There should be no dispute in anybody’s mind that the photograph of
Quiad-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah, Allama Iqbal and all other
constitutionally elected Heads of State must adorn the walls of
Presidency and PM House, as is the tradition in other democratic
countries of the world. By this right the pictures of ZAB and BB
should be displayed in the Presidency and PM House in Islamabad, yet
they cannot overshadow the pictures of Quaid-i-Azam Mohd Ali Jinnah,
Allama Iqbal, Liaquat Ali Khan and others who preceded them. The
family pictures of the President’s children can be displayed in his
personal family quarters or on the table where he sits or even in
the study. The argument of some apologists that this is a non-issue
is like running away from ground realities. The people of Pakistan
adore Quaid-i-Azam and Allama Iqbal more than all the rest. There is
no controversy involved with the Founding Fathers. President Asif
Zardari must reject and resist the advice of his court jesters and
the army of advisors, who have landed him in trouble, by telling him
what he likes to hear, instead of giving him proper sane advice.
Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto lives in the minds and hearts of those who
cherish his memory and so does Benazir Bhutto, but only second to
her late illustrious father. President Zardari needs to implement
the manifesto of his party’s founder Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, in
letter and in spirit and seek the advice of the few remaining PPP
political workers who had worked under him, instead of his cronies.
The sanctity of the President House must be maintained for it is run
on the taxpayers’ money and their will must prevail. —Lahore
NRO is dead?
Wing Cdr Hashmat A Khwaja (R)
For Mr Gilani and Co, the NRO may be dead but long-live the masses,
they are alive. Mr Company Commander please remember it is our money
and it will cause indigestion to your colleagues. By the way; how
and by whom it has been killed?
By any new terrorist specie? The killing game reminds me of a man
who was jailed for accepting illegal gratification and came out by
illegally gratifying. How fair? Mr. Prime Minister, it is easy to
say NRO is dead, but also note that our judiciary is independent and
has a long arm. Sooner or later it will reach NRO beneficiaries. It
is time now for the non-beneficiaries to update the exist control
list (ECL). Less from now and then some “Ladies and Gentlemen may
need medical checkups” abroad, otherwise we will have to spend extra
money to get them back.—Islamabad
Appeal to CM Punjab
Sher Muhammad Gondal
Land mafia has illegally occupied village pond over an area of 18
kanals in village Lakhnewala. This pond was a great public facility
for animals to quench their thirst. Used and rainwater was drained
in it. Besides residents of the village dug out moistened earth to
plaster houses and make earthen pots for storage of grains etc. Pot
makers used its earth to make pottery like pitchers and bowls.
Over a period of time land mafia group silted up half of the pond
and raised buildings. They have blocked water drainage of the
village and occupied all routes reserved for animals to enter the
pond. The mafia even did not spare land reserved for shepherds to
relax and to wait for their animals to come out of the pond. Trees
around the pond have been removed. Silting up the pond by mafia
groups continues. There are no more ducks that used to swim in the
pond. The villagers have been deprived from a great facility.
Now they take animals to water channels or hand pumps for watering.
Drainage system of village is blocked and streets give look of
swamps. Land mafia is so strong and influential that no one from
village dared to lodge complaint to competent authority against it.
In recent past some villagers showed courage and submitted an
application to District Officer (Revenue) Mandi Bahauddin for
restoration of pond facility in the village. DO( R ) obtained report
from Tehsildar concerned on the application. The report confirmed
encroachment of land reserved for pond according to periodical
revenue records. But no action was taken by the revenue department
to remove encroachments under section 175 of Revenue Act. The
villagers sent a petition to Chief Minister Punjab for relief.
The petition was forwarded to District Coordination Officer Mandi
Bahauddin for looking into the matter and take necessary action as
per law under intimation to Chief Minister’s Secretariat Punjab vide
its letter No.DIR(CC)POST/09/CMS/1328. So for encroachments from
pond area have not been removed nor has been village pond restored
to its original shape. Through your esteemed daily residents of
village Lakhnewala request the Chief Minister Punjab to look into
the matter and direct DCO Mandi Bahauddin to arrange removal of
encroachments at the earliest. —Mandi Bahauddin
Sovereignty at stake
Farah Andaleeb
Aid promised by the Friends of Pakistan is yet to materialize and
Pakistan has suffered loss of billions of dollars on WOT. Our
foreign exchange reserves experienced unprecedented down fall and
Pakistan in order to maintain its credibility, once again had to
rely on foreign aid. It is an irony that once again Pakistan was
forced to take a position contrary to the aspirations of its people.
Aid in the form of Kerry Lugar bill has been literally thrust on
Pakistan and it has been forced to accept it with all the
conditionalities.
Despite strong reservation from all tiers of society including the
armed forces, the government has embarked on the task of explaining
the advantages of the said bill. It can be inferred that developing
and poor countries like Pakistan have no policy of their own and in
order to sustain the economic and financial crisis, they have no
other choice but to accept aid with strings. It is high time our
leadership starts thinking of relying on its own resources. Ours no
doubt is a gifted nation, people are sincere and energetic yet the
only thing missing is the right line and direction of the leadershi.
Suicide bombings, terrorist attacks in Peshawar, Lahore and
Rawalpindi/Islamabad have immensely tarnished the image and
reputation of Pakistan internationally and even the citizens of
Pakistan are thinking of migrating abroad in search of a sanctuary,
till such time the situation improves. Lawlessness has become the
order of the day and it is apprehended that the projects launched
with the assistance of foreign donors may not be completed. Decrease
in foreign investment, rise in the prices of essential items and
rise in unemployment has resulted in depreciation in the value of
Pakistan rupee.
Unless immediate measures are undertaken to stem the rot, the ground
realities depict a very grim situation. The government would have to
deal with the terrorists with an iron hand to control the law and
order situation. The European countries especially the USA need to
be told to enhance aid to Pakistan to enable it to cope with the
difficult situation. —Via email
Media’s code of conduct
Muhammad Daud Butt
Journalism is considered fourth pillar of a State and in our county
it also proved a pillar and backbone of democracy. Unfortunately,
like other institutions, this institute also had not been given
chances to progress. Our media especially electronic media has
started its journey some years ago. Media is passing through its
initial stages. That is why some mistakes or irresponsibility could
be expected from it but it doesn’t mean that the media should be
muzzled by government. The government needs to be patient and see
how this works out in practice rather than intervene in a
heavy-handed manner.
Recently, we observed that Pakistani media has made its own code of
conduct. This is the first time in country that media has taken such
a bold step. Though this step was taken after the decision made by
the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information and Broadcasting
who had recommended a code of conduct. Even then it is an
appreciable act, at least first time in the country that any
institute presented itself for accountability. —Lahore
