Breaking free
Sir,
The official definition of political correctness is “the avoidance of expressions or actions that can be perceived to exclude or marginalize or insult people who are socially disadvantaged or discriminated against.”
Political correctness in short PC shows an effort to make broad social and political changes to redress injustice caused by prejudice.
With the example of the United States where the political correctness movement started in the 1970s one can see the extent of this recent phenomenon.
If you say the “wrong thing” in America today, you might be penalized, fired or even taken to court.
The freedom of speech granted to the people through the very first amendment of the American constitution is becoming greatly restricted.
But not only the United States are influenced by political correctness as it has already transferred to the rest of the world. Every single day, the mainstream media bombard us with the subtle messages about what we should believe and what “appropriate speech” consists of.
It would be a huge mistake to underestimate the power of the mainstream media in our world today.
When we go to work or to school, the conversations we tend to have in our every day life are mostly based on the content that the media feeds us.
This might not even be our own opinion or even the truth. And we also might know the fact that 90% of what we watch on TV, read in the newspapers and hear on the radio is censored by the government which is ultimately controlled by lobbies.
Unfortunately the insidious nature of political correctness goes far beyond stifling legitimate opinions - it can also be used as a means of furthering one political opinion at the expense of another.
The way we all see the world has been greatly shaped by the thousands of hours of “thought training” that we have all received over the years. Political correctness threatens the freedom and asks us sacrifice our opinion for the sake of the system to exist.
If we want to continue to live in a free society and enjoy the benefits of its freedom, we must give our own opinion preference over a so-called political correct statement.
Understanding what is being done to us is the first step towards breaking free.
Dua Wahab Khan,
Bad Homburg.
Bilawal blues
Sir,
Apropos media reports about Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s apology and his appeal to workers not to leave the People’s Party, my advice to the young leader is to ask those sitting on his left and right where they were when government jobs were being sold. He should ask his father what his compulsions were in appointing controversial men to head key state corporations.
Mere apologies will not convince former PPP supporters who have witnessed institutionalization of corruption and selection of semi literate men to head state corporations, which have been driven to bankruptcy, putting at stake jobs of thousands employed in these organizations.
The crowds that throng PTI political jalsas are those who have been disgruntled by both the PPP and the PML-N. People want a change for the better, where those elected address problems of the masses, impose taxes on the rich, and give relief and justice to the poor. They don’t want rulers who rob the poor, refusing to pay taxes, and unwilling to have their assets and family live in this country.
However, Imran Khan also needs to distance himself from controversial individuals who were part of the previous regimes that he criticizes.
Rashid Orakzai,
Islamabad.
Breach of trust
Sir,
People look up to the army as a guardian and protector of their lives, property, dignity and honor.
In 2008, DHA Islamabad offered through balloting, eight and five marla plots in DHA Valley via advertisement in print and electronic media. Having trust in the institution of the army, I had no hesitation to apply for one, fully assured that unlike controversial private land developers, DHA Islamabad will deliver on its promises.
The payment was to be made in 12 installments to be deposited in Askari Bank over a period of 36 months. The 11th installment was deposited in May 2011, with the final installment due by 29th August 2011.
Those who seek such small plots belong to the middle and lower-middle class. It came as a rude shock to me when the 12th installment was put on hold through a computer generated letter from the customer support department of DHA Valley in August 2011, weeks before its last date on August 29, 2011.
It has been over three years with no further news or information from DHA Islamabad, which is a statutory body, bound by laws of this country. I appeal for the kind intervention of the higher authorities and request them to order DHA Valley Islamabad to hand over plots for possession after taking the deferred 12th installment from all those who reposed their confidence and trust in the armed forces by investing their hard earned tax paid savings in the hope of getting a plot in the most prestigious of all housing societies in this country.
The army should not allow anybody to betray the trust and confidence of the people of Pakistan in the institution of the army.
H Nighat Malik,
Lahore.
