Islamophobia
Sir,
According to media reports, a Muslim woman in Italy has been fined 30,000 Euros for wearing a niqab inside a town hall. This is another example of an increase in Islamophobia in the European Union, UK and the United States. Earlier, anti-burqa laws were introduced in France and Belgium. Last month, a Muslim woman’s hijab was pulled down on a busy street in north London.
After the September 11 attacks, Islamophobia has been growing at an exponential rate in the west. The newly elected president of the United States of America, Donald Trump, has openly prejudiced himself against Muslims during his presidential campaign. The Muslims living in the west are doing so in fear and are saddened as they are facing tremendous problems related to their faith.
A niqab is worn by a Muslim woman mostly as a symbol of modesty and privacy. The Quran encourages Muslim women to dress modestly. However, veiling did not originate with the advent of Islam. The practice of veiling had been found in all three Abrahamic religions Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Elite women in ancient Mesopotamia, Byzantine, Greek and Persian empires wore the veil as a sign of respectability and high status. There is archaeological evidence regarding early Christian women in Rome covering their heads.
Today, the so-called western world is to be known as civilized and modern where everyone can live peacefully according to their faith and religion. So, they would realize and allow Muslim women who choose to wear the hijab to retain their modesty, morals and freedom of choice.
Mansoor Ahmed,
Faisalabad.
Trump & Kashmir
Sir,
During his election campaign and also immediately after winning the US elections, President-elect Donald Trump vociferously and repeatedly said that ‘the Hindus’ and India would be the best of friends for him and the US during his 4-year stint as the 45th US President. Donald Trump couldn’t have been more specific and vivid about his relations with India.
News published in different dailies of the country, lately, expressing the government of Pakistan’s hope that Donald Trump would play a mediating role between India and Pakistan vis-à-vis the lingering Kashmir issue is ludicrous, particularly when seen in the background of Trump’s extremely negative pre and post-election rhetoric against Muslims and Pakistan, and radically in favor of India. Pakistan should start thinking more pragmatically and analyse the current situation bearing in mind the ground realities that speak loudly of the intent of the incoming government in the US.
M Fazal Elahi,
Islamabad.
Judiciary
Sir,
Historically, the law is considered a noble profession and there are many good lawyers who try to keep its image this way. However, there are also many lawyers who lack such a compunction and are damaging not only its reputation but also the image of the judiciary as a whole. Currently, my experience with at least two advocates has turned out to be horrific.
In the first case, a lawyer took a professional fee from me and simply vanished. In the other case, my advocate with sheer impunity demanded Rs 5000 for obtaining copies of an order. When I refused his rate, he came down to Rs 1000 as he had to ‘bribe’ the court staff to obtain them. This explanation was unbelievable and directed towards maligning the image of the judiciary as well as the court staff. Again, I refused whereupon he became hostile and I could perceive that now onwards he would not be interested in my case despite me having already paid him a handsome amount as a fee. Consequently, I decided to get the copy of the one or two-page order from the city court myself, despite the fact that my lawyer was duty bound to get the copy for his own and my information for the record and possibly use in an appeal etc. I also know that I can complain to the Sindh Bar Council about it and I just may, but frankly my past experience in another case had been bad and I was constrained to filing a writ against it and its corrupt staff and the same is sub-judice. The point of stating all this is that it is the black sheep breed of advocates as pointed out who are defaming the judiciary and their conduct is conducive to spreading corruption therein. I have personally obtained certified copies of court records on payment of their usual nominal charges but nowhere in the world would your lawyer ask you for a four-figure bribe under the cover of greasing the court’s copying clerk. In one instance, I also complained to the judge about a court aberration by its staff but the judge was not inclined to listen.
Mazhar Butt,
Karachi.
CPEC
Sir,
The CPEC project will bring considerable development to the entire Gwadar region and for the country as well. It has been called the energy basket of Pakistan where several projects are being worked on currently. It is really a beneficial project for the people of Gwadar. It can go a long way in removing poverty from the region because there are many factories being set up there. The problems including lack of water, lack of electricity and others will be solved through CPEC. I request the authorities concerned to continue these projects in Gwadar so that the area can continue progressing.
