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Monday, June 24, 2013
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Regional moot on judicial activism launched
A two-day India-Pakistan regional workshop on ‘Judicial Activism, Public Interest Litigation and Human Rights’ was launched on Tuesday with sharing views by judiciary activists, retired judges and renowned lawyers from both the countries on the status of public interest litigations.
The conference, jointly organised by the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (Piler) and the Hamdard University School of Law in collaboration with the Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) India at a hotel, was attended by lawyers, civil society activists, retired judges and the media.
The conference, jointly organised by the Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (Piler) and the Hamdard University School of Law in collaboration with the Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) India at a hotel, was attended by lawyers, civil society activists, retired judges and the media.
Indian senior lawyer Colin Gonsalves, Mukul Sinha Advocate, Nijhari Sinha Advocate, Justice (retd) Nasir Aslam Zahid, Faisal Siddiqui, Piler’s Karamat Ali, Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) Chairman Muhammad Ali Shah and others spoke on the occasion.
Justice (retd) AK Ganguly from India and Justice (retd) Rashid A Razvi from Pakistan gave detailed overviews of the constitutional and judicial systems in their respective countries and discussed the status of public interest litigation and constraints at judicial level.
Ganguly gave examples of revolutionary changes brought in public interest cases in different countries of South Asia, while Razvi gave examples of prominent judgments and amendments in the Pakistan judiciary to understand the public interest activism within judiciary and impacts of increasing religion extremism.
He criticised military adventurism, which badly affected the judicial system. He lauded the role of lawyers and other civil society activists in Pakistan for restoration of the judiciary.
He said that after restoration of the judiciary in 2009, the country witnessed that the cases of missing persons and bonded labour were taken up by the judiciary, which provided an important forum to the citizens, especially the marginalised people.
Talking about the India-Pakistan Judicial Committee on Prisoners, Justice (retd) Nasir Aslam Zahid said the judicial committee has helped the prisoners on both sides by visiting their jails.
He said that there were 437 Indian prisoners in Malir Jail Karachi, of which 284 are those who have completed their sentences, but they were still in jails because of bureaucratic hurdles. It is a violation of the constitutions of both India and Pakistan, he added.
He said that when he visited Indian prisons to meet Pakistani prisoners to confirm their nationality, it took a few minutes, but because of bureaucracy, they had been languishing in jails for years. He urged the judiciary members to play their role and make the process easy.
The lawyer couple Mukul Sinha Advocate and his wife Nijhari Sinha Advocate gave a joint presentation on judicial intervention in cases of communal conflicts in India.
They said that if any party wanted to get votes of minority, the counter political parties use majority votes and in this way communal conflict rises.
In this situation, it depends on the active judiciary how it plays its role to avoid communal conflicts and resolve the issue of minority, they added.
Colin Gonsalves from India said that revolutionary changes in laws and public interest cases were being taken. According to him, developed countries, even Europe and the US, could not understand the public interest cases, but the situation was different in developing countries.
He said: “In India, 40 percent people earn below PKR 100 a day. Due to this, there is malnutrition and poverty. A court could give orders, but it could not implement it. It is the responsibility of the state to implement the orders. Tracing history, there is a tradition that prisoners used to write letters to the courts, and the judges would turn those letters into petitions for hearing to provide relief to the victims.”
The World Trade Organisation (WTO), World Bank (WB) and multinational companies force the governments to breach their own laws just to safeguard the interests of their organisations, he added.
He said that apart from this, the private sector was being promoted in the education, health and water sectors. “In this situation, how can poor people survive, as their children are even victims of malnourishment?” he asked. He also opposed public-private partnership, terming it a dangerous trend for the marginalised people.
Piler’s Karamat Ali said that since 1971, the situation of the people living in Pakistan and India had been adverse, especially the fishermen who were being victimised by the neighbouring governments to keep their political rivalry intact.
He said that in Pakistan, there was no voice of the common people. “Those associated with trade unions do not have stronger voice to protect their rights. There were issues facing the minority and the women in the society. If we all want to end terrorism and extremism, we should come forward and fight together,” he added.
Talking about the public interest litigation (PIL) situation in Pakistan, Faisal Siddiqi Advocate said the people were tired of filing petitions to resolve their issues. He said seeds of PIL were sown in 1972. “The Darshan Masih case was the first PIL case in Pakistan,” he added.
Talking about judicial activism, he said that when martial law was imposed in 1977, the entire judiciary kept silent till 1988; similarly, in 1999, when Musharraf took over, the judiciary was divided.
“But the citizens’ mobilisation came to surface in 2007. There was massive growth of the media after 2007. Gradually, the change came to surface in public interest litigations,” he added.
He said the law might be a part of the solution of the people’s basic problems. Pro-labour judges were described as anti-industry judges, he added.
He said judges could not implement their judgments because it was the responsibility of the state to implement the orders. For example, in the Karachi violence case and the Balochistan case, the judiciary passed the order, but the state did not implement it, he added.
Trade unionist Nasir Mansoor, Javed Qazi Advocate, Pakistan People’s Party leader Taj Haider, human rights activist Zulfiqar Halepoto and others also took part in the discussion during the question-answer session.
Prashant Bhushan Advocate from India said the culture of suo motu in India was rare. He said that there was a need to make systematic changes to protect the rights of the citizens.
He said that it was observed that the police were pressurised by political ministers, using them for their interests, instead of allowing the police to safeguard the rights of the people.
When the government failed to formulate legislation, the courts gave judgments; but for the past seven years, their orders are yet to be enforced, he added.
PFF Chairman Muhammad Ali Shah gave a presentation on prisoners’ issue, saying that the issue of detaining fishermen in Pakistan and India started surfacing in 1965.
But later in 1985, both the countries exchanged fishermen under a mutual agreement and those released travelled to their countries via their fishing vessels, he added.
He said that later, the issue became further complicated for the fishermen due to restrictions. “The colour of the sea is the same. There is no clear demarcation of sea border. Fishing boats sometimes cross mistakenly and as a result, the crew are caught and put in jails, he added.
Monday, April 15, 2013
Discovering – and encouraging – 'bourgeois dignity'
I have just read a most remarkable book, “Bourgeois Dignity: Why Economics Can't Explain the Modern World,” by Deirdre McCloskey, a distinguished professor of – get this – economics, history, English and communications at the University of Illinois, Chicago. It is part of a body of work making great waves in three academic disciplines. It is worth noting that Professor Deidre McCloskey has for some time been among the most revered of the big thinkers in economics, and was so when she was known as Don McCloskey. That is the focus of another of her books.
The main thesis of this book is that all the explanations of the explosion of economic growth that occurred about 300 years ago are inadequate. You see, from the beginning of recorded time until the 17th century, the average human lived daily on $3 worth of goods and services (in today's dollars). This means uncertain meals, two or perhaps three sets of clothes, and a short life lived within a hovel. Think of eastern Afghanistan or Pakistan, or Papua New Guinea today.
About 300 years ago, in the western world this changed rapidly so that within three generations economic growth in western Europe and North America had exceeded that of all previous recorded and archaeological history.
Several theories try to explain this. Some have failed spectacularly, such as those offered by Karl Marx, others explain only elements of that historical shift, such as modern economic-growth theory. McCloskey argues (and I abbreviate dangerously) that sometime during the 1700's attitudes changed in a way that accepted a set of values, which have since been labeled as bourgeois. These include honesty, industry or effort, hope and faith in the future. McCloskey argues that a belief in these values manifested itself in a few places in western Europe, and through observed changes to language and rhetoric (she cites Jane Austen's novels for example), gave what we might call the middle classes a dignity that had beforehand been reserved only for the nobility.
Once liberty was mixed with the dignity of what we might call middle-class toil, an economic renaissance emerged. She recounts the spread of growth along with this rhetoric over the past two centuries. More important, McCloskey outlines where it continues to emerge in places where bourgeois dignity mixes with freedom: in India, China and Africa.
Like truly great intellectual innovations, it is simultaneously brilliant and once revealed so utterly simple that one is left wondering why it took so long to uncover. It is one of the great intellectual achievements of the new century. It should leave us asking some important questions. If the encouragement of a young Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison or Bill Gates is key to economic growth, how are we doing as a nation? Is the sort of industriousness that McCloskey argues propelled us from great poverty to great wealth still common or is it increasingly derided in popular culture? Has the rhetoric dignifying hard work been supplanted by valorization of easy riches and effortless talent? These are questions to ask one another after reading this marvelous book.
