It was not surprising at all that the Indian officials, even after the bomb blasts in Delhi on Oct. 29, continued their talks in Islamabad and reached an agreement on opening the Line of Control at five points for Kashmiri earthquake victims.
The real surprise was that most commentators and analysts in Pakistan and India, as well as in international media, were not aware that there was no longer any question of India behaving as it did in the past.
On October 4, the Indian Foreign Minister met his counterpart in Islamabad. Their joint statement included these words: “The ministers reaffirmed their determination not to allow terrorism to impede the peace process. They resolved to carry forward the peace process and to maintain its momentum.” That was the end of the perennial excuse that India would use for stalling talks whenever there was such a terrorist act.
Now the Indian media and politicians—and their sympathizers abroad—should also stop blaming jihadis for terrorist acts in India. In Pakistan, the government, army, media, politicians, people, all are for the peace process. Even the jihadis, after failing to change President Musharraf’s mind after two strong assassination attempts, are resigned to it.
The real sponsors of the Delhi terrorist acts are in India itself. Consider two major suspects, who will lose a lot if the Kashmir issue is resolved. First, there have been up to 700,000 military and paramilitary personnel and a very large intelligence force in Jammu and Kashmir for almost two decades. The senior officers have been getting extra benefits, funds, promotions and powers that they would hate to lose. Then there are huge bribes extorted with threats to Kashmiris of arrests and demolition of houses. Secondly, there are politicians, contractors and bureaucrats who have been helping themselves to billions that India spends every year in Kashmir in a vain attempt to pacify the state. Never underestimate the ability of powerful vested interests to prolong a war. The Vietnam war was dragged on for years until the fall of Saigon, despite a decision by the U.S. government to have a peace agreement. Now, the withdrawal from Iraq is being prolonged even after achieving the stated objectives, while one billion dollars are being spent every day. The so-called insurgency is being financed and sponsored to help delay it. (Will real insurgents kill only Iraqis, not U.S. soldiers, to force the American withdrawal?)
Also note some relevant facts. The bombs were simply placed in crowded places, something any unemployed poor man from outside Delhi could be persuaded to do for a few thousand rupees and then return home safely. It is a typical intelligence operation. Recently, several terrorists arrested in Balochistan disclosed that the Indian intelligence had paid them Rs 10,000 for every bomb placed in the same way. By contrast, the real jihadis carry out well-planned attacks against security forces or government officials in Kashmir, often at grave risk to their own lives.
Secondly, a previously unknown and untraceable outfit, Inquilabi, claimed responsibility. It is again an intelligence tactic to make any independent inquiry impossible. Ten years ago, a similar faceless dummy body, al-Faran, claimed responsibility for abducting six Westerners. The hostages were later killed. We never heard from that group again.
What should India do? After President Gen. Charles de Gaulle decided to give freedom to Algeria, the strongest resistance came from the colonialists and the army there. They claimed that Algeria was a part of their country. There were many terrorist acts, besides assassination attempts on de Gaulle. When Algeria did become free, there was peace all over France. There is a lesson in there.
Friday, November 04, 2005
Thursday, October 20, 2005
GOVERNANCE: Why local administration failed after Kashmir Quake 8/10
The rescue and relief operations would have been prompter, better organized and more effective in the earthquake-affected areas but for the decisions forced in recent past by bureaucrats and politicians.
Azad Kashmir was exempted when the new Local Government was introduced in 2001 because it would have reduced the powers of the bureaucrats running the territory. So, as under the colonial system, the Deputy Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners remained in place as ever and were supposed to deal with the emergency. They failed. One Assistant Commissioner told Imran Khan that he was “waiting for orders.” Another told a private television channel in detail what was needed but could not mention a single thing that he himself had done. One Deputy Commissioner included the tremendous job being done by the army in “our operations.”
On the other hand, the people’s representatives just do what they have to do. On the very first night after the earthquake, the Azad Kashmir Prime Minister, Sardar Sikandar Hayat, set up his camp office in a tent next to his devastated office, with no electricity, no phone, not even water.
Islamabad is also still under the colonial system because of resistance from bureaucrats. Capital Development Authority, which was supposed only to develop the territory, took over all other functions also. So, our federal capital, despite having a population of about one million, is still ruled by bureaucrats. It elects its representatives for Parliament but not for any Local Government. So, you know whom to blame for any lapses after the earthquake. And don’t expect any heads to roll over Margalla Towers.
The problem with the colonial system, as always, was that the bureaucrats only obeyed orders. They would not take any initiative, however noble, because the bosses could consider it “unauthorized.” For them, saving their skin has the highest priority. By contrast, the elected representatives in the Local Government system just do whatever is necessary. They can mobilize all resources, public or private, in emergencies.
Unfortunately, those in the affected areas of NWFP could not do their duty. Elsewhere in the country also, the relief operations were adversely affected. The reason was that the ambitious politicians, who had recently discovered the new Local Government system and wanted a smooth path to enter it, forced the removal of all Nazims (Zila, Tehsil, Union) well before the recent elections, creating a vacuum for almost four months. So, when the earthquake struck, the old ones were not there and the new ones had yet to assume office (on October 17). Meanwhile, the bureaucrats were running local administration all over the country.
The lessons are obvious.
a) Introduce the Local Government system in Azad Kashmir and Islamabad without further.
b) Always allow the people’s representatives to continue to work until the newly elected ones are ready to replace them.
Azad Kashmir was exempted when the new Local Government was introduced in 2001 because it would have reduced the powers of the bureaucrats running the territory. So, as under the colonial system, the Deputy Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners remained in place as ever and were supposed to deal with the emergency. They failed. One Assistant Commissioner told Imran Khan that he was “waiting for orders.” Another told a private television channel in detail what was needed but could not mention a single thing that he himself had done. One Deputy Commissioner included the tremendous job being done by the army in “our operations.”
On the other hand, the people’s representatives just do what they have to do. On the very first night after the earthquake, the Azad Kashmir Prime Minister, Sardar Sikandar Hayat, set up his camp office in a tent next to his devastated office, with no electricity, no phone, not even water.
Islamabad is also still under the colonial system because of resistance from bureaucrats. Capital Development Authority, which was supposed only to develop the territory, took over all other functions also. So, our federal capital, despite having a population of about one million, is still ruled by bureaucrats. It elects its representatives for Parliament but not for any Local Government. So, you know whom to blame for any lapses after the earthquake. And don’t expect any heads to roll over Margalla Towers.
