Note: This Page is updated continuously, as readers respond.

Aping India

After reading the article "Obsessed with west, India will never grow" (SAT December 2-15, 2002) I am confused. I am not very clear what the author is trying to convey as number of things he has said are factually untrue. That a butcher in NY or a taxi driver in LA becomes special because he works for a white skin? He will be surprised how many of these people work for themselves as independent owners of their own butcher shops, taxis, Seven 11s and list continues. Not only the professional and educated people of Indian origin enjoy a high rate of earnings and do well; even non professionals have done well. For example Hotels owned and run by Patels, farms owned and run by some Punjabis. I am a professional, not employed by white skin or any other color for that matter. I own and run my own consultancy firm with four other equal partners and employ about 20 people including the author's coveted white skin. And I am not a sole example of this. My wife employs a white blond as house keeper! But mind you she is not the equivalent of 'Naukrani' in India.

Millionaires in west travel in their private planes and if they go on regular flights why should they be treated differently? Bill Gates is in news for donating millions of Dollars (some are doubting his intentions, though) for good cause; for education, reasearch and AIDS. How many rich Indian people have matched that generosity and goodwill that they be recognised wherever they go? And what has present day India to offer to the west in return, Laloo Prasad Yadav, Ayodhya, Godhra, lynching of 5 Dalits (humans) for a dead cow ( lynching in west stopped long ago, so it is not being aped), mistreatment of girl child and women in general and the list goes on. I pray west does not ape present day India but its past wisdom. What does he want BJP to do? Take us all to the glorious period 5 centuries ago?

D. Bhardwaj
davender@hotmail.com

 

Why not just Pakistan?

Refer SAT December 2-8, 2002. From its original author (Choudary Rehmat Ali) to its final founder (Quaid-e-Azam), it was always Pakistan. In between whenever there was a need to appease the Mullah, (the one who did not approve of this country to start with), we suitably changed the name to add an Islamic flavour. With some more charity coming from Saudi Arabia and Libya, I am concerned that the name may be changed yet again – this time to the Wahabi Islamic Republic of Pakistan. We need to take a dispassionate and rational view of this matter. Did we become any better Muslims or human beings by baptising a piece of land? Perhaps we should not have wasted time and energy in wearing this artificial facade, and should have instead focused on the welfare of the people who live in this country (regardless of their religion, as suggested by the father of the nation). No wonder the East Pakistanis said good bye to us despite the fact that they were good Muslims.

Religions were meant for people and not for pieces of land. Countries are simply political territories where people decide to live together. Territories are not thinking beings. They can not be Christian or Muslim, as against the people who can belong to one or the other religion. While it may be difficult for the current spiritually heavy parliament to have a rational debate on changing the name back to what was decided by its founders, one hopes that more enlightened people would come forward to give their views. By calling it Pakistan, we make it more open, more accommodative and more encompassing. As people we will continue to be no less or no more Muslims than what we are. A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet.

Naeem Sadiq
Ontario, Canada

 

Big Millions

Thank you for informing us about a few small thief catchers and a few hundred million rupees looted by them (SAT Nov 25-Dec 1, 2002). It is the big ones who inspite of being well known for looting billions of dollars are Scot free and keep on coming and going out of power. Top of them is General Zia who received blank cheques from America for doing their bidding. The matter was mentioned in an editorial of The New York Times and reported by The Dawn of Pakistan. General Musharraf had himself mentioned that General Zia was corrupt. General Faiz Ali Chisti, once the right hand man of General Zia, pointed out in the Jang that unaccounted billions of dollars were given to ISI by the US and the sons of some generals became miilionaires overnight in spite of the fact that these generals did not have enough money for buy their uniforms.(27 Sept, 1997. The Jang, London.}

Mr. Editor, I have read your article in The Dawn about millions of dollars in the accounts of the son of General Zia and the son of General Akhtar Abdur Rehman, Humayun. The government of General Musharraf has been doing nothing about it. But if the courageous journalists like you and other honest and brave citizens of Pakistan kept campaigning against corruption even the biggest and the most powerful corrupt Pakistanis will be brought to book finally by the grace of God.

Mukhtar Rana
phrtl@aol.com

Practical Solution

Dr Tarique Niazi ends his excellent article (SAT Nov 25- Dec 1, 2002) with a series of questions. I wish he had answered them. Similar questions are also raised in the Comments on his article. Perhaps, I may be allowed to suggest an answer. The people who suffer military dictatorship are invariably weaker than the military and cannot get rid of a military dictator. They can do so with the help of the US politicians. It is, therefore, incumbent on democrats of Pakistani origin living in the West to give the lead. Dr Niazi and others in the USA can take the lead by writing or emailing ‘their’ representatives in the US Congress and Senate that the writer would welcome a statement to the effect that the Congressman/woman or the Senator supports democracy and would work towards a democratic Pakistan. If 100 emails arrive on the desktop of an elected representative, s/he is bound to take notice.

The letter or email could also suggest that the writer supports my suggestion that the overthrow or attempted overthrow of an elected government should be declared to be a crime against humanity.

Dr. Atam Vetta
vettaatam@aol.com

 

Unnecessarily Pessimistic

Refer SAT November 18-24, 2002. Some Pakistani colleagues seem to be rather depressed by the current political situation in Pakistan. They are unnecessarily pessimistic. For the first time, I see a dim light of democracy on the distant horizon of Pakistan. I am reminded of an Urdu couplet:

Noohey Insani ney iss zulmat ke adham main,
Zindgi ki sakht toophani andheri ratt main;
Kuch nahin tao kum sey kum, khabey sahir dekha tao hai
Jis turaph dekha naa tha, ubb tuk, udhar dekha tao hai.

(In the dark and typhoon laden night of life, humanity has, at least, glimpsed the dream of a new dawn, a direction in which it had never looked before.)

Democracy is not the panacea for all ills. It is maddeningly slow in purifying a political system but, eventually, it does the job. The most hopeful sign today (19 November) was the defeat of MMA and PPP candidates for the post of the Speaker of the Pakistan Parliament. This may help to ‘mature’ MMA leaders. They might realise that they are leaders on their own right and are not creatures of the Pakistani Army. Hopefully, the association between the Army and MMA leaders will break.

There is no reason why MMA should not become the BJP of Pakistan and lead a Government. BB was right to try to convince the US Administration to encourage this metamorphism. Shaheen Sehbai is absolutely correct when he says that the politicians have played their cards well.

It is tragic that the shape of government in Pakistan is decided in Washington. Regrettably, ‘beggars can’t be choosers’. US journalists are beginning to ask questions about the dictatorship in Pakistan. President Bush will face re-election in two years. He would not wish to be asked questions about General Musharraf. I do not believe that the General will be around to embarrass the President during his election campaign. Hence, my prediction of at the most two years reign of the General. Then Pakistanis will have to start building democracy.

Dr. Atam Vetta
vettaatam@aol.com

 

Lost Visitor

After reading your really pathetic article : "Will the Real Zobaida Jalal Please Stand Up and Explain" (SAT Nov 18-24, 2002) and especially this gem of reporting : "Jalal went out with her present husband for seven years before they were married," I have reluctantly(!) decided to never visit your site again.

Asim Munshi
asimmunshi@yahoo.com

 

Packed Prisons

In a civilized society, Benazir, Zardari, Nawaz Sharif, General Mushurraf, Zia-ul-Haq, Ayub Khan, Yahya Khan, Hamid Gul, Aslam Mirza Beg, Asad Durrani, Javed Ashraf Qazi etc would all be spending life sentences. (SAT Nov 11-17, 2002).

Why is criticism for Benazir and Nawaz Sharif taken as support for Musharaf? And why is criticism for Musharaf taken as support for Benazir and Nawaz Sharif? Don't they all deserve life sentences.

Lastly, those who want democracy and clean governance would do well to face some realities.

* The military has no interest in democracy because that will threaten its corporate interests.
* The politicians have no interests in the true spirit democracy because that will put curbs on their ability to loot the nation when in power.
* Elections alone do not mean democracy. Lets not forget the fact that Benazir and Nawaz acted like dictators. We all know how democratically they run their party affairs.
* The military and the politicians don't mind dealing with each other, thus compromising on the principles that they claim to stand for. Benazir has been hinting that she wants to strike a deal with Musharaf since the october 99 coup. Musharaf forgot all his principles about corruption in his deals with PML Q. Nawaz Sharif started his political career as a man of the establishment.
* Democracy will take roots only if we have politicians who are relatively clean. The biggest crime commited by Benazir and Nawaz Sharif is that they destroyed faith in democracy. As a result, the nation wellcomed Musharaf when he took over.
* The military thrives on the corruption of the politicians. Unless the politicians improve their behavior, the military will continue to take advantage.
* If the 1973 constitution were to be restored in its origional form and the likes of Benazir and Nawaz Sharif (or for that matter the PML Q leaders) are allowed to return, it would only be a short-lived triumph for democracy. These people would again destroy faith in democracy by their corrupt behavior and the nation would again wellcome a military intervention like the october 99 coup. Is that what we want?
* We must stop equating Benazir and Nawaz Sharif with democracy. We need new faces if we want democracy to take roots and for that we must use our vote. Those who failed in the past are likely to fail again.
* Having failed to use our vote to bring in new faces in the october elections, we can kiss democracy and good governance goodbye untill the next elections.