The main thesis of this book is that all the explanations of the explosion of economic growth that occurred about 300 years ago are inadequate. You see, from the beginning of recorded time until the 17th century, the average human lived daily on $3 worth of goods and services (in today's dollars). This means uncertain meals, two or perhaps three sets of clothes, and a short life lived within a hovel. Think of eastern Afghanistan or Pakistan, or Papua New Guinea today.
About 300 years ago, in the western world this changed rapidly so that within three generations economic growth in western Europe and North America had exceeded that of all previous recorded and archaeological history.
Several theories try to explain this. Some have failed spectacularly, such as those offered by Karl Marx, others explain only elements of that historical shift, such as modern economic-growth theory. McCloskey argues (and I abbreviate dangerously) that sometime during the 1700's attitudes changed in a way that accepted a set of values, which have since been labeled as bourgeois. These include honesty, industry or effort, hope and faith in the future. McCloskey argues that a belief in these values manifested itself in a few places in western Europe, and through observed changes to language and rhetoric (she cites Jane Austen's novels for example), gave what we might call the middle classes a dignity that had beforehand been reserved only for the nobility.
Once liberty was mixed with the dignity of what we might call middle-class toil, an economic renaissance emerged. She recounts the spread of growth along with this rhetoric over the past two centuries. More important, McCloskey outlines where it continues to emerge in places where bourgeois dignity mixes with freedom: in India, China and Africa.
Like truly great intellectual innovations, it is simultaneously brilliant and once revealed so utterly simple that one is left wondering why it took so long to uncover. It is one of the great intellectual achievements of the new century. It should leave us asking some important questions. If the encouragement of a young Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison or Bill Gates is key to economic growth, how are we doing as a nation? Is the sort of industriousness that McCloskey argues propelled us from great poverty to great wealth still common or is it increasingly derided in popular culture? Has the rhetoric dignifying hard work been supplanted by valorization of easy riches and effortless talent? These are questions to ask one another after reading this marvelous book.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Mumbai doctors dole out tips on healthy living
More than 300 women turned up at Mulund and Vashi branches of Fortis Hospital over the weekend to attend the interactive sessions and take tips on ways to stay fit and healthy.
The sessions were followed by free health camps, organized by TOI and facilitated by the hospital.
Speaking to the gathering on Saturday, Dr Kaushal Malhan, orthopaedic surgeon with the hospital, told the participants that osteoporosis can also be fatal. "Nearly 20% patients can die because of osteoporosis," he said. "30% patients are left disabled for life, 40% cannot walk as they used to and 80% lose at least one aspect of their daily independence," he added.
The women present for the session were explained the importance of measuring bone density too. "Up to the age of 30 years, the bone mass can be increased with the help of well-balanced diet, calcium and Vitamin D. However, the foundation of the bone is more or less made by this time. Which means that what happens to the bones in the later years depends on this foundation," said Dr Malhan.
This was followed by a talk about healthy heart. Dr Hasmukh Rawat, cardiologist with Fortis Hospital, provided women some simple tips. "Oil is the most important part that is in the hands of women. Using olive oil is a very good option. Families should keep in mind the poly unsaturated fats (PUFA) while eating. Apart from that brisk walking at least three times a week for 30-45 minutes, keep an active lifestyle, which will help avoid heart problems," he said.
Gynaecologist Dr Bindhu KS made similar suggestions during her talk at Fortis Hospital in Vashi on Sunday. She explained how eating right and physical exercise still remain the golden rules even though a lot has changed about Indian families. "Earlier, pregnancies were by chance but now they are mostly by choice. What women need to know is that they should remain fit even before conception and not only during pregnancy for long-term health benefits," she said.
Women, mostly between the age group of 30 to 55 years, were also given a low down on ways to prevent breast and cervical cancer and how self-awareness is the key by gynaecologist Dr Vandana Gawdi.
Gawdi also said that women should opt for the vaccine that offers protection against cervical cancer. "The best age to take the vaccine is between 9 and 11 years. But women can take it till the age of 45," she said, adding that India still loses 200 women to cervical cancer every day.
The women turned up for consultations with physiotherapists and cardiologists, checking blood pressure, BMI, ECG and bone densitometry.
The sessions were followed by free health camps, organized by TOI and facilitated by the hospital.
Speaking to the gathering on Saturday, Dr Kaushal Malhan, orthopaedic surgeon with the hospital, told the participants that osteoporosis can also be fatal. "Nearly 20% patients can die because of osteoporosis," he said. "30% patients are left disabled for life, 40% cannot walk as they used to and 80% lose at least one aspect of their daily independence," he added.
The women present for the session were explained the importance of measuring bone density too. "Up to the age of 30 years, the bone mass can be increased with the help of well-balanced diet, calcium and Vitamin D. However, the foundation of the bone is more or less made by this time. Which means that what happens to the bones in the later years depends on this foundation," said Dr Malhan.
This was followed by a talk about healthy heart. Dr Hasmukh Rawat, cardiologist with Fortis Hospital, provided women some simple tips. "Oil is the most important part that is in the hands of women. Using olive oil is a very good option. Families should keep in mind the poly unsaturated fats (PUFA) while eating. Apart from that brisk walking at least three times a week for 30-45 minutes, keep an active lifestyle, which will help avoid heart problems," he said.
Gynaecologist Dr Bindhu KS made similar suggestions during her talk at Fortis Hospital in Vashi on Sunday. She explained how eating right and physical exercise still remain the golden rules even though a lot has changed about Indian families. "Earlier, pregnancies were by chance but now they are mostly by choice. What women need to know is that they should remain fit even before conception and not only during pregnancy for long-term health benefits," she said.
Women, mostly between the age group of 30 to 55 years, were also given a low down on ways to prevent breast and cervical cancer and how self-awareness is the key by gynaecologist Dr Vandana Gawdi.
Gawdi also said that women should opt for the vaccine that offers protection against cervical cancer. "The best age to take the vaccine is between 9 and 11 years. But women can take it till the age of 45," she said, adding that India still loses 200 women to cervical cancer every day.
The women turned up for consultations with physiotherapists and cardiologists, checking blood pressure, BMI, ECG and bone densitometry.
Monday, February 25, 2013
Tirah valley: The land of pure hashish
Trekking through the secret, narrow passes in the mountains of Tirah, Landikotal and Jamrud tehsils of Khyber Agency, Haji Zubair Afridi and his aides smuggle goatskins in a pickup through Kacharo Kosa. Hidden underneath it are kilos of hashish – what Afridi refers to as his “black gold.”
Their final destination is a clandestine warehouse in Jamrud Bazaar, where Zubair exchanges the animal skin for bundles of cash. He hands out Rs5,000 to the pickup driver and Rs3,000 to a teenage assistant. The rough terrain, he says, has nothing much to offer except for the unending clashes between rival groups. It is, however, rich in abundance as far as hashish is concerned.
The moderate climate and red soil make it a child’s play for Tirah Maidan’s local farmers to grow cannabis. The crop’s stems are hung for two weeks to dry, after which a thin cloth is used to carefully thresh the plant to extract the dust power called “garda.”
Converting garda into consumable hashish is a long process. It must be wrapped inside a fresh goatskin for as long as three months until it turns into a greenish black substance. One skin can contain around 10 kilogrammes of garda.
The skin provides the oil needed to solidify ingredients, said Nisar Afridi, a veteran hashish dealer. The longer the garda is kept inside the skin, the better it tastes. June, July and August are the best months to do this, but direct sunlight should be avoided so the final product is not dry, he added.
Hashish is supplied to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa as well as Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi where consumers are willing to pay nearly 10 times more than those in Jamrud, Nisar said.
“We don’t transport it. We just sell it in the agency,” he said, adding that people buy it from them and smuggle it through the Karkhano check post on mules, horses and in vehicles.
Taj Muhammad, a real estate agent and builder in Hayatabad, while loading his cigarette with moist green hashish said that if the hashish is dry, it loses its effect and gives a headache. He has been addicted to it for 15 years and believes it is less harmful than tobacco.
There are no official statistics on total hashish production in the valley. A tribesman familiar with the matter, however, said that a banned outfit controls the price and is heavily invested in the business. In November and December last year, a kilogramme was being sold for Rs65,000 while in June, July and August, the supply increased, dropping the price down to Rs45,000. There are about 250 shops selling hashish in the Wazir Dandh area, Jamrud.
