Friday, April 20, 2007

High-stake seats in Sindh

High-stake seats in Sindh
2002 ELections
By Sohail Sangi
SINDH is an agricultural society and most of its population lives in rural areas where big landlords rule the roost in economic, social and political affairs. Traditional political families are in the arena to impose their dominance once again after the October elections.In the province there are at least six high-stake seats. Those being contested by PPP, PML (Q) and SDA heavyweights are the most prestigious ones on which the respective parties are focussing their energies to win at all costs. Defeat on these seats will not only mean the loss of face to the candidates but also a loss to their parties. Therefore, these keen contests are drawing the attention of the observers.Illahi Bux Soomro, former speaker of the National Assembly who recently joined the PML (QA), is contesting from NA-208 (Jacobabad-I0). He was elected from this seat in 1997. Although he is supposed to be very close to Islamabad power circles, this time he was neither offered any role by the Punjab-based parties nor did he get any help for consolidating the anti-PPP vote in his home province.On the contrary, when it was announced that Governor Mohammedmian Soomro would contest the election from this ancestral seat of the Soomro family, the position of the elder Soomro was further jeopardised. It is said that some most powerful person in Islamabad came to his rescue and the junior Soomro was asked to withdraw from the contest on the assurance that he would continue to hold the post of governor.Political pundits believe that if Illahi Bux wins the seat, he would be a good choice from Sindh for the prime ministership. However, if that is not so, he would then surely be considered for the office of speaker. That is why the NA-208 seat is regarded as a prestigious one.Illahi Bux is facing Aijaz Husain Jakhrani, younger brother of Mir Babal Jakhrani, a PPP leader and former MNA, who is an old political rival of Illahi Bux and has been ousted from the elections due to the graduation condition. Although Illahi Bux’s opponent is not a heavyweight like him, he is in hot water because, along with Jakhrani tribesmen, the Ghari Khairo Rajuni Awami Ittehad has announced that it would support the PPP candidate. The Ittehad comprises eight notables of major communities of the area.NA-198, Sukkur-I, is also an important seat from where Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah, a trustworthy and active deputy of Benazir Bhutto, is contesting the election. The former deputy leader of the opposition is facing Abdul Qadir Ghumro, a PML (F) candidate supported by the SDA and National Alliance. In the last two successive elections this seat was won by Khursheed Shah. Here in a constituency which includes the Sukkur city, Sakhi Abdur Razzaq, the son of a PPP turncoat Sardar Muqeem Khoso, is also in the field on the ticket of the MQM. The MQM and the PML (F) may evolve a joint strategy against the PPP on this seat.Seats in Larkana and Nawabshah districts are important not because of the contestants — except Nisar Ahmed Khuhro, Sindh PPP president — but because one is the home district of Benazir Bhutto and the other that of her jailed husband Asif Ali Zardari. The PPP opponents will spend all their energies to get the PPP candidates defeated in these two districts.The disqualification of PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto and the resignation of Nawab Shabbir Ahmed Chandio from the post of Larkana district president had rather dismayed the PPP workers and candidates initially, but now the acceptance of Khuhro’s papers has lifted their morale. It is also speculated that Chandio will be back in the party fold before the election, and this will further raise the morale of the partymen.Khuhro, being the provincial party chief, may be a choice for the top slot if the party does well in the polls. He is facing Mansoor Ahmed Sheikh of the PML (QA) but does not run much risk.Although no party chief is contesting election from Sindh, political development shows that there are too many stakeholders in the province. They include the PPP, the Jatois, Pir Pagara and the Shaikhs.Former Sindh chief minister Liaquat Ali Jatoi is contesting for both Provincial Assembly and National Assembly seats (PS-76 and NA-233) on the PML (Q) ticket. He aspires for chief ministership if anti-PPP setup is implemented in Sindh following the election.There will be a tough contest between the PPP’s Zafar Ali Leghari and Liaquat Jatoi on PS-76 (Khairpur Nathan Shah).Leghari may be a choice of the PPP for the top slot in Sindh.On the National Assembly seat (NA-233, Dadu-III) where the PPP has pitched Rafique Ahmed Mahesar against Liaquat Jatoi, a neck and neck contest is expected.The name of Imtiaz Shaikh, a bureaucrat-turned politician, is also being mentioned for Sindh’s top slot. The SDA is his brainchild, which was founded and projected for consolidating anti-PPP forces, but this could not work. Shaikh is facing former federal minister Agha Tariq of the PPP on PS 11.The element of biradarism will also play a vital role in determining the results for PS 11 which has also remained a hot bed of bloody tribal clashes. The district is still at the mercy of old clans and the political parties have failed to make any difference as influential tribal chiefs are very much in.The PS-69 (Mirpurkhas-VII) seat is also a stake seat as former chief minister Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah is contesting on the ticket of the PML (F) from his home town constituency. The PPP has pitched Ali Mardan Shah, who was earlier defeated by him in 1993 when he became law minister and then chief minister after the death of Jam Sadiq Ali.Muzaffar Shah was absent from the scene and had been living abroad for the last four years. It is believed that Pir Pagara has specially summoned him to contest election in view of the inability of his son, Pir Sibghatullah Shah, to do so. Shah is also tipped for the top slot if it goes to Pagara group.Seats in Tharparkar and Thatta districts are important because Shirazi and Arbab are supposed to be the king’s men and have been claiming to be uncrowned kings of their respective districts. They have been active in anti-PPP campaign recently.So far Tharparkar is concerned, it is very difficult for the Arbabs to get through in two National Assembly and four Provincial Assembly seats.It is believed that the Arbabs have smelt a rat about the results of the October elections in Thar district, so they have demanded postponement of the election in this sandy belt on the pretext of drought.Observers and the people of Sindh are watching these contests with great interest.

