Senators have demanded restoration of Haj quota for parliamentarians
which was recently abolished by the government as reported “Senators
call for restoration of Haj quota” (June 21). Previously the members
of National Assembly and Senate enjoyed quota of 10 seats each which
they awarded to those intending Haj is who were not successful in
Haj draw. The Hajj which is a religious duty enjoined by Almighty on
every Muslim who has resources to perform in his life time,
regrettably has also become a source of corruption and favor in
Pakistan as some of the parliamentarians either sold these seats,
earning financial benefit or offered to those who otherwise did not
qualify on merit; thereby depriving the legitimate pilgrims.
In order to curb this unhealthy tendency in the performance of
pilgrimage the government decided, and very rightly, to abolish the
quota so that every deserving candidate should get full opportunity
to compete in an open and transparent manner. The decision of
government abolishing quota is highly commendable therefore, in the
interest of general public I make an appeal to the Prime Minster not
to reverse the same under any circumstance. —Hyderabad
Nation needs selfless visionaries
Kadar Khan
Pakistan has all kind of resources including human talent but
missing the relentless political leadership with a conviction to
change broken system. Primarily, the leadership spends much of its
time and energy gaining and staying in power. Lacking the desire,
intellect and skill to harness untapped reservoirs of potentials
ready to be transformed into a climate of sustain growth and
development. Pakistani nation desperately needs innovative,
resourceful, visionary and selfless leaders with abilities to
initiate influences and create processes for upward social growth
enlisting the support of society to accomplish a common task of
progress and prosperity. These transactional and transformational
leaders could bring about the change of sophistication needed for
21st century globalization.
Any wasted time will allow global competing forces to tap into vast
“human resource reservoir” of Pakistan bypassing indigenous power
structure. Universities can play a vital role by offering nationwide
customized applied leadership programs through seminar, workshops
and lecture series. Apart from traditional coursework aim of such
initiative should be a creation to counter unproductive, unyielding
and suspended governance. —Via email
Don’t stab at their back
Ehtisham Amir
A common man has no illusions any more about nature of insurgency in
Swat and FATA. And credit squarely goes to Pakistani media for
enlightening our nation despite threat to their lives while in the
line of duty. Let us look at this from another angle. It was under
MMA stint in power that Swat turned into a hotbed of extremist
activity. Fazullullah did not drop form skies to create unrest in
once serene valley of Swat. He was allowed the space to operate and
preach his hate drenched brand of Islam. A stitch in time then could
have saved mine now. But that does not give any remorse to these so
called religious champions. Instead of admitting their follies, or
perhaps to shroud their follies, some of these religious bigots are
stabbing in the back of our soldiers by creating unnecessary doubts
about a righteous cause.
Even international media is reporting that army is exercising
restrain in clearing towns and using only infantry and light
weapons. Use of air power has only been resorted to where it was
inescapable. That makes the job not only difficult, time consuming
but also it is high on military causalities. Army is accepting its
causalities in clearing towns to avoid loss to civilian life, since
it is fully cognizant of the political sensitivities of it
operation. What more can be expected form a national army? Killing a
human is no mean job. Soldiers are humans, too. Combat stresses are
an accepted cause of mental disorder. And killing a “supposedly”
fellow of religion adds to psychological burden. We must endeavour
to clearly tell our soldiers that their actions are rightly guided.
That, they are performing a unanimously sanctioned national duty.
That whole nation stands at their back. —Lahore
Destroy homes, decorate graves
Sabir Ali
“It is one of the tragedies of the 1930s that those who suffered
from the aggression of the Germans, Italians and Japanese still
looked to Britain before anyone else for protection. Unfortunately,
it was beyond Britain’s capacity, given its global strategic
balancing act in the face of so many aggressors, to go the aid of
Abyssinians, Czechoslovaks, or Chinese when called upon to do so.”
Ashley Jackson correctly describes the inability of Great Britain to
protect her 500 million subjects. Remember, this was the
incapability of an ‘Empire’ that consisted of forty-eight dominions
and colonies pitched across the globe. Great Britain then, was
world’s greatest nation in terms of trade and possessing sea routes
with 250 warships, floating loaded with modern naval hardware. It
presents a moral lesson to the contemporary world; modern power
epicenters and exploited countries specifically Pakistan.
Those who claim to be front-line ally of America, doing more without
knowing consequences, cannot give any guarantee of a secure
Pakistan. America is casting covetous eye on men and materials of
Pakistan. Geopolitically and geo-economically vital patches of land
are in her daydreams. America’s all aid, recalls us that she has an
axe to grind, in whatever shape is paid. The money provided to
Pakistan, with bad intensions, is being spent in two ways: first, we
consume half of this aid to destroy our homes and then, rest is
spent on decorating graves of these homes’ victims and martyrs.
Future fears us that America has moral and hardware support of
powerful states, making unshakable Axis. We are very much conscious
of our offspring therefore; we reason that we must not annoy this
evil giant. But I have different reason asking you not to rely on
Axis Powers. British Empire covered one-fourth of the world land,
virtually present everywhere. British troops were recruited from
India, New Zealand, Scotland, and Canada; America provided munitions
under the terms of Lend-Lease Bill, Middle Eastern oil fueled
warships.
Even then Britain was encroached by America, ultimately losing her
dominions. And America gained this status because of its unity and
vision. It is interesting to know that Founding Fathers were paying
tributes to Muslim Kings, believing that they were unable to match
Muslim Navy. History always applies to future, whether it is Britain
or America. America will be unable to afford military costs, if
front-line allies, leading to blind alley, refuse to do more. They
are saying that we are fighting our own war. This shows that
Pakistan will be left to fend for herself because America, a
military power of the first orders, has too many defense
commitments. Now question is what we can do? Simply, unite and don’t
“Do more”. —Lahore
What was the purpose?
Salman A Khan
Could someone tell the purpose of President Zardari foreign
rendezvous heavily costing this poor nation? Further does
constitution allow the president to make unilateral decisions
without involving Parliament and the Cabinet? People think that
President stretches far too beyond his constitutional limits by
interfering in domestic and foreign issues. Opposition leaders have
not spoken a word against the disastrous socio-economic, political,
constitutional policies followed by PPP-AZ.
Had Nawaz Sharif not taken the initiative of coming out of his
Raiwind House on March 15, the judicial crisis could have lingered
on for many more months. I think time has come for another long
march for undoing 58-2B, 17th Amendment. I am certain it will
further strengthen the nation resolve to fight militants in Swat,
Waziristan and insurgency in Balochistan to save Pakistan. —Multan
