30-7-2010

Afghanistan does it yet again

Afghanistan's persistent hostility towards Pakistan is well-established. Only last year, Hamid Karzai had more than once threatened to attack Pakistan on one pretext or other. Now, Afghanistan has done it again. Kabul has asked the West to review their Pakistan policy after leaked Pentagon documents pointed to "Pakistan's double dealing in the Afghan War".

Afghan war related hundreds of secret documents have been revealed on some website couple of days back and Kabul has not wasted the opportunity to point accusing finger towards Pakistan yet again. It is a matter of record that Kabul has been constantly accusing Pakistan's intelligence agencies of supporting Taliban insurgency. Islamabad has been denying these baseless and unfounded accusations but somehow Kabul insists on maintaining a hostile attitude towards Pakistan which itself is a victim of terrorism for some years and paying heavy price for being a front line member of US-led international coalition's war on terror.

Kabul's uncalled-for accusation has fallen on the ground all flat. Top most US military official none other than Admiral Mike Mullen has denied, according to reports in the media, that information in the leaked documents in any way questioned US strategy or relations with Pakistan.

It is a matter of coincidence that US's Afghan War secret documents have been leaked out on some website within a matter of days of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit to Islamabad and bluntly refusing to enter into a New Delhi-Washington like civil nuclear technology deal with Islamabad as well. The bunt refusal was prompted by India's pressure on the USA.

In fact, US has lost the war in Afghanistan and is now finding a way out. Could not the Afghan War strategy documents be leaked out on the website by Afghanistan or USA purposefully? After all, the 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington and demolishing of the World Trade Centre were also enacted to pave Washington's way to invade and conquer Iraq and Afghanistan and cast dirty evil eyes on Iran.

As for Kabul is concerned, it is only speaking as spokesman of the USA and should be dismissed summarily as nothing deserving some serious consideration, at all. If USA is not a friend of Pakistan despite all the tall claims, then how its installed puppet regime in Kabul be friendly towards its neighbouring Muslim country?

Zahid Kalim,

On email.

Railway double track

The Government of Pakistan is requested to take effective measures for undertaking the construction of railway double track from Peshawar to Karachi so that goods train can run around the clock from Karachi to Peshawar without any stoppage on various junctions.

This measure will shift the goods transit load from trucks and trailers from GT Road to the railway track. As result of this the railway will start earning profit instead of running in loss, and the Government of Pakistan will save billions of dollars per year presently being spent on the import of trucks, spare parts and oil besides on repair of GT Road getting damaged due to heavy traffic load costing millions of rupees annually.

Similarly the passengers travelling from Karachi to Peshawar will be able to travel in fast-moving trains without wasting time on various junctions, as a result of which travelling time will be considerably reduced and people will prefer travelling on railway passenger trains, being safe and comfortable, as compared to travelling on the GT Road where travelling is risky.

This is unfortunate that during last sixty years the Pakistan Railway has not contributed towards the development of the country and is running in loss, despite the fact the trains are running full and it is hard to find tickets for travelling, as such it is imperative that some effective system should be evolved so that passengers are not allowed to travel without ticket and the revenue earned by the railway is received by the public exchequer.

This is irony of fate Indian Railway is making profit whereas Pakistan Railway is running in loss. It is therefore imperative Pakistan Railway instead of reducing the number of passenger trains the railway track should be doubled as early as possible for shifting goods load from GT Road to railway track. This measure will reduce more than 40% problems of Pakistan by providing safe, comfortable, fast and economical railway to the poor masses of Pakistan.

Engr Mian Akhtar Shafi,

Peshawar.

Balochistan – What next?

The significant figure, Habib Jalib, was assassinated weeks ago in Balochistan and the blame is being put on the security agencies as he was vocal against the disappearances. He was a noncontroversial person who wanted to fight for the rights of the people and their just place in the politico-economic environment of the country. The role of army is largely positive because it is making all-out efforts to improve education level of the youth in Balochistan, but the murder of Habib Jalib has given a big blow to it.

The Baloch are only 3.57% of Pakistan’s total population; in that case there is political and economic discrimination with this province. The Baloch people’s grievances are not new. The Baloch nationalist movements demand from the centre greater cultural, economic and political rights, autonomy and independent state of Balochistan.

The wave of anti-Punjabi operations started by Baloch armed groups has taken the lives of many Punjabi teachers and professors of Baluchistan University, but they did not touch the religious figures.

Traditionally arms keeping is a sign of prestige and strength, and the culture of feudalism and sardari system are working in the tribal society. The people want development, progress, peace and prosperity in the province but a few elements are working against it.

What we need the most is to eliminate once and for all the menace of feudalism and sardari system for the progress of the province.

Attiqa Ahmed,

Rawalpindi.

Media ethics!

28 of July 2010 was a dark day for Pakistan. Not just because it was mostly cloudy, but for hundreds of lives lost in the plane crash, and tens of others in rains and floods. We thank our electronic media, especially the private (commercial) channels for keeping the nation updated round the clock. And we must also thank these TV channels for trying keeping the moods of the nation entertained through the ads. A piece of sorrow news gets frequently interrupted with music and female models. And we also must thank the staff and camera men of these channels for broadcasting close-ups of bereaved faces that are in tears and wailing. How uncomfortable those poor people would feel when our media professionals are doing what they think is an ethical job?

These are our media’s repulsive practices that we have accepted as ethical. But are they ethical?

Marghuz Khan,

Peshawar

New Abu Ghraib

This refers to leaks of more than 90,000 classified US military reports on the war in Afghanistan. WikiLeaks have branded these reports as “The Afghan war diary 2004-2010.”

The scale of leakage might have shocked the world community; however, the cruelty of war, scale of widespread destruction and corruption, and American soldiers’ disregard of local population as human beings may not be that shocking for most of us. There is nothing much to reveal when it comes to occupation of a country by another, especially when the occupier is a superpower, whether it’s Americans in Afghanistan and Iraq or Soviet Union in Afghanistan of 1980s. That’s why the US National Security Adviser Gen. James Jones has called the leakage of reports “irresponsible,” — that means the reports are believed to be correct but not supposed to be available to the general public.

The documents reveal hundreds of incidents in which coalition forces killed or injured civilians while most of the incidents went unreported. Reports include shooting of buses and vehicles that fail to slow down instantly, shooting of motorcyclists and pedestrians who fail to comply with the foreign soldiers instructions.

Reports may become the “Abu Ghraib” of Afghanistan but only for those who ever learned anything from Abu Ghraib. I am afraid there is no one interested to learn anything from history.

Reports also refer to alleged links between Pakistan’s ISI and Taliban. Such allegations are rampant but could be linked to the enmity of Afghan intelligence services for the ISI. In parallel someone may need to dig the reports to find out more on the US and NATO’s links with Taliban — ignoring poppy cultivation, paying money to warlords to secure highways for convoys’ movement, colluding with the Taliban at the local level to avoid any bloodshed during the deputation period. We are hearing condemning voices from the US and its allies including Pakistan. I believe these documents will help the American public to make up their minds about the Afghan war. And that should be the true purpose behind the leaks. Therefore, such leaks should be praised not condemned.

MUHAMMED JAMIL ATHER,

Karachi.

29-7-2010

Save Mir Masoom Library

There could be no more terribly shattering news for the people of Sukkur in particular and entire province of Sindh in general then the one that Mir Masoom Shah Library has been sold to some covetous builder, to erect a monstrous multistoreyed concrete structure for commercial purpose despite constant agitation by the civil society.

The well stocked library with a reading room having historical significance was established decades ago in the memory of celebrated Mir Massom Shah Bakhri, who ruled Bukkhar (upper Sindh) as a Mughal Governor.

At present this is the only facility available in Sukkur which also caters for the needs of Rohri, its twin city, where not only students come frequently and use reference books, preparing for exams but also thronged by regular readers of newspapers and magazines etc.

There is no denying the fact that reading habits have gradually vanished not only from Sindh but from the whole Pakistani culture. Before 1970s, major factors that contributed a lot towards developing reading culture was privately owned small libraries and roadside bookshops in every mohalla of big as well as small towns, which offered books and magazines on daily rent at a paltry sum of one anna per book. The reading rooms, another very important cost-free venue available to the common man maintained by the local bodies/municipalities mostly in the community halls almost in every town not long ago have also been closed, adding more to non-reading habits.

Another setback to reading habits was closure of ‘Pakistan National Centre’ (PNC) established in sixties in almost all divisional headquarters. These PNCs were not only providing the public with the facilities of good libraries stocked with the latest publications and reading rooms, where local as well as national dailies and magazines were available, but also had extended services for cultural and educational activities. On July 15th 1994, these centres of educational and cultural activities were officially closed as ‘commercially not viable’

Now the only reading facilities available for people are few public sector libraries like the one ‘Mir Massom Library’ at Sukkur, which if closed as apprehended by the civil society, will be catastrophic loss to the people of Sukkar and its surrounding areas.

I beseech the Chief Minster and Education Minister Sindh, that if they are really interested in the well-being of people of Sindh, they should immediately take note of this highhandedness and direct the district administration to ensure that Mir Masoom Library, an important educational institute of historical significance, vital for healthy educational activities of Sukkar is preserved under all circumstances.

Qazi Bashir Ahmed,

Old Hala.

Hats off to Mian Iftikhar

Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s information minister deserves our all praise for he has valorously confronted the menace of terrorism and remained steadfast to this national cause. I salute him for his courage. He has openly spoken against the militants. He is the fiercest and strongest critic of militants and terrorism. Throughout, we have seen him instantly arriving at the scene of terrorism, reaching out to the victims in hospitals and to their families, assuaging their concerns, and announcing government support for them. He has always been sympathetic.

He is no different from us for he also has borne heart-crushing sorrow at the hands of militants. He has sacrificed his only son for the cause of nation and he has valorously put own life at risk despite being aware of the severe implications. Despite the assassination of his son at the hands of militants and later the death of some relatives in a suicide blast outside his residence, he is in high spirits. He has renewed his vigour of purging the province of the peril of terrorism. He has boldly refused to succumb to this invaluable loss and continues to stand against the merciless terrorists. He indeed is a man of rock solid convictions. We have seen him gallantly raising his head for eradicating this menace of terrorism. This is what sets him apart from other government officials.

Badar ul Islam,

On email.

Entry test

Students are not given any due importance in our country. The arrangements and the security procedures at the venue of the recently held Medical College Admission Test were extremely poor. The concerned board is not doing its job right. Instead of forcing the students to take the tests again and again, the system should be made fair and just. Normally, the entry test is held in September. However, the announcement of the change in date was only made a month before the examination was to be held (July 20). How can one expect students to prepare two years’ worth of study in a single month? Many students had protested against the decision and approached the judiciary as well, but to no avail. Thousands vie for 3,200 medical seats in the country. I appeal to the concerned authorities to streamline the system and address the complaints of the students.

HIBA KHALID,

Lahore.

Pakistan’s victory

The Test match series between Pakistan and Australia in England provided best entertainment to cricket lovers.

After defeating Australia 2-0 in T20 under “Boom Boom” Afridi, Pakistan certainly felt confident that they could beat Australia, the best team in the world, again. Congratulations to Pakistan on winning the second Test against Australia.

Pakistan started the first Test well, but could not stop Australian tailenders from scoring freely and consequently lost the game through the margin created by tailenders. Otherwise Pakistan’s performance was not bad at all even in the first Test. In a way it was a match between giants and babies. Australia was captained by Ricky Ponting, the world leader of cricket, while Pakistan was led by Salman Butt, a first-time Test captain and that too away from home. Yet Pakistan’s new hero, fast bowling sensation, Aamir was able to produce the goods against Ricky Ponting’s side every time when required by his team. Key umpiring decisions also showed as if Pakistan was playing against 13 players, not 11.

May I also request the International Cricket Council and Asian Cricket Council to promote cricket in the Gulf region. Nobody can understand why these cricket bodies are not utilising excellent facilities in Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi to have regular cricket matches between Test and One-Day playing nations. There are millions of cricket fans in the region that always provided capacity crowds at these venues. Why these two bodies have become hostage to one country in the region who likes to dictate its terms to everyone?

Keep it up “Boom Boom Pakistan”; there is bright future ahead of you.

PARVEZ FAQIR ZADA,

On email.

27-7-2010

Is the President a graduate?

When it comes to his academic qualifications first New York Times and then Dawn a leading English daily reported on 21st March 2008, British officials responsible for maintaining record of all educational institutions in the country have failed to find any trace of the institution (London School of Economics and Business) in London from where Asif Ali Zardari is claimed to have received his graduation or equivalent qualification in 1976.

In a written response PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar said: “Mr Zardari studied business and economics in a school in London now called (the) London School of Economics and Business.” In a written response to questions about London School of Economics and Business, an Edubase official said: “In order to ascertain whether or not an institution exists, I conduct a search on three registers, Edubase, The Register of Education and Training Providers and the UK Register of Learning Providers. I have been unable to find evidence of this institution.”

So where and what is he graduated in? It is not an issue if he has graduated or not but why is he unable to prove the existence of institution he claimed to have been attending?

Dr Hameed Khan,

New York.

Extension in Kayani’s tenure

On July 22 Prime Minister Gillani announced a three-year extension in the tenure of Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Pervez Kayani who was going to retire on November 29. The opposition camp has opened a tirade but the decision is being largely justified as the result of effective counterterrorism operations and his incontestable achievements in war against terror in Swat, South Waziristan and other areas of FATA.

No doubt Gen Kayani has an image of anticipation and professionalism and is an undeniable leader of Pakistan military who proved his commitments to the duty with his feats. He is the man who achieved impossible deeds in a very short span of time. But the extension given by Premier Gillani raised many questions however. It is the responsibility of a leader to train a heir for his post but the appointment of Gen Kayani for the next three years means that there was no au fait Gen to replace him and to continue his policies. Secondly this decision gives the impression that Pakistan is the state that depends entirely on one man and where individual matter a lot rather than institution itself. Achievements in Swat, South Waziristan and other areas of FATA are no doubt patent but there is no fixation on the calendar by which time this war would end so the extension matter could not be linked with this. Third and the main point of this decision is the statement given by the PM that it will make sure the protection of three top slots of the president, prime minister and Chief Justice till 2013. This is not the fair justification because Kayani is the person who kept Pakistan army away from politics while the statement gives the impression that army is still engaged in politics and has an effective role to play.

Extension in the tenure of Kayani with fault-finding justification by PM may be a mistake by the Gillani government but in the present scenario while Pakistan is surrounded by multi-faceted challenges, we are not in position to change the commander because policies change with the change of command.

Khalida Yasmin Marwat,

Lakki Marwat.

Is Kayani indispensable?

General Kayani’s extension as COAS is considered another blow to the spurious ‘rule of law’ in Pakistan by the unaware masses. It is castigated that in the ‘most disciplined institution’ of Pakistan, a chief again stretches his tenure of power thus destroying the chain of command. Denying the chance of promotion to his immediate juniors, Genl Kayani is set on a course to make history like Ayub, Zia and Musharraf. Zardari, Gillani are the new Iskander Mirza of Pakistani politics and democracy has been divulged once again. This has given a sense that Pakistan Army is dependent on generals countervailing the proud that our army produces generals, not the generals produce the army. This shows the lack of confidence in an institution – the army – that was so far considered as the only institution left in Pakistan. Depending on personalities rather than institution shows brittleness, defeat and the ebb of the army. The frequently asked questions by the immature liberal media and unaware masses are: What credibility will this leave for Gen Kayani and Pakistan Army? Why is Gen Kayani so indispensable? Don’t we have anymore officers, who could replace Gen Kayani? What will happen after 3 years, as they won’t be able to groom a General of their choice in three years?

According to ignorant opponents, this extension with all these queries is regarded as an escalation of this unfortunate country into a political arena between army and democratic government thus considering it a gravely erroneous decision with extremely deprecatory consequence in the long run.

But in the matter of fact, this extension is utterly democratic; undemocratic decision would have happened, if the government had not announced this need-of-the-hour decision. In a democratic and constitutional cult PM Yousaf Raza Gaillani, being the competent authority, after consulting with President Asif Ali Zardari made Kayani the Chief of Army Staff for three more years regarding his serious oblation to his profession which is quite visible to the nation and world.

To avoid linkages between the extensions and the foreign guests it was decided to delay the decision till after the visit of the Indian external affairs minister and of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. But still there were rumours that Mrs. Clinton, during her meetings with the Pakistani authorities, had discussed the issue of Gen Kayani’s extension but the US Embassy claimed it as untrue, regarding it as an internal matter of Pakistan. As the announcement was made, the focus turned to the impact it would have within the military. After eight years of the rule of Gen Pervez Musharraf, who kept giving himself extensions, another extension for another chief of the army would blemish the hardly restored positive image of the institution of the military. They dreaded that this would have a dilapidated impulse on the morale of the military rank and file which Kayani had laboriously built over the past two and a half years. The matter of particular concern is the General whose promotion may be blocked because of the delay in Kayani’s retirement. However, it appears that the decision would perhaps affect only one three-star general, Lt-Gen Khalid Shamim Wyne. He will be the senior most serving General on November 28, 2010 – the original date of retirement of Gen Kayani. His chances of making it to the army chief are now non-existent. As a result, speculations are now rife that Gen Wyne would be made Vice Chief of the Army Staff. However, sources were not forthcoming and said that no decision had been taken yet to appoint a Vice Chief of the Army Staff. Neither is it clear what will happen to Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen Tariq Majid who is set to retire in October this year. He was not mentioned by the Prime Minister in his speech. But still this suggestion of VCOAF is best in contemporary times.

Kinza Chaudhry,

On email.

Goodbye Murali!

You won’t see that again, not ‘live’ that is. We can never resolve the debate whether this was the correct time for Murali to call it a day. We can’t complain, though. He’s given us 18 years, over 1500 magical wicket-taking moments. He’s held brilliant catches and been involved in runouts that one wanted more than a single replay in order to fully digest the poetry of collect and throw. Each ball he faced, those he missed, those that saw his stumps disarranged, caught somewhere that the ball went on account of hit or ‘mishit’ or dispatched to the boundary or over it, was pure entertainment. That’s a lot of ‘to be cherished’ moments, all that’s over by the time you read this.

Muttiah Muralitharan, undoubtedly the greatest spinner in the history of Test cricket, savoured the finest moment of his illustrious career spanning 18 years by becoming the first bowler to claim 800 wickets in Tests, a feat that is bound to stand the test of time.

He performed this great feat in the presence of the highest in the land — President Mahinda Rajapaksa who has been an ardent admirer of his throughout his career — and his family members — wife, father, mother, son, his former team members, ex Sri Lanka cricketers, distinguished guests and his team-mates.

The historic moment came when Indian tail-ender Prajan Ojah edged a delivery from Muralitharan to slip fielder Mahela Jayawardena who took the catch to the jubilation of thousands of cricket fans at the Galle International Stadium and millions of cricket lovers who watched it on television all over the world. Fittingly, he signed off with the last wicket in the match bringing to end a monumental Test career during which Sri Lanka reached new heights in the cricketing world.

The entire Galle Stadium reverberated to the sounds of firecrackers and bathed in colour as spectators set off smoke bombs the moments the milestone was reached. His wife, parents and relatives were seen hugging each other in emotional scenes while former cricketing colleagues rose in jubilation to applaud the little champion.

Muralitharan first came into the limelight as a schoolboy at St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota where he performed the rare feat of capturing over 100 wickets in two successive seasons in 1990 and 1991 for which he was richly rewarded by being adjudged Observer Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year in 1991.

He entered the Test arena in 1992 when he made his debut against Australia. Despite failing to make an impact in his first Test, he went on to secure a permanent place in the national team and became a nightmare to opposing batsmen who were deceived by his well-flighted deliveries including the ‘Doosra’.

He played a vital role along with two other legends Sanath Jayasuriya and Aravinda de Silva in Sri Lanka enjoying its finest moment in cricket by clinching the World Cup by beating Australia in the final at Lahore in March 1996.

His steely determination enabled him to overcome many obstacles during his majestic career such as being no-balled by Australian Umpire Darrell Hair during the Boxing Day Test of 1995 and by Umpire Ross Emerson in a One Day International against England in 1999.

He went on to claim the then world bowling record of Shane Warne (708 wickets) by claiming the wicket of Paul Collingwood of England in 2008 at Asgiriya and never looked back till he went on to become the first bowler in history to reach the 800 wicket mark.

‘Sri Lanka is proud of this son of our soil, who has reached the greatest height as a bowler with his new record, winning the highest respect of his contemporaries in the game the world over’, stated President Mahinda Rajapaksa congratulating Muttiah Muralitharan on achieving his new record of 800 wickets in Test Cricket in 133 Tests as he retired from this form of the game on 22nd July.

We, the cricket fans just want to say this, ‘Thank you Murali for the magical performance. You’ve given us plenty of reasons to be proud of you.’

Mohammad Shahid,

Peshawar.

27-7-2010

Police and new anti-terror strategy

The concept of a sovereign state is not complete until the survival and security of its citizens is not ensured. Along with the military force involved in the defence of the state from foreign aggressors, police are responsible for the internal stability of law and order situation of the country. They are empowered to enforce laws, protect property and control civil disorders by using legitimised use of force.

After the event of 9/11, Pakistan has become the forefront country in the fight war against terrorism. It is going through a chaotic situation. The internal stability of the country is very unbalanced and the security and the survival of the citizens is at stake. In this unfortunate situation, Punjab Police have taken a very good step by outlining a set of written directions issued on July 13 focusing on 15 different points but the main points are:

1) Focusing on local intelligence gathering along with crime control by strengthening own resources because before this police were only relying upon the information provided by intelligence agencies which used to be incomplete. Now the information collected through police own resources would be credible and would match the requirements.

2) Formulation of mohalla committees consisting of well reputed and well known people of the society at police station level. With the help of this committee police could gather valuable information about militants and suspicious elements. Here the committee must consist of youth because this will ensure the participation of common people in counter-terrorism activities. It will provide information regarding counter-terrorism measures to the people. This will create awareness among common people to keep eye on neighbours and their activities and help out in rooting out terrorism from different sectors because terrorists have mixed up with the innocent people of our society.

3) Search operation will be held in the presence of maximum number of policemen divided into sectors and sub sectors according to the specified targeted areas but during search operation officers must carry list of proclaimed offenders, court absconders and other outlaws. A report will be submitted after 10 to 15 days of the completion of the search operation. This direction would help in quick and speedy solution to public's security matters within the jurisdiction of rules and laws.

This is a very positive step taken by Punjab Police and must be implemented. Other provinces should also formulate such strategy in order to counter terrorism because the whole country is facing a difficult time. Police could help the nation in this troubling situation by adopting a strong and credible anti-terror strategy which is unfortunately lacking. Police all over the country must enhance their capabilities by strengthening their own contacts, involving community and making close liaison with intelligence agencies.

Once the whole country is united, then no bomb, no Osama, no drone and no US could win against this nation.

Khalida Yasmin Marwat,

Lakki Marwat.

Nishtar Hospital

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s senior vice president Makhdoom Javed Hashmi suffered brain hemorrhage and he was immediately taken to Nishtar Hospital Multan, later he was shifted from Multan to Lahore’s General Hospital (LGH).

But I feel sad for the poor people of south Punjab when I saw that Javed Hashmi was shifted from Multan to Lahore. No poor person can bear the expense of travelling from one city to another. I hope that Punjab government takes notice of Nishtar Hospital of Multan and provide funds so that this hospital can provide maximum facilities to the people.

Secondly Javed Hashmi was a senior political worker that was why he was taken in a helicopter, had this happened to any of us, would we have the same facility? I am sure the answer is a big No.

MUBASHIR MAHMOOD,

Karachi.

An unscrupulous decision

It has been reported that decision has been finally taken at higher level to shift Natural History Museum (NHM) from Karachi to federal capital.

Shamefully the reason for shifting of such an important archeological research facility form the metropolis is non-payment of rent by the Zoological Survey Department (ZSD) of Pakistan, the mother institution of NHM. It is also interesting that the landlord is Marine and Fisheries Department Sindh, another government organisation.

As per details, the ZSD has failed to pay the rent of building where NGM is established since pre-independence days, for the last thirty years which now accumulated stands at Rs2.43 million, not a big deal.