Wahid Gul Afridi, a khasadar force official, is known for recovering thousands of kilogrammes of hashish and has been especially posted at a checkpoint to do just this.
“My instincts can catch hashish dealers, even when the drugs are hidden in vehicles,” he said, adding that he can sense traffickers by their “strange looks”. Gul claims that his resolve has not been broken by the numerous bribes offered to him. “I do this work to get a promotion; I don’t do it for bribes.”
Their final destination is a clandestine warehouse in Jamrud Bazaar, where Zubair exchanges the animal skin for bundles of cash. He hands out Rs5,000 to the pickup driver and Rs3,000 to a teenage assistant. The rough terrain, he says, has nothing much to offer except for the unending clashes between rival groups. It is, however, rich in abundance as far as hashish is concerned.
The moderate climate and red soil make it a child’s play for Tirah Maidan’s local farmers to grow cannabis. The crop’s stems are hung for two weeks to dry, after which a thin cloth is used to carefully thresh the plant to extract the dust power called “garda.”
Converting garda into consumable hashish is a long process. It must be wrapped inside a fresh goatskin for as long as three months until it turns into a greenish black substance. One skin can contain around 10 kilogrammes of garda.
The skin provides the oil needed to solidify ingredients, said Nisar Afridi, a veteran hashish dealer. The longer the garda is kept inside the skin, the better it tastes. June, July and August are the best months to do this, but direct sunlight should be avoided so the final product is not dry, he added.
Hashish is supplied to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa as well as Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi where consumers are willing to pay nearly 10 times more than those in Jamrud, Nisar said.
“We don’t transport it. We just sell it in the agency,” he said, adding that people buy it from them and smuggle it through the Karkhano check post on mules, horses and in vehicles.
Taj Muhammad, a real estate agent and builder in Hayatabad, while loading his cigarette with moist green hashish said that if the hashish is dry, it loses its effect and gives a headache. He has been addicted to it for 15 years and believes it is less harmful than tobacco.
There are no official statistics on total hashish production in the valley. A tribesman familiar with the matter, however, said that a banned outfit controls the price and is heavily invested in the business. In November and December last year, a kilogramme was being sold for Rs65,000 while in June, July and August, the supply increased, dropping the price down to Rs45,000. There are about 250 shops selling hashish in the Wazir Dandh area, Jamrud.
Wahid Gul Afridi, a khasadar force official, is known for recovering thousands of kilogrammes of hashish and has been especially posted at a checkpoint to do just this.
“My instincts can catch hashish dealers, even when the drugs are hidden in vehicles,” he said, adding that he can sense traffickers by their “strange looks”. Gul claims that his resolve has not been broken by the numerous bribes offered to him. “I do this work to get a promotion; I don’t do it for bribes.”
Sunday, January 13, 2013
Teens Prefer Text Messages for Health Tips
The world has set new trends for teenagers in every age and era, so why this age be any different. Mobile phones are an essential part of life these days and teenagers spending most of their time glued to the technological device is a common sight to see. What might surprise many is the fact that every teenager receives about an average of 3,417 text messages every month or as estimated 114 messages in a day as per a US survey.
When the technological trends are clubbed with health notes to prevent and control diseases, a grand blend is procured. Recently an idea to start promoting health tidbits to teens using text messages was coupled with a report prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which advices students on the consumption of fruits and vegetables. It informs students to consume fruits and vegetables on an average of 1.2 times per day as opposed to the prior recommended of five times. These messages when sent through SMS have created a major impact on the students who are highly inclined to message as reported by TOI.
The Journal of Nutrition Education and Behaviour reports, a study done by the University of Arizona that in order to motivate and inform teens about the reality of today's adolescent lifestyles via text messages is ideal to reach out to the obsolete teenagers.
When the technological trends are clubbed with health notes to prevent and control diseases, a grand blend is procured. Recently an idea to start promoting health tidbits to teens using text messages was coupled with a report prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which advices students on the consumption of fruits and vegetables. It informs students to consume fruits and vegetables on an average of 1.2 times per day as opposed to the prior recommended of five times. These messages when sent through SMS have created a major impact on the students who are highly inclined to message as reported by TOI.
The Journal of Nutrition Education and Behaviour reports, a study done by the University of Arizona that in order to motivate and inform teens about the reality of today's adolescent lifestyles via text messages is ideal to reach out to the obsolete teenagers.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Tweet anti-fireworks tips, DOH urges public
Health officials are trying a new approach in their efforts to
discourage the public from using fireworks this holiday season:
crowdsourcing.
National Epidemiology Center head
Enrique Tayag urged tweeps to send in their tips with the hashtags
#newYear, #DOH, #gangnam, and #IwasPaputok.
"Mag-post po kayo nang inyong mga tips for a safer #newYear OR show the
nation ur version of #gangnam #IwasPaputok and let us #DOH it together,"
Tayag said on his Twitter account.
Early replies included a stricter implementation of the "no fireworks" policy on the streets.
Meanwhile, an ecological group warned revelers planning to celebrate
Christmas and New Year with a bang of the consequences of fireworks on
the environment and health.
The EcoWaste Coalition said recent tests have showed the presence of heavy metals in some firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices.
“On top of the deafening noise and unsightly trash, the explosion of
firecrackers and fireworks creates a toxic cocktail of chemicals that is
indisputably bad for public health and the environment,” said group campaigner Aileen Lucero.
It said its tests of some fireworks bought from Divisoria yielded
significant levels of heavy metals such as antimony, barium, chromium,
copper and lead, and even mercury.
According to
the group, these metals are often added to the black powder mixture of
charcoal, sulfur, potassium or sodium nitrate to create the desired
sparkles and colors.
The group also noted none
of the samples provided details about their chemical ingredients, much
less their heavy metal contents.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Pakistan quashes Christian girl 'blasphemy' case
A Pakistan court on Tuesday threw out all charges against a Christian
girl accused of blasphemy for allegedly burning pages of the Koran in a
case that drew international condemnation.
Rimsha Masih, who
could have faced life in prison if convicted of the charges, spent three
weeks on remand in jail after being arrested on August 16.
She
was released on bail in September but she and her family have been in
hiding under government protection, fearful for their lives.
Although
the decision to drop the case was welcomed, it is unlikely to pave the
way for imminent reform of Pakistan's blasphemy legislation, which
activists say is too often used to settle personal disputes.
The prosecution said it would appeal the decision in the Supreme Court.
Blasphemy
is an extremely sensitive issue in Pakistan, where 97 percent of the
population are Muslims, and under the country's penal code insulting the
Prophet Mohammed can be punished by death.
Even unproven allegations can provoke a violent public response.
In
a 15-page judgement, Islamabad high court chief justice Iqbal Hameed ur
Rahman threw out the case registered against Rimsha and urged Muslims
to be "extraordinary careful" while levelling such allegations.
He
said putting Rimsha on trial would have seen the courts "used as a tool
for ulterior motive" and "to abuse the process of law".
Defence
lawyer Tahir Naveed Chaudhry told AFP that the family was "delighted"
the case had been dropped, but said they "still live in fear".
Rimsha and her family were moved to an undisclosed location after her release on bail on September 8.
An official medical report classified her as "uneducated" and 14 years
old, but with a mental age younger than her years. Others have said she
is as young as 11 and suffers from Down's Syndrome.
Paul Bhatti,
the only Christian member of Pakistan's federal cabinet, welcomed the
"historic" move, saying justice had been done.
"It will send out a
positive image of Pakistan in the international community that there is
justice for all and that society has risen up for justice and
tolerance," he told AFP.
He paid tribute to Muslim clerics,
members of the media and civil society for also playing a "positive
role" in highlighting the injustice done to Rimsha and said it would
deter others from levelling false accusations.
There is a separate
case against cleric Hafiz Mohammed Khalid Chishti, who was granted bail
last month after being accused of allegedly desecrating the Koran and
tampering with the evidence against Rimsha.
On August 24, Chishti
told AFP he thought Rimsha burned the pages as part of a Christian
"conspiracy" and demanded action against what he called their
"anti-Islam activities" in the impoverished Mehrabad neighbourhood of
Islamabad.
Pakistani political analyst Hasan Askari said the
courts had acted fairly, but that Rimsha's fate remains uncertain
because of the poor track record on how society treats people accused of
blasphemy.
Neither did he expect any immediate prospect of legal reforms.
