The Qadri facade

January 29th, 2013

Some two weeks after Dr Tahirul Qadri’s Long March to Islamabad, the farce he began then continues. Dr Qadri’s latest round of talks, with a high-powered delegation of the government and its partners, have, however, run into a deadlock — with the head of the Minhajul Quran now threatening to take the matter to the Supreme Court. While the coalition has agreed to a dissolution of assemblies before March 16, followed by polls within 90 days, as well as a scrutiny of candidates within 30 days, it has baulked at Dr Qadri’s demand that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) be reconstituted or that the distribution of discretionary funds be halted immediately. The ECP, headed by a reputable former judge, was of course constituted in consultation with the opposition. As Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira pointed out, while it agreed in principle that the handing out of development funds should stop, it had no means to impose this on provinces given provincial autonomy written into the Constitution.

There are other caveats. These may not have been pointed out at the latest dialogue, but have been raised by analysts more than once. Is a scrutiny of candidates truly possible within 30 days? Can loan defaults and tax-returns be checked within this limited period — and what is to happen if the complex process, involving a variety of institutions, is not completed as unrealistically scheduled.

The real and more relevant issue is why the government is talking to Dr Qadri anyway? He, after all, does not represent anyone at all. There must be some doubt as to whether the paper signed on that cold winter’s night in Islamabad has any legal value at all. What then is the power Dr Qadri wields? Why has he suddenly become such a powerful player on the national scene and why are his curious demands, his interventions, being catered to at all? These are matters to think about in depth as elections draw nearer. Too many suspicions lurk and these need to be dispelled so that all of us can be assured that polling will go ahead in the fashion laid down by the Constitution.

Creating a new province

January 29th, 2013

The PPP government, in an ambitious move has, through the parliamentary commission on new provinces, proposed carving out a new province that will be called Bahawalpur Janoobi Punjab. Apart from the unfortunate acronym this proposed province shares with the right wing, anti-Pakistan political party in India, it also fails to take into account the views of the main opposition parties, which would either prefer that Punjab be left alone or have two new provinces created in Bahawalpur and South Punjab. The PML-N has also reiterated its demand for the creation of a Hazara province.

The PPP has been hasty in calling for this new province without securing the assent of the opposition parties. The composition of the commission on new provinces was already shrouded in controversy since it is headed by the president’s spokesperson and the Punjab Assembly, which after all is made up of the representatives of the province that will be affected, was only allowed to nominate two of the commission’s 12 members. Both the Punjab Assembly and the PML-N, as a whole, have continually expressed their lack of confidence in the commission.

The timing of the move is also unwise. With elections due to be held in May, now may not be the time to create new administrative units. The opposition parties are sure to believe that the new provinces are being created only to help the electoral prospects of the PPP. Since the Constitution requires both houses of parliament and the province being affected to pass any bill creating new provinces by a two-thirds majority there is simply no way to create the province without the PML-N’s assent. The PPP has not even tried to secure that and so the commission’s proposals are likely dead on arrival. Now, the PPP should wait till after the elections and, if it forms another government, try and bring all parties on board before bringing this issue up again.

Washing away evidence

January 29th, 2013

An Indian prisoner, Chamail Singh, arrested near the Sialkot border in 2010, and convicted of spying by a military court in June 2012 to serve a five-year sentence, may have been beaten to death by prison staff at Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail. Singh’s ‘offence’, it appears, was to have been washing his clothes. With prison authorities insisting that the Indian national, whose age is varyingly put at between 48 and 60 years, died of natural causes, a judicial inquiry has been ordered. The incident, being widely reported in Indian media, comes at a time when relations between the two countries are already strained. This latest death will not help matters.

The death of Singh, after a severe beating, was apparently witnessed by another inmate, who was able to speak about it to this publication as he was freed three days after the event. According to his account, Singh was washing his clothes at a tap in the jail’s courtyard early in the morning on January 15, when three members of the jail staff, including the assistant superintendant told him to stop. When he answered back, he was severely beaten by all three men, resulting in his death. Following this, affidavits were taken from Indian prisoners at the jail, stating that Singh had died of ‘natural causes’. The results of the autopsy are awaited. While the India media holds that there are 33 Indian nationals held at the jail, about eight to 14 statements were obtained, or, as the eyewitness claims, ‘extracted’.

The results of the judicial inquiry need to be seen. But we all know that prison brutality is a terrible reality in our country. Incidents of beating and torture are hardly uncommon, and while many prisoners suffer, Pakistanis and Indians held in each other’s jails face especially tough times. The account we have heard makes it imperative that an inquiry be held. It is important the truth behind Singh’s death be uncovered, so that if found guilty, those behind it can be punished and similar happenings prevented in the future.

Back to the past

January 30th, 2013

As polls approach, the rise of new political entities — notably the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) — seems to have taken something of a nosedive. In contrast, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) appears to be on an ascendant note, most notably in its bastion in Punjab and also in other areas.

According to a survey conducted by the International Republican Institute (IRI), the PML-N, the main opposition party, has seen an increase in popularity on both the national and provincial levels. The survey, the results of which have recently been released, took place in November, and was designed to take note of ethnic, lingual, gender and age difference. According to the results from a survey of 4,997 people, 32 per cent of the respondents said they would vote for the PML-N in the National Assembly elections, compared with 28 per cent in the last IRI survey conducted in July-August 2012. This gain seems to have come mainly at the cost of the PTI, which saw a decrease in support from 24 per cent in July-August 2012 to 18 per cent in November 2012. The ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) remains stable at 14 per cent, but its leaders may be concerned by the fact that both the PML-N and the PTI remain ahead of it in terms of overall support. The PML-N also remains the most popular party in Punjab, according to the survey, with 49 per cent support — a six per cent increase compared with the previous survey; the PTI’s support in the province declined by eight per cent. Results from other provinces were mixed, with the PPP, predictably enough, the most popular party in Sindh with 32 per cent support, followed by the MQM with 16 per cent. Rather astonishingly, the PPP also emerged as the most popular party in Balochistan while the PTI maintained its lead in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

The findings are, of course, interesting, as a reflection of mood. But we must remember that pre-poll surveys, notably in the subcontinent, are often far from reliable — while the ‘first past the pole’ voting system will, of course, also have a major say in who takes the most seats at the end of the polling process.