The problem with the colonial system, as always, was that the bureaucrats only obeyed orders. They would not take any initiative, however noble, because the bosses could consider it “unauthorized.” For them, saving their skin has the highest priority. By contrast, the elected representatives in the Local Government system just do whatever is necessary. They can mobilize all resources, public or private, in emergencies.
Unfortunately, those in the affected areas of NWFP could not do their duty. Elsewhere in the country also, the relief operations were adversely affected. The reason was that the ambitious politicians, who had recently discovered the new Local Government system and wanted a smooth path to enter it, forced the removal of all Nazims (Zila, Tehsil, Union) well before the recent elections, creating a vacuum for almost four months. So, when the earthquake struck, the old ones were not there and the new ones had yet to assume office (on October 17). Meanwhile, the bureaucrats were running local administration all over the country.
The lessons are obvious.
a) Introduce the Local Government system in Azad Kashmir and Islamabad without further.
b) Always allow the people’s representatives to continue to work until the newly elected ones are ready to replace them.
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
EARTHQUAKE: Eight myths of Kashmir Quake 8/10
In the days following the Kashmir Quake 8/10, our paper and electronic media created many myths about it. Here are the eight most important ones:
Myth #01: Aid was not reaching the remote villages
The reporters and commentator never visited those villages. (If anyone did, he should have reported it to the nearest center and the relief would have been on its way immediately.) They just repeated wild guesses of the ordinary people in towns, who themselves had not visited the remote areas. Nobody could know until the villagers over there themselves came down to get relief. But then they would be no longer without aid.
Myth #02: There was a lack of coordination in relief work
The government appointed a Federal Relief Commissioner (with Commissioners in all provinces) to get a complete picture of the affected area, find out about its needs and coordinate all efforts to meet them. Yet everybody continues to complain of lack of coordination. There is no remedy for deliberate ignorance.
Myth #03: There was a long delay in relief operations
The Government, under normal conditions, does not keep vast stocks of food, clothing, medical supplies, blankets, tents and other items. In an emergency, these have to come from the people and the suppliers and it takes time. The roads were blocked. The local administration and its infrastructure in the affected areas had been wiped out. Only the army could do the relief work at a large scale and the government deployed it immediately to the maximum extent. The units up in the mountains along the Line of Control found their return paths blocked by slides. Their infrastructure in towns was demolished. They themselves suffered hundreds of casualties. Yet the army units started relief work wherever they happened to be.
Myth #04: Indian helicopters would have been of great help.
There was an obvious mischief in the offer. The objective was to survey in detail with human eyes our army positions along the Line of Control, something no satellite could do. As for relief, those helicopters have not been able to provide relief even on their own side, where the devastation was only in a very small area. And why did India not send right away tents and blankets in large quantity that were needed more than helicopters?
Myth #05: After such a big earthquake, there will be no others
There may not be another big one in the same area but other areas are vulnerable. According to Indian seismologists, the Kangra area in Himachal Pradesh is active again. The epicenter of the earthquake in 1905 was only 200 kms from Lahore. After 100 years, another big one may come any time.
Myth #06: The differences of politicians have disappeared
No opposition leader is missing any opportunity to criticize the government. The leader of the opposition refused to attention the National Security Council meeting that was to discuss just the matters relating to the earthquake. Not even a calamity can stop opposition from its dirty games.
Myth #07: Reporters gave eyewitness accounts of the total picture
Well, how much of reality can a reporter see in an area of 20,000 sq. kms, even if he has a helicopter of his own? Feeling only one leg of an elephant does not tell a blind man how the animal looks like. When a reporter cannot cover more than a very small area in the whole day, the total picture will take a whole team many weeks.
Myth #08: The death toll may be close to 500,000
Many journalists, especially Talat Husain of Aaj TV, insist that the death toll is up to half a million. They do not realize the implications of their sensationalism. Suppose the government accepts their wild guess. It has announced compensation of Rs 100,000 per death. If the actual body count turns out to be no more than 100,000, it will end up paying 400,000 bogus claims. That will be Rs 40 billion down the drain.
In New York, over 8000 were estimated initially to have died on 9/11. The official figure later was 2752. In New Orleans, the mayor claimed that more than 10,000 had died. The actual body count turned out to be only 1,163.
Myth #01: Aid was not reaching the remote villages
The reporters and commentator never visited those villages. (If anyone did, he should have reported it to the nearest center and the relief would have been on its way immediately.) They just repeated wild guesses of the ordinary people in towns, who themselves had not visited the remote areas. Nobody could know until the villagers over there themselves came down to get relief. But then they would be no longer without aid.
Myth #02: There was a lack of coordination in relief work
The government appointed a Federal Relief Commissioner (with Commissioners in all provinces) to get a complete picture of the affected area, find out about its needs and coordinate all efforts to meet them. Yet everybody continues to complain of lack of coordination. There is no remedy for deliberate ignorance.
Myth #03: There was a long delay in relief operations
The Government, under normal conditions, does not keep vast stocks of food, clothing, medical supplies, blankets, tents and other items. In an emergency, these have to come from the people and the suppliers and it takes time. The roads were blocked. The local administration and its infrastructure in the affected areas had been wiped out. Only the army could do the relief work at a large scale and the government deployed it immediately to the maximum extent. The units up in the mountains along the Line of Control found their return paths blocked by slides. Their infrastructure in towns was demolished. They themselves suffered hundreds of casualties. Yet the army units started relief work wherever they happened to be.
Myth #04: Indian helicopters would have been of great help.
There was an obvious mischief in the offer. The objective was to survey in detail with human eyes our army positions along the Line of Control, something no satellite could do. As for relief, those helicopters have not been able to provide relief even on their own side, where the devastation was only in a very small area. And why did India not send right away tents and blankets in large quantity that were needed more than helicopters?
Myth #05: After such a big earthquake, there will be no others
There may not be another big one in the same area but other areas are vulnerable. According to Indian seismologists, the Kangra area in Himachal Pradesh is active again. The epicenter of the earthquake in 1905 was only 200 kms from Lahore. After 100 years, another big one may come any time.