"The
government does not have the capacity to withstand the pressure of
these religious groups especially at a time when elections are very
close," he said.
In 2011, Pakistani politicians Salman Taseer and
Shahbaz Bhatti were assassinated for demanding that the blasphemy law be
reformed.
And despite international outcry, Asia Bibi, a
Christian mother of five, sentenced to death in November 2010 after
women claimed she made derogatory remarks about the Prophet Mohammed
remains in prison, pending an appeal process.
Friday, October 5, 2012
81 years later, Lahore’s tribute to its greatest martyr
We compliment the leaders of Pakistan on renaming
Shadman Chowk in Lahore as Bhagat Singh Chowk. This gesture will greatly
strengthen the India-Pakistan peace process.
Pakistan
civil and political groups had long demanded the renaming of the Chowk.
It was once the execution ground of Central Jail, Lahore and the spot
where Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were hanged on March 23, 1931.
In
1961, the jail was demolished to make way for a residential area called
Shadman colony; Shadman Chowk was built over the execution ground.
We
— civil society activists from both India and Pakistan — held
candlelight vigils at this location every year on the anniversary of the
execution. Many times, we renamed it ourselves, with a signboard
proclaiming it as “Bhagat Singh Chowk.”
We also took
our demand to Pakistan’s political leaders. Former Pakistan Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif, whose party rules Pakistan’s Punjab province,
gave us hope that our demand would be met. We are happy that the hope
was fulfilled, and that too on the special day of Bhagat Singh’s 105th
birth anniversary.
This year too for the first time,
Bhagat Singh’s birth anniversary was celebrated at Dyal Singh College
hall in Lahore on September 28 by the Pakistan Labour Party, and 23 more
organisations. Speakers described Bhagat Singh as the representative of
the struggling masses in all of Asia. The organisers also demanded the
setting up of a museum at Bhagat Singh’s birthplace in Chak no. 105,
Lyallpur Bange in Faislabad district.
Advocate Iqbal
Virk, who is now the occupant of the house in which he was born,
participated in the function and offered all cooperation.
It
was unfortunate that a 27-member Indian delegation, which included
Bhagat Singh’s nephew Kiranjit Sandhu, and the author of several books
on the martyr, Prof. Chaman Lal, could not attend the jointly planned
anniversary as they were not issued visas. But the subsequent news of
the renaming of the Chowk has more than compensated for that.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Civil society for reforms in PaK interim constitution
Muzaffarabad, Aug 6: Dozens of civil society activists staged a peaceful
demonstration here on Monday, calling for much-needed reforms in
Pakistan administered Kashmir's Interim Constitution “to pave way for
worthwhile democracy, good governance and uncompromising
accountability.”
The demonstration, held in the wake of a row between the PaK Ehtesab Bureau and the PaK Council, coincided with a controlled visit of Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf to the site of an under-construction hydropower project near here. However, local media was not invited to the event for fear of ‘upsetting’ questions on its part.
The prime minister of Pakistan happens to be the chairman of the PaK Council, which is at the centre of allegations of corruption and financial irregularities largely because of non-observance of codal formalities and pre-audit checks in its expenditures.
“No to corrupt PaK Council,” read one of the several placards carried by the demonstrators, as they lined up along the capital’s bustling thoroughfare and later marched through it and the magnificent district headquarters complex.
They were also chanting slogans against corruption in AJK Council and non-punishment by the concerned authorities to the culpable officials.
The PaK Council, it may be recalled, was established under PaK's Interim Constitution Act, 1974 apparently “to serve as a bridge between Muzaffarabad and Islamabad.” However, contrarily, it has turned itself into a parallel government, evading accountability of its expenditures by investigating and accounting bodies of Pakistan or PaK.
It was the former PaK Ehtesab Bureau chairman Justice Hussain Mazhar Kaleem who had dared summon record of some dubious contracts from the Council in the wake of serious complaints. However, his directions were not followed until he was himself removed by the AJK government on Friday, sparking off anger among the already charged civil society and political circles in PaK.
While calling for abolition of Council and accountability of the Kashmiri taxpayers’ money at its disposal, the demonstrators also criticised what they termed as lily-livered PaK rulers for bowing to the pressure of corrupt PaK Council officials.
The interesting aspect of the demonstration was use of social media to attract participants and organisers said they were heartened to observe the response of civil society to their posts on Facebook and Twitter in this regard.
Answering questions by reporters on the occasion, Raza Ali Khan, President PaK Supreme Court Bar Association, said the Interim Constitution had undermined the status of the PaK government as it gave excessive executive and legislative powers to the PaK Council over 52 subjects, including taxation.
He pointed out that as chairman PaK Council the prime minister of Pakistan was exercising full authority in PaK although he was neither answerable to the people nor to the elected representatives of PaK.
“There is a dire need of constitutional reform to remove such anomalies,” he said.
Abdul Qaiyum Khan, a student, said if the federal government could devolve powers to provinces, PaK should also be treated in the same manner.
“Why our government is not being empowered and why we are being made to feel as aliens?”
It may be recalled that in the recent session of PaK Legislative Assembly, Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed had announced to take all political parties on board for constitutional reforms. However, the government is yet to make any progress in this regard.
The demonstration, held in the wake of a row between the PaK Ehtesab Bureau and the PaK Council, coincided with a controlled visit of Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf to the site of an under-construction hydropower project near here. However, local media was not invited to the event for fear of ‘upsetting’ questions on its part.
The prime minister of Pakistan happens to be the chairman of the PaK Council, which is at the centre of allegations of corruption and financial irregularities largely because of non-observance of codal formalities and pre-audit checks in its expenditures.
“No to corrupt PaK Council,” read one of the several placards carried by the demonstrators, as they lined up along the capital’s bustling thoroughfare and later marched through it and the magnificent district headquarters complex.
They were also chanting slogans against corruption in AJK Council and non-punishment by the concerned authorities to the culpable officials.
The PaK Council, it may be recalled, was established under PaK's Interim Constitution Act, 1974 apparently “to serve as a bridge between Muzaffarabad and Islamabad.” However, contrarily, it has turned itself into a parallel government, evading accountability of its expenditures by investigating and accounting bodies of Pakistan or PaK.
It was the former PaK Ehtesab Bureau chairman Justice Hussain Mazhar Kaleem who had dared summon record of some dubious contracts from the Council in the wake of serious complaints. However, his directions were not followed until he was himself removed by the AJK government on Friday, sparking off anger among the already charged civil society and political circles in PaK.
While calling for abolition of Council and accountability of the Kashmiri taxpayers’ money at its disposal, the demonstrators also criticised what they termed as lily-livered PaK rulers for bowing to the pressure of corrupt PaK Council officials.
The interesting aspect of the demonstration was use of social media to attract participants and organisers said they were heartened to observe the response of civil society to their posts on Facebook and Twitter in this regard.
Answering questions by reporters on the occasion, Raza Ali Khan, President PaK Supreme Court Bar Association, said the Interim Constitution had undermined the status of the PaK government as it gave excessive executive and legislative powers to the PaK Council over 52 subjects, including taxation.
He pointed out that as chairman PaK Council the prime minister of Pakistan was exercising full authority in PaK although he was neither answerable to the people nor to the elected representatives of PaK.
“There is a dire need of constitutional reform to remove such anomalies,” he said.
Abdul Qaiyum Khan, a student, said if the federal government could devolve powers to provinces, PaK should also be treated in the same manner.
“Why our government is not being empowered and why we are being made to feel as aliens?”
It may be recalled that in the recent session of PaK Legislative Assembly, Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed had announced to take all political parties on board for constitutional reforms. However, the government is yet to make any progress in this regard.
Monday, July 9, 2012
US pressure made Pakistan blink
The civil-military leadership of Pakistan has taken nine months to
settle issues with the US arising out of the Salala incident last
November that could have been better resolved in nine days.
As a result, Pakistan's international isolation has grown, its economy has foundered and the domestic credibility of the civil and military leadership has been eroded. There will be adverse short and long term consequences of this gross policy miscalculation. Consider.
