Benazir’s democracy
When there was a decent democracy in Pakistan, people like Benazir Bhutto abused it so badly that it could no longer be sustained. Now, with buckets of crocodile tears and truck-load of sympathies, Benazir returns to Pakistan to restore democracy. Hallelujah! But the funny thing is, there would have been no need to ‘restore’ democracy if it wasn’t murdered in the first place, quite enthusiastically, by none other than Benazir herself! And now we have more than 100 people killed because Benazir ‘vows’ to restore democracy in Pakistan.
Azad Miah
Oldham, UK
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For many right-thinking people who lived in Pakistan and watched its development as a sovereign nation are dismayed and disappointed in many ways. This beautiful land with so much of wonderful varieties of life and lustre could not create any emotional connections with the politicians who are there to control the destiny of Pakistan. From 1947 to 2007 may not be a significant part of the eternity but for any newly emerged nation that’s a long time. The politicians of Pakistan have spoiled this long 60 years and stole a nations search for its identity. From the very beginning they were riding on the wrong horse of religion and intentionally poisoned the nation’s body politic. Among all the politicians there was fear that India will swallow Pakistan if the spectre of religion is not kept alive. They made it a political capital and played with peoples’ emotions. The role of army is a vicious one due to the fact that they capitalise on the fact that they are the people who can fight India.
The return of Benazir Bhutto with so much of fanfare has proved two facts. The people of Pakistan are not religious fanatics and they have lost interest in the military rule. The religious extremists who are now playing havoc in the Pakistani life are not a force to be reckoned with but to be sternly dealt with. Pakistani politicians and the military establishment are equally responsible for creating this Frankenstein. Only a focused and patriotic and secular political force can destroy this Frankenstein. This will not be easy nor are there any shortcut ways to do this. Pakistan will need help from its friends to do that. Benazir must be sincere and take all possible pragmatic steps to deal with the situation if she is given power by the military. General Musharraf, who has proved himself a very ordinary power-hungry military man, may not allow a free hand to Benazir and there is every likelihood that he might call another general to do his job as General Ayub Khan did by calling General Yahya Khan when things went out of his control.
Akbar Hussain
Canada
A fate hangs on Supreme Court
verdict in Pakistan
Yes, on the surface of things Musharraf’s fate hangs on the Supreme Court verdict. But is that verdict not predictable? By allowing Musharraf in uniform to contest and win election by legislators so close to the end of their term, the court has indirectly foretold the verdict upon challenge to the validity of his contest as chief of army.
But there is the silver lining in the dark clouds of political or legal correctness given the overall national interest of Pakistan — a country so deeply troubled by its fledgling and fragile democracy, made even worse by the upsurge of extremist elements.
By way of best bargain out of a bad situation, the Musharraf-Benazir alliance might be the best of a bad bargain, at least for the present juncture. Purists and idealists would not like it but the doctrine of necessity (call it ‘real politick’ if you will) could prevail.
The last word on democratic politics is never written on stone. Why it should be an exception for Pakistan? Pakistan matters in the sub-continent; no one can wish it away. The return of peace, co-operation, and stability is precondition for progress and prosperity of the more than one billion people. That is a goal worth striving for even with some realistic compromises on the path. Good luck the upcoming alliance even if of convenience.
Husain
Dhaka
Metro or monorail for Dhaka
There has been interesting letters and news in your esteemed daily whether Dhaka should have underground metro or elevated monorail to overcome the traffic congestion and chaos on its streets. If my opinion is taken then I would say none of these projects are suitable for Dhaka city at present. First, because we have remained a very undisciplined nation with least respect for national assets and properties. We could not even modernise the railways or improve the system in the last 60 years. Instead we saw the railways’ gradual deterioration from bad to worse. There are visible examples where we have miserably failed. Take for instance, Zia International Airport or Kamalapur railway station where indiscipline and chaos reign supreme. Then look at the yellow cabs and mini-cabs in the private sector. Newly launched cabs are badly battered and interior dirtied in no time. Least we talk about the bus services the better. Secondly, the congestion and chaos on Dhaka streets are due to short-sighted policies of successive governments. Dhaka was not developed as a proud capital city. Instead industries were allowed to grow inside the city, leading to influx of millions of workers from the rural areas. Building plans were approved by RAJUK without taking into consideration the congestion it would create on roads and lanes. Today in Dhaka, an exclusive residential area is hardly found. All have become commercial zones.
To make Dhaka a proud capital and environmentally habitable city with least traffic congestion, first you need to relocate all the industries outside Dhaka by creating exclusive industrial zones. This should be the top priority of the government. To ease traffic congestion drivers should be required to follow lane system on roads. Once you choose a lane you cannot change lanes on whim. Impose fine for changing lanes arbitrarily.
The government should take up plans for constructing more flyover and elevated highways. Power should be decentralised to develop and make attractive the other metropolitan cities.
As for metro or monorail, Dhaka is not yet ready for such giant projects. It would be a sheer wastage of money.
Ziauddin Ahmed
Dhaka