Myth #06: The differences of politicians have disappeared
No opposition leader is missing any opportunity to criticize the government. The leader of the opposition refused to attention the National Security Council meeting that was to discuss just the matters relating to the earthquake. Not even a calamity can stop opposition from its dirty games.
Myth #07: Reporters gave eyewitness accounts of the total picture
Well, how much of reality can a reporter see in an area of 20,000 sq. kms, even if he has a helicopter of his own? Feeling only one leg of an elephant does not tell a blind man how the animal looks like. When a reporter cannot cover more than a very small area in the whole day, the total picture will take a whole team many weeks.
Myth #08: The death toll may be close to 500,000
Many journalists, especially Talat Husain of Aaj TV, insist that the death toll is up to half a million. They do not realize the implications of their sensationalism. Suppose the government accepts their wild guess. It has announced compensation of Rs 100,000 per death. If the actual body count turns out to be no more than 100,000, it will end up paying 400,000 bogus claims. That will be Rs 40 billion down the drain.
In New York, over 8000 were estimated initially to have died on 9/11. The official figure later was 2752. In New Orleans, the mayor claimed that more than 10,000 had died. The actual body count turned out to be only 1,163.
Thursday, October 06, 2005
MEDIA: Private TV and radio must get its right
Now that the electronic media have finally joined hands and formed Pakistan Broadcasters Association, their first priority should be to assert the right of private channels to advertising worth billions that is being denied them.
When Pakistan Television was started, the federal government provided funds for its infrastructure and all operational expenses. The advertisements were few in the early days and were inserted only between programs.
PTV did not remain content with government funds. It sought advertising aggressively and introduced commercial breaks within programs, despite strong protest by the viewers. It also persuaded the government to impose a license fee on all TV sets. Fee was also imposed on the owners of VCRs and satellite dishes, even though PTV did not provide any service to them.
PTV claimed to follow the BBC that gets revenue from the license fee but ignored the fact that the domestic service of BBC did not carry any advertising. PTV wanted both advertising revenue and license fee.
During 1990s, the elected governments, being unable to collect enough taxes to meet even their own basic needs, asked the PTV to fend for itself. A managing director was appointed who knew nothing about good television but all about advertising. The result was that programs were reduced to bits that were inserted between interminable commercial breaks.
This undesirable situation could be justified only by the lack of alternative channels for the advertisers. Now, there are more television channels than the advertisers can make viable with their support. And many more are on the way.
In 2004-05, PTV earned Rs 2.2 billion in advertising while the license fee got it over Rs 2.4 billion. Now that the fee is compulsory for everybody and is collected through electricity bills @ Rs 25 per month, PTV no longer has any right to advertising revenue. Only the private channels should get advertising as they have no other source of income. The freedom of media becomes meaningless if the private channels are deprived of a very large part of their due income. The government must provide a level playing field and deny the PTV the double revenue.
In fact, PTV doesn’t need so much money because it does not know what to do with it. It plans to start four regional channels (in addition to “PTV National” already devoted to regional languages) when several private channels are already meeting the need. PTV will only make life very difficult for all of them. When it has already leased out STN’s countrywide network of local TV stations because of its inability to run it, why does it want to waste money on new channels? It also plans to start a DTH service (satellite-based direct-to-home television), which should be a task for the private parties, not for the national television.
Pakistan Television must get out of the mindset that was imposed on it by lack of government funds. Now it should learn to live within its means. Its guaranteed revenue from the license fee will be enough for it as it does not need more than two channels. It will be a great achievement if it can provide quality content for just these two channels, one for entertainment (PTV1) and the other (PTV2) for news and current affairs. What it really needs is a head, who knows all about content but nothing about advertising.
Radio Pakistan should also be free of all advertising, leaving the revenue for the private radio stations. Since it will have no other source of income because its license fee was abolished long ago, the logical course will be to merge Radio Pakistan with PTV. The merger was started years ago, with “Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation” as the proposed name for the new entity. Unfortunately, vested interests sabotaged it. The plan should be revived as the merger will benefit both radio and television – and the people.
When Pakistan Television was started, the federal government provided funds for its infrastructure and all operational expenses. The advertisements were few in the early days and were inserted only between programs.
PTV did not remain content with government funds. It sought advertising aggressively and introduced commercial breaks within programs, despite strong protest by the viewers. It also persuaded the government to impose a license fee on all TV sets. Fee was also imposed on the owners of VCRs and satellite dishes, even though PTV did not provide any service to them.
PTV claimed to follow the BBC that gets revenue from the license fee but ignored the fact that the domestic service of BBC did not carry any advertising. PTV wanted both advertising revenue and license fee.
During 1990s, the elected governments, being unable to collect enough taxes to meet even their own basic needs, asked the PTV to fend for itself. A managing director was appointed who knew nothing about good television but all about advertising. The result was that programs were reduced to bits that were inserted between interminable commercial breaks.
This undesirable situation could be justified only by the lack of alternative channels for the advertisers. Now, there are more television channels than the advertisers can make viable with their support. And many more are on the way.
In 2004-05, PTV earned Rs 2.2 billion in advertising while the license fee got it over Rs 2.4 billion. Now that the fee is compulsory for everybody and is collected through electricity bills @ Rs 25 per month, PTV no longer has any right to advertising revenue. Only the private channels should get advertising as they have no other source of income. The freedom of media becomes meaningless if the private channels are deprived of a very large part of their due income. The government must provide a level playing field and deny the PTV the double revenue.
In fact, PTV doesn’t need so much money because it does not know what to do with it. It plans to start four regional channels (in addition to “PTV National” already devoted to regional languages) when several private channels are already meeting the need. PTV will only make life very difficult for all of them. When it has already leased out STN’s countrywide network of local TV stations because of its inability to run it, why does it want to waste money on new channels? It also plans to start a DTH service (satellite-based direct-to-home television), which should be a task for the private parties, not for the national television.
Pakistan Television must get out of the mindset that was imposed on it by lack of government funds. Now it should learn to live within its means. Its guaranteed revenue from the license fee will be enough for it as it does not need more than two channels. It will be a great achievement if it can provide quality content for just these two channels, one for entertainment (PTV1) and the other (PTV2) for news and current affairs. What it really needs is a head, who knows all about content but nothing about advertising.
Radio Pakistan should also be free of all advertising, leaving the revenue for the private radio stations. Since it will have no other source of income because its license fee was abolished long ago, the logical course will be to merge Radio Pakistan with PTV. The merger was started years ago, with “Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation” as the proposed name for the new entity. Unfortunately, vested interests sabotaged it. The plan should be revived as the merger will benefit both radio and television – and the people.