Nine months ago, in exchange for reopening the NATO supply lines, the US was ready to "apologise", pay compensation, give "assurances" that Salala would not be repeated, respect Pakistan's "sovereignty" and release over US$2 billion in Coalition Support/Kerry Lugar funds. But Pakistan said no, it wanted much more; it demanded an end to drone strikes, it wanted twenty times the transit fee per container-truck, it insisted that the NATO trucks would not carry any weapons and the CIA footprint should be drastically reduced, etc. Indeed, after the military cunningly passed the buck to the Zardari government three months later, Senator Raza Rabbani's bipartisan parliamentary committee deliberated for another three months to churn out a list of 35 demands and COAS General Ashfaq Kayani and President Asif Zardari prevaricated for another three months before signing on the dotted line. And what did Pakistan get from the US?
It didn't get an "apology" from President Obama like the Afghans did earlier. Instead, Hillary Clinton said "we're sorry for the losses suffered by the Pakistan military ... and we are both sorry for losses suffered by both our countries in this fight against terrorists." It didn't obtain a halt to drone strikes. It didn't get a penny more on transit fees. And NATO trucks will still carry uninspected military hardware (listed as supplies for the Afghan National Security Forces). So how did Pakistan miscalculate?
It thought it had the US over a barrel because the Northern Network was unfeasible. In the event, the US spent $1 billion dollars to resist our pressure. It thought boycotting the Bonn and Chicago moots would compel NATA to listen to us. But the US went ahead anyway, formulating its end-game strategy for Afghanistan without inputs from Pakistan.
Islamabad thought it could hang on without CSF, Kerry Lugar aid and the IMF. But it couldn't. The rupee has lost nearly 10 per cent of its value, the budget is broke and domestic debt has soared.
It also miscalculated the intensity of counter pressure by the US. First, it ratcheted up pressure in the US Congress to stop American economic and military aid to Pakistan pending restoration of NATO supply lines. Second, the US Congress raised the spectre of declaring Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism by threatening to label the Haqqani network and the Lashkar-e-Tayyeba as global terrorist organisations, the implication being that economic and military sanctions would follow under international law. Third, Washington persuaded Riyadh to hand over Abu Jindal to India, raising the threat of formally linking the ISI to international terrorism. Fourth, it began to align itself with India, asking for a greater Indian commitment to the future of Afghanistan and pledging a major strategic partnership with it in the Grand Silk Route strategy to open up and link emerging markets in the next few decades.
The Pakistani military miscalculated on two fronts. It underestimated America's resolve to fashion the Afghan end-game according to its own national interests. It also overestimated the Zardari government's anxiety to please the Americans by taking sole ownership of the decision to restore the NATO supply lines. In the event, the Americans didn't blink and the Zardari government took refuge behind parliament to protect its flanks from the opposition. The net result, to Pakistan's great disadvantage, was a delay in diffusing the crisis.
The military and government are hoping that US funds and weapons will flow to ease their respective problems. But the opposition and media are likely to exploit the anti-American public sentiment to blast the belated agreement.
Resumption of drone strikes and American exhortations to "do more" against the Haqqani network will lead to criticism of the military and political leaders for "selling out" to the Americans.
Indeed, a majority of Pakistanis, according to a Pew Research Poll, think that US military and economic aid to Pakistan has a negative impact on the country.
There is a rupture between the Pentagon and the Pakistani military. It was triggered by bitter strategic differences about the role of US in shaping the future of Afghanistan and cannot be papered over by the latest terms of "reconciliation". Other flash points are bound to occur in the run-up to 2014. The problem is that the GLOC point of rupture has isolated Pakistan among the 47 influential countries that comprise NATO. Worse, the continuing tragedy is that Pakistan's civilmilitary leadership has been unwilling and unable to formulate a new national interest paradigm for Pakistan.
There have been far too many debacles on the watch of the current civil-military leadership. It is time for a change of guard.
Source http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/us-pressure-made-pakistan-blink/1/203998.html
As a result, Pakistan's international isolation has grown, its economy has foundered and the domestic credibility of the civil and military leadership has been eroded. There will be adverse short and long term consequences of this gross policy miscalculation. Consider.
Nine months ago, in exchange for reopening the NATO supply lines, the US was ready to "apologise", pay compensation, give "assurances" that Salala would not be repeated, respect Pakistan's "sovereignty" and release over US$2 billion in Coalition Support/Kerry Lugar funds. But Pakistan said no, it wanted much more; it demanded an end to drone strikes, it wanted twenty times the transit fee per container-truck, it insisted that the NATO trucks would not carry any weapons and the CIA footprint should be drastically reduced, etc. Indeed, after the military cunningly passed the buck to the Zardari government three months later, Senator Raza Rabbani's bipartisan parliamentary committee deliberated for another three months to churn out a list of 35 demands and COAS General Ashfaq Kayani and President Asif Zardari prevaricated for another three months before signing on the dotted line. And what did Pakistan get from the US?
It didn't get an "apology" from President Obama like the Afghans did earlier. Instead, Hillary Clinton said "we're sorry for the losses suffered by the Pakistan military ... and we are both sorry for losses suffered by both our countries in this fight against terrorists." It didn't obtain a halt to drone strikes. It didn't get a penny more on transit fees. And NATO trucks will still carry uninspected military hardware (listed as supplies for the Afghan National Security Forces). So how did Pakistan miscalculate?
It thought it had the US over a barrel because the Northern Network was unfeasible. In the event, the US spent $1 billion dollars to resist our pressure. It thought boycotting the Bonn and Chicago moots would compel NATA to listen to us. But the US went ahead anyway, formulating its end-game strategy for Afghanistan without inputs from Pakistan.
Islamabad thought it could hang on without CSF, Kerry Lugar aid and the IMF. But it couldn't. The rupee has lost nearly 10 per cent of its value, the budget is broke and domestic debt has soared.
It also miscalculated the intensity of counter pressure by the US. First, it ratcheted up pressure in the US Congress to stop American economic and military aid to Pakistan pending restoration of NATO supply lines. Second, the US Congress raised the spectre of declaring Pakistan a state sponsor of terrorism by threatening to label the Haqqani network and the Lashkar-e-Tayyeba as global terrorist organisations, the implication being that economic and military sanctions would follow under international law. Third, Washington persuaded Riyadh to hand over Abu Jindal to India, raising the threat of formally linking the ISI to international terrorism. Fourth, it began to align itself with India, asking for a greater Indian commitment to the future of Afghanistan and pledging a major strategic partnership with it in the Grand Silk Route strategy to open up and link emerging markets in the next few decades.
The Pakistani military miscalculated on two fronts. It underestimated America's resolve to fashion the Afghan end-game according to its own national interests. It also overestimated the Zardari government's anxiety to please the Americans by taking sole ownership of the decision to restore the NATO supply lines. In the event, the Americans didn't blink and the Zardari government took refuge behind parliament to protect its flanks from the opposition. The net result, to Pakistan's great disadvantage, was a delay in diffusing the crisis.
The military and government are hoping that US funds and weapons will flow to ease their respective problems. But the opposition and media are likely to exploit the anti-American public sentiment to blast the belated agreement.
Resumption of drone strikes and American exhortations to "do more" against the Haqqani network will lead to criticism of the military and political leaders for "selling out" to the Americans.
Indeed, a majority of Pakistanis, according to a Pew Research Poll, think that US military and economic aid to Pakistan has a negative impact on the country.
There is a rupture between the Pentagon and the Pakistani military. It was triggered by bitter strategic differences about the role of US in shaping the future of Afghanistan and cannot be papered over by the latest terms of "reconciliation". Other flash points are bound to occur in the run-up to 2014. The problem is that the GLOC point of rupture has isolated Pakistan among the 47 influential countries that comprise NATO. Worse, the continuing tragedy is that Pakistan's civilmilitary leadership has been unwilling and unable to formulate a new national interest paradigm for Pakistan.
There have been far too many debacles on the watch of the current civil-military leadership. It is time for a change of guard.
Source http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/us-pressure-made-pakistan-blink/1/203998.html
Monday, October 10, 2011
Drive to monitor tobacco ads launched
Another initiative for tobacco control 'Monitoring Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship in Pakistan was launched by The Network for Consumer Protection on Monday.
Under the campaign, the Network will monitor advertising and promotional activities and patronization of different campaigns under the guise of corporate social responsibility by tobacco companies.
Tobacco promotion and sponsorship is marginally an unattended subject by regulators in the country, Nadeem Iqbal, Executive
Coordinator, The Network expressed while highlighting the significance of initiative on TAPS.
Monitoring of TAPS by The Network is funded by Bloomberg Global Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use, implemented by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (TFK) and International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (The Union).
Banning TAPS is recommended by Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) to its parties. Pakistan is a signatory of FCTC and commits the obligations by FCTC, Nadeem Iqbal said.