Media madness
Sir,
Some television anchors have gone astray with their obsession and agenda for regime change, advocating even international intervention, in what is definitely an internal political affair of Pakistan. The solution to our problems lies in the supremacy of constitution and writ of law.
This is an abuse of media freedom, where channels oblivious to their licensing responsibility have no hesitation in resorting to harming even state sovereignty to gain ratings. Nowhere in the democratic world would a state tolerate a planned campaign by licensed media to prove that the country itself has failed in dealing with its internal political matters.
Media freedom sans responsibility and regulation can become dangerous, doing more harm from within than could be done by our external enemies.
Tariq Ali,
Dubai.
Talk of town
Sir,
The launch of 3G and 4G mobile data services will benefit users and some in the telecommunication industry, with limited exposure and experience, very much at a personal level. Even though telecommunication services are being upgraded, those who make decisions are not from this land. The deployment of the services lacked substantial research and development, design, development, testing, and grooming of the local market.
It was claimed by senior government officials that the new services will create new six-figure job openings. But 3G services have already been launched and the jobs being created are not even in three figures. Steps like MVNO licensing, which may actually offer business and job opportunities, are deliberately ignored. Quality of service is another noted reservation all around, which is to be ensured by regulatory authority.
The leading vendors of the telecommunication industry are operating in Pakstan, but they they do not have any research and development facilities in the country, to groom and have bottom down effect on the industry. This country is being used more or less like a warehouse to hold stock of goods, replace or roll out that equipment, and have some as spare for O&M activities. This billion dollar industry must serve its purpose to flourish our generations by establishing all necessary facilities starting from research to the very delivery of the product. Each vendor must be bound to hook with the local universities for research purposes, covering all the steps till the product is delivered to the end user. These steps offer engineers and business professionals to be groomed and will surely help in creating job opportunities. It must be made mandatory for the higher officials of the telecommunication world to conduct lectures, seminars and workshops to help meet the challenges.
So far, the question being asked is whether telecommunication services are a necessity or a luxury. Considering the social and economic conditions of a third world country like Pakistan, where a majority is deprived of basic necessities of life, mobile phone services are available to everyone at very cheap rates. One must notice that with the ongoing commercial power crisis, telecommunication operators are surviving by milking every drop of revenue which is out there. “Packages” are offered to the users at day time during working hours and at night.
The government must address these problems and pass legislation binding vendors and operators to groom our local industry. Considering the predicament for the operators with the ongoing power crisis, the government must also consider subsidy for service providers to help them reduce their expenses.
Mohammad Mohsin Cheema,
Muzaffarabad.
Rags to riches
Sir,
Pakistan today faces biggest threat to its national security and sovereignty not from across borders, but from insatiable greed of its corrupt mediocrity within paid bureaucracy and political elite, which continues to bleed its economy, with individuals going from rags to riches, with no fear of accountability. For a country burdened with mounting debts and an FBR which facilitates tax evasion, leading to worst Tax to GDP ratio in region, the lifestyle of ruling elite, their extravagance at state expense is shocking. Totally oblivious to self generated financial collapse, financial regulatory agencies, customs, sensitive intelligence agencies continue to facilitate massive flight of capital, instead of ruthlessly curbing this menace.
The political debate that is going on in this country, both within parliament and in the Dharnas, seeks to seek no remedies, just charges and empty promises. Can those seek political power explain where the $50 billion that poured into Pakistan between 1982 to 1987 evaporated, because by 1988 this country’s Finance Minister Dr Mahbub had to rush to IMF seeking emergency bailout.
The national exchequer did not benefit from first Afghan War, nor did it benefit from second Afghan War under another military dictator. Individuals became billionaires, and with their newly acquired wealth they sought political power, while this country became a breeding ground for terrorism, its economy is in shambles and today few political leaders would have us believe that we must reject democracy and seek redressal from those whom Quaid very emphatically stated had no political role in governance. There is no doubt that the PPP failed miserably, while the PML-N lacks competence, vision, integrity and commitment to deliver. The solution lies in the rule of law, supremacy of the constitution, an independent judiciary, a powerful ECP and strong regulatory control free from political or bureaucratic intervention.