Thar coal: issues and options

By Sohail Sangi
China and Pakistan have recently entered into an agreement to launch work on the Thar coal project. The Chinese company, Shenhau group will undertake the project on Build-Own-Operate (BOO) basis and will be responsible for investment, construction and operation, while Pakistan will provide it with the project site and necessary infrastructure.The Chinese company would set-up a power plant of 330MW by extracting coal from an area of 50sq km. The entire mining area is spread over 9100sq km with rich reserves that may last for more than 30 years.Thar coalfield is spread over 9100sq km with the dimensions of 140km (north south) and 65km (east west) in Thar. There are 2,700 million tons measured deposits; 9395 million tons indicated, 50,706 million tons inferred, and 112705 million tons hypothetical deposits making a total 175.506 billion tons. The studies have confirmed the thickest coal bed is called, the Thar coal. It is present between 150 and 203 meters depth. The seam attains a maximum thickness of 22.1 meters with around 15 meters in most of the area. The cumulative coal thickness varies between 7.15 and 36.00 meters. The thickness of overburden varies from 114 to over 200 meters and sand dunes above the average ground level in the area increased by another 30 meters. These deposits will be dug out by open pit mining process, which is much economical than other underground hazardous mining methods. The coalfield rests directly on relatively shallow, rifted basement rocks of the pre-Cambrian age.Qualitative analyses: Thar coal is classified as lignite A-B. The quality has been determined on the basis of chemical analyses of more than 2000 samples. The moisture and ash contents of Thar coal when compared to other lignite deposits of the world show that these are quite favourable for power generation. The average chemical analyses of coal samples from the entire area percentage wise are as under:The moisture (AR) 46.77 per cent, the ash (AR) 6.24 per cent, volatile matters (AR) 23.42 per cent, volatile matters (DAF) 58.91 per cent, the fixed carbon (AR) 16.66 per cent, sulphur (AR) 1.16 per cent and the heating value (AR) 5774 Btu/lb.Potential use of Thar black gold: Pakistan spends Rs66 billion on the import of furnace oil, annually. The coal exploration and development will give rise to use it as an alternative source of power generation. Thus, the country can save Rs4-5 billion by utilizing the domestic coal reserves. By using coal in the cement industry, about 50 per cent saving on the import of furnace oil bill of Rs240 million in short term, and 100 per cent in the long term can be achieved. This will also result in 30 per cent reduction in the cost of production.The quality and the vast reserves of Thar coal are suitable for power generation. The low ash and to some extent the sulphur contents and the reasonable heating value are plus points. The sulphur content is certainly much lower than other coals of Pakistan. Hence, its use in power generation will have lesser detrimental effects on the environment. The proven reserves for the establishment of four power generation units (4000MW) would last for a period of 30 years, or so. Besides, the Thar coal can possibly be used to produce smokeless briquettes for commercial use and in cement and sugar industry as a substitute for furnace oil or gas.Exploration background: The former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, performed the groundbreaking ceremony of the 1320MW coal-fired power plant in January 19,1995. This plant was to be established at the village Thahario Halepoto near Islamkot town of Tharparkar district, by a Hong Kong based company of Gordon Woo. Unfortunately, in 1995-97, two most powerful lobbies pro-Kala Bagh Dam and oil importing companies were believed to be at loggerhead with the Sindh Coal Authority (SCA) and the government of Sindh. Consequently, the proposed coal-based power plant that was supposed to be established in Thar was first shifted to Keti Bandar and later on was shelved. The SCA is assigned to carry out feasibility study of the Thar coal for assessing the extraction cost and selling price of the coal for power generation and other uses. This study will be completed in 2003. Coal as a fuel presently costs 60 t0 65 paisa per kWh that is far cheaper than the furnace oil.Meanwhile, the Geological Survey of Pakistan has awarded the contract to Bakht Business to sink an exploratory shaft in Thar coalfield for preparing a final bankable feasibility for the coal mining. These samples will be used for carrying out combustion engineering tests during the exploratory process to determine the suitability level of coal in using it in the power generation, cement, and the sugar industries.Besides, the Chinese experts will also carryout 120-130 more bore holes in all four blocks of the Thar field during its feasibility study, besides carrying out technical and financial studies. This indicates that the Chinese group is being awarded the contract before the completion of studies to determine the extracting cost and the selling price of coal, as well as its various uses.Issues and options: While utilizing the coal reserves it will be necessary to have a critical view for the mining, the technology to be used for power generation and other related questions. This is very important because some products of coal combustion have detrimental effects on environment. The burning of coal produces carbondioxide, among other byproducts. Environmentalists believe that, owing to the widespread use of coal and other fossil fuels, the amount of carbondioxide in earth’s atmosphere could increase to such an extent that changes in the climate will occur. The sulphur and the nitrogen in coal form oxides during combustion that can contribute to the formation of acid rains. However, sulphurdioxide emissions from new the coal-fired facilities are now controlled in many countries.The experience of Lakhra may not be repeated, where power plant is on death throes and the coal is being used in brick kilns. It is hoped that with the utilization of coal, the destiny of Thar will change, therefore the wealth generated through black gold should be utilized in this backward area and its people. When we talk about maximum benefits that does not only mean jobs, royalty, compensation of lands etc., but also productive and developmental investment to change the agriculture and livestock breeding of the area which may result in sustainable development of the area. How this will be done? How money will be spent and how much local people will actually be benefited. There are some reservations, which require proper answer.1. The underground mining can result in black lung disease for miners, and the sinking of land over mines, and the drainage of acid into water tables, therefore all requirement regarding safe coal mining may be fulfilled. Surface mining would require careful reclamation, and the land would render unproductive. This includes the methodology of mining, reducing damages and the apprehensions.2. The clean technology should be used because burning of coal produces carbondioxide, among other byproducts.3. How this wealth would be spent? Who will own and control the wealth produced by the black gold? There are reports that the Sindh Coal Authority is being sidelined and the Geological Survey of Pakistan and the federal ministry of petroleum and natural resources have practically taken over the things. This indicates that the federal government is going to take over the control of the minerals.4. What local people will get in terms of facilities, jobs, royalty, compensation for their land, and overall compensation for environment/eco-system.5. Only construction of few roads and setting up shops of consumer items or few unskilled jobs would not change the pattern and the economy of this backward area. Two things are worth mentioning, among which one is Badin district, which is known as mini Dubai due to its oil wells, but nothing has been changed for the common man of the area. The other is Bhitt Jabal of Dadu district, where infrastructure of road etc., has been laid but the pattern of economy for the common man has not been changed. Are we going to repeat the above two experiences in Thar or is there more in the bag for the Thari people?There is a need to develop alternate source of living. This can be achieved by developing water resources for the agriculture, and the cattle breeding, as Saudi Arabia and some other countries have done by utilizing the wealth generated from the oil. The coal is the last hope for the development of this backward area, which is hit by droughts periodically due to the scarcity of rains, therefore it should be properly and carefully utilized.

