- Two Pakistans By Dr. Khalil Ahmad
- Letters to FreePakistan
- HumorWise
- Issue of the Month: Trashing the governance
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Quotes of the Month:
The one pervading evil of democracy is the tyranny of the majority, or rather of that party, not always the majority, that succeeds, by force or fraud, in carrying elections.
[Lord Acton]
Responsibility, not to a superior, but to one's conscience, the awareness of a duty not exacted by compulsion, the necessity to decide which of the things one values are to be sacrificed to others, and to bear the consequences of one's own decision, are the very essence of any morals which deserve the name.
[Friedrich A. Hayek]
Free Pakistan, a monthly newsletter, exists for the promotion of limited government, rule of law, protection of property rights, market economy, individual freedom, and private initiative. Its vision is a free and prosperous Pakistan; for only such a Pakistan can contribute positively to the creation of a free and prosperous world.
The Newsletter is an affiliate of Alternate Solutions Institute, Lahore, Pakistan, http://asinstitute.org, the first free market think tank of Pakistan. Urdu website: http://Hum-Azad.org
The Alternate Solutions Institute is a registered, non-profit, non-political, non-governmental, educational and research organization. Its mission is to promote a limited responsible government in Pakistan under the rule of law protecting life, liberty, and property of all of its individual citizens without any discrimination.
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PHILOSOPHY OF LIBERTY
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By Dr. Khalil Ahmad
Anyone can see that there is not one Pakistan. After more than 60 years the two Pakistans can clearly be demarcated. One is for the ordinary lot of the people, and the second one is for the elite classes. Pay a visit to the ordinary Pakistan, and experience the ordinary life there, have a taste of some basic social services available there, and you will realize how neglected is this ordinary Pakistan of the ordinary people of Pakistan. Likewise almost in every big city, there are two cities, one for the ordinary lot and one for the special elite. All other smaller cities including the vast rural expanse fall under the ordinary Pakistan.
Now roam about some areas of the elite Pakistan such as GORs (Government Officers’ Residences) or Cantonments, and see the difference between these two Pakistans. In a number of cases, these two Pakistans adjoin but never in the quality of services. Leave the elite Pakistan and enter the ordinary one where you will notice the provision of basic social services with a high standard of quality. It is just unintelligible, for instance in Lahore, why some areas are permanently showered with tax money! Have all other areas in a city, or in the country, already achieved provision of basic social services so the extra funds are available for the chosen elite areas? Not in the least!
Ordinary Pakistan is without water supply, sanitation, public transport, roads, paved streets, street lights, libraries, parks or playgrounds; it is polluted and noisy. Where some of these services are available their standard will be low. Not one single service is provided in this Pakistan with a minimum standard ensured.
Though the ordinary people raise this issue frequently albeit sporadically, showing resentment and anger in the form of violent or non-violent protests, to this day there is no thinking or doing in government to resolve the issue.
The March 18-19 violence in Barakahu and other areas of Islamabad and Rawalpindi against the transport fares hike attests to this, as in Lahore in recent months. Also regarding this affair, quite arrogant and apathetic attitude of the bureaucracy such as Commissioner of Islamabad, and ruling elite such as that of Interior Minister Rehman Malik, may be noted, which tells of the government’s least concern for the ordinary people’s problems. In fact, public transport almost throughout Pakistan is more than pathetic. The transporters in collusion with transport officials get a fare structure that benefits only them and exploits the commuters. What a pity those who never travel in the public transport and use luxurious transport facilities at the expense of the commuters are empowered to determine the transport fares!
The same is the case with other services. Water supply and sanitation are symptomatic examples, while park and playgrounds just do not exist in the ordinary Pakistan. As for pollution and noise, this Pakistan is a dirty and noisy hell.
That lends support to the already well-demonstrated theory that Pakistan is an elitist state expropriating public tax money to build another Pakistan within Pakistan. This elitist Pakistan must be dismantled and resources be equally spent to provide the basic social services to all the citizens of Pakistan wherever they live. This may be achieved in the following manner:
First, by an amendment it must be provided in the constitution of the country that provision of above-mentioned social services will be ensured indiscriminately to all the citizens wherever they live in Pakistan.
Second, in this regard, with the consultation of experts a minimum standard of these social services be set down and made part of the amendment.
Third, the constitution should also make the federal government in conjunction with provincial and local governments responsible for making sure that all these services with the fixed minimum standard are provided to all the citizens of Pakistan regardless of the area where they live within Pakistan.
Fourth, as the delivery of services provided by the state, i.e. federal, provincial or local governments, is already plagued with inefficiency and corruption, it must distinctly be stated in the proposed amendments that though government will be responsible for providing these services to all the people throughout Pakistan but this does not authorize it to impose new taxes as well as erect new huge bureaucratic establishments for this purpose. The notion of its responsibility amounts to a supervisory role of its already existing agencies. To provide these services, it may resort to new ways such as public-private partnership, privatized delivery of services. This aims at restricting the size of government especially in financial terms.
To accomplish this, there already exist various government agencies. They need to be converting into working in partnership with private providers without any political interference. This will help wind up the present practice of providing funds to the members of national and provincial assemblies, and will change altogether the election scenario which then may be contested on really important issues than providing this or that social service. But it is for the people, especially for the think-tanks and NGOs, and no doubt for media also, that the big issue for the next election should be the provision of these basic social services to all the citizens in Pakistan not only ensured in the constitution but binding on the next government also. If achieved, that will be a great step forward towards the unification of the ordinary and elite Pakistans.
Is there any political party ready to take up this at the top of its agenda?
[The writer is founder/head of the Alternate Solutions Institute.]