Aqil Sajjad
sajjada@onid.orst.edu

Pakistani Perspective

I thank you for this critical portal on South Asia. (SAT November 11-17, 2002). It is one of my favorite sites on the web and its only going to get better. Like many other Indians, I like to see the happenings in Pakistan from the perspective of Pakistanis. I look forward to every Monday for the new edition. I am an Indian and would like more coverage of Indian affairs and exposure. Thats the only check we can have over the people in power. Your articles are timely like the WB report on journalism in the developing countries and the article on Bal Thackeray. Your editorials and opinions should be written in golden letters. The insight and the analysis conveyed in them and outcomes opined are prophetic (in the literal sense). It appears from the letters to editor that Benazir and Nawaz Sharif read your Tribune. And General Musharraf will be well advised to subscribe to it, too, rather than banning it. It will do him good by giving him another and better perspective. You are doing all this despite the hardships.

D. Bhardwaj
Illinois, USA
davenderbhardwaj@yahoo.com

 

Dubious Campaign

Refer SAT Nov 11-17, 2002 Main Lead Story. Even though the general elections are over, and the army has completed the three year tenure, a mandate given to them by the Supreme Court of Pakistan (under the doctrine of necessity), the campaign of denigrating politicians that started three years ago continues unabated. The recent incident of postponing the inaugural National Assembly session of the newly elected members and putting all the blame on the politician is a part of that campaign.

Those who know how government machinery functions in Pakistan, were not surprised when Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, famous for changing political loyalties, a known willful bank defaulter, the blue-eyed boy of the Army and therefore the Parliamentary leader of Pakistan Muslim League (Q) demanded the postponement of the Assembly Session scheduled for the 8th of November, 2002. As expected the military regime immediately conceded to this demand and postponed the session. The buck, thus, has been cleverly passed on the political parties ‘as they were the one who demanded for its postponement, otherwise the government wanted to
hold the session.’

The fact of the matter is that the government never issued any written intimation to the National Assembly Secretariat. The announcement that the first session of the National Assembly will be convened on the 8th of November remained confined to the electronic and the print media, as no formal and written request was ever sent to the National Assembly Secretariat. The letters from the National Assembly Secretariat received by the members elect did not contain any information on the convening of the session. All what the letter addressed was a congratulatory note and contact information related to boarding and lodging in Islamabad.

All the genuine political parties, in particular the Pakistan Peoples Party, have rejected the LFO. They have pledged to the nation the restoration of the 1973 Constitution and the supremacy of the parliament.

Fauzia Wahab
PPP Central Coordinator, Human Rights Cell,
Karachi, Pakistan

 

Minister Must Resign

In Karachi University we have been really laughing at the statement issued by the Federal Government regarding banning South Asia Tribune's material's reproduction in Pakistani Press. (SAT, Nov 4-10, 2002) It exposes their emptiness and hollowness. When truth comes, it is difficult for the Generals to face it. These self-righteous rulers wish not to hear from their subjects questioning their nonsensical policies. How can they ban truth, from Socrates to present era, the status quo forces have eventually lost all the moral standings.

I am ashamed that Mr. Nisar Memon, with whom I worked in The Reformers, with great ideas of reform and people like late Eqbal Ahmad were used by these people to project themselves as representatives of genuine change and reform in Pakistan. Mr. Memon must resign, since he leads the Ministry of Information, which is promoting such dirt in the name of Pakistan and its security. Pakistan is not so weak to be damaged by mere reports, rather Pakistan's image is distorted by such official policies like banning South Asia Tribune from reproduction in Pakistani press.

Mushtaque Rajpar
M.Phil Student, Area Study Center of Europe
University of Karachi, Pakistan

 

Martial Law, Against Whom?

Your worry that the army may clamp another martial law on the country is too simplistic. (From the Editor's Desk, SAT Nov 4-10, 2002) Let us ask; army as an option of the last resort, will launch itself against whose failure? Against its own? Just look at the patch work quilt it has already made of the constitution and the laws, in an endless effort to mend the takeover of October 99. We have a whole new system of local government in place, which was meant for the achievement of a different objective, and which, ultimately may find itself rusting in the wilderness of administration, like the pylons, wheels, and steel ropes which are rusting away in Murree.

The new setup, like the Murree wheel chairs has no strategic utility. Even the father of this new system, General Naqvi, has quit. This heartless wastage of public exchequer shall only stop when we try such people for high treason. Taking the entire nation for a ride and having a big laugh at the end should not be pardoned. Naqvi should be made accountable for creating a system which doesn't know where to go. Half of our DMG officers have already quit on long leave or otherwise. Their offices are a pitiable sight, with lack of interest writ large on them.

Look at the mess that has been made of the police laws. Army shall not like to mess with all of this or mess it any further. Will the army open another Pandora's Box, in an effort to close one. The best course for the politicians is to say No to outrage now, because democracy has nothing to lose but its chains. If the politicians lose this opportunity, what have we in the bargain, apart from the scenario of democracy being rolled back? The question is; is there any silver lining to the dark cloud, any way?

Saleem Khan
saleem_khan72@hotmail.com

 

Winner's Medal

Refer SAT Nov 4-10, 2002. It's a joy to read the South Asia Tribune every week. I hope the bold investigative stories and style encourages media establishments in Pakistan to expose the corrupt in a more direct way rather than apologetic toned down stories. Congratulations for the medal/award bestowed by the military dictatorship when it published an ad clamping a ban on newspapers to reproduce the material from SA Tribune.

You stand out as a winner for receiving the recognition of journalistic excellence by the continuous harassment of your family, threats in an open forum by no less than the head of state and a military dictator and of course now the advertisements. In the reign of the latest dictatorship, no other journalist stands out taller than you for braving the onslaughts of the power hungry kleptomaniacs in uniform who have taken the nation hostage on gun point.

Arshad Sharif
Ireland, arsched@hotmail.com

 

MOST Official Response

With reference to a special report about a summary moved by Ministry of Science and Technology to the cabinet to make funds for development projects non-lapsable (SAT October 28 – November 3, 2002) it is stated that the comment made in the about Minister's intentions is highly unjustified. In the first place the amendment regarding non-lapsability of funds, if approved, was to apply to all Ministries/Division of Government of Pakistan. It was not confined to a specific Ministry.

The Summary submitted to the Cabinet which is also published by SA Tribune itself provides enough justification for the amendment requested to be made as the present budgetary discipline of funds releases poses many problems for the smooth implementation of development programmes. In the last quarter, many a times, funds are released late and due to lapsability issue departments make utilization in a hurry. It was felt that if funds were made non-lapsable the utilization would be more judicious and a lot of irregularities and wastages will be avoided. Similar practices are being followed in many countries.

The intent of the summary was to improve project implementation and funds utilization in the country as a whole and not for any specific Division/Ministry. Whereas the rationale and justification of the move can be debated upon, it is unfair to assign an ulterior motive.

Mamoona Amjed
Director Public Relations/Spokesperson,
Ministry of Science & Technology (MOST)
Government of Pakistan

 

To Be or Not to Be

Refer SAT Editorial "Benazir Must Rise to Shoulder the Heavy Responsibility" Oct 21-27, 2002. The issue is not the transfer of power, but the acceptance of civilian rule in true letter and spirit. I think General's perturbed picnic with Makhdoom Amin Faheem at Pir Sohawa Islamabad , followed by an emergency visit to meet the royal family of Saudi Arabia, is the manifestation of "To be or not to be, that is the question".

USA always maintains double standards in her approach towards framing the international policies or at-least Bush government follows ambiguous policies which lacking in realism and insight. The argument that ? USA always looks after her interests in the International Diplomatic Arena? is vague, since the incumbency of Bush at the presidency , the hatred against USA , at international level has increased manifold. Even some of her fervent supporters starts de-aligning them from her irrational policies, or at least majority feels that . Bush think ?tank must foresee the policy : whether strong democracy is suitable for US people in Pakistan or otherwise?

Benazir Bhutto is in USA, urging to convince the White House and other functionaries , not to support Mishear in the region for obvious reasons--- Religious Extremism always takes root under non-civilian rule , irrespective of top man's personal inclinations. It is the responsibility of all the democratic forces to work together to strengthen a true parliamentary System, which may be the exponent of public aspirations.