Monday, September 26, 2005
BACKLOG: What clearing backlog means
It was the editor’s office but looked more like a store room. During a job interview, I looked around. I saw everywhere books, magazines, newspapers, manuscripts, papers, unopened mail. There were piles on chairs, stools, windowsill, over the bookshelves. The editor’s table itself was cluttered, with only a small working place in front of him, like a clearing in a jungle.
I saw that office in the same condition over the decades, while many editors came and went. I always wondered why none of them could spare some time to clear the mess. Now I know better.
When I shifted to a new house, I had to face all that newspapers, magazines, clippings, papers, etc. that had been hidden conveniently at various places in the previous residence. Now I placed them all on the floor of my home office so that I could no longer ignore them.
I started with the magazines for which I had not found time to read, putting aside special issues and taking out clippings from others for reading in the next round. In the meantime, the piles rose higher as new magazines and papers started accumulating. My paper mail, that has always been substantial, kept coming. I was hard pressed for time, while doing my full-time job. In desperation, I cut daily newspapers from three to just one and cancelled most magazine subscriptions. It saved some time. Still, the progress was very slow, as I lumbered on.
Gradually, the backlog was reduced to a single large pile. It came down, millimeter by millimeter. At last, I cleared the last clipping last week. It was a long hard battle, taking me as much as four-and-a-half years to win. It was great to feel liberated from the shackles of the backlog.
However, that is not the end of the story. Now I have to start reading the books in my personal library. I have already given away more books than most people buy in a life time. Still, there are several thousands. The packed shelves lure me. I do realize that, being at the fag end of life, I shall never be able to read them all in the remaining time, even if I read one book every day. Nevertheless, it will be fun while it lasts.
I saw that office in the same condition over the decades, while many editors came and went. I always wondered why none of them could spare some time to clear the mess. Now I know better.
When I shifted to a new house, I had to face all that newspapers, magazines, clippings, papers, etc. that had been hidden conveniently at various places in the previous residence. Now I placed them all on the floor of my home office so that I could no longer ignore them.
I started with the magazines for which I had not found time to read, putting aside special issues and taking out clippings from others for reading in the next round. In the meantime, the piles rose higher as new magazines and papers started accumulating. My paper mail, that has always been substantial, kept coming. I was hard pressed for time, while doing my full-time job. In desperation, I cut daily newspapers from three to just one and cancelled most magazine subscriptions. It saved some time. Still, the progress was very slow, as I lumbered on.
Gradually, the backlog was reduced to a single large pile. It came down, millimeter by millimeter. At last, I cleared the last clipping last week. It was a long hard battle, taking me as much as four-and-a-half years to win. It was great to feel liberated from the shackles of the backlog.
However, that is not the end of the story. Now I have to start reading the books in my personal library. I have already given away more books than most people buy in a life time. Still, there are several thousands. The packed shelves lure me. I do realize that, being at the fag end of life, I shall never be able to read them all in the remaining time, even if I read one book every day. Nevertheless, it will be fun while it lasts.
Saturday, September 17, 2005
WEEKEND: Not a weekend of 2½ days, please
Saturday and Sunday must not be the weekly holidays if the Government does decide to add a day to the weekend or we will end up with a weekend of not two but 2½ days, the longest in the word.
Because of the Juma prayers, Friday has always been a half working day (when it was not a full holiday). The Government can never make it a full working day. This is the unavoidable starting point. That gives us three options.
a) We are already the only country in the world to break up our weekend by having a full working day (Saturday) between a half day (Friday) and a full holiday (Sunday). The ridiculous practice can be abolished by having Saturday as a full holiday, giving us a proper weekend of continuous of 1½ days. The combination of a full holiday on Saturday with a half holiday on Friday will give us not just a proper weekend but also save more energy. Sunday, in any case, has no religious sanctity for us.
b) If the bureaucrats in the federal government get too tired during the weekdays and are keen to have two holidays, a weekend of two full holidays on Fridays and Saturdays may be introduced as a trial but only in Islamabad. The savings in energy there, if any, may be reviewed after a year.
c) The rest of the country (including Provincial and Local Governments) must have the free option to have Friday as either a half day or a full holiday. We have to go a long way to develop our country economically and must use every minute for productive purposes. Two full weekly holidays for every organization will be too much loss of time.
If some large companies, both in the public and private sectors, want to have a two-day weekend, they can simply have the whole of Friday off. Thus, all weekends, both public and private, will be confined to Friday and Saturday, whether a week is of 5 or 5½ working days.
Why should we prefer Sunday over Saturday? If Saturday is the Sabbath of the Jews, Sunday is that of the Christians, neither being sacred for us. Saturday will give us the best possible arrangement that Sunday never can: half day for the Friday prayer combined with a full holiday for weekly rest and recreation.
That leaves the people who claim that they will be out of touch with the international business community if the weekly holiday is changed from Sunday to Saturday. They should realize that Saturday is also a holiday in many countries. Having it as a working day here does not help them at all. They should also learn something about time zones that make it difficult to call the other party even on working days. When they start their day at 10am here, it is not the same time everywhere in the world. In America, it is already night.
Because of the Juma prayers, Friday has always been a half working day (when it was not a full holiday). The Government can never make it a full working day. This is the unavoidable starting point. That gives us three options.
a) We are already the only country in the world to break up our weekend by having a full working day (Saturday) between a half day (Friday) and a full holiday (Sunday). The ridiculous practice can be abolished by having Saturday as a full holiday, giving us a proper weekend of continuous of 1½ days. The combination of a full holiday on Saturday with a half holiday on Friday will give us not just a proper weekend but also save more energy. Sunday, in any case, has no religious sanctity for us.
b) If the bureaucrats in the federal government get too tired during the weekdays and are keen to have two holidays, a weekend of two full holidays on Fridays and Saturdays may be introduced as a trial but only in Islamabad. The savings in energy there, if any, may be reviewed after a year.
c) The rest of the country (including Provincial and Local Governments) must have the free option to have Friday as either a half day or a full holiday. We have to go a long way to develop our country economically and must use every minute for productive purposes. Two full weekly holidays for every organization will be too much loss of time.