Irregularities in ERRA accounts

January 30th, 2013

No good news comes from the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority (ERRA) when it comes to its accounts department. The list of complaints are manifold: the irregularities and embezzlements are embarrassing to say the least, not to mention depressing for an establishment that was set up to alleviate the miseries of those affected by the devastating 2005 earthquake. Perhaps, it seems unfair to tarnish its reputation in one stroke as an entirely inept organisation, for it has aided in the rehabilitation of scores of people but unfortunately, it has been tainted with corruption since the onset because its affairs have been so mismanaged. The latest newspaper report on January 27 is no exception: according to the draft audit report of 2011 to 2012, approximately Rs14.71 billion was shown in ERRA’s books but the reconciliation was not available on record with the Accountant General of Pakistan Revenue (AGPR). This is not the first time this has happened. In 2008-09, Rs1.234 billion difference of unreconciled amount was reported in the audit report, according to the recent report. ERRA did not reconcile its budget and expenditure on a monthly basis and report it to the AGPR, as it is required to do, despite reminders from the government. The report also goes on to state that the “reconciliation of the statement of expenditure for June 2011 showed a difference of Rs569.98 million between ERRA’s books and AGPR’s accounts”.

The audit report’s recommendations that an investigation into the matter of ERRA’s unrecorded receipts be launched and appropriate action be taken against those involved in attempting to hide anything from the government are valid and must be taken seriously and immediately. One may not be able to recover the Rs1.62 billion from the 37 cases that have been lost according to this audit report. But the ineptitude with which ERRA has mishandled so much can be brought to a halt herewith if the authorities concerned decide to take action in this matter.

Modi for PM?

January 30th, 2013

The BJP, despite being India’s second largest party, has never been able to win over minorities in India because of its explicitly Hindu outlook. This is a party which pays lip service to secularism but has usually treated Muslims like second-class citizens. When in power, it was able to gloss over this uglier part of its agenda by giving leadership positions to moderates like Atal Bihari Vajpayee, even as more obviously communal members lurked in the background. Now, however, with Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi getting key support in his bid to be the party’s prime ministerial candidate, the BJP’s anti-Muslim nature cannot be hidden. This is a moment of reckoning for the party and should it nominate Modi as its candidate, it will alienate not just the Muslims of India but, should he win, it will also adversely affect relations with Pakistan.

Modi, lest it be forgotten, is associated with the massacre of Muslims in Gujarat in 2002. The US both refused to grant him a diplomatic visa and cancelled his regular visa for severe violations of religious freedom whereas the UK refused to deal with Modi for 10 years. How a person who is persona non grata in the most powerful country in the world can be expected to serve as prime minister is a question the BJP needs to ponder. Modi has also been subject to judicial inquiries and sting operations by journalists to prove his complicity in the anti-Muslim riots. Despite all this, Modi has continually been re-elected in Gujarat, which is testament only to his political skills and economic growth under his stewardship, and not a waiver for all his actions in inciting the riots.

It remains to be seen how Pakistan’s relations with India will be affected should Modi be elected prime minister. There is every possibility that unless Modi were to curb his more extreme views and rethink his hawkish stance on Pakistan, his election could be a grave setback to the peace process that made considerable progress under the sensible leadership of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

__________________
Kon Kehta hy k Main Gum-naam ho jaon ga
Main tu aik Baab hn Tareekh mein Likha jaon ga

Towards free and fair elections

January 31st, 2013

The run-up to the elections has been filled with intrigue, especially with the Tahirul Qadri drama and his various demands, including one to get the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) dissolved. Given that the PPP has been buffeted on all sides, it has remained preternaturally calm and committed to the process. It has now taken an extra needed step by assuring us that the caretaker set-up will not include any retired generals or judges. This announcement was essential as the last thing we need is an interim government that feels it has the right to interfere in elections.

The PPP did not give an exact date for dissolving parliament except to say that this will be done in mid-February. However, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain of the PML-Q has said that assemblies will be dissolved on March 14. Removing the last bit of uncertainty regarding the date of the dissolution of the assemblies would have also helped move the process along and the PPP should consult with its allies and the opposition and make a definite announcement in this regard as soon as possible. The PPP, having already given Tahirul Qadri importance he did not deserve by signing an agreement to give him a voice in the composition of the caretaker set-up, should resist doing the same for others. The PTI, for example, does not have a single seat in parliament and so has no constitutional role to play in this process.

The PPP will also have to resist pressure to replace the ECP. That body was chosen with the appropriate input from the opposition and the choice of Fakhruddin G Ebrahim as chief election commissioner was unanimous. Now that certain political parties have seen their fortunes wane, they are looking for a scapegoat and the ECP is the most convenient target. Replacing the ECP now would signal a distinct lack of trust in the constitutional process and allow the government to be repeatedly held hostage every time opposition parties aren’t happy about something. Everyone has a role to play in ensuring free and fair elections and no one should be allowed to overstep their bounds. In the past, the shortcomings of civilian rule were cited as reason for disrupting democracy and the country paid dearly for this. It must now be ensured that this does not happen again.

Discrimination against cricketers

January 31st, 2013

The Pakistan women’s cricket team’s visit to India for the World Cup has turned into a security and logistical nightmare. First, the team could not go to Mumbai, where its matches were originally scheduled, after the Shiv Sena started issuing its usual threats against visiting Pakistani teams. Now, hotels at the alternative venue of Cuttack and neighbouring city Bhubaneshwar have refused lodging to our players out of fear. Our cricketers now have to play this all-important tournament under virtual house arrest, with their accommodation being provided at the clubhouse of the stadium in which all their matches will be played. Every other team will be staying in five-star hotels. This discrimination is undoubtedly unfair and puts our team at a significant disadvantage. The team has been conciliatory about its treatment but the International Cricket Council (ICC) should take note of this.