The justification given by the ZSD to transfer the NHM to Islamabad is unacceptable being irrational and myopic to say the least. This unscrupulous choice will not only deprive the provincial capital of its invaluable asset but is against the government’s avowed policy of devolution.

The metropolis of Karachi is capital of Sindh; besides it is the only port and largest urban area with more than 15 million inhabitants. It is also the financial capital of country which provides to the federal government with more than sixty percent of revenue.

The shifting of museum, the only facility available in province, will harm the interests of not only Karachi but the entire province. I therefore expect better and sensible approach from those sitting at cool, calm and serene atmosphere of Islamabad for the people of this province.

I also request the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan to stop the Zoological Survey Department of Pakistan from taking such an anti-people decision and provide sufficient funds to NHM so that it can continue to provide services to the people of Sindh. The chief minister Sindh is also requested to direct the provincial Marine and Fisheries Department not to dislodge NMH from the premises.

Amir Qureshi,

Hyderabad.

A need for extension

The apparently ambivalent issue of the extension in service of the COAS, Gen Kayani for three years has been raising both acceptance and suspicion amidst analysts and journalists that creates great confusion for the public. What had initially been received as a welcome move is now being deemed irrational and unmerited which indicates our inconsistency towards a cause.

The last couple of years have seen many positive changes within the army ideology, its war doctrine and its renewed resolve. Initially, the army chief’s desire to keep himself and the army detached from politics too, had been received with utter suspicion which later on was met with approval. In addition, through a rare initiative, the COAS focused upon bridging the gaps and removing the trust deficit between the military and civilian leadership by taking them on board on all stages of the military operations regularly, therefore showing absolute transparency.

Furthermore, Gen Kayani’s national vision was presented unambiguously by him in Brussels in which he explicitly stressed Pakistan’s standpoint over the Afghan issue focusing primarily on Pakistan’s need for a strategic depth in its neighbouring country leading as a result for the need of a more stable and peaceful South Asia, thus steering the attention of the world community on the authentic Pakistani concern in the region. This helped in highlighting Pakistan’s contribution in eradicating terrorism that was emphatically applauded as the international community was urged to realise Pakistan’s significance.

With the ability to put his foot down to resist against the ever-mounting US pressure under which our great political leaders find it impossible to keep their words and promises, Kayani has shown some strength to refuse the US dictate. It has to be realised that Pakistan is in a very sensitive state where it stands against the most powerful US-Indo-Israel lobby that is harbouring malignant hegemonic desires which is no secret.

Therefore, in this backdrop, keeping the immense external pressure and the current security situation in mind it seems a good idea that the current COAS continues serving the nation till the extremists and militancy are wiped out and complete peace prevails in the region.

Ayesha Sheikh,

Islamabad.

26-7-2010

Whose supremacy?

On July 22 Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani appeared on TV screens to address the nation, rather to announce that his government has extended the army chief Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani’s term by another three years.

Just last week US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was telling Pakistani journalists that extension or otherwise of the army chief’s term was Pakistan’s internal matter and the US didn’t wish to play any role in it. If it were Pakistan’s internal affair, why should she comment on it? Was she not letting the cat out of the bag?

Such things are only possible in Pakistan wherein another country tries to influence the government's decisions on sensitive matters. It shows the capitulation of a democratically elected government to the army chief to keep them in power for next three years.

And the reasons for the extension? Continuation of leadership in the war against terrorists and rebels in the North West. Are we to suppose the militancy will be defeated within the next three years? If it is not, maybe the army chief will get another extension.

The army being the only strong and stable institution in the country should be able to withstand the retirement or resignation of one officer, regardless of his experience, familiarity with the present state of affairs in the war against terrorism. The US proved this point when President Barack Obama removed the architect of America’s Afghan strategy in the middle of the war.

We are told the army’s subordination to the civilian supremacy is the essence of a democratic government. What do you call a system where the civilian government subordinates to the supremacy of the army as well as a foreign power?

MASOOD KHAN,

On email.

Fake degrees and HEC

HEC got extraordinary prominence due to scrutiny of legislators’ degrees who are not in the habit to be scrutinised but wish to subject others to scrutiny

Section 3 of the HEC Ordinance 2002, says “The Controlling Authority of the Commission shall be the Prime Minister or, as the case may be, the Chief Executive of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan who may supervise the affairs of the Commission”.

Sub-section (2) of Section 5 says, “The Chairperson appointed under sub-section (1) shall have the status of Federal Minister”.

Clause (o) of sub-section (1) of Section 10 says, “Determine the equivalence and recognition of degrees, diplomas and certificates awarded by Institutions within the country and abroad”.

I found nowhere in the Ordinance that the HEC shall function under the supervision of the federal education minister or in consultation with Ministry of Education. Sardar Assef Ahmad Ali is a senior politician and should quote the relevant law when he speaks about the HEC because everything is not a political game. So far the HEC was working as the other institutions are working but it got special attention because it is now dealing with the degrees of not ordinary persons but the legislators of the country. Sardar Assef and such-like him are not in the habit to be scrutinised because they are born to make scrutiny of others. When the time came for their scrutiny, they began to challenge even the usual powers of the institutions.

The intelligentsia of this country is viewing this trend of politicians with enough curiosity. The legislators make rules and regulations for taming others while some of them consider themselves above any scrutiny. They prescribe qualifications for others below them but keep themselves away from any restriction.

The HEC is responsible for the scrutiny of the degrees because the HEC Ordinance, 2002 has given the job of dealing with degrees to HEC. Once the degrees are checked and fake degree holders are determined, then it is easier to put them for proper trial because they cannot deny the degrees which they had submitted to the returning officers. The existence of the copies of the degrees in the offices of the returning officers is the confession of the fake degree holders and in my opinion needs no further investigation/inquiry by the courts. In my opinion, the HEC report is the first and final proof/evidence needed for the conviction of the fraudsters.

The number of fake degree holders increases with every passing day. Till this time, the number has reached to 46, which is enough shame for the country. The issue is a serious one but the politicians have taken it lightly because it is a hard hit on their prestige to admit it plainly.

The fake degrees issue has got augmented significance after the 18th Amendment in the Constitution in which the politicians have prescribed certain procedures for the appointments of persons. It is astonishing that the legislators changed the procedure for the appointment of judges but did not prescribe that what should be the qualification of a member of the assembly, minister, prime minister, president etc.

Manzoor Ahmad Yousafzai,

On email.

Truth really hurts

As soon as Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna landed in Pakistan, the country’s Home Minister Chidambaram attempted to sabotage the dialogue by accusing Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI of involvement in Mumbai attacks.

Was it in line with diplomatic decorum?

Though Krishna later rejected those accusations, the damage was already done. There are extremist political groups in India whose very survival depends on hostility with Pakistan. When then prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee failed to issue a joint declaration with Pakistan after the Agra summit everybody knew the strong control these hard-line groups exercise on India’s political establishment.

So Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi was fully justified in saying that he did not want to visit India for leisure. The confession of David Coleman Headley linking Pakistan to the Mumbai attacks is similar to the US claims before the Iraq war about Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destructions (WMD). Where are those WMDs? Let’s move from confession to reality. Dialogue is the only way to sort out matters of mutual concerns between India and Pakistan.

IRFAN A. KHAN,

On email.

Gravity of economic crisis

It is amazing that, on the one hand, the government is distributing millions of rupees among the Bar Associations of the country and announcing various housing schemes for the welfare of the legal community, and, on the other, people are daily committing suicides due to joblessness and poverty.

Innocent people are being killed in broad daylight and surprisingly, not a single assailant has so far been arrested.

Has the government ever pondered seriously over this issue and the motive behind heinous crimes?

The contention of the government is that these killings are the work of foreign agents to create discontentment against the government but this is totally baseless and does not reflect the true picture.

Since the day Pakistan joined the ‘war on terror’ on the behest of the USA, the economy of the country has been badly hit.

Industrial activity has slowed down, creating unemployment among the labour class.

Many commercial houses retrenched a large number of employees due to recession in the economy.

No new industrial and commercial units are being set up.

The government has completely failed to control the prices of commodities of daily use which are sky rocketing.

Besides, there is no security for the life and property of the citizens. Most of our politicians are considered corrupt and there seems no one to rid the country from corruption.

These are the factors which may force the people to revolt against an unjust society.

A revolution is in the making, and the patience of the people is gradually reaching the point of no return.

It is the duty of the rulers to realise the gravity of the situation and make quick amends to cool down the temper of the masses otherwise they will be swept away to a strong reaction.

MUHAMMAD YOUSUF KHAN,

Karachi.

25-7-2010

Clearance for Bhasha Dam

I was surprised to read that the chief minister of Sindh has voted for the construction of the Bhasha Dam during the meeting of Council of Common Interests.

Since 1981 a lot of resentment has been shown against the construction of dams, specifically the Kalabagh Dam. Today we are facing power and water crises that are affecting almost every sector of life. And after facing all these problems and wasting 30 years, our chief minister agreed on the construction of Bhasha Dam.

Opposition to Kalabagh Dam was mainly based on the premise that water will not be available for irrigation at the tail-ends. The problem of Sindh is not distribution of irrigation water at the national level but the injudicious distribution and corruption at the provincial level; this can easily be understood if we have satellite imagery of agricultural land of Sindh, which is not impossible as everybody has access to GIS Systems or Google Earth.

Before the design and construction of the present irrigation system during the British era agricultural land was surveyed and tested after which its cropping intensity was assigned to canals according to the water holding capacity of the soil.

In Sindh, it was not beyond 30-40 percent. This process was followed because the water-holding capacity is directly proportional to salinity and water-logging. Besides that, specific crops were allowed in specific areas while some were banned in some areas.

But nowadays if we monitor cropping intensity we can easily see 80-95 percent cropping intensities in the head areas of canals and 10-20 percent in the tail areas.

The same is the case with crops; cultivation of rice is banned in all areas linked with Nara Canal Command but it is openly cultivated and in Rice Canal Command water is not available.

According to a report by Irsa, 75,000 cusecs water is lost between Guddu and Kotri Barrage; this is a huge amount and if available in the Indus River system can cause a medium level flood condition.

Katcha land (dry riverbed side) starting from Guddu Barrage up till River Indus delta near Thatta is illegally occupied; the jungles have been cleared and the land is being used for cultivation.

This is also a big crime but it is openly flouted by the influential of the area. Almost 75,000 cusecs that is released by Irsa for diversion into canals and for delta down-stream Kotri is illegally used. Also the Katcha land is not officially recorded by the revenue department and is exempted from revenue collection on paper: there exist jungles but in practice, they are hugely cultivated.

Sindh needs to rethink its irrigation water distribution policy and adopt a realistic approach for water conservation and food security of our country.

Muhammad Umer Karim,

Hyderabad.

Sindh’s forest land

According to media reports, about 0.75 million acres of forestlands located in various districts of Sindh is being converted to revenue land for general cultivation on the chief minister’s orders. This decision is appalling, to say the least. As per the government’s claim, the converted land will be allotted to female landless peasants, though there is a strong belief that it will later be taken over by influential land mafias of the area. Notwithstanding the government’s avowed claims, the status of forestland should not be changed and nor should it be allotted to private parties under any circumstances.

In Sindh, most of the kacha land where once thick forests existed has already been usurped by the influential landholders by force of arms. Even the government finds itself helpless before these ‘mighty’ robber barons. If the remaining forests are also converted into revenue lands and allotted to private parties, Sindh, which already has scant forests, will be permanently deprived of its green cover.

The deforestation, as a result of the chief minister’s decision, will cause not only climate change and global warming affecting human life and liberty but will also impact the inalienable right of livelihood of millions of people, which is a violation of the constitution.

R A SIDIKI,

Shikarpur.

Extension for Kayani

Giving extension to Army chief for three more years means that you have deprived the person who was supposed to replace the Army chief even at very basic level. And secondly it is obvious that no one in army is capable of replacing him. If so, why are we spending millions of rupees to prepare an officer in army? On one hand we are against the army dictatorship in Pakistan but on the other hand we are requesting the Army chief to accept extension in service for the sake of the country. I suspect this extension will eat the fragile fruit of democracy in Pakistan because we are inviting Army chief that without you we can not control the menace of terrorism in Pakistan.

Zahid Rashid,

Azad Kashmir.

Is USA an ally of Pakistan?

Pakistan claims to be an old friend and ally of the USA and, accordingly, the rulers in Islamabad are doing what they to serve the interests of the US-led International coalition's war on terror and suffering lots of losses in the process. But the pertinent question which arises here is that whether or not USA is an old ally of Pakistan and behaving like that? The prompt reply to this, quite regretfully, is in the negative.

Pakistan needs civil nuclear technology for boosting nuclear power generation capacity. USA has twice refused this rather summarily because India does not want Pakistan to make some headway in this or that field and thus ushering in an era of progress, development and prosperity for its more than 170 million people. USA refused first in March this year and second time during most recent visit of its Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. China, true and sincere of Pakistan, has come forward and agreed to provide our country two civil nuclear reactors. Even, this is not acceptable to Pakistan's so-called old ally and friend USA which along with neighbouring India is trying to create all sorts of hurdles, obstructions and problems to ensure the Sino-Pakistan civil nuclear technology deal do not materialise.

According to reports in the media, Pakistan's so-called old ally and friend USA has come out with a rather categorical statement that Washington will vote against Sino-Pakistan civil nuclear technology deal at the Nuclear Suppliers Group forum and ensure China is not granted an exemption to provide two civil nuclear reactors to Pakistan. This has been attributed by the US media to the acting Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Non-Proliferation Vann H. Van Diepen while briefing the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

This is sad reflection on the topsy turvy US-Pakistan relations and also on the failure of our missions in the world capitals particularly in Washington, London and Paris to effectively counter India's hostile propaganda against Pakistan on one pretext or other and in this citing the incident of one of our nuclear scientist allegedly being involved in nuclear proliferation some years back.

Real colours of the USA were exposed during the Secretary of State's visit to Pakistan few days back and this has come only an affirmation that the Obama administration may be friendly towards India but is certainly not an old ally and friend of Pakistan. Will the rulers open their eyes to the bitter ground realities, start distancing themselves from the White House, Washington DC and pulling our of the war on terror. They should remember that the billions of dollars, being doled out by USA in one form or the other, are just peanuts as for as national security, integrity, solidarity and sovereignty of Pakistan is concerned.

Ahsan Abdul Haq Shaikh,

Lahore.

Discrimination with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa teachers

I was deeply shocked and grieved when I saw a news item in the newspaper that the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) has approved the promotion of 5,000 teachers who were either Matric Trained Teachers (MTT) or Trained Undergraduate Teachers (TUGTs) to Grade 14 and Grade 16 respectively.

My grievance is not the promotion of the teachers serving in the Federal Directorate of Education but my grievance is that why the teachers serving in the Provincial Directorate of Education in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were kept deprived of the higher scales of pay despite having higher qualification? Was it not the exploitation of the poor but highly qualified even by the government?

Either the federal government was lavish in giving so high pay scale to its teachers or the provincial government is frugal and exploitative in awarding such kinds of pay scales to its teachers. The provincial government toed the line of federal government in respect of every matter but in this matter of higher pay scales kept back itself due to reasons best known to the high ups of the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. What deeply alarmed me is that the federal government gave higher pay scales to the Matric teachers but in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the teachers with higher qualification have been deprived of the higher pay scales over the years.

Recently the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has announced service structure for the teachers but mostly the teachers are not happy with that primarily because the senior teachers and qualified teachers have been totally ignored.

It is a point to ponder that when terrorists organisations were giving high salaries to their employed miscreants, both the federal and provincial governments imbibed the concept of highest salaries from the terrorists and doubled the salaries for the persons of law-enforcing agencies along with other fringe benefits. Till doubling the salaries, the government had no regard for the sacrifices of law enforcing agencies nor the government was aware of the condition of the widows and orphaned children. The payment of high salaries by the miscreants to their employees aroused the conscience of the respective governments to look into the plight of their law enforcing agencies.

Government effectively realised that people need employment and salaries and the people of backward areas are more vulnerable to terrorists that is why it came out with packages and other benefits.

Literacy cannot be increased by resorting to the exploitative tactics whether in the public sector or in the private sector. The condition becomes worse when much gap is detected between the federal and provincial departments. Previously, the provinces were unhappy with their shares in the distribution of financial assets between the federation and provinces but now after the 18th Amendment and elimination of concurrent list, the provinces are in a better position to realise the grievances of their employees.

Manzoor Ahmad Yousafzai,

On email.

24-7-2010

What is the truth about APTTA

The whole nation, excepting those who are treading the corridors of powers, has been plunged in quite deeper confusion. People are asking each other as to what the real position and truth about Afghan-Pakistan Transit Trade Accord (APTTA) after all.

This compounded confusion is not unfounded and baseless as such. Only two days back, Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Faheem and Afghan minister Anwarul Haq Abady had signed Pakistan-Afghan accord on transit trade in Islamabad at a much-hyped ceremony at which Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and US Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke were among those present. The event, imposed on Pakistan, was duly highlighted by print and electronic media nationally as well internationally.

Now no other person than Prime Minister Gillani tells us that the accord has not been signed and it will be first approved by the Federal Cabinet and then signed by the two countries. He has also stated that the transit trade facility for Afghanistan was only discussed during his meeting with the US Secretary of State who only on Monday had taken the credit for getting the important accord signed while talking to media in Kabul.

News about signing of the accord had evoked strong protest from a number of members in the Punjab Assembly both on Monday and Tuesday. After some hard hitting criticism from the members, provincial Finance Minister Tanveer Ashraf Kaira stood up to give the real picture to the House in this regard. He said that the ministers of Afghanistan and Pakistan had only signed the Record Note and the accord is yet to be signed which, will be done, after taking the Parliament into confidence.

One is just at a loss to understand as to what extent the rulers can bow to the direction, pressure and instruction from the White House in Washington DC.

Are they so much blind to the bitter facts that by agreeing to such an accord, even verbally, they are exposing the militancy and terrorism-hit country's already threatened national security, integrity, sovereignty and solidarity to India, Afghanistan and USA. All the three countries hostility towards Pakistan is no secret.

The rulers should tell the truth about APTTA to the people before they sign it, if this has not already been signed.

Khalid I. Khan,

Lahore.

Indo-Pak talks

Unfortunately, the Indo-Pak talks held in Islamabad recently ended on an unpleasant note without a joint statement being made and remained inconclusive on the issues which are the root cause of tension between the two countries.

Certainly, the foreign ministers’ talks provided an opportunity to break the standoff in relations since the Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008. S.M. Krishna, Indian foreign minister during his visit to Islamabad, invited Pakistani counterpart to visit New Delhi for further dialogue. However, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi while talking to reporters in the Foreign Office on July 17 stated, “I will not visit India for a leisure trip; I would only go if India is ready for meaningful talks and the environment is conducive for parleys.”

This reflects Pakistan’s concern about India’s unwillingness to talk about the core and critical Kashmir issue which is a source of instability and the stumbling block between the relationship of both countries and an obstacle to the normalisation process. Qureshi had complained that the Indian foreign minister was given a limited mandate by his government which India denied and asked Qureshi not to blame New Delhi for.

I am of the opinion that continuation of the Indo-Pak dialogue process is imperative despite their reservations. It will certainly pave the way to break the standoff. Both countries must proceed with constructive and serious dialogue to bridge the trust gap and to eliminate misconceptions. There is no substitute to a purposeful dialogue.

MUHAMMED JAMIL ATHER,

Karachi.

India, Pakistan and terrorism

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s recent visit to Pakistan and the signing of the agreement is no coincidence; this offers road access through Pakistan to Afghan goods to India and the reverse.

This was never debated in the Parliament but appears to be the outcome of American arm-twisting to preserve their interests in the region. This will be a major security risk for Pakistan and is of no benefit to its people or its economy.

The PPP government while paying lip service to democracy is known for doing what it sees best in the interest of the ruling party, not the country. This has been the practice since the days of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.

The present PPP government too has proved that it cannot be trusted. What happened to their tall claims of providing electricity to the country by December 2009? The people are grappling with inflation, terrorism and unemployment. The signing of this agreement will only add to the problems of the people.

We request that this government follow the norms of proper democracy and debate these matters in the house. A democratic government never takes such unilateral decisions and the Americans have no right to interfere in our affairs. Further they should leave the region as soon as possible. They are there to further their own interests.

There is also no need to speak with India right now. They are holding talks only due to American pressure and have little interest in peace or in a Kashmir settlement. India should forget Mumbai as it is becoming increasingly clear that it was linked to the India’s RAW agency. David C. Headley is a double agent and is accusing the ISI of involvement in the attacks without any basis. Terrorism is not confined to Pakistan as our friends in India believe; it is a global phenomenon and India has its fair share of terrorists who operate either openly or in secret, some through government agencies.

ZAFAR RAJA,

On email.

British PM vs Babar Awan

According to a news item, David Cameron, the British PM recently, took a commercial flight on an official visit to the US, saving the exchequer around $300,000. Under normal circumstances a prime minister would charter a Boeing 747 or 767 for his private use or would fly on a military jet. In the grand scheme of things, the amount isn't that significant - but the gesture is huge.

In contrast, the Pakistani Law minister, Dr. Babar Awan charted a private plane to distribute government funds to the Bars of his choice. It is reported that he, like an Arab millionaire, has also been showering up to Rs50,000 on the naath khwans of the functions. But then, he is known for his hallabaloos.

The point I am trying to make is that politicians should be honest to themselves first before they can become honest to the public and feel their pulse. Keeping the strained British economy in view, the British PM has kept his fingers on the pulse of the public’s feelings. And the Pakistani Law minister in an identical or maybe worse financial situation is keeping his finger on his self-acclaimed glorified personality. To make it more atrocious, up until recently, he has been teaching morals on a TV channel. Long live our political leaders.

Dr. Ghayur Ayub,

London.

Hum bhi corrupt, tum bhi corrupt

The PM’s Adviser on Information Technology, Sardar L. Khosa, on Tuesday tendered his resignation in protest against clipping of his powers as the In-charge Minister for Information Technology but the President rejected the resignation directing him to continue his job.

The move is not only an insult to the PM but also for the government, parliament, the nation and our recently modified national constitution which re-empowered the prime minister, instead of the president, to exercise his power and discretion in such matters.

I am afraid as things are moving in the wrong direction and a day might come when our head of state can even convene a convention of all corrupts in this land of the pure just to demonstrate that if you are controversial and corrupt doesn’t matter, if you are illiterate and lying about your degrees doesn’t matter but what matters is that you are only “loyal” to the party’s high command and not to the people, you are “steadfast” but not in truth and honesty and you are “selfless” but only on selective occasions otherwise the combination of “greed”, “monopoly” and “selfishness” should reflect your person and career.

If you have such qualities then you are “qualified”, “gifted”, “competent” and “indispensible” for this nation and without your worthy-self and services this nation is bound to doom so please carry on with your current assignment as Adviser to the PM or Minister-in-charge of IT with your popular “present and previous” reputation and don’t care for the gentleman prime minister as he is very kind, cooperative and submissive especially when it comes to the president’s men.

Ahmed bin Babar,

multiways@hotmail.com

23-7-2010

Capital value tax

The government has reduced the rate of capital value tax on immovable property from 4 to 2 percent by applying uniform rate of tax on all sizes of plots in the recent budget which looks very good for a common man and who doesn’t know all the details.

As government has reduced CVT by 2%, it has very cleverly increased the value of property three times. As a result now a person has to pay more tax because the value of the property has increased a lot. I appeal to the government to decrease the value of the property so that the transactions of the property can be made by every person.

MUBASHIR MAHMOOD,

Karachi.

Terrifying bridge on Indus

Keeping in view the enormous pressure of traffic on Ghulam Muhammad Barrage Bridge (built in 1952) and Kotri Railway Bridge (built in 1900), linking the port city of Karachi with rest of the upcountry, a new bridge with dual carriage was built on River Indus.

At present because of ageing of existing bridges entire heavy traffic, either coming from National Highway via Thatta or from Super Highway, is routed through this dual carriage. Especially after the collapse of railway system this being the only passage for transfer of goods through trucks containing giant and heavy machinery from Karachi port to upcountry therefore entire pressure is borne by this bridge.

Unfortunately the condition of this significant bridge, which is not as old as it was built in 1995, has become so dilapidated that one feels frightening while crossing it. The joints of the bridge are open and due to non-maintenance and neglect it has developed big potholes which cause severe jerks even at the slowest speed. The railings of the bridge are also broken at certain places and electric poles are wrecked.

