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"Unemployment and abject poverty trends attempt to traumatize sanity in any part of the world. These are branches of terrorism and they must be eradicated from grass root level" The Friday Times, 45-The Mall, Lahore-Pakistan, Fax:92-42-7355197,
eMail: tft@lhr.comsats.net.pk |
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Letters
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Police recruitment
Sir, Yasir Hameed, Islamabad.
What a shame!
Sir, Shumaila Bibi, the widow of Mr Fahim, the man who was shot by Raymond Davis, committed suicide out of depression and disappointment over the proceedings of the case. She died in front of doctors, nurses, TV cameras and crew, while the whole nation was watching her in the precarious condition. Nobody could do anything to save her life. What a shame! What a fate! That she was under stress, after all she had lost her husband whom she married just six months ago; she was in sheer duress and the suicide attempt had an obvious reason, but where were we, the members of entire society, the people of this nation, the government, the police, the relatives? Was there no one to share and lessen her grief, to console her and help her come out of the great trauma and tragedy? Didn’t she deserve to be reckoned an existence of our authorities’ concern to take care of her, at least for the sake of tracing some clues of Fahim to know exactly whether he tried to rob the American or is there some other sinister design behind ignoring her? How come she got access to the poisonous pills, especially at a time when everybody in the world knew that she could try to end her life? Apart from finding mysteries shrouded in her ‘murder’, it is shame on us, slap on our face. We as a whole are Shumaila Bibi’s killers. There is no regret expressed by doctors, the authorities, and the members of civil society. Davis must be happy; a witness who probably could have posed a dent to his plea in the court ‘has also been eliminated’! Marya Mufti, Lahore.
Deja vu
Sir, Hassan Bashir, Islamabad.
Protect police
Sir, A Police inspector was killed while another four personnel were injured in an attack launched on a police check post and a police mobile van by unknown gunmen in Mathra area in the outskirts of Peshawar. This is yet another attack on the police force. This month has been brutal for our police force, as the militants have targeted them repeatedly. I fail to understand why the higher authorities are not taking notice of these incidents and making a strategy to combat these militants Fahed Saeed, Islamabad.
Helping hand
Sir, According to a report by UNHCR, the number of conflict stricken families in Mohmand Agency is presently at 1750, which is most likely to go up, as an operation is underway in the region. The UN agency is already facing shortage of food and tents. So far they have supplied 650 tents and additional food items, with the help of Fata Disaster Management Authority (FDMA). Conflicts have so far resulted in migration of thousands of families and the numbers are going up. It is not just that the families have to leave their homes, but unemployment and illiteracy percentages also go up. It is important for the international development partners to extend a helping hand to the affected families, because Pakistan is already facing a frail economic condition. Sher Zaman, Islamabad.
Easy target
Sir, First it was Peshawar and Quetta, now it is taking place in Karachi. The terror elements have been targeting police, with the objective to instill terror into the masses. The attacks on two police stations in Karachi, is part of the series of events, taking place throughout the country. The recent trend of victimising police personnel with impunity has provided the terrorists, an easy mode to strike at the state apparatus. Although, these attacks have been attributed to criminal elements rather than the militants, in the initial investigations, but it fulfills the objective of both the parties. It is imperative that the government should take solid steps in curbing these incidents and bring the culprits to justice. Akhtar Shafi, Islamabad.
Dual standards?
Sir, Shahid Zahur, Rawalpindi.
Aid wasted
Sir, The recent worrisome reports, concerning millions of donor dollars entering the country for economic assistance, are being consumed by the government departments for their own charades. Similarly, our country has been blessed by a PRSP (Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers) Secretariat, working under the Ministry of Finance. The main purpose of this widely unknown department was to monitor the progress in addressing the issue of poverty, while also to observe that the funding through foreign aid is being employed correctly. While, the website and the organisational chart seems to be depicting a very active institution, but there seems to be no improvement taking place on the ground. This monitoring mechanism seems to be spending more on workshops and seminars, while doing nothing for the large number of people, living under the poverty line in our country. The common people of Pakistan are the ones, who are paying the price for the incompetency of the department. Rehman Saleem, Islamabad.
