Quality education is the only tool by which one can combat and conquer the world. The education has been a very essential component of the individuals of every civilization. Day by day the world is witnessing massive outflow of knowledge that has not only crossed the boundaries of the poles apart but has made the world like a global village, all it was done by the untiring efforts of mankind in various paces of life especially in education. In Pakistan, unfortunately the contribution divulged by the education system is of little significance to be mentioned, though the country had got independence 62 years ago but the growth in this sector is implausible. The outcome of the sector is underprivileged and the quantity has outdone the quality. The education is like an orphan child facing enormous problems, double standard and has created an atmosphere of frustration in the society. Government has established schools, colleges and universities throughout the country that have been imparting education in a number of disciplines but due to lack of attention, management and supervision, the students from these educational institutions are wandering for opportunities. The education system is mainly a victim of nepotism than merit as nepotism is always kept on priority while inducting staff, the hiring on quota system and intercession of top government officials has made the education system impotent. Every one of us thinks differently, so there is a big room for different suggestions. It’s the need of hour that parents, students, teachers and government should aimed themselves to take part in improving the quality of the education system in a systematic way for bringing revolutionary changes in our country.
Though the Indian propaganda gives fillip to the minority welfare officials for exploiting the insecurity of Sikhs in Pakistan, yet the January 21, 2010 abduction and killing of two Sikhs from Bara tehsil near Peshawar was reported to be the handiwork of RAW. There had been reports of the presence of RAW agents amongst the ranks and files of Pakistani Taliban fighting in Swat. The recovery of Indian made weapons and equipment during the recent Swat and Waziristan operations clearly established direct Indian involvement. It has come to fore that RAW is conspiring to shift the world’s focus from India’s homegrown Maoist movement to Sikhs ‘freedom’ struggle.
In most of the cases India tried to implicate ISI in the east Punjab fiasco since RAW miserably failed in halting Maoist movement in its northeast. Various incidents occurred so far clearly indicate that RAW usually floats alerts, create panic and the gear up blame game against Pakistan. The killing of Sikhs must be viewed in this context. There are about 25,000 Sikhs living in different parts of Pakistan, including the militancy-hit tribal areas. According to investigators, two Sikhs were abducted from Bara. The miscreants demanded huge ransom while they knew the Sikhs were neither rich nor prominent. Their abduction for ransom appeared strange.
The recent recovery of two abducted Sikhs (Jaspal Singh and Mahnan Singh) by security forces during an operation in Chapri Ferozkhel, remote Khyber-Aurakzai areas, reflects that Pakistan is committed to its policy of respect for minorities. Pakistan needs to step up its diplomatic and media efforts to countering the Indian propaganda. Pakistan should also come out hard on such an organized crime having deep roots in the tribal society and should put an end to the trend of kidnapping. However there is a need to unearth and unveil hidden hands of the enemy behind such incidents.
Capital of Punjab has been witnessing a spectacle the like of which may not have been seen since mid -19th century when history’s only Sikh empire was falling apart. In the power vacuum caused by the above squabble came the British entry and their imperial rule to last for nearly a century. However, in the post independence period starting from a British Governor – nominee of last viceroy-followed a row of other incumbents including distinguished politicians, civil servants, service officers who largely kept intact the old decorum or dignity of the office established by their worthy predecessors. I recall my earlier childhood memories of a governor, popularly called “Lat Sahib”, whose presence was felt but rarely seen by the ordinary mortals. Coming back to recent times the atmosphere and working of the Governor House, barely changed from its earlier traditions. However, during the recent past one saw a radical change both in the atmosphere, working and traditions of the Governor House by its latest occupant. The new incumbent was installed by the former dictator and later also served briefly in the interim federal cabinet.
During his chequered political career barring for his only success to clinch a provincial seat in provincial assembly, in 1988, he has had been in political wilderness tasting heavy electoral defeats in subsequent, 1990 polls. For the past 15 years he remained in this “self – exiled” political wilderness as a failed politician to pursue his business interests with close connections with “power corridors”. It was a known fact that late Mohtarma Bhutto, had felt utterly disappointed with him to have bungled party chances in Punjab even while enjoying sufficient numerical strength. Another such a defaulter was Farooq Leghari and together they both made a holy mess of party fortunes to form a govt.
When the PPP came in the power in 2009, and formed a coalition government with PML (N) it was amazing to see the party retaining the dictator’s nominee as Punjab Governor. In his somewhat overexhuberance he quickly converted the Governor House into something of a disorderly party headquarters for jiyalas. The whole look, ambience and environment of the sprawling and elegant Governor House changed in to a lookalike of 19th century of Khalsa Durbar located in Lahore Fort. Look at the old painting at the Sikh Gallery (Lahore Fort) and it will confirm this impression. Governor House has become an eye-sore for passers - by on the famous Mall Road. What is more it has become a centre of all kind of political intrigues and activities which seriously compromise the constitutional position of the Governor and his assigned role. It has increasingly brought the ruling party in unwarranted and uncalled for confrontation with its main coalition partner and ally to cause enharassment, to say the least. His volleys directed at Punjab Govt., and its functioning have been causing serious concern to the PM and saner elements within their party. They have never supported his oft - repeated views?.
His illogical comments on Basant and later accusations against the Punjab Law Minister, were followed by a return of compliments by the rivals with a solid evidence leaving him speechless and with an egg on his face. This was like opening of Pandora box. PM’s recent remarks on the appointment of the Punjab Governor and his activities may have provided the pointer to his current role, and how this is perceived generally by the sober elements within the ruling party. It is quite conceivable that whenever an inevitable “ceasefire” is called at between the two stake-holders, an important point would be the future of Governor Salman Taseer. This makes him central to the issue as perhaps one of the last- remnants of the last dictator still plaguing the political atmosphere.