THE AILING FARMS OF PUKHTUNKHWA
[Fazal Maula Zahid]
Attached file carries the story of 'ailing farms and hungry incumbents' of our region. This is the first ever critical look of the most ignored sector on which our life is 'simply' based. Interestingly, it has always been neglected. Why this sector is not receiving the needed attention of governments is the fact that it is not the issue of people sitting in the corridor of powers. They have many alternatives in minds to rescue. Many of them are the economic terrorists playing with our lives, the time around.
On the other hands, 75 % of rural population is farming based directly and the rest indirectly. They plough in fields, feed from field and die in field. It is their alone universe in the global village they never know, nor we let them to know. They are exposed to weather vagaries. They are exposed to diseases and they are the hard victims of our neglects and our policies.
Let us do something for those who have no voice. Attending them is attending peace. We can get 90% terror free society with the rise of new sun from Khyber; let us begin with new diversions and new priorities.
It is expected that all media friends will help in forwarding this article to the press for publication and organize program to expose the miseries of agriculture sectors from different channels.
RE: PAKISTAN'S CRISIS - ITS ROOTS (FREEPAKISTAN NEWSLETTER # 112)
[Hassan Zameer]
Thanks for sending me the material and information
RE: PAKISTAN'S CRISIS - ITS ROOTS
[Bashy Quraishy, Denmark]
Thank you very much for your news letter with a digest of diverse news from Pakistan - mainly heart rendering and sad. I also took time to read your article; Pakistan's Crisis - its roots and a letter to free Pakistan. While I appreciate your efforts to inform and educate, but let me be honest in my assessment. First, I am getting tired of people in and outside Pakistan - who are busy writing the last rites for Pakistan and painting dooms day scenarios. I agree that the country is going through a patchy road and listening to media and politicians, one can get a terrible impression of the state affairs. But I am old enough to remember that such predicament was being forecasted since 1958 Marshal Law. I have absolutely no doubt that Pakistan would continue on the path of progress and prosperity and it will stand on its feet-sooner than later. We got to have faith and trust in our own destiny.
That brings me to my second point. You say; "Free Pakistan, a monthly newsletter, exists for the promotion of limited government, rule of law, protection of property rights, market economy, individual freedom, and private initiative. Its vision is a free and prosperous Pakistan; for only such a Pakistan can contribute positively to the creation of a free and prosperous world".
These are very lofty aims and very noble visions but you must also give hope to people by looking at both sides of Pakistan - functioning and non-functioning. There are many good things in Pakistan which needs to be appreciated and encouraged. If your newsletter will only highlight bad things in the society of 170 millions, who will then show the way.
Thirdly, you are talking of a Free Pakistan, free from what. Do you prescribe a USA model - survival of the fittest and hell with the rest. Limited government is good where institutions are very well founded and established, where people are educated enough to make their own decisions, where politicians are sincere and where establishment is geared to let go. Have you forgotten that Pakistan is only 63 years old, carved out of an empire without resources, industry and infrastructure. Free market economy is not the answer. The answer is good governance and a combination of private and public sector.
Anyhow, I am sorry for the long e-mail but frankly speaking, you got to change your tune. Be optimistic, come up with practical solutions to complex problems and make alliances with progressive people. Take care and my kind regards.
[EDITOR’S NOTE]
Many thanks! I really appreciate your concerns as you took time to go through the newsletter and expressed your opinion in detail.
First, I am never a pessimist and believe in seeking solutions, but it is also necessary to analyze the situation realistically. You may differ with my prognosis, but I think we should pin our hope/s with something concrete - such as the present judiciary, abstract hope is just a mirage.
Regarding your views of our values, these are just guidelines and give a sense of direction, we believe in seeking ways to enhance personal freedom and personal choice under rule of law. Among other things, we have done two researches, in which we have tried to seek Pakistani solutions to the Pakistani problems. Here are the links to the press releases:
Well-being and freedom: an empirical study into development
Liberate to learn: a study of the education voucher scheme in Lahore
We have appreciated Punjab Education Foundation's Education Voucher Scheme, and recommended its expansion to other parts of the province. That is a good thing among so many bad things in Pakistan, means we have our eyes on good things also, where we see many bad things happening.
RE: PAKISTAN'S CRISIS - ITS ROOTS (FREEPAKISTAN NEWSLETTER # 112)
[Dr Z Khan]
Some topics covered in this news letter are interesting and worth reading. PAKISTAN’S CRISIS – ITS ROOTS By Dr. Khalil Ahmad is good reading which attempts to generalize the current situation in terms of its attributes. It is time to seeks solutions to various issues the most deadly, of course is corruption', however, strong moral will and awareness of how the future of our next generations will be affected are needed. In the present circumstances focus on basic solutions is needed. This comes to bench marking of what we have and where we want be in the next 20 years. What are our objectives as a nation and our vision for the future. Where we need to accelerate and where a steady and gradual change is needed. As a priority enhanced models of primary and secondary education with efficient infrastructure needed. Health provisions with employment opportunities and improved communication channels provided. Future energy requirements and positioning ourselves in the right direction to guarantee safe and economical sources of energy available. We need to increase research to benefit economy with more collaborations from around the world.
RE: PAKISTAN'S CRISIS - ITS ROOTS (FREEPAKISTAN NEWSLETTER # 112)
[Mohammed Naim Ullah, UK]
Your lengthy article on the current woes of the people of Pakistan is thought provoking. However, you have not touched upon the problem faced by the 75% of the population of Pakistan: The peasants of Pakistan.
An agricultural country from day one of its creation in 1947 Pakistan remains till today an agricultural country. The 75% of the population, the peasants, remain serfs of their lords and the country remains backward in The massive unemployment in the country of the university trained young people is directly due to the feudalism because the peasant's purchasing power is nil, zero who cannot afford to pay to the doctors, the teachers etc. Consequently, these professional young people do not go to the villages to earn their living. Solution? Make the tillers of the soil the owner of the parcel of the land they till and they would gain a purchasing power! In simple word, abolish feudalism in Pakistan!