Short mango season

By Sohail Sangi
IT WAS surprising that we had a short mango season this year. Previously, we had this juicy fruit at least for four months ending September, but this year even in the month of July it seems that the mango season is in the last stage, and will last only for one or two weeks more. There are many issues and constraints, which need to be tackled.The crop covers about 100 thousand hectares of land, mostly in Sindh and southern Punjab. All prize varieties of northern and central India thrive well in Pakistan and are far superior in taste, flavour and other characteristics.After the consumption in Pakistan, mango is exported to other countries. Only five percent of total production is sent to selected markets. Among the traditional buyers, Dubai picks up at least 18000 tons, while Saudi Arabia, Oman and UK are other major importers. On production, the country stands on the sixth number while it covers 7.5 per cent share in the international market. This is a very low share and needs to be increased. According to Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) sources, the earning from exports of 47000 tons mango was estimated worth $7 million in 1999. It was around $8 million next year. During 2000-2001 Pakistan exported 53443 tons worth $16.54 million showing an increase of 43 per cent over 99-2000. The EPB expects mango exports to rise by 25 per cent during this year. Last year 53444 tons of quality mangoes were exported, thus earning a foreign exchange of $17 million.Last year, Pakistani mangoes fetched more prices in the international market as compared to the previous season. Our mango was sold at the rate of $2.90 per kilograms in 2000, but the price has gone up to $3.83 per kg in year 2001. Some delegations were also sent to Italy, Turkey, Holland, and Germany to explore new markets for angoes and response from these countries was encouraging. In fact, tremendous export opportunities exist for Pakistani mangoes in the Middle East, and Europe, but inefficient and improper post harvest operations have resulted in spoilage of production. It is estimated that the Pakistani farmers are losing about 3.5 million tons of fruit worth $1.5 billion, due to faulty harvesting and post-harvest operations.The farmers are not getting proper guidance, encouragement and marketing, so they are unable to improve their produce in qualitative as well as in quantitative terms. There is also lack of knowledge among the growers about how best to maintain their orchards.Kachhelo farm (Mirpurkhas), known for producing high quality mangoes, has almost been destroyed, because of the continuous water shortage. The size of the fruit has been reduced, and the taste has deteriorated. Previously, it produced “Sindhri” variety which weighed 1800 grams (1.75 kg) per fruit.In Sindh, mango production, is increasing , as more and more land is being brought under cultivation of this crop and over all production is rising. But per hectare yield is not on the increase, and it is less as compared to Punjab. Figures show that in 1980-81 per hectare yield was 7.773 tons, which decreased in 1999-2000 and stood at 7.372 tons. While in Punjab, it was 12.337 tons in 1980-81 and in 1999-2000, stood at 12.475 tons.During the last 20 years, area brought under cultivation of the mango crop has nearly doubled, as in 1980-81 mango was cultivated on 57,200 hectares, which went up to 94,100 hectares in 1999-2000. Likewise, production was 5, 466,000 tons in 1980-81 and 937,700 tons in 1999-2000. Punjab has a lead in mango production, as it has doubled its under cultivation area in last 20 years that is from 22,200 hectares in 1980-81, to 48,400 hectares in 1999-2000 and production from 273,900 to 603,800 tons. Sindh is on number two, as it increased under cultivation area from 34,400 to 43,500 hectares and production from 267,400 to 320,700 tons.Growers said that due to ill-conceived official policies, they were unable to attain the required yield potential of this crop and were sustaining huge financial losses. Despite lack of patronage and encouragement from government side in research and other related fields, the over all production of the mango has increased. This indicates a clear growth in demand for this fruit in the market. The growers are bringing more area under cultivation under mango. They are carrying research and experiments to introduce new varieties, as well as carrying research on how best to preserve the old varieties on their own. The experience of Khair Mohammad Bhurgri, a grower from Mirpurkhas is one example, after Kachhelos, who has developed a variety, which will produce fruit that extends the fruiting and harvesting season.Orchards face ‘destruction’ : The persisting water shortage has proved to be destructive for mango orchards. It is feared that there will be less mango production this year. Mango orchards had been without water for the entire pre and post- flowering period and even at the crucial stage of fruit setting the canals in Sindh and southern Punjab remained closed for most of the time. This has resulted in an irreparable loss to mango production. Reports from Tando Allahyar, Matiari and Mirpurkhas suggest that mango trees standing on some 20, 000 acres of land faced destruction due to shortage of water. Trees have been infected with various diseases at the flowering stage. Black, blue, and white fly hyper had attacked the crop, which resulted in falling of flowers. Experts observed that due to persistent shortage of sweet canal water, the underground water table has risen and brackish water has come up that has reduced the resistance of the trees.Mirpurkhas, supposedly a prime mango area is suffering from drought. Reports suggest that out of 8000 acres, only 4000 acres received water once a year, while only 3500 acres received water four times while for achieving good production of fruit 18 waters a year are required. This will result in improvement in size and taste of the fruit. The survey further revealed that on an average, a acre having 36 trees, some 15 trees were empty while 5 had nominal fruit and 16 trees had about 50 per cent fruit It was also observed that because of the shortage of water, fertilizer could not be used. Consequently, the mango trees became weak and affected fruit in quality and quantity both. Such trees produce a fruit of lower quality. It is apprehended that the mango fruit which had emerged as a foreign exchange earner item since last few years will not be exported in required quantity, at the same time, this seasonal juicy fruit will not be available and enjoyed by the poor and middle class people.The problems of mango growers can be easily divided into two major categories; first, pre-harvesting and the second post -harvesting. The first category relates to cultivation, selection of variety, research, usage and availability of water, fertilizers, pesticides etc. The second category is related to picking, handling, grading, storage and marketing. Presently, no guidance is available to the growers for these two categories of pre-harvesting and post-harvesting operations from the government side.In so far as research in government sector is concerned, there is a very pathetic situation. Sindh Horticulture Research Institute in Mirpurkhas announced its newly developed mango variety namely “Mehran”, three years back, but till today it has not been released. The researchers of the institute claim that this variety will give production throughout year. Japan gifted machinery for research on pests of mango. This machinery is rotting at Karachi since the last many years, as it is not being used by the government, nor it is given to growers for the benefit of production.Keeping in view the continuous water shortage, which proved to be destructive to this fruit, the proposed water research institute must promote water technology for its judicious use besides promoting the use of hydrometers to register water needs of trees and feedback to growers in this regard.The unregulated growth of nursery business in itself has encouraged malpractice. There is a need to regulate the nurseries that provide mango plants to discourage plantation of varieties susceptible to various diseases and to impose quality control mechanism. As a first measure in this regard registration of the nurseries is recommended. The registration of nurseries is also required to grow true-to-type fruit. The unregistered nurseries have been frequently supplying lots, having unfavourable genetic characteristic of wrong varieties, which needs to be checked.Most of the mango exporting countries promoted one or two varieties for export. We can follow the strategy to increase our share of mango export in the world market. Some generic and branded insecticides and fungicides are recommended for mango orchards for rationalized use of chemicals according to international requirements. So far, the pesticide firms have been promoting the chemicals left over in their stocks after the cotton season. Most of the pesticides meant for the cotton plant had a very harmful result when sprayed on mangoes. Instead of consulting the pest experts, spray is being conducted by the workers of some pesticide companies.The EPB is paying attention towards mango production since the last three years. There is a need to include growers in foreign delegations. But before sending abroad, the growers should be imparted proper knowledge and training.

