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Iraq Constitution Sir, According to The New York Times, the recent draft of the Iraqi Constitution is a setback for women’s rights. Under the Baathist regime, women were treated equally and fairly. Under the new Constitution, similar to Pakistan’s, all rights including equality under the law will depend on not being in conflict with the Quran and sunnah, which can be discriminatory towards women. Moreover, two systems of family law will exist, one for Sunnis and another for Shias. This creates problems as the two groups often intermarry. Women’s rights activists are already protesting the proposed law, which would take away the right to marry without parental consent from Shia girls and result in inequitable inheritance rights and easy divorce for men. Also, the 25 per cent share for reserved women’s seats in the National Assembly is to be gradually phased out. Clearly, making Islam the main source of legislation – as the Iraqi Constitution proposes to do – is a step backwards. Iraq had a secular society and laws, which ensured the equal treatment of women. The Iraqis should be grateful for the system they inherited, rather than dismantle and replace it. If only women in Pakistan had it so good! Omar Mirza, New York. Science sadhus Sir, Iftikhar Gilani’s write-up “Indian sadhus of science” (TFT July 15-21) was a refreshing piece. The lives and attitudes of people in India’s south are entirely different from north India and Pakistan. Not only the Hindus, but Muslims are also different from their counterparts in the north. They are more literate and have set up credible educational institutions. This would make a good subject for some features. For example, the management of Data Ganj Baksh in Lahore, and the dargahs of Nizamuddin in Delhi and Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer, are engaged in amassing loot. However, the dargah of Syed Gesu Daraz at Gulbarga in Karnataka donates all its money to an engineering college it has set up for poor Muslims. The college has a good reputation in the region and is run entirely on endowments and donations. I appreciate TFT’s endeavours in publishing such articles. Sameer Naqvi, Jeddah. Internet scam Sir, A Peshawar internet service provider (ISP) has been cheating its users. It is selling internet cards worth Rs 10, which are ostensibly valid for an entire night. However, customers never actually use the service, because it is of such poor quality. It takes about 20 minutes to open a single page. Is there any one who can prevent this sort of cheating? Mohammad Faiz, Peshawar. PCBL pains Sir, At a recent Lahore ceremony arranged by the NAB Punjab and the Punjab Cooperatives Board for Liquidation (PCBL) to distribute Cooperatives cheques, I was amazed at the number of people present. Without the cooperation of these two bodies, we – the people affected by the scam – would not have recovered any of our money. President Musharraf distributed the cheques himself. At the same time, attending this ceremony put us through a great amount of trouble. The cheques were supposed to be distributed a month earlier, but the date was not confirmed by the president’s office; yet who are we to complain? Eventually, the date was set. That was not the end of our hassles. Twice, we had to move our parked cars, to distant locations. Then there were numerous lengthy security checks. By the time we got to our seats, many people were so exhausted that they fell asleep. The hall resonated with snores as we waited for the president, who finally showed up at ten minutes past 11am. We had waited over 5 hours for him! The General delivered accolades about the PCBL and the NAB, distributed some cheques and left, after which mayhem broke loose. People shoved and jostled to get their cheques; my turn came at nearly 1pm. After which, we had to battle the heat and chaos outside. Would it not have been simpler if ordinary mortals had not been included in the ceremony at all? The cheques could simply have been deposited directly in our accounts, or we could have picked them up from the PCBL. We are indebted to the NAB and the PCBL and I certainly don’t mean to devalue their efforts, but I genuinely feel that only a selected few should have been invited to this ceremony. The rest of the money should have been distributed through a bank transfer. The president recently stated that bribery has been reduced by 50 per cent. Yet, how can we further improve ourselves unless basic necessities are available to the common man – such as affordable electricity, health care and education. China offers full subsidy to its industrial units, hence promoting the industry worldwide. All our finance people can think of is increasing the prices of petrol, gas and electricity. I’m not being pessimistic, just a realist. Seema Khan, Lahore. Moral makeover Sir, The internet is now easily accessible all over Pakistan, but many young people abuse the facility by using it for immoral purposes. To counter this growing trend, it has been suggested that internet access be restricted to offices and educational institutions, and internet service providers (ISPs) censor immoral content. This is no answer to the problem since people will eventually find ways around such restrictions. The solution lies in changing the mindsets of the wrongdoers. Young people are influenced by parents, teachers and scholars, all of whom are unable to guide the youth towards the right path. This is because these people do