Ever since 1953 this agricultural country is unable to produce sufficient basic food items like wheat, sugar and edible oil. Instead of becoming Asia's tiger Pakistan is now Asia's mouse. All this is known world wide because the FAO of the UN has published statistics but unfortunately not known to you. Pakistan is an importer of wheat, sugar, edible oil and (powder) milk in large quantities.
Please in your next e-mail message investigate the crimes of feudalism in Pakistan. Allah will reward you for this service to Pakistan.
RE: PAKISTAN'S CRISIS - ITS ROOTS (FREEPAKISTAN NEWSLETTER # 112)
[Raja Naveed Sarwar]
I have visited your website and pleased to know your efforts, being a think tank.
PAKISTANI JUDICIARY CAN BE KINGPIN FOR RULE OF LAW, PROVIDED IMPROVES
[Hem Raj Jain, India]
This week, Pakistani media published an article by Dr. Khalil Ahmad the head of the Alternate Solutions Institute, in which Khalil wrote that:-
“[It is evident that in the totally morally bankrupt Pakistan there is no prospect of amelioration in any domain. This finds its proof in the fact of the independent-minded judges being denigrated, pressurized, and attacked not only by the ruling classes, but also by all the elites (military, political, religious, and intellectual elites) directly or indirectly. This also warns those of us, who want to see the country come out of this crisis, to be on guard to protect the independent judiciary, which is the only hope in this darkest hour of our history. It is crucial because the only way out of the deep moral crisis is the establishment of the rule of law in Pakistan].”
Though, no doubt, Khalil is justified in putting so much hope on Pakistani Judiciary because Pakistan has enviable record of humbling its two Presidents (Martial and civilian) Musharraf and Zardari by the mass movements against them lead by judicial community. But it will be a pipe dream if without bringing public pressure for following fundamental improvement in judicial system, people of Pakistan believe that the common Pakistani shall get speedy and cheap justice from the judiciary [of course these suggestions are based on two factors (i)- The similarity of situations (because legal frame-work, given by Britishers, and general economical & other condition of Pakistan) being almost similar to India where half of Indians are below or hovering around poverty line and (ii)- It is not the functionaries of State who (as in monarchies) grant justice to the people but in democracy with inalienable rights of the citizens, it is the people who should be able to take justice from State]:-
(1)- Licenses of full-fledged advocates should be given only to those lawyers who have filed and contested minimum numbers of appeal, revision, writs etc. in High Courts.
[True to the saying (Neem Hakim Khatre Jaan) in India to what extent the half-baked advocates, who professionally are almost good for nothing, spoil the cases irretrievably at the stage of lower and district courts, is only to be experienced to believe. Therefore other advocates should be granted the license for only assistant or deputy or associate advocates etc. till they become full-fledged advocates.]
(2)- At moderate cost the lodging and boarding facility with full-fledged legal library should be provided to lawyers of lower courts at district level and for lawyers of subordinate court (lower and district courts) at High Court level.
[In India the lawyers from lower and district court can’t afford to go and stay at District and High Courts for appeal, revision, writs etc and also they can’t afford full-fledged legal library. With the result advocates residing in the cities of High Courts and District Courts charge exorbitant fees which are beyond most of the Indians. Hence most of the Indians are denied justice by denying them the approach to higher courts]
(3)- “Judicial Vigilance Commission” should be constituted which shall hear the complaints against the corrupt presiding officers of subordinate courts (in case Chief Justices of High Courts do not take legally expected timely action against these corrupt presiding officers) and against the Judges of High Courts and Supreme Court (before the proceedings of impeachment in Parliament). This commission will recommend (in appropriate cases after inquiry and investigation) further trial by Chief Justices of concerned High Courts or by Chief Justice of Supreme Court / Parliament. This Commission may have 60 % members from retired Chief Justices of Supreme Court / High Courts & retired Judges of Supreme Court whereas 40 % members may be reputed persons from public field (including reputed advocates of Supreme Court / High Courts).
[In India, the higher judiciary is generally very energetic when they deal with the crimes, corruption, contempt etc. of other citizens. But when it comes to such offences by the presiding officers of not only subordinate courts but also of High Courts and Supreme Court then to what extent they unite and become one, right from lower court to Supreme Court, in protecting the criminal presiding officers, it is only to be experienced to believe. More over even legislatives (Parliament and Legislative Assemblies) also turn their eyes away from such misconduct of the higher judiciary]
(4)- Law should be framed which will oblige High Court under its supervisory jurisdiction to check every file which is requisitioned in appeal, revision, writ etc. for an undue delay (by way of adjournments etc) and these files should be stamped and signed by High Court for such checking before sending these files back to subordinate courts.
[This non-exercise of its supervisory power by High Courts has resulted in pile-up of millions of pending cases in the subordinate courts of India and which has made the mockery of entire Indian judicial system].
Here it is needless to mention that with these four improvements in judicial system, the people of Pakistan of their own (with other democratic advantage of pressures on peoples representatives including on ministers) will be able to take justice from the State and will not be so helpless where they will have to depend on the mercy of State functionaries for granting justice to them.
NATIONAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM AND REHABILITATION OF TERROR HIT SWAT VALLEY
[Fazal Maula Zahid, Saidu Sharif, Swat]
Kindly find the subject article of higher national interest in general and war hit Swat valley in particular. This can prove a solid step towards peace and stability in the region. Hope the issue will be taken up by all of us utilizing our available tools and means of communications for general awareness of friends, civil society and other readers on the one hand and attract the policy makers for settling an important issue, on the other. Let us reset our priority and a shift to focus on development.
MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED
[Ali Tahir, Faisalabad]
with due respect it is stated to u tht i had visited ur website and read about the insitutio. its a pleasure to see that u have taken this initative in the broad future prospects of paksitan. so that we can represnr our ideas at onternational level and also to governament authorities. i hope so it will represent thu true image of pakistan and our demands too at different levels. i have attached my cv to this mail. so kindly send me the membership certificate of the Alternate Solutions Institute. i will be thank ful to u for this act of kindness. so that in future beinga member of this think tank i cld also serve my country through my contributions.
JUDICIAL POLICY AND ITS EFFECT
[Sher Gondal]
With passage of time justice is growing more expensive, difficult and time consuming for the poor, especially in subordinate courts. Lawyers demand exorbitant fees which the litigants with meager sources of income can’t afford to pay. Rate of tip for staff in courts is increased. Obtaining certified copies of documents from various government offices involves lengthy and tiresome procedures and on every stage litigants have to grease palms of the concerned staff. On grant of bail by a competent court, accused or his relatives have to obtain copies of Register Haqdaran Zamin in respect of person standing as surety for execution of bail bond for the accused. In the past, copy of Register Haqdaran Zamin issued by Revenue Patwari was the requirement to execute bail bond. Now the courts do not accept copy of Register Haqdaran Zamin issued under the signature of Patwari. The courts ask person executing bail bond to attach copy of Register Haqdaran Zamin having been duly countersigned by Kanongo and Tehsildar in addition to signatures of the Halqa Patwari. Under the new procedure, one has to visit offices of three revenue officials and wait at every office for the availability of the concerned official for completion of condition. The procedure has increased difficulties for the public. Lot of time and money is spent on obtaining copy of Register Haqdaran Zamin. This is very painful exercise for poor peasants who often are involved in cases by police because of their disputes over land and turn of irrigation water.
Judicial policy instead of speeding up justice process has reopened a large number of six to seven years old criminal cases that were either consigned to office for failure of prosecution to produce witnesses or they were misplaced. The accused when finding no case in their respect included in the cause lists stopped coming to courts. In these cases accused have now been declared proclaimed offenders without following proper procedure under the law. Bail bonds were cancelled and proceedings against sureties started. In most of such cases offences were compounded through compromise at bail stage. Therefore, proclamations against accused and initiation of proceedings against sureties who helped accused on humanitarian grounds, is because of fault on the part of subordinate courts and prosecution, and not fault or delinquency of accused and the sureties. Any action against sureties and accused for not appearing in the courts during the period their case remained closed will tantamount to abuse of justice and law.
Concerned authorities including District Sessions Judge Mandi Bahauddin are requested to take notice of problems being faced by public in order to facilitate them in receiving speedy and transparent justice with minimum cost.
NO MORE A PML-N VOTER
[Nabeel Anwar Dhakku, Chakwal]
My clan has been a staunch voter of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, but Shahbaz Sharif's recent plea to the barbaric Taliban to have mercy on Punjab has drifted me into the camp of the PPP. I suggest that the PML-N should focus on its real tasks, like forging academic degrees, stealing credit cards and suspending traffic wardens. [The News]
END OF THE TUNNEL
[Dr Irfan Zafar, Islamabad]
Due to load shedding in Pakistan, the light at the end of the tunnel will be out forever.
[Daily Times]
‘OVER MY DEAD BODY’
[Dr Irfan Zafar, Islamabad]
It has been reported that all the documents pertaining to the Swiss cases and the letters sent to the Swiss officials are being kept by Federal Law Minister Babar Awan. When Attorney-General Anwar Mansoor Khan asked the law minister to hand over the Swiss records, the minister responded: “Over my dead body.” This statement has come after the award of Sitara-e-Imtiaz to Mr Awan by the president which was widely criticised. It now seems that the respected minister very rightly deserved this award — in the category of ‘sycophancy.’ [The News]
THANK YOU SIR!
[Dr Irfan Zafar, Islamabad]
Through the columns of your newspaper, I would like to thank the honourable Minister for Water and Power, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, for saving my life owing to his present load-shedding management policies. The other day, being extremely stressed and depressed, I decided to end my life and held a 220-volt electricity cable for almost two hours. However, as luck would have it, the electricity never came and the realisation not to destroy my life dawned on me, thus bringing me back to my senses. I owe my heart-felt gratitude to the honourable minister. God bless you sir. [Daily Times]
SLEEPING MNAS
[Dr Irfan Zafar, Islamabad]
Many MNAs were seen sleeping during a recent speech of the prime minister in parliament. Considering the 'night life' of many of our custodians of morality and values, it is recommended that the timings of the National Assembly be adjusted accordingly thus ensuring that the members don't feel sleepy during the session. [The News]
PEPCO MAGIC
[B A Malik, Islamabad]
A recent PEPCO campaign has introduced a mysterious formula to address the problem of the energy shortages that have taken the whole country by storm. The strategy pronounces a solution that states, “A megawatt of electricity saved is better than a megawatt produced.” Will these philosophers of PEPCO please explain how saving power is better than producing it? The power-starved people in Pakistan would like to be educated on the rationale of this PEPCO vision.
