on roads. If motorcyclists are not educated and persuaded to behave in lawful manner the time will not be far when they will assume breaking the law as their birthright.

Shafqat Hussain Qureshi,

Karachi.

Take the first step

Ever since the partition of the subcontinent in 1947, India and Pakistan have taken a ‘step by step’ approach and moved tentatively towards normalisation of relations, which has resulted in resumption of ambassadorial ties, restoration of land links, bus services and many other confidence building measures (CBMs). There had been several rounds of talks between the two countries on sharp conflicts which include: Kashmir, Siachen and Sir Creek. On the Kashmir issue, there have been a series of talks but with no success. Therefore, the two countries started back channel diplomacy, which shows some signs of progress.

On Siachen issue Pakistan’s proposal is that both countries withdraw troops and pull back to positions they held before 1984, while India wants ‘recognition’ of the current position of forces, which could open the door to Indian claims of control over the glacier. At one stage there have been reports that agreement is going to be signed but it was thwarted by some ‘unknown forces’. On Sir Creek issue, both the countries took reasonable positions and agreed to conduct a joint survey of Sir Creek and adjoining areas and waters as a first step towards delineating the boundary. In the light of the terrorist attacks in Mumbai both the countries should tread carefully.

MUHAMMAD AHMED,

Lahore.

Need for Pak-India cooperation

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who was in India during the Mumbai terror attacks, has rightly asked Indian authorities to not ‘play politics’ and instead cast a dispassionate look at the evidence once the dust has settled. Just like Pakistani leaders who blame India and the US for every bad thing that happens here, Indian politicians have blamed Pakistan for the horrific attacks in Mumbai. However, this rift is exactly what the terrorists wanted to achieve, and they must not win on this count. India and Pakistan should respond with greater cooperation and intelligence sharing that will restrict the spaces available to the terrorists and will help apprehend those responsible for attacks such as the ones in Mumbai. Such heinous aggression should be responded with even greater moves for peace. All reasonable people in Pakistan are united in their grief and sympathy for those that were affected by the brutal acts committed in Mumbai. One hopes that Pakistan and India will work together to resolve this issue and will not succumb to the urge to point fingers at each other.

SOHAIL RAJA,

Lahore.

30-11-2008

BB’s portrait on coin

I request the government to also print a currency note with the portrait of Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah.

No doubt Benazir Bhutto sacrificed her life for the sake of democracy. But we should not forget that Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, the sister of the Quaid-e-Azam, not only contributed in establishment of Pakistan but was also the first brave lady in the world who faced a dictator, Field Marshal Ayub Khan, in presidential election for the sake of establishing democratic government in Pakistan.

ENGR MM AKHTAR SHAFI,

Peshawar.

Baizai irrigation channel

Agriculture is the largest sector of the country’s economy, contributing 21 percent to the GDP and employing 21 percent of the workforce. More than two-thirds of Pakistan’s population lives in rural areas and their livelihood continues to revolve around agriculture and allied activities. Poverty in the country is largely a rural phenomenon, therefore, development of agriculture will be a principal vehicle for alleviating poverty.

Some five years ago, provincial government of NWFP had started work on a mega hydro-electric power project Malakand-III which was not only supposed to produce cheap hydel power, but also to provide irrigation water to barani (rain-fed) area outside the command area of the existing Upper Swat Canal.

East Baizai area of Mardan comprising Kohi Barmol, Pipal, Ghazi Baba, Mian Khan, Sanghoo, Babuzai, Shamozai and Matta villages lack irrigation water facility and are totally dependent on rain for agriculture. These villages comprise about 21,000 acres of barren land and were included in Malakand-III Project. Baizai Irrigation scheme was proposed to irrigate lands of these villages. The Scheme was to start from Wartair Dobandi (Malakand) to Matta Katlang (Mardan) and feasibility study of the scheme has already been completed. The irrigation scheme originally was estimated to cost almost Rs1600 million. However, now the cost has been upwardly revised in view of escalating prices.

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.

While, the federal government is stressing upon development of water resources, it is unfortunate that such an important and cost-effective scheme had not been given due importance in the past. However, it is heartening to note that the present elected governments, both at federal and provincial level, have given due importance to the Baizai Irrigation Channel Project. The completion of this vital project would help in reclaiming thousands of areas of barren land in Mardan District and Malakand Agency which would be a significant step towards self-sufficiency in the 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.