Iftikhar Chaudri, President, Journalists For International Peace

 

Discipline Needed

Refer your Story 'Dr Atta Wants His Billions' (SAT, October 28-November 3, 2002). There can be no two opinions about having financial discipline in the various ministries of the Government at provincial and central levels but I believe that we should also try to understand the practical problems faced by the Ministry of S&T and definitely others like Health and agriculture also.

I am C.EO of a laboratory instruments distributor in Pakistan and know it from my 26 years experience in this business that funds are usually made available to various universities and research institutes very late i.e. towards the end of the fiscal year. In this situation they have to spend the money or the funds will lapse. So they buy literally junk sometimes because if they cannot utilize the funds allocated in a particular year, they cannot get more funds next year.

In my opinion if the Accountant General Pakistan has very serious objections to the proposals made by Dr Atta Ur Rahman, he should try to come up with some solution to a very serious problem in our system.

I am disappointed that your report has tried to create an impression of a malafide intent on the part of the Minister of Science & Technology. Dr Rahman is the first ever Minister of S&T in our history who has done any real effort to upgrade the level of scientific education and research in Pakistan.

By the way no body ever wanted to take this ministry in any of our previous governments whereas Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru kept this portfolio with him in first cabinet formed at the time of independence.

Zohair Rana
rzohair@wol.net.pk

 

Not stunned, No Bearing

Ref my article (The Minister who will not go away, SAT Oct 21-27, 2002). In my article I have mentioned that the staff of the Pakistan's High Commission were "stunned" to hear Dr Atta's statement. I wish to clarify that they were not "stunned". In fact, their presence at Dr Atta's presentation has no bearing on what he said and what I have reported on what he said. I, as the writer of the report, regret the error. Having said that, I stand by what I have reported regarding what the minister said about his continuing to hold the portfolio, and also my critical opinion on the statement.

Abbas Zaidi
unicorn1961@hotmail.com

 

Welcome Analysis

Your analysis (From the Editor's Desk: SAT Oct 21-27, 2002) and advice to BB is appropriate and most welcome. I sincerely hope that she reads it carefully. Mahatma Gandhi made great sacrifices for his country but they pale into insignificance by the sacrifices made by the BB family for their country. Ruling families appear to be taking root in the West as well e.g. the Bush family. It is painful to realize that the next generation of the Bhutto family leaders of Pakistan are growing up without the guidance and support of their father Asif Zardari. I believe that a condition of further negotiations with the General should be his immediate release on bail.

I do not assert that BB, Mr Zardari or, indeed, any one else is not corrupt. I only insist that they deserve a fair hearing. I have no confidence in those Pakistani judges who betrayed their allegiance to the Constitution and swore allegiance to a dictator in return for office and on the assurance that they themselves will not be investigated for corruption. A year ago, I suggested that PPP should promise to set up a Commission to investigate past and present corruption. A Truth Commission was a part of its manifesto of the 10th October election.

Incidentally, I believe that the real corruption is involved in the award of military and big project contracts e.g. submarines, road building. General Musharraf's policy that serving military officers are immune from corruption investigations needs to be rescinded.

Another of my suggestion was that UN should declare the overthrow or attempted overthrow of an elected government as a crime against humanity. I hope PPP and PML(N) will promise to work for the acceptance of such a resolution. This will benefit not only Pakistan but also many other developing countries. PPP could start the ball rolling by proposing a motion at the next Socialist International Conference. Given her new mandate, the European Prime Ministers, who gave BB a standing ovation, after her speech at the last conference, will find it difficult to resist it.

Dr. Atam Vetta
vettaatam@aol.com

 

More of the Same

It is not just the tone and language that has softened against Musharraf's military regime. (SAT Oct 14-20, 2002) As the days pass one can see the change of substance in the stand of so called mainstream political parties in Pakistan tilting toward accepting army's role in politics. There cannot be a worse betrayal to democracy than this.

We may be advised to wait and see the kind of course parties including PPP adopt against Musharraf and LFO, but our hopes are vanishing away. PPP and MMA seem to have taken a U-turn in favor of PML Q, a party before elections was forbidden even to hold talks, of course as rightly seen puppet of Musharraf known as King's Party. It seems like same national interests that the army generals are used to speak of to justify their lust for power and to rule the country, now is being used by mainstream political parties. They call it "consensus govt" including PML Q.

Mr. Amin Faheem says "no harm in talking to any one", now who would object to this statement, and apparently seems nothing wrong with this statement but we can see their indifference towards democracy in Pakistan. This statement and other such press releases by MMA, MQM definitely tend to show acceptance of Musharraf as president with his supra-constitutional LFO. To us, this is betrayal of democracy in this country.

We would hope Ms Benazir Bhutto does not disappoint us this time. We wish not to hear from her after 2 or 3 years that she (her party PPP) was not allowed to rule or that we were asked not to touch this or that areas of foreign and domestic policies. We want her to stand with her earlier democratic stand against Musharraf. Post-Election Pakistan does not make us to be happy, so may I remind our many friends that there is not much to cherish after elections. It is more of the same past.

Mushtaque Rajpar
M.Phil Student Area Study Center for Europe
Karachi University, Pakistan

 

The Best Thing

Elections results were the best thing that happened in current situation. (SAT 14-20, 2002) Religious parties can not claim to be outsiders any more and hence cannot act as such either. This gives them voice. They, first time in Pakistan's history, have a voting constituency and so they are responsible. Finally, after taking it all in, I loved these results as Karachiites have finally said "Enough is Enough" , and NWFP finally voted the way we, in south, always thought they should have voted all along.

Jay from Chicago
jawshaikh@yahoo.com

 

Make Pakistan Look Moderate

I have just have read your articles/analysis and different reports regarding Pakistan elections. (SAT Oct 14-20, 2002). I think these all reflect anti military especially anti Musharraf bias. As far as election result's credibility is concerned, International observer including Americans praised the government and called this process as free and fair. If we see the concerned parties in NWFP and Balochistan, they have accepted the results. Even the ANP leaders have resigned from the party positions, and from Balochistan loser Mehmood Khan Achakzai also said that the elections were fair and he also accepted the mass verdict that was given to MMA.

I am against military rule and would like to see them back in the barrack or at the border. But it's a different matter. Masses have given votes to religious parties which is reflection lot of factors including anti Americanism. They were tired of so called political and nationalist parties. If we assume that why only NWFP and Balochistan peoples gave vote to MMA, that will be wrong because MMA also won from Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad, 6 out of 20, 3 out of 12 and 1 out of 2 respectively. Which means elite and educated population of Pakistan also voted for MMA.

People have been tired of PPP , Muslim League and MQM, and they are tired of them because of their corruption, instability of economy and bad governance. Personally I think people of America and west think and make their opinion by watching the media. Your newspaper is located in America which is very important not only for Pakistan, Pakistanis but also for Muslim world. If you keep saying Taliban are in power and they will disturb American agenda in the region, that would be very awful and unfortunate. Moderate elements including some Americans read your newspaper, so don't make Pakistan's picture ugly for them.

Yes we don't want military in power, but unfortunately so called politicians always pushed them to come and grab the power. If this process run smoothly, military will go back, and real democracy will emerge in Pakistan. So for the sake of Pakistan, people of Pakistan, dignity of Pakistan, make our picture as moderate as possible. A picture of a country which wants to work hard to stand on its own feet.

Fawad Mahmood
fadinice@hotmail.com

 

No Need to Act

It is difficult to disagree with Mr Chellaney's analysis. (SAT Oct 7-13, 2002) He, however, appears to disregard an important factor, namely, Pakistan's armed forces would either lord over Pakistan or destroy it. They lost the Eastern half and, given sufficient time, will destroy the other half. A civil society, like the Pakistani society, that has produced scientists, social scientists, educationists, journalists, civil servants, philosophers and industrialists of international caliber and repute, cannot allow itself to be ruled, in perpetuity, by half educated Generals. Something must give way. In the last 20 years the Generals have ruled because they 'bought' the religious right (BB and Mr Sharif could not even breathe without their permission and when they did, they were 'out'). Some leaders of the religious right now profess to be democrats! The writing is on the wall. Either General Musharraf will become another 'Shah' or smaller provinces will secede. I wager on the first Option of "Musharraf, the Shah". There is no need for Mr Vajpayee to act.

Atam Vetta
vettaatam@aol.com

 

Judging Musharraf

As long as we got rid of corrupt politicians and landlords it does not matter how at this point. 2 percent is a bargain over 10 percent. (SAT Oct 7-13, 2002) We cannot judge Musharraf in absolute terms. Compare him to his predecessors. And knowing what the whole nation has become how can it produce anyone better than Musharraf? Why does Bilal not have a right to express his opinion and become a politician? We can disagree with him and have a choice not to elect him or oust him via a coup. After all we have selected the worst kinds in our history. Everyone has a right to fail and make a fool of himself. I wonder if we have ever been ruled by an honest leader beyond our initial years .I wonder if we have any honest citizens left who would discuss issues rather than personalities all the time.