The condition of this very vital bridge is so serious that I am afraid that some accident of serious consequences can occur at any time, which may take precious lives and also disconnect Karachi with rest of the country, causing immense damage to economic activity of the country.

I request the chief minister and chief secretary Sindh to direct the National High way Authority as well as chief engineer roads of the province to initiate repair work on this fast-worsening bridge.

D. M Baloch,

Kashmore.

Hillary’s visit

Hillary Clinton was in Islamabad the other day. Yes she came with another package of commandments, which is surly including an order from Washington for us to start military operation in the North Waziristan Agency. How far the democratic government has the ability to stand the pressure will come to fore soon. Mind that America has a history to have been never friend to anybody except for her own vested interest. This game she has been playing every now and then with her trustworthy friend Pakistan. We should keep in mind that America has always supported India against Pakistan in hours of trial.

America in the garb of war on terror has been committing the genocide of Afghans and the tribal Pukhtuns by manipulating the regional forces in her assistance through her usual cunningness and carrot and stick policies. These are our tribal brothers who gave us in 1948, what we are today calling as Azad Kashmir. These tribal Pakistanis have always protected Pakistan and have proved themselves to be the guardians and protectors of the country. These tribal heroes have a commitment with the Father of the nation Hazrat Quaid-e-Azam that the Pakistan army will never enter their land and they will be living as free Pakistanis according to their norms.

The US, through her mischievous tactics has succeeded to create a gulf between these faithful Pakistani Pakhtuns and the Pak Army, the two segments which always stood united for the defence and protection of Pakistan. Dictator Musharraf, quite in contradiction of the words of the founding father, fielded the Pak Army for the appeasement of America and the things went out of control which have put the current rulers in a serious test as to how to come out of the quagmire.

Let us think seriously that we have no more chance to commit further follies and the rulers are required to exhibit sagacity and sanity to chalk out a free, fair and independent foreign policy and put the interest of Pakistan and Pakistanis on priority rather toeing the American dictates.

FAHEEM KHAN,

On email.

Panacea for all ills

It was really startling to see Gen. Hameed Gul say on a private TV talk show that 70 percent of Pakistan’s problems will be solved the day Gen. Musharraf is put on trial. What a simple solution and one wonders what is stopping the whiz kids in the government from making use of this sure shot panacea to country’s ills. Imagine, all the sceptres of load-shedding, unemployment, price inflation, terrorism and bombings, lawlessness and disorder, corruption, poor governance et al will all suddenly disappear and milk and honey will start flowing in all rivers and canals of Pakistan. Or, is it that those who matter dismiss the know-all general as someone too fond of hearing his own voice – ever-ready to proffer unsolicited advice on any matter under the sun.

Probably the general has good reasons to dislike Musharraf but still it would do him good to recollect: “A wise old owl sat on an oak; The more he saw the less he spoke; The less he spoke the more he heard.”

Why aren't we like that wise old bird?

Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd),

Rawalpindi.

22-7-2010

India-nised USA

After reading details in the print media and viewing on numerous national and international television channels about US Secretary of State Mrs Hillary Clinton’s press conference in Islamabad on Monday, I can only say at the very outset that all this further consolidated my point of view that USA has been India-nised.

While addressing the press conference jointly with Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmud Qureshi in Islamabad after much talked about US-Pakistan Strategic Talks, Mrs Clinton adopted negative attitude towards a number of questions and was positive very little.

She refused her country's mediation in Pakistan and India's water dispute arising from flagrant violations by New Delhi of the Indus Water Treaty 1960, which was brokered by USA and World Bank, and also was evasive about human rights abuses and killings of innocent men, women and children in Indian-occupied Kashmir by Indian security forces because they are only demanding their birth-right of self-determination to decide their future themselves.

Both these issues are of great concern to Pakistan but these are against the interests of India which USA cannot agree to in any manner whatsoever. As a matter of record, USA has all along been blocking any move at all international forums to condemn her illegitimate baby, Israel. Now, USA seems to be fast India-nised as Washington seemingly is in no mood to do anything which may annoy India in any manner.

As a matter of fact, as seen on TV channels, she was grim as well as smiling. One newspaper rightly used the quite meaningful headline "Hillary's iron fist in a velvet glove". This, indeed, was one of most appropriate headline telling a lot while maintaining diplomatic norms and her being a lady. I was reminded of former British Prime Minister Mrs Margaret Thatcher, who was better known as the Iron Lady for obvious reasons.

This is not all. USA has been India-nised to the extent that on one hand, Washington is in no mood to do do anything which may annoy New Delhi and on the other hand, any feeding coming from India is readily accepted as hostility towards Muslim Ummah's only nuclear power Pakistan. USA describes Pakistan as a major non-NATO ally but this is only on paper as Islamabad's interests and concerns carry no weight whatsoever.

The US Secretary of State's no to mediate in Pakistan's water dispute with India, concerns about human rights abuse by India in occupied Kashmir and to enter into civil nuclear technology deal are glaring example of how much her country has been India-nised over the years.

Seemi Nasir Hanif,

Islamabad.

Pak-Afghan trade accord

In all fairness, by signing the transit trade accord with Afghanistan, we have once again fallen deep into the trap laid by so-called old friend and ally, USA. Under this accord, Afghanistan has been allowed to use Wagah border near Lahore for exports to India.What Afghanistan would be exporting to India is any body's guess but then on the way back, India would also be despatching some goods to Afghanistan. On both ways, trucks would be passing from Torkham to Wagah border without being checked at any point on the long route.

The photo published in newspapers tells much more than what appears in words. Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Faheem and Afghanistan Minister for Trade Anwarul Haq Ahady signed the accord, shook hands and exchanged documents in Islamabad in the presence of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani, visiting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke Under US pressure, the rulers have agreed to such an agreement which is against the national interests and security and both directly and indirectly benefits India a great deal.

How come the rulers could not appreciate the real intentions behind the Afghan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA)? Neither India nor USA or Afghanistan are friends of Pakistan and are out to exploit every situation to their own advantage.

Historically speaking, Afghanistan has never been friendly towards Pakistan over the several decades. Even, US-installed President Hamid Karzai in Kabul had only last year or so threatened at least twice to attack Pakistan.

India has been and is still stealing Pakistan's waters in flagrant violations of the Indus Basin Treaty by building dams on rivers Indus and Chenab and continues to forcibly occupy Kashmir denying the right of self determination to Kashmiris.

There are many instances to establish India's hostility towards Pakistan all these more than six decades. Only in the recent past, as the reports published in the national and international newspapers, India had stabbed Pakistan twice in a short time. India had drawn the attention of USA and France as well as other countries about Pakistan's poor track record regarding nuclear proliferation and involvement of its nuclear scientist in nuclear technology smuggling. The net result was what New Delhi really wanted through this hostile propaganda. USA refused to entertain any request from Pakistan for entering a civil nuclear technology deal and France backed out from its earlier commitment of providing modern and sophisticated equipment for strengthening of Pakistan Air Force.

And, USA despite being a so-called old ally and friend of Pakistan is the most dangerous enemy in the garb of a friend and least trustworthy. USA has betrayed Pakistan time and again but still, somehow, our rulers prefer to fall into the laps of the bosses occupying the White House in Washington DC against the wishes of their own people.

One single transit trade accord accord has pushed into the trap laid by three enemies i.e. USA, Afghanistan and India. Please join me in fervently praying to Almighty Allah to be merciful as ever and save Pakistan and her people from these enemies. Amen.

Ehsanul Haq Qazi,

Lahore.

21-7-2010

Fake degrees in universities

This is with reference to the hullabaloo going on these days about the fake degrees presented by public representatives to circumvent condition imposed by the dictator to contest seat of parliament. Leaving aside the moral aspect fake degrees of parliamentarians, obviously not condonable under any circumstance, I would like to draw the attention of civil society towards extreme detrimental and lasting impact when professors of higher learning institutions such as universities etc manoeuvre fake degrees or indulge in plagiarism to get elevation to higher positions.

The unlawful and dishonest methods to achieve the desired end is one of the numerous, yet most destructive malevolence result of frequent illegitimate and unconstitutional rules thrust by the dictators on the hapless nation.

During the past ten years because of government’s massive funding, many public sector university teachers went abroad for higher studies. Mostly returned with PhD degrees; some degrees were later on found to be from the institutions not recognised by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (HEC) or even by their own countries.

Since the malice of fake degree produced by the teaching cadre is more detrimental to the society, therefore it requires immediate attention of HEC.

The HEC is therefore requested to initiate the degree verification process of professors/teachers working in the public sector universities, especially who have purportedly done doctorate from foreign academia, so that seats of higher learning can be cleansed of black sheep and imposters.

Amir Khan Pathan,

California, USA.

PaCCS being shut down

As always FBR is backing away from its commitments. With the foolish notion that WEBOC, their self-invented, zero credential system can replace PaCCS, they are again bent upon removing the automated system for their own gains. The recent scandal of the ISAF containers should be a glaring example of the malpractices prevailing outside the PaCCS System.

PaCCS is used for clearance of US military cargo while the FBR system is used for clearing cargo of other International Security Forces (ISAF), it is a testimony to the efficacy of automation that while 150,000 containers has been cleared without a single misadventure by PaCCS, even a mere one tenth i.e. 15,000 containers, through the FBR system could not be cleared without incident, causing such a mega scandal. The PaCCS capability to prevent scams is perhaps the main motivation why elements FBR are strongly opposing the implementation of PaCCS.

The question which needs to be put to the Chief Justice is the question of systems that cause and the deadline for PaCCS as given by Agility is July 31, 2010. This deadline came as a consequence of the request of the Ministry of Finance to Agility for extension of PaCCS on the condition that FBR will commence negotiations with Agility about the rollout of PaCCS prior to July 31, 2010.

It seems FBR is now deliberately dragging its feet to cause yet another fiasco for trade and a major embarrassment for the government. FBR is determined to reverse the process of reform and automation and take Pakistan back to the cave ages in terms of trade efficiencies, because it suits the interests of a few in power.

Initially FBR was using the security agencies for its own interests and was trying to create a perception that PaCCs was being resisted on the behest of the security apparatus, now that the matter has been cleared, the narrow self-interests of the FBR elements can clearly be seen. This is corrupt interest at its best unfortunately the people will realise it too late.

For now, let’s wait till the 31st, it will be evident then whether FBR chooses its personal interest over the greater national interest. Any bets, anyone?

NAZAKAT,

On email.

Afghanistan's minerals!

An article on the subject, written by an American, was published in the pages of a local English daily. The writer, possibly quite rightly criticises Pentagon's estimated value of the Afghan minerals at US$ one trillion! He is sceptical on how the estimates could be drawn without proper mineral survey and mapping, and based on random finds here and there; in the midst of an ongoing war! Logically it seems to be an irrational, amateurish and totally speculative to be classified as having commercial exploitation potential for mining.

Possibly, it may be a propaganda introduced to indirectly justify the mounting costs in US lives and wealth for moulding US public opinion somewhat favourably to justify this colossal misadventure let loose by the Pentagon at Bush's judgement and instigation.

May be, that it is a counter thrust to the Chinese mineral interests; which can be set in motion, tied to Chinese grants, aids and other trading advantages, that can be exploited by the Chinese authorities.

Possibly this may be the main idea that is motivating the US authorities to get something out of their Afghan adventure! They want to pre-empt the issue which they failed in Burma, whose rich mineral resources are tied up with Chinese interests.

MUHAMMED JAMIL ATHER,

Karachi.

Hate material

Nowadays in bookshops and on the roadside small shops there are books, CDs, booklets and pamphlets containing hate material. This material is against the country, provinces and important institutions. It also tries to create a rift on the basis of sectarianism and ethnicity.

Who are these people who are involved in such activities? They are the ones who have personal insecurities. The more they are insecure, the more hate is developed against others. Then there are others who are hate motivated due to their helplessness, some guilt or unable to bring a change which they want. So to overcome these insecurities they join a group which is involved in such acts. Mostly uneducated youngsters become part of such campaigns. Generally they are irrational haters who want to gain power. They do not fear accountability but still there printed material or CDs remain mostly anonymous or faked.

The main objective of all this hate material is to divide people on provincial, sectarian and ethnic lines and create hatred by placing blame on one group to be the cause of problem of another group. This hate group tries to impose the perceptions of one group on another group. The outcome is doubts, misunderstandings and ultimately clashes.

Hate material is like slow poisoning which influences the mind by relating it to everyday happenings around. The authors of hate material know how to exploit situations. They take examples from ordinary life, tell people that their rights are not recognised and they are intentionally not provided the basic needs and opportunities to compete and have a fair chance to move ahead. The most important aspect of all this propaganda is to counter such material.

There is a need to give awareness about the purpose of such material and how to avoid it. Some measures should also be taken at the national level to give awareness to the general public about such intentions of the known and unknown enemy. Educational institutions and parents at home need to be aware of such propaganda strategies and should keep a vigil to inform their children about it. Media should also play its responsible role by identifying such material, exposing people behind it, highlighting their nefarious designs and educating people how to avoid and counter it.

Anwar Parween,

Rawalpindi.

19-7-2010

Converting forests an unscrupulous decision

The change of forest land located in the province into revenue lands as reported widely in the media (July 15) is extremely appalling.

According to details about 0.750 million acres of forest lands located in various districts of Sindh is being converted to revenue land for general cultivation. Regrettably serious blow to our forests which ultimately will affect adversely environment of the province was ordered none other but by the chief minister himself; a custodian of Sindh’s interests.

The mega blunder was unearthed when the provincial law officer placed before the bench of Sindh High Court, which was hearing constitutional petitions of Indus Development Organisation (IDO) an NGO looking after provincial woodlands, a summary approved by the CM ordering such a lethal conversion. As per government’s claim the converted land will be allotted to female landless peasants, though there is strong belief that the same will finally be taken over by influential land mafias of the area.

Notwithstanding government’s avowed claims, the status of forest land should not be changed and allotted to private parties under any circumstances. In Sindh most of the katcha land where once existed thick forests have already been usurped by the influential land holders by force of arm. Even the government finds itself helpless before these “mighty” robber barrens. If the remaining forests are also converted to revenue lands and allotted to private parties, Sindh which has scant forests will be permanently deprived of its green cover.

The deforestation, as result of CM’s decision will cause not only climate change and global warming affecting human life and liberty but will going to adversely influence inalienable right of livelihood of millions of people; a violation of the Constitution.

The decision of provincial government is against the very interests of people and the province as well as the country as a whole. I make an appeal to the President and Prime Minister of Pakistan to come forward and save the forests of Sindh from total annihilation.

RA Sidiki,

Shikarpur.

India’s tactical runaway

The leading Indian newspapers on last Saturday blamed Pakistan and its foreign minister Shah Mahmud Qureshi for the failure of recent peace talks between the two countries as their main headlines went on, “Qureshi kills peace talks”, “Islamabad pushed off the diplomatic rails by sidelining New Delhi’s main demand for action against the perpetrators of the 2008 Mumbai attacks”, “Pakistan’s ambush diplomacy by seeking to set a fixed time-frame over Kashmir led to the failure” etc.

As a matter of fact the Indian U-turn in Islamabad peace talks was a tactical move to give the impression to the outside world (particularly the USA which was going to hold strategic dialogue with Pakistan in the following week) that Pakistan is still not co-operating to hunt down the suspected terrorists and the regional threats are still alive.

This way India succeeds in suspending the settlement of the outstanding issues like Kashmir and thus makes more wins by isolating and maligning Pakistan.

The so-called main demand around the Mumbai carnage and the overdriven emphasis on it was and still is an Indian excuse (in disguise) to propagate against Pakistan and to avoid any road map for a permanent solution to the main issues like water and Kashmir.

Otherwise the Indians have no difficulty to differentiate between the outstanding issues and the accidental issues as the latter are the by-product of the main, delayed (by democratic India over a period of six decades) outstanding, burning and bleeding issue of Kashmir but placing cart (the Mumbai issue) before the horse (the Kashmir issue) is an intentional strategic ill-will which not only harms the interests of Pakistan but also endangers the regional peace and security of the whole of South Asia.

India has learnt this “3-dish-diplomacy” from its tiny ally Israel which also gets pre-talks (starter) benefits, main-talks (main-dish) benefits and post-talks (sweet-dish) benefits from the US, sometimes even from the EU, as regards the Palestinian issue.

While these talks, between the Palestinians and Israelis, are mere an eye-wash attempt as these have never achieved their logical conclusions over the past six decades and now the same diplomacy is being pursued by India to maximise its all-out benefits from Washington.

Our foreign minister Mr. Qureshi rightly accused India of “narrowing down the talks” by focusing exclusively on militancy rather than the whole range of issues between the two countries, including the status of Kashmir and water access rights.

Especially when he said that Pakistan wanted the discussions to lead to the creation of a “roadmap” for better relations. But Indians felt they did not have the mandate to commit to it, a diplomatic lie which sounded as if Mr. S.M. Krishna’s hands were tied on back and the keys were left in New Delhi.

However, despite differences, both foreign ministers agreed to meet again in New Delhi to pursue improved relations that were derailed by the Mumbai carnage (a CIA engineered conspiracy) in which 166 people died.

But bearing in mind the Indian twists and tricks one should not expect much unless Pakistan gets tough by giving its full-fledged encouragement and moral support to the freedom movements across the border.

Ahmed bin Babar,

multiways@hotmail.com

18-7-2010

No headway made

So, the much-hyped talks between India and Pakistan for resolving the outstanding disputes between the two neighbouring countries and usher in peace in the region have ended without making any headway, to the great disappointment of many around here.

Karishna and Shah Mahmud Qureshi in their joint briefing to the national and international media have reportedly spoken in different tones, varying from each other to a great extent.

Qureshi has questioned the mandate which Karishna carried but also criticised the selective approach of New Delhi which had hampered any progress in the much-awaited peace talks between the two countries.

Karishnam in the meanwhilem is reported to have said that he had made some gains during the talks and also admitted that his mandate for the talks was precise. He preferred not to give details about the gains he had achieved, though.

As usual, and quite expectedly, Indian media has blamed Pakistan for the fiasco. And, experts on Indo-Pakistan relations have expressed pessimistic views and said there were little hopes for some positive outcome from the latest round of talks just held in Islamabad.

These are quite conflicting as well as contradictory statements and the people are quite confused as to what conclusion they should draw about the Indo-Pakistan talks.

In all fairness, in the point-scoring game through talks and more talks of rounds being played between the two countries over all these years, India has certainly gained some points by telling the world at large that New Delhi is quite sincere in resolving all irritants through mutual negotiations. The outburst of the Indian media against Pakistan has made the real intentions of New Delhi more clear.

As a matter of fact, India has not reconciled with the creation of Pakistan through partition of the sub-continent in August 1947 with Kashmir issue being the main irritant in the two countries having good neighbourly friendly relations.

It is also a matter of bitter record that India all these years has not let any opportunity go past without harming Pakistan directly and indirectly both at the regional and international levels. It is a painful fact that during last couple of months or so, India had caused harm to Pakistan at least on two main counts besides stealing the water and having hand in terrorist activities. Reports appearing in the national and international media in recent past had cited two matters in which India had interfered and prevented USA from entering into any deal with Pakistan for provision of civil nuclear technology on one hand and on the other, pressed France to refrain from going ahead as per understanding already reached essentially required machinery and equipment to Pakistan for bolstering its air force.

How there can be peace between India and Pakistan when New Delhi continues to behave in a hostile manner and causing harm to Pakistan in all possible manners? In all sincerity of purpose, it is India which through her selective focus and precise mandate top its foreign minister ensured that no headway is made and talks remain inconclusive like the previous all rounds of talks.

ASIM MUNIR,

Rawalpindi.

Lois the Corpse flower

An interesting budding flower named Lois the Corpse is an item of attraction these days for thousands of visitors at Houston Museum of Natural Science. This is one of the rarest flowers in the world to bloom. When the flower finally unfurls, they may want to hold their breath because of its powerful rotting meat stench meant to attract flies for pollination. After that, Lois might never bloom again.

We should open our parliament to those inquisitive visitors to show them a few bouquets of such flowers blooming gloriously in our Senate and Parliament. Some of them even grace the Cabinet. The good news is that they keep on coming back to blossom; thanks to our generous Election Commission which provides them a fertile soil to bloom again and again.

Dr. Ghayur Ayub,

London.

Democracy in Pakistan

In debates on TV channels about democracy, everyone seems to agree this is the best form of governance but opinions differ on why it has failed to deliver in Pakistan.

The common refrain in this regard is military intervention. Why has this happened repeatedly and why have the masses not resisted the intervention?

Political differences among politicians have reined high than concentrating on working to improve the lives of the people and the country. There seems to be no debate on these weaknesses of the political parties.

Political parties should be blamed for not holding elections within their own ranks. They function on dynastic leadership that remain detached from ground realities. They make promises which are not meant to be kept.

One of the main reasons for such a situation is that political workers and officeholders do not reach the top by making their way from the grassroots level.

They do not come up through hard work and struggle.

There is hardly any set of laws and bylaws governing the structure and the functioning of a party. This is the basis on which political parties flourish in other democratic countries.

Few political parties in our country have a manifesto that carries a clear history and the assessment of national problems along with solutions which the party will introduce after coming into power. Rather, there is more mud-slinging than solid work done for people. Political parties themselves never do any homework in order to understand the national problems and offer viable solutions.

In the never-ending match of slinging between the political parties, foul and slanderous language is used which becomes sensational news for the media to glorify.

Thus the real purpose of free speech and debate is lost. The media does not seem to show the viewers the pathetic conditions in which the masses at large live.

I suggest that there should be a jointly sponsored programme with the title of “Mirror” which should expose the appalling conditions in which some 80 percent of our people live - infrastructure, hospitals, schools, unhygienic living conditions, etc. And then the presenters on TV talk shows should ask political representatives as to what solutions do they have to mend the situation.

F.H. ANSARI,

Karachi.

17-7-2010

Rwandisation of Pakistan

Karachi continues to witness the killing of its citizens on hourly basis. Call them target killings, mafia killings, ethnic killings, religious killings, political killings or killings of any other sort. The urban and rural areas of Sindh present the picture of a war zone. The threshold of tolerance goes down each passing day. 22 persons were killed last week in Shikarpur because a cow trespassed the territory of a government officer. The villages in interior Sindh now destroy their enemies with rockets and anti-aircraft guns that will give an inferiority complex to an artillery brigade. Likewise the urban militants roam around in Prado fortresses loaded with guns and goons, breaking all laws, as if they were a 'hit and run' squad infiltrating behind enemy lines.

It is bad enough to have a corrupt and incompetent police. It is worse to have leadership that simply does not have the capacity or the will for the task. Seminars and speeches by citizens are well intended but not likely to change the logic that flows from the barrel of a gun. The greed for political power has left no space for reason, dialogue or compromise.

Our only solution is to organise and push for weapon-free cities. Regardless of the size or complexity of this option, it is the only one that can rid us of this mounting madness. One must also acknowledge and analyse the failure of many earlier attempts at de-weaponisation. There was never the full weight of the government, the consensus of the political leaders and the participation of the citizens (for any length of time) to make this miracle happen.

Pakistan is rapidly becoming a state controlled by a large number of feudal and urban private militias. Only and only a massive pressure from the citizens demanding a complete de-weaponisation can put a halt to this process of Rwandisation of Pakistan. Citizens wishing to contribute towards such an effort on a sustained basis may write to weapon.free.karachi@gmail.com. The time to demand a complete ban on weapons is now or never.

Naeem Sadiq,

On email.

Exorcists and quakes

Recently a gory incident was reported in media where in order to exorcise evil spirit a woman’s face was burnt. This is not a solitary occurrence but there are numerous instances where charlatans taking advantage of illiteracy and poverty are swindling the masses in the name of remedies and people out of fear and shame do not report the matter to police or media.

Recently at a tomb of some saint located at Khairpur Nathan Shah a ten-year boy, who was allegedly “possessed” by a Jin was brought for treatment but died as he could not bear the severe torture inflicted by the so-called pir; “the exorcist”. Unfortunately this is not a solitary incident where a boy was killed by the exorcist in a far-flung area of the province.