Article 13 of FCTC recommends parties to the treaty to introduce precautionary approach to prompt for restricting tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship to reduce the tobacco related disease burden.
The Network will be setting up monitoring mechanism for the campaign in populous districts of the country in collaboration with different non-government and civil society organisations including WHO, Intermedia, Aurat Foundation, Pakistan Medical Association.
The campaign will be run with the support of local press clubs, districts governments, local parliamentarians and civil society organisations in targeted districts of country. Different countries around the globe have successfully banned tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship to reduce the health burden by tobacco use. (APP)
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
How should the Army handle the free fall?
Former Army chief retired General Mirza Aslam Beg has now come out with an open invitation to the GHQ to intervene although he is confused on how this should be done. His considered view coincides with the growing frustration and lack of confidence in Pakistan and around the world in the political leadership of Pakistan to handle the enormous challenges facing the country.
Regrettably, most of these problems and challenges were born or aggravated because they were either not handled properly or deliberately mishandled.
Beg has joined the growing club of concerned people including some top Pakistani diplomats, former holders of important government positions and known economists and technocrats who think the quality of leadership in Pakistan is so pathetic that severe damage was being done to the State of Pakistan which, if not halted now, could become irreversible and fatal.
A known Pakistani diplomat openly discusses this failure in private meetings saying both the military and civilian leadership did not have the capacity to understand the monumental issues and thus the country was slipping deeper into the abyss with each passing day.
There is not even the capacity to grow up, this diplomat argues, and says immediate changes were needed to put in place people who understand the challenges and can control the damage. About 20 important politicians, economists and technocrats recently met in Pakistan to discuss this leadership crisis and decided to form their own group. Most of them are clean people with a credible record of service and experience.
Top economic managers, the latest being the chief economist and the governor of State Bank, recently resigned in disgust, marking changes in the SBP as a frequent phenomenon.
Key bureaucrats of important ministers have been shuffled so many times in recent months and years that continuity in policies has almost become impossible. These changes were brought about because of a deep-rooted fear that allowing these powerful baboos to settle in one place makes them dangerous.
The Supreme Court has continuously been giving its observations on specific governance failures but instead of improving performance the political leadership has gone into a confrontational mode and defiance, which has brought matters almost to a breaking point. If the SC loses patience and invokes articles of the Constitution to seek help from the Army and or the bureaucracy, a deadlock will become unavoidable.
Politicians and the ruling party have become even more arrogant with every looming crisis, as if the bigger the problem, the more stinking will be their response. So not surprisingly, misfits have been placed to run critical state organs. A medical doctor runs the petroleum ministry, a junior finance minister is catapulted to be full foreign minister, a self-proclaimed non-practising lawyer has been given the law ministry, an MBBS and diploma holder in hospital management from an unlisted US university has been awarded the information ministry, and so on.
Defenders of the present system, including some known campaigners of human rights and liberal intellectuals, argue that disturbing the present system, especially if the Pakistan Army is again involved, will hurt democracy and the country and will help the present corrupt lot, turning them into political martyrs. So giving a chance to the elected leadership is the only way out.
Top business leaders are so frustrated they are even talking in terms of ending their dependence on the port city of Karachi and finding other outlets, which can help them stabilise and grow their businesses. Some are even looking towards exporting goods through the Indian ports. Some even talk in extremes out of frustration.
This frustration is prevailing round the world because Pakistanis living overseas, who send more than 15 billion dollars every year through official and unofficial channels, feel their money is going down the drain. They realise that without this cost-free bundle of billions, Pakistan would just collapse into a failed defaulted state in no time.
So then, is the Pakistan Army the answer to all this as General Mirza Aslam Beg has publicly advocated? I don’t think so, since the Army is too deeply involved in security issues and does not have the capacity, like the civilians, to handle economic, social and political issues of such monstrous size. But what the Army can do is to put its weight behind forces trying desperately for correction of the course to steer Pakistan in the right direction. That is easier said than done.
Defenders of the status quo ask who will determine which course is right; they say the people should decide this through elections. As a principle this may be the right argument but elections do not frame economic policies, they do not decide whether a mega billion deal is filled with black money or kickbacks; voters do not say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to Swiss accounts. There are laws in every society to deal with these issues. What then needs to be done is that internationally accepted principles of governance, transparency, rule of law, merit and right man for the right job must be enforced collectively by the civil society, the media and the military and civil establishment. This will never endanger democracy.
The political leadership should be forced to follow these globally accepted principles and should not misuse their elected status to hide their corruption and poor governance. There will be no threat to democracy if some top thieves and known looters and plunderers are brought to book. If they happen to be political leaders, so be it. So if the country’s top judges reach the verdict that someone is a criminal, then everybody including the Pakistan Army must support and implement their judgment. It is a constitutional obligation of everyone but the top politicians have politicised this, turning it into a threat to democracy, which it is not.
In no democracy of the world are criminals, looters and plunderers given room to be judged by their electorate when their term expires. For minor misdemeanours or even a small politically incorrect statement, leaders are forced to resign. For crimes under the law, elections are not the forum for adjudication.
So General Beg must make it clear that he does not want the Army to derail the political system.
In turn the Army should not shy away from enforcing the Constitution, if so asked.
The free fall of the country into chaos and economic collapse is so rapid that waiting for the next elections so that a verdict on these crimes is obtained by the electorate, would be too little, too late. And for the courts, the civil society, the media and the military establishment, not taking any action would in itself be a crime.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Supreme Court puts the innocent to death
Here’s something for your supremely stupid files. Our vaunted Supreme Court recently ruled that California must reduce the number of prisoners in state prisons because of overcrowding. Our Supreme Court thinks overcrowding in prisons is cruel and unusual punishment.
Never mind that essentially ordering the release of more than 30,000 monsters will create more victims of crime, destroy more families and cause our streets and neighborhoods to be less safe.
Of course the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) applauded the court’s decision, as the group remains more concerned with protecting the “rights” of criminals than protecting law-abiding, taxpaying citizens who surely will become victims if California’s plan to reduce overcrowding does not meet Fedzilla standards.
California is submitting a plan to reduce prison overcrowding while doing its best not to release any of these violent punks. My advice is for someone at the California Department of Cages to contact Sheriff Joe Arpaio in Phoenix and ask him how to build a barbed-wire fence, put up tents, purchase pink skivvies in bulk and make bologna sandwiches. California prison overpopulation problem solved.
We live in the land of the bizzaro, where common sense is no longer common. Think of this: A violent ape is convicted of a felony and sent to prison, which is supposed to be uncomfortable punishment, and then the Supreme Court steps in and mandates his release because the prison is overcrowded. And we are supposed to respect this?
How’s this: Who cares if prisons are overcrowded? Would you rather have overcrowded prisons or more violent apes on our streets to prey upon you? Only a deranged person, a violent punk, the ACLU and now our Supreme Court would side with releasing prisoners over the safety of the public.
Clear-thinking Americans who are supremely addicted to logic want these punks off the streets and in cages, where they belong, with the violent apes who already have committed any number of crimes. It doesn’t matter to me if we cage them in something just slightly bigger than a shoe box.
We need to make prison painful, ugly and supremely uncomfortable. We need to make it so that anyone who has spent any time in the slammer never wants to return. That’s real rehabilitation.
The real definition of cruel and unusual punishment is ordering the release of tens of thousands of criminals, knowing full well that once that is done, there will be more murders, rapes, violent assaults, robberies and numerous other crimes against the innocent residents of the Golden State and all over America.
It is fanatical barbarism for the Supreme Court to dare make such a rule, knowing that its decision will create more victims. I have no respect for a Supreme Court that obviously has more respect for violent thugs and punks than hardworking, law-abiding Americans.
It’s not worth the price of creating even one victim of crime to relieve overcrowding in prisons by prematurely releasing 30,000 or so apes.
Build as many prison tent cities out in the desert as we need and let the violent apes fill them up. Make it uncomfortable. Make them serve every day of their sentences. Make them pay the price for the crimes they commit.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Yearning for peace, burying of hatred is what people like the most
After Mohali Summit, India and Pakistan are looking forward to foreign secretary level talks between the two countries with the intention of moving towards a comprehensive and broad-ranging engagement. Despite somewhat modest forward movement on 26/11 issues, Pakistan agreed to the visit of judicial commission from India during the recently concluded talks between the home secretaries.
