Tuesday, October 11, 2005

US Ancam Gerakan Politik Islam

Non-violent struggle

Sir: President George Bush, in a speech to the nation on Thursday, stated that militants were seeking to establish a “radical Islamic empire”. He said, “The murderous ideology of the Islamic radicals is the great challenge of our new century. Like the ideology of communism, our new enemy teaches that innocent individuals can be sacrificed to serve a political vision. The militants believe that controlling one country will rally the Muslim masses, enabling them to overthrow all moderate governments in the region, and establish a radical Islamic empire that spans from Spain to Indonesia.”

These remarks will only fuel the idea that those working for the Caliphate are using violence to achieve their ends. However, the overwhelming majority of Muslims throughout the world have been committed to a non-violent method for political change.
IMRAN HAMEED
Lahore



Original Article:

Tuesday, October 11, 2005
LETTERS:

Post letters to Letters to the Editor, The Daily Times, 41-N, Industrial Area, Gulberg II, Lahore, Pakistan Phone: 92-42-5878614-19; Fax: 92-42-5878620 E-mail: letters@dailytimes.com.pk
Letters may be edited for length and clarity

Earthquake in Pakistan

Sir: Pakistan’s Northern Areas were hit by a strong earthquake on the morning of October 8. Scores of villages were buried under mudslides and the death toll is already running into thousands. In Islamabad a high-rise apartment complex, Margalla Towers, came down within seconds, while major cracks emerged in other similar buildings. It is astounding that nobody within the establishment talked about the person responsible for the construction ? for the first two days at least. The receptionist at Margalla Towers stated on CNN that the building had developed cracks before the earthquake. Yet the Capital Development Authority’s building control agency took no action.

The other astonishing aspect that came to light was the absence of disaster management. Pakistan’s capital city, Islamabad, lacked basic infrastructure or equipment to tackle a major natural or man-made calamity. It was shocking to see the hollow charade beneath all the glamour of a city that houses the spacious presidential palace that would shame 10 Downing Street or the White House. The CDA proved incapable of handling the situation.
GULL ZEE
France

Earthquake in Pakistan II

Sir: An earthquake of severe intensity rocked Islamabad and parts of the NWFP, Punjab, Azad Kashmir and Balochistan on the morning of October 8. Unfortunately Islamabad was caught sleeping as the multi-storey Margalla Towers came crashing down. It was unfortunate that government officials visited the site over an hour after the collapse. No meaningful rescue effort could be launched because there were no cranes, cutters or heavy earth-moving machinery. Given the state of affairs in the capital city of the country, one can very well imagine the rescue efforts in small towns and villages, which have worse hit by this natural calamity.

The priorities of our establishment are shameful. We do not have the funds for medical equipment and the tools to mount a rescue operation, though we do have funds to procure luxurious Pajeros, Land Cruisers, Mercedes and expensive limousines for our officials. Our governors, chief ministers, military officials have aircraft, helicopters and bullet-proof cars, but there are no funds for civil helicopter ambulances and essential rescue equipment. It’s high time the regime is held accountable to public opinion.
T MALIK
Lahore

Earthquake in Pakistan III

Sir: Since Saturday’s devastating earthquake in South Asia, various theories have been propounded as to why it happened: punishment from God for Pakistan’s decision to start fasting two days late; Allah’s message to Pakistan for reaching out to Israel. Clearly, this is not the time to reason why this disaster took place. However, what has become apparent is the need for a regional response to the disaster by both India and Pakistan and the importance of continuing talks on Kashmir.

The epicentre of the earthquake — near the so-called “Line-of-Control” which separates the disputed region — and the destruction on both sides is a message to both countries to resolve the crisis, which has plagued the region since the British withdrew in 1947. Two wars have already been fought over Kashmir (with near misses in 1987 and 2002); tens of thousands have already been killed. Now that both countries are armed with nuclear weapons, the stakes are high. If anything positive can emerge from such a disaster, let us hope that cooperation in the relief effort will strengthen ties between the two states — a necessary condition for peace in Kashmir.
TOHKEEL AMIN
Via email

Non-violent struggle

Sir: President George Bush, in a speech to the nation on Thursday, stated that militants were seeking to establish a “radical Islamic empire”. He said, “The murderous ideology of the Islamic radicals is the great challenge of our new century. Like the ideology of communism, our new enemy teaches that innocent individuals can be sacrificed to serve a political vision. The militants believe that controlling one country will rally the Muslim masses, enabling them to overthrow all moderate governments in the region, and establish a radical Islamic empire that spans from Spain to Indonesia.”

These remarks will only fuel the idea that those working for the Caliphate are using violence to achieve their ends. However, the overwhelming majority of Muslims throughout the world have been committed to a non-violent method for political change.
IMRAN HAMEED
Lahore

Dealing with bigotry

Sir: Your editorial about the attack on the Ahmadiyya Community (The ‘foreign hand’ again! October 9) has identified the root cause of the problem. It is a great tragedy that religious bigotry has been allowed to tarnish the image (and self-image) of this otherwise great nation. Of course, it does have its enemies but the greatest threat it faces today comes from within. The demand for Pakistan was justified primarily in terms of allowing Muslims (and others) to freely practise their faith. It is ironic that it has become one of the most religiously intolerant countries in the world.

The persistent sectarian violence amongst the Shia and Sunni communities is intrinsically linked to the legislation and executive measures against the Ahmadiyya community. As you point out, the country is awash with bigoted mullahs. These mullahs exploited Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s political weakness to force him into sponsoring discriminatory legislation. General Ziaul Haq took this further and, in so doing, advanced the cause of the Islamists. The law not only prevented a peaceful community from calling themselves Muslims, reciting the kalima, calling for prayer or even referring to their places of worship as mosques, but also set a dangerous precedent.

Now that the state has declared a community non-Muslim, there will always be demands — not always peaceful — for similar legislation against others. From allowing man to determine the spiritual status of his fellow men, it is just one step to determining the worth of another person’s life. An ever-increasing number of mullahs have taken that step and are teaching their followers that the life and property of a heretic are not the same as their own; that attacking them is not just lawful for a Muslim, it is his duty.

The best way to control such religious leaders is to discredit their ideology. That can only happen after the government repeals laws, which tell its citizens what their faith is or is not. Pakistan needs to abide by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 18) and remove the laws banning Ahmadis from calling themselves Muslims. This will upset the Islamists but it is an important step towards a truly Muslim society, which can only be based on enlightenment, freedom of conscience and justice.
AFZAL ASHRAF
London

Divided Kashmiri families

Sir: I am a British citizen who has spent time in India and Pakistan over the last two years while doing fieldwork for a PhD at Oxford University. I have noticed that even in ‘normal’ circumstances, communication between the two sides of the Line of Control is limited. We continue to hear sad stories of the difficulties faced by families separated by the LOC, as they struggle to get news about their relatives across the Line. Even though they live just a few miles away, they cannot freely or easily communicate with each other.

Now that a terrible earthquake has ravaged Kashmir and Kashmiris all over the world are trying to call home to get information about their families, these families on both sides of the LOC must also be extremely worried and helpless.

Can the governments of India and Pakistan do something to alleviate their suffering in this regard?
VANITA SHARMA
Via email

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