[Daily Times]
SMS VS ROTI
[Dr Irfan Zafar, Islamabad]
The charges per SMS in 2003 were Rs6 while a single roti cost Rs2. The cost of an SMS in 2010 is Rs0.01 and that of a roti is Rs6. Life would have been so comfortable for the poor of this unfortunate country had they been able to eat SMS instead of roti. [The News]
EARTH DAY
[Dr Irfan Zafar, Islamabad]
Earth Day was celebrated on the 27th of March 2010 by switching off of the lights for half an hour to mark the importance of this pretty Earth and by lightening the green candles to show one’s concern for a greener earth. It was strange for our Government to officially celebrate this special day for our every day is marked with 12 hours of load shedding forcing us to use candle lights, thus helping the noble cause every single day of the year. [Pakistan Observer]
JAMSHED DASTI AND THE PM
[Muhammad Tariq Afridi, University of Ulm, Germany]
Is Jamshed Dasti going to advise our prime minister on forging degrees? Isn't his appointment as an adviser to the prime minister a tacit contempt to the respectable decree of the honourable Supreme Court? [The News]
PET’S STATUS
[Dr Irfan Zafar, Islamabad]
Any idea where the honourable ex-president’s favorite pet dog “Maximillian” is living these days? Just wondering what will be the pet’s status after the passage of the 18th Amendment.
[Pakistan Observer]
CONGRATULATION, MR PM
[Dr Irfan Zafar, Islamabad]
Congratulations, Mr Gilani, on becoming the 'most powerful' prime minister after the passage of the 18th Constitutional Amendment. Now you can be removed within minutes by your unelected party head, namely Bilawal Zardari. [The News]
AMBULANCE & THE COW
[Dr Irfan Zafar, Islamabad]
A doctor working in the Rural Health Center of Gujarat has been fired after he was caught transporting his cow using the Government Ambulance. It is really sad that a person who was making good use of the Ambulance when it was not being used by the patients has been shown the door. He honestly deserves a Presidential Award for the one’s who got them had not done any better than the poor fellow. [Pakistan Observer]
10 PER CENT
[Dr Irfan Zafar, Islamabad]
The honourable president has said that 90 per cent of the accused in Benazir Bhutto's murder case have been arrested (April 23). What about the rest, i.e. 10 per cent, Mr Zardari? [The News]
GUILT AND CRIME
[Dr A A Khan, London]
As Friedrich Von Schiller said a very long time ago, “It is criminal to steal a purse, daring to steal a fortune, a mark of greatness to steal a crown. The blame diminishes as the guilt increases.” After all this time, Schiller’s saying is still very much valid. [The News]
Issue of the Month: Trashing the governance
THE ART OF GOVERNANCE
[Ahmad R Shahid, York, UK]
The PPP government’s performance over the last two years is a moot point. Unfortunately, our political leadership has spent most of the last few years either in jail or in exile. One does not learn governance while being in jail or in exile. It can only be learnt on the job. In advanced countries, a politician’s career starts at a lower level and gradually he/she rises through the ranks to reach the top. In Pakistan the paths to the top slots in politics do not follow the same trajectory, thus the learning curve is not there. Even in ordinary jobs it takes years to become efficient at what you do. One completes a PhD in at least three years. It is also the time that a fresh graduate becomes proficient in whatever job he/she does. How can we expect better from politicians many of whom, like Zardari, only start learning (if they learn at all) the art of governance only in their 50s? [The News]
ALIENATED FROM THE MASSES
[Hina Badar, Lahore]
I remain deeply agitated by the growing culture of ministerial ignorance pertaining to the issues that affect the lives of the common man. Leaders, especially at the national, provincial and local levels, seem too isolated from our plight. They keep a distance from our concerns, enjoying a convenient lifestyle in their isolated fantasy and heavily guarded bungalows. It is shameful for our VIPs to hire such elevated levels of security when the rest of the nation remains vulnerable to terrorist and other threats. How are they contributing to our security and well-being? They are supposed to be representatives of our wishes and concerns. But it does not help when they keep aloof from our volatile lives. [Daily Times]
ERASING ZIA
[Ayaz Ahmad, Rawalpindi]
If by deleting Zia's name from our history we will end power shortage, improve law and order, ensure employment, contain inflation and better health and education sectors, then by all means we should delete his name. But if none of these will happen after the removal of Zia's name, then for God's sake don't waste our time and money on such ridiculous dramas. If I remember correctly, during Zia's eleven years, there was no hike in prices and no law and order problem as we face today under the 'democratic setup'. Life was smooth and peaceful. Most government departments functioned well. I request the elected representatives to please get down to some real development work, instead of taking cosmetic measures. [The News]
DEVELOPMENT CONCERNS
[Ammar Zafarullah, Islamabad]
As the military offensive in South Waziristan is concluding, the process of development needs to be initiated. The US has pledged to provide $ 750 million over a period of five years. The bulk of funds have been transferred to the FATA Secretariat. The community, rather than consultants or bureaucrats devising a development plan, must own the process of development. The community should identify and prioritise development tasks. The role of the government should be that of a catalyst to strengthen local community organisations. These community-owned programmes will have a far greater degree of transparency and will give the locals a sense of ownership, a method effective in countering the perceived obstacles to development in the tribal areas. [Daily Times]
WRONG PRIORITIES
[Irfan Butt, Hale, UK]
The government has abdicated its basic obligation to invest in education, health, security and housing for the poor. Instead it has chosen to drown billions of rupees into the endless pit of the loss-making PIA which is run by mediocre officers accused of pilferage and corruption. The state of Pakistan has sunk billions from the time when PIA was run by Chaudhry Ahmed Saeed, a political appointee of Gen Musharraf, to the present when it is run by his younger brother, Ahmed Mukhtar. In spite of the fact that PIA has been under suspension for safety concerns by the EU, shocking reports of passengers embarking flights to London without any documentation, aided by none other than the pilot in command, have surfaced.
The recent incident of unaccompanied baggage being loaded as accompanied baggage on PK721 to New York reflects the massive indiscipline that has crippled the airline. The government needs to set its priorities right. It should make an attempt to appoint qualified professionals with impeccable integrity to run state-owned corporations, instead of handing them to controversial men accused of pilferages and corruption. [The News]
WHEN IT IS TOO LATE?