Though the Cricket diplomacy-as it is popularly known- could not attract many in the state of Jammu and Kashmir given the cricket- mania, as watching world-cup somehow was more important for people here than the engagement of the two countries at the highest political level. The disillusionment of people viz-a-viz the process that has a very long history of vicissitudes at its back can be cited as yet another reason for not generating much fanfare among the people. Having said this, the resumption of dialogue process between the two countries and the momentum created by the Mohali Summit cannot and should not be wished away as the world scenario is rapidly changing which, of course, has a direct bearing on the two nation states of Indian-subcontinent.
However, what effect the discussions between the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan have on the situation within J&K state remains to be seen. The least one can expect is that the situation in Kashmir will remain peaceful if the renewed engagement is not allowed to dither away by any sort of eventuality created rather pushed by the vested interests.
The efforts to ascertain the truth about the happenings in Jammu and Kashmir by various non-state actors and the response of the peace-loving people of J&K makes it emphatically clear that people have little faith in war as a solution to the problems confronting them. More relevant in the present scenario is that majority of people in the conflict ridden Jammu and Kashmir state feel that dialogue-though often marred by inconsistency and indecisiveness of the political leadership- is the only viable option available at present to take recourse of.
The overwhelming support to dialogue between the two countries when General Parvez Musharaf was at the helm of affairs in Pakistan is still considered as the bed-rock for any sustainable engagement between the two on a whole range of issues. But to the extent that the views of the people in J&K are to be taken into account, the members of Indian civil society interacting with the people in Kashmir over past few months can provide useful pointers.
The overall mood in Jammu and Kashmir reflects an overarching dissatisfaction with the present state of affairs and a yearning for change. However, what will surprise many is that the people in both regions view the main problems as political but economic - unemployment, corruption, and poor infrastructural development never evade from their minds. However, human rights situation is a solid cause of concern for Kashmiris. It is clear that these issues that affect their personal lives along with human rights abuses are uppermost in their minds, dissatisfaction on these grounds being particularly high in the Kashmir Valley.
Being a close watcher, what has been interesting for me to note through all these month’s developments is that India being powerful, prosperous and stable, could afford to make a bold and generous gesture that would sap the hatred and suspicion that has been eating up the vitals of the two countries for decades now. India and Pakistan have fought three wars since they started playing each other at cricket – three wars, in fact, since 1965 – and the enmity between the two is as bitter as anything in the Middle East. A lot has been written about "cricket diplomacy" and the sub- continental wounds it might heal. On the other hand, by stressing and preserving national difference, what can it do for a problem like Kashmir? It has seen cricket come and may well see it go, and it will depend for a solution on new ways of thinking about borders and nation states.
In terms of solutions, there are few takers in the state for diametrically opposite views being expressed by right-at-centre and statesmanship of course demands that many other considerations like a sense of history, strategic and economic interests, and a feel for what is do-able within national and political contexts be factored in. And leaders are meant to lead people rather than be led by them.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Indian Peace Delegation visits Pak cities, meets PM
An Indian Peace Delegation visited Pakistan from 17th to 25th March 2011. During their stay they visited Karachi, Hyderabad, Islamabad and Lahore. They met Pakistan Prime Minister Mr. Yusuf Reza Gilani, Sindh Chief Minister Mr. Syed Qaim Ali Shah, Senators of various political parties, civil society activists, journalists, members of business community, and students amongst others.
The 12 member Indian delegation was led by Mr. Kuldip Nayar (veteran journalist) and included Mr. Mahesh Bhatt (Film Personality), Mr. Bhalchandra Mungekar (Member of Parliament) Mr.Shahid Siddiqui (Editor, Nai Duniya), Mr. Jatin Desai (FOCUS), Dr. Mazher Hussain (COVA),Ms. Kamla Bhasin (SANGAT), Mr. Ramesh Yadav (FRI), Mr.Sanjay Nahar (SARHAD), Mr.Haris Kidwai (Peace Activist), Mr. Y. Laxmi Prasad (Former MP) and Mr. A. Krishna Rao (Journalist).
Pak PM supports dialogue process
In his meeting with the Indian Peace delegation, Mr. Gilani, the Prime Minister of Pakistan stated that dialogue is the only way to make progress in India-Pakistan relations. He assured the Delegation that his government was fully committed to make the peace process work. He also expressed confidence that the meeting between Home Secretaries of the two countries in Delhi would yield results. He praised the role of civil society in promoting peace between India and Pakistan.
The Indian Delegation also had the opportunity to watch the Joint Session of the Pakistan Parliament addressed by Mr. Asif Ali Zardari.
Need to form India-Pakistan Forum of Parliamentarians
Many members of both the house of Parliament (National Assembly and Senate) of Pakistan agreed that there is a need to form India-Pakistan Forum of Parliamentarians to address the outstanding issues between both the countries and the Indian Peace delegation along with members of Pakistan Peace Coalition have decided to work for the formation of such a Forum..
Indian delegation visits Pak cities
The members of the Delegation participated in many meetings, seminars and interactions in Karachi, Lahore, Hyderabad (Sindh) and Islamabad. The themes and concerns covered in these interactions were the need for uninterrupted and uninterruptible dialogue between India and Pakistan, release of all fishermen from the prison of each other’s countries, revival of India-Pakistan Judicial Committee on Prisoners, resolutions of water sharing disputes and opening up of trade for prosperity of both countries.
Easy Visa process for members of civil society
There was a constant demand that Visa should be made easily available to members of divided families, artists, students, researchers, academics and people-to-people contact that alone could help normalize relations. As an immediate step, both the governments should extend the facility of visa on arrival to the senior citizens and children below 12 years as agreed between them earlier.
Joint mechanism against terrorism
It was also felt there is an immediate necessity of a joint mechanism against terrorism and a need to provide platform to common people to enable them to participate in foreign policy formulation that could reshape relations between the two countries from confrontation to cooperation and friendship.
The Delegation also met the family members of Salman Taseer, Governor of Punjab, who was assassinated by his own security guard, for his principled position on Blasphemy Law. Mr.Taseer stood for basic values like human rights and minority rights. The Delegation offered its condolence at the unfortunate demise of Mr. Taseer and expressed their solidarity with his family.
Message of love and friendship
The team is back from Pakistan with a message of love and friendship. It is time that establishments in both India and Pakistan reciprocate the wishes of people of both the countries to address all outstanding issues. In fact, the issues of Siachen and Sir Creek can be resolved quickly as they were very close to signing the agreement when the Composite Dialogue was paused following the attacks on Mumbai.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
80m voters registered on new lists
The Election Commission of Pakistan has completed one phase of updating electoral rolls by registering 80,547,743 voters, media reported March 9.
The preparation of accurate computerised electoral rolls was a demand by all political parties, civil society members and media who want free and fair elections, said Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan Ishtiak Ahmed Khan.
Since many Pakistanis complained about multiple phony entries on the 2007 electoral rolls, it was necessary to adopt a foolproof registration system, he said.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Author Mirza Waheed sets memories of Kashmir
It was a tragic decade unfolding in Kashmir, but for people outside the Valley the tragedy was all about numbers -- of infiltrators killed while trying to sneak across the LoC.
Beyond these numbers, however, were stories of young boys who disappeared from their villages overnight, never to return again.
When Mirza Waheed set about writing his first novel 'The Collaborator', set in his native Kashmir, these memories of his teenage life, of whispers of disappearing men and of the raging militancy of the 1990s was still rife in his mind.
And what was also alive in his mind was the way these stories were covered by the press -- in his own words like a "crime thriller".
"Living in Srinagar, as I did, you never knew what exactly happened with these boys who had chosen to cross into Pakistan to get arms training to fight the Indian Army. What you only heard were the numbers, that said so many infiltrators killed along the LoC," Waheed says.
In the early 90s, the decade of militancy in Kashmir, a lot of young boys and men took to the gun and crossed the LoC to return with arms training to fight the Indian Army.
It was a huge cross-border traffic, and Waheed says it was not anonymous people who disappeared all the time.
"It was your own people, sometimes your friends or even your relatives or sometimes even the boy on the street you see on and off, who suddenly disappeared leaving behind whispers and stories," he told PTI in an interview.
Waheed's debut novel, published by Penguin, is set in that period in a fictional village near the Line of Control, and tells the story of its residents -- boys who have chosen to cross the line, families who have fled fed up with the constant cross border shelling, a family that has chosen to stay back all by itself, and a military unit designated with the task of checking infiltration.