not practice what they preach; their actions reflect no piety. It is therefore unfair to blame the youth. Parents, teachers and scholars must themselves receive training. Zeeshan Ahmad, Lahore. Bill overkill Sir, Ah, bills! Telephone, gas, electricity, cable TV, internet and now medical bills . . . what a stream of troubles. Pakistan’s salaried classes don’t spend money on the fulfilment of their dreams; every rupee goes towards the monthly bills. I don’t sympathise with the salaried classes, however. My heart goes out to the ministers and members of the parliaments who – despite their unlimited funds – are unable to pay their medical bills. What a tragedy. No wonder the president has declared that their and their parents’ medical bills will be fully reimbursed. Afshan Zia, Karachi. Voting concerns Sir, President Musharraf has reserved 33 per cent of available seats for women in the local bodies and 17.5 per cent in the provincial assemblies and the parliament. While this is commendable, he must also ensure that women’s right to vote is not undermined. Women in Dir (NWFP) were not allowed to vote in the 2002 national elections, and the coming elections may well follow the same pattern. All the political parties – the PML-Q, PML-N, the MMA and the ANP – agree that women will not be allowed to contest or vote. The Election Commission must declare void all the election results where women have not participated. This will bring the message home to the fundamentalists. Women’s rights must not be violated in this moderate, enlightened country. Fawwad Shafi, Lahore. Indian power Sir, India and the USA have recently reached an agreement of nuclear transfer. This is a matter of great importance. Many Pakistanis have voiced their fears about the implications of the agreement, but I see some positive results. It has become clear that the USA favours India over Pakistan, and therefore we need not shape future policies around American concerns. The agreement also shows India’s desire to become a world power, which can be to Pakistan’s advantage. Our neighbour cannot fulfil this ambition without first peacefully settling its disputes with Pakistan. Pakistan-India talks have become more important after this agreement. Presenting our case strongly will be a test for our representatives. Zubair Ahmad, Lahore. Faulty phones Sir, The telecommunications system in the Hunza and Karimabad region is substandard, but the concerned authorities have done nothing. The area’s nationwide dialling code (05821) comprises only four channels and is constantly engaged, cutting the area off from the rest of the country. I suggest that the number of channels serving Gilgit and the adjacent areas be increased. If the officials in charge cannot do this, the job should be handed over to a more efficient, private company. This region is as much a part of Pakistan as any other area, and must be accessible over the phone. Karim Hunzai, Karachi. Egypt suspicion Sir, The suspicion that Pakistanis were involved in the Egyptian bombings was subsequently proved groundless. It is clear that in the pursuit of terrorists, world leaders have become narrow-minded enough to make remarks before gathering any proof. It’s time for them to face reality. Mubashir Manan, Lahore. Mass mourning Sir, Would Saudi Arabia declare seven days of mourning at the death of a Pakistani head of state? How obsequious we are. Naeem Sadiq, Karachi. UK Muslims Sir, The London bombings horrified the government which aligned itself with the USA in the so-called war on terror. Despite the hypocrisy of the media and Blair’s advocacy, the British people opposed American hegemony and the self-proclaimed right to pre-emptive strikes. In the UK, Muslim immigrants have access to privileges that they are denied in their own countries. How curious that they avail of all the facilities, yet hate the culture and social fabric that allows them these opportunities. The common British person must wonder why Muslims are unable to coexist with other cultures and religions. Believing that British sympathies will not be affected by successive attacks is naïve. The change can be easily gauged through the retaliatory attacks committed against South Asians. The people of the United Kingdom must be given a satisfactory answer. Muslim intellectuals must come forward and emphasise the fact that Islam has nothing to do with terrorism, but is a religion of peace and tolerance. Muhammad Shah, Lahore. Bombay stocks Sir, Record rainfall has disrupted life in Bombay and the surrounding areas, creating many problems including the loss of life and damage to property. However, instead of going down as one would expect, the Bombay Stock Exchange Index has gone up. The markets gained further ground and the benchmark indices continued with their upward trend. Why is this? Vipul Thakore, London. MMA myopia Sir, The MMA has done nothing to reduce poverty in the province. There have only been gimmicks such as painting over advertisement billboards and banning music in public transport. Only a few days ago, they burned TV sets in a Charsadda bazaar. These acts – reminiscent of the Taliban – have no positive outcomes. The MMA leaders are only good for hovering around government hospitals and bullying the nursing staff. Most Pakistanis live in poor conditions, under the rule of corrupt government departments. The minimal health and educational facilities are within the reach of very few people. Even major cities such as Lahore have no clean drinking water. Why