March 21

Nawai Waqt

 

Open letter to Mr CJ

 

Dear Mr Honorable CJ,

 

Now that you are back on the seat of power the nation has some huge expectations from you. As an active parliamentarian I also have some expectations from you. The nation expects independence of judiciary from you, but I expect something more tangible and realistic and immediate: Namely, a resolution through independent speedy judicial process of some outstanding issues created by one year of misgovernance by coalition government, which have negatively impacted real people. I have indeed a huge list of Misgovernance issues but for now so as not to burden you too much I am putting forward just a few down. Every now and then I shall keep bothering you with more of these issues.

 

I can guarantee you that if your independent judiciary resolves these not only will the struggle of the lawyers have been worthwhile for you, but more importantly the people of Pakistan will be grateful.  Whether you choose to do your trade mark suo moto notices on these issues or not is your choice. But I as a representative of the people would have done my duty of identifying the real sufferings which need immediate resolution. The rest I leave to your judicious hands. The judiciary and the legislative needs to be a check on the executive as I understand it; thus I think a healthy partnership is required between all of us which takes this nation to strength and not to conflict which is what we have witnessed in the past.

 

Issue #1 – My first issue which we have resolved before your return through independent judiciary is that of 700 Sindh Public Service Commission lecturers who were being denied postings due to an unjust Sindh government order. The next automatically becomes the issue of Sindh’s 330 adhoc lecturers who unlike their counterparts from other provinces have not been regularized after 4 years passing by.

 

Issue #2 – The second is issue is of the regularization of 1200 staff members of National Water management project of Sindh agriculture department. They have completed 4 years but have yet to be regularized. They require your immediate attention.

 

Issue #3 – the third issue is that of 152 engineers of OGDCL who have sent writ petition to Islamabad High Court against OGDCL who was committed to hire them after training but has not done so. Exchequer’s money is being wasted and potential brain drain likely if these young engineers are denied their right to employment.

 

Issue #4 – the issue of  punishment to Arsalan who threw acid on Maria Shah of Shikarpur and who has yet to be punished other than jailed. I have proposed legislation on this issue which is pending in parliament. If Arsalan is made an example out of other Maria’s will be saved their lives.

 

Issue #5 – checks given to earthquake victims in Ziarat were faulty and the survey done was incomplete and inaccurate at points – I have personally visited the area and have proof of these issues where real people have suffered at the hands of an incompetent administration – they need just compensation.

 

Issue #6 – all persons injured and killed in suicide and terrorist attacks since March 2008 to March 2009 deserve compensation for themselves or in certain cases for their families. A fund for the education and jobs of their surviving members is a must. Government has failed to deliver on their promises on this account. There are more than 9000 such cases all over Pakistan.

 

Issue #7 – 5 women buried alive in Naseerabad Balochistan- the mystery is still a mystery- it needs real justice not cover up.

 

Issue # 8- the immediate release of 10 MAF downstream Kotri which has not happened since 1991 Accord and which is responsible for shortage of water to delta people resulting in many injustices.

 

Issue # 9 – boundary commission for determining boundary between NWFP and Northern Areas (Gilgit Baltistan) so that people of GB don’t get robbed of their right to royalty and just compensation for a very important and much needed dam – namely Diamir basha dam.

 

Issue # 10 – issues of Hazara community being target killed in Quetta along with Punjabi settlers being killed – neither do we accept sectarian nor ethnic apartheid and genocide in Pakistan.

 

Issue # 11 – a review of Nizami Adil in Swat to check if this is indeed constitutional to have different legal systems functioning in Pakistan.

 

Issue # 12 – 7^th wage board award which was announced in June 2000 has still not been implemented. 

 

Issue # 13 – Lower court judicial reform process for institutionalization of judiciary required.

 

Issue # 14 – the government announced that by March 2009 they would install filtration plants in each union council of Pakistan. It must be ensured that this promise made is not only implemented but implemented in true letter and spirit- meaning filtration plants with water not minus water.

 

Issue # 15 – the entire country has many ghost schools – these be turned into schools and vocational centres immediately so that we invest in human capital.

 

All the above issues stem from one or the other tenant of state obligation. For a state to be sovereign it must reduce its sovereignty gap which occurs when state obligations are not met. And we need to reduce this gap by ensuring rule of law, administrative control, sound management of public finances, investment in human capital, ensuring citizenship rights, providing infrastructure, ensuring market formation, management of public assets and natural resources, and effective borrowing. The troika between judiciary, legislature, and executive must keep an eye on all these tenants of state obligations. This should be our objective. I would like to call this as a ‘sovereignty gap reduction pact’.

