Gone are the days when Ayub Khan said, “Friends Not Masters”, and
got Badaber vacated. Today Mr Zardari says, “Friends Are Masters”,
so accept Kerry-Lugar Bill yet cannot get Shamsi Air Base vacated.
From this Air Base in Pakistan drones are attacking into Pakistan.
How naïve? How nice it would have been of PPP Govt. if they tell
Americans look “Durand Line is the limit, Tum Udhar Ham Idhar. That
is what ZAB told Mujeebur Rehman and disintegrated Pakistan. Now is
the chance for the present PPP Govt. to undo of ZAB’s logic and save
Pakistan. PPP leaders pick up some courage and defy the Americans
although on parole of NRO. Be a man.—Islamabad
Haqqani’s role
Ahmad Subhani
Dr Ghayur Ayub’s satirical remarks made in his letter, “The Big
Question”, Pakistan Observer dated Oct 11 are sober as well as
hillarious. Mr Hussain Haqqani’s role enacted so far, gives the
impression that he is serving American interests more in Pakistan
than serving Pakistan’s interests in America. His meaningful
contribution at drafting the Kerry- Lugar Bill, as hinted by Dr Ayub,
is an instance to quote.
There is no surprise in it, though. Her leader, Benazir Bhutto, on
the eve of her return to Pakistan in December, 2007, from her self-
imposed exile abroad, issued a statement to the effect, that she
would see to it that the foreign stake holders be afforded access to
Dr AQ Khan and Pak nukes. The other day PPP stalwart, Mr Wajid
Shamsul Hassan, Pakistan’s High Commissioner in U K, has advised
Pakistanis that the said bill is going to” help democracy in
Pakistan”.One is at a loss to understand as to how and which
democracy the bill is supposed to promote ZA Bhutto’s, Benazir’s,
Nawaz Sharif’s or Zardari’s? This hapless nation is already fed up
with a hotchpotch of civilian and dictatorial models enforced in
Pakistan in the name of “ democracy”. Masses groaning under the
crushing burden of ever deepening poverty and deprivation,are
interested in only and only in a system that guarantees them
riddance from thieir present agony.
Unfortunately, none of the so called democratic or dictatorial
systems enforced here from time to time, has brought them any
succour.False promises and hollow sloganeering, is not going to turn
the tide.Rulers must focus their efforts and energies at initiating
concrete action, to salvage the devastated economy and improve the
horrible law and order situation without which no improvement is
possible.—Rawalpindi
PCB’s mismanagement
Shahzad Khalil
Pakistan cricket suffers because of petty politics, cronyism and
mismanagement, a hallmark of PCB. The choice of Wasim Bari, a twice
tried failure, and a man of many weaknesses, lacking any capacity
for initiative, by Chairman Ijaz Butt, points to nepotism and a
desire to have himself surrounded by yes-men. Can somebody in PCB
explain the appointment of so many former players who were formerly
involved in match fixing by a judicial committee, for any
assignment. Such former players need to be kept at a distance from
young budding cricketers. Our cricketers are second to none in terms
of talent, all we need to do is channel their skills.
How does the Board justify the appointment of Javed Miandad, who was
an excellent batsmen of his time, but lacks any administrative or
communication skills, so vital for the post assigned to him. The
Board needs to look into the urgent need to coach and counsel our
lead bowlers, so that they stop delivering so many No-Balls and
extras. Similarly our batsman have to be counselled to learn to bat
with the target in mind, both in terms of total score and the need
to play till the last ball, instead of getting desperate and go for
lofty shots without ascertaining the delivery and length of the ball
being delivered. The lead bowlers of the teams we play against, can
know in advance the type of shots specific batsmen will play,
especially after they have scored a 4 or 6. This gives our opponent
an added advantage.
The national team players also need to undergo training to improve
their fielding skills, which at the present is very weak. PCB needs
to give our national team players professional assistance and
counselling, which can only be done if appointments are made on
merit and not on the basis of political pressure, cronyism and
nepotism.
Our problem is not the lack of talent, but mismanagement and petty
politics. Neither coach Intikhab Alam, nor the Captain should be
made a scapegoat, because this is the collective failure of the PCB
headed by Ijaz Butt. What purpose did Shafqat Rana serve by his
accompanying the team as Assistan Manager in the presence of a
Manager. How many officials from the other Boards accompany their
players to South Africa may we ask?.—Sialkot
More nuclear tests
Wajiha Butt
Once again the world press has started to discuss the possibilities
of more nuclear tests from India.The issue was raised recently by a
top nuclear scientist of India.K.santharam who was a part of the
team responsible for conducting nuclear tests in Pokhran in May
1998, raised doubts in August that thermo nuclear tests done by
India in 1998 were partly successful and India needs to conduct more
nuclear tests to improve its nuclear capibility.Several other Indian
scientists also gave supporting statements after Santharam’s
report.India’s nuclear tests in 1998 were followed by seven
Pakistani tests in retalliation.India started the arms race in South
Asia and is in habit to start a new phase of arms race after a small
break of few years.
The suspected Indian plan to conduct more nuclear tests could start
a new phase of nuclear arms race in South Asia.The Indian scientist
revealed the failiar story in a crutial time when the world
community is growing its pressure on India to sign CTBT.It is also
an intresting question that why K.Santharam and his team took eleven
years to declair India’s nuclear capibility a fizzle. Though Indian
government denied the report of K.Santharam and Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh publically announced that India is not interested in
having more nuclear tests but the reports from indipendent sources
show that India is planning to have more nuclear tests before
signing the CTBT.
India’s dream to become a nuclear jaint is not hidden any more.Its
nuclear ambitions and proliferation acts can destroy the the peace
of the region.In the current situation, India’s nuclear tests would
add fuel to the fire and if India conducts another test it is feared
that Pakistan would also test its capibility. Both countries have
poor economies and high poverty levels specially India where
economical growth rate is better then Pakistan but nearly forty
percent of its population is living below poverty line. Pakistan is
busy in fighting with terrorism and in case of more tests situation
would reach its worst level and all efforts to maintain peace in the
region destroyed.—Via email
CM’s laudable decision
Murad Ali Mohmand
Through your newspaper I highly appreciated the action taken by the
Chief Minister of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif who has regularized the
services of contract employees 150000 which is biggest achievement
of his government. He can’t realize how much prayers he got by this
decision from the people who are serving the Punjab Govt on contract
basis from so many years. Punjab Chief Minister said that the Public
Service Commission is over burden and due course of time he
regularized all the contract employees.
In NWFP the Chief Minister also regularize some teachers who has
been challenged by many teaches in NWFP just for their personal
gains which is not fair. I also appreciate the good decision of
Punjab Chief Minister who said that in future the promotion will be
made on good performance basis it is one of the decision which can
motivate the employees to work in competition with each other which
will result in efficiency of the department. We have strange rules
the junior wait till the senior remove from the seats or retired
which takes long way and some time reappointed on contract basis. I
request the NWFP Chief Minister to please follow the policy of
Punjab Govt for the promotion of employees on performance basis
instead of seniority etc some incentives with rewards may also be
given to the government employees who should be motivate by such
ways. —Peshawar