International teams have refused to visit Pakistan over justified security fears. It seems, however, that if we simply put international teams at clubhouses in stadiums and refuse to let them go anywhere else, the security problem would apparently be solved. No country, of course, would accept such conditions to play cricket in Pakistan. Yet, our women cricketers are expected to put up with this in India. Additionally, the final of the tournament is supposed to be held in Mumbai. India needs to explain how our cricketers will be able to stay in Mumbai in the current climate if we reach the final.

The ICC also needs to consider if India should be allowed to hold multi-nation tournaments at a time when it can’t guarantee safety of all players. It is now too late to reschedule the World Cup and our pulling out of the tournament in protest will only heighten tensions. We should make clear that we are only playing under duress and that such conditions are unacceptable if any of our sportspersons tour India again. Instead of appeasing the anti-Pakistan extremists, the Indian government must ensure the safety and comfort of our players.

Nowhere to go

January 31st, 2013

The Rohingya Muslims are as genuine an example as it is possible to find of a people without a state. The community has a population of about 800,000 in Burma but has never been welcome there, and a statement last year by Burmese President Thein Sein that all Rohingyas should either be deported or placed in refugee camps sparked a mass exodus. Since the Rohingyas are ethnically Bengali, many chose to seek refuge in Bangladesh, which now has an estimated population of some quarter of a million Rohingyas. There, too, they have found conditions to be less than welcoming. Bangladesh does not appreciate the presence of the Rohingyas, despite their ethnic ties to the country and has been striving to make life as difficult as possible for them in the hope that they will leave.

Bangladesh has resisted pressure from international agencies to provide Rohingyas basic necessities like healthcare and education and has even gone so far as to stop the agencies themselves from helping the migrants. The ostensible justification for this is that if life becomes too comfortable for the Rohingyas, even more refugees will be tempted to come to Bangladesh. This logic is absurd. Refugees are created by unlivable and dangerous conditions at home, not because they will find a life of luxury in their new home. As long as the Burmese government continues to treat the Rohingyas as non-citizens, the refugee problem will persist. This is a reality that Bangladesh is ignoring. It has gone as far as to forcibly send Rohingyas back to Burma, where they face repression and perhaps, even death.

All countries should have a moral obligation to accept refugees who are in danger and to then help them resettle. Bangladesh will always be the first destination of choice for Rohingya Muslims and so to turn them away is equivalent to signing their death warrants. Basic decency says that is not a policy a country should be pursuing and other members of the international community need to make that clear to Bangladesh.

__________________
Kon Kehta hy k Main Gum-naam ho jaon ga
Main tu aik Baab hn Tareekh mein Likha jaon ga

Why so late, General?

February 1st, 2013

Generals in Pakistan excel at showing their dovish side and subjecting their peers to a measure of scrutiny only once they have retired. The latest example of a military man trying to rehabilitate his image now that he is out of uniform is Lt Gen (retd) Shahid Aziz, who is finally ready to spill the beans about the Kargil operation that took place in 1999. Much of what he says was already suspected. Pervez Musharraf, as chief of army staff, kept just about everyone in the dark about Kargil, including everyone save three other people. Aziz himself, as director general of the analysis wing, did not know about the operation till it had already commenced. Then prime minister Nawaz Sharif, the man who should have had the ultimate authority to order the Kargil operation, was also not consulted on the matter.

What’s truly tragic about the Kargil operation is how we never seem to learn from our follies. Our 1965 war with India was also sparked by a similar incursion into Indian Kashmir, the details of which resided exclusively with Ayub Khan and a few of his trusted subordinates. Unlike Kargil, that turned into a full-scale war because no one was around to tell Ayub Khan what a calamitous mistake he had made. At least in the case of Kargil, Nawaz Sharif was able to order a withdrawal of troops after being forced to do so by then US president Bill Clinton. That move is likely what triggered the military coup, showing that in Pakistan doing the sensible thing never pays off.

As for General Aziz, he needs to explain why he did not resign despite his strong reservations about how Kargil transpired. Indeed, Aziz subsequently went on to accept a promotion from Musharraf and become chief of general staff of the army. Although it is preferable that Aziz spoke out now and left a record of the Kargil fiasco for posterity, we need more generals who are willing to risk their careers and go public with such damning details when it can still make a difference.

Intra-party polls

February 1st, 2013

Political parties are the loudest proponents of democracy and elections except when it comes to their own state of affairs as evidenced by a recent report in which the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said that 114 parties (of the 200 registered parties) had not held intra-party elections in years.

This is particularly dismal given that it is an ECP requirement which was made public as recently as December 28 last year. The press release on this matter also stated that failure to submit certificates of intra-party polls and statement of accounts would result in parties not being allowed to contest the polls. Given that the government is due to complete its tenure on March 16, and elections expected in the spring, how any of the 114 parties plan to manage this feat is anyone’s guess.

Some of the parties which failed to hold intra-party elections include the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the Awami National Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-Functional. This is shameful.

The ruling party, the PPP, is meant to hold elections every two years but its last one was in 2006. Its chairpersonship was passed on from Benazir Bhutto to her husband and son according to her will which was revealed after her assassination in 2007 and never contested. The PTI has had delays in holding its party polls; it held them in 2002 and is meant to hold them every four years. The MQM, the Jamaat-e-Islami and the PML-N held their intra-party elections in June 2012, so clearly it is not an issue of logistics that plagues other parties from getting their acts together. The ECP may not be able to bar 114 parties from participating in the forthcoming elections but it can certainly take punitive action against them for violating its orders so as to prevent such lax attitudes in the future. Political parties must practise what they preach if they want to be taken seriously by the very constituents whose votes they so eagerly covet as elections roll around.

In the pipeline

February 1st, 2013

In what will be one of its last meetings, the federal cabinet has opted to go in for the long discussed Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline, a multibillion-dollar project under which gas would be piped in from Iran into Pakistan. This venture, as Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira emphasised while speaking on the cabinet meeting, would help Pakistan overcome a drastic shortfall in its energy needs, thereby giving a much needed boost to the industrial sector in the country. In the past months, the issue of the need for the pipeline has been raised many times at various forums.

