Letter to shahid  -  10 January 1997

Sidra Ayaz from Karachi through her letter in Daily The News Karachi and Daily The Post Lahore on 11.12.2006 says today there is a lot of talk about equal rights for women, equal opportunities to women but practical situation is that the women folk can not easily travel in public transport. She says ladies compartmens in buses, wagons and mini buses remain occupied by men folk.

Sidra I am sorry to say is that ungrateful majority of masses.  She does not know the Sindh Ombudsman many years back ordered concealment of ladies and gent compartments in buses and wagons.  To see if his directive was implemented or not is not his job. Our judges and  ombudsmen travel in high capacity government cars hence they should not be expected to see out of the glasses if rickshaws were still omitting smoke which they banned years back or in ladies compartments still male are sitting which they directed not to be allowed.

The MQM transport minister one day passing through Shahra-e-Faisal stopped a mini bus, asked the driver to come out and slabbed him for having accommodated men in ladies compartments,   He got his photographed published for this noble job for which the photographer was traveling with him. Siddra should not expected it was the job of the Minister concerned to slab every driver because with the press popularity his job finished.  It is same like NWFP shria loving chief minister traveled from Peshawar to Lahore in private bus, got the due fame then his job finished.

My dear Sidra, the words of honourable S.M. Zafar should be remembered and written in gold that no ism or government will change peoples fate unless they themselves started recognizing their rights and started fighting for that.  Sidra no government, no NGO, no VIP Begumat, no system, to APWA, no Aourat Foundation will provide your eg proper place in buses and minim busues unless some of you, a very few, accepting the worst to face enter into such men packed buses, take your shoes and ask these men to get up from seat with the force or your shoes or sacrifice for women of this country by tearing of your shirt in the bus and cry pointing two three male passengers sitting there that they did it,  let the police come. Sidra believe it when three or four such incidents happened, no male passenger will ever sit in ladies compartment even if the driver or conductor allures the waiting passengers to take them on half the fare in these compartments.  The minister, ombudsman, judges, social workers or NGOs are not the remedy, at least in our country, for such matters, the curative and permanent remedy now lies in accepting S.M. Zafar’s wise advice not merely in the matter of ladies compartment but in all such related fields.  

By Shahhid  -  01 January 2007

Hardly any day goes by when there are not three or six incidents of armed phone and purse snatching in the Industrial Area of Federal B Area Karachi. The area is under the influence of A few groups of organized groups of youth gangs. Not merely they work during the early hours of evening but daringly even in the afternoons as the Gaddap Police has deliberately left the area as heaven for them.  No patrol police ever comes in this area for some obvious reasons. This is the reason the victims who are mostly industrial employees knowing the God Fathers of these gangsters prefer not to report the crime.   It may not be out of context to mention that after PECHS Police Station, Gaddap Police Station is the second Police Station which fetches highest bid for posting.  Unfortunately CPLC despite knowing these facts have turned its eyes on the other side reason only being the businessmen in this industrial area is middle class and not business tycoons.   

By Javed -  06 January 2006

I could not stop amuzing myself reading the press release of the press conference held two months back by the Director General National Savings.  He said that today commercial banks were giving better facilities to their customers hence in line with modern  financial institutions, the NSs have taken steps. The first of which is provision of more seating arrangements for the customers.  Though more seating has come but practical treatment with the customers remains the same.  For example in modern banking a customer right entering into the premises interacts with a smiling educated staff whereas, like in the past, still one first interacts with an uneducated security guard or the peon in the National Savings.  The customer needs to explain him the purpose of visit and this security guard will either give you concerned Forms or direct you which counter you to go.  Recently I went to Gulberg and Gulshan-e-Iqbal Centers only to be provided with wrong Forms by the security guards as the Officers Incharge of Center as usual did not had time.   The Officer Incharges in all NS Centers still sit like elite bureaucrats walled in fenced areas away from customers.  Hence they do not ever know who was sitting on the waiting chair since when.  I have always seen the Police posted on banks and  NSCs chatting sitting on chairs guns in their laps while the departmental security guards always with guns hanging on their shoulders distributing new account Forms, dispensing account procedure/information or making tea or going out for photocopying or post office.  I have never even once seen any police or departmental security guard standing alert with gun in right position. Having 23 years experience in police uniform abroad it does not surprise me the number of dacoities in such institutions. 