Jurisdiction
Sir, Kamal Ahmed, Islamabad.
Smoking kills
Sir, Obama is a president who is not 50 yet. The bad habit he had was smoking, which he has quit to set precedent before the fellow Americans that smoking is cancerous and kills. Congrats Mr President, you have reached the right conclusion. But what about other bad habits you and your fellow Americans are accustomed to? Don’t you consider killings by drones, through agents of Blackwater and Xe, through conspiracies and manipulation, by installing repressing regimes and dictators…a bad habit? Can’t you quit first to set a precedent before your fellow Americans? May I remind you the Stratford report said in December 2008 that the Americans “have slaughtered over 1,300,000 Iraqi people in the two Gulf wars”? The report said the half of it has been killed in Afghanistan. Is it not enough? How far would you and your America continue to be accustomed to such bad habits? Smoking kills the humanity, and Americans kill the mankind. What’s difference then? Alya Alvi, Rawalpindi.
Two way support
Sir, In the current time of turmoil when imperfect governance beset the masses, police must play a vital role to prevent anarchy. Just as the police have a responsibility to perform duty in the country, the people have a similar duty towards these brave officials. It is imperative that we must acknowledge the hard duties our police perform. As citizens of Pakistan it is necessary that we minimise the trust deficit with the police that has been increasing every year. I urge authorities to arrange seminars and workshops which actually will bring the police and citizens together so that there issues are addressed. The war against terrorism can only be won if the citizens and law enforcing agencies are co operating with each other. Ali Hamdani, Lahore.
Absorption capacity
Sir, The Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao’s recent visit to Pakistan has been a uniting force and promising boost for the country. In contrast to Americans who continue to stress upon Pakistan to do more; Premier Jiaobao instead exhorted the international community not to link the war against terror to any one religion, and to acknowledge Pakistan’s sacrifices in this war. He described the two countries as “brothers forever”, and reconfirmed that “China would firmly support Pakistan in its efforts to safeguard its independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.” Before coming to Pakistan, Wen visited India and signed economic deals with the Indians but, unlike the leadership of western countries actively engaged in wooing the Indians at our cost, his focus remained on a balanced foreign policy with respect to South Asia. Unlike other leaders he referred to Pak-India relations delicately: “You say in Pakistan a good neighbour is a blessing and we in China say a close neighbour means more than a distant relative.” There is no full-stop in the friendship of China that is “deeper than the oceans, higher than the Himalayas & sweeter than honey.” However, there are concerns about our absorption capacity or whether Pakistan can actually translate the $35 billion deals into reality. That onus must rest with formulating an effective reforms policy promptly undertaken to remove the most major impediment to growth in productivity. Shumaila Raja, Rawalpindi.
Rising sun
Sir, When Hosni Mubarik resigned from his post and handed over power to the armed forces, the news was greeted with a huge outburst of joy and celebration by thousands in Cairo’s Tahrir Square. Here we will hear many who are discouraging the military rule by saying ‘out of the frying pan into the fire..!! Sakeena Jalib, Rawalpindi.
Misbehaviour
Sir, I want to highlight the rude behavior by a traffic police office which I witnessed the other day near Jail Road, Lahore. A man riding a motor bike was stopped by this police man, since the rider’s bike did not have any indicator lights as well as his number plate sported a fancy name instead of official digits. Instead of issuing challan in a professional, formal manner, the police officer misbehaved and humiliated the bike rider in front of watching public. The police man asked his sub ordinate to tear down the number plate and throw it in the canal, and continued abusing the rider. Such men in the traffic police give a bad name to the department, which is a shame. Training for civil manners and courtesy must be imparted to these officers who are public face of the department. Ali Raza, Lahore.
Gender violence
Sir, It is very disturbing to note that, the police of Pakistan are still not sensitised about violence faced by women. They mostly consider gender based violence as an internal matter and refuse to entertain these cases seriously. The recent being a case in Kasur, where a man in collaboration with other members of his family, attempted to immolate his wife. It has been reported that the police have been avoiding registering the case, despite the grave intensity of the situation. It is imperative that the police should be actively pursued and should be sensitized about the prevalent menace of gender based violence. Yahya Ahmad, Islamabad.