 

Other than a resolution of the above some legal consideration for how to deal with forward blocs in Pakistan’s politics. They are not healthy- They destroy system stability. And they require immediate disqualification so as to ensure real politics not power politics.

 

I would also like to suggest a referendum on whether this government needs to adopt a Swiss model of national government. I think it would be better for all political parties to get share in governance in the same proportion as their votes. This is a suggestion given by my PML Party President for running Punjab government which can be extended to Pakistan. It would ensure that there is no opposition who indulges in leg pulling but a political force united for development of Pakistan only. Judiciary, civil society, media would act as healthy check on us politicians for real governance on the ‘sovereignty gap reduction pact’. Along with this it’s high time that we as one nation decide on a Vision 2030 document and then follow it through government changes.

 

Mr CJ I trust the above issues and ideas will be considered by your able and honorable institution so that Pakistan progresses and doesn’t regress in the future.

 

Yours Sincerely,

 

Marvi Memon

PML MNA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the end all I would like to say is that we do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children. And so we have a huge responsibility to serve our people judiciously.

 

March articles

Nawai wat – March 13-

Everyday there are new terror attacks in Pakistan’s villages and
cities. It has become a routine. Everyday more innocent civilians and
security forces loose their lives and enter the shaheed category. They
are dying in the line of duty some of them and others simply because
they are in the line of fire. I cant even keep up with the attacks
anymore as a responsible opposition MNA. The terror lists are
exhaustive and the statistics are becoming statistics only and loosing
their human form. This is unacceptable. Our ears are subjected to
violence on a consecutive level with no respite, no break. Before we
can mourn the first attack of the day many other attacks follow and we
loose count almost. This is unacceptable.

What is the current political response to terror? We condemn terrorism
– We call the victims shaheed – We demand enquiries and compensation
which get announced but whose results are never made public. And
before we know it the next attack happens and we move on to doing the
same ritual for the next attack without doing any real learnings
exercise from the first- This is unacceptable.

Therefore I feel it is high time we devise a ‘terror standard
operating procedure’. The Parliamentary National Security Committee
needs to monitor all terror attacks as they are direct failures
stemming from this committee’s core objective which is namely national
security! and a post mortem be done to analyse what are the learnings from each disaster. compensation be given immediately so that terror victim families are well taken of and education paid for. So that each attack is mourned beyond words but in true spirit of a state under attack- so that we arm our security men- pay them equal compensation- so that we dont make them sacrificial goats for our own policy failures –Imagine this is our disaster list for which the government has not been held accountable.

Major terrorists incidents of 2009
1st Jan: Seven persons, including an Awami National Party leader and two Frontier Constabulary personnel, were killed in different parts of the Swat District.
2nd Jan: Three policemen killed, six injured in Peshawar, Bannu blasts.
January 4: Ten persons, including four Policemen, were killed and 27 others injured in two bomb blasts near the Polytechnic College in Dera Ismail Khan in the NWFP. Sources said an explosive device, planted by militants near the main gate of the Polytechnic College.
January 6: Six bullet-ridden bodies of Security Force (SF) personnel, who had been abducted by Taliban militants a few days ago, were found in the Mingora city of Swat District of NWFP.
January 9: A Bugti tribal chief and his three bodyguards were killed in a landmine explosion in the Bekar area of Dera Bugti District in Balochistan.
11th Jan: cease-fire between rival factions was reached in Hangu in the NWFP, after 30 persons were killed and 50 injured in sectarian clashes that broke out on January 9, according to Daily Times.
14th Jan: Unidentified assailants killed four Policemen, including a Deputy Superintendent of Police, in a shootout in Quetta
January 14: Four persons, including three soldiers, were killed in a remote-controlled bomb blast in the Dera Bugti District.
24th Jan: 12 killed in Swat bombs, mortars. Suicide bomber rams vehicle into security checkpost killing two soldiers.
January 26: Six people were killed and 22 others sustained injuries when a bomb rigged to a bicycle exploded in a populated area in Dera Ismail Khan in the NWFP.
30th Jan: Four soldiers were killed and eight injured when an Army convoy was attacked with a remote-controlled bomb in Malakand in the NWFP.
2nd Feb: Unidentified gunmen shot dead a close aide to PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif in Khalabat Township Khairpur.
12th Feb: ANP MPA Alamzeb Khan was killed in a remote-controlled bomb blast in Momin Town Peshawar.
14th Feb: Taliban, who killed Polish national Piotr Stanczak last week, are now demanding US$200,000 for return of the body.
14th Feb: Taliban on Friday killed two burqa-clad women in Kohat district and dumped the bodies by a roadside.
17th Feb: Five people were killed and 17 injured in a car bomb blast outside the Hujra (male guest house) of the union council chief in Bazidkhel village of Peshawar.
February 20: 32 persons were killed and 145 others injured when a suicide bomber exploded himself in the shia funeral procession of a slain employee of the Tehsil Municipal Administration near the busy Shubra Square in Dera Ismail Khan in the NWFP.
February 24: A Shia trader and three of his sons were shot dead in an apparent sectarian attack in Quetta, capital of Balochistan.
24th Feb: 14 bus passengers kidnapped in NWFP.
28th Feb: Driver killed in school van ambush in Hangu. Armed men kidnap five students. Kohat-Hangu road closed for traffic.
2nd March: Five FC personnel kidnapped in Swat.
3rd March: Six killed in Pishin girls’ madrassa suicide blast.
4th March: 3/3 assailants attack Lankan cricket team, kill 6 cops, one civilian in 25-minute gunbattle.
4th March: 5 Shias gunned down in Quetta.

