“Dark Ages” of Pakistan

Posted @ LahorePostBlog

December marks the end of the deadliest 2010, the 201st decade, culminating after more than 100 drone attacks this year, killing mostly civilians. An era has passed, and it happened to be perhaps the most lethal and dreadful period for Pakistan. It proved to be a gloomy and historically “dark age” for the 63yr old country, in a rapidly evolving global geo-political environment. A nation that bore the brunt of WOT, sacrificed more men than any other ally, when no Pakistani was involved in it. Aided by, the most corrupt, and incompetent politicians as rulers of the state. It happened to be an age of bloodshed, extremely low self-esteem, and growing despair. Loosing, 10,000 cops, a good 30,000 civilians, and thousands of those who were crippled since the beginning of WOT. Still, we are not doing more.

The chaos began with the one man, dictatorial decision of Musharraf in 2001 to join War on Terror. It was a decision where options were limited but irony is that the gutless General gave in like a coward, and committed without any forcible terms and conditions.

Thereafter, giving in to their every demand as if Pakistanis were guilty. Later in 2004, he sent in armed troops without taking the parliament and the nation in confidence, and with no positive outcome whatsoever. Eventually an array of suicide attacks began, worsening as each day passes. Musharraf did manage to attract foreign investors but the economic boom proved temporary. Obviously, with a war going on at your borders and a growing concern over law and order situation, how could he have managed to sustain economic growth? Army once a pride and hope, thanks to him, earned an unruly, bad fame in his days. Lately, the 1999 coup fame, ex-Army COAS, Gen Zia-ud-din calls him an inexpert officer, incompetent general and a compulsive liar.

The 2007 Judiciary movement in due course commemorate the end of Musharaf and his continuous meddling with the constitution. He’s the pioneer of the unpardonable NRO which eventually allowed unclean politicians to take charge of the driving seat.

2008 marked the beginning of a democratic government, elected based on their slogan to revive and review policies. It lead in time to the rule of the most corrupt politicians. Theirs no change in the policies, no clear agenda whatsoever, and carnage and casualties continue. The world today is acquainted to drones through Pakistan.

Added to this is the escalating corruption, not even sparing institutions that previously had corruption free fame. Like, last month, motorway police got involved in a challan corruption scandal. It looks like an incurable epidemic. Steel mills scandal is outdated now. They have gone far beyond. The latest being the Reko diq scandal, which is equivalent to 200 steel mills.These guys are inventive and bold. The Hajj looting eventually leading to the prince writing to the CJ must have left many old ministers in a fury for not being so audacious!

More to it is the dooming economy. The Textile industry, our economic backbone, is barely surviving now, being forced towards an unnatural death. Foreign investment is out of question as there is not only miserable law and order situation but also distrust on the government by the International community, openly shown during the flood relief appeals. All of this is in due course leading to price hiking and hoarding of commodities. Might is right here now.

The adversity everywhere is eventually leading to an extremely low self-esteem of the nation as a whole, as is being manifested by the current sporting culture in the country. Cricket being a religion in Pakistan is not mere a sport here but also a representative of the spirit and morale of the nation and the youth. Cricketers are now being scrutinized. Another one, lately fled the field. Guilty or not, but the impact it creates is detrimental.

It is the end of 2010 and like Obama, the change that the elected democratic govt in Pakistan, comprising of the two mainstream political parties, promised is nowhere to be seen. The nation now awaits a messiah and a changeover.

Being an ultimate optimist, I also believe that it can’t go on like this forever and renaissance is round the corner! The nation that carries tremendous potential within herself now desperately yearn for a change. The best educated Muslims in the world today are Pakistanis, proving their mettle all over the world. The brainy, creative youth here is capable of not just making “copy” but “original” as well, (as can be witnessed by the rare opportunities they manage to get). All that is now desired is a changed and charged leadership.

I aspire that the new year and consequently the new age marks the beginning of a new blooming era for Pakistan – I still dream of a prosperous Pakistan, gearing steadily on a dodgy road towards the vision of Quaid, and the dream of Iqbal.

Shaukat Khanum is not helping much

Posted @ LahorePost Blog

Seems like writing for and mainly  against Imran Khan is in vogue in Pak blogging world. Here is my contribution!

40 yr old Salma, a local villager, was diagnosed with cancer of the uterus. She received treatment from SKMT H and had full recovery. As I met her, I explained to her that cancer is not common cold and that it can recur, so religious follow-up is obligatory. On her follow-up visit at Shaukat Khanum, she was asserted clear.