[Saira Nasir, Lahore]
It is indeed sad that due to the government’s ineptitude and devil-may-care attitude, every segment of society has to suffer. Due to the recent protests against unprecedented load shedding in Lahore, we had an enraged public on our hands. I do not blame them; there is no other way for the citizens to express themselves. I was stuck in one of the worst traffic jams in the Gulberg area for almost three hours. As a lone female driver, I was actually fearful for my life. The protestors literally had a violent gleam in their eyes, the result of years of complacency. When people reach such a verge, they are capable of destroying anything in their path. I beg the government to act immediately on the concerns of the common man. If they do not, very soon we will see our own storming of the Bastille. [Daily Times]
DISTRIBUTION OF POWER
[Moez Mobeen, Islamabad]
The measure of disconnect between the ruling class and the masses can be judged by the issues adopted by political parties and their relevance to the problems faced by the masses. The buzz in Islamabad is with regard to the 18th Amendment and the empowerment of parliament (read politicians). At a time when the masses are suffering immensely under high inflation, water and energy shortages, deteriorating law and order, high unemployment, a severe economic crisis and the disastrous consequences of a failed foreign policy, the ruling class is busy deciding about the structure of the state. Isn’t it time we asked in clear terms the explanation of this rhetorical nonsense? How is the transfer of power from the president to the prime minister exactly going to solve the power crisis or help Pakistan pursue a more independent foreign policy? How is a consensus on renaming NWFP or the method of appointment of judges going to help address the rising unemployment and the severe economic crisis?
For decades Pakistani politicians have blamed every ill and problem faced by the masses on the ‘structure’ of the state and ‘distribution of power’ among institutions. Yet we see that a return to democracy has furthered Pakistan’s enslavement to the US and aggravated the power crisis. Now we are hearing the same vague and ambiguous rhetoric about how wonders would happen if the structure of the state is realigned to parliamentary democracy from the hybrid presidential-parliamentary system we have at the moment. The problems faced by the masses today emanate from the capitalist system while our politicians have institutionalised Pakistani politics within the narrow confines of defining the structure of the state. It is time a debate about a new system was generated within Pakistan. [The News]
DIVINE MNA
[Wilson Massey, Lahore]
Some police officers, including an SHO, were suspended for misbehaving with an MNA. This is a story that has appeared in almost all the papers and news bulletins. Hats off to the police higher-ups for actually carrying out their job and demonstrating their efficiency in suspending junior officers who misbehave with the public. Let us now see if the same higher-ups will book this MNA and his bodyguards for carrying illegal weapons. After all, MNAs and MPAs are also common men like us, and are in no way divine bodies allowed to do whatever they please to maintain and uphold their ego. The law is for everyone and should be implemented across the board in letter and spirit.
[Daily Times]
DEFENDING THE CORRUPT
[Waqar Khan, Rawalpindi]
Let me take the liberty to congratulate you and your reporter for highlighting the case of Riaz Ahmed Sheikh. Secondly, I fail to understand why every corrupt politician always belongs to the PPP, as I remember that PPP Central Information Secretary Fauzia Wahab defended Mr Sheikh in the media. [The News]
SPURIOUS DRUGS
[Saira Kamal, Karachi]
Pakistan’s public healthcare system is already overstretched and inefficient, and this problem is being further compounded by the unlawful practices carried out by unqualified doctors who use fake medicines. Under-qualified medical practitioners and the use of spurious and expired medicines are an inevitable menace in a country where the needs of a largely uneducated population are addressed by an unsuitable healthcare system. The state’s poor record in prosecuting such offenders means that these quacks routinely fleece citizens and endanger their lives.
A case in point is Muzaffargarh where, according to data collected by an NGO, no less than 8,000 such charlatans are operating. Their business flourishes partly because of aggressive marketing, including the daily distribution of thousands of pamphlets, advertisements on cable television networks and graffiti. Many pharmaceutical factories are making medicines that do not meet standard requirements in competing for the drug market. The illegal trade of such important products that involve the lives of people serves as an indicator of the connivance of those agencies whose primary duty is to regulate and enforce the drugs act.
In rural areas, where most people are illiterate, pharmaceutical officials estimate that some 50 percent of all drugs are counterfeit. Many people recognise a drug by its packaging and are easily deceived into buying fakes. The public should be made aware of how to identify counterfeit medicines. The Ministry of Health should start public awareness campaigns and refresher courses for those involved in the pharmaceutical trade. Better quality drug-testing laboratories should also be set up to regularly check the quality of medicines against set standards. [Daily Times]
BAD GOVERNANCE
[Shahzad Khalil, Sialkot]
Every pro-democracy individual believes that the worst democracy is better than any dictatorship. Perhaps, this is more relevant in Pakistan than any other country, because this unfortunate country was dismembered when a military dictator, Yahya Khan, was in power. Yahya had replaced Ayub Khan who in 1958 destroyed the Quaid's vision of a modern, democratic welfare state by imposing martial law. Having said that, it is also true that never before in a democratic setup have there been more controversies and financial scams than we witness today. This does not mean that the level of corruption today is more than what it was during the rule of Musharraf, or of Ziaul Haq. This evaluation of poor governance, or quantum of corruption, is in comparison with the tenure of civilian governments of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto.