Unfortunately even at the advent of 21st century imposters and quacks are let loose in the country to swindle the gullible masses. Right from getting suitable match and profitable employment to the hapless needy clients they exorcise demon or bad spirit which they made the clients believe has captivated the victim and which is cause of his every misery.

Shockingly even big cities like Karachi and Lahore are not immune from these traders of mischief and death. Taking advantage of poverty, general state of illiteracy and authorities’ indifference to public miseries many “aamils and pirs” have sprouted. They have established their headquarters in suburbs of big cities. They not only promote their “qualities and qualification” through wall chalking but sadly some unscrupulous print as well as electronic media only for the sake of few bucks advertise their pseudo credentials.

The customers in this esoteric business mostly belong to the poor and illiterate class, who can not afford luxury of going to a private doctor or psychiatric for the treatment as public hospitals are few and that too lack requisite facilities. Thus quacks and imposters have an open field in the underprivileged areas where they thrive with the connivance of local police and administration.

The provincial government authorities need to move expeditiously and save the innocent people from the hands of swindlers. The print and electronic media should also stop advertising about these thugs immediately.

The perpetrator of the crime in Karachi has been apprehended. However the one, who is responsible for the death of the boy in Khairpur Nathan Shah, is at large. I appeal the authorities to register murder case u/s 302 PPC against the killer “exorcist” without further delay.

Altaf Hussain Qureshi,

Hyderabad

No 1 for wrong reason

It was sad to see that Pakistan once again ranks first in a bad way, as it ranks the top country to proportionally search for certain sex-related terms, according to Google.

Google ranks Pakistan No. 1 in the world in searches for pornographic terms, outranking every other country in the world in searches per person for certain sex-related content.

In Saudi Arabia all the porn websites are blocked, whether it is image or video all those material related to porn websites are blocked. If it appears on any of the website, the link is blocked and it can’t be opened. The same is in the case of non-Muslim Sri Lanka which has blocked free porn websites and the reason given was that the young generation was going on bad ways.

In Pakistan, these websites are easily accessible and even a 10-year child can watch porn websites.

Pakistan Telecom Authority should block those links which relate to porn website and also those website links which are related to porn material so that our young generation is saved. I also request Chief Justice of Pakistan to take suo motu notice of this important issue.

MUBASHIR MAHMOOD,

Karachi.

Economy and terrorism

Terrorism can have deep and long-term economic effects. Productivity and growth decline in areas where the threat of terrorism escalates. A heightened threat of terrorism creates uncertainty, increases costs of doing business and slows down growth. When terrorists strike consumer and business confidence weakens. Sales slump, production tumbles, investment stops and exports decline. This is precisely what is happening in today's Pakistan as the unrelenting wave of terrorism buffets the national economy.

Pakistan is already trying to cope with several other issues, like energy crunch, constraining exports and now it has this problem of terrorism threatening to take the economy down. The threat of terrorism is imposing additional costs on our businesses because now we have to travel abroad to meet our buyers and enhance security related expenditure at our business concerns. Foreign investors are not the only ones shying away from bringing their money into Pakistan. Local businessmen are also afraid of investing more money under the existing security and economic conditions. The rising business costs have adversely hit the small to medium producers and exporters as they work on small profit margins.

Afia Ambreen,

Rawalpindi.

Cut in education budget

The recently-announced budget indicates a reduction in education expenditures.

In a decaying society like Pakistan, this can have long-lasting affects since education is the only way to bring about a social change in this country.

The existing infrastructure of education, at least on the primary and secondary-school level, is based on an education system made by the British more than a century ago, which faced severe criticism.

G. W. Stevens, a British journalist commenting on the status of higher education in his book In India (published in 1890) writes, “You can begin to perceive how impossible it is to form any sane ideas of a wonder so unnatural — I suppose there is nothing like it in the world — thousands of people, speaking and writing an alien tongue almost as if it were their own, yet thinking and feeling a whole world apart from the spirit of it.

This grotesque prodigy is the fine flower of the system of education which we with infinite care, have grafted onto the Indian intelligence.”

Unfortunately more than 100 years after that and more than 63 years after the British left India things have gone worse. The importance of education in Pakistan cannot be over-emphasised. The Quaid-i-Azam in many of his speeches tried to highlight this point.

In one of his speeches (Nov 27, 1947) delivered in Karachi, he said, “If we are to make any real, substantial and speedy progress, we must earnestly tackle this question and bring our education policy and programme on the lines suited to the genius of our people consonant with our history and culture, and having regard to the modern conditions and developments that have taken place all over the world.”

His words still hold true. It is unfortunate that no attention was paid to what he said 63 years ago. It is high time we changed our priorities.

Without a strong education system, we may not be able to make the dream of the Quaid-i-Azam come true, who in the same speech (mentioned above) had said, “We have to build the character of our future generations, which means highest sense of honour, integrity and selfless service to the nation and sense of responsibility.”

DR. ADEEL HAMAD,

London.

16-7-2010

Taliban training monkeys

The Afghan Taliban are “training monkeys to use weapons to attack American troops” (Statesman, July 15). No, really. Monkeys are apparently being armed with “AK-47 rifles and Bren light machine guns in the Waziristan tribal region near the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan.” And this isn’t the first time! According to the news agency, the CIA also “trained massive “monkey soldiers” in the Vietnam War and dispatched armed monkeys to dangerous jungles to launch assaults on Vietnamese soldiers. Today, the Taliban forces have given the American troops some of their own medicine.” Wow.

UMAR MUSTAFA,

Peshawar.

Another US General speaks

Couple of days back, there were reports in the national media about new International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan (ISAFF) Chairman General David Petraeus was in Islamabad and had called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani among his other engagements in the Pakistani capital.

Reports said that General Petraeus had described Pakistan as an indispensable partner in the NATO-led coalition war on terror.

There is nothing to be cheerful about the US General’s remarks about Pakistan being an indispensable partner. By this way, the US General has just tried to pamper Pakistan to continue doing more and more in the war on terror and as a consequence keep suffering and offering huge sacrifices. As a matter of fact, Pakistan is up to its neck in the troubled waters and even cannot pull out at this stage without logical conclusion of the war on terror and elimination of militants and extremists from Pakistani territory at least.

It is irony of fate that over the years, civil ad military rulers of Pakistan have continuously been falling into the lap of the occupants of the White House one after the other. However, people of Pakistan by and large do not regard USA as a trustworthy friend and ally. This has been proved time and again. US Sixth Fleet had not reached East Pakistan when India had launched attack and boosting so-called Mukti Bahini force to break away from Pakistan. This may be difficult for many to recall. USA is only and only concerned with achieving its own interests and least bothered about what its allies and friends direly need.

So please do not trust the US State Department and Defence Department officials as their statements are only cliches and lip service only to kill time and get things done by Islamabad the way Washington bosses want these to be done. How can USA be a friend of major non-NATO ally Pakistan when it listens more to India and gives a deaf ear to direly needed request for civil nuclear technology facility from Islamabad?

Pakistan has suffered a lot. It is high time that our rulers start differentiating between friends and foes. The sooner it is done the better it would be in the national interests of Pakistan.

Bilal Ahmad Khan,

Lahore.

West’s Afghan problem

It is now becoming more and more obvious that the US and its NATO allies are suffering huge casualties in Afghanistan with no sign of outright military victory over the Taliban and the other resistant groups.

It is time for the Western nations to speedily withdraw from Afghanistan calling it “Mission Accomplished”. The majority of Afghans has resigned to the fact that the Taliban will soon force the foreign invaders out — and are already switching sides. Savage civil war will follow whether NATO troops withdraw now or after five years. The West will have to change its strategy into one of seizing and containing areas, which will be supported by all neighbouring and other Muslim countries. GOP Chairman Michael Steel had a point when he questioned President Barack Obama’s strategy of escalating ground fighting!

The US and its allies did what was expected of them — remove an extremist regime. Most of its leaders are killed or are on the run. This is victory on its own. The presence of any foreign Christian/Western troops in a puritanical Muslim country will invite contempt and hatred. The US and its allies somehow do not understand why a majority of the people in Afghanistan, Pakistan and other Muslim countries does not support their cause.

These countries judge the attitude and agenda of the US and Western countries on the basis of their policy on Israel and Middle East. Now, most Muslims believe that the US has a hidden agenda to destabilise Pakistan and neutralise its nuclear arsenal and capabilities.

They may be wrong but this is a region where perception matters.

The Taliban are feeding on frustrations and helplessness of Muslims at large, and the road to peace, security and brotherhood runs through Palestine/Israel, not Kandahar.

So the US must solve the Arab-Israeli conflict and leave Afghanistan hoping that Taliban will undergo a major change once the US leaves their country in the same way as Vietcong and Irish paramilitary forces changed.

MUHAMMED JAMIL ATHER,

Karachi.

Looming sugar crisis

Pakistan is the world’s fifth largest sugarcane producer and Asia’s third largest user of sugar. It ranks 15th among the refined sugar producers.

The sugar industry is the second largest agro-based industry after textiles in Pakistan. It is one of the most important daily commodities. There are about 72 sugar mills situated in different parts of the country. Out of these at least 26 mills are owned by powerful politicians, including the so-called national leaders.

The sugar mafia is responsible for the sugar crisis in Pakistan. It seems to be very difficult for the present federal and provincial governments to take any action against it. A large number of parliamentarians, their relatives or partners own sugar mills and can influence the federal and provincial governments.

The price of sugar in general is controlled and determined by the powerful lobbies of traders, commercial importers and mill owners who hoard the commodity when it is cheap in the market and then sell it at a high price in the holy month of Ramazan. The mill owners play a key role in engineering the supply of sugar in the market and gain billions of rupees in the form of black money.

The sugar mafia seems to be running a political industry that is unwilling to decrease its profit margin. When the price of sugar is low in the international market, the mill owners plead with the government to impose duties on sugar to discourage its import; but when the price is high, they raise domestic prices on the pretext of countering the smuggling of sugar across the border. The government has apparently lost its control over the mill owners and commercial traders.

It is the duty of the government to adopt a strategy to overcome the looming sugar crisis. All provincial governments and the federal government should devise a plan to ensure provision of sugar all over the country at a cheap and uniform rate.

It is an uphill task to take any decision against the sugar mafia. A serious and determined government can take action against the culprits who are in fact a part of the ruling regime.

The international sugar market crashed in April this year. At that time the government should have brought down the price of this commodity. It didn’t. Now the sugar mafia is making a plan to create an artificial shortage of sugar and raise its price.

MUHAMMAD DAHEEM,

Lahore.

World Cup 2010

Uruguay won the World Cup twice, but that feat was achieved in much distant past. England and France won the World Cup only once. Thus, for decades, in the name of World Cup, the premier football tournament was nothing but a show of four giants — Brazil, Italy, Germany and Argentina; which is certainly not a good advertisement of football. But the 2010 edition has thrown up a welcome variety with Spain emerging as the champion after making its debut entry in the final and Holland emerging as the runner-up, thereby breaking the hegemony of few selected teams only. Let’s hope that in the coming decades, we will witness the likes of Japan, South Korea, Ghana, South Africa or Chile vying for the ultimate honour in international football, thereby ensuring the relevance of World Cup.

FAYYAZ AZIZ,

Peshawar.

15-7-2010

Crime in Islamabad

This letter captioned only one day’s crimes out of those 365 which all witness the similar curse of crimes committed against the residents of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

“West-ridge police station reports that 3 armed robbers entered a house, the inmates were taken hostage at gunpoint and then locked up in a room, afterwards the culprits took gold, cash and fled away. In other report 3 young men aged 22-23 broke into a house, stolen gold and one camera.

The police station (R-A Bazaar) reports theft of gold, 3 lap-tops, one pistol and 4 mobile phones. The same police station also reported about one stolen Mehran car and a Suzuki pickup.

The police station (Cantt) reports that an unidentified person snatched away one lady’s purse containing 12,000 rupees and some important documents. The same police station registered the theft of one carton containing mobile phones worth 100,000 rupees.

The police station (Taxila) got report about 4 robbers who forced into a house, mishandled the owners and took away a box with gold and garments.

The police station (outer Saddar) registered a report for the theft of gold, lap-top and other valuable household articles. The police station (Sadiqabad) got report about one stolen motorbike.

The police station (Shalimar F/11) reported that 4 masked and armed robbers entered the house of a retired army colonel, the family was taken hostage at gunpoint and the household was deprived of gold, prize bonds, mobile phone and one lap-top. The same police station reports one motorbike stolen. The police station (Sabzi-mandi) reported one car stolen".

So in the light of these traumatic and tragic incidents some questions are directed to our political and military leadership in Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Are you concerned about these crimes? How do you prioritise them and what precautionary measures have been taken so far? How effective is our civil and military intelligence network?

I remember one case, some 30 years back, where a close relative of one serving commissioner of Islamabad was involved in such robbery cases in the Capital city.

So do police establishments (both civil and military) ever check and survey the possibility that most of these crimes are committed by the jobless guest visitors, from other parts of Pakistan, sometimes in connivance with their hosts based in the twin cities?

Do police officers of the twin cities deserve their posts and perks when they have utterly failed to prevent this soaring culture of crimes?

In fact the prevailing threats of terrorism and the eventual preparedness should make our security forces more vigilant, more vigorous and more effective to break and bust these gangs as well.

So my concern is: If we fail in the Capital cities (the role models) then we fail everywhere in Pakistan.

Ahmed bin Babar,

multiways@hotmail.com

Resolution against media

About the resolution passed by the Punjab Assembly against Pakistani media I have a different view.

We all must realise that we are living under a nascent democratic dispensation grown out of an autocratic rule in most of the 63 years of our country’s life.

While politicians have been accused by everyone, including the media, and rightly so, of corruption and other ills and are asked to take this criticism generously, why shouldn’t the media that received an answer in the form of a democratically-passed resolution take the backlash as well?

We are all fallible; not even in the more democratic societies of the world do angels exist. The only difference is that we are still in a transitionary phase and are trying to hold on to it whereas other developed countries with democratic dispensations have reached a point after decades of political and social transformation.

Whatever is happening here is part of a process which, though painful, has to be experienced if we are to become a viably democratic nation. This is how our society, media and politicians will mature.

Remember, Rome was not built in a day. We will have to be patient and need to give time to a system that has never been practised by us in its true sense. I am sure things will get better gradually.

MOHAMMED ALI JAWAID,

Karachi.

Opposition move blocked

Print and electronic media and members of the Punjab Assembly have been in the news for the last couple of days. This was so because the treasury benchers mainly belonging to the PML(N) and PPP Parliamentarians had unanimously passed a resolution the other day to condemn what they said was hostile and negative attitude of the media towards peoples elected representatives and politicians.

PML(QA) led opposition was, according to reports, was not allowed for two days to move a resolution through Opposition leader Ch Zaheeruddin Khan apparently in support of the mediapeople. The Opposition was forced to stage walkout now and then as the Opposition leader was not allowed even to read out his resolution in the House. This was because the ruling coalition did not want to give Opposition credit for moving the resolution in favour of the media.

Reports said that the anti-media resolution earlier last week unanimously adopted could not be withdrawn and the ruling coalition was un-nerved by countrywide agitation and protests by mediapeople, lawyers and others against the resolution. The ruling coalition worked out another resolution rather in a hurried manner in order to pacify the protesting mediapeople so that they end their boycott of the PA proceedings. While doing so, the treasury benches had ensured that the Opposition leader was not allowed to move the resolution and thus win the hearts of the boycotting mediapeople.

This was surely highly undemocratic on their part as well as against parliamentary traditions, if there are any, by blocking the Opposition leader from moving his resolution what was reportedly in favour of the media which was maligned by the PML(N) and PPP Parliamentarians members of the House left and right during the last few days.

Apparently the ugly episode has ended but the mediapeople must have realised as to who are their friends in the Provincial Assembly: PML(N), PML(QA), PPP Parliamentarians or others.

Tariq Javed,

Lahore.

14-7-2010

Deweaponisation drive needed

This is with reference to your news item, “24 killed over land dispute “(July 10). 24 people were killed in the Qambrani-Magsi dispute over a minor issue. But people were up in arms against each other and tension followed in Shikarpur. Almost seven people lost their lives in a Magneja-Alhora feud last month in the same district.

It shows the poor performance of the Shikarpur police. I wonder how these people get sophisticated weapons when people cannot buy wheat.

The law-enforcement agencies have failed in controlling the growing lawlessness in upper Sindh. People find it difficult to visit markets during day time due to lawlessness.

It is the prime responsibility of the state to maintain the law and order situation at any cost. Illiteracy and the failure of the lower courts to provide justice to victims are a major cause of these feuds.

It is also regrettable that culprits openly walk in marketplaces and take shelter in the autaqs of feudal lords. Innumerable schools have been closed down owing to these clashes and there are many no-go areas around.

Law-enforcement agencies seem helpless and at the mercy of the feudal lords when the clashes take place, especially in Jacobabad, Kandakot, Ghotki districts that face tribal clashes.

It is the common man who suffers in these feuds. In fact, a handful of sardars have been creating a law and order situation in upper Sindh but neither feudal lords nor custodians of law seem committed to dealing with the problem in an effective way. The attitude of the police is always partial and disappointing. It is lamentable that without the permission of a feudal lord even the police cannot make a raid to apprehend miscreants.

These clashes have badly affected the academic and economic sector of the area. As the Jirga system has been proved a failure in settling disputes, speedy justice needs to be executed through civil courts. Holding jirgas is neither defined in our law nor is it in accordance with Islamic law.

I appeal to Chief Justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to intervene and take suo motu notice in the Magsi-Qambrani clashes in Shikarpur. De-weaponisation is the only solution to this grave issue and so law enforcement agencies should be directed to carry out a major clean-up operation in these areas.

DR. FARUKH BHANDHRO,

Khairpur Mir.

Leadership’s profligacy

Does the leadership of this country not owe an explanation to the nation? How does their conscience allow them to spend almost three million rupees daily on the president’s and prime minister’s house, while their countrymen are being pushed towards suicide because of hunger? A comparison of this expenditure needs to be made, not with our poor neighbours like India but with richer countries, and it may be safely assumed that we are leagues ahead of them in luxury spending.

Is an explanation not needed to justify the expenditures of the bevies of ministers, both at the federal and provincial levels, where hardly any minister can claim any contribution to the country worth the expenses made on him/her? The irony is that almost everyone demands a bullet-proof vehicle and dozens of guards as if their loss will be a catastrophe for the nation.

The Sharifs also owe an explanation to the public about the reported tax of only Rs5,000 paid by them in contrast with the expenses incurred for maintaining their Raiwind estate. Similarly, all elected leaders and armed forces’ personnel need to explain their luxurious lifestyles.

Only after all those who matter give a satisfactory explanation, can the masses be exhorted to diligently pay all due taxes.

JAVAID IQBAL,

Karachi.

CSS & Baloch candidates

For the first time in the history of Balochistan, 34 candidates passed the CSS examination in 2009. However, it is feared that only 18 or 20 of the 34 would be lucky enough to be given a job in the federal services. It may be noted that when 29 Baloch candidates cleared the CSS examination in 2008, the incumbent government promised to appoint all of them to various federal departments.

According to the 1998 Census, the quota of Balochistan in the federal services should have been 6 percent. Instead, the province had been given a share of 3.5 percent from 1998 till 2005. It was in 2006 when the quota was increased to 6 percent. The case regarding vacant 2.5 percent of allocated seats is still pending with the Establishment Division in Islamabad.

At present, the quota of Balochistan is 6 percent, yet there are hardly even 2.5 percent of officers from the province in the federal services. Furthermore, the Concurrent List has been abolished as per the 18th Amendment. Consequently, many federal subjects are supposed to be devolved to the provinces. In order to run the new departments, the provincial government of Balochistan needs many officers.

Keeping in mind the facts above, the president and the prime minister are requested to give Balochistan its due share in the federal services, which was not given to it from 1998 to 2005. In addition, the number of officers should be raised to 6 percent by allocating all the 34 candidates to any group or service.

SYED RAUF KHAN,

Quetta.

World Football Cup

The mega event is over and Spain has lifted the coveted cup. What a stupendous spectacle of skills, talent, sportsmanship and discipline it was, not only of the players but of the huge huge throngs of spectators also! One is amazed at the fool-proof and flawless execution of the event and what all not must have gone into planning and organising such a world class event. We can only marvel at it enviously. Whether we like it or not, we have to admit that we, the 6th most populous nation of the world and the 7th nuclear power are, what to talk of hosting such an event are not even fit enough to qualify and participate in it. What a shame? What do these tiny countries have that we don’t have?

Allow me to narrate an anecdote and I dare my countrymen to ponder over it. Before the start of the finals I wished my one Dutch acquaintance luck for the match. Now listen to what he said. “Colonel, thank you for the good wishes and I too wish it happens, but let the best team win, not the luckiest”! Let the best team win! These are the people who deserve to live with honour.

Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd),

Rawalpindi.

Shandur Polo

Through the courtesy of your esteemed paper I would like to congratulate the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for successful holding of Shandur Polo festival 2010. The event was remarkable this year. I suggest that in future the festival should be organised in this way. VVIP guests from Islamabad should be avoided so that security arrangements are affordable for polo fans. Teams may be invited across the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. It will be advisable if teams are invite from Khyber Rifles, Shawal Rifles and Peshawar Polo Club. The event should be restricted to the players of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Bashir Hussain Azad,

Chitral.

13-7-2010

The war on burqa

This refers to the report, “French Parliament debates ban on burqa-style veils”.

The report says: “The legislation.... calls for 150-euro ($185) fines or citizenship classes for women who run afoul of the law, and in some cases both. Part of the bill is aimed at husbands and fathers who impose such veils on women family members. Under the most current version of the text, anyone convicted of forcing a woman to wear such a veil risks a year of prison and a 30,000 euro fine — with both those penalties doubled if the victim is a minor”.

One can clearly see that the legislation is aimed at harassing Muslims. I don’t know of any non-Muslim country that has been so hostile toward the Islamic veil. We Muslims feel that the French “secularists” who are Christians in disguise are trying to do what the West has been trying to do since ages — of course without success.

The message from these “secularists” is very simple. Muslim women must not be forced to wear the veil by their husbands or fathers. But they can be forced to remove their veils by these French non-Muslims! The right to use force against Muslim women belongs only to these non-Muslim “secularists”! They will dictate what Muslim women must or must not wear. And this is for protecting their great secularism!

The burqa which is the world’s most decent female dress is so derogatorily portrayed by these crazy “secularists” that one gets the impression it is the world’s greatest vice. Instead of trying to ban the burqa, why don’t these “secularists” ban bikinis or other all-revealing garments that reduce women’s bodies to show pieces for the public to gaze at? A civilised society would use force to remove vice and not to eliminate virtue. It is women who wear immoral dress in public and those men who encourage women to wear such clothes deserve to be punished. Even if a Muslim man forces his wife or daughter to wear the burqa, it is for protecting her modesty.

In Islam, one is responsible for everybody under his or her care. Punishing a man for what he does for protecting his family members is a crime in itself. There have been cases where Muslim women were prevented from wearing the veil by none other than their husbands. What do the “secularists” have to say about this?

MUHAMMED JAMIL ATHER,

Karachi.

A friend in need...

There is an old English proverb “A friend in need is a friend, indeed” which most of the older and younger generations would surely be remembering despite their being out of the colleges and universities many, many years together.

This proverb crossed my mind as I sat to write these few lines about Sino-Pakistan relations highlighted and cemented further during week-long visit to China of President Asif Ali Zardari. The proverb truly and really fits on Sino-Pak relations, to say the least. Both countries at the highest appropriate level have decided to intensify and promote cooperation in different fields in general and nuclear technology in particular, which augurs well for Islamabad, in all fairness.

To be honest and fair, within months it has been established once more and without any doubt that China is Pakistan's friend in need whereas USA, despite being an old ally, is "friend who cares least" for what is needed the most by Islamabad.

This was the acquisition of civil nuclear technology, for boosting nuclear power production in the country, which forced Islamabad to approach Washington for striking a civil nuclear technology deal on the lines of Indo-USA deal. The response was indeed quite unexpected from a so-called friendly country like the USA. The request was summarily turned down by the ally country without giving it even little initial consideration, even.