All Parties Conference, not Governor Rule

Article Published in Nawa-i-Waqat and Daily Wahdat (Pushto)

7^th March 2009

On 26^th of Feb we heard a news that head of the state on the advise of Prime Minister according to the article 234 (1) announced governor rule in Punjab. According to Article 234 (1) when President is satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the govt of province cannot be carried on in accordance with provisions of the constitution president can impose governor rule in that province.

A question arises here that what set problems Punjab was facing which other provinces were not? To do the justice with this question we need to impartially evaluate the political, security, economic and development situation of other provinces. Let us start from Sindh where ruling party is PPP which imposed governor rule in Punjab.

As far as law and order of Punjab is concerned Interior Advisor Rehman Malik confessed on 22^ndNovember 2008 that banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi has found its way into Karachi, al-Qaeda has been using L J, Sipah-e-Sahaba and Tehreek-e-Taliban for carrying out its activities. On 28^th Feb a report by the CID Special Branch has revealed that Taliban are present in Karachi. Presence of Taliban in Pakistan’s biggest industrial city couldn’t alarm govt and consequently Indian authorities got the chance to allege that terrorists came to Mumbai through sea. Terrorist network in Karachi and in its vicinity is getting stronger with every passing day and our authorities are watching them helplessly. There is very much likelihood that these terrorists can cause major terrorist incident in Karachi and in interior Sindh. Sindh govt has been unable to control tribal clashes in Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Larkana, Sukkur, Ghotki, Khaipur. We see prisoner riots in Sukur, Khairpur, Lrkana and Hyderabad every other day. As far as the development work is concerned Sindh govt has been unable to launch any big project in Thar, Gorakh, Daharki, Khipro, Nooriabad, Keti Bander, Matli and Shikarpur. Federal govt has been unable to address Sindh govt reservation on NFC. Sindh / Thar Coal Authority has not yet been returned back to Sindh govt. Sindh minister for Trade an Industries on 12^th Feb confessed that that 90 per cent of industries in Sindh had been shifted to the Punjab and other provinces. Sindh govt has been failed to ensure education for all in Sindh.7500 primary schools in Sindh are declared ghost schools. The future of more than 600 commissioned passed lecturers is on stake even though we have clear orders from Prime Minister. Sindh govt has not only been unable to improve quality of education but also has been unable to announce any new university or college. Sindh govt is only busy in changing names of institution rather their fate.

Now lets move to our largest province in terms of territory, Balochistan. In 2008 election PML with 19 seats was on the top and PPP with 12 seats was second largest party in Balochistan assembly. PPP didn’t esteem PML mandate and with the help of horse trading managed to make govt in Balochistan. As far as govt’s assertion that it has been successful in political reconciliation in Balochistan is concerned govt is exaggerating. 27^th October 2008 all national political parties of Balochistan declared that they were not happy over cold attitude of govt, PPP informal talks with Balochistan Parties. Balochi leaders on 30th Oct 2008 boycotted APC conference organized by BB Reconciliation Committee saying APC has zero authority. Security situation in Balochistan is not different then Sindh and it is deteriorating with every passing day. 19 Hazara and 8 non-Hazara were killed shot in head in span of just one month. Authorities tried to hide it under sectarianism excuse but in reality it is not sectarianism rather according to Hazara community it is terrorism and terrorists want sectarian clashes in Balochistan. On 4^th March a person naming Engineer Asad claimed to be the representative of Tehrik-e-Taliban Balochistan and that added security miseries of Balochistan. Even though BLUF has claimed the responsibility of kidnapping of UN representative Soleski but yet this issue is not resolved. Every day we see gas pipelines been blown up in Balochistan. Economic situation of Balochistan is as bleak as security situation. SBP deducted about Rs300m on account of Balochistan govt’s overdraft despite federal govt’s decision to defer its payment for six months. Because of worsening state of law and order and economic instability Gwadar port is losing its customer to Iran’s Chabahar Port. It is said that cities close to sea are tend to get develop more than cities not close to sea, if Gwadar and Karachi are in such bad condition then it is not difficult to imagine the state of other parts of pakistan.

