Under currents
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
There are worrying indications in British society that a violent anti-Muslim sentiment has now developed to the point at which attacks on Muslim-owned properties and institutions are imminent. There have been arrests in the last few days of 32 men across the UK and the recovery of arms and ammunition that included rocket-launchers, hand grenades and explosives as well as a quantity of handguns and automatic rifles. Not since the days of the IRA has such a large cache of illegal weaponry been obtained with the intent of use by a domestic terrorist group. Many of those arrested appear to belong to the far-right British Nationalist Party (BNP) which has a decades-long history of racist and anti-Semitic activity. British parliamentarian Muhammad Sarwar praised the police and other law-enforcement agencies for their timely action. Much to their credit the police moved in protection of minority ethnic and religious groups (Muslims were not the only targets) and a tragedy has been averted.
Almost coincidentally, Commander Shaun Sawyer of Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism command told a meeting of British Muslims that he was concerned about the danger to their communities and that the police were responding to the growing threat. He said of the far-right… "I fear that they will have a spectacular... they will carry out an attack that will lead to a loss of life or injury to a community somewhere. They're not choosy about which community." The arrest of the 32 would-be terrorists seems to bear out his concerns. As the recession bites ever-deeper the polarization of British society continues apace, and as the faded dream of multiculturalism and plurality dissipates into a reality of unemployment for many poor whites, the far-right is again resurgent. Polarities in the UK to a degree reflect our own difficulties, with the difference that here extremism is more embedded and widespread and the moderates, whoever they are, lack both voice and organisation sufficient to make a counterweight. A successful attack on a Muslim target in the UK could have appalling consequences here, and we have only to think back to the violence that grew out of the Danish cartoons story to know the truth of that. Extremism has a global connectivity – what goes 'bang' in the UK may be an even bigger bang here
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Friends, not foes
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
The cordial note struck between US President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev during their first summit meeting at the Kremlin has important implications for Pakistan. The meeting and the joint declaration, which agrees on cuts in weapons, establish a new era in the world during which the two former foes can act as friends. But there is more. Russia has allowed the US 4,500 flights annually over its territory at no charge to carry troops and weapons to Afghanistan. This will facilitate the US war in that country. In the last few weeks the US has launched a major anti-militant operation in Afghanistan: the largest in years.
In past decades, decisions taken in Washington and Moscow have altered the fate of our country. The 1979 the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan altered much and played a key role in the creation of a dangerous place. The latest decisions mean the US involvement and its offensive in the region seem set to continue. This somewhat complicates the picture as far as the war against terrorism goes for Pakistan. We all know that militancy and the sometimes subtle support for it we find in quite unexpected places is spurred on by the widespread hatred for the US and its policies. There are many who will argue militancy will end only if the US pulls out of the region. But the talks in Moscow indicate the pace of the war may accelerate. This then is the reality Pakistan must live with. It must also realize some degree of cooperation with Kabul is essential. Fears have been expressed in certain quarters that the intensified anti-militant effort in Helmand and other parts of Afghanistan will drive militants eastwards across the border. This just goes to show how closely the war in both countries is linked. The leaders need then to discuss how to tackle it jointly, and also how they can in the longer term persuade Washington to consider making an exit. It is clearly not ready to do so now – but an eventual end to militancy may in the future depend on its readiness to do so and recognize its involvement in Afghanistan since 2001 has done nothing to solve the complex problems of that country or the region as a whole.
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People and power
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Acting on the basis of media reports and on behalf of the people of Pakistan a three-member bench of the Supreme Court headed by the chief justice has restrained the government from hiking up the power tariff pending a decision in the case. The government had agreed with the IMF that the tariff on power would go up between 17 and 20 per cent in 2009 and 2010. This would be done by removing subsidies on power. The apex court, pointing out that power generation is a commercial activity, has called on the power companies whose top officials appeared before the bench and the government not to impose still greater burdens on people who were already suffering a great deal. It also raised the issue of load-shedding with the power bosses and suggested the private sector be brought in to create competition that would lower prices. We have of course seen this happen in the telecom sector.
There must be a question over whether it falls among the duties of the apex court to intervene in the economic policies of a government. The situation is all the more complex given that a deal with the IMF has been inked. But the fact also is that someone needs to give a voice to the voiceless. The people have no spokesmen. Leaders have repeatedly failed to act on their behalf. We do not know if there has been any follow up to the prime minister's announcement regarding no cut in power subsidies. In such circumstances, the Supreme Court's pro-people role can only be welcomed. The hapless people of Pakistan today need allies. The apex court has demonstrated it is willing to lend them a hand – and there are few who would oppose this in the difficult times we live in.