Dr. Yameen Zubairi
yameenz@us.net

 

Bilal's Opponent

Thanks for a very pertinent article dealing with current Pakistani situation. (SAT Oct 7-13, 2002) I am one of the few at chowk.com who vehemently opposed Bilal Musharraf's article, "He Had No Choice". While late Bilal Ahmad skillfully asked all the right questions, I focussed on criticizing Musharraf on every conceivealble basis. I knew from day one the man in uniform is doing everything out of ambitions for power and nothing else.

I had reasons to oppose him because I saw tremendous similarities in the way Musharraf moved to the top with the previous dictator Zia Ul Haque. Zia pretended absolute loyalty to Z. A. Bhutto and Musharraf did exactly the same to gain the total confidence of Nawaz Sharif to a level where he could be considered a potential COAS superceding many senior Generals. From there on he was on a planned trip to introduce himself to public, with Kargil being important event in that scheme.

Bilal Musharraf's qualifications are not enough to make him a consultant or major professional player of any kind in USA. He will have to rely on family fortune, similar to a former bacheolar digree holder from a below average US educational institution, University of Illinois at Carbondale - Zia's son.

However, Bilal Musharraf will need lot more backing from traditional politicians to carve out a niche for himself. Being an Urdu speaking Syed, he does not have a natural constituency based on ethnicity, tribal affiliation or caste, enjoyed by Humayun Akhtar Khan and Ejaz Ul Haque.

J B Sameer
jbsameer@ yahoo.com

 

False Impression

The advocacy by a retired Indian General to alter the Line of Control in Kashmir to International border (LoC as Border: A Viable Solution, SAT Sept 23) may give the impression, perhaps false, that this is the view of the Indian Government. It is likely that in the changed circumstances of today, this is no longer its policy. Moreover, India should negotiate with an elected Pak Government only.

Regrettably, the main issue in the sub-continent is not the status of Kashmir but the emancipation of Pakistan from the military yoke that has lasted for about 50 years now.
Pakistani Generals have destroyed the civil society. Almost all high positions in the civil service are now occupied by retired or working Generals. They have also 'halved' Pakistan. Given a few more years they are likely to destroy the half they now control.

Their 'education' is narrow and their vision limited. Is it not astounding that Musharraf did not know how Gandhi was killed? Not only Pak Generals equated 1 Pak soldier to 4 Indian soldiers but some of them also told us that many body bags will be going to the USA from Afghanistan. Actually, as Mullah Omar told us, the Jehadis were running around like headless chicken. The Pak Home Minister does not know what is happening under his nose.

The warning by US authorities to the Editor of SA Tribune reported on Page 1 this week, shows how ignorant the Generals are. If the Editor is harmed, there will be a demand in the USA for the prosecution of General Musharraf.

Any one who cares for peace in SA, needs to support the democratic forces in Pakistan. To ensure their supremacy, UN needs to make the overthrow of an elected Govt. a crime against humanity. Politicians in Pakistan may be marginally more corrupt than those in India. What, however, differentiates between the two countries is the extensive corruption in Pak Armed Forces.

Every so often the world produces a Gandhi or a Mandela who by his sacrifices lifts himself above others. In SA many Sufis and Mahatamas purified their 'sins' by sacrifices. We need to ask ourselves, how long should the sufferings of Asif Zardari continue before he becomes a 'Mandela'?

Sir, I ask you to join me and others to seek freedom for the Pak civil society. Kashmir and other issues will have to wait till after its freedom. Negotiated settlements between democracies last longer. An urdu poet said: Jo shakh-e-nazuk pey aashiana baney ga, napaiydar ho ga. A democratic Pak Govt will provide a strong branch to build a nest for the prosperity of South Asian children.

Atam Vetta
vettaatam@aol.com

 

Elite or Morons

I am an Indian. What the article (Our Elite are No Morons, SAT Sept 23) says is true to Non Resident Indians as well. I think every day how to be a better person (employee) when I go back to India and start my own Company. This article has helped me to see through the problems I have in the way I think and see people. I only wish there is one person like the author in every village and 10 in every town in the whole of South Asia.

Lakshmi Narayanan
ibmlakhshmi@hotmail.com

 

 

Biggest Everything!

Some viewers are giving naive and innocent arguments in favor of the Pakistan Army, based on logic which is too simple and skin deep. They say the armed forces have given their lives for Pakistan and made a nuclear bomb for us. Sorry the armed forces have not made the bomb for us. It was the politicians who did it and with hard earned dollars of the nation, billions of them. But tell me if we have to defend our self with the bomb, why are we spending billions of dollars every year on a huge army that is draining all our resources and making the poor even poorer and throwing millions below poverty line. Why not just keep a few nukes and keep a few thousand techncians and some mobile trucks to deliver the bomb, if that is going to work. No, the army today is the biggest business, biggest industry, biggest feudal lords group, biggest political party, biggest vested interest and biggest threat to Pakistan. Understand this sooner and you can still save Pakistan.

Sabir A. Khan
essayekhan@msn.net

 

 

Coercive Designs

I fully appreciate your efforts to enlighten the people of the genuine issues of our society.Your reports have ever been a source of learning and I believe you will continue this mission to unrevel the coercive designs of the present dictatorial regime.

Amir Hussain
dawnhunza@yahoo.com

 

 

The Three Secretaries

Refer to Tale of three Principal Secretaries by Dr. Zafar Altaf (SAT Sept 23). Thank you for your analysis. I have nothing but to agree with you on most of the things that you say. Just a couple footnotes to your arguments and you have the right to correct me. Fida Hussain, yes! He was an efficient officer and the reason could be what Justice Munir Ahmed called "trained in the tradition of steel-frame of the British empire."

Please do not take it personal, but somewhere and somehow we lost that character-building emphasis at the Civil Service Academy in the post-colonial days. Gone are the days, when a member of the service, unfortunately British in most cases, use to ride on horseback and travel from village to village to decide land settlement issues if not for dispensing of justice.

You were a civil servant known for your honesty and uprightness. You stood what you believed and I also know the cost that you had to pay for your being an upright civil servant. But tell me how many times your colleagues (as young ACs and DCs) went around to listen and address the problems of poor peasants.

I know you took quite a few steps as Secretary Agriculture Punjab and then as federal secretary. But look around and tell me, is it common to do so among your colleagues? I think! I know the answer and may be I am asking for the sake of asking.

Coming to Ahmed Sadik, he may be an honest person and a dedicated civil servant. As a young lecturer in Punjab, I had the privilege to work under him (not directly). He was Secretary Education at the time and was notoriously known as Mr. Slow. Again, this was a popular impression about him and I do not have any personal experience that I can relate with. But someone who was commended by Nawab Kalabagh should raise some eyebrows.

Saeed Mehdi was not much on the scene before his discovery by Abba Jee, so I cannot make a comment. Where he grew up does not make a difference and we all have accent of one type or the other. But what I read about him tells a lot. I think he was right to be Head Munshi for Abba Jee's Steel re-rolling at Brandreth Road, turning into Ittafaq Foundaries in Badami Bagh and then God knows what? Looks like that he also grew up with the prosperity of Ittafaq family. May be he also had some connections to late General Jillani.

Finally Tariq Aziz, I hope it is not your service group rivalry that is coming up. I know nothing about the gentleman, so cannot comment anything. All I have read about him is that he is a frequent visitor to the house of a late Head Constable at College Road, Gulberg Lahore. So I don?t see much difference between him and his predecessor.

Should you decide to respond to my observation, my e-mail address is listed along this posting.

Maqsood A Choudary, Ph.D.
University Center, Michigan, USA
punjdaryya@aol.com

You can see the Black Sheep

When I read my late father's name, (Tale of Three Principal Secretaries, SAT Sept 23) I held my breath, expecting to see a lot of dirt strewn on him in the next line! As Shakespeare says and is often the case:"The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones." But, you have been honest enough to say about Mr Fida Hassan what you saw during his tenure as the Principal Secretary. And I thank you for that.

Without going into too much personal detail about those who later held this post, all I would like to add is that corruption, cronyism and nepotism in my father's time were ills kept pretty much in check. Except for one ICS federal secretary - Rawalpindi then was a small town and all saw this gentleman's luxurious lifestyle (but I will not name the black sheep), the rest of the bureaucrats lived within their means; never allowed their families to use the staff cars; kept their begums and kids in line, ensuring that they do not misuse their position nor encourage their relatives to grab whatever they could from anywhere.

Sadly, the word 'corruption' was first introduced universally by the bureaucrats, who singed out their conscience and allowed unstoppable greed to corrupt the whole system. For heaven's sake, you don't need NAB or any other such silly state-sponsored corporation to catch the thieves ... you only need to drive around Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi and get a first-hand view of how the bureaucrats of today live. Have you seen how their wives and kids dress up? Have you seen the cars they drive? Have you seen the houses they live in and the fancy gizmos they own? Shame on us for allowing such rampant corruption to flourish unchecked!