Now lets us talk about NWFP, should we call it Pakhtoonkhwa, Afghania or else, govt has yet been unable to decide even that. Everyone knows the security situation of FATA and NWFP. According to UN statistics we have 625,000 IDPs from these parts of the country in other parts of Pakistan. Peshawar-based retailers have refused to accept the sales tax registration forms mentioning the worsening law and order situation in the province as the key motive behind their refusal. Govt itself is not ready to launch the Kurram Tangi Dam project on the plea of the growing disturbance and militancy in the area. Worsening law and order situation irks Mulana Fazllulrehman and he had to say that govt has been unable to establish its writ in the province and failed to address law and order issues. NWFP came up with strange idea to fight terrorist, it decided to give weapons to 30,000 people so that people can fight terrorists themselves. First of all maintaining law and order is the responsibility of the state and secondly when there are already piles of weapon in an area then why one should distribute weapons there? NWFP govt for the second time in a year decided to have peace accord with Taliban in Swat. After signing of first peace accord we saw TTP terrorists continued to kill hundreds of innocent people, hundreds of schools were burnt and our security officials were beheaded, moreover many foreigners were kidnapped which exerted international pressure. They have still continued their deadly activities even after present peace accord. Present govt has been failed to disarm or surrender these terrorists element through these peace deals. Now if NWFP govt thinks that it there can be peace in the region after peace accord with professional criminals then it is thinking wrong. These professional criminals attacked shrine of Sufi Saint Rehman Baba and they proved that they want to destroy our culture, moral values and everything which represent peace and love. It should be remembered that civilizations get developed in thousands of years and these terrorist merely take few minutes to destroy them.

Situation of Gilgit Baltistan is not different then other parts of Pakistan. Govt is trying to pile funds for Diamir Bhasha dam but has been unable to address people reservations. Only university Karakurum University of Gilgit Baltistan is on the verge of collapse as its funds have dried out. People of GB are kept deprived of their constitutional rights. Govt has reduce the funds for GB which President Musharraf allocated in his govt.

There is no doubt that our govt has been failed to do governance rather it has been busy in political maneuvering and horse trading. Forgetting all political and constitutional values PPP and PMLN made forward blocks in our party. PPP even forgot the words of its own leadership. While addressing National Assembly on 14 Nov 1975 Mr. Zulfiqar Bhutto said

“Govts come and go, powers come and go, but in democracies election are based on fundamental principles being offered to the voters. If legislators change their principles after being elected, they cannot nut forfeit the people’s confidence. They people can have no respect for such legislators or for those politicians who leave their parties because the party ticket for an election is given to someone else. People who lack principles, people who betray their own party, can hardly expect to retain their followers most of whom supported them for the party platform and not for personal reasons.”

Govts which fail on their internal front cant protect its nation from external threats. Let us take the example of recent terrorist attack in Lahore on Sri Lankan cricket team, Pakistan emerged as guilty rather then victim of that crime only because of irresponsible statements of govt officials. After Mumbai attacks Sonia warned of befitting reply to Pakistan on 9^th Feb and on 27^th Nov 2008 PM Manmohan Singh warned of “a cost”. Our govt officials forgot all those war threats, instead govt should have revolutionized our security at every level after these open threats. After Lahore carnage statements of govt officials are very disappointing. Governor and Chief Executive of Punjab Salman Taseer said that elements involved in Lahore incident were same who attacked Mumbai, with this statement govt confessed that mastermind of Mumbai and Lahore incident was same, whereas according to open Indian threats one cant rule out Indian hand in Lahore incident. India is taking advantage of our weak statements and trying to prove us failed state. Advisor on Interior Rehman Malik statement is as worst as governor’s statement when said that responsibility of Lahore incident in not on his shoulder but on provincial govt. Rehman Mlik has forgotten that he is Federal Interior Advisor and even if we agree with him he cant get away with it because now there is governor rule in Punjab and governor is PPP stalwart.

Now question arises that how can we get out of this mess? After Mumbai incident govt followed the advice of our leadership and commenced All Parites Conference and through this conference it gave strong message to all enemies that this nation is united on national security issues. Even if now govt follows the advice of our leadership and summon APC we will be able to shut up our enemies and also we would be able to steer our country out of political and security crises. As Ch. Shujat said that now it is the time to give rather take, there is no time for self interest it is the time for national interest. It is not about mandate and popularity it is about national security. When there is fire in house one needs to put off the fire first and then go for protest, without house protest means nothing. Beside Ch. Shujat Hussain I would also like to request our rulers to play a positive role to save this country.