Naseer Murad,
Turbat.
Trump election
Sir,
Whether anybody likes it or not, Donald Trump is the elected President of the US. He managed to exploit apprehensions and economic concerns of salaried lower class and middle class workers. Hillary Clinton may have won the popular vote by a thin margin, but the system and constitution gave him majority delegates to cross the magic number, 270, and a ticket to the White House.
The vast majority of the media and think tanks monopolized by the same elite and establishment who were beneficiaries of the system and slave to special interest groups, failed because they did not have their finger on the pulse of the people, their problems and misgivings. All exit polls were proven wrong. Trump exploited insecurities of white Americans, who had suffered unemployment at the hands of globalization and outsourcing of industries by the rich elite, but in doing so, he has created serious divisions. People wanted a change and unfortunately Hillary Clinton failed to win their hope and aspirations, having lost her credibility.
The Democratic establishment failed to understand the change in mood by failing to support Bernie Sanders who was more suited to win elections because he did not carry any baggage. Controversies surrounding the Clinton Foundation further dented her credibility. The vast majority of African Americans who voted for Obama abstained because they felt betrayed when the administration failed to come to their help in recent months.
One only hopes that our establishment learns some lessons and starts addressing issues of the vast majority who live below the poverty line, the growing numbers of unemployed and failure of state to collect direct taxes to invest in welfare of most deprived, their education, health, socio economic development and rule of law. The special interest groups and rich elite who control our media should focus on issues of public interest instead of dancing to the tunes of those who spend billions on advertisement. When spoiled brats of rich tax evading elite get away with murder with the help of the ruling elite and the corrupt elite manage to evade accountability, justice is seen to be a casualty.
A M Tariq,
Malaysia.
Delhi’s dreams
Sir,
The Indian strategic community appears to be perturbed by the rise of China as an economic powerhouse of the world and unprecedented growth in China’s offensive and defensive military might over the preceding decades. In order to position itself as a great power, India is also trying to emerge as a formidable pole of economic and military power. To realize the dream into a tangible reality, India is striving hard to enhance its hard and soft power by reaching to far corners of the world in order to secure and safeguard its geo-strategic, military and economic interests. This hot pursuit of great power status is replete with multifaceted pitfalls leading to direct diplomatic and economic confrontation with China.
Since Chinese takeover of the Gwadar port, Indian government has been deliberating to manipulate by constructing the first foreign project at Chabhar in Iran. Located on the confluence of the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Oman, the port is 76 km away from Gwadar with close proximity to the Strait of Hormuz, a conduit to 4% of the world’s oil trade. In this regard, Narendra Modi’s government approved $85.21 million investment, to complete the strategic point. The country intends to expand road network from Chabhar and intends to link up Zaranj-Delaram road to Afghanistan’s “garland” road network that would connect port with major cities of Afghanistan, including capital Kabul.
To extend sea route, the port will be developed by joint venture of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) and the Kandla Port Trust (KPT). To this end, fully constructed berths will be released at Chabahar for a decade, which could be renewed by “mutual agreement.”
Not surprisingly, the project also aims to keep an eye on the two rivals in the region Pakistan and China, though the latter is not declared one. Soon after the Chinese takeover of Gwadar, Indian apprehensions of “China encircling India” started to surface.
Meanwhile, Pakistan views the growing Indian diplomatic and economic footprint in Afghanistan with suspicion and anxiety. Due to Pakistan’s security concerns and geo-strategic sensitivities, so far India has resisted Kabul’s demand for supply of heavy and offensive military hardware to ANF.
Israel is deeply concerned about the prospects of a deal with Iran, demands stringent sanctions, and considers some restrictions on Iran’s nuclear project as failure.