Khan Faraz,

Peshawar.

Mumbai: Remove root cause

Terrorism in India is about the control of Kashmir and India can defuse the situation honourably by taking recourse to UN Resolutions and be the pacifist leader of a secular world.

Engineer Shafi Ahmed,

UK.

Surviving critical times

The sad incidents that are taking place in various countries of Asia and across the world, are very grievous and need serious attention on our part as peace-loving citizens of various nations. We deplore the misdeed that took place in Mumbai and offer our condolences to the bereaved families. We support our leadership in Islamabad as they have assured every help and cooperation to the people and government of the India.

We need to ponder whether we are in the right direction and heading towards hope, peace and creative dynamics. How to handle this menace at this critical juncture is a question and challenge for the authorities of victim nations which need to be answered well in time.

H Noor,

Serai Naurang.

Help unravel Mumbai attack

The horrific terrorist attack in Mumbai has highlighted yet again the threat facing all peace-loving people of the world. Many innocent lives have been lost and those responsible for this tragedy must be brought to justice.

One expected outcome has been fingers being pointed at Pakistan, especially its Inter-Services Intelligence agency and the various jihadi outfits that operate from here. However, further tension between India and Pakistan is exactly what these terrorists wanted to achieve through these attacks.

The correct response for both India and Pakistan should be greater cooperation on the counterterrorism and intelligence fronts, instead of the name-calling and finger-pointing that follows all such attacks. It should be realised by both sides that the “foreign hand” that is blamed for such attacks is in fact the hand of transnational terror groups that no longer align themselves with a particular nation-state.

Pakistan has offered to send the DG ISI to India to assist with investigations and share intelligence. This is a step in the right direction. This will not only improve relations and build trust, but will also help put India and Pakistan on a united platform against terrorism.

SHAHEEH SIDDIQUI,

On email.

Law, sovereignty and Bush

President Bush has been making a big hullabaloo over the fact that the Iraqi regime has not signed on to an agreement that would authorize US forces to remain in Iraq after December 31. According to Jacob G Hornberger Bush says that if an agreement is not signed between him and the Iraqi government, he will cease military operations in Iraq, keeping his military forces inside US bases within Iraq. Bush says that “the law” and “Iraqi sovereignty” would require him to do this, even though he has yet to clarify how “the law” and “Iraqi sovereignty” permit him to keep any forces in Iraq, whether inside U.S. bases or not, if there is no agreement signed extending Bush’s occupation of the country.

In any event, apparently “the law” and the concept of “sovereignty” don’t apply to Syria and Pakistan. Those are two independent countries that Bush’s military forces have recently attacked, killing scores of Pakistanis and Syrians.

Bush says that “the law of self-defence” authorises his military attacks against these two sovereign and independent countries. He says that people who are trying to evict Bush’s forces from Iraq are using these two countries as bases of operations.

There is at least one big problem, however, with Bush’s interpretation of “the law”: In Iraq Bush is the aggressor — the attacker — not the defender. Iraq is the defender. Therefore, as the attacker Bush is precluded from claiming self-defense when the defender attempts to defend itself.

Assume that an armed robber shoots at you. You have the right of self-defence. You have the right to fire back at the robber. When you fire back, the law does not entitle the robber to claim “self-defence” when he fires at you again. Since he was the one who initiated the attack, only his victim has the right of self-defence.

The principle is no different with respect to nations. Neither the Iraqi government nor the Iraqi people ever attacked the United States. Instead, Bush and his army attacked Iraq. That makes the U.S. the attacker, the aggressor. Iraq is the defender.

Was Bush’s attack legal? Of course not. For one thing, wars of aggression were punished as war crimes at Nuremberg. Second, Bush never secured a congressional declaration of war, which the U.S. Constitution requires. That makes Bush’s war on Iraq illegal under our form of government. Third, the UN Charter, to which the U.S. is a signatory, makes attacks on other countries illegal.

