Archive for October 6th, 2009
Doctor Abdul Qadeer Khan… by Abdul Qadir Hassan
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Youm-e-Ustaad… by Dr Safdar Mehmood
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We are the victims, not the victors by Kamal Siddiqi
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October 6th by Kamal Siddiqi.
President Zardari has returned empty-handed from the US despite claims to the contrary. Aside from vague promises from the World Bank, there was little in terms of financial help for Pakistan. This has had an effect on the Karachi stock market as well as on perceived investment prospects of the country. One can only wonder why Pakistan should base its economic wellbeing on American largesse.
It is one thing to receive help from developed countries, quite another to base our economic programme and achievements on these handouts. This is what we have been doing for so long. Why are we upset that the Saudis have not given us the much trumpeted support that they had promised? We should stand on our own feet – we have the natural resources, the human capital and the ability to do it. This talk of doom and gloom should end.
The US, we are told, has assured Pakistan that it supports our territorial integrity. But at the same time, we are to play a more “effective role” in the War on Terror for us to be able to qualify for more funding. In this too we do not have a choice. We have to understand that this war is now ours too. We have to fight it according to our national interests. At this time, it is in America’s favour too that we fight the militants. We can use this to our advantage. But we should not play with fire and play games within games.
The recent reshuffle of army commanders and, most significantly, the head of the ISI, is possibly a move meant to appease the international community. But in the words of the Indian prime minister, President Zardari is talking the right language although it remains to be seen if he can achieve what he has set out to do.
It seems that despite the claims and counter-claims made, the US has stood by its policy of entering Pakistani airspace or violating our borders as and when required. The confusion is from our side where one former foreign minister states that limited incursions had been allowed, and the present one says that this is not the case. The killing of 18 in a village on Friday proves this.
What is more worrisome is the stand taken by both US presidential candidates on Pakistan. Till now, it seems apparent that the incoming US president, whoever that might me, will push for a more aggressive line on Pakistan. The Pakistani government, already under pressure with the rise in the number and ferocity of suicide attacks, will also have to live up to American expectations—not because the government has to toe the US line but more so because if it does not, the US incursions and aggression will increase.
President Zardari’s meeting with US vice presidential hopeful Sarah Palin was in the news for all the wrong reasons. Must we worry about what was said and in what vein? Our concern should be to convey to the incoming US candidates our fears and reservations on their expected policy with regards to incursions into Pakistan. This was not done.
We should also worry about the war taking place between our ambassador to the US and our envoy to the UN. Both have been appointed with the blessings of President Zardari. It does Pakistan no good to see them bickering in public. There is much mending that President Zardari has to do.
The Pakistani government needs to do more in terms of fighting terror and also bringing back hope to the lives of the people of Pakistan. As things stand, there is general despondency over a number of things. For one, people see little hope of betterment of their economic conditions when inflation is at an all-time high and the economy is rushing into recession.
Whatever hope there is of economic recovery and creation of jobs has been killed by the Taliban and their allies with the repeated attacks and bombings. The economic cost and effect of these terror attacks on Pakistan has been considerable. And our allies in the War on Terror have been unable to compensate us with a fraction of that cost.
Along with inflation, we are looking at diminishing economic opportunities. Crime has also played a part in scaring away investors and businessmen. Local businessmen are reeling over the rising cost of inputs and how to run a business on water from tankers, power from generators and security from private security companies. It is feared that many businesses will soon shut down.
The role of the government in trying to fix the most basic of problems remains to be doubtful. It is not the ability that is missing, but the will.
There are exceptions to the rule. While the chief minister of Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif, has been able to fight profiteers and hoarders through his personal initiatives, expecting the chief minister of Sindh to follow suit is asking for the moon. What is ironic is that the only province with a PPP government in power is possibly the worst run. In comparison, the governments of Balochistan and NWFP are more efficiently managed.
Sindh is a province where there are few policemen and police vans for regular patrolling duty, but every minister and secretary has a police posse as an escort. The chief minister of Sindh has time to attend the most inconsequential of diplomatic functions but has no time to meet victims of crime, terror, violence or police excesses.
In Sindh, the home minister threatens the media with legal suits and much more only because a media organisation ran a tanker through the streets of the high security zone of Karachi to show how useless the security arrangements are. As people are mugged in broad daylight, bus passengers are looted on busy city streets and murders are committed with impunity, the home minister takes the Shahrukh Khan line “Main Hoon Na.” One wonders which side this Shahrukh Khan is on.
One minister in the Sindh cabinet is bent upon destroying Karachi’s most prestigious performing arts academy, where mostly students from lower- and middle-income families come to learn. It is ironic that this minister, whose father is accused of razing areas next to the historic Makli graveyard, says she is kicking out the National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA) from its present site “to save art.” The underlying theme in all this is that NAPA was set up with the help of President Musharraf. Now the Academy is being taught a lesson.
Why are we being led by such short-sighted characters? Why is it that even the most mundane and ordinary things in Pakistan are transformed into the most ridiculous or idiotic? For example, why were we told on Tuesday at 11 p.m. that it would be Eid the next day? It is clear that the decision was not taken by the Ruet-e-Hilal Committee and the orders came from somewhere else.
Pakistanis are confused and worried about their future. That is why at Eid sermons, the Maulvi Sahab prays for the “salimiyat” of Pakistan but also the success of the Taliban. Many Pakistanis feel that the attacks by the Taliban are actually a conspiracy of the US. There are still many who suggest that the whole War on Terror is a great game being played by the Americans, the Jews and the Hindus who are out to punish and destroy this great nation of ours. Some swear that Osama bin Laden is a figment of the imagination of the Western media. It is time for some soul searching and intelligent debate. The question is, who is brave enough to undertake this in the present circumstances?
Source: The News
Heqaani Ka Gusa by Abdulla Tariq Sohail
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Maal Muft Dil… by Kishwer Naheed
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Aiwan-e-Seder Mien… by Asad ullah Ghalib
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Shingla Leyi Ka… by Dr Matloob Hussain
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Zerdari Hakomet… by Saleem Saafi
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Wazir-e-Aala Punjab… by Amaar Choudry
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Kahani Kia Hai? (First Part) by Hassan Nisar
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