 

Kahwish – (translation from Sindhi)

Shah Abdul Bhitai – an important message on leadership

 

Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai’s urs is just finishing in Hala today. I thought that the ‘message of Latif’ should be analyzed from a point of view of leadership advice. As a politician one can derive plenty from his message in terms of guidance. Latif Sain’s message for the leaders who forget about awaam when they are in power is important. When they return to the awaam the reaction is equally important and has been explained in Sur Dahar’s

            Jaaan wahur mei vohh taatu much !

            Na Motein

            Kai mai koh karien

            Poi motaan jo puhh

            Sirr mathay tu suhh, mahmezuu malahan juuun

Oh dear monster whilst there was water in the river till then you didn’t return. Now that the river is dry you are coming back. Now the sailors will give a hard time. In the same sur elsewhere, Shah Sain says that

            Mato ahein much

            Thulah tho thona hanie

            Jaa tu dithi auch

            Teanh parain panaa dhenra

Oh monster you have become fat and powerful and that’s why you are doing injustices with poor people. The way the water’s waves are there, you forget that your power days are numbered.

 

In these 2 verses Shah Sain has given a clear message that our rulers and politicians should do politics of justice; that our assembly members come to the parliament with votes of the awaam but then they forget the awaam. That’s why he has said that daryah jo wahkro’ power is temporary. After coming down from power you are thinking to go back to the people but beware of their reaction. The message is that you should not do injustices whilst in power. Each and every verse of his is an advice for us. It is a lesson of sacrifice and and guidance for us.

 

In the ‘Sur Marvi’ Shah Sain says:

            Ee na maroon reet jai sahn matain sona thai

            Achi umarkot mai kandus kaan kreet

            Pakhan jee preet, maran si moora, na matain

Meaning that its not in the tradition of the people the good leadership that they sell themselves for money. Umerkot meaning reaching the palaces of power, they don’t give away their huts for palaces. Power is God given so that awaam can be served. This power looks lavish but if sincere work is done then Shah sain explains that;

            Tun jo bhayon haar

            Soa sooran jo sagro

Meaning that what you take to be a diamond necklace, in real it is painful job. Its true that serving people is like ibaadat and its painful to do well in politics. One can only serve people if one has pain in one’s heart. If you don’t have pain for anyone then you cannot serve, these leaders use awaam to get to power but then forget them and give them their back.

These days there has been much talk of women rights and the same has been said hundreds of years earlier by Shah Sain. He has put women at a pedestal and infact all his surs are related to women in some way or the other.

 

Sur Bilawal has explained how a king has sacrificed his own power for the sake of protection of women. When the King Alauddin attacked Soomros they gave their family members the women to Doongar for protection.

            Ben miranee dinyoon

            Dini na doongar rahai

            Unn dithan aadho phiri

            Dhitiyai dhai kiyai?

            Loroyoon lkh mathan

            Unn mathairai motayun

Meaning due to the fear of Alauddin the local sardars refused to give protection to Soomro’s women folk but Doogar did bravery act and gave protection to them at the cost of his own crown. This is the way the awaam needs to be protected by the rulers. Good governance can be learnt from shah sain’s message.

 

It was cruel for Umer to imprison Marvi but he certainly made up for it because he went back in terms of a lashkar to protect her from her nagging husband by proving through fire walk her purety and his.

 

jang irshad haqqani column feb 8

Marvi Memon Letter to Irshad Ahmad Haqqani on the Issue of Diamir Basha Dam

 

Haqqani Sahib,

 

Today I want to divert your attention towards one of the most important issue through this letter.

It is quite strange that a man can easily pin point atrocities of others but can’t see his own created mayhem. So much has written on federation especially you have been writing on its strengths and weakness for decades, you have firmly advocated this system and gave ideas on “Model Federation” in your columns and only few people share this credit with you.

Federation and its units get stronger when they work under their own constitutional boundaries. There has been so much written about federation in our country, small provinces always have reservations on role of Federation. People even say that federation and Punjab were nothing but a same thing.

I don’t believe in this because in our society people are used to scrutinize and judge others but they don’t do same with themselves. However it is a simple thing that if you have reservation on certain issues you should have dialogue on it. It is not a good idea to reject entire system.

Like others patriot Pakistanies I am pro-federation and also I am a big supporter of provincial autonomy because I believe both federation and provinces are inevitable for each other.