Weeks later, I found out that she was having similar symptoms again. This time her family chose to take her to the nearby quack who they told me was “qualified” in treating such illnesses and had an excellent medical record. Jolted by the statement, I explained to them the consequences of not seeking professional help, as it could be recurrence of her cancer. Since they were tenants from my local village, I became persuasive and even authoritative. To my utter disappointment the family (otherwise very caring & concerned but ultimately illiterate) rejected  and got her treated first by the specialist quack and later by a peer baba, who I found out charged more than what a doc would have. 6 months later, she died.

It made me realize that she must have been tagged “cured” in SKMTH registers but here she was down in the grave and then I wondered how many more poor “cured” patients in SKMTH record actually met the same destiny. I don’t have any post-hospital discharge statistics, but I suppose almost all the impoverished who are “cured” per hospital record, IF get recurrence, end up having fate similar to Salma.

Cancer after cure needs from minimum 2 yrs up to lifelong follow-up. The gullible poor in Pak cannot afford such lucrative follow-ups. Even if the hospital charges nothing, they have their own social and financial issues (travelling, food and lodging cost/issues etc) and they are too naïve to handle such jagged situations.

I believe institutes of excellence like SKMTH are serving only the affluent, some meagre and of course doctors. Unless, an appropriate infrastructure is built in terms of health and education, I am afraid erecting centers of excellence in the name of poor is yielding little, they cannot be utilized to their optimum capability, and no matter what they do they can never justly serve 70% of our indigent population.

One million spent on Salma,s treatment went down the drain by the end of the day. Obviously, SKMTH is not at all at fault. I blame a nonexistent public health system and illiteracy for that. Besides, optimum health & education services can never be attained by relying  solely on humanitarian organizations without the earnest involvement of the state and hence politicians.

As a matter of fact, Salma’s local GP should have summoned her after her discharge from the hospital. The GP than should have kept a record of her future appointments. In addition, she and her family should have been educated enough or at least have had baseline knowledge and awareness of her disease.

Irrefutably, altruism is a pursuit of the past and must be taken as a temporary way out. Otherwise, it results in callous, unending exploitation of the deprived. Circumstances have gone downhill. Now, I reckon this similar to an act involving attack on civilians from the top and later on tendering aid from the ground.

Moreover, the state has turned a blind eye over decades and has shed most of her health responsibility by deviously assigning the task to philanthropists and doctors – victims of collateral damage I would say. In fact, the state has manipulated doctors and humanitarians in the name of humanity for her advantage to cover her shortcomings. Doctors in Pak govt teaching hospitals spend 70% of their time & energy in arranging free investigations & medicines for poor patients (when practically they should be receiving medical training).

Evidently, Social work has limited upshots. In chaotic conditions such as we are in, one should consider pragmatic solution. It appears, political solution is the present and the future now. And for that matter, All politicians should turn into philanthropists and all philanthropists should join politics.

Health and education is the responsibility of the state and if they are unable to endow it, they should resign. Unless the state takes hold of her responsibility and demonstrate practical results, not mere slogans and policies, perpetual exploitation of everyone including patients, poor, and philanthropists will carry on.

 

“White Poison” Industry necessitates radical reforms

Originally posted @All Things Pakistan

The sugar scam resurfaces yet again. Skyrocketing sugar prices, in an environment where inflation is already a critical concern, is only adding fuel to the fire. Concisely, a whole chain involving politicians, ministers, mafias etc are said to be responsible. To begin with, I am unable to understand the mere basis of this industry. What is the gain? Apart from jeopardizing health, discontent farmers and public frustration now and then. Was it meant for exports? If yes, how can a commodity be exported contentedly when it is unattainable for a massive own population? Cane it seems is no more a cash crop.

The saga is more complex than it appears to be. To get down to it; minor farmers are bullied because of the manipulative legislation that does not allow farmers in specified areas around the mills to do crushing on their own. They are destined to give away their crop to the mills on conditions prescribed by the industry. According to the sugar factory control act 1950 (this is an old one, but very similar legislation exists even today, cud nt find a link on net)

“The Cane Commissioner may, after consulting the Board, issue an order declaring any area to be reserved area for the purposes of the supply of cane to a particular factory during a particular crushing season or seasons, and may likewise, at any time, cancel such order or alter the boundaries of an area so reserved”. Also,

“If the cane growers or Cane Growers’ Co-operative Societies in the assigned area are not willing to enter into agreement to supply, the Cane Commissioner may, by an order in writing, require them to do so on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by him, which order shall be legally binding on the cane growers or the Cane Growers’ Co-operative Societies, as the case may be”

Such legislation has led to the growth of an unwanted, uncalled for industry in Pakistan. In what way is it aiding to the progress of the country?