Thus, since Bush attacked Iraq, only Iraq can claim self-defense, not Bush. Moreover, the principle is the same with respect to Bush’s recent attacks on Syria and Pakistan. Not only is Bush’s violation of the sovereignty of those nations as illegal as when he violated Iraqi sovereignty with his initial invasion, Bush’s self-defence justification is as faulty and fallacious as an armed robber’s claim that he was defending himself from his victim’s attempt to defend himself.

Fozia Shahnaz,

On email.

Set own house in order

The law and order situation in the northeastern states of India is said to be worse than that of any province in Pakistan. The state governments in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa have virtually failed to control the Naxal menace. Rampant corruption in each and every department of the state, central government is main cause of the dismal security situation in the Naxal-affected state.

An article titled “Planning for Doomsday” was written by Ajai Shukla in daily “Business Standard” on July 15, 2008. While recommending a pragmatic and analytical approach, the author suggested that Afghanistan is not the country, which would be able to protect India’s long term interests and therefore, security forces should not be dispatched to Afghanistan. The author has also tried to show the true face and the actual worth of so called pro-India Afghans, whom he termed as morally corrupt people, who are driven by Bollywood’s attraction and some good food in Indian hotels.

An article was published in The Hindu on July 7 quoting a statement of Ahmed Rashid, the Lahore-based security affairs analyst who has alleged that most of the money Americans gave to Pakistan to fight against terrorism was used by the Pakistan Army to arm itself against India. Pakistani defence analyst in India has made following comments about the author that Mr Ahmed Rashid, a self-styled pseudo intellectual by no standard can be termed as a son of Pakistani soil and that he has written a book without ascertaining facts about the working and functioning of Pakistan Armed Forces; there is no doubt that Mr Ahmed Rashid is on Indian payroll, his assertions against Pakistan Army notwithstanding, he seems worried for the safety and security of India.

The involved Indian army’s regular Lt-Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit in Malegaon and Modasa bomb blasts that killed eight people on September 29 shows how the Indian establishment takes on the Muslim and Christian communities. Indian movie “Suriya” depicts how the Indian army is training its young officers for planned genocide of Muslims and other minorities. This attitude has forced the minorities to express their dismay through protests and sometime violent means. India is today a fast growing economy and there are huge foreign investments which need to be safeguarded. Indian business community and saner elements are very much against the Indian establishment’s coercive policies which can lead to disastrous situations and their investments going down the drain. There is need to urge Indian government and establishment to set their own house in order and go for peace with neighbouring countries.

Shumaila Raja,

Rawalpindi.

Mumbai attacks

Whatever happened in Mumbai is highly condemnable. Many precious lives were lost. We have sympathies with the bereaved families of India. Both countries, Pakistan and India have been in the clutches of terrorism and extremism for the last few years and have suffered much.

Instead of tracing the masterminds, whatever happens here or across the border both countries start blaming each other, which really seems ridiculous. We must concede that security agencies have badly failed whether it is India or Pakistan. How is it possible to carry out such huge amount of weapons to famous hotels like Taj there or Marriott in Islamabad?

Najeebullah,

Swat.

28-11-2008

Save exam boards, Asfandyar Wali Khan

In 2005, the then MMA government, through an amendment in the Act of Boards, took over the exam boards and text book board of the province by shifting controlling authority from the then governor to chief minister, thus crucifying the autonomy of these institutions, putting them under the slavish subjugation of Schools and Literacy Department, in order to bring in blue-eyed officers, to make political recruitments, corrupting the evaluation system of the poor students of the province as a natural result of this bad legislation. The entire provincial assembly supported this move, even those in opposition, as they saw future investment of fulfillment of their aspirations once they would come in the government.

In our political culture, influence knows no ethics, no fair play and political favouritism knows no bounds. For five long years, MMA, got recruited hundreds of employees in these boards and for this purpose, most of the high officers of boards hailed from Bannu and DI Khan. With takeover of the present ANP-led government, the same practice continued with ruthless repatriation of honest officers and replacing them with officers whose past records have deep scars of inefficiency and corruption. Two wrongs making a single good, can be the only justification, sounding “they did it yesterday, so we do today”! The ultimate losers are going to be the students of the province as these evaluating exam boards, losing autonomy, are bound to lose credibility, collapse and fail in performing the job, assigned to them.