Quetta carnage deplored

February 28, 2007

By Sohail Sangi
Condemning the Feb 17 suicide attack on a court in Quetta, Daily Ibrat says the government appears to be helpless in the wake of the growing incidents of terrorism.The newspaper says the recent wave of terror had exposed the government agencies’ inadequacies. The daily puts a rhetorical question: “Who are the assailants and what are they up to?”The Ibrat says a sense of insecurity has overtaken the nation after the bomb attacks during Muharram. “People are afraid that anything can happen the next moment.”The paper expresses an apprehension that `under a plan, sustained efforts are being made to create a law and order situation’ in the country. It ridicules a claim made by a senior official that the government has broken the terror network.The Ibrat points out that acts of terror have increased after Washington started pressuring Islamabad into `doing something’ to curb terrorism. “The perpetrators are conveying a message to the US that terrorists are present in Pakistan.”The paper terms the recent wave of terrorism dangerous and calls upon the government to formulate a long-term strategy.Criticising the hasty legislation work in the National Assembly last week, daily Awami Awaz says the passage of four bills betrays the ruling party’s contempt for rules and regulations. “If some member speaks out against this, he is harassed by the treasury benches.”The newspaper says the `rulers appear to be unconcerned about their responsibilities’. For example, the government has urged the cement and sugar barons to bring down the prices. The paper says it is the government’s duty to ensure that businessmen do not fleece the people, but instead of taking administrative steps, it is content with making appeals.Daily Ibrat welcomes the government’s decision to call a multi-party conference (MPC) on provincial autonomy.The paper believes that Sindh will now formulate recommendations about provincial autonomy. The Ibrat calls upon political parties to attend the conference as `vital issues concerning national cohesion are involved’.Daily Hilal-i-Pakistan editorialises on the disappearance of political activists, recalling that the Attorney General has told the Supreme Court about some of the activists’ whereabouts. However, a large number of people are still missing. “These people were either picked up from workplaces or homes. No agency is willing to talk about them.”The paper says even if these people are wanted for `any anti-state activity’, they should be dealt with according to the law.Daily Kawish condemns the Panipat train tragedy, saying that the `sun of peace has never risen since partition’. “Whenever some confidence-building measures are taken, something unpleasant happens.”The paper urges the two governments to investigate not only the attack, but also try to find out who stood to lose in the event of normalisation of relations.