The system must reform itself from within. All the political parties need to weed out the known corrupt and incompetent individuals from their rank and file. The irresponsible manner in which all the political parties had awarded tickets is reflected in the number of people disqualified on charges of fake degrees that they hold. No elected president or prime minister can use their discretion to give assignments to men found guilty of involvement in corruption, or those who are not qualified to hold such assignments. Nor can they allow individuals to openly have a conflict of interest and yet retain their executive post. Scams of billions of rupees have landed state-owned corporations like Steel Mills, PIA, Pakistan Railways, NHA, OGRA, PSO, CAA, National Bank, NIC etc. on the verge of perpetual bankruptcy. The state instead of spending on basic welfare of the most deprived sections of society has sunk billions into these endless pits while retaining the most incompetent and controversial persons to head these organisations. This must end now. [The News]
ENFORCING LAWS
[Asim Siddiqui, Karachi]
We are very fond of making laws and putting them aside. There is a complete lack of commitment in applying them to even the simplest of things. Some laws state that rickshaws should not remove their silencers, all smoke-emitting buses and trucks should stop operating, no heavy traffic should enter Karachi during peak hours, all buses should pick and drop passengers only at bus stops, no overloading should be allowed on buses and mini-buses and the sale of gutka should be banned. All the above and many other laws have been made a mockery of. This is extremely negligent on the part of the implementing authorities. If we cannot manage all this together, then we should take one order and enforce it for at least six months. This may change a few of the offenders. The city is getting out of control and a change is a must before it is too late. [Daily Times]
NEPOTISM AND CRONYISM
[B A Malik (Alig), Lahore]
Senator Prof Khurshid Ahmad recently raised in parliament the issue of termination of services of Pakistan International School teachers in Damascus. He said that Mr Aminullah Raisani, Pakistan's ambassador to Syria, had appointed his close relatives by removing the teaching staff already working there. One was disappointed at the unsavoury reaction of the PPP senators against Prof Khurshid for raising the issue. Instead of taking the errant ambassador to task surprisingly they rose to his defence by giving the issue an ethnic colour. They said that Mr Raisani was being criticised because he was from Balochistan. In other words if the ambassador was a Bhutto from Sindh or a Mian from Punjab or NWFP, he could have been declared guilty -- but not a Raisani or a Mengal from Balochistan. One never knew corruption had such ardent defenders in the Senate.
But Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Malik Ahmad takes the cake. He expressed ignorance about the whole affair in the Senate whilst this school in Syria had been the talk of the town since The News first broke the story a few weeks ago. One wonders what kind of parliamentarians we have. Fake degree-holders, allegedly corrupt, NRO beneficiaries and liars. No wonder the government is bogged down in charges of unbridled corruption, nepotism and cronyism. [The News]
TRAGIC NATION
[Hina Khalid, Lahore]
The way things are going, Pakistan is not one country anymore. I do not think it ever was. There are protests every day against the government’s inability to solve even the smallest of the people’s problems, there are agitations for separate provinces and there are threats of yet another breaking up of the country if such provincial demands are not met.
However, our biggest grievance remains that we do not consider ourselves a united people; one people living in the same country, under the same religion. Tuesday’s murder of a female educationist in Quetta is a sad reminder that we look at each other only through ethnic eyes and fail to see that we belong to the same cause. Professor Nazima Talib was no one’s enemy, she was a woman who strove to make a difference where it actually matters: education. It is the lack of education that has made us arrive at this sorry conjuncture where divides run so deep that we fail to see beyond ethnicity. She was just another victim in this war. Pakistan never was a united nation. We should stop boasting about our sovereignty and be ashamed at our lack of humanity. [Daily Times]
HARDLY A DEMOCRACY
[Nasir Khan, Peshawar]
I always thought politics is what was practised by men like the Quaid-e-Azam, Allama Iqbal, Abdur Rab Nishtar, Malik Barkat Ali, Nawab Ismail, Haji Haroon Abdullah or Sher-e-Bengal Fazlul Haq. The other belief that I had was that democracy was based on collective wisdom, with strict checks and balances, where all men and women were considered equal, and no individual had any right to impose his will or flout rules. Unfortunately what I witness today is the continuous rape of this country, its assets, rules and Constitution. How long can this state of anarchy be tolerated by the people of Pakistan? The son of a major-general serving as DG Rangers beat up a cop after the latter stopped him from parking his car in a no-parking area in Lahore. The boy called his dad's subordinates, as if they were his private army, who molested and then kidnapped the poor policeman whose sole mistake was that he dared to ask the arrogant son of the DG Rangers not to park his vehicle in a no-parking area.
Where are we heading for if this is the state of affairs in supposedly the most disciplined institution that we have? The country is facing an economic crunch, there is no security and yet the khakis are behaving in this manner. Things are really bad and everybody must accept the rule of law if this country is to survive as a respectable, sovereign nation. The elected president or prime minister is not an emperor where his wish becomes law; he is supposed to obey the written law and be accountable for all his deeds and assets -- just like an ordinary citizen. [The News]
WHAT PEOPLE REALLY NEED?
[Mubashir Mahmood, Karachi]
All members of Parliament’s constitutional reforms committee have signed the draft of 18th Amendment after reaching a consensus on late Wednesday. Just after this news the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority announced an increase in the price of petroleum products. I don’t know as a simple citizen that what is 18th amendment and what are its benefits. What I only know is that I along with most of the Pakistanis need basic commodities of life whether it comes through 18th amendment or through good governance. [Pakistan Observer]
CLEMENCY AND REMISSION
[Dr Salim Hosein, Karachi]
With reference to your story "Shaikh's release main cause of remission to thousands" (April 10), clemency and sentence remission granted on special occasions, such as Eid, are not an unusual occurrence. There are, however, some oddities about the remission announced by President Zardari as reported in your newspaper. While mass remissions are usually announced for periods ranging from one day to one month, the sweeping remission amounting to one-fourth of the sentence is unprecedented. The rationale is the same rhetoric being waxed eloquent about how everyone should enjoy the 'fruits of democracy'. To pardon old people, specifically female prisoners over 60 and males over 65, is perhaps understandable given that by now they're probably pretty harmless. But to suggest that democracy means good times and celebration for crooks and hoodlums across the board is sending the wrong signal entirely (even if most of us already think that's exactly what democracy has meant thus far!). Perhaps what we should be thanking the government for is that the press release said, "The special remission is not for those who have been convicted of crimes such as murder, espionage, anti-state activities, terrorism, kidnapping and abduction for ransom, robbery and dacoity". You never know in Pakistan.