If some large companies, both in the public and private sectors, want to have a two-day weekend, they can simply have the whole of Friday off. Thus, all weekends, both public and private, will be confined to Friday and Saturday, whether a week is of 5 or 5½ working days.
Why should we prefer Sunday over Saturday? If Saturday is the Sabbath of the Jews, Sunday is that of the Christians, neither being sacred for us. Saturday will give us the best possible arrangement that Sunday never can: half day for the Friday prayer combined with a full holiday for weekly rest and recreation.
That leaves the people who claim that they will be out of touch with the international business community if the weekly holiday is changed from Sunday to Saturday. They should realize that Saturday is also a holiday in many countries. Having it as a working day here does not help them at all. They should also learn something about time zones that make it difficult to call the other party even on working days. When they start their day at 10am here, it is not the same time everywhere in the world. In America, it is already night.
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
EDUCATION: Reduce BA/BSc students by 2/3
We should reduce the seats for B.A./B.Sc. students by two – thirds. That is the lesson of the results of the University of the Panjab for the examination this year.
Why so many students failed? They were most probably weak in English, as are students of all other classes. They did not give full attention to their studies. They might have chosen the wrong subjects. They were not keen to go to college in the first place but were pressurized into it by parents and others.
Whatever the reason, the failed students wasted two years of their life. They wasted the money that their parents spent on them. They wasted the resources that the country spent on their education. They are also unable to join any professional college or get a good job.
What should be done? Make it more difficult to join degree classes. However, entry tests will be difficult to administer because of the large number of students and colleges involved (unlike professional colleges).
An easier and more effective method will be to raise the bar. The merit for the students seeking admission to B.A./B.Sc. classes should be at least 50% marks in the Higher Secondary examination. The limit may be raised still higher (say to 55 or 60%) if it does not reduce the number of applications to the desired level. The target should be to enroll only the students that are certain to do well.
The higher entry requirement will not be against the poor students. In fact, it will favor them. If they work harder, they will be in a better position than rich students. Only higher fees and expenses go against them.
What should be done after a huge reduction in the number of failed degree students?
a) Provide more facilities to the students who do get admission.
b) Introduce postgraduate classes in more degree colleges.
c) Convert some government degree colleges in a district into technical institutions if enough degree students are no longer available for them.
Why so many students failed? They were most probably weak in English, as are students of all other classes. They did not give full attention to their studies. They might have chosen the wrong subjects. They were not keen to go to college in the first place but were pressurized into it by parents and others.
Whatever the reason, the failed students wasted two years of their life. They wasted the money that their parents spent on them. They wasted the resources that the country spent on their education. They are also unable to join any professional college or get a good job.
What should be done? Make it more difficult to join degree classes. However, entry tests will be difficult to administer because of the large number of students and colleges involved (unlike professional colleges).
An easier and more effective method will be to raise the bar. The merit for the students seeking admission to B.A./B.Sc. classes should be at least 50% marks in the Higher Secondary examination. The limit may be raised still higher (say to 55 or 60%) if it does not reduce the number of applications to the desired level. The target should be to enroll only the students that are certain to do well.
The higher entry requirement will not be against the poor students. In fact, it will favor them. If they work harder, they will be in a better position than rich students. Only higher fees and expenses go against them.
What should be done after a huge reduction in the number of failed degree students?
a) Provide more facilities to the students who do get admission.
b) Introduce postgraduate classes in more degree colleges.
c) Convert some government degree colleges in a district into technical institutions if enough degree students are no longer available for them.
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
CRIME: A woman with awesome guile
It is amazing how Sonia Naz, co-accused with her clerk husband in a fraud case in Faisalabad, could deceive first the media and then the government and the judiciary at the highest levels. (She must have somehow learnt a great media secret: Wildest allegation makes biggest headlines, causes widest sensation and gets maximum sympathy.) Everybody assumed without a second thought that the accuser was right because she was a woman and the accused were guilty because they were policemen. (What happened to the oft-repeated maxim that everybody was innocent until proven guilty?)
Any sensible person, who watched Sonia’s interview on television, could see through her acting. A genuine rape victim does not speak so loudly, gives such graphic description and weeps so profusely. “The lady doth protest too much,” wrote Shakespeare in “Hamlet,” (Act III, Scene 2, line 242).
After appearing before the police inquiry team, Sonia refused to appear before the judicial tribunal, set up by the Punjab Government on the instructions of the Supreme Court. She probably realized that her tale was unraveling. (Calm questioning by policemen can establish facts more easily than shrill and convoluted cross examination by lawyers.) Apparently, her lawyers told her that she would go to jail if she made a statement under oath before the District Judge that later turned out to be not true. (Police inquiries are not under oath.) So, now she says that she will present evidence about her alleged rape only before the Supreme Court. (Can anybody assume the right to appear only before the highest court?)
And what evidence could she possibly have? Was she medically examined and tested for DNA that matched with those of the policemen? Did she have her own witnesses present? Did she arrange video recording of the whole thing? Rape is difficult to prove even under the best of circumstances.
With Sonia’s boycott of the judicial inquiry and no credible supporting evidence likely from any other source, ultimately the case will be quietly closed. Two questions will remain: a) Who will punish her for the baseless allegations against officers of law? b) Who will restore the honor of the policemen, who have already been devastated?
The Provincial Police Officer (IGP) may do that. He may register a case against Sonia under Section 211 of the Pakistan Penal Code and other legal provisions for making false accusations and, through the courts, get her punished and get his officers exonerated.
Don’t be surprised if some NGO adopts Sonia, parades her abroad as “an innocent victim of police brutality,” and starts collecting hundreds of thousands of dollars as donations (at the cost of the country’s prestige). Mukhtaran Mai, of Dera Ghazi Khan, has already set an example. She is reported to be a multimillionaire (along with her sponsoring NGO), while the High Court dismissed her case of gang rape for lack of evidence.
The bottom line? Sonia may have now got virtual immunity for herself (as well as her husband). No police officer will even come near her, not to speak of arresting her. Who would want to get into serious trouble at the hands of a blackmailer par excellence? As the Holy Qur’an says, while describing the false allegation of attempted rape against Hazrat Yusuf,“O womankind! Verily, awesome is your guile!” (Surat 12, Yusuf, ayat 28).
