Dear
Readers,
It has been over a month
that the Israeli siege of the Palestinian territory started,
in the name of “fight against terrorism”. The
world watch in silence while the human blood is flowing
in abundance on dusty landscape of West Bank. Ironically,
the brutal force being used by Israel to deny Palestinian
men, women and children to breath freely in their own
homeland, has not been able to subdue their will to live
in freedom. True to his image, the butcher of Sabra and
Shatela Camp, is enacting same drama now in Jenin Camp.
We hope, the cries of dying children, women and innocent
souls in Palestine shall waken the world conscious sooner
than later.
Else where, Muslims in Indian Gujarat and Kashmir are
continuing to suffer the atrocities on hands of religious
extremists. Armies are facing each other on Indo Pak borders.
Ex Monarch has landed in Afghanistan with a hope to unite
and put the devastated Afghan nation on road to prosperity.
Favorite Grandma of England passed away in her sleep and
small plane piloted by 70 years old hit 30 storey building
in Commercial district of Milan reminding Sep 11.
At home General Mushraf has set pace for political activities
for forth coming general elections through holding of
rallies for Referendum. Some up-coming politicians term
this activity as an opportunity to learn the techniques
of pulling crowds for elections, while “Old guards”
call it a “substitute” to coming elections!
Here is the April issue. We wish you happy reading.
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Reader's
Views
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This is with reference
to “What Cause” (March issue). Following
Daniel Pearl’s murder, we had to bear
up humiliating references to Pakistan in the
foreign media, which never lets an opportunity
to stigmatize third world countries like ours
go by. Our own intellectuals joined the chorus
and condemned the incident with utmost indignation.
But is it not strange that not strange that
not much mention is made of lsraeli fire in
the occupied territories? So much for the
world's conscience and respect for the profession
of journalism.
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Your articles on Middle
East (March) are very enlightening. My biggest
disappointment with President George W. Bush
has been in how he has allowed himself to
be manipulated by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon. He has followed the same failed policy
that his predecessor did. That policy can
be summed up as "the Israelis are always
right, and Palestinians are always wrong."
That's a very convenient policy for politicians
who don't want the powerful Israeli lobby
on their case.
But if the goal is peace, the policy is a
failure. The policy is a failure again if
the goal is to protect America's interests
or to bring stability to the Middle East or
to eliminate terrorism.
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Medical
College in Mirpurkhas
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The residents of Mirpurkhas
are grateful to the founder of Muhammad Medical
College, located just near Mirpurkhas city.
The college is imparting medical education
of good standard to the students of this area.
At the same time, I must express my regret
that the political heavy weights of this area
did nothing for the people of their constituencies
during their political zenith. Although one
Prime Minister, one Chief Minister and several
ministers, MNAs, and MPAs were produced by
District Tharparkar, now Mirpurkhas Division,
but none of them made any contribution to
the development of this part of Sindh in the
shape of medical and engineering colleges.
Maulana Abdul Sattar Edhi had planned some
welfare schemes for the Mirpurkhas division.
But disappointed by the attitude of the people
here, he dropped Mirpurkhas from the map of
his upliftment program.
The medical college is being run on self-help
basis. But a dialysis machines is available
neither in the college nor in the Civil Hospital,
Mirpurkhas. I appeal to the philanthropists
of Mirpurkhas division to contribute towards
dialysis and angiography machines as they
are urgently required by the poor people of
this area.
I also request the Muhammad Medical College
authorities to reserve a minimum of 10 seats
for the poor students of Mirpurkhas, from
whom they should charge a confessional fee.
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HIRANAND MOHADAS, Mirpurkhas
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The referendum trumpet
is sounding and Pakistan is once again being
taken to the political alter for an arranged
marriage with a general. Forced marriages
are nothing new to our society. We are cursed
with this tradition even in the political
arena.
We still have glimmer of hope that this union
of General Musharraf with the hapless masses
of Pakistan can be avoided. How many more
generations have to pass before the generals
realize that they are not welcome in our chambers
of politics. The press has an obligation to
speak out. Silence today will only mean more
silencing tomorrow. General Musharraf, please
look beyond your own vision of Pakistan. Look
at the vision of this nation and listen to
its hopes. The people yearn for their voices
to be heard. You have the moral obligation
to place Pakistan's interest ahead of your
own. You are choosing a path that will prolong
the pain of this generation and the hopes
of the children of our country.
You will leave this earth as we will all do
one day, but your actions will haunt our children
for generations. Ayub Khan has been gone for
34 years. There are adults among us who were
not even born when he left. Yet they are suffering
from his actions.
Zia returned to his maker 14 years ago. There
are children nearing adulthood, born after
his death. They are suffering from his legacy
of forced rule and intolerance.
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Salim Akbani, Illinois, US
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Why
not beautify Karachi?
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When I compare Karachi with Lahore
I get very upset. Lahore has turned out to be such
a beautiful city that one feel like visiting it
again and again. This all due to the sincere efforts
put in by those responsible. I wonder what has happened
to the management in Karachi. Dare I say that, of
late, these managers have started putting a lot
of blame on lack of funds and that too from the
centre. Somehow I can't digest this. I feel that
it is only bad governance, mismanagement and lack
of sincere desire. With little or no funds there
are even today areas in Karachi, which are being
maintained in an admirable manner. Karachi could
be turned into a sparkling city even today if all
the staff employed is properly utilized and those
expensive and sophisticated vehicles (mechanical
sweeper etc) are brought back on the roads to fulfil
their primary functions.
I am sure that a little tough attitude can do the
trick. I may even request the team under the governor
to be cruelly demanding of the Karachi city managers
so that they put up a better performance.
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