These boards are important organisations as they examine the poor children of the poor parents. The exam fee charged is still around Rs1,000 only per candidate against well above Rs30,000 charged by University of Cambridge for O and A levels exams. How many students of this province can afford such costly exams, if the boards of the province collapse? Exam boards are self-income generating, not government-funded departments and are in no way places for political recruitments.

This writer requests the learned leader of ANP, Asfandyar Wali Khan, to personally take notice of this grave issue and save exam boards of the province from tragic decline by restoring their autonomy, returning them to governor to abolish the negative role of education department altogether.

If this suggestion is seen as the other extreme, this writer suggests the formation of a high level committee, comprising renowned educationists and education managers, having experience in boards’ offices, to freely work out recommendations for the restoration of the autonomy of exam boards, freeing them from negative influence of Schools and Literacy Department, to streamline their efficient functioning for acquiring credibility of good evaluation of the students of the province.

Brig Ishaq, ex-chairman, BISE Peshawar, is a widely respected personality with a long experience, who may be considered to head this committee.

T.S Raqim,

Peshawar.

Heinous attack in Mumbai

BBC reporting early this morning the heinous attacks on a five-star hotel and other important places in Mumbai, are surely act of terrorism and a gross crime against humanity. Every human being, irrespective of creed, religion, nationality, race etc must condemn such criminal acts. It strikes to many minds whether such crimes can be a repetition of the 9/11 planned inside drama in the new shape of mini 9/11s. Since western media has been repeatedly making the false propaganda of the al-Qaeda hiding somewhere in the tribal belt of Pakistan, such events do testify that America under the control of the Evangelists is planning something new, very horrible in nature. The criminal assaults of the American drones in the tribal areas of Pakistan are sufficient proofs that America is hatching a big conspiracy against this country. The criminal attacks in Mumbai seems to be the job of the American CIA, Mosad, and probably with communion of the Indian RAW. Such dreadful events seem to be a well-planned programme for justification of a naked aggression against Pakistan since the intrusions in different shapes are already going on. The American, Indian, Karzai’s forces along with the NATO might are manning our western side on the pretexts quoted above. The American think tanks have since been speaking of a changed geography of Pakistan. Is the conspiracy heading forward by creating support to it with a planned terrorist activity for which Pakistan can easily be incriminated through the powerful propaganda apparatus?

We are busy in a useless war, which serves the cause of America and Jews. Could the Pakistani leadership give a second thought to its policy of submission and start thinking of the interest of Pakistan and not American masters? The statements of all leaders of the ruling class on all kinds of issues are so much apologetic and discouraging that the nation as a whole is plunged into the ocean of disappointment. Now the time has come that we gird up our loins to save our soil and ideology from the external aggression with our might of courage and conviction. Mind that nations cannot survive if they lack the strength of self-confidence and trust in their national integrity.

Muhammad Faheem,

Timergara.

Vfone glitters in Okara

We heard a lot about deregulation of telecom sector that should have resulted in new companies to join in the competition but it seems that never happened as desired but happily this move changed the outlook of the existing companies. I am glad that our national telecom carrier PTCL is now prone to innovative technology and their Vfone service is contributing in our district Okara’s prosperity. I know people who are benefiting from Vfone’s voice and internet services equally but still there is room for quality and I hope PTCL overcomes that accurately.

Munir Awan,

Okara.

Shahbaz’s unexpected act

It was reported that many of the plaques commemorating inaugurations by former Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi have been removed from the chief minister’s secretariat. While it may be the case that some, not all, have been removed, the real issue should be of policy. Whenever we have regime change or transition in Pakistan, policies of the previous government are reversed without any regard to their success or failure, and put in place new ones.

However, any government expert would tell you that continuity is often as important as change. This has even been acknowledged by the current Champion of Change, Barack Obama. His need for continuity is expressed through his possible retention of Secretary of Defence Robert Gates at a time when the US is at war.

In Punjab, then, the new administration should ensure a policy review of the past five years, and should then pick and choose which policies it wants to continue, which it wants to modify, and which it wants to reverse. Perhaps it wouldn’t be such a bad idea to even have some advisors and officials from the previous administration weigh in, in a completely non-partisan discussion, on the possible way forward.

I have complete confidence in Shahbaz Sharif’s abilities as chief minister, and also his credentials as a forward looking politician. One hopes that symbolic moves like the removal of plaques from the CM Secretariat do not reflect his attitude towards policy.