But, things are not quite as simple as they seem. While in theory, the pipeline makes excellent sense, in reality it raises questions as far as the matter of Pakistan-US ties goes. The US, which of course sees Iran as an enemy, has consistently opposed the project with Secretary of State Hilary Clinton describing it as ‘inexplicable’. From Pakistan’s point of view it is entirely explicable. Following the most recent cabinet meeting, US Ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson has also, once more, expressed reservations over the venture. But of course, while in practical terms we need the US as an ally, Pakistan must also safeguard its own interests.

The pipeline from Iran could help it in many ways, and this should be a primary concern. Skilful diplomacy is needed and the months ahead will show the degree to which this is successfully exercised by Pakistan, which has only recently succeeded in repairing ties with Washington and easing some of the strains that had crept in through 2012.

We must ask also why this decision has been taken so late in the day. The matter is a delicate one; the present government has no time left to deal with it, and this raises the issue of whether it may not have been wiser and fairer at this stage to leave the question for the incoming government to settle, so that it could work out its strategy and determine how to tackle Washington while retaining our rights as a sovereign nation, determined to do the best for its people.

__________________
Kon Kehta hy k Main Gum-naam ho jaon ga
Main tu aik Baab hn Tareekh mein Likha jaon ga

Karachi killings

February 2nd, 2013

Violence in Karachi has now become so routine, with all stakeholders freely partaking in it, that pinpointing blame can be an arduous task. The latest targets appear to be clerics, with three being killed on January 31, including Mufti Abdul Majeed Deenpuri, a cleric of the Jamia Binoria. A dozen or so targeted killings a day have become the norm with law-enforcement authorities either unwilling or unable to catch those responsible. Many in government blame the Taliban for the killings and it is certainly true that the militant group has a strong presence in Karachi. Initially, it was believed that the Taliban were in Karachi not to kill indiscriminately, but to raise money through kidnappings and bank robberies, which could then be sent to fighters in the tribal areas. Now, however, it looks like they may have changed their modus operandi and are becoming even more active in the city.

The biggest problem is that even if a threat is identified, there is simply no way for warring political factions in the city to unite and eliminate the threat. All political parties are armed to the teeth and they are too busy fighting one another. Even a party like the ANP, which has suffered greatly at the hands of the Taliban in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, doesn’t seem to recognise the Taliban threat in the city. One would expect the three coalition partners at the centre — the PPP, the MQM and the ANP — to also cooperate in Karachi and it is for them to realise that it is in all of their interest for the city to have lasting peace. Tackling the problem of violence in the city is impossible when the three main factions simply cannot work with one another and are more likely to turn their guns on their opponents.

The government, meanwhile, is resorting to the same old cosmetic measures. A three-hour shutdown in cell phone services was all it could muster. Even if we are willing to accept the government’s assertion that blocking cell phone services prevents such attacks, it does so only for a limited period. As soon as cell phone coverage is restored, the killers will be back coordinating their attacks. The need of the hour is for all the major political players in Karachi to suspend their differences and focus on the common threat.

The debt trap

February 2nd, 2013

Debt is not really a bad thing. Pakistan has always had a budget deficit since its inception and loans were taken as early as the 1950s and 1960s. Loans taken for the right purpose, used properly, and then paid back on time are always critical to the development of an economy.

But a loan acquired to pay off another loan makes much less financial sense and is also very risky. It is also important to gauge an economy’s ability to pay back debt. The risk increases if the ability of the economy in question to pay back the loan is also in doubt. If that is the case, then the economy is at risk of slipping into a debt trap.

In its annual report released on January 30, the State Bank of Pakistan has warned that the fiscal deficit of 8.5 per cent last year (FY-12) is not sustainable and could push the country towards a debt trap as the public debt-to-GDP ratio has reached 62.6 per cent.

The report rejected the government’s expectations for higher economic growth and low fiscal deficit for the current fiscal year. Indeed, urgent measures are needed to arrest this trend and stop a further slide into the debt trap.

There is an urgent need to increase the tax base, to stop giving tax waivers and to limit non-development expenditure. This sounds like a broken record, but it is the only way.

We need to stimulate real growth in the economy while ensuring stability, security and investor-friendly policies. There should be strict checks and balances in place before approval of any further debts. In fact, while it may seem like a financial impossibility, Pakistan is courting disaster unless it plans a strategy based on acquiring no more debt from this point on.

The real answer lies in austerity, in cost-cutting. Not by the average Pakistani but by the government. The size of the government and the bureaucracy has to be reduced, the cost of that manpower has to be reduced.

Unsafe working conditions

February 2nd, 2013

Agas explosion in Loralai district of Balochistan on January 28 in which eight mine workers died, has once again highlighted the disregard for safety measures in mining, which puts at risk the lives of the workers. The blast occurred when 200 minters were working 600 metres underground in a coal mine, undoubtedly in poorly ventilated and hazardous working conditions. Perhaps, as is wont to happen in such cases, there will be a call for an investigation, which may or may not see the light of day but for all practical purposes, it is clear that negligence is to blame. Towards the end of November last year, two coal miners lost their lives in a similar explosion in a mine in Tora Wari in Hangu district. The workers interviewed by the investigating officer told him that they could not rescue the men who died in the mine because they did not have the required equipment. Mine owners have ignored the instructions issued to them on the need to provide basic facilities and safety equipment to their workers. Newspaper reports on coal miners’ deaths on the job are always tragic; that they would expose themselves to such dangerous conditions without proper protection shows the level of financial desperation they are mired in.

Last year’s fire in a garment factory in Karachi that killed more than 250 workers put the plight of Pakistani workers in world headlines, highlighting just how little protection they have. Their employers, be they coal miners or garment factory owners, can get away with murder but for those working in hazardous conditions, like the coal miner breathing in toxic fumes, there is no access to legal recourse, let alone a mask to protect him. What then is the solution? It is up to the state to investigate and prosecute the negligent party responsible for the loss of lives. Ultimately, the coal mine owners are responsible for providing a safe working environment for their workers in accordance with the law, which protects workers from being exposed to risks in this manner.