Passenger plight
Sir, Shahzad Khalil, Sialkot.
Terrorism
Sir, The aim of authorities should be to create adequate employment opportunities; improve income distribution and protect the poor and vulnerable. It is essential to understand that the citizens of Pakistan have achieved democracy after long years of dictatorship. We shall not let the democracy derail and give a freehand to the militant organizations. Unemployment and abject poverty trends attempt to traumatize sanity in any part of the world. These are branches of terrorism and they must be eradicated from grass root level to restore peace and tranquility in Pakistan. Ali Hamdani, Lahore.
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February 25 - March 03, 2011 - Vol. XXIII, No. 02 |
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The selection and recruitment process of an institution clearly defines the level of competency and results being acquired from it. Unfortunately, the department of police lacks at this procedure, which is the basic foundation stone for the output this department generates. The prevalent political influence and corruption in the hiring process, brings forward the wrong kind of recruits for this important job. It is imperative that, in order to curtail the deteriorating law and order situation in the country, the human resource selection process has to be improved and cleared from all influence, so that competent and qualified people come forward to serve the public.
The peace agreement in Parachinar and its welcoming by the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban (TTP) seems to depict the history being repeated. Although, the peace agreement might give relief to the local people engulfed in violence, but given the previous experience these terror outfits have always used the garb of peace to recuperate and strengthen their position in the area. Whenever, these outfits feel fit to engage, they break the truce and again challenge the state writ in the area. It is important that these outfits should be kept under close watch and should not be allowed to play the cloak and dagger game, all over again.
As per the results of a referendum held in Jan 9 to 15, more than 98% of southern Sudanese (mostly Christian) opted for independence. In July 2011, it will be a separate nation, ending more than two decades of north/south civil war. If we recall East Timor, again a Christian document area got independence in 2002 from Indonesia. Unfortunately Kashmiris are striving for their right of self-determination which was guaranteed to them by the UN Resolution in 1948. USA was the major player in the commission which drew up the resolution. Innocent Kashmiris are suffering since last 63 years but due to vested economic interests the world is not putting pressure on India to hold a referendum. These double standards create despondency, deprivation and anger among the youth. There is a need that the world in general and US in particular which is on driving seat must fulfill their obligations and solved this oldest dispute. The peace and stability in this region can only come once and for all such disputes are solved on priority. 
It has been a norm by the police to refuse to file an FIR, giving the excuse that the crime did not occur under their jurisdiction. The trend is to such extent that in numerous cases police personnel of various jurisdictions brawl with each other, to avoid registering a case. It is always the victim, who suffers at the end. The public and even the police in this matter should be made aware, that the police cannot refuse to file an FIR, even if the crime has not occurred in their jurisdiction. The police are bound to register the complaint and forward it to the concerned jurisdiction, for further action.
Eighteen days of protests and the regime collapsed. Finally the Egyptians succeeded to fetch a change, the nation must be given ‘Mubarak’ to have no more Mubarak! The Egyptians have really shown the strength of a nation, they have shown the strength of unity. There were having no party, leaders etcetera to raise the schema of revolution, it all happened through those common social sites which millions of other people are also using in many other countries around the world but yes they were having whole hearted determination, unity and passion to achieve a goal, to bring a Change. 
For the past few days, thousands of passengers have been inconvenienced, while thousands of PIA employees have brought the airline operation to a complete halt. My question to the President of Pakistan, his PM and the PIA Board of Directors is why this Hosni Mubarak Syndrome. If the MD has become a symbol of hate and his performance during past 34 months is so dismal, why not change him and put in place an honest capable professional. The so called controversial deal between PIA and Turk Hava Yollari should be scrapped or re-negotiated by a new team so that the deal is commercially beneficial to PIA. The manner in which tempers were ignited by sacking employees displays the immaturity and incompetence of the management dominated by cronies of mediocre capability and incompetence. It also needs to be investigated why is PIA suffering losses, in spite of claims of high seat factors, when other airlines charging similar fares and same or lower seat factors are going in a profit.