are expatriate Pakistanis not concerned about these problems? They appear more anxious about the mullahs, murderers and sectarian killers. Ishtiaq Shah, Lahore. Lost soul Sir, The other day, I came across a really beautiful 6-year old girl with the face of an angel. It is a common enough incident: late at night, you slow down at a traffic light and see a little girl sitting on the sidewalk, shaking in the cold air. Her eyes are innocent but terribly sad; they probably never reflected any promise or hope. Your car’s stereo plays loud music, but you still have enough humanity in you to give the girl another glance. Her face is pure, but her life is a tale of misfortune. She has a story to tell, but who has time to listen? You must rush home to watch the latest DVD on your state-of-the-art home theatre system. Perhaps you sense her misery, and a part of you acknowledges her pain and frustration. But you wait for the light to turn green so that you can drive on, forgetting this forlorn figure as though it had never existed. The light changes; you roll down the car window and hand over a Rs 10 note. Then you drive on with relief and perhaps a sense of helplessness and remorse. She looks at the bill with a certain degree of indifference, then huddles against the wind to wait for the next philanthropist to drive by. By the next intersection, you’ve already forgotten her. This poor innocent has no tears left in her. The turmoil in her life will continue for the rest of her life, and she will always wonder why she was born. Day after day, she faces a hell on earth. You have little control over her destiny, but the least you can do is acknowledge that you enjoy endless days in paradise. Joy and sorrow are equal parts of reality; a complete soul feels not only its own happiness and pain, but also that of others. Abid Farooq, Lahore. Way forward Sir, Post 9/11 and now post 7/7, what is the way forward for Muslims? It is clear that while Western states have failed to agree on climate control, aid to Africa and subsidies, they have all agreed on redefining Islam. The biggest proponent of this is British Prime Minister Tony Blair. He has stated that extremists want the “implementation of shariah law and the Caliphate.” What is the moderate version of Islam that Blair calls for? It’s the non-implementation of shariah and the abandonment of the obligation to work for a Khalifah state! We are being told to abandon Islam, or to accept a diluted version. We need to question Western interference in Muslim lands, such as Western support for despot dictators. Shehzad Bashir, Lahore. Poor answers Sir, The 2004 annual report of the NWFP Public Service Commission on the deteriorating standards of education in the province is thought provoking and worrying. The ridiculous answers given by some of the candidates reflect the falling standards of education. Blaming only the teachers for this appalling state of affairs is unjustified, though they are partially responsible. The fact is that our young people like to adopt short cuts for success in exams. They seem to take it for granted that only marks in some exams matter and lead to jobs. They forget that their true knowledge will be tested in job interviews. Our young people always have time for their favourite TV programmes. They know the names of actresses and actors and all about their personal lives. No less is their knowledge regarding cricketers and their records. I’m not suggesting that people should take no interest in the worlds of showbiz and cricket; but young people must show more interest in news shows and current affairs programmes on television and radio. The absurd answers given in the commission’s report would not have been there if students had even basic levels of general knowledge. Mohammad Fayyaz, Charsadda. Indian nukes Sir, The analysis by Ejaz Haider in “India strikes nuclear gold” (TFT July 29-Aug 4) takes into account only the last seven years of Indian nuclear policy. He also fails to consider the Indian point of view, which immediately negates one set of facts. Both the Indian nuclear industry and the nuclear policy of the Indian government go a long way back. The policy of the Indian government has been consistent – not to accept unfair pacts where a few countries were treated more equally than the rest. The unwavering commitment to the elimination of nuclear weapons propelled Indian leaders such as Nehru to campaign vocally against them internationally, even while building up local competencies in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. This assumption of the moral high ground prevented India from detonating a nuclear device soon after the 1964 Chinese experiment in Lop Nor, when the whole world expected India to follow suit. Apart from this unbending attitude, the single-minded tenacity with which India ensured that no one dictated terms to her, in spite of serious economic difficulties in the 60s, and the admirable depth and breadth of its indigenous nuclear energy program, have truly earned her a seat at the high table, if that is what this Indo-US pact has achieved. Subramanyam Sridharan, Banglaore. Safety order Sir, I saw a banner on Lahore’s Mall Road proclaiming that the use of mobile phones while driving is prohibited and offenders will be prosecuted. This is indeed a very good step as many accidents take place due to a lack of attention while driving, one major reason being the use of cell phones. But who will enforce the order? Will the result of this order be the same