__________________
Kon Kehta hy k Main Gum-naam ho jaon ga
Main tu aik Baab hn Tareekh mein Likha jaon ga

Completion of parliament’s term

February 3rd, 2013

In an ideal world, there would be no reason to celebrate the simple fact of a government completing its term. But Pakistan has been far from an ideal country. The current parliament will, in fact, be our first ever to serve out its term under a democratically-elected president and this is indeed something to rejoice over. The picture with all parliamentarians, taken earlier this week, is poignant, for it seems that Pakistan may just reach this milestone of democracy.

At a time when the military still lurks in the shadows and the judiciary is often at loggerheads with the government, just remaining steadfast has been enough of an achievement. Now, if the government is able to smoothly appoint a caretaker set-up and free and fair elections are held on time, we will also manage to transition from one democratically-elected parliament to another for the very first time.

A considerable amount of credit for this goes to not just the PPP but the main opposition party, the PML-N. Democracy has previously failed to take root in the country because opposition parties have leapt at the opportunity to invite the military in if it suited their interests. It was at the invitation of the protesting opposition that Ziaul Haq overthrew Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s government and then simply decided to rule himself. The PML-N has shown greater maturity by protesting loudly but never wavering in its belief that democracy has to be given a chance and spared the machinations of the military.

Mere survival alone, however, is not the only accomplishment of this government. Under the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution, we had a president willingly giving up powers for the first time, the removal of most clauses inserted by our various dictators and a smooth decentralisation of power. The PPP has also managed to introduce one of the more successful welfare programmes in our history, with the Benazir Income Support Programme. All major political parties are now in agreement that peace with India is a necessity. Of course, all has not been perfect. The government’s management of the economy has been poor and it seems to have no answer to the power crisis. The PPP’s regular failures in governance have been rightly criticised. But all of that pales in comparison to the hope created by the successful completion of its term.

Attack on check post

February 3rd, 2013

The killing of 31 people by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) at a check post in Lakki Marwat is sure to reignite the same old debate about root causes of militancy. The TTP claimed the attack was carried out in retaliation for a drone attack in North Waziristan, which killed two of its commanders. There is absolutely no reason to take the TTP at face value. Such attacks on check posts are a commonplace militant tactic, used to try and grab territory and spread fear and chaos among the ranks of the military. If we are to accept that this particular attack can be traced back to the use of drones, how are we to explain the hundreds of other such attacks over the last few years? The fact is that the TTP is at war with the state and so it continually attacks it. The presence or absence of drones does not change that dynamic in any way.

We have to accept that drones are a reality in Pakistan for the time being. The outgoing US defence secretary, Leon Panetta, said in a recent interview that targeted killings through drone attacks are a vital part of US national security. His possible replacement, Chuck Hagel, is a less hawkish figure but there is a bipartisan consensus in the US that drone attacks are an accurate method of killing militants. That is not going to change any time soon. Our state institutions have essentially made peace with this, but have done so, away from the public view. They owe us a public accounting of this decision and need to take ownership of the war against militancy.

The brave soldiers who die nearly every day fighting the Taliban, whether at check posts or on the battlefield, are owed an explanation by the government and the military. The difference between public rhetoric and private reality needs to be reconciled. Until we do that, it will be hard for us to take ownership of this war. The US needs to be seen as an ally working in concert with our government, not a rogue nation violating our sovereignty. Until then, the TTP will be able to continuously exploit public opinion for its own benefit.

Preventing epidemics

February 3rd, 2013

The City Government of Lahore, in a decision that is sure to be controversial, is no longer going to issue birth certificates or allow admission into school to children who have not been vaccinated for polio and measles. On the face of it, this move smacks of totalitarianism with the city government taking decisions which should rightfully belong to parents. That would be true, however, only if measles and polio did not spread so quickly and affect entire communities. Occasionally, the actions of one negligent person can affect an entire society and, therefore, it is the government’s job to step in. As unfair as the decision may sound, the polio and measles epidemics are just too serious an issue for the government to sit idly by. In fact, other local governments of the country would be wise to follow Lahore’s lead.

Of course, the aim of the city government should be to deny as few children a birth certificate and admission to school as possible. This should be a punitive punishment of the last resort. There are many other positive steps that can be taken to ensure children are vaccinated. Public information programmes touting the benefits of vaccination and countering the propaganda of conspiracy-theory spewing clerics should be at the top of the agenda. The city also needs to recruit people who are an integral part of their communities to carry out vaccinations as outsiders may not garner the same trust as locals.

Moreover, the Lahore government, and indeed the federal and every other city government, has to ensure that vaccinations reach children. For this, foolproof security must be provided. It would be cruel to deny children birth certificates and school admission when security concerns mean they may not even get the opportunity to be vaccinated. Furthermore, the city government should, having taken this measure, ensure that the epidemics faced are brought under control and vaccinations ensured as soon as possible, as one would not want this measure to become another excuse for a dismal literacy rates.

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Kon Kehta hy k Main Gum-naam ho jaon ga
Main tu aik Baab hn Tareekh mein Likha jaon ga

War crimes

February 4th, 2013

As waves continue to reverberate from the recent Line of Control (LoC) incidents, things keep growing grimmer. According to Indian media reports, in a series of classified documents presented to the United Nations Military Observer Group (UNMOGIP) in India and Pakistan, a force which monitors the disputed Kashmir border, Pakistan has put forward some damaging accusations. These state that some 12 Pakistani soldiers were decapitated since 1998 in cross-border attacks. Mention has also been made of 29 civilian beheadings over the same period. A protest has been put before the UNMOGIP, the role of which is to monitor ceasefire violations. The body does not, however, conduct criminal investigations, so it will need to be seen how the matter is handled.

A senior Pakistani military official has been quoted as saying that Pakistan, in the past, played down these incidents. They have been brought up following a series of killings of soldiers on both sides of the LoC recently. Pakistan has said three of its soldiers were killed in cross-border shooting while India says two of its soldiers were killed by Pakistani troops and one beheaded. The news of the beheading, amidst much hype by the Indian media, had unleashed a wave of anger across that country, which continues, even though things at the LoC have calmed down over the last two weeks.