Health hazards of this “Chemically treated Chemical”, also known as “White Poison”, is an acclaimed fact now. In brief, refined sugar is obtained after processing, using several chemicals like phosphoric acid, formic acid, sulfur dioxide, preservatives, and/or any flocculents, surfactants, bleaching agents or viscosity modifiers. All vitamins (A,D,B complex), minerals, proteins, fats, enzymes, fiber and every nutrient is removed during the process.

Ironically, no research facility is available in Pakistan to tell you if there are other indigenous causes of the Diabetes mellitus epidemic in the country, apart from the usual risk factors like genetic predisposition, changed lifestyle etc, though references linking refined sugar to Diabetes are available.

“Refined white sugar is to a large extent to blame for some forms of diabetes, whose victims face the threat of blindness and other serious impairments, not to mention heart disease, stroke, schizophrenia, alcoholism, and possibly some kinds of cancer,” according to Dr. Robert D. McCracken, University of California (UCLA) anthropologist”.

Well, sugar being sugar is unhealthy, but unlike raw sugar, the refined sugar rushes through the stomach wall, and stimulates excessive secretion of insulin by the pancreas.

The traditional raw sugar, or muscovado sugar or “shakar” as we call it, is made by evaporated cane juice. It is already reasonably refined, free of dyes and chemicals and contains mineral salts, fiber, and vitamins as well.

West has acknowledged the worth of naturally acquired food and is raising “Go Green” slogans, thereby promoting the new trend of organics. Gradually recognizing the hazards of refined and processed food, theirs slow twist in lifestyles; organics is now much more expensive and represents class and flair as compared to the so-called refined or synthetic. Since we the complexed faction of sub-continent do what the west does, and devotedly refrain from using own brains, so in this respect particularly, I believe the trend of traditionally made sugar be revived in Pakistan.

Such a trend in our region, if promoted, can have remarkable impact. Apart from health safety, it will help counter exploitative mill owners mostly politicians, and prevent manipulation of small farmers. Increased awareness will raise demand and perhaps some day sugar industry and mafia that controls it will die a natural death. BTW, Brown sugar is a refined or partially refined form of white sugar with some molasses mixed in and not at all a substitute of raw sugar.

To get rid of sugar crisis once for good, radical measures must be adopted, including earnest will and an amendment in the sugar factory control constitution. I cannot see a point in breeding such an industry, which is more of a nuisance than a benefit.

It should only be limited to provision of sugar for industrial use and available resources be shifted to certain new feasible industry.

Supreme Court is the new GHQ in Pakistan

….But can it eloquently dispense Change?

History has witnessed FOUR Marshal Laws in Pakistan. Pakistanis are well aware, what happens when their politicians get too naughty to handle! But, state of affairs have taken a new course lately never seen before in the history of Pakistan. NRO scam, Swiss scandal, row over 18^th amendment, clash between judiciary and presidency, but eccentrically resilient higher judiciary in the absence of substantial military intrusion is new to this part of the world. Therefore, consequence is unseen.

Rumors about “investing” in judiciary have been around for a while with scams of Nawaz bribing judges and “Dr” Awan buying off lawyers. It seems the buzz has taken a practical course now! As a significant verdict of Supreme Court concerning NRO is approaching, it appears all the parties are playing their cards in the best of their interests!

“Change” is the new change in the rapidly evolving Pak politics, which escalated after the world witnessed empathic attitude of govt officials and their poorest governance in providing flood relief. While military continued the relief silently, it re-emerged as a leading and regimented force, wining hearts once again. So much so, that the discourse eventually lead to talks about, army interference in some way and bringing in technocrats to govern, have started. There are rants about alternate options for in-house change. Political Parties are uniting, and, new parties are being created in an attempt to enter power corridors. Talks about midterm elections after establishing a free election commission are in vogue. Some predict a revolution is about to happen bloody or soft. Contrary to all the fuss, some are still adamant that everything is perfect, and that they will complete their tenure and will be re-elected! (God forbid)

All options come to a dead-end. Only possible change is through judiciary now. Nevertheless, the recent tussle between judges and lawyers undermine its impression as a responsible institute. Chief Justice restored by the people after a worldly acknowledged campaign against two consecutive governments, though many do not admire, but now carries a huge responsibility on his shoulders. Moreover, even though he himself is an ex-PCO judge, but will now have to live up to the expectations of people, defending his oath and maintaining sacredness of his office. NRO ball & 18^th amendment is now in his hands, which will undeniably change the pattern of future politics in Pakistan towards a positive side. Otherwise, only bringing about in-house change without tackling the “supreme commander” and other NRO beneficiaries will yield absolutely no change.