The second so called incentive given is that the profit accrued will now be automatically transferred to savings accounts provided it is in the same Branch.  According to DG it will save customers the time relief.  How the hell it can save the customer I can not understand.  Whether a the customer is withdrawing profit directly say from his Regular Income Scheme or  from his Savings Account in which the profit was transferred, in both ways he is to attend the Center, get a token, sit for same one or two hours away from the eyes of high grade Officer Incharge and wait.  So where is the time saving.  The time saying could be if his accrued profit is transferred into his commercial bank account.  It is rightly said our bureaucracy can well draft schemes only in the files.  One must not have forgotten that during Benazir Bhutto rule colours of expresses trains were changed. On inauguration the Tailways Minister at Karachi Cantt Station on a question stated that this colour change will press the ticketless passengers to buy tickets.  Did free loaders bought tickets or not there is no record,  but it is on the Railways record that how much paint supply orders were placed on the NWFP pain factory of the Minister’s brother. 

By Shahnaz – 06 December 2006

The Government of His Excellency General Pervaiz Musharraf is very actively and appreciably extending its hand in tackling the international terrorism.  The efforts and practical contributions made by Pakistan in this field have internationally been recognized but is the Government really aware of or really concerned about security concern within Pakistan?  About a month or so back there was a news item Interior Minister Mr. Aftab Sherpao telling  authorities have arrested 8 criminals through the source of their mobile phones.  My mind say all these accused must be innocent but only for sin of holding a stolen mobile bought  at cheaper rates.

A few months back my husband came from abroad.  For his temporary stay for use in Pakistan he wanted to buy a Pakistani mobile chip/SIM.  Shopping from a small general stores he enquired from the shopkeeper if there was any mobile company sales office nearby. The shopkeeper told all companies SIMs were available in his own shop.  My husband bought one, used it for a month and on the day of his return back abroad he removed this SIM and replaced his foreign country SIM.  Being a cautious man having served abroad for more than 20 years in Uniform he knew the sensitivity of keeping an idle SIM.  He wanted to destroy it by breaking but during his lost minute shopping outside this SIM got dropped somewhere.  However he left Pakistan and immediately from abroad he in writing requested CPLC, PTA, our area Police and the telecommunication company to block the SIM.  Much propagated CPLC not realizing the importance of immediate blocking after about two weeks informed my husband that he can contact the company concerned directly.  CPLC perhaps does not know that CPLC was formed due to reason the Police and such companies were not listening to such direct complaints by people.  If people are required to go directly to the companies in case of loss or theft of mobiles, then wy the hell there is an On Line costly mobile theft reporting system.  PTA as usual merely acknowledged receipt while Police never.  The telecommunication company first advised my husband to attend to the nearest customer service center for lodging a report.  My husband told them to read his complaint with presence of mind that he was abroad,   Now the company has shocked my husband telling him that the SIM/Chip number was not registered in his name hence cannot be blocked. The company has advised my husband to provide copy of service agreement which he had signed while purchasing the SIM.  Such an agreement was never presented to my husband and in fact it is our first knowledge as these Chips and SIMs are sold in shops merely on strength of copies of National Identity Card.

Two months back the Interior Minister Mr. Aftab Sherpao in a news item said the authorities have arrested 8 suspected criminals tracing them through mobiles they used.  My husband long uniformed experienced commented he believed these suspects more likely are innocent victims of holding the stolen mobiles which concerned sections did not block timely and these people might have bought in greed on throw away prices.  When my husband was in Pakistan and the above news item was being telecast same day in English dailies  a large article had appeared how there was no proper record of mobile subscribers in as much as in one name there were 8000 telephone connections.  My husband commented the person in whose name these 8000 connections are surely is not aware of because if a serious investigation is made once when he purchased his mobile, the copy of his NIC he submitted is be re-copied and reused by shopkeepers keepers and vested interests.  How risky this system is.  All relevant quarters are playing a sort of criminal role by remaining silent that these mobile chips are being sold without any proper documentation.  The attitude of authorities can well be understood that when it had dawned on them there are eg. 8000 phones in one name and there are many other cases as per press reports, why then serious action in apprehending such companies, sales agents, sub agents has not been taken.   Not blocking the SIMs immediately on report in itself I think is a big role in not taking misuse of mobiles a serious thing for protection of innocent common man who does nto know the intricacies.  CPLC has created On Line Mobile Theft Report Form.  If the Government is serious then Mobile Theft Report Systems may be introduced on Police, PTA, CPLC and concerned telecommunication companies web sites but on submissionof report the system should auto generate a Complaint Number which could be used by the reporting person as a defence.  At present CPLC web just says thank you for recording your complaint but does not give any complain reference and at the time of need one can not ever prove if he ever timely reported the crime.  This is the only first step if there actually is any interest for the common man, 