Concern over religious militancy, lawlessness

April 12, 2007
By Sohail Sangi
SINDHI PRESS DIGESTTHE major issues covered by the Sindhi press during the past week were the Lal Masjid standoff in Islamabad and the Saarc summit held in New Delhi.Dailies Koshish and Tameer-i-Sindh, expressing alarm over the fanaticism of Taliban votaries in the federal capital, say if no action is taken against the militants, they will get bold enough to spread their net.“The extremists would then turn the country into a laboratory for trying out their obscurantist ideas,” the Koshish warns.Dailies Ibrat, Awami Awaz and Kawish have editorialised on the Saarc conference. The Awami Awaz praises the Saarc secretariat for conceding that the organisation has failed to achieve its objective of resolution of major issues.The daily says `it is time to analyse the failure’, suggesting that the host country (of the summit) should be made responsible for the implementation of the decisions..The Kawish says the member countries will have to change their attitude for resolution of major disputes.The newspaper also deals with the high incidence of kidnapping for ransom in Sindh, saying the recent wave shows that outlaws enjoy total impunity in the province.The paper cites reports that police are negotiating a deal for the recovery of Omparkash, a boy from Jacobabad, while the case of Abdul Razaq got entangled in a dispute of jurisdiction between two police stations. “It seems that a handful of outlaws are stronger than the state.”The Kawish opposes any deal with the criminals as it entails the grant of `illegal facilities and privileges’. At the same time, the newspaper opposes police operation against dacoits as it has `never yielded results’.Daily Awami Awaz condemns the baton-charge on students of Karachi’s Urdu University, saying that students were agitating merely for the holding of classes regularly. “Education is the right of every citizen and to protest for it is a fundamental right, too.Therefore the use of violence against students is unjustifiable.”The paper writes that the Urdu University incident seems to be of a pattern as `lawyers, journalists and teachers have been facing the wrath of the state recently’.The Awami Awaz feels that there are some police officers who think protests disturb the rulers. “To save their own skin, they feel no compunction in roughing up innocent people agitating for their rights.”The Ibrat, praising the activism shown by the judiciary of late, urges it to reopen the Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto case. The paper says this action would allow the state machinery to do some `soul-searching and self-accountability’.The Tameer-i-Sindh terms unrealistic President Pervez Musharaf’s statement about missing activists. The president said in a public meeting last week that almost all the missing persons had gone to Afghanistan for jihad.The paper says these peoplehad been picked up by secret agencies, and were not produced before any court of law. “It is better to avoid such assertions and produce the missing people in court,” the Tameer counsels the president.

Police action in Sadiqabad condemned

April 06, 2007

By Sohail Sangi
SINDHI PRESS DIGESTTHE police action against workers of the PML-F in Sadiqabad and the spate of kidnappings in Sindh are the major themes which the Sindhi press has dealt with.Daily Kawish and Ibrat have editorialised on the incident at Sadiqabad in which the Punjab police stopped some workers of the PML-F, a partner of the ruling coalition, and opened fire, resulting in the death of three persons.The Kawish criticises the police attitude, saying that of late, the law enforcers in Punjab have been setting new standards of brutality. The daily cites the manhandling of lawyers at the Lahore High Court and the attack on the Islamabad centre of a TV network last month.“The Police are not doing all this on their own but on the instructions of the rulers,” the editorial alleges.The paper criticises the decision to stop the Sindh PML-F workers from entering Punjab, alleging that on the one hand, the rulers were squandering millions of rupees on public meetings but on the other, the opposition parties were not being allowed to hold rallies.“All claims of the government about democracy and decency stand exposed as a coalition partner was meted out such a treatment.”The Kawish and Ibrat, commenting on the protests by minorities against the wave of kidnappings in Sindh, accuse the police of discrimination in investigations into the abductions of non-Muslims.The Ibrat chides the administration for showing an `indifference’ to the kidnap of Om Parkash, an eight-year-old boy.It says that if the administration fails to trace Parkash and other members of the minority communities, they would not be wrong to think they are second-rate citizens.The Daily Kawish extends support to the province’s paramedical workers in their protest against the alleged issuance of 500 appointment letters for vacancies in the Sindh health department even before the lifting of the ban on jobs.The newspaper expresses an apprehension that `merit would be bypassed as 80 per cent of the jobs will go to supporters of a political party sitting in the government, while the remaining 20 per cent to the other coalition partners’.The Kawish calls upon the Sindh government to cancel all the appointment letters and conduct an inquiry to determine who was responsible for the issuance of the job offers in spite of a ban on recruitment.Daily Koshish criticises the holding of two jirgas in defiance of a decision by the Sindh High Court declaring such meetings as illegal. The two jirgas – one in Ghotki and the other in Naushahro Feroz – were headed by the district nazims and they delivered `verdicts’ in two murder cases. Both cases were pending with the courts.The daily pleads with the Supreme Court to intervene in the matter.Daily Ibrat feels that lawlessness has assumed alarming proportions in the province. Murders, kidnappings, rapes and other crimes are so rife in Sindh these days that they have ceased to shock us. The paper urges the provincial government to tackle the menace on a war footing.Daily Khabroon is critical of the business of spurious drugs in Sindh. Quoting from a statement of the health minister in the Sindh Assembly, the newspaper says the government has admitted that some 25 to 30 wholesalers were responsible for the sale of 90 per cent of the spurious medicines. The daily goes on to say mere admission is not enough. “Action must follow words.”.