Finally, India foresees the operationalization of port as a mean to hold global footprints, but the mighty China is more vigilant and pragmatic. For the first time in history, two Chinese warships docked at Iran’s Bandar Abbas port to take part in joint naval exercises in the Gulf, endorsed by Iranian media and Chinese defence Minister.
So far, there is little chance that Indian aspirations to emerge as a regional power will be fulfilled, in the presence of a mighty China and a challenging Pakistan.
Saima Ghaznafer,
Gujrat.
Women’s world
Sir,
The connections between globalization and women’s education have never been more under the public gaze, but much of the debate on the issue has been superficial. It could be argued that all too often, the messages communicated are distorted via ‘western perceptions’. Women educationalists have a responsibility therefore to ensure that the voices of the women and marginalized are heard.
Globalization is having an increasingly direct impact upon people’s lives. It is also becoming relatively easier to access information about global issues. Educationalists can no longer argue that ‘education’ and ‘globalization’ are separate. People are more aware of global issues now, but how do they decide as to how they will critically assess the information they receive? That is why women’s education and development is so important.
Women’s education will help them understand their own self and situation in a wider context, make connections between local and global events, develop skills and knowledge to interpret events affecting their lives (for example sexual abuse and harassment), understand the cause of global inequality and justice, combat racism and xenophobia, widen their horizons, and make a difference in their worlds by participating in the society.
It is often where women educationalists have engaged in broader debates that progress has been made. Through a range of international and national policies and programmes, the term ‘global’ is becoming part of everyday language of educationalists.
Women’s education should also offer a range of perspectives and views. It needs to be perceived as making connections between local and the global values based on equity, social justice and women’s rights. In order to achieve this, women development educationalist should see their role as people who can influence societies and empower women to develop the skills, knowledge and values that can make connections between their own lives and those of people elsewhere in the world.
Only then will societies promote learning that creates a better understanding of women’s inequality in the world and gives women the skills and value base to enable them to create their own voices and forms of engagement to secure their social lives.
Rameesa Khan,
Lahore.
Addressing Trump
Sir,
Congratulations Donald Trump for getting the majority vote of the people of the ‘greatest nation’ on the face of the earth. We in Pakistan share with you your victory and believe in democratic institutions with the hope that after entering into the White House, you Mr President will not forget your allies since 1947. We hope that we will not be asked to “do more”. Our armed forces after initiating and launching Operation Zarb-e-azb have very successfully battled terrorists who were a threat for the word’s peace and order. We are facing an army five times bigger than ours at our eastern boarders. In order to effectively and once and for all wipe out terrorism from the face of the earth we need help and support from our friends. We are passing through one of the most difficult, hard and arduous times of our history, and expect that our friends will come forward to bail us out from this serious situation. We are a sovereign state and are proud of our traditions and culture. During our history as an independent state we have steered our ship through rough seas very successfully, and God willing under the prevailing situation also we will come out with pride and dignity. Our first prime minister, Liaquat Ali Khan, on the first available opportunity after gaining independence visited your great country and made it clear that we want friendship with your country on the internationally recognized principles of mutual respect and equality. He was widely welcomed in your country and your independent media praised his statesmanship in the best possible words. Unfortunately, he was assassinated in broad daylight. and after him Pakistan has faced one turmoil after another, but unfortunately, we didn’t receive the helping hand that was expected from your country. The Kashmir issue has resulted in three wars between India and Pakistan, resulting in the deaths of thousands and disruption of valuable assets of both countries, but no serious steps have been taken by the US or UN to resolve this dispute between the two countries.
Help us in strengthening our institutions, particularly democratic institutions. We are still hopeful of making a new Pakistan, a Pakistan free of poverty; a Pakistan with basic education and medical facilities; a Pakistan free of suicide bombers; a Pakistan where children can go to their schools and universities without any fear; a Pakistan without any load shedding; a Pakistan illuminated at night with colorful lights. To achieve these goals and objectives we need the help and cooperation of the developed world, and your country being the most developed country can help us by simply offering a helping hand of a friend in need.
Aamir Aqil,
Lahore.