Any sensible person, who watched Sonia’s interview on television, could see through her acting. A genuine rape victim does not speak so loudly, gives such graphic description and weeps so profusely. “The lady doth protest too much,” wrote Shakespeare in “Hamlet,” (Act III, Scene 2, line 242).
After appearing before the police inquiry team, Sonia refused to appear before the judicial tribunal, set up by the Punjab Government on the instructions of the Supreme Court. She probably realized that her tale was unraveling. (Calm questioning by policemen can establish facts more easily than shrill and convoluted cross examination by lawyers.) Apparently, her lawyers told her that she would go to jail if she made a statement under oath before the District Judge that later turned out to be not true. (Police inquiries are not under oath.) So, now she says that she will present evidence about her alleged rape only before the Supreme Court. (Can anybody assume the right to appear only before the highest court?)
And what evidence could she possibly have? Was she medically examined and tested for DNA that matched with those of the policemen? Did she have her own witnesses present? Did she arrange video recording of the whole thing? Rape is difficult to prove even under the best of circumstances.
With Sonia’s boycott of the judicial inquiry and no credible supporting evidence likely from any other source, ultimately the case will be quietly closed. Two questions will remain: a) Who will punish her for the baseless allegations against officers of law? b) Who will restore the honor of the policemen, who have already been devastated?
The Provincial Police Officer (IGP) may do that. He may register a case against Sonia under Section 211 of the Pakistan Penal Code and other legal provisions for making false accusations and, through the courts, get her punished and get his officers exonerated.
Don’t be surprised if some NGO adopts Sonia, parades her abroad as “an innocent victim of police brutality,” and starts collecting hundreds of thousands of dollars as donations (at the cost of the country’s prestige). Mukhtaran Mai, of Dera Ghazi Khan, has already set an example. She is reported to be a multimillionaire (along with her sponsoring NGO), while the High Court dismissed her case of gang rape for lack of evidence.
The bottom line? Sonia may have now got virtual immunity for herself (as well as her husband). No police officer will even come near her, not to speak of arresting her. Who would want to get into serious trouble at the hands of a blackmailer par excellence? As the Holy Qur’an says, while describing the false allegation of attempted rape against Hazrat Yusuf,“O womankind! Verily, awesome is your guile!” (Surat 12, Yusuf, ayat 28).
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
EDUCATION: 40% Higher Secondary students thrown into dustbin
About 40% of the Higher Secondary students of the Punjab have been thrown into the dustbin for a very poor reason. According to the results announced last week by the Boards of Secondary Education of the Punjab, the students did not pass the examination. Why? Mostly because they failed in English.
Heavens would not have fallen if they had been allowed to pass. They would not have sought admission in degree courses or competed for jobs because they would have been at the bottom of the heap. They were certainly not keen for education abroad or any type of international dealings because of their poor English. They would have simply taken up whatever came their way and started their life.
They could certainly retain their self-respect if they could get a pass certificate. When asked about their education, they could say that they had passed the Higher Secondary education. They would not have felt ashamed when their children asked them about it. They could live with third division but not failure.
No doubt, English is the language of science and technology, foreign education and of international relations. But everybody in the country does not need it, certainly not those who just want to live their life like millions of other ordinary citizens. Teach English by all means but why make it compulsory for all to pass in it? Why not just add up the marks obtained by the students in all papers and declare them successful if the total reached the minimum required percentage? It will not cause any harm to anybody but avoid the stigma that they would have to carry for the rest of their life. Is it too much to give?
Passing in English should be compulsory for those who need it in later life but not for every single student. He needs only the education that he gets from studying other subjects.
Heavens would not have fallen if they had been allowed to pass. They would not have sought admission in degree courses or competed for jobs because they would have been at the bottom of the heap. They were certainly not keen for education abroad or any type of international dealings because of their poor English. They would have simply taken up whatever came their way and started their life.
They could certainly retain their self-respect if they could get a pass certificate. When asked about their education, they could say that they had passed the Higher Secondary education. They would not have felt ashamed when their children asked them about it. They could live with third division but not failure.
No doubt, English is the language of science and technology, foreign education and of international relations. But everybody in the country does not need it, certainly not those who just want to live their life like millions of other ordinary citizens. Teach English by all means but why make it compulsory for all to pass in it? Why not just add up the marks obtained by the students in all papers and declare them successful if the total reached the minimum required percentage? It will not cause any harm to anybody but avoid the stigma that they would have to carry for the rest of their life. Is it too much to give?
Passing in English should be compulsory for those who need it in later life but not for every single student. He needs only the education that he gets from studying other subjects.
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
TERRORISM: Why Pakistan is not called its victim?
Why is it that the foreign media never describes Pakistan as a victim of terrorism, even though it had more attacks than the rest of the world put together and even its President and Prime Minister narrowly escaped concerted assassination attempts? This is not without reason.
Pakistan has been suffering from terrorism since 1980s, when Russia, in collusion with India and its puppet regime in Kabul, sponsored terrorist attacks that were the largest in the world at that time, according to America’s CIA. It was in retaliation for Pakistan’s support to the mujahideen, who were fighting against the Russian occupation of Afghanistan.
Simultaneously, Pakistan had sectarian terrorism that arose as a result of the proxy war being fought on its soil by some countries of West Asia. In late 1980s, India sponsored terrorist attacks all over the country in a reaction to the freedom struggle that had started in the Occupied Kashmir.
Then came a spate of terrorist attacks after the American occupation of Afghanistan in 2001. These attacks continue and their number is more than the total terrorist attacks by al-Qaeda and its remnants all over the world.
Whenever the foreign media mentions the victims of terrorism, it starts with the U.S., Spain and England and then stops after adding Turkey, Egypt and a few others. However, it never includes Pakistan among them. Even the Western leaders, who otherwise praise it profusely for its help in “the war against terror,” don’t mention the obvious fact.
Why is it so? The reason is logical. If they describe Pakistan as a victim of terrorism, they cannot call it a source of terrorism at the same time. They must have it as a scapegoat and that is possible only by ignoring the fact that Pakistan itself is the victim of terrorist attacks.
Pakistan has been suffering from terrorism since 1980s, when Russia, in collusion with India and its puppet regime in Kabul, sponsored terrorist attacks that were the largest in the world at that time, according to America’s CIA. It was in retaliation for Pakistan’s support to the mujahideen, who were fighting against the Russian occupation of Afghanistan.