1940 resolution, Constitution ‘deserve respect’

March 28, 2007
By Sohail Sangi
THE judicial crisis grabbed the attention of the Sindhi press for the second week running.All the major papers editorialised on the interview of President Pervez Musharraf in which he conceded that the government made some mistakes in the handling of the reference against Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry.The daily Ibrat writes that to `admit mistakes is a good sign but equally important is its rectification’. While the newspaper welcomes the president’s apology over the attack on the Islamabad office of Geo TV, it says equally important is for the powers that be to ensure that such `mistakes’ are not repeated and the Constitution is given the sanctity it deserves.Daily Awami Awaz, while referring to the 1940 resolution, says its non-implementation led to the dismemberment of Pakistan, warning that `continued disregard’ of the resolution could prove disastrous yet again.Daily Kawish, commenting on the water shortage in Hyderabad, laments that 70 per cent of the population has no access to clean drinking water. The paper recalls that at a recent meeting of the local bodies department, government officials conceded that a majority of the people drink contaminated water, causing water-borne diseases. The Kawish says the situation demands action on war footing Another editorial in the newspaper terms unjust the decision to restrict admission to Karachi’s Dow Medical University to students domiciled in the city. The paper says the decision would mean that no student from the interior of Sindh would get admission to the institution.The Kawish sees the move as part of a conspiracy to widen the ethnic divide in Sindh.The newspaper deplores the increase in transport fares, terming the decision unjustified. The Kawish writes that the latest increase would compound the misery of the poor, coming as it does on recent back-breaking increases in prices of sugar, cement and pulses. “The indifference of the government to the plight of the poor and its claims about prosperity are like rubbing salt into wound,” the daily writes.The daily Koshish has editorialised on the disappearance and death of a minor boy in Padedan, Naushehro Feroze district.The body was found in a drain. The paper says this was not the first incident of its kind in the province, calling upon the administration to shed its `apathy’ and take remedial measures to stop the loss of lives.

Action against CJ to harm judicial activism


Action against CJ to harm judicial activism
By Sohail Sangi
THE Sindhi press has carried out an exhaustive coverage of the crisis arising from the presidential action against the chief justice.The Kawish, editorialising on the Justice Iftikhar case, says that he had disposed of 26,000 cases, received 17,000 complaints against violations of human rights and took suo moto notice in 400 cases.This created a judicial activism, the Kawish writes, which for once inspired the common man with hope and confidence. The government’s action against the chief justice would harm judicial activism, the newspaper says.The Ibrat says it is a very sensitive issue and demands judicious handling. The paper deplores the president’s move to summon Justice Iftikhar to the Army House, terming it unconstitutional.The Awami Awaz calls upon the government to give up its contempt of civil society and start paying heed to voices of sanity.Daily Ibrat welcomes Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz’s statement that Islamabad is committed to improving relations with India. The newspaper says a sustainable peace was possible only when the two countries sign a no-war pact and agree that they would not increase their defence expenses.The Daily Kawish draws attention of the authorities to the rape of a ninth class student by a head constable and his colleague.The paper bemoans that violence against women is rife in Sindh these days, tarnishing the image of the province. It calls for giving exemplary punishment to the guilty so that Sindh is cleansed of this evil.The paper condemns society’s apathy to assaults on women, regretting that the student was kidnapped from a busy shopping centre in Shikarpur. The paper believes it was not possible for a constable to act in this manner without the support of the high-ups.The Kawish editorialised a statement of the World Bank’s adviser, John Wall, that the rich are getting richer and the poor poorer.The daily says the country urgently needs initiatives for an equitable distribution of wealth. The paper ridicules the government’s claims of rapid economic progress and improvement in the standard of living.The Kawish says that in the absence of democracy, policies are formulated for the benefit of the high and mighty to the detriment of the weak. People at large are living in misery – the increasing number of suicides being a reliable indicator.The Ibrat says the way USA has been expressing its anger over Iran’s nuclear plan, shows that Washington is itching for another war in the Gulf. The paper appreciates the Foreign Office’s stand that Pakistan will not become a part of anti-Iran action as the country is already paying a high price for its support to the US invasion of Afghanistan.Daily Koshish expresses concern over a growing wave of tribal feuds in Sindh, terming it tribal terrorism. The paper says that these feuds have claimed hundreds of lives in three years.The daily says the feuds are symptomatic of a deeper malaise eating into the social fabric – the erosion of human dignity.Daily Hilal-i-Pakistan and Tameer-i-Sindh editorialised on the recent development in Pakistan’s relations with the United States, observing that calls for a `free and fair’ election are a sign that Washington is preparing for change in its Islamabad policy.

CM’s statement on islands welcomed

Sindhi Press Digest
March 07, 2007

By Sohail Sangi

Major Sindhi newspapers have welcomed the recent statement of the Sindh chief minister that no construction would be allowed on the islands of Dangi and Bhandal as they belong to Sindh.

The daily Tameer-i-Sindh writes that the committee set up by the prime minister to determine the legal status of the two islands has remained dormant.The paper deplores the federal government’s ‘indifference’ to Sindh’s reservations, expressing a fear that the centre wants to occupy these islands at any cost.The paper regrets that the present rulers are ‘no different from their predecessors’ in that faint protests by the smaller federating units ‘leave them unmoved’.

Daily Awami Awaz editorialises on a speech of President Pervez Musharraf in which he claims that ‘a record development’ is taking place in Balochistan and that those dreaming of an independent Balochistan are living in a fool’s paradise.The daily terms the president’s statement one-sided, saying that Baloch nationalists contend that a progress in which the Baloch have no share is meaningless.The Awami Awaz writes that the Baloch nationalists’ grievances could be resolved within a ‘legal framework’. The daily reminds the government that had it been running the affairs of the state `democratically and politically’, no complaints would be there.The daily says no project should be executed without consulting the local populace so as to preclude fears and misgivings.
The Kawish and Ibrat hail the Sindh cabinet’s decision to raise wages of doctors and nurses working in rural areas.The Ibrat says that doctors’ refusal to work in villages should not be put down to money matters alone. There are a number of other factors, too. Foremost among them is lawlessness, the paper says.

In another editorial, Daily Ibrat opposes the Sindh cabinet’s decision to set aside 0,000 acres of land for establishing an industrial zone in Karachi. The daily argues industrial zones should be set up in small towns and villages as Karachi is already groaning under the weight of a burgeoning population.