Sects are common in almost all divine religions. Christianity have Protestants and Catholics, Jews are divided into Orthodox and Zionists, Islam compromises of Dewbandi, Barailwi, Ahle Hadith, Shia etc. Emergence of a sect in a major religion is evidence of difference, which could be because of difference in approach , interpretation, affiliation etc.
Question arises do these differences gives a particular sect “ License to kill”? Christian history is full of such incidents in which both sects of Christianity killed each other based on these sectarian differences. Muslims historically never used these differences to kill each other, scholars discussed these intellectual issues in their private meetings and recorded them for future references, but no one asked to kill followers of other sect. Ummayads killed several people affiliated with Hazrat Ali (RA) and his kins but still we can’t say it a sectarian murder as Ummayads were of the view that kin of Hazrat Ali (RA) and their followers were a threat to their governments. Case with Abbasids was same except in some rare incidents. Religious scholars will second me that sectarian believes were never the cause of war among society.
Even today Muslims all around world are living with religious harmony apart from their sectarian differences. India has almost same population of Muslims as we have in Pakistan, Indian Muslims are Shia, Dewbandi, Barailwi, Ahle Hadith even though, we haven’t heard any clash between them, what is the difference. Are they not the true followers of these sects ? Do they don’t have enough courage to kill each other ? Do they have some external pressure ?
One cause of sectarian violence for sure is free access to weapons and training camps. When you prepare a young guy to kill enemy of Islam, he is a killing machine, its up to you to tell him who is enemy of Islam. In last decade sectarian killing became a daily routine. Dozen of doctors, engineers, layers, politicians, scholars, students perished due to this sectarian rivalry. Government must investigate and catch the true culprits behind these attacks . Still greater responsibility falls on the shoulders of the followers of these sects as todays Pakistan is base camp of external elements who can use this situation to destabilize us economically & administratively.
The dichotomy, biasedness, partisanship has creped in entire Indian body politic, almost in every important institution of India with media being no exception to it. Neutrality and unbiased approach is the symbol and true spirit of journalism, but Indian media has always tried to be loyal and innocuous enough to bury the ethics of media under the debris of so called national interest in Kashmir. It is this which makes them to cover their cameras with their eyes too when Kashmiris are victimized, vituperated and writhing in pain, inflicted by so called custodians of law. But their adrenalin runs high when it comes to counter the often repeated “separatist campaign supported from across” which makes them vocal and articulate in their mad and senseless sensationalism good enough to bring two nuclear armed neighbors to the brink of war.
Indian media does ‘great and yeomen’ service to their nation by projecting victim as guilty and guilty as innocent. The cries of Shopian and Kunanposhpora not strong enough to break the belligerent glasses of their ‘national interests’ and clear their jaundiced vision, they puff chests in pride while twisting facts in Kashmir. Indian media today is in whirlpool of duplicity and double standards. Where every thing goes in line with the power corridors of New Delhi and objectiveness and balanced reporting is shown the exit door.
About politics and their Kashmir policy it is for every one to see, it is here where justice, human rights, democracy and all universal values are vomited out before crossing over to Jawahar Tunnel. A classical example of hypocrisy where Gandhian principles are talked about but even peaceful protests by a besieged and oppressed population is labeled as “agitational terrorism” deserving nothing but bullets and tear gas canisters that too directly on their chests and heads to make way for ‘complete national integration’. Where young ones are taken as enemy agents and imprecations on national security. Where resources are plundered and pennies are offered back to an ‘undeserving’ lot. Where Kashmiris have exclusive rights on Indian Bullets but all this appears blur in front of ‘glamour’ of Indian media.
A photograph appeared in a local daily showing some angry young men of Aqil Village, Naudero, who were supposed to hold books, holding weapons in their hands. As per caption they were anticipating possible attack by a clan with who their family had enemity on some matrimonial affair. A glance of the picture reminds one a scene of some western Cowboy movie where every citizen used to carry a gun for his personal protection. If the state of law and order of such an important place like Naudero, a constituency of Late Mohtarama Benazir Bhutto is so precarious, one can imagine the worsening conditions of other areas of the province.
Unfortunately it was after the changes brought by the previous regime, in district administration and police set-up that system of governance prevailing in country went completely out of hand. In the urban areas street crime has increased exponentially whereas ever increasing tribal feuds has destroyed the peace and tranquility of the rural areas completely. The police force either does not intervene in the tribal warfare or when it does was discouraged by the politicians in power who are party to the dispute. If the provincial government is interested in restoring the writ of government it has to take on the one had stern action against those police functionaries who are sitting as silent spectators when flagrant violation of law and order is reported and on the other hand shun political interference in tribal warfare. This will not only restore peace in the province but faith of local population in the strength law and order institutions will be revived once again.
I heard the news that it might be possible that the terrorists’ next target site can be the airport which can lead to an attempt to hijack aircrafts. Well, we can expect anything from terrorists as they have proved in their previous attacks that they have access everywhere in the country, even they attacked at GHQ, considered most secure and alert institute, in Islamabad.
In this context, there is grave need to make law enforcement agencies more active. The security personnel should be trained with new method and techniques to overcome the issue. I would also like to draw government’s attention towards the issue that in our country so many law enforcement agencies are working but unfortunately, it seems that they do not share intelligence repots to each other. So there should be a close and integrated co-operation between all security agency and they should share there intelligence report to each others.
Government should also start a drive to create awareness among the public to maintain unity among them. Only then we can face this monster called “Tahrik-e-Taliban Pakistan”.