By Javed – 22 November 2006

Our information technology minister last month said the Government was to equip all government departments with computers.  The fact is there is hardly any Federal, Provincial, local or semi autonomous office which does not has computer or internet facility created in the name of giving public a quick response but which facility hardly is used for public purpose.  For what purpose these computer and internet lines are used is not clearly known and is a mystery. Pakistan Post Office some years back with much fan fare introduced in major GPOs of cities public internet cafes most of which are closed since long.  GPO Saddar Karachi was equipeed with 6 computer, it is closed since four years where have gone computer ALLAH the great knows better.  On lot of expense and on huge publicity on TV a hotline central web On Line  complaint Center was created in Islamabad.  Many dear ones were posted.  Now  it has been removed from the net and auto generated advice is given “contact there area 18 complaint”.  Why was it created in the first place?

A similar On Line complaint cell Cell has been created in the Sindh Governor House.   But does anyone takes any action on complaints filed with the Center?   Last year in 2005 I filed a complaint against Registration No. PRB-2652-05  and PRB-3002-06.  Another complaint was filed against No. PRB-2670-06.  Till today I have heard nothing.  What is worth of  then such complaint centers at so high level.  If this is the state of high level On Line complaint centers, then one can well imagine what care or attention ordinary complaints centers eg 18 for telephone purposes etc would give to public complaints.

By Anum – November 6 2006

With the launch of memories book of His Excellency the President of Pakistan General Pervaiz Musharaf a lot of debate has started both home and abroad.  General Musharraf has quoted from his memories that immediately after 9/11 the Director Pakistan Intelligence who by chance was present in USA was summoned by the then US Army Chief General Armitage advising him to convey to Pakistan government “either Pakistan be prepared itself to face bombing to go back to stone age or alternatively Pakistan fully does what US may require in its fight against terror in Afghanistan”.  It is well remembered that when the Director Pakistan Intelligence while very wisely in line with Pakistan’s policy to fight for terrorism anywhere in principle agreed but also desired a little time to consult his government, he was in a very rude manner required to confirm it then and there add “either you are with us or against us:.

9/11 is not some 6 or 8 decades backed.  It is just only 4 year old and each detail still is remembered by everyone.  Only yesterday Sunday 24 September morning Geo TV was showing a western documentary where in it showed dozens and dozens things.  For example it showed a certificate issued by a company whose steel was used in Trade Tower verifying that after alleged attack the highest temperature in the attacked building was 2000 degree whereas steel provided by them could only melt at 3000 degree minimum.  The TV showed immediately the scientist issuing the certificate had to leave the service.   Immediately after 9/11 the remarks of Armitage viz bombing Pakistan, turning into stone age, you are with us or not etc kept on published in almost all newspapers of Pakistan.  There had been a lot of criticism then on General Musharaaf Government.  If due to my old age my memories are not misguiding me when General Musharraf appeared on TV to explain Pakistan’s stand point to the nation he probably also mentioned all this. 

This morning Monday 25 September on Geo TV journalist Hamid Mir, Information Minister and Riaz Khokhar ex Secretary Foreign Affairs appeared.  On the point that President Bush has shown his surprise over General Musharraf’s remarks about bombing Pakistan, Riaz Khokhar ignited a a new controversy that there might had been a “communication gap” namely what Director Intelligence conveyed back home.  What a wonderful our ex Foreign Expert is.

As a common citizen, I fail to understand that while President Bush and the whole American Administration today is more emphatically crying that these bombing remarks were never said by US, why did not they contradicted the same in September October 2001 when these reported remarks were continuously appearing in Pakistani press?  Why did US administration and US Embassy in Pakistan then did not clarified that these remarks were never made.

We are really an unfortunate nation that our politicians do not let any chance pass by through which they could possibly reach to the highest chair or create problem or embarrassment to the Government of the time.  Riaz Khokhar the ex Secretary Foreign Affairs today (25 September) on Geo TV has opened a new Pandora box saying that these words could had been a communication gap.  PML Nawaz Ihsan Iqbal of Nawaz League is so innocently demanding an enquiry that if these remarks were said immediately after September 2001 why did not General Musharraf took the nation into confidence whereas the fact is every citizen knew about these remarks as were being then reported in the press and there was an anger amongst Pakistani citizens against US.  All these critics definitely had read these remarks the in 2001 in press and instead of supporting the government are taking advantage of it.  In the Muslim world my belief is that it is the quality only in Irnaians that they have differences with the government but when it comes to from abroad, each and every citizen forgets difference, frustration and fully stands on back of the Government.