On the other hand, China had come forward and showed willingness to provide much-needed civil nuclear technology to Pakistan. Both India and USA raised some uncalled-for and unjustified objections and concerns in this regard. But these were brushed aside by China by saying it does not need the permission of either USA or India for entering into a civil nuclear technology deal without violating the international laws.

The unjustified and uncalled-for objections and concern raised against Sino-Pakistan civil nuclear technology deal only showed the real faces of USA and India to the world at large. How they could stand acquisition of such a facility for boosting nuclear power generation by a country which was already a nuclear power which is serving as the minimum security deterrence in view of developments in the region?

Difference between USA and China vis-a-vis Pakistan is thus crystal clear.

Anees A. Naqvi,

Lahore.

Assault on media

It is disappointing to learn that some individuals in the government tend to work behind the scenes by holding secret meetings to find a way to suppress the freedom of the press. One wonders how a government that flaunts its democratic credentials to the whole world can turn around and condone such questionable behaviour that is clearly meant to sabotage our budding democracy.

To an ordinary Pakistani it is beyond belief that instead of devoting their time and efforts to the more pressing issues faced by the nation (such as terrorism, law and order deterioration, poverty, inflation and economic depression), the politicians in their infinite wisdom find it justifiable to use their energies on muzzling the media as a matter of national priority.

I urge all my fellow countrymen to come forward in support of freedom of the press.

S. ZAFAR IQBAL,

On email.

12-7-2010

Attack on Media

Truth is always hard to stomach. The recent resolution passed by Punjab Assembly against media portrays an abysmal and awful aspect of the parliamentarians sitting in the air-conditioned halls of provincial assembly. Instead of setting themselves right and cleansing their own ugly records, they have chosen to embark on a malicious campaign against media and judiciary. The MNAs and MPAs — mostly the fake degree holders — sadly have nothing left to do but to curse media which did nothing wrong but revealed the truth about them. It is the people’s right to know all about their public representatives since they have empowered them with their votes and it is due to their taxes that these MNAs and MPAs are living luxurious life and enjoying many incentives.

I would like to assert the fact that media did nothing wrong. It only amplified the truth and real news regarding these parliamentarians with courage and valour without being intimidated by any authority or power. It was due to this independent media that Election Commission and Higher Education Commission took action and sent for the verification of the degrees of these public representatives. The result of this verification should have been a lesson for these so-called public representatives but it was of no avail. It was an opportunity for them to choose a right direction. The fake degree holders should have burned with shame. But to our utter surprise, they instead attacked upon media and judiciary with ferocity which were pursuing this campaign in the wider interest of Pakistani nation. The reason why we lack progress in our capacity as a nation is because our political leadership is not sincere with the country and with those who dwell in this poor land. It is hard to contemplate that our public representatives would stoop so low as to have fake degrees for running the affairs of state.

Media was honest and brave which kept national interest supreme and showed mirror to the parliamentarians. For this bold act, they deserve our all praise and we salute them. Had the media not been so active, we would be in pitched darkness regarding the wrongdoings of our democratic yet corrupt government.

Badar ul Islam,

Islamabad.

Shameless polluters

It is reported in the media, the provincial minister of Excise and Taxation Sindh and other senior Taxation Department officials of Sukkur recently gathered at the outskirts of city and torched massive quantity of contraband opium/hashish etc confiscated by the department over a period of time in open air with lot of fanfare. Since the programme was announced much earlier, hence, thousands of city dwellers came to witness the occasion. Moreover, press and media people were also invited for propagation of the event.

The most unfortunate aspect which no body took note of the pollution this burning of contraband material has created. The Excise authorities are probably unmindful of the lethal effect of poisonous fumes emanating from burning drugs on human and animal life of the area. Only for the sake of propaganda and showing the media that they have got rid of confiscated drugs, they have put health of entire area people into jeopardy.

The Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPE) whose primary responsibility is to preserve clean environment, should also take note of such harmful activities which are causing serious damage to atmosphere. SEPE must restrained the Excise Department from burning of confiscated drugs in open air; a routine affair in the provinces.

I also request the chief minister and chief secretary Sindh to direct the Excise people to stop disposing of drugs in such a callous manner in the open air, which except putting the health of people in jeopardy serves no other purpose.

Qazi Bashir Ahmed,

Old Hala.

11-7-2010

Sugar – White poison

Sugar is selling at Rs70 a kilo and expected to rise up to Rs100 during the ensuing Ramazan, thanks to the sugar mills cartel and its manipulative import from Brazil. But, do we know that by consuming sugar we subject ourselves to slow poisoning and pay for it too? Of all the foods consumed today, refined sugar is considered to be one of the most harmful.

Sugars are refined from natural foods like sugar cane or sugar beets by removing all elements of food until only the sugar remains. All vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, enzymes and every nutrient is removed until only the sugar remains. During the refining process, 64 food elements are destroyed. All the potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, manganese, phosphate, and sulfate are removed. The A, D, and B, vitamins destroyed.

What happens when you eat a refined carbohydrate like sugar devoid of fibre, minerals, proteins, fats, enzymes and any other nutrient? Your body has to borrow the vital nutrients from healthy cells to metabolise the incomplete food. Calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium are taken from various parts of the body to burn the sugar. Many times, so much calcium is consumed to neutralise the effects of sugar that the bones become osteoporotic due to the withdrawn calcium.

A body depleted of various vitamins, minerals, enzymes and nutrients cannot properly handle and rid itself of the poisonous residues. These wastes accumulate through the brain and nervous system, which speeds up cellular death. The bloodstream becomes over-loaded with waste products and symptoms of carbonic poisoning result.

Sugar also makes the blood very thick and sticky, inhibiting much of the blood flow into the minute capillaries that supply our retina, internal ear, gums and teeth with vital nutrients. Therefore, we wind up soon with defective vision, impaired hearing, diseased gums and starving teeth.

Due to the constraints of time and space only some of the above ill effects of sugar are pointed out. Is it worth it to buy this White Poison and at that exorbitant price too? Boycott sugar in its all manifestations, tea, desserts, halwas, sweet meats, colas and juices and save your lives. Use instead gur only, the darker the better. Incidentally, sugar prices will tumble down to pre-Ayub era.

Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd),

Rawalpindi.

Uproar on fake degrees in PA

According to a press report, in a rare show of unity, the Punjab Assembly members of all political parties fiercely attacked the media for maligning politicians on the issue of fake graduation degrees. The members of Punjab Assembly blamed the judges, generals and journalists for derailing democracy.

This is not the first time that the people’s representatives have shown unity among themselves when their personal character is exposed.

They forget that they are public representatives and it is the right of the people to know their personal profile. The question of fake degrees is related to the morals and ethics of these representatives.

The question is: are those who contested the election with fake degrees honest or not, as the law says that only graduates can contest the election?

If those who are expected to make laws and set a moral standard themselves break the law and cheat, then how can they expect people to be honest and respect the law?

It was disgusting to see how the members of the National Assembly were shouting against the media whose responsibility is to expose and tell the truth and nothing but the truth.

The media has been doing a wonderful job and the credit must go to General Pervez Musharraf who allowed the establishment of private TV channels despite opposition from all his political companions.

Democracy can only flourish if the judiciary and the press are free from the establishment’s influence. It is a known fact that our so-called politicians are not democratic themselves and they are not in favour of democracy.

They seem to be in politics to further their self-interest and corruption. Why do they not raise their voice in the assembly on the plight of the masses who are suffering from high inflation, load-shedding, and poor health services?

Why have the politicians not raised their voice for those 40 percent Pakistanis who live below the poverty line? Why are they not taking any notice of those who are committing suicides due to hunger and poverty?

ENGR S.T. HUSSAIN,

Lahore.

Victory against Australia

It was heartening to see the Pakistani cricket team again playing as a unit against Australia in the recently-concluded two T20 matches. Shahid Afridi led the team while the rest helped him.

Umar Akmal continues to impress and can prove to be the backbone of our batting line-up in the next decade or so. Umar Gul’s return has added an extra bit of zing to the bowling attack as his yorkers proved to be too good for the Australian batsmen. Mohammad Aamir is going from strength to strength and it’s a treat to watch this 18-year-old troubling the best of batsmen.

The team’s on-field performance during the two matches reflected the dressing room’s encouraging atmosphere and Afridi and Waqar Younis should be appreciated for keeping a good atmosphere within the squad. As a result, the team looks relaxed and the fielding standard has also improved.

The Pakistani cricket team’s talent has never been in doubt, but in-fighting and player politics have often prevented it from performing to their potential. These are encouraging signs but Pakistan needs to give such performances on a consistent basis.

QAZI FURQAN,

Karachi.

Wither the hoi polloi?

It is a point of grave concern that right from the inception of Pakistan till today, the common man has not been able to make a mark in mainstream politics of the country. Rather, he has been kept out of the corridors of power by the privileged class.

Nawabs, Khans, Chaudhrys, Maliks, army generals, bureaucrats, industrialists, feudal lords, etc, have ruled the country during all these 63 years and have ignored the general welfare and prosperity of the masses only for the sake of maintaining their dominance.

Pakistan was created due to the tremendous sacrifices of thousands of commoners. But the elite have hijacked the country and ignored those sacrifices. History tells us that those nations have excelled where the middle class was allowed to flourish and those ones suffered where only a select few ran the government — a lesson worth learning.

ABDUL SAMAD SAMO,

Karachi.

Dishonest politicians

Over the past few weeks, I have repeatedly come across news of parliamentarians possessing fake degrees being exposed. Those who find the rope a little slack deny that their degrees are fake whereas others who find that the ball is no longer in their court resign.

What is intriguing is that the educated citizens of Pakistan who possess ‘original’ degrees are sitting jobless while the elite class, despite being uneducated, rules the country.

The problem lies in the fact that the majority of population is illiterate or rather ignorant. These ignorant people are easily led astray and made to believe that politicians affiliated with the mainstream parties are the only people who can transform Pakistan and bring about a radical change. On the other hand, the educated seldom use their right to vote.

No civilised society can progress unless its rulers are honest and committed. If the leaders of the country are not sincere with the people, then how do they expect the masses to be optimistic? We are simply being dragged into a situation of chaos, as more and more parliamentarians are required to leave office because of committing fraud. The current political scenario in the country involuntarily brings forth a question in our minds: are we moving towards an empty parliament?

SHERAZ HUSSAIN,

Lahore.

10-7-2010

Knowledgeable versus ignorant

The way the issue of the fake degrees is being defended by Raisani and his likes speaks volumes about the intellectual bankruptcy of our so called leaders. Little do they realise that a degree is not a mere piece of paper which they can easily forge, but is a sacred parchment conferred by an academia certifying possession of a specific measure of knowledge by the degree holder. I think it is for such like people that the Holy Quran says in Sura Az Zumar (39:9), “Are those who know equal to those who do not know?” It is our misfortune as a nation that our leaders are not alive to it. To them knowledge seems to be a low priority commodity.

This proclamation of the Quran leads me yet to another anomaly being practised in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. When Allah (swt) Himself says that those who know not cannot be equal to those who know, (the knowledgeable and the ignorant cannot be equal) how can we treat them as equals in exercising their judgement in matters of national import requiring deep understanding and good knowledge of the statecraft? Surely the judgement of a knowledgeable person could vary from that of an ignorant one in, say, electing the rulers.

Allow me to say, keeping the literacy rate of Pakistan in view, the number of ‘ignorants’ far outweighs that of the ‘knowledgeables’. And as they wield the deciding influence on the outcome of an election, we are ‘blessed’ with the type of leaders that we have. Should we, therefore, have one vote equally for all – the knowing ones and the not-knowing ones? Is it not against the teachings of Quran and Shariah? I think it calls for a serious study and ruling by the experts on Shariah and Islamic jurisprudence –  the Muftis, the Federal Shariat Court, the Islamic Ideological Council etc.?

Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd),

Rawalpindi.

Indian ‘military governance’ in Kashmir

Prominent Indian journalist Vir Sanghvi writes in Hindustan Times, “If you believe in democracy, then giving Kashmiris the right to self-determination is the correct thing to do.”

The Government of India has recently called for "creative solutions" to resolve the "Kashmir problem." If we map the events of the past six months inside held Kashmir, the approach of the Indian state is aggressively militaristic. While commitments to political diplomacy frame relations between New Delhi and Islamabad, in IHK, there are no such engagements with civil society or with the pro-freedom leadership. There is no acknowledgement of civil society's demand for the right to self-determination.

Kashmir is a laboratory of violent experiments conducted by Indian military and state institutions. The sustained militarisation in Kashmir is not called "military rule" by the Indian state and international community. Civil society in Indian-Held Kashmir remains under the authority of the hostile army whose reach and power has been established and can be exercised.

Between January-June 2010, reportedly 40 civilians, 107 persons identified as 'militants' have been killed. Those killed by the Central Reserve Police Force and police were all young men, all Muslim. Over 20 persons have been killed in "encounters" in just April and May 2010; each reported as 3 "infiltrating" militants. Only four deaths have been investigated, all found to be fake encounter killings. Reportedly, 335 militants were killed in 2008 and 236 militants were killed in 2009. There are no systematic investigations into alleged "encounter" killings. Promises made about inquiries and commissions are not honoured. International human rights law argues that a state must respect the right to life. The Indian armed forces repeatedly break this covenant in Kashmir.

India alleges that Pakistan does not want peace and encourage militant attacks. Does India want peace in Kashmir? Is India willing to recognise what "peace" will require, and take those steps? Military-talk and dominant political speech state that the Indian armed forces are in Kashmir to protect citizens, and justify civilian suffering and killings as collateral damage in a war on terror. There is no way out of the contradiction that India's military is the protector of Kashmiris who are also potential enemies, as long as military suppression of Kashmiris is understood as crucial to defending India.

India's militarisation is portrayed as an "internal" matter, refusing transparency, international scrutiny, and adherence to international humanitarian law of conflict and war. In the face of the Indian state's violations of international humanitarian law, of protocols and conventions, and perpetration of crimes against humanity, there is a deafening silence on the part of the international community. The Kashmir conflict, like other international conflicts, requires urgent attention and resolution. There is, at present, no monitoring, no sustained visibility, no engagement that can produce ethical and viable results.

Afia Ambreen,

Islamabad.

Wanted: More ninjas

While talking on ABC’s “This Week” programme on June 29, CIA Director Leon Panetta claimed that Osama Bin Laden was hiding in Pakistan’s tribal areas bordering Afghanistan.

In the same breath he told his audience that they did not have any good intelligence on the whereabouts of al-Qaeda leader for years. How come when the American drones have been keeping an eye on Pakistan’s tribal areas and attacking the whole of the tribal belt without giving a damn to Pakistan’s sovereignty? Was Panetta indirectly asking Pakistan to “do more” to get to the hiding al-Qaeda leaders? Pakistan is already under considerable pressure to launch a military offensive in North Waziristan from where the Haqqani group is allegedly engaged in lightning strikes on NATO forces in Afghanistan. So far Pakistan has resisted the US pressure. Interestingly it is being reported that both Pakistan and Afghanistan are holding secret talks with the Haqqanis, independent of the US.

In such circumstances, the only course left for Panetta is to hire a few more American ninjas to do the Osama job. Pakistani authorities recently arrested one such ninja — Gary Faulkner who was on his way to assassinate Osama while crossing the Pak-Afghan border on foot. He was carrying a pistol and a 40-inch sword. As Panetta has himself admitted that they are fighting in one of the most difficult and dangerous terrains of the world, the latest warfare and technology may not produce the results the US is looking for. Perhaps Pentagon should advertise openings for ninjas with handsome packages.

MUHAMMED JAMIL ATHER,

Karachi.

Strategic depth in Afghanistan

Since the initiation of US attack on Afghanistan, South Asia’s strategic situation is being continually defined and redefined by the changing realities of the time - and that too at a fast pace. The ongoing tussle among the key players - US, Taliban, Pakistan, India, Russia and China - has become further complex in the global economic recession in general and the US desperate search for a face-saving military withdrawal from Afghanistan, at the earliest in particular.

The US wants to pave way for an early face-saving exit from Afghanistan and it offers the opportunity to Indian army to train the Afghan army and police possibly for three reasons i.e. (a) The US wants to take India into confidence since another great game, chronologically, one, is being played and this time between the US and China because the US wants to counter China's economic expansion with India's growing influence in the region.

(b) After global economic recession, the leading US economic institutions failed miserably leaving the US economy in dire straits. Therefore, this public perception is gaining strength that this recession is somehow linked to the global war on terror. Hence, Obama's administration is under great pressure to ensure an early withdrawal from Afghanistan which was also part of his election manifesto.

(c) The US wants India to fill that vacuum that would be created after the withdrawal of the US and NATO forces lest the Taliban would seize the opportunity.

Despite the catchphrase of major non-NATO-Ally and the frontline state in the war on terror, it has become evident from this offer that the US administration doesn't want Pakistan to manipulate the vacuum in its favour. Also, it shows that the US is not interested in Pakistan's genuine strategic concerns vis-à-vis giving greater role to India, as the move will make Pakistan's western borders unsafe and has the potential to destabilise the precarious balance of power that exist on the subcontinent.

Afia Ambreen,

Rawalpindi.

Not a real issue

We are very intolerant and unfair towards our fake degree-holding MNAs and MPAs. Winning an election is not a child’s play: they contested election and won it against many eminent politicians. Having fake degrees doesn’t mean that they are corrupt and inept. And it should be kept in mind that people didn’t vote for them for their degrees, but people wanted to get rid of Musharraf and PML-Q.

If we ponder over the short history of Pakistan, the greatest damage has been done to Pakistan by educated class, the genuine degree holders. The educated assembly passed the 17th amendment. The educated judiciary gave three years to Musharraf to rule the country and make political alliances for his survival. The educated people know how to embezzle money, how to fool the common people, how to reach the power corridors.

Najeebullah,

Swat.

Altaf Hussain’s suggestion

Muttahida Qaumi Movement chief Altaf Hussain has said that the recent terrorist attacks on mosques, shrines and other places that have killed many people were not in reaction to drone attacks in Pakistan.

I suggest government, law enforcement agencies and other concerned departments to take advice from Mr. Altaf Hussain as he is confident that these attacks are not because of drone attacks.

May I ask MQM chief that how he is sure that these attacks are not a reaction to drone attacks? Does he have intelligence reports which our law enforcement agencies don’t have?

MUBASHIR MAHMOOD,

Karachi.

Obscene ads

Roadside advertisements in Karachi are becoming increasingly obscene, making it difficult to protect our families and children from such despicable material. It seems that marketing companies have failed to realise that among their audience are also young children, with developing and immature minds, and adults who have not lost their cultural and religious values of modesty and decency, who view such content with utter disgust. Such advertisements only serve to corrupt the minds of our youth. I urge the city government of Karachi to formulate regulations concerning the material that is displayed on billboards throughout the city.

HAFSA M HANIF,

Karachi.

Germany’s World Cup bid

Germans rejoiced a booming triumph over Argentina at the World Cup 2010 in South Africa but lost to Spain in the semi final, but overall it was a great success for the team that consists mostly of young ones. If we consider the young multi-cultural team’s success, patriotism and the possible political after effects, most of us would conclude that football games like this are about so much more than just sport. Germany played Argentina during the quarter-finals of the World Cup 2010 and won with an unexpectedly large margin of 4-0. Millions of Germans celebrated, as many print and electronic reports suggest, including the hundreds of thousands crowded into the so-called Fan Mile in central Berlin, an area specially set aside for audiences to watch the games together on giant screens. Many newspapers around the world including German leave no subject uncovered, writing about everything from German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s direct trip to South Africa from Toronto where she was attending the ‘Gs’ summit, to see the game, which had been reportedly criticised by the German media as ‘unnecessary and too expensive,’ to analysis as to how the team achieved such an amazing scoring capacity and accuracy, to Germany’s growing nationalistic will.

In 1966, some analyst reminds that the German team lost the final to England, 4-2. It was a tight, hard-fought game and the third goal by England was a controversial one. Today we know what the players knew then. The third goal was no goal at all. The Germans had plenty of reasons to be upset, they could have become angry and their rage could have translated into fouls. But they accepted what could not be changed, took the silver medal and congratulated the English team on their win. 1966 was 20 years after the Second World War, and that was only a football game. But that game improved the image of Germans in English eyes. Now, 44 years after 1966, the way the young German team played is to be admired. They might have conquered the hearts of their compatriots back home and now they are winning hearts beyond Germany’s borders. Because various players were missing and because they had a relatively young and inexperienced side, not much was expected of the Germans, yet they played superb till they lost to Spain. But overall a great effort by the team.

Sirajul Islam,

On email.

9-7-2010

One more heritage in peril

It is reported in the media that one more prepartition old Gothic edifice is being eliminated at Lahore. It is a timely reminder to the people of metropolis to wake up and save their heritage from the rapacious and mindless bureaucracy bent on destroying the building of National Management College (NMC), a national monument, in the name of development and at the same time an apt warning to those whose primary job is to preserve it but have failed in their duty.

The edifice of NMC, old Pakistan Administrative Staff College (PASC) was the former Punjab Club, built in 1904 - a fine example of Greco-Roman Architecture. PASC was first established in 1960 during Ayub Khan’s era to train the officers of senior management level. Later on in 2002 during the tenure of last principal and present rector PASC was changed into National School of Public Policy (NSPP).

No previous management ever tried to change the old magnificent structure of main building facing the legendry ‘Upper Mall’, rather every effort was made to keep the grandeur of edifice intact. However, by taking over administration the present rector, who happens to be Kargil-fame retired Lt General, having least respect for the national assets, has started demolishing the old structure mercilessly replacing with behemoth of concrete of cement.

The metropolis of Lahore, once famous for its gardens and magnificent buildings dating back to medieval times, is fast losing its glory to the greedy builders’ mafia and senseless bureaucracy and apathetic politicians.

The NMC building which is our national heritage has to be saved from demolition or defacement and preserved under all circumstances. It is a test case for the authorities concerned.

D. M Baloch,

Canada.

Is Mullen trustworthy?

Few days back, it was reported in the national media that US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen has praised Pakistan for making extraordinary efforts for protecting its nuclear weapons and went on to observe that Pakistan's nuclear programme cannot and should not be compared with that of Iran and North Korea. He is also reported to have said at a public platform in Colorado that Pakistan needs nuclear deterrence.

While there have been no official reaction from Islamabad to what the Admiral has said, people are already expressing their views through these columns of national dailies and raising the burning question whether Admiral Mullen is trustworthy.

People’s memory is not so short and they fully remember what promises and assurances have been given by Washington to Islamabad from time to time and most of these had not been honoured at the end of the day. Only few months back, Washington had bluntly turned down a request from Islamabad for a civil nuclear technology deal.

Is Admiral Mullen trustworthy to the extent that his remarks about Pakistan's nuclear programme and foolproof security of nuclear arsenal would be given due weightage by the Obama Administration to close the nuclear proliferation chapter once and for all and give fresh consideration to the request from Islamabad for a civil nuclear technology deal?

Sajid A.Naeem,

Lahore.

5-7-2010

Fake degrees

According to some reports, more than 150 sitting members of national and provincial assemblies may be in possession of fake graduation degrees.

This requirement to have graduation degree as a minimum qualification for a legislator was introduced by Gen. Musharraf. When February 2008 elections were held, this requirement was very much there, though it was later struck down by the Supreme Court. It means that a number of parliamentarians thought that it was perfectly normal to submit fake and forged degrees to get elected.

They never thought that by doing so they are undermining the very institution that is supposed to make laws for the country. Just imagine legislators who have been entrusted with the responsibility of making laws getting elected by using unlawful means.

There is no point in compromising on this issue even if it means the country going for midterm elections. Meanwhile, the election commission should open criminal prosecution against these fake degree holders. They should be barred forever from contesting any election for public office. All those involved, whether institutes or individuals, in forging and printing these fake degrees should face criminal charges.

The government says that raising the issue of fake degrees is a conspiracy against democracy. Which democracy they are talking about?

MASOOD KHAN,

On email.

Lahore blast: A replay of Iraq?

After the bomb blast in a famous Lahore shrine that killed more than 50 people Pakistan is still in shock.

Although concerned authorities are pointing fingers at the militants in North Waziristan, several serious questions remain unanswered. The main question is who stands to gain from the present chaotic situation in the country?