SAQIB NOOR,

Lahore.

Tackling dengue

Dengue fever considered as the second most important mosquito-borne disease after malaria, has affected about 2.5 billion people worldwide. It hit people in more than 100 countries. The disease has a long history and is prevalent in Asia; it was reported in Pakistan as late as 1996. Since the occurrence of the disease is predominantly related to poor environmental conditions, the ongoing episode is indicative of degrading environmental conditions in Pakistan, particularly big cities like Karachi and Lahore. It is common in warm, wet areas and its outbreaks occur in the rainy season.

Dengue cannot be eliminated and will continue to be a threat to life. There is no vaccine available that can effectively and entirely cure dengue, though research is being conducted in this area with the use of biotechnology and genetic engineering. People who have had dengue fever, are now at a higher risk of developing severe illness if they are-infected again. There are some cautionary measures which could help eliminating mosquitoes spreading this disease by educating the public about numerous sites which could play host to the dengue larvae, including ornamental pools.

NAGHMANA HUSSAIN,

Multan.

Illegal factories

According to reports, hundreds of illegal factories in Lahore are making plastic grain from the infected hospital waste, which cannot be recycled without the permission of the Environment Department of the City District Government Lahore. The used syringes, glucose drips, urine bags, and other medical items of plastic are thrown in the waste that must be burnt or disposed of in a proper way. However, a few purchase the waste at a nominal rate for their vested interests. The hospital officials dealing with waste disposal sell tonnes of glucose drips and syringes collected from various hospitals at a rate of Rs110 per kg to factories manufacturing plastic grain worth millions of rupees. Most of the factories are located at Bund Road and Kot Lakhpat areas. It is believed that near the dumping ground at Mehmood Booti, Bund Road, many mafia elements are active in collaboration with the officials of Solid Waste Management (SWM) and hospitals disposals departments. The used syringes and drip bottles provide high-quality raw plastic material grain through a simple recycling process. Buyers of this plastic grain are factories that manufacture plastic products for bathrooms, including water tubs and other items of similar nature.

It is very strange that this horrendous business of recycling of solid waste is going on under the very nose of major hospital managements, inviting the spread of diseases like hepatitis B, C, and HIV/AIDS. It is the official and moral duty of the officers concerned to plug the loopholes in the waste management plans of their respective facilities.

WASIF ALI,

Lahore.

15-11-2008

Pull back, Obama

President Asif Ali Zardari after the inter-faith conference is likely to extend his visit by a day or two to travel to Washington and Chicago to meet Obama and vice president-elect Joe Biden. During election campaign, Obama made an open offer to play his role in resolving the burning issue between Pakistan and India. He showed his desire to nominate former president Bill Clinton as mediator on Kashmir. Pakistan welcomed Obama’s suggestion but India, as usual, displayed reluctance in accepting US mediation because of her irresponsible behaviour towards the core issue with Pakistan. Zardari intends discussing once again Kashmir issue as security of the region is at stake.

Obama’s win is the result of his opposing the wrong policies of Bush. Now Obama must pull back from the so-called war on terror if he really believes in peace which will ultimately help in boosting US economy. Otherwise, there might be disintegration in the world and that will be the disintegration of Great America.

Zaheerul Hassan,

On email.

Not mistakes at all

My this letter is with reference to a letter by Mr. Mian Nisar (Dearth of linguists, Statesman 12th November). He has criticised some words, which he thinks are incorrect, in the letter of another writer published a few days earlier. The mistakes that he has referred to are not at all mistakes. For example, Mr. Mian Nisar says that the compound structure ‘world-famous’ is incorrect. My goodness me! Mr. Mian Nisar is requested to consult Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary to see for himself the entry of the compound word, ‘world-famous’. Furthermore, things are ‘matter’ but handouts, documents, pages, etc. used in classrooms for teaching and learning purposes are ‘materials’. He is requested to confirm the use of words before they are labelled incorrect or wrong.

Rubina Shah,

On email.

Crackdown on money-changers

This has reference to the recent crackdown by the FIA on the infamous money-changers in Pakistan.

This step should have been taken a long time back. Rather, these money-changers (all of them) should not have been allowed to operate in the manner they were.