The whole matter of the beheadings is, of course, extremely distasteful. The idea of trained soldiers indulging in mutilations that amount to war crimes is hard to digest. Suspicions have been raised of militant involvement but the accounts now coming in suggest that men wearing their country’s uniforms may be involved. War reporters have told of heads being taken away and displayed as ‘trophies’, for instance, during the Kargil war. Such barbarism is unacceptable. Military leaders on both sides need to intervene in this matter, while it is also important to get to the bottom of the various incidents cited and ensure they do not occur again.

Distance learning

February 4th, 2013

Nelson Mandela rightly said that “education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world”. Sadly, as statistics in Pakistan show, not everyone has the chance to avail this opportunity, let alone that of their communities. The most recent United Nations figures ranked Pakistan 113 out of 120 countries in literacy rate, which it projected as being 55 per cent. Figures from the province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, as one example for adult literacy, were 55 per cent according to the Pakistan Statistics Bureau Report from 2010-11; female literacy was 42 per cent and male literacy was 67 per cent. So, any effort to raise the literacy rate should be lauded, as should any effort to increase enrolments at all levels of education, from primary to university. In light of this, the University of Peshawar’s initiative of a distance learning programme through six public-sector universities nationwide is a bold step that provides students an opportunity to gain knowledge where none was available before.

Undoubtedly, distance learning allows a greater number of students to avail learning opportunities because it is more accessible, flexible and economical. It allows students living in remote places to study without leaving their homes and, in some instances, without having to stop supporting their families financially as it allows them to continue working while studying. It gives women the chance to complete their education as they have the higher dropout rate; indeed Pakistanis have a high rate of dropouts from college which distance learning can arrest. It is not a substitute for a classroom and all the paraphernalia that a college experience brings with it, especially what one learns when engaging with other students, so such programmes should never be seen as replacements for quality education as much as a stepping stone to a brighter tomorrow. Such programmes should be encouraged so long as they provide quality education to students.

Another day of bloodshed

February 4th, 2013

Like Fridays before it, this Friday, February 1, too was marred by the most terrible violence. The day, of course, has been selected time and again by militants, because it is a time when worshippers gather at mosques to mark the day — and thus become an easy target for those out to kill. Their aim is terrifyingly simple: to claim as many lives as possible and create the maximum degree of terror. Time and again they succeed.

They certainly succeeded in Hangu, the principal town of the district by the same name in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, where a suicide bomber, aged according to the police around 22 years, drove into a busy market area and detonated some seven kilogrammes of explosives outside a mosque used by Shias.

This then was another sectarian attack. Among the 24 dead were, however, 22 Sunnis whose mosque lay adjacent to the one targeted, as well as three policemen. The scenes described after the attack resembled, according to eyewitnesses, some vision from hell, with blood spattered all around and bodies lying on the road, many of them already dead. Some 50 were injured in the blast and are currently lying in various hospitals.

Sectarianism is a huge reality in our country. Attacks motivated by it have taken place in Hangu before, as they have in other places. Their intensity seems to be growing by the week, by the month, by the year. The question that comes to mind is why nothing is done. It is, after all, not so hard to stop sectarianism, or at the very least reduce its ferocity. Everyone knows who the groups behind such killings are. The Lashkar-e-Jhangvi is possibly the first one that comes to mind when Shias are killed.

It should not be impossible to go after this group and its leaders. Many of them are figures who are known in their areas and in some cases, at the national level. They can be arrested and put to trial provided the will exists for this to be done. We wonder why this will is absent, given the after-effects of sectarianism that we see more and more often in our wounded country.

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Kon Kehta hy k Main Gum-naam ho jaon ga
Main tu aik Baab hn Tareekh mein Likha jaon ga

Day off for Kashmir

February 5th, 2013

Yet another working day has been lost, as we mark Kashmir Day — as we have every February 5 for years. But the fact is that the occasion has lost all meaning. It simply becomes another holiday, tacked on to a calendar which has far too many on it already. Schoolchildren will rejoice, so will many others much older than them, but in reality, all the day means is a loss of working hours and time. Business suffers, as do all kinds of other commercial activities, further wounding an already staggering economy. And it is far from clear how this day, used for leisure, for family picnics or other similar activity, helps the people of Kashmir at all.

Yes, some rallies and marches will be staged. During them, the usual calls will be made for justice and peace in that troubled valley. But people, as a whole, have become detached from these activities. Concern for Kashmir is certainly not very high; nor is there any evidence at all that it peaks on February 5. The reality also is that people have too many immediate concerns of their own to be specially worried about Kashmir and its people. For them, there are too many anxieties based around their own troubles in times of soaring inflation and great political uncertainty. Indeed, surveys in the past have shown only limited interest in the entrenched issue of Kashmir, with people focusing attention on their own plight.

This should make us think about why we mark Kashmir Day at all. Yes, Kashmiri victims of abuse deserve sympathy; the Kashmiris also need to be able to determine their own destiny, as is their right. But will closing shops, offices and educational institutions at home for an entire day really help them in any way? Or will it just harm us? This is something that needs to be thought about with wisdom, given that simply observing yet another holiday does not seem to serve the interests of anyone at all, whether in Kashmir or at home.

Talking to the Taliban

February 5th, 2013

The one thing that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) recognises above all else is weakness. It is constantly probing for vulnerabilities in the state and security apparatus, ready to pounce at a moment’s notice. Tactical concerns guide its every move. This is why the latest offer of peace talks, from TTP spokesperson Ehsanullah Ehsan, should be dismissed immediately. Previous calls for negotiation have been made only because the TTP felt it needed time to regroup. Under the cover of talks, the Taliban was able to buy time and then, as soon as it had recovered its former strength, it returned to its violent ways. The government should negotiate only if it has the upper hand and feels that talks are the only way to maintain that advantage. Right now, this is not the case.