Why do we who know choose to keep silent? Don't ask. More of such exposures from you and others Mr Altaf! And more of such courage to print Mr Sehbai! Mr Editor, If you can shake up the system and reveal the truth, you would be doing Pakistan a big favor! Something others have miserably failed to achieve.

Anjum Niaz
New Jersey, USA
anjumniaz2@cs.com

 

 

Everywhere But!

It's funny how we never hear about the army actually 'defending the borders' anymore. They seem to be everywhere except where their original job is!

Arif Khan
arifkhan1999@hotmail.com

They Deserve More?

Come, come now. Surely we cannot begrudge our brave warriors a few paltry things in return for the astonishing service they have given us over the last 50 years?

Of course, since Pakistan is a poor country we can't give them much, so it's only fair that we give them the country itself to do with it what they will. Surely you can see that it is small payment for all the brave deeds they've done to us. And many people agree with me. I saw it on BBC question time, so it must be correct!

I strongly suspect, along with the good Colonel Jafri from a couple of weeks ago, that Mr. Sehbai is simply jealous and is probably an Indian agent as well. I certainly don't begrudge them these things. After all, they are our vaunted un-defeated heroes, valiantly "defending" us from all this airy fairy nonsense of democracy, civil rights etc.

Personally, I'm convinced that they deserve far more. And I look forward to the day when the people of Pakistan finally rise up and give our brave uniformed heroes EVERYTHING THEY DESERVE.

Imran
@hotmail.com

Hang a Few

Leaders topple, regimes change, PM's get couped, but bureaucrats in the Secretariat remain the same!! These are the guys who handle such Moneys, and this is where corruption begins.

To cut corruption - keep a heavy hire-and-fire system in the secretariat and hang a few, for major scams. Watch these guys carefully!

K. Gazi
kgazi@cox.net

 

Some Black Sheep

Some black sheep has gobbled up this public money and NAB must do its job. A simple audit should reflect the money trail as it must have been transferred to some account other than the SAP account. Why has the detection taken such a long time? Who is trying to cover up whom? It was rotting since 1998 now it has started to stink! No wonder the Japanese did not respond to the telephone call of our national boss to waive the Japanese part of our national debt. The Japanese premier will have another evidence of our crooked ways. Why our brilliant well-fed government officers well educated and excellent training imparted alias bureaucrats have pushed the nation to the edge of the cliff? All muslims are required to be honest and speak the truth, all should offer their prayers and be righteous. But look at our lot! Shame! Shame! Shame!

Mushtaque Ahmed
mushtaque_a@yahoo.com

 

Avid Reader & Issues

I am an avid reader of the SA Tribune and eagerly await the new issue every Monday. However I have noticed that the paper is not providing adequate coverage to "South Asia", it seems more like a "Pakistan Tribune". I would suggest wider coverage e.g. the massacre of Muslims in Gujrat, the continuing repercussions of that in India, stories on the RSS (the Hindu fundamentalist party, BJP being one of the off shoots of this party and how this party is spreading hatred amongst the people in India against the Muslims. The creation of schools, Mandirs and "gyms" where they are teching the youth to learn how to fight with sticks, swords, knives. Their extremist views on destruction of Mosques to make mandirs). Recently PBS aired a documentary covering the whole issue.

W. Qureshi
USA

Really Ashamed

I have read the story of persecution of the family of Tribune Editor Mr Sehbai. There can be nothing more shameful for a military regime with all the powers to persecute innocent, poor people who have nothing to do with their politics or their corruption. If Mr Sehbai is reporting something which the junta does not like, it should have the heart and the guts to face the writings like a man and not like cowards and mice, treating poor harmless and innocent people like pawns and hostages. The story of the 18-year old Imran who has been in jail for two weeks is a slap on the faces of all these so-called brave and powerful Generals. Shame on you all for keeping a boy hostage and running like cats and dogs to seek revenge from the Sehbai family. He must have written something which is right and has hurt you where it stings. Be a man General Musharraf and stop these cowardly acts.

Musarrat Khan
F-8/4 Islamabad, Pakistan

 

Sacred Cows, Enough

We as a Pakistani nation have had an ostrich like mentality. Hide from the facts and don't face the situation head on. When will we learn that those who sit up there and profess themselves as savior of Pakistan and thru propaganda come out looking good, and clean is not the reality? All that glitters is not gold. To be knowledgeable and aware of facts equips us to better ourselves and demand accountability from those who sit "at the helm of affairs". For too long we have thought of the Army and Judiciary and Bureaucracy as the sacred cow. In Pakistan these 3 have become the 'axis of evil'. It's time to put this to stop and search for the truth, ask questions, demand answers and hold people accountable for their actions. What has Bussharraf achieved so far other than prolonging his (mis) rule by, crushing dissent, subjugating the judiciary, subverting the constitution? Now he and coterie is busy manipulating elections and creating yet another king?s party. He has also traded the sovereignty of this land by giving air bases. Those were given during an illicit attack on Afghanistan and are sill under the control of our ?friends?. Why? Don?t? we have a right to and want to know. What is the need and necessity now? Have we also bartered away our sovereignty? Or do we really believe that Pakistan had become an important nation in the world and is well repected. If we do, then we are in a whole lot bigger trouble than I thought we were!!

Apervai
Apervai@aol.com

 

Like Local Smuggler

I don't see what difference Mr. Sehbai thinks he's making. Do you think that any of us don't know what's going on? All this does is washing our dirty linen in public.

Telling the truth about traitors and thugs who masquerade as our "defenders" (whose greatest achievement was loss of half the country!) makes no difference because these people firstly have no shame and secondly there is no-one to bring them to account.

It's like in the old days when every one knew who the local smuggler was to go and buy things from, but who could do anything? Same with the Army and all these Generals. That they're a bunch of cowards, traitors and thieves is known to all. So what? Who can do anything. Especially since they've always acted as the "Company man" for Amreeka Bahadur! Just as in the days of the British!

So, while I congratulate Mr. Sehbai for his courage, it gives hope for the future, right now these revelations will make no difference.

T. Quayyum
Somewhere

 

Moving abroad

I live in the E-Sector of Islamabad and if ISI takes over the Margalla Hills, I will move out to another city, or may be another country. They cannot stop me, or people like me who have come back to live in their home land only to see land grabbings and illegal take overs of everything. Imagine the army running dairy farms, producing cereals, running banks, flying airlines, selling plots and producing sugar. Is this army capable of doing what they are paid for, defending the borders. In every war they fought, they had the shame to lose big time. Even then they keep on conquering their own country.

E-Sector Resident
residentesector@comsats.net.pk

 

Carrying a Grudge

You have a grudge against Musharraf Govt, but it is very cowardly to sit in USA and bring bad name to Pakistan. Pakistanis are one of the most ungrateful people to its good and honest leaders but love the Corrupt leaders who use sweet talk to charm them with cheap unfulfilling slogans, "roti, kapra aur makan" when they buy palaces abroad with looted money. South Asia and Middle East is going through rough ride and For God sake let Musharraf do his job otherwsie you will not have a nation to return to.

Mike Khan
Khan1965@hotmail.com

A Salute

I salute your courage to stand up to Military Generals and Corrupt Politicians. It is not unpatriotic to be critical of the people who run the country by gun. If Mr. Sehbai is unpatriotic like the person who posted earlier message thinks, then Arundhati Roy, N. Ram, Kuldip Nair etc are all unpatriotic and must be arrested or executed or run out of country.

Instead of defending and respecting a dissenting editor, people of Pakistan must be ashamed of being silent spectators. To dismiss Mr. Sehbai's citicism as just a personal grudge is UNFAIR. This shows the impotency of Pakistani people and fellow journalists. The fact that the editor was driven out of country in itself shows the credibility of his analysis, investigative reports and the stories he publishes.

Wake up Pakistanis, your patriotism is being exploited by your Generals to keep you oppressed. A free press is the only way to know the truth. Keep up the good Job, Mr. Editor.

arna
arna92@yahoo.com

Self Serving

To term critical articles as earning bad name for Pakistan seems a self serving argument. One needs to explain: who is earning bad name for Pakistan?,who has brought the country to present state of affairs? the writers like Mr. Shaheen Sehbai or the Generals who grab power with gun and time and again come up with their so called "Legal Frame work Orders", from Ayub Khan to Musharraf, it is military which has ruled the country and destroyed political institutions.
Our bad name is due to lack of democratic institutions, which were never allowed to function and develop. Politics is all about process, it has never been allowed to work, simply because army; dominated by particular ethinic group, has corporate interests in this country, it does not want to share power with civilians, They see politicians as rivals. Cold War allowed army Generals to distort politics and rule the country. But people of Pakistan, enlightened citizens, writers, journalists and political activists have never bowed before the military's power, and that is why whatsoever little relief from army's rule people of this country got was the result of political movement in this country.