Strategic and historical importance of Northern Areas (Gilgit Baltistan) is an established reality. Beside other issues Pakistan is facing water security issues too. Experts believe that water would be the main reason of wars between nations in future and this belief has taken the shape of reality in last few years, especially when India started construction of disputed Bhagliar and Kishnganga Dams and problems it created for Pakistan are in front of the world, it is even said that Punjab would go barren in future if this situation persists.

I would now like to come to the real issue. Nawabzada Nasrullah once said that water and defense of Pakistan were captive in Kashmir. I believe that for water and defense of Pakistan Northern Areas (Gilgit Baltistan) are as much important as Kashmir. Largest quantity of our water comes from Northern Areas (Gilgit Baltistan) where there are we have few biggest glaciers in the world, whereas the tourism potential of  Northern Areas (Gilgit Baltistan) is not a covert reality. Pakistan’s third largest water reservoir is being constructed in Northern Areas (Gilgit Baltistan). It will have the capacity to store 6 MAF water in it and will generate 4500mw electricity. NWFP had been struggling for Terbella Dam royalty and now eventually its right has been acknowledged. Same issue was with Neelam Jehlam Hydel Project and govt of Azad Kashmir has given its royalty rights. I just want to say here that when Diamir Bhasha Dam is being constructed in Northern Areas (Gilgit Baltistan) then how can other small province claim it’s Net Hydel Profit? I only wrote about this reality so that you can feel the feelings of the people of Northern Areas. I felt their feelings there and I want to share these feelings with you through your column. It is a sad reality that Northern Areas (Gilgit Baltistan) has no representation in federation.

As a Pakistan with feelings I believe there should be someone to represent them and I decided to do this job myself. You and 170 million people of Pakistan would agree with me that only Northern Areas (Gilgit Baltistan) has the right on the Net Hydel Profit of Diamir Bhasha Dam. Firstly, it has been built in Northern Areas (Gilgit Baltistan), secondly people of Northern Areas will be effected by its construction and finally people of Northern Areas (Gilgit Baltistan) has shown great understanding of this issue and they have not politicized it rather they have shown full support and  consensus on this important project of Pakistan.

Surely, this dam will have few bad effects on this particular area, in such situation  it is our duty to share the benefits of this dams with these people in order to reduce miseries of these people and area.  This net hydel profit will improve life standard of these people and they will have a good infrastructure which will revolutionize tourism in this areas and ultimately this part of Pakistan will be developed.

We demand that govt should constitute a boundary commission, which will demarcate the boundary between NWFP and Northern Areas (Gilgit Baltistan). In this regard it is important that the maps of Raja era are examined too because there is a disturbing news that few people are planning to build few power houses of this dam in Northern Areas (Gilgit Baltistan) and few in NWFP so that other province would be able to share its royalty.

What kind of justice is this? Does it strengthen federation? Does a small province want to prove that other smaller provinces can’t demand for their rights? Does an interpretation of justice is what a small province interprets? There should be a system in which federation, units and people all get rights and are treated equally.

Mr. Haqqani, I have already raised this issue in parliament and now I want to raise it among intellectuals for further discussion through your column. I am satisfied with my efforts as a human being and as a true Pakistani for this issue. We should not beat about the bush and should not follow our egos. I hope that you would evaluate my suggestions and also open discussion on this issue through your column.

 

MNA Marvi Memon

 

 

Supremacy of parliament or bureaucracy?

 

 

The supremacy of parliament issue can only be resolved through political will and for that politicians need to make a supreme effort. I would like to narrate an example of how politicians and parliamentarians on the week of Jan 26-30 2009 did make an effort and yet bureaucracy scuttled the effort.

 

On Monday Jan 26, 2009 I presented a resolution for signature of senior political leadership of Pakistan which was worded “This House resolves to ask US President Obama to send a US envoy on Kashmir or to include Kashmir’s resolution in the mandate of the US envoy on Afghanistan and Pakistan.” I had the support of my party leadership and MNA Ch Pervaiz Elahi, along with MNA GB Meher and MNA Attiya Innayatullah signed it. The other senior political leaders to sign the resolution were firstly MNA Maulana Fazl Rehman of JUIF, MNA Syed Khurshaid Shah of PPP,  MNA Asfandyar Wali Khan of ANP, MNA Chaudhry Nisar Khan of PMLN and MNA Sherpao of PPP(S). Later FATA signed this version too. MQM had certain reservations so they signed the following which got us the unanimous support needed to pass the resolution for which I am grateful: “This house underscores the importance of the peaceful and just resolution of the Jammu& Kashmir dispute. And in this context expresses the confidence that the new US administration will as stated by President Obama give priority attention to this issue. The US special representative for the region to play an important role for the resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir issue and have Kashmir included in his mandate.”   

