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Voice of People
Pak Steel privatisation
Dr Ali Akbar M Dhakan
The ex-Chairman Pakistan Steel recently appeared in a private TV
channel and spoke about the privatization of Pakistan Steel thank
God deal was timely struck down by the nine-member bench of Supreme
Court of Pakistan, as illegal and fraudulent. The apex court
unanimously found the process of privatization ‘vitiated by legal
violations by the state functionaries, including act of omissions
and commissions’.
The facts ex-Chairman uncovered being the person most relevant
during the interview, were so revealing that any Pakistani could not
but accept his opinion that for collusion FIR may be lodged against
Shaukat Aziz then Prime Minster for such a blatantly underhand deal.
He openly charged the ex-Prime Minster of his complicity of
impropriety by insisting him not to intervene in the process of
privatization despite of colossal loss nation was to suffer in the
shape of extra benefits to be enjoyed by the successful bidders. He
also resisted privatization on account of the fact that during the
last two years alone PS earned huge profit of Rs 17 billion.
According to him against the sale price of Rs 12 billion, the
bidders were getting land worth Rs 40 billion, spare and stocks
worth Rs 12 billion and Rs 9b liquidity available in the banks. Over
and above government had also accepted to pay the golden handshake
liability to the employees for Rs 18 billion. Besides for this
pittance the government had to tradeoff, the strategic importance
steel project has acquired for the national economy and defense
production of the country.
I think it was mainly the prayer of 20 thousand employees of the PS
(and their families) who were to be made redundant that help came in
shape the Supreme Court of Pakistan and privatization was cancelled.
Had this deal materialized, country would, in addition to having
suffered insurmountable loss of billion, have also faced crises such
as created by KESC and PTCL, privatizations of which were also
materialized by the previous regime hastily and surreptitiously.
—Karachi
Well done!
S Zafar
On Sunday about 6.00 a.m. in the morning all Pakistani television
networks were televising live deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar
Chaudhry’s address at the Faisalabad Bar Association except our
state-owned PTV News which preferred to re-telecast the address of
Mr. Asif Ali Zardari at the SAFMA conference instead. So much for
the popularly elected government!
—Karachi
Common attributes
Mir Tabassum Mairaj
I have noted four attributes, of course with varied levels, which
are common between Hazrat Yousuf (PBUH) and our present prime
minister. There may be more, I might have missed. Firstly both have
the same name, Yousuf. Secondly, by worldly standard Yousaf Raza
Gillani is also handsome, quite exceptionally. Thirdly, both were
jailed for none of their fault and then exonerated, with honour, by
the same rulers. Fourthly both were made ruler. No one, a messenger
of Allah (SWT ) or a common man, ever earned such traits. All these
are bestowed upon the favourites and chosen ones by Allah (SWT). In
Sura Yousuf, verse 21, Allah (SWT) says,”Allah has full power and
control over His Affairs, but most of men know not. It is all
documented the way Hazrat Yousuf managed the affairs of his domain.
If Yousuf Raza Gillani consults his heart in the light of lessons
available in our Holy book, the Qur’aan, and ignores the advices
given by so-called advisors with doubtful past, he would be able to
deliver to the satisfaction of a common man and would be remembered
by all the future generations as a different ruler.
—Islamabad
Education reforms
Parvez Iqbal
During the last 10 or so years degree and postgraduate government
colleges in Punjab have done very badly. The number of admissions to
intermediate classes, both of girls and boys, has dwindled
miserably. Senior professors and lecturers have established their
own private academies and colleges, duly affiliated with the board
and university.
Education is being imparted at these business concerns — called
educational institutions – which use and employ all dirty tactics to
get their students maximum marks in FSc pre - medical and
pre-engineering groups. This business of education is being carried
out at the cost of government colleges whose teachers divert
students to their institutes by ignoring them at government
colleges.
One tactic is to not register a large number of students at
government girls colleges. Instead, they are being enrolled in
private colleges run by these government professors. These
government professors teach in their private colleges by
intelligently managing their college schedule.
I would request the PML(N) president to suggest reforms in the
education sector to rein in the private colleges.
—Khanpur
Communication process
Raja Asim Mehmood
The way you communicate determines whether the person you are
interacting with would listen or be indifferent to it. We’ve made a
list of the most common, and detrimental ways of communicating that
usually completely block the communication process. Needless to say,
if you want to reduce arguments, and have your position heard and
considered, whether at home or at work, these approaches should be
avoided. People tend to resist communication, argue, or perceive
conflict when the other person: Provides unsolicited advice, appears
to be trying to create guilt in another, offers reassurances that
are hollow or not based on reality, communicates using “gloss it
over” positive thinking, offers sympathy that seems false or lacking
in understanding, pressures a person to change opinion wants to
“win” by proving someone wrong, comes across as infallible (in their
own mind), uses excessive dramatic language and histrionics, uses
certain kinds of “hot words”, words and phrases that have a heavy
emotional connotation.
—Rawalpindi
Avoid undue criticism
Mehvish Yazdani
Media is causing a stir vis-à-vis the PPP’s stand on the judges’
issue. In my opinion, the decision of Mr Zardari not to go for a
simple resolution to restore the judiciary is commendable as this
would have created another constitutional crisis. I believe that the
introduction of a constitutional package is an honest attempt on his
part to change the system. This would not only prevent future
adventurists from using the judiciary in their favour but also
create a balance of power between the presidency and the office of
prime minister. I think we should give the government some time to
take corrective measures instead of criticising it.
—Islamabad
