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Voice of People
Load-shedding &
night cricket
Dr Alfred Charles
At present country is facing acute power shortage impact of which is
quite visible. Load-shedding has become a normal phenomena across
the country. Keeping this fact in minds it is a very strange to play
day and night cricket matches? After the refusal of top class
Australian cricket team because of security reasons PCB invited a
very weak in fact baby of cricket to play here a one day series.
These day and night matches are being played under the flood lights.
One can not under stand this senseless decision. When our normal
life is so much affected how we can bear it. One of the negative
impact of this unwise decision was seen during the first match when
power went off for several minutes because PEPCO failed to provide
uninterrupted power supply to the playing venue Qadafi Stadium.
I would like to request federal minister for Water and Power Mr Raja
Pervez Ashraf and Sports ministry to look into this serious matter
that who is main organizer for this day and night ODI series in such
a condition when practically it is not possible to play under the
flood light with high energy consumption. After enquiry stern action
should be taken against those responsible in PCB.
—Karachi
Bullet proof cars
Col Riaz Jafri (Retd)
Ch Pervaiz Ellahi has returned the bullet proof car to the
government of the Punjab. No need to bill him for the rental now as
was threatened by the young Khosa – immediately after his
installation as the new CM of the Punjab. From the haste for sorting
out the bullet proof cars in his inaugural address, it looked to be
one of the most priority tasks for his stopgap government. It is
indeed kind of Chaudhry Sahib to return the government property to
it, for which there is not only not many a precedence to follow
suite but some of the powerful ones are said to have even decamped
with the furniture, furnishings and fittings of the official
residence on vacating. It However, Chaudhry Sahib has given the
impression that by returning the car he is taking a big risk and has
consequently ‘willed’ to lodge an FIR against Sharif brothers should
something happen to him or his family in the absence of the
protection afforded by the bullet proof car. The elder Chaudhry
Sahib was also reported to have retained one such bullet proof car
much after relinquishing his 40 day premiership, which one wonders
if has been returned to the state by now. I think it is a universal
practice that all such official perks and privileges go with the
high offices and are surrendered immediately on relinquishing them.
Does Chaudhry Sahib think that he is entitled to such use of a
bullet proof car on government expense for the rest of his life? If
he apprehends any danger and harm, why not buy one as had the late
BB. I am sure he can afford one easily; in fact it will be peanuts
for the Chaudhris.
Now, the Chaudhry Sahib, never to be outdone, in a press conference
clarifying mega expenditure allegations against him, waved a paper
to the media men listing the details of fifteen government cars
being used at the Raiwind palace and ten in the Khosa House. Lao kar
lao gall.
—Rawalpindi
Vivid signal
Obaidur Rahman
It is often said, at the risk of being a cliché, that true democracy
is a messy thing and I think what we have witnessed in the last few
days exemplifies the same to perfection. I admit that what happened
to both Arbab Rahim and Dr Sher Afgan was shameful and disgraceful.
It is also admitted that the manner in which Dr Afgan was roughed up
could have been fatal to his life. Furthermore, the damage caused to
the lawyers’ movement for the restoration of judiciary and upholding
of the rule of law may just be irreparable.
However, the question that springs to my mind is whether these
events were wrong or not? Nay is the answer that my mind returns to
me with an echo that despite it being shameful and disgraceful and
(potentially) fatal, it wasn’t wrong. This is actually a
not-so-beautiful face of real democracy but is democracy
nevertheless. The frustrations and anger of the people of Pakistan
who have been subjected to years of military rule and who have
suffered many a hardship and majority of these who cannot afford two
square meals a day will be vented out in some manner, be it peaceful
or otherwise.
We now live in a country where the will of the people is stronger
and more forceful than the scrupulous desires of the government. The
prime minister, federal ministers, MNAs (and likewise in provincial
assemblies) are and always will remain the representatives of the
people. If these representatives enjoy the benefits of their offices
at the cost of a large portion of the hard-earned money of the
people who drive buses and rickshaws, make tea at offices, clean
windows, sweep the streets or even those who teach at colleges and
universities, then they should also be held accountable to the same.
If they have a right to speed through the streets with their armed
bodyguards while all traffic lights behind and in front of them for
miles to come are closed in anticipation of their arrival, making
those who put them in power wait for their exit, then there are no
riders or qualifications annexed to these rights; not anymore. If a
chief minister or federal minister during his tenure acts in any
manner that is contrary to the laws, contrary to the popular will of
the people who installed him in his position of authority, then he
should be held accountable by the relevant authorities.