Two points are worth considering. One, most of the Afghan war is being fought on Pakistani soil. Second, the top US commander in Afghanistan, Gen. David Petraeus is known for his “divide and rule” policy in Iraq where the worst sectarian violence followed the destruction of a famous shrine in Samarra. The Iraqi people are still paying a heavy price for this communal polarisation between Sunnis and Shiites. Are we witnessing a replay of the same tactic in Pakistan? Due to the presence of Blackwater and several other foreign agencies Pakistan has become a hub of conspiracies. So the government should expose the forces behind the Lahore tragedy if Pakistan is to avoid the fate of Iraq.

KHAWAJA UMER FAROOQ,

On email.

Redefine the foreign policy

Apparently, Islamabad is following an independent foreign policy of friendship with all, enmity with none. But as a matter of fact, one cannot help this point out this deplorable and regrettable bitter reality, our foreign policy is guided by the directions from Washington DC, USA, for all practical purposes. Some even venture to say that ours is a foreign policy which has no direction. Well, this a debatable point.

There is no denying the fact that Pakistan is facing acute power crisis and is in dire need for boosting power generation by utilising and exploiting all available sources within the country and abroad. Besides hydel, coal, nuclear power is another sources which needs to be tapped in this regard. Pakistan has only two nuclear power generation facilities at Karachi and Khushab which together produce hardly 450 megawatts of power which is least appreciable under the prevailing energy crisis situation in the country.

For this, Pakistan badly needs civil nuclear technology for boosting nuclear power generation in the country. Pakistan has been making efforts to acquire this facility from wherever possible. But quite unfortunately most of these efforts are somehow being blocked and interrupted by neighbouring country India on one pretext or the other.

India had managed to smuggle nuclear technology from Canada and detonated atomic bomb way back in May 1974. But despite this, India is entering into civil nuclear technology deals with more and more countries. Some months back, India had entered into a civil nuclear technology deal with USA and only few days back, signed a similar deal with Canada during its Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's visit there. India had blocked Pakistan's efforts to acquire civil nuclear technology on the allegation of poor nuclear proliferation record and itself is entering into such deals with at least eight countries including USA and now also Canada.

Is not this the failure of our foreign policy and of the foreign missions in world capitals which have have, somehow, not been able to put the records straight regarding nuclear proliferation. This situation is not in favour of Islamabad and as such one is forced to call for redefining the foreign policy on priority basis keeping in view all pleasant and bitter ground realities.

Shaan Ali Zaidi,

Lahore.

Truth prevails on USA at last

No less a person than top most American military official, Admiral Mike Mullen, seemingly has spoken the truth at last. According to reports in the national and international media, Admiral Mullen has said that Pakistan needs nuclear deterrence while speaking from a public platform in Colorado. He has also admitted that Pakistan’s nuclear assets are well protected and as such it cannot be compared with the nuclear programmes of Iran and North Korea.

While appreciating that the American admiral has spoken the truth and frankly admitted the ground realities vis-a-vis atomic arsenal in Pakistan, one just cannot understand as to why the US State Department and Defence Department officials statements differ from each other when they speak in Islamabad and Washington or elsewhere. This indicates that US policy keeps shifting towards its old friend and non-NATO major ally Pakistan depending on Washington's short, medium and long term ulterior vested interests. Despite the fact that the American admiral has at last spoken the truth, it is not possible to believe as to what he has aid reflects President Obama's policy or not. After all, the US President has only few days back sacked a senior US general for showing dissension.

The American admiral after having spoken so truthfully should also prevail upon Washington to review on priority basis its blunt refusal to Islamabad's request for nuclear civil nuclear technology deal for enabling Pakistan boost power generation and try to overcome the energy crisis to some extent at least. Admiral Mullen hopefully would be aware of the bitter fact that his country had refused to enter into a US-India like civil nuclear technology deal with Pakistan.

In all fairness, if Washington keeps listening and being pressurised from New Delhi and not caring for Islamabad's genuine requirements like the civil nuclear technology deal then, I am afraid, people would force their rulers to drastically review relations with USA. People in Pakistan by and large already are not much happy and appreciative of US policies towards Pakistan in general and sacrifices and sufferings being made and offered in the US-led international coalition war on terror, which has been thrust upon this country for Washington's ulterior motives, to say the least.

Rizwan Haroon,

Lahore.

Canada-India nuclear deal

India and Canada signed a civil nuclear deal on June 28 on the sidelines of a summit of the Group of 20 developed and emerging nations. PM Singh assuring that imported uranium and atomic technology will not be used for 'any unintended purpose' while his Canadian counterpart Stephen Harper called it good agreement saying, "we cannot live in the past of 1970s." Canada is the eighth nation to reach a civil nuclear deal with India since the Nuclear Suppliers' Group, a cartel which trades in nuclear fuel, equipment and technology, lifted a 34-year ban on India in 2008. New Delhi has atomic deals with such countries as US, France and Russia while Japan also pledged to extend cooperation with India in the field of civil nuclear technology, while in the case of Pakistan, it has insisted that aid should be contingent upon signing the NPT. Both these NSG members are contravening their NPT legal commitments.

The deal will create strategic imbalance in the South Asian region and experts believe that any change to India's capacity to build new bombs might impact the nuclear balance with Pakistan. The possibility cannot be ruled out that India may use this civil nuclear energy for military purposes. India's asking of details about Sino-Pak nuclear deal makes little sense, when it has signed such deals with US, Canada, Russia, France and Japan. The US double standard is also clear as it has denied the same nuclear deal to Pakistan. Pakistan direly needs nuclear energy to overcome country's ever-increasing energy demands.

The Canadian nuclear deal with India also shows the double standard of global organisations. For instance, the NSG forbids transfer of nuclear materials to the countries who have not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). It, however, made exception for India by clearing the India-US nuclear deal in view of New Delhi's flawless non-proliferation record. But India has a history of nuclear proliferation. Hindu extremists and Indian scientists have been involved in theft of nuclear material and in technology transfers between Israel and India, as well as other countries.

As far as safety is concerned, two incidents at the Indian Bhabha atomic plant and radiation contamination at the Kaiga nuclear plant in Karnataka are indicative of a severe lack of safety measures by Indians that certainly does not fall into the blatantly advocated "peaceful nuclear programme" rhetoric.

As compared to Indian nuclear safety and non-proliferation record, Pakistan's nuclear command and control system remains one of the most sophisticated and secure in the world, as no such incident has ever been occurred. Looking at the factual record and energy needs of country, the US and Canada should also sign a similar civilian nuclear deal with Pakistan. Otherwise the discriminatory approach in ignoring the genuine energy need of Pakistan and the arm race in South Asia would make the world more dangerous place to live in.

Afia Ambreen,

Rawalpindi

4-7-2010

Hapless pensioners of Sindh

I fully endorse the views of Sindh’s pensioners who have been unjustifiably disregarded by not allowing them raise in the pensions and medical allowance, permitted to retired employees of federal government and other three provinces, in the annual budget of 2010-11.

Although it is a matter of practice that in order to maintain uniformity in salaries and pensions of all public sector employment, provincial governments follow the line of the federal government. It is for these reason other three provinces in their annual budget have already increased pensions of retired employees at 15% and medical allowance at 20% respectively. However Sindh government though adopted increase in the salaries of working employees has ignored pensioners, for the reasons best known to it.

This is a palpable case of discrimination against the retired employees of Sindh government who gave best of their times in the service of province. It is the pensioners who at the advanced and feeble age with no other source of income except paltry amount of pension deserve help to fight the menace of inflation and meet bare minimum day to day expenses but instead have been given shock of their life.

Where the TV anchors are, that otherwise do not tire criticising in the media even minutest slip of the government, but have kept discreet silence over brazen injustice perpetrated against the pensioners of Sindh, half of whom are widows and orphans?

I make an earnest appeal to the media specially TV channels to take up the cause of pensioners so that gross discrimination caused to this weaker segment of population can be undone.

I also make an appeal to the President and the Prime Minister to take notice of Sindh government’s irrational approach towards its hapless pensioners. I trust the retired employees of Sindh will not be ignored but will be given the same treatment as allowed to the pensioners of federal government as well as other provinces i.e. rising in the pensions and medical allowances at 15% and 20% respectively.

R. A Sidiki,

On email.

Still a long way to go

President Asif Ali Zardari has opined that Pak-US truust deficit has been replaced with a sense of partnership. According to reports in the national media, the President made this observation during his meeting with US Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton early this week.

The meeting apparently took place in the wake of US at least honouring its commitment though partially and supplying couple of F-16 fighters to Pakistan which have since been inducted in the Pakistan Air Force.

I would like to tell the worthy President that though Pakistan and USA claim each other to be old friend and ally, yet the trust deficit is so enormous, build up over the years mainly due to Washington's indifferent attitude and not honouring many commitments. By supplying couple of F-16s to Pakistan, at the time when Islamabad is up to its neck in the US-imposed war on terror and suffering heavy losses, the trust deficit should not be expected to turn into partnership overnight. Like USA has been asking Pakistan to do more and still more in the war on terror, Pakistan needs to tell the "old ally" that it is a long way ahead which is yet to be covered and only then one may hope the existing trust deficit has been minimised if not totally eliminated.

President Zardari would very well be remembering that when Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was the prime minister for the second stint, perhaps, Pakistan had made payment in hard foreign exchange of dollars to USA as the price for some F-16s but these were never supplied despite several reminders from Islamabad.

Time and again it has been proved that USA is not a sincere and trustworthy friend and ally of Pakistan and has crystal clear leanings towards India. Only couple of months back, it was USA and no other country, Mr President, which had bluntly turned down a request from Islamabad for having India-US like civil nuclear technology deal with Pakistan as well. This blunt refusal by Washington of a request from an old ally was due to India's warning to all Western countries to refrain from entering into any such deal with Pakistan which allegedly "had a very poor track record in terms of nuclear proliferation".

So, Mr President, it is not so easy to brige the huge trust deficit and like Washington keeps asking Islamabad to do more and more in the war on terror, Pakistan should also keep reminding USA that it has yet to go a long way before the trust deficit could be expected to have been turned into a sort of partnership.

Masroor Ahmad,

Lahore.

US ulterior motives exposed

Reports have appeared in newspapers as well as on internet few days back that treasure worth $1 trillion have been unearthed in Afghanistan. Reports said that the treasure included gold, copper and several other minerals. Quite obviously, the US would be taking away all these monerals after exploration from Kabul to Washington in lieu of the cost incurred on the US-led interational coalition’s war on terror.

It is rather strange that due notice has not been taken of these reports in the official and public circles in Pakistan as these have revealed the real intentions of USA to attack and capture Iraq and Afghanistan,

It is a well-established fact that Pakistan's tribal areas as well as Balochistan province in particular and the Punjab and Sindh provinces are mineral-rich areas. It is sad and tragic story although that in more than six decades much of these minerals have not been explored, exploited and developed for ushering in an era of progress, prosperity and development in the country.

Some time back, US had scanned mountaineous areas in formerly NWFP and Balochistan apparently in search of Osama bin Laden and Mullah Omar but in real terms for ascertaining the minerals hidden beneath the surface here, there and every where.

These reports are also quite alarming insofar as the increasing presence of the US civil and army personnel in Pakistan is concerned. Under the cover of war on terror, they are on one hand keeping their dirty eyes on Pakistan's nuclear assets and also getting the tribal areas cleared of entire population "by killing more and more people through drone attacks as militants and extremists" for carrying out their nefarious activities there.

Zohaib Ahmad Qureshi,

Lahore.

3-7-2010

A heavy price

US military chief Adm. Mike Mullen has said that the United States is working hard to regain Pakistan’s trust but it would take time.

He also said that without Pakistan’s support, it is not possible to stabilise Afghanistan. The fact is that the Obama administration has not done anything to win the hearts and minds of the Pakistani people.

The latest issue of Foreign Policy magazine places Pakistan in a list of ten failed nations. Despite big promises made by President Barack Obama, stories about the worst type of human rights violations are still coming from Bagram to Waziristan. Despite serious concerns expressed by the Pakistan government, US drone attacks on Pakistan’s tribal areas continue, always killing innocent civilians including women and children. More than hundred drone strikes took place in the last four months. You can imagine the number of people killed. Now a political party headed by former cricketer Imran Khan has requested the Supreme Court to declare US drone attacks a war crime and a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty. He says that providing logistics and facilities to a foreign country for mass destruction and killing of innocent people through drone attacks inside Pakistan is illegal, unconstitutional and a violation of human rights and international law. Due to daily drone attacks and other army operations half a million people have fled their homes. They are living in refugee camps that lack basic facilities.

America may be waging the war on terror. The price in human lives and destroyed infrastructure is being paid by Pakistan.

MUHAMMED JAMIL ATHER,

Karachi.

The ‘Gs’ at a standstill

The Toronto summit revealed just how divided Europe and the United States are over the best way to promote economic growth. While the American president Barack Obama wants more stimulus spending in Europe to ensure that the fragile economic recovery isn’t jeopardised, the EU leaders are adamant that austerity measures are the correct response to the European debt crisis. But our point is that the meeting produced little of concrete value, but that the G20 is a more meaningful format than G8. No one had expected that the leaders of the major industrial and emerging countries would, in their closing statement, sign up to the goal of halving their budget deficits by 2013, especially not after the vocal criticism which had been aimed, especially in the US, at some major European governments’ austerity measures in the run-up to the summit. The key question is how much will this success be worth in the end? The G20 and in particular the G8, the club of the richest industrialised countries, have in the past repeatedly drawn up summit communiqués which subsequently proved to be untenable. The best example is the development aid pledges made at the 2005 G8 summit, the signatories are today still very far away from fulfilling those promises. Based on that experience, some European leaders had actually said that countries should only make aid commitments which they can ultimately keep.

The Europeans celebrated as a victory the pledge for industrialised economies to halve their deficits by 2013 and to start reducing their national debts by 2016 at the latest. It is, of course, entirely coincidental that those promises happen to correspond to what all the rich nations, including the US, have already announced. Only the Japanese are getting a bit more time, because they first need to get their deflation under control. To put things bluntly, the summit has produced a political agreement that, like an election promise, contains more empty words than substance. Nevertheless, the world needs the G20, albeit not necessarily in the form of expensive summits like that in Toronto.

Host Stephen Harper, the Canadian prime minister, gave two reasons for that fact. Firstly, the G20 members agree that they should intervene in some form before the global financial system is threatened by a serious risk. The second reason is the so-called ‘global governance,’ namely that the G20 states define joint goals and control methods for their different economic systems.

The G-20 brings together countries with very different political cultures. Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah, for example, is probably not used to being openly contradicted. Hence the negotiations are correspondingly formulaic and cautious. In contrast, the old club of industrialised countries, the G8, saw lively and open discussion. Though the transition from the G8 to the G20 has, however, created a format that better reflects the world than the old club, the ‘Gs’ at a standstill. The price for that is the wide gap between the countries in economic, political and cultural terms. This complicates the process of reaching consensus, as the wrangling over new duties or taxes for the financial industry shows. The emerging economies which have come through the crisis largely unscathed see no reason why they should put additional burdens on their banks. After all, those financial institutions, irrespective of whether they are located in Europe, the US or India, will pass these charges onto their customers, thereby impairing investment conditions and hence the prospects of growth.

G20 leaders actually didn’t solve a single economic problem. The world’s most influential politicians were unable to agree on anything tangible, particularly on the principle of a global bank levy or on the instruments to bolster bank capital. The Huntsville G8 and Toronto G20 displayed more differences of opinion than progress in getting out of the crisis. The idea of a bank levy or international financial tax has been shelved indefinitely, and everyone pledged to cut deficits, to be sure, but on their own terms. Even some advocates that want liberalising international trade as the crisis remedy, says the G8 and G20 once again proved how ineffectual summits are. The fact that certain industrialised countries are incapable of listening to emerging countries’ wishes and opinions jeopardises the future of the G20 particularly in view of the EU’s attempt to tax financial transactions in the face of opposition from emerging countries that were spared by the crisis.

If the point of the G20 is to sign off on European ideas, we might as well give it up. And if the G20 is to become a serious international economic forum, it would be a pipe dream to imagine that European notions are the measure of all things. The G20 has ushered in the return of every man for himself. The attempt to define a consensus-based economic policy to get out of the crisis proved abortive. Between a Germany obsessed with cutting deficits, a United States that is fretful about hamstringing growth by excessive austerity and a France halfway between the two, a common guideline is nowhere in sight. The G20, which was created at the peak of financial turmoil, has proved its utility somehow in times of crisis. But the meeting in Toronto also bared its limitations. Global economic governance of one sort or another, which is already so hard to hammer out at the European level, is not about to be put in place overnight.

In fact, the disagreements within the G8 and G20 now force the conferees to refocus on matters that can really be changed. After having imposed its doctrine on Europe, Germany is now exporting it worldwide. Barack Obama, the last of the Keynesian leaders, seems to be beating a retreat. He did not convince Europe of the benefits of states’ spending their way to growth. But appearances are deceptive. It serves to tone down the anxiety of the Europeans that favours fiscal rigour by shifting even faster the geometries of power towards the new dynamics between America, China, India, Brazil and Russia.

Sirajul Islam,

On email.

30-6-2010

Diminishing forests

Thee report of World Wide Fund for Nature about the fast depleting forests of the country and more so government’s lack of interest in protecting our national wealth is horrifying.

As per details presently forests cover only 2.5 percent of the country’s land, with annual deforestation rate which is highest in Asia. As a result over 4.242 million hectares of forest land in 1992 are declined to 3.44 million hectares.

Interestingly report has disclosed even the names of beneficiaries, individuals and commercial organisations, whom government has allotted forest lands for conversion into other use. This is not to surprise; most of people belong to privileged class of the society, a few are coalition partners in any government in power.

The WWFN apprehends that if the current deforestation rate of 2.1 percent and trend of land conversion from forest to other uses is not checked, soon country will be shorn of green cover, let alone meet its international commitments under the Millennium Development Goals to increase its forest cover from 2.5 percent to six percent by 2015.

On the same day another demoralising report appeared in in a Karachi paper titled “Timber mafia chops down thousands of trees in Thar”, which shows that in Cheel Bank village of Tharparkar 8,500 old full-grown trees have been slaughtered by an influential of the area with the support of forest departmental officials and made millions of rupees illegal income.

Unfortunately, it is not only timber mafia but as the WWFN resort shows, even those sitting in the governments are involved in destroying ecology of country by allotting precious forest lands to the commercial organisations and influential people either to get some monetary benefits or political support.

The forests are our national assets whose existence is extremely essential for the healthy atmosphere; sine qua non for survival of the very society.

Keeping in view the fast diminishing green cover, it has become all the more crucial that forest lands allotted to the individuals and commercial howsoever influential they may be should be cancelled and restored to forest department forthwith. Moreover exemplary action should also be taken against those who are annihilating our woodlands and their complicit in forest department for their petty monetary gains so as to create deterrence against the enemies of ecology and civil society.

Qazi Salim Ahmed,

On email.

India-Canada nuclear deal

Reports in the print and electronic media say that India and Canada have in Toronto signed a landmark nuclear deal. Reports further say that Canada is the 8th nation to reach a civil miclear deal with India since the Nuclear Suppliers Group, a cartel which trades in nuclear fuel equipment and technology, lifted a 34 years old ban on India in 2008.

The Indo-Canada civil nuclear deal was in air for some days but quite expectedly there has been no strong reaction and criticism of this from USA and other Western countries who are all the time talking pretty loud against all moves by Pakistan for acquiring civil nuclear technology and other facilities for boosting power generation capacity to cope with increasing requirements and demands for energy supplies in the country.

As the reports have been appearing in the media recently it was no other country by IPakistan's so-called "ally and friend" USA which had bluntly declined to enter into a civil nuclear technology deal with Islamabad like the one it had signed with New Delhi some months back.

USA, France, Britain and other countries, which somehow have so far not reconciled with the historical reality of Pakistan being a nuclear power, have, time and again, been told and assured quite categorically by Islamabad at the top most level that the country's atomic assets are in safe hands, a fool-proof command and control system is in place.

But still USA and other countries are not satisfied and keep demanding assurances and commitments from Islamabad but prefer to look to the other side when India enters into a civil nuclear technology with Canada also after USA and other countries. These very countries have also raised objections and expressed concerns, which have been described as baseless by Islamabad, about Pakistan's entering into a civil nuclear technology deal with China recently.

Discrimination on their part on religious and other biases and prejudices in dealing with India and Pakistan are quite clear, to say the least. New Delhi is arming itself with arms and equipment from all sources but cannot withstand if Islamabad signs a civil nuclear deal with China for peaceful purposes of power generation.

Bilal Mushtaq Shaikh,

Lahore.

29-6-2010

Needed: A national leadership

When in mid-1960s, President Ayub Khan titled his autobiography “Friends, Not Masters”, he was referring to the US intervention in the domestic affairs of its allies and friends.

At that time Pakistan was part of a number of US-led security alliances in the region. Today Pakistan is again an ally in the US-led war on terror. But nothing has changed. The situation remains what Ayub Khan described or warned against.

When Richard Holbrooke, the US special envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan, cautioned Pakistan against going ahead with the Iran-Pakistan natural gas pipeline, the only thing he offered was sympathy on behalf of Washington over the deep energy crisis Pakistan is facing. America is also likely to oppose Pakistan-China deal for supply of two nuclear power generation reactors. Though China has made its stance clear that it agreed to the deal before 2004 when it joined the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), we should expect some arm-twisting by the US on this deal as well. US always bullies its weak allies so they serve America’s national interests. Pakistan’s political leadership has always showed a willingness to sacrifice their country’s interests for the sake of Americans.

As confused as ever, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani first pledged to abide by the US sanctions against Iran. The very next day he declared that only UN-imposed sanctions would be considered. Such intentional confusion and U-turns give the impression that Pakistani leadership will back away from this $7.6 billion pipeline deal under US pressure.

Pakistan is a country on the brink of an energy crisis. The natural gas and other local fuel resources are fast depleting. Viable utilisation of local coal reserves is still being questioned by the financing agencies. Chinese nuclear deal is being opposed by the US. Lack of trust among provinces stands in the way of building Kalabagh dam. Pakistan needs a long-term energy policy. But first it will have to resolve the leadership crisis. We need a leadership that can defy US pressure and can generate local finances for the Iran pipeline deal.

MUHAMMED JAMIL ATHAR,

Karachi.

Imposition of carbon tax

With the sudden hike in Petroleum Oil Lubricant (POL) rates from five to nine percent and the talk of imposing another tax have led people to believe that this is yet another way of generating revenues for the government of Pakistan. However, unlike other taxes, this particular tax is very unique and is referred to as “carbon tax”.

Technically speaking, carbon atoms are present in every fossil fuel (coal, petroleum, and natural gas) which are released as carbon dioxide (CO2) when they are burnt. Being an environmental tax, carbon tax would be levied on the burning of fossil fuels in proportion to their carbon content.

Though it could be just another tax, it is necessary to highlight that the amount collected under this tax will not allow the government to use it for any purpose other than controlling pollution. On a global perspective, this tax has been identified as a pollution tax imposed to control pollution in a country.

We fail to pay the precise cost for the products and services that we consume because the environmental cost is not embedded in the final price. However, through these taxes the goods and services would be rightly priced and payment would be made for the externalities caused. The purpose of carbon tax is to simply protect the environment by restricting emissions of carbon dioxide and in the process generate revenues for the economy. Furthermore this tax would amount to the development of the Pakistani industries on a sustainable basis, in accordance with the global green revolutionary policies.

Nadia Khalid,

Karachi.

I’m right, you’re wrong

If one is asked to summarise India's foreign policy in one sentence, the prompt and instant response from every sensible person would indeed be: I'm right, you're wrong. There could not be a better and most appropriate description of India's hegemonious attitude towards its neighbours including Pakistan.

There is no denying of the historical fact that India is a big country both area and population-wise. But it does not have larger heart befitting to its big size.

India had struck civil nuclear deal with USA sometime back and has also already worked out a similar deal or in process of doing it with Canada as well. But despite this, it is withstanding Pakistan efforts to acquire civil nuclear technology with any country for overpowering the persisting energy crisis by exploitation of all possible resources. Only couple of months, India blocked Pakistan's way to secure a civil nuclear deal with USA.

USA had obliged India but it could not use the same pressure tactics against China which had signed a civil nuclear technology deal with Pakistan thus once again proving that Beijing is an all-weather trust-worthy friend of Islamabad.

