|
Fallout of Kerry-Lugar bill
THERE was an unusual development on Oct 7 when our corps commanders
expressed their reservations and made their views public on the
Kerry-Lugar bill.
It might be because the khakis were gravely disturbed and had the
fullest realisation that the country was being pushed to the wall.
They might have thought that enough was enough. However, the same
could have been conveyed to the concerned quarters through normal
and formal channel of communication. Things should not have gone to
that extent.
Having said all that, I am of the opinion that facts remain as they
are. The conditionalities of the bill did amount to gross
interference, and the country was subjected to embarrassment.
People from all shades of public opinion, including politicians,
political analysts, media persons and others, found the bill
inappropriately worded and against the interest of the country.
Some called it compromise on national sovereignty and some others
described it a sellout.
The president’s spokesman considered it a blessing from nowhere. He
called the criticism of the bill unfounded and said in the same
breath that there was no commitment by the government on the bill.
He said it was not something on which the president or the prime
minister had signed.
Contrary to this statement, the New York Times noted that
“President Asif Ali Zardari had agreed to the stipulations in the
bill”.
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who is currently in
Washington, is sure that the US does not intend to encroach or
trample on Pakistan’s sovereignty.
It was surprising that despite the uproar over the bill President
Zardari, at a late-night meeting in the presidency the same day,
reportedly told the participants that the bill was a ‘pro-democracy
aid package’ and that needed to be defended in parliament and all
other forums (Oct 8).
However, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani’s statement to this
effect in the National Assembly was highly appreciative and
encouraging that his government would seek a consensus for its
response to the bill.
The nation has high hopes from their elected representatives that
they would build bridges for integration and keep the national
interest above all the considerations.
A PAKISTANI Islamabad
(II) THE Kerry-Lugar bill, through which Pakistan will get $1.5
billion per year for the next five years, is being criticised in
the media for the conditions attached to the aid.
It is the US administration which will verify and give undertaking
on behalf of Pakistan every year to the Senate that Pakistan is
fulfilling the condition mentioned in the bill. Now the pertinent
question is: are or aren’t these conditions in the interest of
Pakistan?
Is it not in Pakistan’s interest to cease support to non-state
groups who were backed by our military or its intelligence agency
during the 1980s when the US involved Pakistan in the Afghan war
Why did our rulers agree to fight the US war with the Soviet Union?
Was it not Gen Ziaul Haq’s personal interest to remain in power? It
is a fact that Pakistan considered Mujahideen as its strategic
assets.
Now the question is, are the training camps still in the interest
of Pakistan? Is it not in the country’s interest to eliminate
terrorist groups which are openly challenging the writ of the state
and killing innocent citizens and attacking our armed forces?
Is it not a fact that Pakistan is not having very stringent laws to
counter terrorism and money laundering?
The clause related to security forces’ non-interference in the
political and judicial process has been the demand of the people of
Pakistan. All political parties have been blaming the military rule
for all the ills now prevailing in the country.
When the US is paying the money, why should it not demand something
in return from Pakistan?
Moona Hamid
Karachi.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MINGLING OF CULTURES
Respected Sir,
Indian plays and movies took over our homes, our wedding
ceremonies, our values and culture, our traditions, even our
religious rites. The young generation adopt what they get through
media. Now-a-days TV is the most powerful medium.
This mingling of cultures is vanishing the real shape of our
Islamic culture. And this leads to deny the Two Nation Theory
presented by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan and the basis of partition.
Now the celebrities are working to unite
Pakistan and India as they thought that both nations have the same
roots but according to me these movies and plays are a conspiracy
to vanish Islam and its values. We should build good realtions with
the neighboring countries but besides this we should be patriot and
loyal to our beloved country.We should transfer our own culture and
values to next generation.
I appeal to the concerned authorities that media
should play an effective role to create awareness among people that
the culture presented in Indian plays and movies is not our
culture. We should see plays and movies only for entertainment not
to adopt them. We have our own culture, values, traditions and
norms and we should be proud of it. These Indian channels are
acting as a slow poison and ruining our young generation.
PROUD TO BE A MUSLIM
PROUD TO B A PAKISTANI
Thanking You.
Maria Gul
Karachi University
|
::
Front Page