To remind Mr. Mike Khan, when Shaheen Sehbai was here in Pakistan, he wrote with same daring and boldness. Though very few such people we have, but we are proud of such people.
Have a look at "Newsline" and "Herald" monthly magazines, you will come to know how brave our reporters, writers and journalists are.

The "U" turn that Musharraf's govt took regarding Taliban, Afghanistan and Kashmir, was much earlier identified, analysed by many writers here in Pakistan, several stories published in Herald, Newsline and other papers. The great (late) Dr. Iqbal Ahmad, M.B. Naqvi and Ayaz Amir, Mohammad Waseem, to name just few, have been writing on these issues.

Army's centralization policies have tendered federal character of country as black. It was not the country that people of Sindh, frointier joined, we in Sindh feel alianated and isolated, only handpicked puppets are taken in govt, likes of Jatois', Soomros's of Shikarpur and Jacobabad do not represent Sindh.

To accuse politicians is very easy these days, infact among the Middle Class (depoliticized people) has become fashion, but come to the universities, talk to the students, they will tell you who have earned bad name for Pakistan.

If we want honour and respect for Pakistan, not just abroad but for the people who inhibit it, then make generals to go back to barracks, do not make sitting jugdes of Supreme Court to walk out of courts, just because new military junta does not want them, who is earning bad name for the country, of course the power hungry generals, whose stories have now started coming into press that they are not just power grabbers but land grabbers too.

Mushtaque Rajpar
Karachi

Brave Press

I am surprised that people sitting outside Pakistan want the military dictators to continue ruling their country while they sit in cosy places enjoying the second class citizenship status, and prefer to talk about democracy. In Pakistan the Press has been very brave and people like Shaheen Sehbai have faced great odds but always spoken the truth whether against military dicators or against democratic autocrats. His record shows consistency in writing what he thought was right and the truth, no matter who was in power. Some of the critics forget that they are doing a great disservice by ignoring the corruption done by the generals in Pakistan. Dont forget who takes away the biggest part of resources which should have gone to the poor. It is the army and they should be held accountable.

Babar Ayaz
beeayezee@hotmail.com

 

Wimps or what?

Refer to your story on harassment of senior journalist Amir Mateen. Mr Mateen has done well to bring his case to the public by writing all the facts and sending it to General Pervez Musharraf and the media. But I am surprised at the total silence of the mainstream Pakistani media on all cases of harassment and intimidation being carried out by the present government against the journalists. I am an avid reader of Pakistani newspapers but except one, DailyTimes of Mr Sethi, who himself was a victim of such harassment, no other newspaper has dared to touch the story of either Mr Mateen or your Editor, Mr Shaheen Sehbai and his family.

I don't believe the Pakistani media has been so corrupted that they would not raise even a feeble voice against members of their own community. Newspapers like Dawn are considered to be serious enough to take note of these government excesses. But they are not. Something is very wrong in this State of Denmark, where the king has no clothes. Are the courtiers also naked?

Sabir Khan Shinwari
skshinwari@yahoo.com

 

Pak Army, the best

I was surprised that the good General Musharraf totally ignored the Judicial Branch as a means of stability in Pakistan's political structure. He seems to have assumed the role of the judiciary. If that is the case, I see no hope for our great nation. In order for Pakistan to prosper, we eed a strong and independent Judiciary. Perhaps, the Army can play a role as the enforcer for the Judiciary!!!!

In your Editor's note, you have attributed all the land grabbing to 'Pakistan Army'. That is not really true. The Pakistan Army is composed of very dedicated persons and many of them have laid down their lives for our beloved Pakistan. Please do not attribute the misdeeds of a few to the great majority of this great institution. I believe that the Pakistan Army is one of the best in the entire world. I can never repay the debt of the Martyrs of our Armed Forces.

Shahjahan Bhatti
sbhatti@adelphia.net

 

I'm Praying

I am an Indian living in the US. I must say I am impressed at your guts. I really pray for India and Pakistan to be friends. It is weird that we have made better fighters, submarines, missiles to kill one another but failed to achieve simple 'Understanding' in last five decades. The word 'love' has been lost somewhere in piles of nuclear bombs, Kashmir.. I will really appreciate if you can print the common heritage between us bridging the gaps. Thanks for the good work.

Neeraj Sharma
USA

 

Wowed!

I am saddened to learn how viciously the Pakistani General is pursuing his personal vendetta against you to tar your reputation. Yet I believe your courage to speak the truth has earned you the kind of respect that no General can destroy. It is still heartbreaking to watch your family suffer just because you dared call a dictator by his “first” name – “dictator.” Pakistan has long groaned under his jackboot; it is now destined to move into the sunshine of democracy. When that dawn breaks out, today’s sufferers will be remembered as its ushers. So will you! As the saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining: Your ordeal has brought me to your Website which, by the way, has just wowed me!

Prof. Tarique Niazi
University of Wisconsin,
Eau Claire, Wisconsin, USA

Do Not, Please

I can sum up your weekly magazine in a single sentence:"You are actually a trend setter in Pakistani journalism." At the moment it really needs a boost from people like you to lift it from the bottom. It is really fascinating stuff to read. I had never imagined that someone from Pakistan could produce so exciting stuff based on official documents.

It is really encouraging to note that still there are some investigative reporters in Pakistan, specially your reporter Rauf Klasra from Islamabad who has filed another good story on fishing business. I wonder how he will be surviving after filing such dangerous stuff! I think, this new investigative web paper will go a long way in promoting the culture of true journalism in Pakistan in the years to come. I hope all the other news papers and reporters will be compelled to follow your style and trend though at the moment they all are not ready to do investigative journalism aimed at attacking the corruption being done by some powerful people of the country...perhaps they are afraid of hard labour and risk involved in this kind of journalism that you are doing...you are the trend setters! we all love you for this exciting stuff....please keep it up! and do not accept any ad from the infamous government agency ---Press Information Department, that has actually corrupted journalism in Pakistan!

Wasim Nawaz
Lahore, Pakistan

Friedman Defended

Mr. Ahmed Sheikh has written and I quote: "I am amazed that renowned New York Times columnist/author, Thomas Friedman, (whose classic book, 'Beirut to Jerusalem,' was acclaimed by critics as having been written 'with telling detail' and was considered a 'sparkling
intellectual guidebook') should insult the intellect of a billion people by making a childish suggestion, after a five-day visit, that Indian Castoctcracy was a role model for the Islamic world."

Thus as long as what Thomas Friedman (or any other autor ) writes is in line with his views the author is objective and great. The moment he writes something otherwise, it becomes childish suggestion/insult to millions etc . Mr Ahmed Sheikh - wonderful definition of obective writing.

N.S. Parameswaran
Chennai, India (nsp@wheelsindia.com)

 

Some Message, Some Miracle!

Reference your guest column by Mr. Thomas Friedman, "Democracy Matters!" published in the August 26-Sept. 01, issue which had appeared earlier in the New York Times (August 14, 2002) with an obscene headline, "India where democracy reigns is a miracle with a message." Some message! Some miracle!

I am amazed that renowned New York Times columnist/author, Thomas Friedman, (whose classic book, 'Beirut to Jerusalem,' was acclaimed by critics as having been written 'with telling detail' and was considered a 'sparkling intellectual guidebook') should insult the intellect of a billion people by making a childish suggestion, after a five-day visit, that Indian Castoctcracy was a role model for the Islamic world.

By a strange coincidence on the same day - August 14, 2002 - when Friedman's article appeared in the New York Times, the Sikhs, (who have lived in India for five centuries and know India well) bisected and dissected Indian democracy in a widely-read Sikh diaspora newspaper column with details and figures from the UN's Human Development Report-2002. The column was headlined, "Indian 'democracy' leads the world in human degradation - ranked 124th out of 173 countries surveyed." The second headline interestingly was, "Sikhs want a democratic independent buffer state of Khalistan based on a Jeffersonian concept of Democracy - NOT fascist Hinduvta Castocracy." The column is available on the internet at: http://www.khalistan-affairs.org/Main/K_Calling/kc08142002.htm

I am an avid reader of Mr. Thomas Friedman's usually excellent columns in the New York Times like the one he wrote a few days ago - August 28, 2002 - headlined, "Cuckoo in Carolina,"00 http://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/28/opinion/28FRIE.html and respect the opinions he broadcasts with sincerity and a very lucid pen. BUT, his August 14 column, repeated by the South Asia Tribune was...

Ahmed Sheikh
Washington DC

 

Following You

I have followed your trials and tribulations and respect your integrity and courage. An Urdu poet said:

Aman ki Aarzoo na ker, aman ka mudda'a hai moat,
Too gulshan-e-hayat ko, zindigi ka karzar sammajh

(Do not crave for peace or calm, it is like death. Consider this world as the battlefield of life).