Pakistan Government has done well by brushing aside India's objection to Sino-Pak civil nuclear deal and also refusing to respond to New Delhi's concerns in this regard. Like India, USA and other countries, Pakistan has every right to acquire civil nuclear technology or any other direly needed equipment. The Foreign Office spokesman has rightly emphatically stated that Sino-Pak agreement is in accordance with the international law and as such India need not worry and show any unwarranted concerns in this regard.

India's uncalled-for concern over Sino-Pak civil technology deal which is entirely for peaceful purposes should also serve as an eye-opener for those who are clamouring day in and day out for friendship with India without resolving the Kashmir issue.

Likewise, Islamabad must also withstand all pressure from USA, India and other countries and go ahead with the implementation of recently signed gas pipeline project with Teheran on top priority basis for tackling the lingering energy crisis.

Mrs TANVIR ZAHID,

Lahore.

Pensioners’ woes

We pensioners had high hopes when the budget was being presented but they were soon shattered.

They had been totally ignored and deprived of any benefit.

It appears that the Sindh government is bent upon snatching the loaf of bread from its people.

During the presentation of the budget, our chief minister was anxious in not curtailing the salaries and benefits of his cabinet members but he did not hesitate to cut the throats of pensioners.

Though the federal government and other provinces have shown sympathy by granting 15 to 20 per cent rise in the pension as well as medical allowance, it is only the Sindh government which is treating its pensioners as a burden.

As a senior citizen and a depressed pensioner, I would like to request the president and the prime minister to advise our chief minister to follow the right path to serve the people of Sindh.

ASAD ALI,

On email.

28-6-2010

This happened in Punjab Assembly

Punjab Assembly budget session has just ended. On June 24, a PML (QA) Forward Bloc member from Kasur, Shaikh Allauddin, with the permission of the Chair started reading out his Adjournment Motion. As he said that India was stealing water from rivers Jhelum, Chenab and Indus by constructing more and more dams, the Chair interrupted and asked him to drop this and read his next Adjournment Motion. As the Member failed to get the message, Speaker Rana Muhammad Khan called him over, whispered some words in his ears and afterwards, he started reading his other adjournment motion.

This was quite interesting as well as intriguing, indeed. It was revealed that the Indian Foreign Secretary was holding talks with her Pakistani counterpart in Islamabad about same and the member was not allowed to read his motion wherein he mentioned stealing of Pakistani rivers water by India so that "no hostile message" went to the Indian delegation. Since the motion was not read, the text could not be reproduced here except the opening couple of lines which were intially read by the Member before he was interrupted and stopped from reading any further.

I had witnessed this personally as I had gone to the Assembly Chambers to meet someone and was sitting in the Visitors Gallery when all this happened.

This was just not comprehensible that why cannot a country stealing our water and trying to render our land barren could be called a thief even in the Punjab Assembly?

As a matter of fact, India time and again resorts to dialogue process at low to high level merely as an eye wash to dupe the international community while all the time trying to stab Pakistan in the back. Only some time back, as reported in the national and international media, pressurised USA and France citing the incident of a nuclear scientist and reminding them that Islamabad has a very poor track record of nuclear proliferation. The result was that USA had declined to entertain a request from Islamabad for entering into a civil nuclear technology deal so that persisting energy crisis could be overcome and eased to some extent and France had backed out from supply of equipment for strengthening of Pakistan Air Force jet fighters fleet.

In all fairness, an enemy should be called an enemy in India's case till the country starts behaving in a friendly manner. How can India and Pakistan have good friendly neighbourly relations when the Kashmir issue remains unresolved and the Kashmiris being denied their birthright of self determination as per the United Resolutions ? The rulers as well as the pro-India lobby may well be asked to answer this pertinent query.

Ehsanul Haq Qazi,

Lahore.

Promoting Pakistan’s soft image

Some days back, I had read in the newspapers that PML (QA) top leadership had called for immediate steps by the government for promoting Pakistan's soft image in the comity of nations through all possible means. Irrespective of the fact this demand was made by PML (QA) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Secretary General Mushahid Hussain, the government should have given due consideration to this as this was intended to serve the national interests and taking of steps to improve the counry's tarnished image due to nuclear technology proliferation and extremism and militancy,

There is surely dire need for taking immediate steps to tell the world at large that Pakistan is a peace loving, moderate, tolerant and forward looking counry and that Islam abhors extremism and militancy in any form.

It is rather painful to note that India is taking all steps to harm Pakistan and paint a negative impression about  one of its nuclear scientists being involved in nuclear proliferation and the militants and terrorists posing threats to its atomic assets which is not in the interest of the world peace. All this hostile propaganda by India somehow is going without being effectively rebutted by Pakistan's missions in Washington, London, Paris and elsewhere whose performance in this regard leaves much to be desired, indeed.

Besides pulling up Pakistan foreign missions, the government should take immediate steps for sending delegations of writers, poets, artists and other well-known people from different walks of life to Washington, Paris, London, Bonn and other important world capitals to project and promote Pakistan's soft, positive, moderate, tolerant, forward looking and progressive image there and putting the record straight.

No doubt, one of our nuclear scientists had somehow indulged in nuclear technology smuggling but then he was disgraced after he had made the confession and his entire network broken once for all. Furthermore, country's atomic assets are in safe hands and there is no possibility, by grace of Almighty Allah, of these falling in some wrong hands. Our neighbouring country India is exploiting these matters to defame the country in the eyes of the world at large in the absence of any effective corrective measures being taken by the rulers in Islamabad to counter all this hostile false propaganda.

Pakistan Government should not waste any more time, act fast and send delegations of artists, writers, poets, singers. musicians etc abroad to do the needful. It would be advisable that politicians and party leaders should not be included in these delegations which may prove counterproductive afterwards, please.

Abdul Samad Khwaja,

Karachi.

27-6-2010

Set example, Sindh CJ

This is with reference to a report “Rs1.8 million for Sindh CJ’s treatment in US” (June 23). The Chief Minister Sindh relaxing the ban imposed on treatment abroad has approved as an exceptional case an amount of Rs1.8 million, equivalent to more than US$20,000 for the treatment of Chief Justice of Sindh High Court.

Although the huge amount is sanctioned for treatment abroad on the plea that perhaps required treatment is not available in Pakistani hospitals - a claim yet to be verified - it is desirable for those who sit at the helm of affairs to create examples by using local medical facilities that are available to the common man.

I hope that Chief Justice of Sindh will set an example by declining provincial government’s offer of Rs1.8 million and avail whatever medical facilities accessible in the country. This will not only raise his stature in the eyes of people and save the financially poor country a handsome amount of foreign exchange but will also closed the doors for those privileged ones who exploiting their positions go abroad for even the treatment of such ailments cure for which is common in the country.

Amir Khan Pathan,

On email.

Utilising Hunza glacier water

While the lake created by a landslide has brought miseries to the brave people of Atta Abad, it has conserved the precious resource not only for the people of the area but also for the rest of Pakistan.

Our challenge is to make sure that the increase in glacier melting does not burst its banks. The lake is susceptible to failure due to erosion of the makeshift spillway.

We can consider covering the water side of the dam with impervious plastic sheets (PVC Geo-membrane) to plug the small holes and crevices that exist along the debris. These small holes can become bigger with time and result in its failure.

By using geo-membrane sheets in the form of rolls, one end of the roll can be carefully fixed on the top of the dam wall to ensure that it does not get detached.

Once this is secure, the rolled geo-membrane can be lowered into water and allowed to go down against the sloping wall. The roll will unfold as it moves down the slope.

The water buoyancy and the slope will help as they would reduce the unfolding speed of the heavy rolls. Rolls after rolls can be lowered the same way. Overlapping these rolls will ensure that we cover the entire pressure wall.

The hydraulic pressure will force the sheets against the walls thereby minimising chances of water leaks.

The solution is cost effective and there is less risk involved. The effectiveness of the sheets can be checked by using under water cameras. If required, the Pakistan Navy’s frogmen can correct the alignment.

This material is already being used in Pakistan for lining fishponds, canals and smallish water reservoirs, where cattle, including buffaloes move around freely without damaging it. Test runs can be done under lab or actual conditions. Civil engineering departments of engineering universities can be tasked to do this work.

Once we make the lake safe, we can make another strong dam wall, downstream of this lake like Ghazi Barotha, downstream of Tarbela.

S. NAYYAR IQBAL RAZA,

Karachi.

26-6-2010

Water shortage in rice-growing area

The rice-growing areas of Sindh nowadays are suffering from severe shortage of water; especially at the time when substantial water is available in the river Indus and it was time of sowing seedlings. The Rice Canal, as its name goes feeds the rice area, has been left almost dry this time initially on the pretext of pitching work of canal and construction of bridges on National Highway and now for reasons best known to the irrigation department.

The short supply of water at the nursery-sowing time of Irri-6 has caused sever blow to the crop; above all hybrid paddy seeds (rice) that have either burnt or wasted due to a little amount of water released. The irrigation department has destroyed farmers of Mehar and KN Shah talukas of Dadu as hybrid seed costing three to six hundred rupees per kilo, planted in June has been destroyed in seed-beds on account of shortage of water.

Surprisingly all other canals emanating from Sukkur barrage of flowing to the brim; so much so that Dadu canal which runs parallel to Rice Canal and which feeds the lands of Secretary Irrigation is almost overflowing.

I have no hesitation in saying that the role of irrigation department has remained always step-motherly as for the Rice Canal - the only non-perennial inland waterway meant for rice-growing areas legally flows for six months - is concerned. By reducing the quantum of water to this major canal at the sowing season the irrigation department will be depriving millions of people living in the rural areas of Sindh whose staple diet is rice and not wheat bread.

Another dilemma is the silting of rice canal for which irrigation department claimed millions of rupees from year to year without any dredging or de-silting. The accumulated silt has raised the level of canal bed which consequently has reduced the flow of water in the canal, ultimate sufferers of which are the tail-end growers.

I make an appeal to the Chief Minster Sindh and minister for Irrigation and also legislators of the areas to come to the rescue of people living in the rice-growing areas by ensuring adequate water in the Rice Canal without further loss so that rice crop which has already suffered a lot can be saved from further destruction.

Dad Muhammad Baloch,

Kashmore.

Cheat politicians

A private TV channel showed, during the first hour of the start of the polling, a patwari acting as a polling agent of, I care too hoots, who and belonging to which political party. The only word that comes to my mind after witnessing the spectacle is DISGUSTING. Is this the creed of our political leaders who indulge in such characterless deeds and then expect to be respected? How was such a cheat given the party ticket?

Is the party leadership not to be blamed equally for it? But, who cares in this land of the pure?

Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd),

Rawalpindi.

Beware the American trap

There are very important developments and there is very strange reaction from the Government of Pakistan. The shameless government seems ready to go to any length to please its masters as Premier Gillani has said Pakistan as a member of international community follows the international rules regarding sanctions on Iran. He must know that the Pak-Iran gas pipeline is vital to cope with growing energy crisis. It seems that there is no government in Islamabad but mere managers receiving instructions from Washington.

There was the RAND report which says Pakistan has not quit its habit of courting insurgents, and extremist networks with current or former ties to the government pose a significant risk to the US and the Pakistan government itself. This seems to be another psychological operation launched by Pentagon-funded RAND Corporation. US wants Pakistan to take blame for its failure in war on terror and for this a new wave of propaganda has been unleashed!

On the day when the 46-nation NSG begins a four-day meeting in New Zealand, which is likely to take up a Chinese plan to provide two nuclear reactors to Pakistan, the RAND Corporation urged the United States to reconsider its policies towards Pakistan. The RAND Corporation also suggested Washington that the US should offer ‘criteria-based’ N-deal to Pakistan instead of sending it to the Nuclear Suppliers Group. This clearly indicates that another trap for Pakistan’s nuclear programme is in the making, which Pakistan must reject in unequivocal terms.

Shumaila Raja,

Rawalpindi.

25-6-2010

KBD & int’l conspiracy

One recalls Yashwant Sinha, the former Indian foreign minister’s alarming statement during his last Karachi visit he paid as part of people to people exchange between the two countries – that India doesn’t need to hold a dialogue with Pakistan because dialogue is always held between two equal states. How can Pakistan be an equal state to India’s when it is militarily, economically and diplomatically weaker? How can we talk to a country whom we can defeat in battleground?” One remembers when Yashwant Sinha visited Washington in capacity of India’s foreign minister, he gave a stunning statement before the western media “that Secretary of State Mr Collin Powell has given India assurance that the US will use its influence on Pakistan and would not let Islamabad build Kalabagh Dam.”

But these facts had repeatedly been denied by the Pakistani leadership, instead a hush-hush attitude was deliberately demonstrated to hoodwink the masses, unless some weeks ago the sitting defence minister, Gujrat’s Ch. Ahmed Mukhtar, revealed that the Kalabagh Dam is not being built due to pressure from foreign powers. As we believe this controversy has been raging on since Zia ul Haq’s period and all successive governments have failed to resolve the issue. ANP fears that the reservoir lake will submerge most of the land in the KPK province including the city of Nowshera, and the Sindhis apprehend that as lower riparian they will be deprived of their due share of water from the river Indus. Both provinces think that only Punjab will stand to gain from it. The project is neither fully abandoned nor looks to be resumed in the near future and this state of uncertainty has cost the nation heavily both in terms of time lost and the money spent on it so far. A simple technical matter has been un-necessarily turned into a political issue.

In Col (retd) Riaz Jafri’s words the politicians are not the right people to decide such technical matters and it should be left purely to the professionals and technical experts to do it. As a first step, therefore, let there be a series of open debates on TV between the panels of experts, the exponents and the opponents so that the entire nation becomes aware of its details thoroughly, he suggests.

But the question is if the world community is conspiring against Pakistan and forcing it not to build Kalabagh and other dams – which is besides the Indian water aggression – what should be the Pakistani leadership and intelligentsia’s decision then? One believes that the Kalabagh Dam is not only a technical or purely political matter, but it is part of the world agenda to deprive Pakistan of its water and agricultural economy weapon and unfortunately so far the world at large is successful in its nefarious designs. Not only we need a political leadership, but we also need a revolutionised resolve on national level.

Alya Alvi,

Rawalpindi.

IP gas pipeline

The IP gas pipeline deal signed between the Managing Director National Iranian Oil Company S.R. Kasaezadeh and Joint Secretary Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources Irshad Kaleemi is a consructive step taken by both countries that is liable to bring them closer in the coming times by enhancing relations. According to reports all this imported gas will be dedicated to the power sector the volume of which is nearly 20% of Pakistan’s current gas production. This would enable Pakistan to partially overcome its power shortage.

With this deal a shift in the otherwise rigid Iranian policies clearly indicates a change of heart between both nations. However, an increased western interference on the Pakistani border with Iran is a cause of great concern for both countries, especially Pakistan.

What is the purpose of this sudden surge of US nationals in Balochistan? What is their mission? With Pakistani soldiers fighting insurgency in Pakistan why do we need US forces? In what way can this foreign interference benefit us? With an unrestricted and uncontrolled US activity on Pakistani soil that evidently aims to undermine Iran through Pakistan, the renewed relations with Iran may be seriously jeopardised and Pakistan’s already tattered world image may be irrevocably sabotaged.

Omar Khan,

Taxila.

24-6-2010

Blinding reflectors

The AIG Traffic for Peshawar may please take note and necessary action against the commercial ‘hatch-back’ vehicles that have put mirror-like reflectors on their rear screens. These reflectors blind the following drivers and are hazardous for causing accidents.

Marghuz Khan,

Peshawar.

Rabbani’s warning

The PPP leadership for the sake of posterity must pay heed to Senator Raza that people’s patience is running out and that he sees a revolution in the making.

All the politicians, especially within the corridors of power, have been totally alienated from the masses. Corruption is patronised by executives. Poverty, injustices and abuse of merit have become the hallmark of both this government and its predecessor led by Gen Musharraf. Lawlessness, murder, robberies and insecurity haunt the citizens, while the ruling elite lives in palatial houses like Mughal emperors.

Raza Rabbani may be among the few politicians across the political divide who still have some credibility. His opposition to the privatisation of loss-making white elephants like the Steel Mills or the PIA defies logic. It is during this PPP tenure that these state-owned entities incurred losses.

Of course, the PIA had losses to the tune of Rs39 billion when the new management took over. But now they have reached over Rs75 billion with billions more to be added as liabilities in terms of unpaid debts and outstanding payments to the PSO, CAA, KESC and vendors.

The Auditor General of Pakistan has pointed out that there may be yet more pilferages to the tune of over Rs1.5 billion and on the procurement of a simulator in violation of mandatory procedures that should have been followed. How does the senator justify the irregularities in recruitment which ignored merit and federal-reserved quotas for under-developed parts of Pakistan since this is a federal organisation?

These autonomous organisations are owned by the taxpayer and their abuse must cease. As long as the causes of the malaise that infected the Steel Mills, PIA, Pakistan Railways, PEPCO, etc. are not eliminated, there is no point in giving them more subsidies.

SYED JAWAID HUSSAIN,

Multan.

Gillani’s false promises

The inaugural speeches of all new rulers are always heard with great hopes and expectations. It is believed that these initial words of wisdom reflect a vision of the great deeds that will be performed in the days to come. Many others, who are less enthusiastic and more practical, have a different view. They are convinced that the common public as well as the rulers suffer from severe Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and hence the inaugural speeches are no more than lies and fake promises intended to fool the masses. Let us see what our prime minister promised to achieve in the first 100 days of his government, while delivering his inaugural speech on March 25, 2008.

The PM promised to remove special counters for parliamentarians from all airports. Indeed, they were removed but only for a few months. However, they are now back in all airports and provide special services, which are typically reserved for the handicapped in other countries.

The PM promised to cut the PM House’s budget by 40 percent. Doing just the opposite, the 2010 budget shows expenditure raised from Rs428 million to Rs 484 million.

The PM promised to set up an Employment Commission. That was, however, the last time he thought or did anything on this topic.

The PM promised to build one million houses annually for low-income groups and to not spend any money on the renovation of government buildings and residences. None of these promises have been kept.

The PM also promised to bring in a new Freedom of Information (FoI) Law. Despite many speeches, seminars and two years later, there is no new law on the horizon. To make matters worse, the government repeatedly violates its existing law on the same, and has failed to provide any information on 16 requests raised in the last two years.

Will the citizens and society not question the false promises made by the PM?

NAEEM SADIQ,

Karachi.

Insensitive government

Human rights violations at the hands of those whom we are made to believe are for our own security of life, honour and property is not a new phenomenon in Kashmir. The Indian prime minister’s promise of zero tolerance for human rights violations has not created any hope of change in common Kashmiris as the cruel experiences of the past happenings have taught them how the gory crimes committed by men in uniform have been defended in the name of national interest.

A new vicious and sinister design seems to be in place with youth the prime target of it. Countless innocent youths were killed mostly with tear gas canisters fired at above the chest heights with clear purpose to kill and not to disperse. As if gruesome killings of Inayat, Wamiq, Zahid, Zubair, Tanveer and others in a span of a week were not enough, three more youths, Tufail, Rafiq, Javed, were cruelly snatched.

Chief minister’s yelling and shouting that ‘Kashmiris blood is not cheap’ seems apparently true, it is fetching money, medals, promotions and what not to merchants of blood and death. They have made best out of it from Ganderbal to Machil, from Uri to Srinagar, from hilltops to lanes and by-lanes of Kashmir.

Instead of reining in troops and forces for their excesses government is coming with utopian utterances. For them Shopian is a case of drowning, Wamiq was a miscreant, Tufail’s mystery death, it has failed in discharging its constitutional duty of protecting life, honour and property of its people. How shameful on its part to label a natural reaction against human rights violations ‘suicidal’ stopping short of admitting stifling and muzzling a norm to silence the voice of dissent.

It is high time for government to mend its ways before situation slips out of its hands and it will get doomed under the debris of its own grave mistakes.

Shah Waseem,

Srinagar, Kashmir.

22-6-2010

Regrettable day

June 19 was another regrettable day for Pakistani law enforcing agencies when several gunmen attacked Karachi city courts to free their under-trial comrades from police custody.

The encounter lasted for some time. By the time it was over, three of the suspected militants have escaped, while one died in an attempt to throw a hand grenade. The attack was claimed by Jundullah, a banned sectarian outfit, while the escaped militants were being tried in connection with last December's Ashura blasts.

This is not the first time that terrorists have managed to escape due to lax security measures; this is happening on a regular basis. The escape of Rashid Rauf, an accused in the 2006 trans-Atlantic aircraft plot case hit international headlines.

I don't know what message we are sending to the world by letting these terrorists escape due to the failure of security, or allowing them to walk free due to ineffective prosecution. And this is happening with such regularity that someone may suspect the presence of terrorist sympathisers among law-enforcing agencies and in the judiciary.

Without a sense of clear direction and leadership against terrorism, we are not going anywhere. It's a hopeless situation.

MUHAMMED JAMIL ATHER,

Karachi.

The ally has spoken again

Somehow, Pakistan regards USA as an old friend and ally. At least this is what all the civilian and military rulers have been saying and doing accordingly. USA describes Pakistan as a non-NATO ally strategic friend.

But at the same time, Washington never loses any opportunity to ensure Pakistan does not make headway in any sector, remains aloof from the Islamic world and dependent on the USA. Washington's leaning towards India is also very pertinent.

Washington has all along been asking Islamabad to do more in the war on terror and doling out millions and billions of dollars in one form or the other to appease the rulers though the people's hatred of US policies towards Pakistan is also no secret.

USA has not reconciled with Pakistan's becoming a nuclear power and is bent upon blocking Iran's way to be second Islamic country to possess nuclear technology and has recently managed to get UN sanctions imposed on Teheran in this regard. USA some time back had entered into civil nuclear technology deal with India but declined the same when Islamabad asked for similar deal to resolve the lingering energy crisis on the ground that Pakistan has a bad track record regarding nuclear proliferation.

This "bad track record in nuclear proliferation" of Pakistan was highlighted by none else but neighbouring country India and Washington had duly obliged.

This is not all. USA has now asked Pakistan to be careful in working on gas pipeline deal with Iran though the two brotherly countries have signed the deal for this purpose few days back.

US Special Envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke, in his latest visit to Islamabad has cautioned Pakistan against gas pipeline deal with Iran and advised to follow policy of "wait and see".

The so-called ally and friend, USA, is not ready to appreciate Pakistan's dire energy needs which are very clear to all as the country is facing acute energy crisis for quite some time.

Acquiring the civil nuclear technology and gas are the top most requirements to partially overcome the energy crisis.

The rulers should resist all such uncalled-for pressure and warnings, go ahead with the gas pipeline project with Iran while at the same time trying to secure civil nuclear technology from one or the other country.

Kamran Khan,

Lahore.

Budget and EOBI pensioners

Like last year, this year also the finance bill 2010-11 fails to address the problems faced by the people living on Employees’ Old-age Benefits Institution (EOBI) pension.

EOBI is a federal government body which pays pension to retired workers.

Last year an increase of 15 percent announced for all pensioners was eventually denied to the recipients of the EOBI pension.

They are still receiving Rs2,000 per month like the year before.

This year’s budget vouches a minimum pension for all at Rs3,000 per month but fails to make a concrete announcement for EOBI pensioners.

It is requested that the authorities concerned should take up this matter at an appropriate forum because these old people are retired labourers and are very poor.

They have no union to speak for them anymore. This pension of Rs2,000 per month should be increased.

Razia Sultana,

Lahore.

Producing energy from waste

We all talk a lot about inflation, the high cost of living, energy crises and load-shedding of gas and electricity. False promises, load management and rental power stations are all political stories, which are just increasing the frustration and misery of our people.

There is no quick solution to the energy crises. Tolerance of the common man has already crossed boiling point as Balochistan is seething with anger, Karachi is ripe with target killings, there is mistrust between the agencies and several issues remain unsettled in central and southern Punjab.

Like millions of Pakistanis, I also want to draw the attention of our policy makers, government officials, all political parties, our engineers and scientists and especially responsible business groups of private entrepreneurship and all local/foreign investors to focus on cheap and green energy sources to keep moving the wheel of our industries so as to make the life of our people easier.

The issue of the Kalabagh dam, the Bhasha dam and other small/big dams will not be solved easily in the near future. Let us hope that with maturity in the norms of democracy and empowerment of institutions, we will be able to develop common consent peacefully.