Mukarram Wadood,
Islamabad.
Please, Pakistan
Sir,
I am Indian national with forefathers coming from Karachi. My grandfather always told us good things about Karachi before independence. In fact it was our Muslim neighbors according to my grandfather who helped us get to India during the partition riots. As a well wisher of Pakistan and Pakistani people, I would like to give following personal view which I feel if taken constructively will lead to improving the economy of Pakistan and life of Pakistani people:
1. If anyone can make lasting peace between Pakistan and India from India side it will be BJP party and no one else.
2. Pakistan should also seek peace with Afghanistan.
3. Pakistan can progress if all religions, communities, and regions are treated with equality and given equal opportunities.
4. Indians and Pakistanis are the same people, and could be natural allies in the future.
5. Our main difference is on Kashmir. If we resolve this issue, there is no reason for us to be enemies.
6. I propose India and Pakistan to move towards a diplomatic solution to the Kashmir problem, such as making Kashmir a neutral territory.
7. Hindus are not the enemies of Pakistan and Muslims. We should take steps so that Hindus and Muslims can move and travel freely between Pakistan and India.
8. We must also take steps to demilitarize the borders and reduce border tensions.
9. Let us take steps to change the future for a better India and Pakistan. Let us learn to listen to our people and the people want peace and harmony.
10. Pakistan needs to strengthen its democracy and provide good governance to its people. Its judiciary should be strong and people should be assured that their lives, property and rights will be protected.
As a concerned global citizen and a friend of Pakistanis, I believe the above steps are not impossible to achieve.
Rajesh Jhaveri,
Mumbai.
Patience quotient
Sir,
It seems the seasoned politician Javed Hashmi has concluded his political career after a quarrel with Chairman of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan. I do not understand how Javed Hashmi carried his moral sensibility along with his political diplomacy and what makes him think about it at the last stage of his career, though he has a long history of struggle against army-backed Pakistani establishment and being respected for it too. In response, Mr Khan can suitably be described as having a high patient quotient, but having less political wisdom than a political leader of his cadre is expeted to have.
Javed Hashmi’s adventure to join Khan’s party did pay off but he definitely was, along with other Makhdooms, Syeds and Sardars, incapacitated by tyrannical democrat Imran Khan, as his intra-party setup allows him to do so. He has a veto power despite a core committee that is expected to take decisions for the party. Dawn newspaper quoted Javed Hashmi recently as saying that the core committee had decided against marching towards the Prime Minister’s House, but Imran Khan vetoed the decision after receiving a message from “some unknown sources,” at a time when negotiators from the government and the PTI were about to strike a deal.
I do not know who, behind the bush, outwitted Mr Khan into believing himself the next Prime Minister of the country.
I believe lots of people in this country, including me, did not like the Hashmi-Khan episode.
Ehtesham Anwar,
Karachi.
What’s the plan?
Sir,
Imran Khan says his campaign is against corruption and the power structure wherein the judicial system is shackled, private armed militias kill at will, extortion is openly collected, merit violated and the Constitution – on which the foundations of a modern democratic welfare state envisioned by the father of the nation was to be built – often held in abeyance.
While the Constitution guarantees that all citizens are equal before the law, and must be answerable before the judiciary, the ugly ground reality is shamefully very repulsive.
May I ask Imran Khan and Tahirul Qadri why their campaign against corruption is confined only to weak civil politicians, who no doubt are corrupt, have abused their powers and are guilty of protecting tax evaders, besides getting extravagant perks from the state. Why don’t they question the regularization of multiple illegal allotment of plots to paid civil and uniformed bureaucracy, who have just performed services for which they were hired?
Where else in democratic civilized world are such practices allowed? This country, where over 100 million people do not have a permanent house to live in, cannot afford such extravagance.
Why are these two politicians silent about the evil nexus between land mafia and paid or elected public office holders? Is this really about corruption or part of some other scripted plan?
Ali Malik,
Dubai.