Also troubling was the part where your newspaper linked the remission to the release of Ahmad Riaz Sheikh, the president's friend and convicted former additional director-general of the FIA. Now whether or not that's true, it's worrying, because his wife and current PPP Punjab MPA, Mrs Shabina Riaz, said: "He can't remain out of the hospital as he needs constant medical attention as, apart from the heart disease, he has multiple health problems". How then was he back in his post and double-promoted by this government and only just removed by the Supreme Court two weeks ago (March 25)? Are these ill people the kind the FIA employs? Perhaps he was as sick as President Zardari who needed constant hospital (read: hotel) stay while he was in prison, and as ill as him, when he pleaded mental instability in Switzerland. God help Pakistan. [The News]
ENERGY AND WATER CRISES
[Hashim Abro]
Recently I had the opportunity to sit in the room of one of the joint secretaries in the Pakistan Secretariat, Islamabad. In his royally decorated room, this is what I witnessed: the air conditioner was on, more than three tube-lights and one table lamp were switched on, one television and computer were on in the corner (although the sahib under observation is not computer literate at all), whereas a medium sized refrigerator in his assistant’s office is kept on 24 hours. When I went from his office to the washroom, I saw how water was being wasted and cries for water from Sindh echoed in my mind.
Regrettably, the same scenario exists in almost all offices in Pakistan. The manner in which we are using and handling our resources is pitiable indeed. This will lead us to more catastrophic situations, especially in certain parts of Sindh. Nature’s endowment of water blessings upon Pakistan has always been envied by the world at large. At the time of independence, 5,000 cu/m of water was available for each Pakistani, which has now been reduced to 1,000 cu/m because of uncontrolled population growth. However, the need of the hour is to educate the so-called educated people about the judicious use of water and energy. [Daily Times]
WHERE WE WENT WRONG
[Khurshid Anwer, Lahore]
If the hydel option had not been rejected in favour of the IPPs back in 1988, we would not have been in the sorry mess that we are in today. Instead of the very expensive 30:70 hydel-to-thermal mix, we would have had the ideal 70:30 mix — ample cheap and clean hydel power with water in millions of acre-feet as an added bonus. On top of that the IPPs, just like the RPPs today, did not serve the industry. Wrong decisions by people’s representatives can sometimes make the lives of the people miserable. [The News]
A STARVING NATION
[Salmaan Agha, Karachi]
I do not get how a debate on the NRO, the much needed 18th Amendment or a free judiciary will help Pakistan’s economy? I hate to be the one to point to the obvious but we do not have any industry that is doing well. How will we feed ourselves? Inflation is spiralling out of control. A rise in inflation adversely impacts the vulnerable segments of society. The prices of utilities and ever-rising prices of essential items erode the real income of the salaried and fixed income groups. The present government needs to sit down and figure out how it will rejuvenate our pitiful economy. They need to do this on a priority basis because the longer they take the worse the economy will get. [Daily Times]
RULE OF PIRATES
[M Tariq Ali, Lahore]
Going by the events of the last 40 years and the decadence of our state, it sometimes appears to me that we are being ruled by Somali pirates. How else do we, as a nation, explain the lack of accountability of those who have plundered this state, abused its laws and yet they, or their kith and kin, continue to live comfortably in Pakistan and/or abroad? This is a country where the establishment opposed the sister of our founding father and chose to support a military dictator who usurped the Constitution and tore apart the Quaid's vision for a modern, democratic welfare state. Men like Yahya Khan, Ziaul Haq and Musharraf, who looted this country, were given a guard of honour instead of being punished for their crimes against the state. We have distorted our history and made heroes out of zeros. The most recent example of the state of poor governance is the LNG scam that has caused a loss of more than $1 billion to the exchequer. An elected government has betrayed the people and chosen to protect cartels instead of giving relief to consumers by letting the Competition Commission of Pakistan ordinance lapse.
Criminals who because of a weak judicial system escaped punishment are being romanticised as if they had been prisoners of conscience. What we fail to understand is that these men were being tried for corruption, robbing the state, pilferages and abuse of powers in defiance of the law and the Constitution. There is a difference between prisoners of conscience like Nelson Mandela and robber-barons like Marcos who robbed the state. Today these criminals who escaped conviction -- not because they were innocent, but because of the weaknesses of the judicial system -- are being painted as heroes. Pakistan was created to function as a modern, democratic welfare state, not a lawless state that it has unfortunately become because of our collective failure to defend the Quaid's vision. Those elected to constitutional offices do not have a right to abuse the law, or escape punishment for crimes committed while in office. As long as we fail to bring back the looted wealth of the corrupt, this country cannot survive as a sovereign state. The choice is very clear -- be ruled by the likes of Somali pirates and disintegrate, or survive as a nation where the rule of law is supreme and all its institutions are subservient to the Constitution and law. [The News]
Edited and prepared by
Khalil Ahmad
[FreePakistan Newsletter, among other things, is a compilation of views and news taken from the national newspapers’ print and online editions. It is not possible to mention the source of every piece of news or view made use of herein; but as a matter of policy, where possible the source is mentioned with due thanks. However, no opinion expressed here should necessarily be taken as reflecting the view of Free Pakistan Newsletter.]
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