While in this post-Musharraf era, GHQ has resolutely distanced itself from political endeavors, striving to regain the pride army enjoys in Pakistan and is quite successful in achieving that so far. GHQ has limited itself to war on terror, and now flood rehab, with no direct political involvement whatsoever. In addition, the COAS enjoys the repo of being “pro-democratic”. In this vacuum and realizing the new powers of judiciary, SC has become the new battleground between lame, immature politicians and judges. Only difference is, as compared to generals and military; the lawyers, and judges enjoy a far more corrupt reputation. Considering the recent bar-bench brawl, question is will the course of events be in favor of the country or judges?

Army being the only established institute in Pakistan had to intervene, unconstitutionally though, in times of crisis. Judiciary being one of the most corrupt institutes has the exceptional opportunity to intervene constitutionally, in the times of crisis.

Will the judiciary be able to dispense soberly what GHQ has been delivering for decades – A change??    No one has the answer yet, but the answer lies with judiciary!    Fingers crossed!

Posted @ Let us Build Pakistan, GlobalVoices

PakSpectator

Kashmir awaits flotilla

While 20% of Pakistan is submerged in water and Pakistanis are facing the worst and most widespread natural disaster in the living history. There, on the western border, we are stuck in an exigent WOT. Superadded to this now is the rapidly changing dynamics in the Indian occupied Kashmir.

For the last 3 months, freedom struggle in Kashmir has escalated, resulting in killing of more than 100 since June. As a consequence of “Mass graves” and thousands of “Missing persons “over the years, now more women and children than ever, actually widows and orphans of those martyred or abducted by Indian army are marching on the streets in Kashmir. The Indian military has blocked all sorts of telecommunication means and Kashmir has been barricaded. However, the overwhelming resistance that the largest military occupation force in the world is experiencing at this moment is unforeseen and Indian junta for the first time appears to be helpless.

Palestine and Kashmir has scores of similarities. Both conflicts originated in 1948 because of illegal occupation of their territories and barely surviving the clasp of two superlative militaries ever since. It is the 4^th generation of these two nations suffering and fighting for justice. Both, erupted huge wars in Arab and Indian sub-continent during the last 60 years, resulting in the emergence of three nuclear powers; Israel, India & Pakistan. In both the places, stonepelters are retorted with bullets and freedom fighters are considered terrorists, and, both are eminent for the beauty of their inhabitants.

While the Arabs have successfully projected the Palestinian issue (not that it is resolved, but at least the world is aware), Pakistan and Pakistanis never highlighted it in that manner, hence the world recognizes Gaza, but is oblivious to Kashmir blockade. A trivial attack in Gaza and the whole world knows, but as regards Kashmir, they remain uninformed. Though, oppression and massacre of any kind and anywhere is unjustified and must be condemned. But the point is, it only indicates far better lobbying on part of Arabs as compared to Kashmiris or Pakistanis.

Had there been a daring government in Pakistan at this point of time, this could have been a wonderful opportunity to take Kashmir issue to a higher ground, and perhaps, solving it entirely to free Kashmiris from the ruthless Indian forces, allowing them to live in accordance to their will. But lets not blame the state all the time, even the Pakistani nation, as well as immigrant Kashmiris settled all over the world have not done their homework over the decades. Had they accentuated the issue over the years, than expectantly today in spite of a spineless ruling elite, they could have evoked a fervent response, enough to grab the attention of the world towards the massacre.

I recall these immigrant Palestinian class fellows, literally crying for carnage in Palestine, I remember this half-Palestinian, half-British girl, who had never been to Palestine, but respecting her roots, she urged everyone to help and raise voice for Palestine, literally every time she met. Only recently, we all witnessed March of flotillas, air force being airborne, zealous Protestants on social networking sites and ardent demonstrations all over the world.

This is the spirit I am talking about, that is seriously lacking amongst Pakistanis, and, particularly a huge number of Kashmiri immigrants living lavish life abroad as well as in Pakistan. My perspective is, particularly as a Pakistani, we might not be pardoned for Kashmir, as they have historical links and deeper social ties with us. I wonder, if the Indian lobby is stronger than the Jewish, or whether nuclear Pakistan is weaker than Palestine. Why, we have never been pro-active as regards Kashmir? Kashmir needs flotillas today. Common at least raise voice, it does not even cost anything!

Linked @GlobalVoices