Knowing the US, I wonder if by showing its surprise or terming these old remarks now published in a personal book having never been said, the US has something new in its mind for Pakistan and it wants to play some new game eg pressurize Pakistan to help US against Iran etc or is it a sort of signal to whomsoever.    

By Javed - -07 November 2006

The Azizabad Karachi Graveyard is in shamble.  During my visit on Eid 25 October 2006 I found its condition horrible.  There is a large army of municipality employees on the payroll who have either only to sell water or very little to do.  It is now an open secret that there is generally a mafia in the graveyards who minutes money by taking advantage of helpless relatives on the plea that graveyard is full but on a five figure currency note all of a sudden space itself comes forward.  For this purpose this the graveyard employees adopt different unofficial ways under blessings of “someone”.

These caretaker employees who are bound to keep maintain the graveyard in clan condition do not cut the jungle undesired grass or branches and let them grow as thorny bushes so as some of the graves get inaccessibly encircled inside these bushes.  The relatives then have no choice but to reduce weight of their pockets to get these bushes removed through same caretakers.

During this visit I found a new phenomena.  Seeing which graves are not regularly attended by relatives,  some of the graves are deliberately damaged, on name identification stones of such either white paint or cement has been put to make it unrecognizable for “re-allotment” on new down payment.  I could not find the graveyard of my grandfather this time despite my best efforts.  The active involvement of caretakers can be judged from only one fact that I saw active electric wires lying and going on the ground to some of the graves which are situated in some sort of a small room or under shade and during night bulbs are lightened there.  This electricity used definitely is on graveyard’s official expense and not on any generator.

By Javed – 5 November 2006

I do remember some years back in a foreign country a reporter put a question to a Minister addressing the press conference. The Minister enquired from where that information comes from.  When the Minister was told the source was from Pakistan, he replied nothing coming from Pakistan should ever surprise anybody.

In our “own wisdom” fighting with terrorism we have adopted a security check system at our airports which no where in the world is ever seen as it is the most stupid security system.  The world over security check steps are serialwise are visual plain check up entering the airport lounge, then scanning the whole baggage and putting a security strip abroad the checked baggage, weighing and tagging the baggage at check-in-counter, issuance of boarding pass, travel towards immigration and finally to the Gate for entering the plane by passing through another body and hand bag check.  The same system had been prevailing since decades in Pakistan.  But since we now are the biggest player in tackling the international terrorism hence over confident we have adopted the stupid system similar to our selling everything to foreigners rather than preferring the local buyers.   

Now using our modern wisdom this system has been changed.  The scanning machines immediately entering into the airport building/hall have been removed.  Right from entering the airport without any formal check (except for the brief Customs briefing) the passenger goes direct to the CAA/Airlines check-in-counter.  Here the passengers gets his baggage weighted and boarding card in his hands he once again picks up his now tagged baggage to a newly introduced counter where sits ASF experts with a scanning machine.  The passenger puts his baggage on the scanning machine and the ASF expert questions him about the contents.  No where in the word after once baggage having been weighted and destination-identification tagged is allowed to be touched by the passenger.  It is a security matter.  Under our new system it is a free hand for the passenger that after having got weighted his baggage,  while moving towards scanning machine he can freely put 5 or 15 kgs extra baggage in the cleared baggage he had so far kept aside.   The ASF security inspection and questioning can well and more practically be done if the scanning machine remains at its usual old place where these universally are kept.  This has put not only the security at risk but has also put the passenger on a lot of inconvenience,

How much are these security experts vigilant?  The CAA check-in-counter nice and kind lady official  was enquiring from every passenger if he had any liquid in his hand bag to be taken inside the plane as carry baggage.  I told her I had a bottle of mineral water as well as a 7UP bottle which I usually need for long travel.  She told me the security staff would not allow it.  When I desired to get these two bottles out, the nice lady told me not to put myself into inconvenience at this stage as I had also to pick up my whole baggage to the distance scanning machine rather advised me that I can remove these bottles at the last leg of my security check before entering into the plane.  I passed through the touch security check where even I had to remove and pass my watch, pen and eye glasses through the scanning machine including physical body check but no expert told me (or could find) the 7UP and mineral water bottles in my hand bag.  Wonderful wise new security?