While the media discourse in India on the happenings in Kashmir was very limited till a few years back, things have started changing for good in the recent years, believes Waheed, who now works for the BBC in London.
There is now a more sympathetic engagement towards the issue, fueled by the work of the Indian civil society, as well as a visible change in the approach of the media.
"What has happened over the last 3 or 5 years is that there has been an opening up of space of debate by the civil society in India who are now more willing to talk about it, they are writing about it, there are Indian intellectuals, writers and journalists who are doing more than what was done in the 90s," he says.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Citizens and Political Forces Unite Against Oppression and Disinformation
Previously there were scattered voices waging the fight, alone or in small groups – mainly members of civil society. But all that has changed now. Political parties and groups, and workers unions have come together and joined hands with civil society.
Organised by the Citizens for Democracy (CFD), which describes itself as “an umbrella group of professional organisations, political parties, trade unions and individuals outraged by the consistent misuse and abuse of the Blasphemy Law and of religion in politics,” a reference for Salmaan Taseer held at the PMA (Pakistan Medical Association) House on January 18, 2011, drew a crowd of 500. This, despite the fact that just a day before there had been a change of venue as the Karachi Arts Council, where the event was initially supposed to take place, refused to host it stating security concerns as their reason. The reference was also held after the rally in Lahore on January 16 organised by Tahaffuz Namoos-i-Risalat Mahaz (TNRM), whose vice president, Dr Ashraf Jalali, had remarked at the event: “Mumtaz Hussain Qadri is a hero of the Muslim ummah. Whoever criticises him or Section 295-C will have their tongues pulled out.” He also issued a stern warning to the media, directing it not to invite people who spoke against Qadri.
The reference was a response to the constant unveiled threats and pressure tactics adopted by the “religious” lobby, their manipulation of the debate on the Blasphemy Law and Taseer’s murder, their campaign to make Taseer’s murderer a hero and their strategy to misinform the masses about facts regarding the law and Taseer’s stance. Thus, the evening began with a presentation on the history of the Blasphemy Law, how it came to be in its current form, its misuse and the number of false cases that have been registered over the years. Following this was a screening of Blind Faith, a documentary by Sara Naqvi (see it here). Both of these aimed at dispelling some of the widely believed untruths about the law and generating awareness about its (mis)use.
The most lively and uplifting part of the evening was when the speakers, of which there were many, addressed the crowd and paid tribute to Taseer. Among them were well-known personalities such as Iqbal Haider (former secretary-general, HRCP), activist and WAF member Amar Sindhu and Mohsin Sayeed, who read out a message from Taseer’s family. Others included members of various political and workers parties, including Kaiser Bengali (Advisor to the Chief Minister Sindh for Planning and Development), Asif Buledi (General Secretary Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz), Jan Mohammad Buledi (National Party), Kunwar Khalid Yunus (MQM), Nasir Mansoor (Labour Party), Ramzan Memon (Awami Party) and Farid Awan (Deputy General Secretary All Pakistan Trade Union Federation and Secretary Sindh, Pakistan Workers Confederation) who expressed their solidarity with their friends from civil society and assured them of their and their organisations’ support. Members of minority communities, Amar Nath Matomal (HRCP and President Hindu Panchayat Karachi Division) and Father Thomas Gulfam (Korangi Parish) spoke on behalf of their communities and joined hands as well.
All the speakers vehemently condemned Mumtaz Qadri and his supporters. Many of them raised the same point: years of silence and submission have led to the magnanimity of the problem – especially the religious intolerance and the use of religion for political motives. However, this they hoped would now be a thing of the past as the struggle and cause for which Taseer too died, will neither be thwarted by pressure, nor remain within the confines of closed rooms. They stressed that religion and the state needed to be separated. A resolution prepared by the CFD, which has been endorsed by several individuals and organisations, was shared with the audience. It requests the government and the law enforcing agencies to comply and take immediate action (see the Urdu text of the resolution here).
To date, the PPP continues to adopt an apologist position towards both the murder of their governor and the Blasphemy Law debate.
Nobody expects much from the government; this was made quite clear. Perhaps this is why Fauzia Wahab, information secretary, Sindh, was not bombarded with questions and counter arguments after her speech. Only when she said there was a need to begin the sensitisation of the masses on the issue of blasphemy did audience members and moderator Rahat Saeed of the Progressive Writers’ Association suggest that she could perhaps wield her influence and have Sarah Naqvi’s documentary aired on PTV, Pakistan’s state run channel, at the very least.
While venues continue to be denied for this cause, that too by institutions such as the Karachi Arts Council and the Press Club, the Lyari Town Administration has generously offered CFD the People’s Stadium, which can hold up to 15,000 people.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Pakistan’s Real War is with the Poisonous Mindset Within
Domestic politics was already on shaky ground at the end of 2010. The government had been jolted from its cosy coalition to a precarious minority perch at the top. Scandals, rising militancy, economic disaster and endless charges of corruption had already damaged the ruling party, leaving few Pakistanis with any confidence in the country’s rulers.
As such, the brutal assassination of Salmaan Taseer came as a big, big blow to the nation. Taseer, although a controversial figure, had in the weeks leading up to his murder courageously criticised radical and fundamentalist elements in Pakistani society by supporting death-row inmate Aasiya Bibi and terming the blasphemy laws that put her there as “black” and discriminatory, saying they had no place in Jinnah’s minority-respecting Pakistan. His honesty was one the few sources of light emanating from the PPP. Few politicians dared to be as courageous, even the infamously vocal federal interior minister was quick in giving assurances that the government would not tinker with the fundamentally oppressive piece of legislation.
Now, a secular, progressive and key figure on Pakistan’s political scene has been lost. Lost to a much too common mindset that sees murder as justifiable — a mindset that is shaped by ideologically fuelled hate.
In Pakistan, it seems so easy to kill political figures, and by extension anyone else, for their beliefs. Taseer was clearly shot because of an intolerant religious philosophy that has spread throughout our society. The ugliness of fundamentalist thought has become so bloody stark that it seems to have completely overtaken simple human decency and civilised actions. The confession by the security guard who shot Taseer in the back 27 times is not merely an indication but solid proof of how deeply the country has been plagued by this deadly and unforgiving mindset. There are unmanned drones violating Pakistani airspace every other day killing ‘suspected’ militants, but unless there is recognition and realisation about the extremist mindset that has embedded itself here, nothing is going to bring peace to this extraordinarily damaged and fractured country.
It is exactly this mindset (the lack of tolerance and acceptance) that is the real enemy Pakistan should be fighting every single day. Jinnah imagined a Pakistan where people with differing ideologies and different faiths would be free to go to their mosques, temples or churches. But the murder of Salmaan Taseer has exposed how vulnerable we the citizens, including our government, are to the forces of destruction and ideological fanaticism. Freedom is at stake. The ultimate price is attached to standing up for your principles and even for declaring your support to a weak, poor and oppressed woman. Not long ago, Benazir Bhutto was also lost because of this war between democracy and oppression, between hope and hate, between promise and despair.
The extent to which Pakistan has been radicalised is even more obvious when examining the media. Many in the media have handled this tragic incident by either sitting on the fence and not openly condemning this horrific criminal act, or by giving a powerful pulpit to the voices of hate. Some 500 members of the ulema of the Barelvi community called for a boycott of the funeral of Mr Taseer, a media and business magnate who had become a successful constitutional head of the province of Punjab. It seems that the late governor’s relief work for the flood victims of 2010 has all been forgotten. His ethical stands for justice have been swept aside or distorted. Bigotry, moral corruption and a mind-boggling absence of rationality have come to dominate the national landscape as a mullah takeover of society has unfolded. This is not in the interest of Pakistan. On the contrary, this is most detrimental to development and democratic discourse in the country. We have already lost too much and too many in this war of hatred and vengeance.
This is the war within, and it has to be won. This country of ours is way too big and beautiful to be lost to the fundamentalist forces – they are still a minority. Justice needs to be done for all the people who have been killed by this destructive dinosaur. I appeal to all my Pakistani sisters and brothers not to give up, not to become fearful and not to lose hope. We will continue to fight for our country and our beliefs, and we will eventually win over this handful of ill-guided people. And I appeal to the international community, human rights groups and democratic voices everywhere to help us in our struggle for civil liberties and religious rights for our minorities, and for all Pakistanis.
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