Atam Vetta,
Retired University Statistician
Oxford, UK.

Asif Zardari’s Version of Citibank account

The SAT report “The untold story of Asif Zardari’s Citibank account” (July 20, 2002) claiming how Zardari was made a ‘case history’ for US Senate by the Citibank is a repetition of a two year old inquiry which found nothing against Senator Zardari of wrong doing.

The US law requires banks to conduct due diligence and make it a crime for a bank to conceal or fake the identity of a customer. The laws also bar American banks from handling accounts for foreign entities unless records were maintained in the United States that showed the identities of the account owners. In 1998 a US Senate sub committee was formed to probe Citibank practices and to ascertain whether it had exercised “due diligence” in opening private bank accounts of high profile persons. The sub committee was to scrutinise the Citibank practices and not probe Senator Zardari for money laundering.

When the reports of Citibank probe became public in 1998 a section of the press declared that the US Congress was scrutinising Mr Asif Ali Zardari’s accounts for investigating money laundering. Mr Zardari immediately contradicted the reports saying that since he did not have an account with the Citibank there was no question of his imaginary accounts being investigated for money laundering. He also clarified that the US Congress was scrutinising the Citibank’s practices and not his accounts which did not even exist.

Subsequently a year later the position of Senator Zardari was vindicated when the Chairman of the Senate sub committee Senator Susan Collins reported after the conclusion of the probe "The Subcommittee has uncovered no evidence that Citibank or any other private bank knowingly helped Mr. Salinas (of Mexico) or any other criminals launder dirty money,".

There was no mention of the name of Mr. Asif Ali Zardari let alone the allegation of money laundering against him in the Senate sub committee’s report.

Farooq Naek
Defence Counsel
of Ms Benazir Bhutto/Asif Ali Zardari
Karachi, Pakistan

 

Shake them up

SA Tribune has really shaken the whole of Pakistan. According to my assessment, around 10,000 people including 4,000 NGOs, government officials, diplomats, journalists and other people receive the Tribune regularly. However, almost tens of thousands of people know about SA Tribune stories by secondary source and discuss it. In a short span of time, SA Tribune stories have become talk of the town. We always wait for the next issue. You deserve high appreciation for this real Jihad and truthful professionalism.

Shafqat Munir
Islamabad, Pakistan

 

Shocking

It's a shocking news for all of us. I assure you our all out cooperation in this regard to get justice for a great person like you. I have already written a letter to the Chief Executive, Minister for Interior, Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights and Secretary Home Punjab to condemn the sneak attack on a very respectable and patriotic person and a senior journalist. I am also writing a letter to the High Commissioner of the United Nations Human Rights Commission, Mrs Mary Robinson.

Ansar Burney, Advocate
Human Rights Activist, Pakistan

 

Journalist under Attack

Veteran journalist Shaheen Sehbai is once again been targetted for criticizing a government. This time, however, Shaheen is in USA but his family and friends are being harassed by police and state with raids at their house in connection with a false case of 'committing a dacoity at gun point' six months ago. Shaheen has recently launched a web magazine
http://www.satribune.com which, as usual, is informative and critical about the deeds of military dictator General Musharraf's regime. Details of the attack are also on the website. Targetting journalists and their relatives is a dastardly act and we should all condemn it. Please circulate this among as many as you can and write to authorities in and outside Pakistan about the torture to Shaheen and his relatives.

Dr Riaz Ahmed
Department of Applied Chemistry
University of Karachi

 

Who's Next

I came to know of your ordeal. Such Fascist tactics should have been long dead by now. That these are still being used in the land of the pure, is a matter of great shame. Any one having a modicum of decency would stand by citizen Sehbai for one never knows for whom the bell will toll next time.

Anwaar Hussain
Al-Ain, UAE

Thank the dunderheads

"English poet and critic John Dryden's (1631-1700) famous couplet, "Of all the tyrannies on humankind/ The worst is that which persecutes the mind," immidiately came to mind when I read your E-Mail appended below about a false dacoity case having been registered against you in Pakistan (obviously with a 'wink and a nod' from some low-life higher authority) after your expose`of corruption in the excellent South Asia Tribune (> http://www.satribune.com/archives/Aug10-16_02/opinion_editorsdesk.htm <) in which names were named. South Asia Tribune Sir, is Journalism at its best! Bravo! Keep it up.

Allow me to repeat what I said when I offered my support to Mrs. Sethi when the Nawaz Sharif government abducted Mr. Najam Sethi, Editor of Friday Times, some years ago. I quoted a Napoleonic adage that "the most unsupportable of tyrannies is that of inferiors". The adage applies to the current situation in Pakistan too and no decent, respectable and patriotic person can ignore the sneak attack on a patriotic senior journalist like you Mr. Sehbai. Looking at the brighter side, I think you should thank these dunder-heads as now the South Asia Tribune will really prosper.

3. Please be assured that you have my full support and will be honored if I could be of any service to a journalist and a friend like you whose time-tested ability to talk-to-power, and whose integrity and patriotism I have greatly respected and admired over the years since I met you in the early 90's. People with courage and character always seem sinister to the rest!"

A. Sheikh
Washington, DC

 

Most Shameful

"It is the most shameful thing a totalitarian government can do. We have seen such things happening many times before in the banana republic of Pakistan. Eventually, truth prevails. Shaheen Sehbai is a man of character, honor and integrity and I offer him every support he needs in his fight against tyrannical rule of an out-law and renegade general."

K. Ashraf
California

What we Missed

"Its a great pleasure to read SAT online edition, Many friends of mine really missed Shaheen Sehbai's writings, the most trustworthy, honest and critical writings, a rare thing one finds in our local writers and press. The few articles that i have come across in this paper present the most realistic things and issues of Pakistani politics. Pakistani readers and world opinion makers cannot have any realistic view of Pakistani government, society, state and its power politics unless one reads what Shaheen Sehbai writes. It is not just your journalistic diction of presentation that i love to read but the stuff, content, substance and above all the perspective that you and the fellows who are working with you, present. The articles, in fact the selection of issues that get highlighted here are the ones that people need to read and think over them.They seem to me most creative and independent. I must congratulate you people for initiating this paper, wish you all the best.

Mushtaque Rajpar
Karachi

 

Bravo

"Heartiest congratulations on launching your paper. Of late I have been visiting your site and read interesting stories and articles. I am sure with your enthusiasm and efforts, this paper will soon become popular with Pakistani and international readers. Bravo."

Shahbaz Sharif
President, Pakistan Muslim League (PML)

 

Wonderful

"Wonderful of you to have raised the issue of when the people of Pakistan will get an apology. (From the Editor's Desk, Aug 9) Interesting news about the new deal with Nawaz Sharif Family."

Benazir Bhutto
Chairperson, Pakistan People's Party
London, UK

Classic Muckracking

"Good job. Classic muckraking in the tradition of Mencken and Bierce, and not a moment too soon. Allow me a simple request to be filed under the improvements department---cleaner artwork (lose the rune-like banner)--please. A more complex one is that you also start to train your guns on the Indians (and the Banglas) next door. This may sound strange coming from someone of Indian origin but it stems simply from the desire to see our morons punctured in the same manner, while relishing the insults meted out to your morons. I am glad you made it out.

Deepak Rao
New Haven, CT

 

Indian Kalam's Hair

First of all, congratulations on your newspaper and wish you all the best for a bright future. I also would like to congratulate you on one of the balanced articles on Dr. Kalam in the Pakistani Press (Though I disagree about some of the other formulations regarding India in that article). I believe APJ Abdul Kalam is a role model for Indians and can be for all South Asians as well. I
know i want my children to look upto him as a role model. His emphasis on children being the future of India can be easily translated to read children of South Asia. He even had about 100 school children present for his swearing in ceremony.

His book on making India self sufficient by the year 2020 should be a required reading for all South Asians in schools and colleges (after suitable editorial changes I suppose!) for the vision and hope it offers. Also, he is not a Nuclear Scientist but an Aeronautical Engineer. Most of the time the press (mostly Indian) screws up on this critical aspect. Critical because his skills
and expertise lie in system and project management rather than in pure science. The key to good system and project management is of course the time which is spent on planning a project, scoping and implementing it in a time bound manner. This is one key area in which South Asians generally lag behind other countries and is also one of the reasons why many projects have both cost and time overruns in our countries which adversely impacts our economies. Lastly I think his hair is cool and he did the right thing in not trimming it.

Jayant Moghe
New Delhi, India

Is army rule better? No way

Your article (When will Pakistan get an apology?, SA Tribune, Aug 9) as usual, is very informative and thought provoking. The fact is that our Generals never expanded the geography of Pakistan and were instrumental in shrinking it, unlike the Indian Army which expanded the territory of India by bringing in its fold Kashmir, Goa and also East Pakistan. In 1970 we had about 2,500 gazetted officers and about 12 generals. Now we have more than 125 generals and over 12,000 bureaucrats.