The practices that they carried out were very harmful for the economy, especially for an ailing state like Pakistan.

Time and again they were known, with the help of their political aides, to have indulged in damaging the already weak and unstable currency of Pakistan.

Not in the too distant past, we had the money market as a sort of economic barometer rather than the stock index that is a worldwide standard of economic activities.

What now remains to be seen is, to what extent are these persons taken to task and is this just a crackdown on a few of them, possibly the non-cooperative ones, or is it on a broader scale as I am sure it’s not just one company that indulged in these activities?

The government should make public the progress and be fair in their decisions and policy as a lot is at stake regarding the credibility and intent of them as well.

LUQMAN REHMAN,

Karachi.

The ultimate winner

Isn’t it an irony that those who fight for restoration of the judiciary and vowed to restore Iftikhar Chaudhry, if they came to power, not only retracted from their promises but also belittled the honourable judges and ridiculed the unprecedented movement of the lawyers.

All this despite the fact that their late party chairperson had unambiguously called Iftikhar Chaudhry her chief justice; accords were made with the PML(N) and deadlines were set, broken and then again reset.

Recently the president and co-chairman of the party ‘sarcastically’ called upon deposed CJ to join politics. It is said, and rightly so, that the lawyers’ movement has lost its momentum.

But who has contributed to this fateful pass? Certainly, those who proudly own this victory, they have succeeded in defeating the people of Pakistan who wanted Iftikhar Chaudhry as their chief justice (and still want but feel let down by their elected government) they have also caused a setback to the concept of principles, justice and moral values.

Iftikhar Chaudhry though for the time being seems to be a loser, in the end truth and justice shall win. This is the lesson of history.

GULSHER PANHWER,

Dadu.

To Babar Awan

Sir, undisputedly, you are considered as one of the most dignified and high-standing politicians among the political circles while many apolitical people have a lot of respect and affection for you not only because of it but also for your being a man of letters as well as man of principle and character. For these reasons you are being presumed, and rightly so, to maintain your dignity and principles.

Sir, of course, being a central leader of a party and also a part of government you are justly supposed to work and speak for the cause of your party and have to support the policies and actions of your government, whenever it is so required of you. However on certain occasions, it is felt that you take such tasks and responsibility, (may be that are assigned to you intentionally as the same could also be performed by someone else) which are feared to be detrimental for your repute and esteem and thus also may hurt the feelings of your admirers.

Not only your fans but even most of PPP workers would too not like to see you supporting and praising the president on media in such a way which may well demean your likeable, saintly and worthy of reverence persona.

Political as well as apolitical people never want to see such deviation on your part which may stain your dignified and gentlemanly persona. May Allah be with you, ameen).

Anwar Jalal,

Peshawar.

IMF Loan

Recollecting a few recent statements of those who matter will probably be not out of place.

1) We have options A, B & C. Option C - going to IMF - is the last option – Shaukat Tareen.

2) We will accept IMF loan only on our own terms – PM, Shaukat Tareen & quite a few others.

3) We will have to swallow the IMF bitter pill – Shaukat Tareen.

Didn’t our financial managers know that beggars cannot not be choosers?

Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd),

Rawalpindi.

BISP is a pork barrel project

Mr. Zardari launched Rs34 billion pragramme named after Ms Bhutto, Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) with an intention to provide Rs2,000 every two months to 3 million families who are earning less than Rs6,000 per month. The programme structure and the process of implementation is essentially aim to broaden political agenda of the party using national resources.

Management of the BISP primarily consists of PPP Jilayas and seemingly the process rather designed to complicate accountability by means nearly irreversible. Obviously distribution of funds is gravitated around political constituency involving members of the National Assembly and senators. According to the references each parliamentarian will have total of Rs96 million in shape of 8,000 forms to distribute. The distribution of fund is aimed demographically to produce favourable influences in particular areas.

President of the country must work to provide equal solution to the citizens across the board. What about families who are making only Rs7,000 per month? Genuine solution requires robust economy. Concrete solution lies in controlling and curtailing soaring inflation rate, creating more jobs, electricity, water, energy, security, health care and education. Develop infra-structure for businesses to flourish so they can generate more jobs. Not, by giving out handouts! With airy cloaked agenda!