Simultaneously, Pakistan had sectarian terrorism that arose as a result of the proxy war being fought on its soil by some countries of West Asia. In late 1980s, India sponsored terrorist attacks all over the country in a reaction to the freedom struggle that had started in the Occupied Kashmir.
Then came a spate of terrorist attacks after the American occupation of Afghanistan in 2001. These attacks continue and their number is more than the total terrorist attacks by al-Qaeda and its remnants all over the world.
Whenever the foreign media mentions the victims of terrorism, it starts with the U.S., Spain and England and then stops after adding Turkey, Egypt and a few others. However, it never includes Pakistan among them. Even the Western leaders, who otherwise praise it profusely for its help in “the war against terror,” don’t mention the obvious fact.
Why is it so? The reason is logical. If they describe Pakistan as a victim of terrorism, they cannot call it a source of terrorism at the same time. They must have it as a scapegoat and that is possible only by ignoring the fact that Pakistan itself is the victim of terrorist attacks.
Saturday, July 30, 2005
TERRORISM: British police should learn from Pakistani police
The British police should learn something from the Pakistani police to avoid tragedies like the one at the Stockwell station of London in late July, in which an innocent Brazilian, Jean Charles de Menezes, was shot dead.
In case of security emergencies, the Pakistani police sets up check posts at all key points in the city, besides patrolling in sensitive areas. If a suspect is noticed, all check posts and patrolling policemen in the surrounding area are alerted and given his description and location. While he is followed discretely from behind, the focus is on facing him from the front. The police can then easily stop him and, if he tries to escape, shoot him.
If there were armed policemen outside the Stockwell station, they could, on getting the alert, stop Menezes and order him to lie on the ground, with face down. If he refused, they could shoot him in the legs to immobilize him. Even if he was a bomber and blew himself up, he could not have harmed the policemen, who would have been at a safe distance. The people around him would have also saved themselves by taking cover immediately.
Even inside the Stockwell station, the policemen could have stopped Menezes. Declaring it as a security precaution, they could have blocked the entry to the station and asked all passengers to form a line. As the passengers entered one by one, the man could have been arrested easily. Of course, there could have been casualties if he was really a suicide bomber. But then he could have caused casualties also by blowing himself up at any moment after he saw the policemen chasing him, even seconds before he was shot.
Yet another simple technique would have prevented at least three bombers from escaping on July 21. As soon as the incidents occurred in the trains, the police could have blocked immediately the exits of Underground stations and ask all passengers to form a line and go out one by one. The police could then ask all suspects to move aside for questioning. That would have made it easy to identify and arrest the bombers. Searching for them all over the place after they had fled through the wide open exits of the Tube stations was, as we say in Urdu, like beating its path after the snake was gone.
In case of security emergencies, the Pakistani police sets up check posts at all key points in the city, besides patrolling in sensitive areas. If a suspect is noticed, all check posts and patrolling policemen in the surrounding area are alerted and given his description and location. While he is followed discretely from behind, the focus is on facing him from the front. The police can then easily stop him and, if he tries to escape, shoot him.
If there were armed policemen outside the Stockwell station, they could, on getting the alert, stop Menezes and order him to lie on the ground, with face down. If he refused, they could shoot him in the legs to immobilize him. Even if he was a bomber and blew himself up, he could not have harmed the policemen, who would have been at a safe distance. The people around him would have also saved themselves by taking cover immediately.
Even inside the Stockwell station, the policemen could have stopped Menezes. Declaring it as a security precaution, they could have blocked the entry to the station and asked all passengers to form a line. As the passengers entered one by one, the man could have been arrested easily. Of course, there could have been casualties if he was really a suicide bomber. But then he could have caused casualties also by blowing himself up at any moment after he saw the policemen chasing him, even seconds before he was shot.
Yet another simple technique would have prevented at least three bombers from escaping on July 21. As soon as the incidents occurred in the trains, the police could have blocked immediately the exits of Underground stations and ask all passengers to form a line and go out one by one. The police could then ask all suspects to move aside for questioning. That would have made it easy to identify and arrest the bombers. Searching for them all over the place after they had fled through the wide open exits of the Tube stations was, as we say in Urdu, like beating its path after the snake was gone.
Thursday, June 30, 2005
CURRENCY: Demonetization of five-rupee note is illegal
The demonetization of five-rupee currency notes by the State Bank is illegal and must be withdrawn immediately.
Look closely at any note of five to 1000 rupees. It bears a solemn commitment of the State Bank Governor that he will pay to the bearer on demand the face value of the note in rupees. The commitment does not say that it is valid up to a certain date. It does not say that the Governor may back out under certain conditions and refuse to pay the face value. And it also does not allow the Governor to change his mind whenever he wishes. It is a commitment for all times and without any conditions whatsoever.
The State Bank may withdraw from circulation any notes but it cannot fix any date for it. All that it can do is to ask the banks not to reissue any note that it wants to withdraw. The banks must continue to accept the withdrawn notes for payment or exchange whenever presented to them.
From practical point of view, the State Bank has not ensured that every single person in the country, as well as outside, is aware of the withdrawal of five-rupee note. Issuing a news release of a few lines is not enough at all. (It has not given even a single ad.) A single-column, three-line news in newspapers or a sentence in radio and television news bulletins by no means reaches the entire 150 million people of the country. The message does not reach everybody even in the cities, not to speak of the remote villages. The State Bank notification is not a law that everybody is supposed to know.
The consequence of the demonetization will be that the State Bank will be usurping, by its own calculation, literally billions of rupees of the citizens. It is depriving them of their money arbitrarily, something like a daylight robbery. Not even the Government can do it. No law gives this right to the State Bank. Why should a citizen lose his money simply because the State Bank has issued a notification?
After July 1, any person still holding a five-rupee note will have a perfect right under the law to sue the State Bank. Some lawyers may also file a class action suit, compelling the State Bank not only to pay the face value of the outstanding five-rupee currency notes but also damages for causing unnecessary harassment and worry.
Before it comes to that, the State Bank must ask all branches of all banks to continue to exchange the withdrawn five-rupee notes with other notes and then give these notes to it in the normal way.
Look closely at any note of five to 1000 rupees. It bears a solemn commitment of the State Bank Governor that he will pay to the bearer on demand the face value of the note in rupees. The commitment does not say that it is valid up to a certain date. It does not say that the Governor may back out under certain conditions and refuse to pay the face value. And it also does not allow the Governor to change his mind whenever he wishes. It is a commitment for all times and without any conditions whatsoever.