The preconditions set by the Taliban for peace talks betray what their real agenda is. Ehsan demanded the release of three captured TTP leaders: Muslim Khan, Haji Umar and Maulana Mehmood. Muslim Khan was the spokesperson for the TTP in Swat who had called for the families, in particular children, of soldiers to be targeted and killed. Quite how releasing him will serve the cause of peace is unclear. Certainly, his over three years of incarceration are unlikely to have made him any less radical and violent. Haji Umar, also a spokesperson for the TTP, was the man who confirmed that Baitullah Mehsud had been killed in a drone strike and his arrest was of great value in gaining intelligence about the leaders and actions of the TTP. Maulana Mehmood, meanwhile, was a member of the Taliban’s political wing and as such one of the more brutally violent men even within the militant outfit. Releasing these three men would not only be a moral outrage, it would also encourage the TTP in its belief that greater violence is always the answer.

It is also curious that the Taliban have named PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif, JUI-F leader Fazlur Rehman and JI leader Munawar Hasan to act as guarantors that the military will not violate the terms of any negotiation. Conveniently enough, the government and the military are not given the opportunity to appoint any guarantors of their own who can hold the TTP to the same standard. That this suggestion has been made just as election campaigns are about to commence is unlikely to be a coincidence. The three parties are among the most right wing in the country and have favoured negotiations with the Taliban. Now that they have been asked to act as guarantors, another suggestion which the government should shoot down without hesitation, it is likely they will go on the campaign trail and denounce the government for not considering this idea. This will sow further political dissension at a time when unity is essential. Division, it seems, is part of the TTP’s agenda.

Some unlikely support for peace talks is emerging from within the ANP, where K-P Information Minister Iftikhar Hussain said that lasting peace can be secured through talks with the TTP. Hussain has been a stalwart in the fight against militancy, having survived an assassination attempt and lost his son to the Taliban. The ANP, more than any other political party, has been in the frontline of the fight against the Taliban so it is perhaps understandable that it is weary and looking for a way to end this war. Peace talks, however, will only end up prolonging the fight as the Taliban regroup for another day.

There should only be one condition for peace talks to be held and that is the complete cessation of violence. Nearly every day, the TTP attacks the military at check posts and there are frequent bomb blasts and suicide attacks in major cities. So long as these continue unabated, it will be impossible to trust the Taliban when they call for peace talks. We also have to ask ourselves what our ultimate goal is. Do we want to maintain the status quo, where the TTP rules large swathes of territory or disarm them forever? Peace talks will only ensure the former.

__________________
Kon Kehta hy k Main Gum-naam ho jaon ga
Main tu aik Baab hn Tareekh mein Likha jaon ga

All that gas

February 6th, 2013

Less than 10 years ago, the government bulldozed ahead with a strategy to shift the majority of vehicles plying our roads to CNG. This was done based on the rising cost of fuel imports and because we had natural gas reserves that would last us ‘hundreds of years’. These estimates were made by government and private sector feasibilities. In fact, it was based on these feasibilities that Pakistan saw billions of dollars invested in the fertiliser sector, too. The scenario is vastly different now.

In a recent decision, the Economic Coordination Committee has allocated CNG the lowest priority in the new gas load management plan, after domestic, general industry, power and cement industry. Viewed as an isolated decision, and in the current way CNG is being consumed, it is fair to allocate last priority to CNG. It is not a necessity. Initially viewed as the poor man’s fuel, it is being used by everyone but the poor.

However, if viewed as part of the bigger picture, then the government itself is to blame for the misuse of CNG. It is the lack of regulation that allowed people with expensive cars to install CNG kits. If the government had played its role in ensuring that CNG was used only by cars that were 1,000cc and smaller, and ensured that public transporters reduced their fares in line with the lower cost of CNG, we would not be in the current mess. It is unfair now to the people who paid for the conversion, to suddenly find that there is no more CNG. It is even more unfair to the investors who injected billions in installing CNG kits and pumps to suddenly be asked to shut up shop. And where are the government and private sector geologists who gave us gas reserves estimates, which have now been discredited? Why is there no accountability for them? But then, there really is no way to verify the government’s claim that now, we no longer have as much gas as we originally thought. We just have to take its word.

Educational issues

February 6th, 2013

A retired schoolteacher has moved the Lahore High Court against an NGO for distributing booklets on ‘sex education’ at schools in Gujranwala district. In its response before the court, answering allegations that it was ‘poisoning’ the minds of girls in classes six, seven and eight, the NGO has stated that the booklets were distributed under an agreement with the local government and aimed at empowering women within communities. After parents objected to some of the content, the booklets were duly withdrawn. However, despite this remedial action, the petitioner continues to demand that the NGO be punished for actions he deems immoral. The petitioner states there was also content on ‘friendships’ between girls and boys, and that sex education is unacceptable in our society.

This is a matter that has come up before. Attempts to discuss reproductive health at schools have repeatedly drawn controversy. The issue is one that needs to be tackled sensibly. There is a desperate need for girls and women to know about this matter. There is also an even more desperate need to promote birth control. This has been successfully achieved in other Muslim countries. We need to see why it apparently has not succeeded at home, with Pakistan’s birth rate among the highest in the world.

Schools are the right place to begin such campaigns, naturally in an appropriate fashion. Knowing more with regard to this subject is also important for women, in a society where such matters are rarely spoken of. This attitude needs to be changed. The change can only come step by step — but we need to work towards it and do everything possible to ensure children, both girls and boys, receive the education they require to conduct all aspects of their lives in a successful fashion. This would also be beneficial to society and for these reasons we need to overcome the taboos which exist for the sake of future generations.

Malala’s quest for peace

February 6th, 2013

At just 15-years-old, Malala Yousufzai has become among the youngest persons in the world ever to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Even though a nomination by itself does not mean she has claimed the honour — just the fact that she is a contender according to an announcement made in Oslo, places her in a rare category. Were she to win, Malala would become the second Pakistani after Dr Abdus Salam to claim what is the world’s most prestigious award. Nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize can be made by a large number of individuals, including former laureates, members of governments, parliamentarians and some academicians.