The Sindhi press criticises with one voice the administration over its handling of the tribal clash between two groups of Marfanis in Garhi Yasin, Shikarpur, accusing the police of negligence.

Daily Koshish ridicules the Shikarpur DPO’s explanation that police have no resources to stop tribal feuds, saying this is a lame excuse.The paper wonders that when warring groups can settle disputes at jirgas, why they do not resolve matters before they get out of hand.

Daily Kawish, commenting on the pitiable state of heritage sites, says all resolutions on the part of officials have turned out to be nothing but hollow words. The paper calls for urgent measures to arrest the vandalisation of the Hyderabad Fort.

PPP demand for governor’s rule criticised

Sindhi Press Digest
February 20, 2007

By Sohail Sangi

Commenting on People’s Party Parliamentarians’ demand for dismissal of the Sindh government and imposition of governor’s rule in Sindh, daily Kawish says the demand is not in conformity with democratic values and principles.The rulers used this prescription whenever they wanted to rule this province according to their wishes. No person believing in democratic values can even imagine making such a demand. It is strange that this demand has been made by the country’s largest party which claims to be a champion of democracy.The daily refers to the situation in other provinces which it says is not different from that in Sindh and asks why a democratic party chose Sindh for governor’s rule. The paper says that the PPP will have to come up with justification for making this demand.
Daily Tameer-i-Sindh also criticises the demand and says that governor’s rule is not a substitute for a democratic set-up.The Sindhi press has taken notice of President Musharraf’s recent statement that distribution of financial resources on the basis of population is a correct decision.

Daily Kawish recalls that after taking over power the general had promised to remove inequalities and differences among the provinces. The National Reconstruction Bureau also held a series of seminars and discussions about provincial autonomy and at all these seminars and discussions, unanimous recommendation were made about provincial autonomy. Financial resources are being distributed on the basis of population for years, against the wishes of smaller provinces, which have been questioning this formula.Some studies were conducted under the sponsorship of the government which recommended inclusion of other factors, such as revenue generation and backwardness, in the formula for the National Finance Commission award.
The paper says that after recommendations made in these studies, the government had agreed in principle to devise a formula to accommodate the viewpoints of smaller provinces.But when time came for decision making, these recommendations were set aside as the Punjab refused to accept a new formula based on any other than factor except population.The papers says that people living in smaller provinces are also Pakistani citizens and they too must get their rights and due share in national resources.

Daily Tameer finds it strange that Sindh remains poor despite being rich in resources and contributing a big share to the federal pool. The paper says that other provinces are drawing 150 to 250 per cent of whatever they pay to the federal kitty but Sindh is treated differently. It pays its thirty days’ income to the federal pool but receives the equivalent of one day’s revenue.All major Sindhi papers have commented on the recently held Kotri and Karachi by-elections and have expressed reservations about the way they were held.

Daily Ibrat says that free and fair elections are among the elements of democracy but it was not so in the case of the by-elections with reports of clashes, firing and rigging. The paper says that the government, law-enforcing agencies and the election commission failed to play their due role. The paper says that general elections are expected by the end of this year. Is it possible for the government and other relevant authorities to hold free, fair and peaceful elections?The paper demands the setting up of an independent election commission and an impartial caretaker government to ensure free, fair and impartial elections.

Welcoming the recent bill on women’s rights - the Prevention of Anti-Women Practices - daily Awami Awaz says that the passage of the bill alone is not sufficient; more important is its implementation in letter and spirit. The paper says that statements are issued and claims are made for political gains.The paper recalls the amendments to the Hudood ordinance and asks if women have got their rights and protection. According to the paper, the ground situation is entirely different; women have been humiliated more during the present regime than in previous days. “We have law but no enforcement, we have administration but no peace; we have courts but no justice.”
Criticising the writing off of Rs35 billion loans, daily Koshish terms it startling and says that it proves that government claims about transparency in financial matters are not credible. It is believed that the people who were bestowed with these concessions enjoy the patronage of people in authority. The paper says that the banks and financial institutions in public sector are property of the people; hence no one has the right to waste this money by writing off loans. The paper demands publications of names and purpose for which the loans had been given.

Daily Hilal-i-Pakistan refers to the cases of Nasima Labano, Kainat Soomro and Sakina Solangi, all victims of violence. Nasima and Kainat were gang-raped while Sakina suffered acid burn injuries.The paper gives credit to the media and some NGOs for making their cases public otherwise, it says, hundreds of women are being subjected to rape, violence and other excesses, and forced to keep quiet. The paper urges the government to reach out to such women who have to keep quiet for one reason or the other.

Sindhi Media on Provincial autonomy

Sindhi Press Digest
February 14, 2007

Provincial autonomy spotlighted

By Sohail Sangi

Provincial autonomy was the central theme in Sindhi-language newspapers last week. The newspapers also dealt with the killing of a Hindu engineer and the wave of lawlessness gripping Sindh these days.
A seminar on provincial autonomy, organised by the Sindh government, prompted the press to treat the subject in detail.Most of the speakers at the seminar favoured the abolition of the concurrent list and opposed the creation of more provinces.
The Tameer-i-Sindh and Ibrat, commenting on a statement of the Sindh chief minister that he is promoting the mission of G. M. Syed on provincial autonomy, say the claim should be taken with a pinch of salt. The Tameer poses a rhetorical question: Will Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim now emulate G. M. Syed by fighting for the cause of Sindh?The Tameer welc omes Dr Rahim’s assertion that ‘gone are the days when people demanding provincial autonomy were put behind bars’, but at the same time says it is early days yet to know the truth. “Only time will tell whether things have changed or not.”
The Ibrat and Tameer regret that the `belligerent’ statements of federal ministers do not give out that the concurrent list is being abolished and that the centre is ceding control over resources to the provinces.
The Daily Hilal-i-Pakistan editorialises on a statement of the federal minister for states and frontier regions about the closure of four Afghan refugee camps. The newspaper observes that ‘concessions and loopholes’ exist in the package. `Hence it is unlikely that they (Afghans) will go back.”The Hilal points out that since a large number of Afghan refugees have economic interests in Pakistan, they would find the prospect of a return to their homeland unappealing.On the other hand, the paper writes, the United Nations has also been `creating hindrances’ by warning that Afghan refugees `must not be sent back against their wishes’.
The Hilal-i-Pakistan recalls that Iran, too, had given refuge to thousands of Afghan refugees, but sent them home after the withdrawal of the Soviet forces.The paper calls upon the Pakistan government to take a `bold stand regarding the repatriation of Afghan refugees.’