We have a free press but its reporting is never taken seriously. We have courts of law but the people have lost faith in them. Our estimates in the very first month of the financial year have been revised downward from Rs. 460 billion to Rs. 449 billion. We may be having over $7 bn in reserves but the people were better of when we had only half a billion, as prices of electricity, petrol, sugar, etc. were 25 per cent less than now. So all said and done, one thing is certain that the worst democracy is better than such dictatorship. The law and order situation, soaring sucides, umemployment, flooding of foreign goods and closing of industries, lack of amenities, are all because of ill advised policies of the army. We are confident that the people will come out, vote and certify rejection of the army rule.

Ejaz Shaffi
PML(Nawaz) Central Executive member

 

The Right Decision

"Launching 'South Asia Tribune' is the right decision. It is the need of the time. Its goals are clear and its focus is right. Pakistan needs help. It needs help from all people of integrity. We are dealing with thugs. A lot of people involved in Pakistani journalism are sweeping Pakistani generals’ mess under their rugs. They are no friends of Pakistan. I am glad you have started looking under that rug and bringing out the mess they have been sweeping under it for the last three years of General Musharraf’s regime.

Please keep up the good work. We have to hit hard on the heads of all those who consider themselves above the law in Pakistan. We need to save Pakistan from all those thugs who break the law, illegally take over the country, trample the constitution, extend unlawful favors to their families and friends, give or take bribery, commit corruption and prefer their personal interest on Pakistan’s national interest."

Khwaja Ashraf
Berkeley, California

 

Good and Bad

"When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle," said Burke. It is delightful to see a publication firmly on the side of the good. Bravo! Wishing you every success.

Engr. Khurram Dastgir-Khan
Pakistan

The Sis-in Law Responds

"Refer to your column Grapevine.Comm which published a story regarding the award of a contract for public relations for the Central Board of Revenue to my company. In this regard, there are a few facts about my business that I would like to clarify before talking about that particular article.

My company, Grapevine Communications, which commenced work in 1994, has been providing creative solutions and image-building ideas to various brands, while working 360 degrees around them in PR and other event management activities. We were around before the present government came into power in 1999, and are here to stay whatever the government. We have
and had to our credit, prestigious clients like the Islamabad Serena hotel, Pakistan Tobacco Company, PSL, MSU World Bank, Indus Vision Television and others. Personally, I have a track record of working as a PR manager for a five star hotel, as well as working with Doctor Shireen Mazari's weekly paper The Pulse for two years. My present team members include top of the
line professionals. They are as bewildered as I am about the hullabaloo and attempts to tarnish our image as a professional outfit. Our proposals and presentation given to CBR actually outshone the competitors by miles. The same feedback, circulated in the market has probably hit hard on the egos of our major competitor owned by a person known among media circles as the "rat who abandons sinking ships (governments) and changes his colours (wives) with changes in government in the political scene". After receiving feedback that they may be losing to us fair and square for a prestigious account, the same vested interests are crying foul and trying to give a twisted look to deny us the account. Should we allow them to succeed?

Your web newspaper categorically states that Grapevine is being given the CBR contract because of my being the relative of a government functionary. I deny and strongly condemn this. It further victimizes my business house by name. We will be very disappointed if the contract goes to a "tribute exacted under duress". My company profile can be sent to anyone who doubts our credentials and if someone wishes he or she can visit us to verify facts on ground. Grapevine has been maligned and victimized by vested interest in the same contract."

Ms Tallat Azim
Executive Director
Grapevine Communications
info@grapevine.com.pk

 

President Kalam: Not entirely

Your opinion piece "Indian Kalam and the Pakistani media" by Mohammad Shehzad refers. Although the general thrust of the article reflects on a disgusting truth, it overlooks contribution of those who have tried to be as rational as possible. I for one have tried my level best to portray Mr. Kalam in my regular columns closest to whatever he is. It will be extremely unfair to dub the entire media hawkish.

Farrukh Khan Pitafii
Islamabad, Pakistan

"Saw your article, headlined, "Indian Kalam and the Pakistani media" in the August 10 South Asia Tribune. Your admiration for India's newly elected 'Hindoo/Muslim' showboy President - who needs to brush his teeth, cut his hair and announce a name change - is misplaced.

The man has been 'discovered' by the morally repugnant, caste-ridden, Swastika-worshipping, BJP rulers to convey a 'role-model' message to the oppressed 115 million Muslims in India whose forefathers were abandoned by us in 1947 and remain forgotten by Pakistan's irresponsible and corrupt feudal/mercenary ruling elite. The BJP thinkers want the Muslims in India to call their widows, Randis as the Hindus do, instead of addressing them respectfully as Bewah etc., as they do now.

The crafty Hindu fascists also want to use the fellow's socalled Muslim background in the Islamic world to muster support for a permanent seat on the UN security Council. That should explain, to gullible Pakistanis, the reason for 'Pundit' Abul Kalam's selection and why Indian dezinformatsiya has lately started to falsely claim that India has the second largest Muslim population of 150 million.

I would respectfully suggest you read what the Sikhs - who know the Hinduvta leadership much better than you and I - say about 'Maulana Alhaj' Abul Kalam, Bharat's newly elected Pardhan Mantri. The Sikh write up, headlined, "Musings on Honorary (DR.) A. P. J. Abul Kalam 'Iyer' - Kalam an RSS 'poster-boy-Muslim' or an eminent Indian scientist," can be viewed at the following link on the internet; http://www.khalistan-affairs.org/Main/K_Calling/kc06262002.htm

Ahmed Sheikh
Washington DC

 

Some rescue!

I don't have words for such a beautiful magazine. After going through the issues of SAT, now I believe that real journalism is still alive in Pakistan. I am a mid career journalist of Islamabad (ISI-amabad), I thought that no one is for rescue of deteriorating journalism ethics and professionalism in the country, but without calling 911 rescue is on its way. Thanks.

Mohsin Babbar
Assistant Editor SDPI & Free Lance journalist

 

Who to Trust?

"I am disturbed to read the South Asia Tribune revelation of plagarism by Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi. Can any one tell me that this news is not correct? Dr. (?) Maleeha Lodhi has done an excellent job representing Pakistan. Recently, there was a news about manipulations being orchestrated by Dr. Naseem Ashraf and Mr. Moin Qureshi to funnel funds to their coffers. Is there any one we can trust?"

Vicky Siddique
justice4peace2002@yahoo.com

 

New Standards

"You are setting some new standards in internet journalism of South Asia. I hope you can continue. All those who love Press freedoms support you."

Ishtiaq Ahmed
Melbourne, Australia

 

Explain, please!

"Refer your story on Zardari's accounts in Citibank. If a bank president testifies before the US Senate that Zardari kept accounts of millions of dollars in his bank, Benazir Bhutto and Asif Zardari have to do some explaining before people should give them another chance."

Naseer Ahmed
Manchester, UK

 

Complicated

"The Grapevine is too complicated for readers like me. I can't follow what you say and who are the people you are talking about. Can't you put it in simple words?"

Elizabeth Becker
Maryland, USA

 

Great Effort, but!

"Looks like a great effort. How are you going to keep up the intensity and news of the first issue and deepen as well the range and analysis? It looks like a lot of work."

Arnold Zeitlin
Ex-Director Freedom Forum
Hong Kong

 

Congrats

"Excellent. Keep up the good work. We look up to people like you. With best wishes."

Sir Cam
sircam33@hotmail.com

 

"Congratulations. Good start. Wish you success. I have passed it to a lot of my friends and shall continue. Best of luck."

Wajid Jawad
Ex-Chairman, Export Promotion Bureau,
Karachi, Pakistan

"Congratulations and best wishes. Saw the satribune.com. It is very attractive."

C.K. Arora
Senior Journalist
Washington DC

"Heartiest Congratulations and good luck."

Aziz Memon.
Chairman,
Kings Group,
Karachi, Pakistan.

"I saw your paper on the website and I think it makes very interesting reading, especially the interview with Benazir. However, I thought it was rather long but it was very detailed. I have registered myself and would be interested to read more stories on Pakistan. All the best for your new venture. I was very impressed that you put together this paper in such a short time since you came to the US."

Shobha John
New Delhi, India

"Well Done."

Nayeema Ahmed
London, UK

"Great surprise. You have done it very well. Wish you best of luck."

Hamid Mir
Islamabad, Pakistan

"I would like to join your team too. I will prove myself more than an asset for your magazine."

Ehtasham A. Mahar
Islamabad, Pakistan

"Congratulations on launching the new web newspaper. I wish you all the success. You know I am a great admirer of yours."

Imran Husain
Karachi

"Congrats/Mubrook/Mubarak/Mazeltouf. I wish you the best as we need people like you around."

Obaid
Towellers Ltd.
Karachi, Pakistan

 

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