Solar energy, tidal energy, nuclear energy and fossil fuels’ energy are out of our range because of big investments, high-tech requirements of infrastructure and lack of skills in these fields.

In 1973, when oil-producing countries stopped their crude oil exports to the USA, they had taken an initiative and started about 100 plants of waste to energy in their states to overcome the energy crises.

Waste to energy is not a new concept for our scientists and engineers, but it may well be a surprising idea for our newly-elected democratic politicians.

Every person creates at least 2-3 pounds of municipal waste (paper, plastic, bottles, rags, wires, used batteries, leftover food, etc) per day on an average. That means a huge quantity of municipal waste will be produced in populated areas, which cause an unhealthy atmosphere/toxicity in our parks and fields, landfill areas, sewerage systems, and streets and roads.

This domestic waste creates many problems in a country like Pakistan where there is no proper system to manage this growing fear of unhygienic and toxic waste. But scientists and engineers have invented ‘waste to energy’ and ‘refuse-derived fuel-plants technology’ for obtaining a productive solution to our municipal rubbish.

Waste to energy is unique, economical and an environment-friendly concept in which all municipal waste of villages, towns, cities and provinces is collected commercially with well-equipped mobile vehicles which have an automatic system for separating metals, plastic, glass, papers and other recyclable items from other burnable organic mix products (waste fuel).

This waste fuel is used in specifically-designed furnaces which can produce high energy on combustion of this trash. The heat of the system is required for running attached steam boilers to produce steam and then high pressure steam is used for steam turbines to produce electricity for our industrial and domestic use.

The municipal waste fuel plants are commonly known as refuse-derived fuel-plants. These are highly efficient incineration plants which have facilities for heat conversation systems and an effective filtering system of all air pollutant gases (nitrogen, carbon dioxide and acid rain gases) which are being produced while the incineration process of waste fuel must be cleaned before it is exhausted in the air.

In these efficient refuse-derived fuel plants we can produce on average one megawatt of electricity by combustion of two tons of municipal waste, which surely is a viable proposal for cheap energy and a green environment.

With strong determination and timely initiative, we can easily be able to overcome our energy and power crises.

M. MOAZZAM MALIK,

Lahore.

VVIP Lounge in CM House

Many funny things are happening around these days in this land of the pure. The establishment of “Very Important Persons Lounge” (VIPL) in the Chief Minister Sindh’s House is one glaring example of it.

As reported in the media recently an event was celebrated with fanfare when the Chief Minister Sindh along with his advisers and senior members of staff inaugurated in the CM House a “Special Lounge” fitted with most modern gadgets which is supposed to serve “very special guests”. The CM while visiting the VIPL gave instructions for the proper security and cleanliness of the lounge.

I hope taking cue from Chief Minister Sindh’s latest accomplishment the President and Prime Minister should also established VIP lounges in the President and Prime Minster Houses to entertain their very, very important guests in much cleaner and highly secure atmosphere. Similarly chief ministers of other three provinces as well governors may also established such lounges in their official residences.

Mir Ghulam Hussain,

Kandhkot.

Prisoners abscond

Four under-trial terrorist prisoners were taken away forcefully by about a dozen terrorist colleagues of theirs at Karachi city courts in full daylight from the police van after killing a policeman and injuring a few others. One of the prisoners was killed later by the police firing who had cordoned off the nearby busy streets where the terrorists had taken refuge. What is not understood is if the prisoners were properly handcuffed as per police rules – each prisoner cuffed at both wrists and the individual chains of all four made to pass through one another in a lace-loop method, with the final end of the chain secured through the belt of the police escort, how could the four run together tied to each other as one body and on the top of it with their handcuffs and chains and then mingle too with crowd in a busy street during full daylight? Just unbelievable! A case of sheer gross negligence and lax discipline.

Someone in the police department is responsible for the death of the constable in vain.

Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd),

Rawalpindi.

20-6-2010

Changing scenario in Afghanistan

The US president due to changing political and military scenarios and above all domestic pressure is more inclined towards finding a political solution to Afghanistan. This would require at the utmost that negotiation and peace process is initiated with the Taliban. All efforts would be made to find an amicable way out so that both have a face-saving and dignified outcome. In the second phase US would want that whoever takes over in Afghanistan stabilises the political set-up to the extent that it provides an opportunity to the NATO forces to withdraw. This changing scenario is a good omen for Pakistan, as it is also trying its best to fight terrorism and help in establishing peace in the region.

The efforts of US can only be successful when US completely relies on Pakistan, listens to its analysis of the situation, discusses various options and above all trusts Pakistan that it is capable to help find a solution to all the problems US is facing in Afghanistan. It is also very important that US discourages Indian influence. India has entangled Afghanistan in different projects. It is nearly trying to establish its influence in all fields whether its education, health, industry, entertainment, security, training, welfare projects etc. India wants its influence in Afghanistan so that it can have influence in the region. This is part of its dream of Akhund Bharat. Due to Indian presence and its involvement in various projects it is very unlikely that India leaves Afghanistan easily.

The present scenario demands that lots of rethinking needs to be done on how Pakistan can help in establishing stability in Afghanistan. It is a difficult objective to achieve when there are so many opposing forces. But when there is a will there is always a way out. It is an opportunity for Pakistan to insist that the solution is only possible when there is no outside negative interference and the people of Afghanistan are given all opportunities to prove their worth and capability of governance.

Anwar Parween,

Rawalpindi

Failure to bring terrorists to justice

Terrorists are caught red-handed. Sometimes wearing suicide jackets and at other times with deadly arms and ammunition. They are apprehended on the spot or from their hiding places. Their accomplices are also identified. But then what happens? There is no information about the legal proceedings and further development. If there are some news it is about the remand being taken and then everything is shadowed. After sometime there is small news mentioning that due to lack of evidence or availing advantage of doubt the person is free. If some charges are proved then a nominal punishment or penalty and then again the person is free.

One wonders that who is going to acknowledge the efforts of all those security personnel who die, who struggle hard to arrest those ruthless persons. What about all the sacrifices given by those who defend and the sufferings their families go through? What about the trauma and loss who lose their dear ones in these gruesome acts of terrorism. When these terrorists are freed on one pretext or another has anyone ever thought what message is being given? So many incidents have taken place where people are taking the law into their own hands and punishing the thieves or anyone they thought would have been involved in a suspicious activity or a threat to them. There is also news of deaths in encounters. The human rights bodies are all the time taking up issues of extra-judicial killings.

If these terrorists are not dealt with an iron hand then how are we going to fulfil our mission to overcome or eliminate terrorism? If the fear of terrorists remains then who is going to fight against them? There is a dire need to change our approach and thinking towards this menace of terrorism. Our justice system also needs to be transformed into viable solutions. If we know the meaning of terrorism and the act of the terrorist it should be dealt as a terrorist. No mercy or forgiveness for a person who kills innocent children and people. If we are up against terrorism then all measures are to be taken to discourage and punish those who are involved in heinous crimes against humanity.

zahid jan,

Rawalpindi

Fragile, handle with care

As reported in the press, tough guy from the United States, four star general David Petraeus, who heads the Central Command, and looks after both Iraq and Afghanistan wars (invasions) fainted while being subjected to tough questioning by members of the Senate Armed Services Committee over plans for a US withdrawal from Afghanistan, starting July 2011. The general was escorted out of Senate hearing room by aides and returned about 30 minutes later, holding a bottle of water. It would have been more prudent to have an ambulance on standby.

On the question of withdrawal, the general said, among other things “What happens in July 2011 is the beginning of a process for transition that is conditions-based and will be a responsible drawdown of US forces.” Said simply, it is an exercise in duplicity which makes no specific commitment and leaves plenty of room to manoeuvre, just as it was intended to be. This sort of reply would have naturally strengthened Democrats’ suspicions that nobody is serious about July 2011 withdrawal date but I suppose in view of the earlier mishap, they did not consider it decent and considerate enough to subject the general to any more grilling.

S.R.H. Hashmi,

Karachi.

Priorities

Watching the media and listening to people from various walks of life leaves one bewildered for a moment. It is always the ‘I’ and ‘me’ which is important. Everyone talks about what I get from the budget? What benefits are there for me in the job? What luxuries I can afford for myself at home? If I do something what am I going to get in return? Our priorities are revolving around us and we are slowly and gradually becoming entangled in a web of self-centredness. Is this not what our overt and covert enemies always wanted that we think of ourselves first and other issues of national and security concerns become secondary? The hard time we are facing today as a nation and as citizens are due to problem in defining and setting our priorities. The pressures of life were always there but there was confidence to overcome them. Today that trust is shattered and hopes of betterment in the system seems to be a far-fetched idea. The daily corruption and fraud stories of higher ups leave the common man more frustrated and disappointed.

We as a nation have always proved to be strong and overcame the difficult times with unity and solidarity. Today, again it is a test of our capabilities that how we set our priorities and then smoothly go along with our defined parameters. The most important aspect is the defence and security of our country from outside and inside forces that are hell-bent on creating problems for us. We need to be aware of security issues and evil designs of enemy and take a stand to be the second line of defence as citizens. The second importance to be given to provision of basic necessities of life to each and every individual so that they are in a peaceful state of mind to contribute in a positive way. The third issue of significance is the health sector. The provision of medical facilities is also receiving criticism from all walks of life. The way the health issues are increasing due to substandard eatables and other hygienic factors are also of concern. The other issue of importance is education. Without education and up-to-date information it is difficult to survive in today’s world.

We need a healthy, mentally strong and bright new generation who will make the nation proud. For this we have to think today critically and reasonably. We have to sacrifice are today for our flag holders of tomorrow. There should only be one slogan for us ‘Together we can, together we will’.

RAHIMULLAH SHAH,

Peshawar.

Obsession

The Indian print media in their dailies published a report highlighting that after receiving a tip from US intelligence agencies the Indian army started investigation. The probe indicated that a computer belonging to an Indian army major posted in Adamans has been hacked. The evidence was that a picture of a serving Indian brigadier who was attending a training programme in US was dispatched to Pakistan. After that the story is developing on day to day basis like soap operas on Star Plus channel. The computer of the major was taken into custody. The officer showed ignorance but the computer had sensitive information comprising nearly 2,500 defence-related presentations. A big question mark that how these top secret files could have been shifted to a major’s computer and why? Then suddenly there were news that most of the files were deleted. Who did it? No answer. Then a new development revealed that the computer was accessed from two proxy servers. The location of one was tracked to Pakistan and the other is also possibly going to be Pakistan.

The story is still being developed by the producers and directors as now they are pointing towards a possibility of involvement of two senior Indian army officers. What is going to be the end of this story is very clear. Obsessed with Pakistan twists and turns are given to the story. The main objective is to establish the involvement of Pakistan. Further developments on the issue reveal this mindset. Indian army and media is obsessed that whatever wrong takes place is the work of Pakistan. The Indian propagandists have sleepless nights and all their energies are focused to think of allegations and propaganda against Pakistan. But times have changed and a sense is prevailing among people to differentiate between concocted stories and reality. Today it is difficult to wear a mask and fool others.

Anwar Mukhtar,

Rawalpindi

19-6-2010

Kalabagh Dam

The controversy regarding the construction of Kalabagh dam has been raging on since Zia-ul Haq’s period and all successive governments have failed to resolve the issue. ANP fears that the reservoir lake will submerge most of the land in the KP province including the city of Nowshera, and the Sindhis apprehend that as lower riparian they will be deprived of their due share of water from the river Indus. Both provinces think that only Punjab will stand to gain from it. The project is neither fully abandoned nor looks to be resumed in the near future and this state of uncertainty has cost the nation heavily both in terms of time lost and the money spent on it so far. A simple technical matter has been un-necessarily turned into a political issue.

I think the politicians are not the right people to decide such technical matters and it should be left purely to the professionals and technical experts to do it. As a first step, therefore, let their be a series of open debates/discussions on TV between the panels of experts, the exponents and the opponents so that the entire nation becomes aware of its details thoroughly. I am sure it will help a great deal in forming a general opinion of the masses for or against it, who will then prevail upon their representatives to take the correct and agreed decision.

Let, therefore, the nation decide to have or not to have Kalabagh dam.

Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd),

Rawalpindi.

World Cup and South Africa

For South Africa, and by extension, Africa as a whole, the World Cup is of paramount importance. It is the first time that an African nation is hosting the tournament and for some Africans, football is their only sense of the world outside of their country and their continent.

Football is a global sport that brings people together from all corners of the world. Therefore, the tournament has put South Africa in the spotlight and will allow the Rainbow nation to show off its stadium and show just how far the country has come.

Hopefully, this will help change many people’s stereotyped views of Africans. However, being in the spotlight will also allow the rest of the world to scrutinise South Africa — security and possible violence during the tournament will be an issue. Will the infrastructure be able to handle all the people visiting the country for the matches? So South Africa will be under pressure to get everything right. As for ordinary South Africans, I imagine they’ll feel a great sense of patriotism, and the country will no doubt benefit from increased tourism, but the long-term benefits remain to be seen.

Will the stadia and infrastructure be put to good use once the tournament is over? How much of a financial drain will hosting the World Cup be? Will the boom be followed by a bust?

FAYYAZ AZIZ,

Peshawar.

A fractured structure

Apparently, the crack in the Afghan army is becoming more pronounced, threatening its own existence due to a rivalry between the representatives of the two different ethnic identities. Wardak, the defence minister, an educated gentle Pakhtun with a bend towards the US and Pakistan, threatens Karzai as a prospective replacement, is at daggers drawn with the army chief Bismillah Khan, a Tajik from Panjshir valley with a more heightened fighting streak and an inherent distrust of the US and Pakistan.

The representation of the Pashtuns comprises of only a small percentage compared to the other ethnic groups in the region who are considered as foreigners and invaders by the Pakhtuns. Afghanistan's former intelligence chief, Amrullah Saleh, also a Tajik from Panjsher valley harbours great hatred for Pakistan as he accuses the ISI for playing a major role in the destruction of Afghan landscape.

The framework of the ANA is largely dominated by Tajiks, Uzbeks, Hazaras, Turkmen and other non-Pakhtuns in Afghanistan which was structured by the NDS with Saleh as its deputy head, thus inducting all those who hated Pakistan and considered the ISI responsible for Afghanistan's woes due to a decades-old animosity with Pakistan. This rift plays central against any positive outcome in the reconciliation plan delineated to progress towards peace in the region. The Karzai government needs to seriously ponder over this dividing rift that has the power to alter the future of so many.

Eschmall Sardar,

Peshawar.

A peculiar fact

The scandalous paper published by the London School of Economics that develops its argument around the gigantic posture of Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence Directorate in nurturing, stimulating and capitalising the Taliban regime, while conveniently unexplained remains the rationale of the Pakistan government to involve its armed forces in fighting terrorism inside its own territory during which more than 3,000 Pakistani soldier were martyred while 2,000 injured in just two years while the number of NATO and US troops killed is 1,500 in over 9 years. That Pakistan is the worst hit by terror attacks and suicide bombers that are allegedly being trained by the ISI is another unresolved mystery. Now why the Taliban insurgents would be targeting its benefactors? Why does the Pakistani government, especially the President, who intimately sympathises and supports the Taliban is unable to stop them from further injuring his political career? Furthermore, how can the capture of 40 soldiers by the Afghan Taliban during an attack be attributed to the ISI operated by a director that is headed by the Army Chief? Is it to be believed that both the political and military leadership of Pakistan has developed some severe psychological disorder that compels them towards the worst form of disgracefully clamorous self-destruction?

Ayesha Sheikh,

Islamabad.

18-6-2010

She was burt alive

It is sad and gloomy story of my younger daughter Saeqa. She was 20. She met a fatal accident 10 days back when she was burnt alive by an influential family of my village Munasa, Tehsil Dheer Kot Azad Kashmir. My village is situated at a distance of 160 kilometres from Islamabad, 35 kilometres from Muzaffarabad, capital of Azad Kashmir on way to Bagh and Rawlakot.

Saeqa was misbehaved in a dark night 10 days back. I being a paralysed person kept listening to her cries while she was facing cruelty of an influential person namely Kazim Khan and his two sons. They played with her for an hour and before leaving my house they set her ablaze. They even locked her in a room and there was no person to rescue her from that late night operation. However, her cries forced some villagers to come to her rescue. She was severely wounded. They shifted her to the Combined Military Hospital, Muzaffarabad where she was kept under treatment for next one week but she lost her life. She was laid to rest at Munasa. I could not see her off personally because I was unable to move.

The perpetrators are still free and threatening me and my other family members. They are being backed by the elite of Azad Kashmir. My family members approached the Prime Minster of Azad Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider to make sure arrest of culprits but till date he was unable to do so. They are still at large. They are addressing press conferences while I am unable to move from my death bed. I take this opportunity to just ask all justice loving people to come forward not only for allowing law of the land to take its course of action but to save my remaining family as well.

Muhammad Ashraf Khan,

Munasa, Dheer Kot, Bagh, AJK.

Losing to Sri Lanka

Pakistan lost the match against Sri Lanka in Asia Cup. But over all the team’s performance was better than before.

But three things went wrong.

First the batting order was not correct as the two debutante players were sent on 3rd and 4th positions which are important positions when the team is chasing the target and a player like Umar Akmal or Shoaib Malik must have come on that position.

Secondly Mohammad Aamir was talking to some one on mobile in the dressing room which is against the law of ICC as no player can carry mobile in dressing room.

Lastly Waqar Younis’ comments on Shoaib Akhtar after the match, that “Still he’s (Shoaib Akhtar) got a long way to go. He has picked up three wickets which is good for us but I think he’s not where we want to see him.”

This comment by coach of Pakistan team must have depressed Shoaib Akhtar and I think that these types of comments should not me made in media because it hurts team’s performance and damages the spirit of players.

MUBASHIR MAHMOOD,

Karachi.

17-6-2010

Unimpeded destruction of forests

Not a single day passes when some news about annihilation of forest/trees from the country is not reported in the media. According to a recent report published in almost all national dailies even police officials are selling expensive tress on the pretext of cleaning dacoits hideouts.

As per details a former Deputy Superintend of Police Mirpur Bathoro has slaughtered full grown trees spread over an area of 300 acres. When the matter was reported to higher-ups and the DSP appeared before an enquiry team of anti-corruption establishment and shamelessly admitted the crime and stated that trees were cut to eliminate hideouts of dacoits.

This was however proved to be a ploy as the area people have came forward and produced evidences that there were no hideouts of outlaws in the forest and trees were cut under the supervision of obdurate DSP under whose orders transported to Karachi with police escort for sale in the market.

The trees chopped of were part of famous Khaddi Forest spread on the right bank of River Indus over a large area of 12,600 acres. After slaughtering mature trees on 300 acres the headstrong DSP is now eyeing the rest of forest aggressively.

The forests are our precious natural assets and should not be destroyed under whatever pretext; not even for capturing outlaws. Continuous elimination of already scarce forests in Pakistan and especially in Sindh has played havoc to the ecology of the country. The formation of cyclones in the Arabian Sea frequently and erratic weather conditions with decrease in rains and fast melting snow is the result of fast-diminishing forests.

I make an appeal to the chief minister and minister for forest and livestock Sindh to order immediate disciplinary action against the DSP; destroyer of our ecology along with recovery of money from him. Besides, the provincial forest department may be directed to plant trees on 300 acres to replenish the depleting Khaddi Forest.

Muhammad Aslam Turk,

Hyderabad.

Steel Mills bailout

The federal government’s decision to bail out Steel Mills to the tune of Rs25 billion is good, if it has decided to eradicate the causes that led to its losses. Without holding those responsible accountable for the criminal pilferage of its production and the inflated cost of procurement of inputs, this will only encourage a repetition of the same.

After all it was the federal government which appointed the CEO responsible for driving this profitable state enterprise into the red, while some individuals made windfall profits. Unless transparent measures are undertaken to protect pilferages, the funds being injected will disappear into the endless pit of corruption.

This endless molestation of state enterprises must cease so that the government can spend these funds for welfare and social sector development schemes.

As long as cronies of mediocre capability, with a history of involvement in financial indiscipline are appointed, this cycle of losses will continue.

Bailout packages are part of the government’s responsibilities, but so is its obligation to ensure that merit prevails in appointments and those responsible for theft be dealt with sternly.

Burdening such loss-making state-owned organisation with more recruitments will only add to the organisation’s woes, inefficiency and capacity to rebound.

If the state wants to help a few thousand, it will be better to help them through such programmes like the Benazir Support Programme, rather than packing them into over-employed state corporations.

The state should first impart technical skills to such people so that they become productive and are not sacked whenever the PPP’s term ends.

The country is facing an economic crisis of immense proportions, and what it needs is transparency, good governance and self-accountability.

Mere appointment of a capable team of economists led by Dr Hafeez Sheikh will not resolve the issue, unless there is a change in the mindset of those in power along with the political will which is not visible.

MALIK T. ALI,

Lahore.

DMG’s stranglehold

It is being asked with increasing frequency: do we really need an all-Pakistan service? Has the District Management Group (DMG) contributed towards strengthening of the federation and the promoting of good governance — its raison d’être?

Although the Independence Act 1947 did not provide for retention of central service, Pakistan retained a central service with the name of Pakistan Administrative Service which was later renamed as CSP and then the DMG.

This retention was made on the presumption that the central service would work as an adhesive of the federation and would help build institutions for the young country. But what this service and its sister services did was quite the opposite.

They were instrumental in making and breaking the governments in the formative phase of the country. Taking advantage of the nascent democratic system, they grabbed important political positions as governor-generals, prime ministers and governors of provinces.

With their inherent imperialistic attitude and policies, they created an acute sense of deprivation in East Pakistan. Far from being an adhesive, the DMG is acting as a corrosive element. DMG officers shun postings in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa where their services are most needed.

If, at all, they have to send their boys there, officers are sent from smaller provinces, which stokes resentment. A vast majority of DMG officers with Punjab domicile, either do not serve in any other province, or return to Punjab after very brief stints.

They have made rules which allow them to retain houses in Lahore for five years even after being transferred from Punjab. Their performance and service delivery are also far from enviable. From the steel-frame of Lloyd George, our central service has degenerated into a rubber-frame.

The DMG is strangulating provincial services. It has elbowed out Provincial Civil Service in the Punjab. As per a news item, there is not even a single PCS secretary in Punjab.

So is the case with commissioners. Not a single house has been allotted to PCS officers in GOR-I. The story of the Arab and his camel best illustrates the condition of the Punjab Civil Service.

It is a painful fact that the stranglehold of the DMG over Punjab is being tightened by none other than the chief minister himself who is relying on DMG errand boys for his political survival.

HAMEED AHMAD KHAN,

Lahore.

16-6-2010

Pakistan’s losses in WoT

Nearly 5000 civilians, over 2,500 policemen and Pakistan Army personnel have been killed by the terrorists of al-Qaeda and Taliban in Pakistan. The number of injured is several times high. The losses due to Pakistan's participation in the war on terror have been estimated to cross over 42 billion dollars.

The following article in a British daily does not give realistic picture of the cost that Pakistan is paying for siding with US and helping them in Afghan invasion. Over 2 million Afghan refugees still remain in Pakistan since the days of Soviet occupation. The right wing leaders accuse that enemies of Pakistan are funding the militants most of whom are criminals and mercenaries recruited from tribal areas in between Afghanistan and Pakistan and some Uzbek and Indians. They accuse Hindu-Zionist cabal of fomenting trouble in the region.

The number of civilians killed in US drone attacks in Waziristan tribal belt is several times higher than the suspected militants hiding there and Amnesty International has criticised these attacks. Pakistan suffered record number of deaths due to militant violence. 3,021 people killed in terrorist attacks in 2009 – a 48% rise, 3,021 people killed in terrorist attacks in 2009 – a 48% rise, according to an Islamabad thinktank.

A record number of Pakistani civilians and security forces died in militant violence last year as the country reeled from an onslaught of Taliban suicide bombings that propelled it into the ranks of the world's most perilous places.

Pakistan saw 3,021 deaths in terrorist attacks in 2009, up 48% on the year before, according to a new report by the Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS), an Islamabad-based defence thinktank. Researchers counted a total of 12,600 violent deaths across the country in 2009, 14 times more than in 2006... .

Khan Arif,

On email.