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Wednesday, April 30, 2008
A year ago, Mr Naeem Bokhari wrote a needless 'open letter' and created the fuss which the country still finds itself in even after the holding of the general elections. Ironically, Mr Bokhari is the worst enemy of President Musharraf -- everything was moving in the right direction for the president, he was in military uniform, the PML-Q was in the government and he was trying to earn a statesman's reputation for himself by taking his "In the line of fire" to the international market. All of a sudden, Mr Bokhari wrote the said letter and thus began a year of much turmoil and protest.
Still, Mr Bokhari is trying to make his presence felt in the national press by letting people know that the PPP didn't fight the polls on the judges' issue. If it is true then what about the Murree declaration? He says Nawaz Sharif is playing up the judges' issue by trying to bring back a 'politicised' chief justice. Then why did he support Pervez Musharraf as president in uniform for eight years? Was it not tantamount to 'politicizing the army' then? Why wasn't he bothered when an army chief wearing his commando's uniform addressed political gatherings and asked people to support the PML-Q? Wasn't the army being politicized at the time when NAB made cases against politicians and then subsequently withdrew them because they agreed to toe the general's line?
Sitwat Naqvi
Karachi
(2)
This is with reference to Naeem Bokhari's letter "Mr Zardari's true colours" published in your newspaper on April 27. In the letter, the writer notes the positive change of ambience in the Supreme Court presently headed by Justice Abdul Hamid Dogar after the forced removal of Justice Chaudhry Iftikhar Mohammad. If that were really the case, why did the nation come out on the streets against the extra-constitutional removal of an impartial judge by President Musharraf?
Mahabat Khan Bangash
Peshawar
Restoration issues
Though both the PPP and the PML-N say publicly that the deposed judges will be restored, it seems there are differences within the coalition government on this issue. The PML-N's stand is clear and unambiguous and it is committed to the judges' restoration, however, the PPP in spite of its claims does not seem to have a straightforward policy.
I think the following can be the possible reasons behind it. The PPP leadership perhaps believes that the restoration of the deposed judges will aggravate the constitutional crisis and can even lead to confrontation between state institutions. Personal reservations of certain PPP leaders against the sacked judges may well be a reason behind the party's reluctance to reinstate them. In particular, the deposed chief justice's views regarding the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) must be upsetting for Mr Zardari who is a major beneficiary of the presidential ordinance.
Another reason could be external pressure. According to one view, the US has not been too happy with the judicial activism of the deposed chief justice regarding the production of so-called terrorists in court. Such actions on the part of the chief justice harmed US interests in the region. Furthermore President Musharraf is considered an indispensable US ally by the Bush administration in the war on terror. The US would never want Justice Chaudhry to be reinstated because his presence in the Supreme Court will be a permanent threat to President Musharraf.
Anwar Jalal
Peshawar
Death of a professor
After Dr Chishti Mujahid (eye specialist), the pro-vice chancellor of the Balochistan University was also allegedly killed by the Balochistan Liberation Army. Bombings, killings and gas pipeline explosions by terrorists still continue in the province. There is no doubt that Balochistan remained underdeveloped for the last many decades, but recently funds allocated for the province were increased. This was not welcomed by certain groups because they wanted to keep the poor people under their shackles. The new government has already apologized but these groups have declined even to attend the proposed all parties conference.
Although all cases against Akhtar Mengal have been withdrawn, his party is still insisting for more concessions. The APC is a good beginning but people accused of terrorism shouldn't be pardoned. The government should evolve a strategy to deal with these groups. Furthermore, the brutal killing of the professor needs to be condemned by nationalist forces as well.
Bilal Shahid
Rawalpindi
Needless criticism
I am writing this letter in response to Ansar Abbasi's news report published in your newspaper on April 27 which stated that the PPP forwarded 'dubious' letters to his (Mr Abbasi's) newspaper office through the principal information officer.