The State Bank may withdraw from circulation any notes but it cannot fix any date for it. All that it can do is to ask the banks not to reissue any note that it wants to withdraw. The banks must continue to accept the withdrawn notes for payment or exchange whenever presented to them.
From practical point of view, the State Bank has not ensured that every single person in the country, as well as outside, is aware of the withdrawal of five-rupee note. Issuing a news release of a few lines is not enough at all. (It has not given even a single ad.) A single-column, three-line news in newspapers or a sentence in radio and television news bulletins by no means reaches the entire 150 million people of the country. The message does not reach everybody even in the cities, not to speak of the remote villages. The State Bank notification is not a law that everybody is supposed to know.
The consequence of the demonetization will be that the State Bank will be usurping, by its own calculation, literally billions of rupees of the citizens. It is depriving them of their money arbitrarily, something like a daylight robbery. Not even the Government can do it. No law gives this right to the State Bank. Why should a citizen lose his money simply because the State Bank has issued a notification?
After July 1, any person still holding a five-rupee note will have a perfect right under the law to sue the State Bank. Some lawyers may also file a class action suit, compelling the State Bank not only to pay the face value of the outstanding five-rupee currency notes but also damages for causing unnecessary harassment and worry.
Before it comes to that, the State Bank must ask all branches of all banks to continue to exchange the withdrawn five-rupee notes with other notes and then give these notes to it in the normal way.
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
LOCAL GOVT: Why administrators to replace Zila Nazims?
Tell the Chief Ministers that they will be sent home before the next general elections and the Chief Secretaries of their provinces will replace them. Then see how vehemently they will protest against the idea. It will be against the Constitution, they will say. It will be undemocratic. They are elected representatives of the people. They are very responsible persons. There is no possibility of their misuse of powers and position in the elections. They are capable of holding free and fair election.
Fine. Then why are they pressing for the removal of all Zila Nazims before the coming elections of Local Governments? It will be against the law, as the Local Government Ordinance does not allow the appointment of administrators in place of Zila Nazims. The Nazims are also elected representatives of the people. (In fact, the Zila Nazims are more representative because only a small number of MPAs elects the Chief Ministers.) The Zila Nazims cannot misuse their powers and position because there are so many checks against them.
If the Chief Ministers can be trusted not to use their powers and position to manipulate general election despite the resources of the entire province at their disposal, why is it so difficult to trust the Zila Nazims?
Why are the Chief Ministers so keen to remove the Zila Nazims before the elections? The obvious fact is that they themselves want to rig the elections to bring in their own favorites. They know the Zila Nazims have done tremendous work during their term and are popular among the people. The Chief Ministers know that their own nominees stand little chance of winning against the sitting Nazims. So, they want to deny the people their right to elect their own representatives. So much for their love for democracy. Let us not forget that the very first provincial elections under a sitting chief minister (Mumtaz Daultana) in the Punjab in 1950s were so rigged that the Punjabi term, jhurloo phairna, entered Urdu. No wonder, since then no sitting chief minister was allowed to hold elections.
The President introduced the Local Government system despite stiff opposition from the politicians and the bureaucrats. The demand for the appointment of administrators is an attempt to sabotage the system. He must reject it, along with other unreasonable demands to change the Local Government Ordinance.
Fine. Then why are they pressing for the removal of all Zila Nazims before the coming elections of Local Governments? It will be against the law, as the Local Government Ordinance does not allow the appointment of administrators in place of Zila Nazims. The Nazims are also elected representatives of the people. (In fact, the Zila Nazims are more representative because only a small number of MPAs elects the Chief Ministers.) The Zila Nazims cannot misuse their powers and position because there are so many checks against them.
If the Chief Ministers can be trusted not to use their powers and position to manipulate general election despite the resources of the entire province at their disposal, why is it so difficult to trust the Zila Nazims?
Why are the Chief Ministers so keen to remove the Zila Nazims before the elections? The obvious fact is that they themselves want to rig the elections to bring in their own favorites. They know the Zila Nazims have done tremendous work during their term and are popular among the people. The Chief Ministers know that their own nominees stand little chance of winning against the sitting Nazims. So, they want to deny the people their right to elect their own representatives. So much for their love for democracy. Let us not forget that the very first provincial elections under a sitting chief minister (Mumtaz Daultana) in the Punjab in 1950s were so rigged that the Punjabi term, jhurloo phairna, entered Urdu. No wonder, since then no sitting chief minister was allowed to hold elections.
The President introduced the Local Government system despite stiff opposition from the politicians and the bureaucrats. The demand for the appointment of administrators is an attempt to sabotage the system. He must reject it, along with other unreasonable demands to change the Local Government Ordinance.
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
REPUBLIC DAY: Let us start celebrating it again
Let us start celebrating the Republic Day once again.
With the promulgation of the first Constitution in 1956, we became the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. It was decided that March 23 would be henceforth celebrated as the Republic Day.
Two years later, martial law was imposed. The military regime obviously could not celebrate a Republic Day because the constitution was not there. Therefore, the clever people around the rulers decided that March 23 would be henceforth celebrated as “Pakistan Day.” It did not make sense because August 14 was the day when Pakistan came into being while March 23 was the day when we finally terminated the formal links with the UK and turned the country into a republic.
Since the martial law continued for a long time under various military rulers, the people forgot the significance of celebrating the Republic Day.
Now that we have democracy once again, we should resume the celebration of March 23 as the Republic Day. Let the change take effect with an official notification from the Federal Government.
With the promulgation of the first Constitution in 1956, we became the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. It was decided that March 23 would be henceforth celebrated as the Republic Day.
Two years later, martial law was imposed. The military regime obviously could not celebrate a Republic Day because the constitution was not there. Therefore, the clever people around the rulers decided that March 23 would be henceforth celebrated as “Pakistan Day.” It did not make sense because August 14 was the day when Pakistan came into being while March 23 was the day when we finally terminated the formal links with the UK and turned the country into a republic.
Since the martial law continued for a long time under various military rulers, the people forgot the significance of celebrating the Republic Day.
Now that we have democracy once again, we should resume the celebration of March 23 as the Republic Day. Let the change take effect with an official notification from the Federal Government.
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