Essentially, the programme isn’t geared to solve nation’s problem but to manipulate most needy ones promoting party’s agenda. Amazingly a programme of this size is never been discussed in the parliament of the country for practical details.

Current government has criminally neglected economy and then degraded the nation by running back and forth to countries begging for money. The government and its ministers are intentionally giving conflicting statements about the status and acceptance of IMF conditions and yet to this day they have not made it open to the citizens about the details of the agreement, thus by-passing parliament altogether on IMF package conditions and approval.

Acknowledging the seriousness of the situation parliament should take exception and bring IMF, forex scam and BISP for open debate in the parliament.

Kadar Khan,

On email.

Marry times at home with IPTV

Living in the era of fast technologies, I went through a very pleasant experience by getting PTCL IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) connection. I got IPTV connection at my home as a backup in the event of electricity outages.

IPTV finally be poised to move into Pakistan. Pakistan Telecommunication Co. Lt. (PTCL) launched for the first time in Pakistan using the flexible Internet Protocol (IP) technology, IPTV is a service which allows customers to be more interactive and more in control with their TV service as compared to conventional TV broadcast or cable TV.

I enjoy about a hundred channels with excellent picture quality and a number of features that you simply can’t get with cable TV or other media services. The time-shift feature allows you to rewind and then forward the channels within a 30-minute time-frame. This means that you don’t have to worry about missing the start of your favourite show or those boring parts you wish you could forward.

IPTV delivers television programmes to households via broadband connection and requires a subscription, a set-top box, and offers key advantages over existing cable TV.

I have been using it at my home for two months and I come to like it.

This service is a great example of combining voice, video and data services into one and I hope it spurs others into following their lead. PTCL has made another leap forward with IPTV, hope it continues to improve the service.

Nida Farman,

Islamabad.

14-11-2008

Dearth of true critics

This is with reference to a letter under the caption Dearth of linguists (Statesman: 12th November). The learned letter-writer has commented on my earlier letter that was published in the same daily a few days ago, pinpointing linguistic mistakes in it. First of all I would clarify it here that I generally write brief letters while I am online. In addition to it, never ever have I again gone through the text of letters for a second time for editing. I write with a view that if some mistake does take place in writing letters, the editors would rectify them. However, their oversight, and perhaps they are over-burdened, a situation like this appears. Still, I would defend some of my ‘mistakes’.

I would always write ‘world-famous’ as the expression, used as an adjective, has been in use in Pakistan. The writer is right when he says that ‘answer’ is transitive, and should be followed by an object, and not a preposition. But look at a similar mistake of the critic. He writes that “who extend to him online guidance”, which should be ‘who extend online guidance to him’ or ‘who extend him online guidance’. The phrase is actually ‘to extend sth to sb’. What I mean is that mistakes do take place.

I would write ‘material’, and not ‘matter’. We use the expression ‘language teaching materials’ and ‘not language teaching matter’. The critic should once again go through my earlier letter, and he would see for himself that ‘perhaps’ has not been repeated. Rather it has been used in two separate sentences.

As to ‘educated intellectuals’ I would say that there are men who might guide you on an issue, and might present a wonderful solution to a hard issue, can’t that person be called an intellectual? To me he is. The critic might exclude such a person from the list of intellectuals. He has every right. And there are ‘educated’ ones who might not be ‘intellectuals’. If there can be ‘educated-illiterate’ persons, there can be ‘educated intellectuals’.

However what is most important is that the critic has not understood the message of my earlier letter. My complaint was not on the dearth of linguists. My complaint actually was that foreign scholars would in no time reply to our queries; whereas most of the Pakistani ‘educated intellectuals’, who are just no more than dwarfs, in terms of intellect, compared with them, would not bother to answer your questions.

Mohammad Fayyaz,

Charsadda.

Qadirpur gas field’s privatisation

The minister of Privatisation Commission has informed the Cabinet Committee about its decision to hand over very soon administrative control of the Qadirpur gasfield to the new owner who holds 37 percent of shares in the filed.

Against this decision the workers’ union of the gas field has decided to move a constitutional petition before the High Court of Sindh, as reported on the national pages, “Workers to challenge sale of Qadirpur gas field in court” (Nov 9).

Even the Mutahidda Qaumi Movement,