Malala’s closest rivals are likely to be some Eastern European activists. It is known that members of the French, Norwegian and Canadian parliaments have voted for her. Nominations do not need to be kept secret. The award for Malala would, of course, come as a slap in the face of those who have concocted conspiracy theories regarding the attack on her by the Taliban and those who have termed her a US ‘plant’.

At present, the girl is still recovering from the wounds inflicted on her by that Taliban gunman in October 2012. The extensive, five-hour surgery she underwent at the Birmingham Hospital, which specialises in treating soldiers wounded in war, has been a success. A 0.66mm titanium plate has been used to reconstruct her skull, shattered from vibrations when the bullet pumped in above her left eyebrow, travelled down under the skin and exited at the shoulder. A cochlear implant in her brain has been placed in the hope that it will give her some sense of hearing in her left ear, the ear drum and small bones of which were destroyed by the bullet.

We wonder if the details of the severity of Malala’s injuries, with a 10-member surgical team completing the reconstruction required, will help silence the many conspiracy theories at home. But the fact is that these are not really based on rationality and as such the absurd talk of ‘plots’ and ‘pretence’ in the affair may not totally fade away given our culture of blind bias.

__________________
Kon Kehta hy k Main Gum-naam ho jaon ga
Main tu aik Baab hn Tareekh mein Likha jaon ga

Accused of blasphemy

February 7th, 2013

The number of persons victimised under the blasphemy law continues to grow. Recently, four employees of a printing press in the Islampura area of Lahore were accused and arrested on blasphemy charges, while loading books and CDs onto a truck. The complainant, a resident of the same area, alleged the material was blasphemous and distorted portions of the Holy Quran. It can hardly be a coincidence that the men were Ahmadi. Their lawyer has stated that the men were also arrested illegally, before an FIR was filed, and on the basis of a call to the police ‘15’ emergency line.

A sessions judge is to hear arguments on their arrest and the legality of this. The question of the charges brought against them will also be raised, with the lawyer for the complainant alleging the men planned to distribute ‘blasphemous’ literature across city markets. Police are also searching for the owner of the concerned press.

We know from past experience just how often the blasphemy law is abused. Police often act way too hastily, as seems to have happened here. Just the accusation of blasphemy triggers a reaction so frenzied that even those in charge of maintaining law and order in society fall into the trap. Misuse of the law has become increasingly widespread, resulting in suffering for the hundreds in jail on blasphemy charges. Minority groups, including the Ahmadis, are especially vulnerable — but it is worth keeping in mind that most of those imprisoned are Muslim. The insane are not spared. What this latest case illustrates is the need for investigation before people are slammed behind jail bars and also for the following of proper procedure. The failure in this respect amounts to a grave miscarriage of justice. This has been repeated time and again and there will be no end to the victimisation until the blasphemy law is amended to guard against its abuse for the sake of vendetta or to settle petty disputes.

Fair play

February 7th, 2013

It is unfortunate that a group of party workers from the Pakistan Peoples Party recently took it upon themselves to ransack the offices of the Ministry of Water and Power in Islamabad because Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar did not show up to meet with them as they claimed he would. This enraged the workers who said they had been promised jobs by him and upon being told that they would not be offered jobs due to a ban on political appointments by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), they went on a rampage, destroying office property. It seems that violence and causing mayhem have now become a normal expression of protest. The workers have complained that the ministry has given 150 to 200 jobs to people outside the party in the last three years and none of the workers have been obliged. While this ‘grievance’ can be a cause of distress, nowhere should it have translated into destruction of property, least of all, the property of the organisation one wishes to be in the employment of.

Political appointments are the norm and nepotism is rampant in many government departments. It is an open secret that these appointments are often given to undeserving candidates. Many times they are illegal, as we saw when the Federal Public Service Commission declared as illegal the hiring process of hundreds of political appointees at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences earlier this month. The ECP’s decision to ban political appointments has been perceived to have been done to arrest any likelihood of pre-poll rigging, which could have resulted from the induction of thousands of people who have recently been posted in various positions by the ruling party. That is a wise move but not a solution to the problem that political appointments bring. They are more than just carrot and stick ploys or bribes; there needs to be a practical solution or a cap of sorts, otherwise, key positions will continue to be given on the basis of favouritism, nepotism and without merit.

Spiralling violence

February 7th, 2013

Bad news comes our way too often. We all know that violence has grown rapidly in the country, affecting the lives of thousands. But it is only when actual figures are placed before us that we realise just how bad things are — and how quickly they seem to be worsening.

According to a weekly monitoring report compiled by the Free and Fair Election Network (Fafen) and covering the period between January 26 to February 1 this year, at least 73 people were killed across the country in 43 incidents of violence. For a single week, this is a huge number. The report shows that 77 per cent of the victims were civilians, and of course, aside from those who died, many others were injured. For the week covered in the latest Fafen report, target killings claimed the most lives, with 25 people gunned down in Karachi alone. Terrorist activities killed 16 people and injured 18 others. Thirty-eight people were killed in Sindh and 21 in Balochistan as a result of targeted killings, terrorism and tribal conflicts.

In addition, a counter-terrorism operation in the tribal belt killed 13 militants. Sectarian, ethnic and militant forces lay behind the terrorist killings. Attacks on schools were also reported, from the tribal areas and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

We also know violence has not fallen since that week. The pace at which it continues to increase, in so many different forms, is deeply disturbing. We have already lost too many lives to bullets and bombs. Those completely uninvolved in conflict are most often the victims. It is essential that we find a way to stop this bloodshed.

This senseless violence has continued far too long. Its acceleration across the country is something we need to think very deeply about, given the deep scars it has already left on society and the fresh wounds it continues to inflict. Only when we find a way to stop this mayhem will the injuries heal, the trauma begin to fade and some sense of normalcy return to the lives of people who today, live in a state of constant fear, with possible death lurking everywhere.

__________________
Kon Kehta hy k Main Gum-naam ho jaon ga
Main tu aik Baab hn Tareekh mein Likha jaon ga