 

I would also like to thank the Prime Minister, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Information Sherry Rehman and Syed Khurshid Shah for their assistance in the consensus process.

 

The above clearly showed that the political leadership of Pakistan was cognizant of the fact that India was trying to block being in the region as defined by US, was trying to block a special envoy for Kashmir and was trying to block Kashmir mandate being included in Holbrooke’s mandate. And thus the political leadership was putting parliament’s weight behind the government in order to get Kashmir status established.

 

However, once the PM had taken off for Davos a certain Minister and a certain top bureaucrat in the foreign office tried to block the resolution on technical grounds and tried to change the wordings. The wordings proposed by the bureaucrat were:  “This House underscores the importance of peaceful and just resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. We expect the international community to play its due role in the early resolution of this longstanding dispute. And in this context, expresses confidence that the new US administration will as stated by President Obama give priority to this issue.” Clearly this was a watered down version. I was told that it was either going to be these words or no resolution was acceptable to government. The rules that were thrown at me were that a private member needed to send resolution week in advance. Agreed I thought but clearly this was not just from me; in fact this was from a spectrum of the political leadership and thus the rules could be followed as per Rule 58(3) which said that the Speaker “may allow to move a resolution of an urgent nature.” After all the consensus resolutions moved by government had previously been allowed under similar circumstances without a week notice.

 

This entire episode proves that on one side is the political will of pursuing a certain dignified foreign policy and on the other side is an ego which says parliament or especially opposition should not be allowed to lead on foreign policy. Either way, the parliament can only be supreme if parliamentarians versus bureaucrats decide policy. I am convinced that had the Prime Minister been in the country and in the House we would have succeeded with the correctly worded resolution. I also wish to bring on record the fact that resolutions signed by unanimous political will are often not followed by the government in letter and spirit. However, this resolution would have been different since it was giving the will of the political leadership on an action needed by US.

 

To prove its sincerity to the Kashmir cause the government should demand a special envoy for Kashmir and increase Holbrooke’s mandate to include Kashmir and India. However if the government doesn’t press for the same despite political backing of senior political leaders it is clear that the government is not accepting parliament’s supremacy which is clearly in national state interest.     

 

The Friday Times – GB article

Mr. Prime Minister don’t ignore Gilgit-Baltistan!

 

by Marvi Memon

 

 

The heavenly area of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) witnessed historic political, social and economic reforms in the PML tenure. It was hoped that when the internationally acclaimed ‘democratic’ PPP government would start governing, the reform process would see further lightening speed not regressive speed. Its biggest challenge was to do what most politicians find impossible to do: accept the achievements of the previous government and take the baton forward by setting new benchmarks for further progress.

 

After 9 months of nationwide incompetent federal governance there is a need to assess whether PPP has plummeted in terms of performance in GB as well. An analysis of governance would be amiss if it is not contextualized in the unique GB political framework. Its ‘provincial’ government is originally a PML government whose Chief Executive and Cabinet broke party discipline to pass a resolution in favour of Mr. Zardari being President. Whilst due to political pressures and expediency some of them changed their loyalty to PPP, most of them regained their political dignity by reverting back to PML. This ‘PML’ cabinet in effect reports to and is hostage to the Federal Ministry of Kashmir and Northern Areas (KANA) led by a PPP Minister. Its performance is directly related to what the Ministry chooses to approve or not. In short its powers are yet to be devolved as per the reform process set in by PML.

 

Any form of accountability in the governance issues of GB is resisted by KANA Ministry vehemently. To the extent that when I as PML Incharge of GB presented a list of misgovernance issues of the Ministry of KANA affecting the people of GB to the Prime Minister on the floor of the House, and the Prime Minister expressed an interest to meet me with my delegation, this meeting was publicly blocked by the Minister. Reason given was that the issues of GB were not important enough for PM level! This arrogance of power is not specific to KANA, it has now become a trademark of the so-called people’s government.

 

Nonetheless if the Prime Minister is still interested in raising his government’s popularity from the ashes in GB he needs to address the following on a war time footing to reduce the misgovernance label which has now been fixated:

 

Firstly he needs to ensure the National Assembly Standing Committee for KANA Chairperson is nominated and its meetings commence immediately. Secondly, the Prime Minister needs to take up my bill for ‘provisional provincial status’ for consideration which his Minister so callously rejected. By doing so the people of the area lost all hopes in the PPP government. Discussing and then if need be amending to suit its needs would have been a more democratic practice. Thirdly the Prime Minister needs to ensure his Minister follows democratic process and passes the notification changing the name of ‘Northern Areas’ to Gilgit-Baltistan as per the resolution passed by NALA (Assembly) and thus as per wishes of the people of the area.     