However, in the absence of these very authorities, it is the people
who should then be the judge, the jury and, if need be, the
executioner of their very own representatives. The incidents of the
last two days should be a clear and vivid signal to those now
gradually climbing the path to power. They are to respect the
mandate of their electors under all and any circumstances. There can
be no excuse for not doing so.
—Karachi
Salute to all
Dr Ali Akbar M Dhakan
I was praying sunset prayers in Nabvi Mosque Madina on 12th October
1999,some of my companion whispered in my ears and informed about
the military coup in Pakistan of General Musharaf against the
elected government of Nawaz Sharif. For seeking justice,I had
written a letter to Mr Nawaz Sharif the then PM of Pakistan from
Masjid Makkah shariff on 6th October 1999 requesting him to do
justice with me as his Govt. Finanace Ministry officials were not
inclined to restore my right of promotion as Deputy Governer State
Bank of Pakistan being a senior highly qualified (PhD Economics)
belonging to the rural Sindh.I had indicated Mr. Nawaz Sharif, ‘’I
shall not be back from Masjid Nabwi Madina and Makkah till the
restoration of my geniune right and justice done to me’’. Alas! my
letter might not have been recieved by Mr. Nawaz Sharif otherwise I
was hopeful to recieve justice from him but he himself looked for
justice from God and we all prayed for mercy of God for him.
At last,God sided with victims and heard our prayer to restore the
geniune and deserving political status and position . May God
protect him in the future and restore my geniune right also in the
same spirit, he is making struggle for restoration of the position
and right of justice for Iftikhar Chaudhary who has suffered a lot.
All the credit of restoration and establshment of democratic system
in the country goes to Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and all PPPP leaders,
Nawaz Sharif and PML(N) leaders and media. All the above persons
deserve abundant prays and appreciation. May God succeed them and
all advocates particularly Aitzaz Ahsan ,Muneer Malik, Mr kurd and
others who risked to start struggle against the harm done to
judiciary and Justice Iftikhar Chaudhary who fought for the
protection of judiciary.
—Karachi
Don’t compromise on sovereignty
Iqbal Unus
It was reported in newspapers some days ago that the US is willing
to donate money for the uplift of the tribal areas. I think the
government should refuse to accept the offer because such proposals
are generally followed by a set of unjustified demands. We can eat
grass but cannot compromise on our pride and sovereignty.
—Islamabad
New leadership responsibility
M P Chishti
One was very relieved to note that both Asif Ali Zardari and Mian
Muhammad Nawaz Sharif have said in separate interviews that they
will revisit the country’s strategy for dealing with militancy. Mr
Zardari, in particular, gave the irrefutable argument that “when you
have a problem in your family, you don’t kill your family members,
you sit and talk.” Further, that “after all, Britain also got the
solution of the problem of Ireland. So what’s the harm in conducting
negotiations?”
This is in stark contrast to Washington’s nonsensical approach of
trying to prevent the Pakistanis from resolving the issue through
negotiations. It has also been changing its colours like a chameleon
as far as the issues of democracy and of the deposed judiciary are
concerned, among other things. Besides employing double standards,
the US administration has been trying to interfere in our internal
matters and pressuring the politicians to work with Mr Musharraf.
When it wants to bomb areas within Pakistan, it simply goes ahead,
but when it comes to the question of supporting the restoration of
the higher judges and, indeed, the whole edifice of the judiciary,
which the Pakistanis yearn for, then they say it is an internal
matter of the country, since it would weaken their ally Musharraf.
Our new leaders should take a bold stand in consonance with our
national interests, abandon the pro-American policies that pitted
the army against the civilians, promoted militancy and suicide
bombings where none existed before Mr Musharraf’s collaboration with
the US that began even before 9/11.
It is also shockingly clear that the Americans lose not even a
minute in blackmailing their so called allies, as is evident from a
report about the six member-countries of the UNSC, including
Pakistan, which were threatened and cajoled into submission to keep
them from voting against its impending invasion of Iraq. Washington
has started treating Pakistan like its colony, as was also apparent
from its recent wish list to suspend the application of Pakistani
laws to their personnel operating here.
It also takes the Pakistanis for its fief, one example of which is
the dash to Islamabad by two senior State Department officials who
asked Nawaz Sharif to work with President Musharraf even when things
have changed so much immediately after the induction of the new PM.
Mr Sharif has very rightly refused to do that, as noted in a report
in a section of the electronic media. It is time Pakistan’s new
leadership showed America its proper place and restored the nation’s
dignity.