as the results of orders given previously by the government? Just a few months ago, two orders were given by the government. One stated that the trading of gas cylinders is prohibited in residential areas. The other decreed the use of helmets compulsory for every motorbike driver. What are the results? Gas cylinder traders closed their shops for a week and then reopened. There is such a shop two doors from my house. As regards helmets, the public was looted either by police or by the helmet traders in the initial days of the order. Now one can see people driving bikes without helmets and the police letting them go. Was the order given just to earn revenue through challans? Now no one cares about who drives bikes with helmets. When they issue an order for the safety of the people, the authorities should make sure it is properly enforced. Do not let only traders and the police take advantage of the situation, as it is the people that suffer. Wakar Ahmad. Lahore. University jihad Sir, Yesterday, I purchased a course outline for chemical engineering from the photocopier situated in the chemical engineering department of the University of the Punjab. I was shocked to see the logo of Islami Jamiat Talba (IJT) and a verse regarding jihad on the title cover of the syllabus outline. This raises two important questions. Firstly, why was the syllabus outline not given by university officials with the university logo on it and secondly, who quoted the hadith? Such literature will not be helpful to students; it will misguide the youth regarding the real teachings of Islam, which are of peace and harmony. Islam does not allow any Muslim to kill innocents in the name of jihad. President Musharraf is trying his best to improve the image of Islam in the international community but extremist groups like IJT are urging young people to follow jihad. Unfortunately, our religious leaders have forgotten the principles of Islam and are using the young for their own causes and interests. Many Pakistanis were killed needlessly in Afghanistan and our religious leaders were responsible for their deaths. At the same time, their children were studying in foreign universities; none of them participated in jihad in Afghanistan. The University of the Punjab must take notice of this matter and punish the groups behind such activities. Mudassar Shahid, Lahore. Name change Sir, Pakistan has recently witnessed a change of name, and maybe a change of heart, at various commercial banks. For example, Allied Bank of Pakistan Ltd is now simply Allied Bank Ltd. The new name of Bolan Bank Ltd is now My Bank Ltd, and PICIC Commercial Bank Ltd has been renamed PICIC Bank Ltd. But the most intriguing is the rechristening of the Muslim Commercial Bank Ltd, now known as MCB Bank Ltd. Apparently the world Muslim has been dropped by the management in a bid to please, or appease, local and foreign masters in the backdrop of recent international developments. If this is so, it is a matter of shame not only for the management but also for all Pakistanis. The bank’s management owes an explanation to the nation. Hussain Siddiqui, Islamabad. Chitral polo Sir, I belong to the region of Chitral, where polo is a way of life. Every year the highlight of our sport is the polo match between Chitral and Gilgit at Shandur, the world’s highest polo ground. People from every corner of Pakistan and the world make the journey to see this tournament. The chief guest this year was the president of Pakistan. Over the last few years, polo has also gained importance at the national level in Pakistan. To me, as a Chitrali, this brings great joy and pride. Finally our passion is being shared by the rest of the nation. One of the most important traditions of polo in Chitral is to be a good sportsman and learn to forgive and forget. The match between Chitral and Gilgit has been played for centuries as a way of resolving disputes. Imposing a life ban on a national player, Shah Shamyl Alam, and a five-year ban on the captain of the national team, Shah Qublai Alam, goes against the principles of the game. In Chitral these players would be given a hero’s welcome and not banned from playing over a minor argument. Every Chitrali has a copy of the World Cup qualifier match between India and Pakistan. Qublai and Shamyl are household names in Chitral. Children have their pictures stuck on walls in their homes. In the tradition of Chitrali polo, I request that these two players be allowed to play again at the national level. The people of Chitral do not accept this ban and would like the decision makers of Pakistan to listen to the heart of Chitral for once. We have been marginalised in many areas, and would like our leaders not to allow the destruction of the one sport that means everything to us. Saifullah Khan, Chitral. Emotional reply Sir, This refers to the item ‘Muslims are emotional’ in “Nuggets from the Urdu Press” (TFT July 29-Aug 4) citing a review in the monthly Naya Zamana which said that Obaidullah Sindhi left for Afghanistan in 1925, thinking that Afghanistan was Darul Islam but found Amir Habibullah copulating with a hundred girls. Someone should tell Naya Zamana and the writer of the said review that Amir Habibullah was assassinated in 1919 by a young student in Jalalabad and that in 1925, the Afghan throne was occupied by Ghazi Amanullah Khan who didn’t get his entertainment from a hundred girls. Abdullah Hussein, Lahore.		[an error occurred while processing this directive]
August 12-18, 2005 - Vol. XVII, No. 25