 

Most importantly the gravest area of misgovernance is the non-implementation of the October 2007 Reform package given by President Musharraf/PML which the people of the area accept as being the most devolutionary and just. Considering the fact that PML handed over government to caretakers soon afterwards, responsibility of its implementation lay on the present government. It is most unfortunate that the current Minister keeps promising for better reform package whilst showing his Ministry’s incompetence on delivering on the implementation of the October 2007 package. Public opinion in GB’s political elite is clear on this front. They were coerced into giving votes for Zardari since they were promised by the Minister that the reform package of October 2007 would be implemented. Alas one more miscommitment by PPP. Anyway the bottomline is that instead of misleading the people of GB further into believing there is better package from PPP, let the Minister implement the current package. His inability to do so clearly speaks volumes of his Ministry’s blocking of devolution process.

 

The Prime Minister needs to implement the following reforms given by PML Reform package 2007 on an urgent basis to restore his credibility:

1. Give the powers of an Assembly to the Council now that PML changed the name of the Council to Assembly. Do not sabotage the assembly’s existence by giving support to any elements trying to dissolve the current assembly and thus derail the democratic process. AJK is a live example of political destabilization by PPP for its own vested interest. It must not be repeated in GB.
2. Enable Northern Area Legislative Assembly to pass its own budget and debate it as per orders given in PML tenure.
3. Replicate the financial and administrative structures of other provinces for GB.
4. Amend the LFO and Rules of Business of GB to transfer these powers to elected representatives.
5. Waive off the interest on principal amounts of all SME Bank’s loans as per commitment given.
6. Write off all ZTBL loans upto Rs 50,000 to provide relief to 12,500 small borrowers. Do not reverse this commitment as is being done by current government.
7. Set up the committed Public Accounts Committee immediately.
8. Declare the Chief Secretary NA as Principal Accounting Officer for NAs administration as per commitment.
9. Set up the office of Accountant General as per commitment.
10. Deliver on the 1000 new posts committed for efficient and smooth functioning of completed projects and clear the backlog for creation of additional posts. For this purpose create Additional Chief Secretary post as per commitment.
11. Demarcate boundary between NWFP and GB to settle boundary dispute to the satisfaction of GB.

 

Interestingly apart from not being able to deliver on the above reform package the government has also reduced the development funds given to each MLA (MNA of GB) from PML’s Rs 5 crore to current level of a mere Rs 1.5 crore. This is insufficient and not logical considering the PPP government claims of more development projects for the area. Moreover, the Teachers of SAP schools in GB have not received salaries since many years and have recently been protesting with children infront of Chief Secretary office, but to no avail. This needs to be rectified at the earliest.

 

The winter allowance for government officials is at old rates of when Pakistan was created. This is clearly insufficient and needs to be brought to current rates. 40kg wood is being sold at Rs 400 and allowance being given is Rs 10! Whilst PML created new district of Hunza Nagar its posts have still not been created. This is urgently required. And so are the posts for new sub divisions of Rondu (Skurdu) and Ghuary (Ghanchea) have not been created. The judges of the Court of Appeals who have retired in September 2008 need to be replaced. If there are lacunas as per the Minister why is the Ministry not fixing it. Rather they have kept the apex court minus judges since the past 4 months. So much for the interest of the present government in justice. Recently RAW elements tried to create sectarian issues during Moharram by killings of shias and government was not able to mange law and order issues. The area has always been sensitive and a close eye on law and order is recommended.

 

Another glaring misgovernance and trust deficit issue is that of water projects for Pakistan and compensation for GB. All water and power projects in GB need to be planned after consensus of the people of GB. Firstly, there are pending issues of royalty which have not been given to GB for Bhasha-Diamir. This is causing major discontentment with the people since the dam construction is primarily in their area. There is no consensus between government and people on their rehabilitation plan and the compensation package. People of GB are not being included in the employment quota for Bhasha-Diamir. Other dams in the area like Yogo need to be discussed within NALA so that the people of GB are taken into confidence.

 

One of the current administrative crisis which the common man in GB is facing is the price of wheat and LPG. Both have been subsidized by the government since PML days but on both accounts the subsidized advantage is being sold off to rest of Pakistan with very little of it being passed on to GB. An 11kg LPG cylinder which is supposed to be sold at Rs 740 is being sold at Rs 1280.

 

The list of neglect is long. The crux of the matter is that Gilgit-Baltistan is Pakistan’s jewel in the crown. It is an area which needs to be governed not misgoverned. Its an area which deserves devolution of power till its constitutional issues are resolved. It certainly doesn’t deserve to be at the mercy of arrogant and incompetent government higher officials. Mr. Prime Minister please take charge before it is too late and you cannot come out of the ashes of the popularity tsunami.