It is my understanding that Mr Zardari's statements on the judges' issue are based on facts. Where was the judiciary when President Musharraf took over in 1999 by removing an elected government? Mr Zardari is right when he says that the restoration of individuals is not important, rather what matters is the independence of the judiciary.
Also, it seems that some journalists have a habit of criticizing Mr Zardari without any reason -- something they always did in case of Benazir Bhutto as well. I also want to say that the nation is engulfed in many problems and the judges' restoration is not the most important issue. Though people support Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, he is not going to give them roti kapra and makan.
Aleena Naqvi
Wah Cantt
Why no tea, biscuits?
Will the management of Pakistan Railways please explain why it has stopped serving its A/C parlour passengers complementary tea and biscuits? When I travelled in an A/C parlour coupe on April 24, no refreshments were served. I asked the staff on duty why this was the case but they were not able to give any concrete answer. The railway authorities should make it clear if this is a new measure.
Inayat Ali
Rawalpindi
Pollution-free Peshawar?
The Sarhad Conservation Network in a letter published on these pages on April 25 urged the NWFP government to take measures to save the province's deteriorating environment. The SCN is absolutely right because once Peshawar was a city of roses but now it has become terribly polluted.
Residents living in one of the city's affluent neighbourhoods, Hayatabad, have to face serious environmental problems caused by work going in the nearby mountains. The area could have been developed like Daman-e-Koh in Islamabad with a little planning. Another ill-planned project is the Malik Saad Shaheed Flyover which has little utility. While it has not reduced traffic from G T Road, it has marred the grandeur and view of the historic Bala Hissar Fort.
Besides this, the poor state of the road network and choked sewers and canals make living in the city a health hazard. Residents of the city should learn a lesson form those of Lahore and develop and beautify at least the canal which passes through the heart of the cantonment and the city in front of Sher Khan Shaheed Stadium. The government should accelerate efforts to make Peshawar a cleaner, greener and pollution-free city of NWFP.
Ajmal Khan
Peshawar
Paltry pension
It is a matter of great concern that EOBI pension-holders should get a paltry sum of Rs1,500 per month. This amount is not sufficient for their subsistence and should be raised to at least Rs5,000.
Syed Aslam Haider
Karachi
Road closure
I want to draw the attention of the NWFP governor, the Peshawar corps commander and the station commander to the recent unnecessary closure of Tariq Road (opposite the cantonment railway station) by the cantonment authorities. Many roads of the cantonment have already been closed by the authorities concerned. But the recent blockade of Tariq Road by erecting a needless wall just because the bungalows of the director cantonment board and the MEO are on the road is totally uncalled for.
The job of the cantonment authorities is to provide the people with facilities, but instead they are creating inconveniences and trouble for the common man. There are many schools, colleges and government offices on Tariq Road which also links Khyber Road and Circular Road (Sunehri Masjid Road). It is mostly frequented by school and college students and government employees. The authorities concerned should immediately remove the wall in the interest of the people.
Yousuf Khan
Peshawar
Averting the power crisis
In Pakistan power consumption is growing at the rate of 10 per cent per year. Currently Pakistan is facing a shortage of more than 3,000 megawatts of electricity. The government cannot produce that much energy before 2010. In such a situation only energy conservation can help overcome the crisis. To reduce the use of electricity the following steps should be taken by all to save more than 2,500 megawatts of electricity.
All consumers should replace ordinary bulbs with energy-savers. Industries should follow low-cost energy conservation methods with immediate returns. Excessive air-conditioning in government buildings should be curtailed forthwith. Lighting on public and private buildings should be reduced. The government should impose an additional tax on illuminating buildings to discourage this practice. In big cities half of the streetlights should be lighted at night. The government should also request the industrial sector to replace old machineries with efficient ones. The electricity corporations throughout the country should replace old wirings and connect them in parallel connections, rather than in series, to save about 10 to 15 per cent energy. These steps will not only reduce the pressure on the national grid by saving more than 2,500 megawatts of electricity, but will also reduce electricity bills by almost 30 per cent.
Muhammad Amin Asad
Buner
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ISSN 1563-9479 