Almost all newspapers condemn the murder of Hindu engineer Greesh in Kotri. The papers say that although it is premature to arrive at a conclusion about the cause of Greesh’s death, all accounts suggest that the engineer was a victim of ‘parochial considerations like religious or linguistic identity’.
Daily Awami Awaz, writing on the lawlessness that has overtaken Sindh of late, says the system of district governments has not yielded ‘positive results’. The paper points out that the district governments have failed to tackle Karo-kari, tribal feuds and excesses against women.According to the Awami Awaz, ‘political expediency’ is eating into the fabric of society. “It is time for the federal and Sindh governments to do some introspection and review the viability of the local government structure.”
Two dailies — Kawish and Tameer — condemn the recent spate of tribal feuds in Shikarpur and Ghotki districts.
The Kawish writes that ‘disappearance’ of the apparatus of the law in several districts is ominous.The paper regrets that ministers are ‘busy addressing public meetings, planning for by-elections and offering condolences’.
The daily Kawish ridicules claims of good governance at a time when police are being used only for ‘VIP security and political victimisation.’
Sindhi Press Digest
February 06, 2007
Democrats’ move against Pakistan ill-timed


By Sohail Sangi

Sindhi-language newspapers gave an exhaustive coverage last week to the recent moves by the Democrats in the US Congress to make things difficult for Pakistan at a time when the two countries need each other to sustain the `war on terror’.
The daily Ibrat, in comments on the bill proposing to link assistance to Pakistan with a presidential certificate regarding ties with the Taliban, says the bill would affect Pakistan-US relations as it also calls for the handover of nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer.The Ibrat likens the Democrat-sponsored legislation to the Pressler amendment, which had blocked US assistance to Pakistan after the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan. The newspaper urges Islamabad to take a `bold stand’ on the issue.
The daily Kawish and Hilal-i-Pakistan oppose the decision of the cabinet’s economic coordination committee on the sale of 1,423 acres of Pakistan Steel Mills land. The newspapers point out that the matter is sub judice as the Supreme Court has taken up a review petition against its verdict declaring the PSM’s privatisation null and void.
The Hilal-i-Pakistan recalls that during hearings in the privatisation case, the higher courts had made an observation that the land excluded from the deal was the Sindh government’s property.During the 1970s, the Sindh government had allocated the land to the PSM after paying a meagre compensation to villagers. Although the price of the land is running into billions, it is being gifted to capitalists for ridiculously low sums, the daily alleges.
The Hilal-i-Pakistan also criticises the sale by a number of government organisations of plots given to them for a specific purpose. It calls upon the government to ensure that such plots are used for the purpose they were given to the departments.The newspaper cites the Railways decision to sell land earmarked for improvement and expansion of the rail network. The Hilal-i-Pakistan terms the action institutionalised land-grabbing.
The daily Koshish editorialises on an incident in Gambat in which a jirga (tribal council) ordered the `sale’ of two women after declaring them karis.The Koshish deplores the indifference of the police, pointing out that it did not bother to intervene even though the jirga had taken the decision a month ago.Even the councillors and nazims remained unmoved, the newspaper laments. “The police filed a case after the incident, but it was too little too late.”
Three newspapers — Ibrat, Kawish, and Awami Awaz — criticise the recent observations of the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) that owing to the `negligence’ of Wapda and the Sindh and Punjab governments, 200,000 MAF of water is released into the seas and wasted.The dailies argue that the release of water downstream Kotri is not a wastage because Kotri is not a delta. “There are people and animals who live on the water released downstream Kotri.”

The daily Kawish focuses on a new menace spreading its tentacles in the province -- businessmen, feudal lords, retired and serving officers are advancing loans on exorbitant interest rates.Most of the debtors have no alternative but to dispose of their properties to keep the loan sharks at bay, Kawish observes.The analyst wonders how these moneylenders are running business on such a large scale without paying anything by way of income tax.
The Kawish calls upon the government to crack down on `the parasites’ and take steps to rescue the debtors from their clutches.
Sindhi Press Digest
January 30, 2007
No spending on uplift
By Sohail Sangi
A glance at newspaper headlines indicates that Sindh is in the grip of an endless wave of tribal clashes, karo-kari killings and other social evils.The dispute over the sale of two islands to a foreign firm, the Kalabagh dam and the utilisation of the ADP were other major stories to have been covered by the Sindhi press last week.According to Daily Kawish, different departments of the Sindh government have – six months into the financial year -- utilised a mere 36 per cent of the Rs 32 billion earmarked in the annual development programme. The newspaper bemoaned the non-utilisation even of the measly amount set aside for development.The Kawish said government officials were more interested in releasing funds for non-developmental expenses rather than those meant for the betterment of the people. In a comment on the law and order situation in the province, Daily Ibrat wrote: “Where is the peaceful Sindh of which rulers are making such tall claims?” It says the rulers are making a laughing stock of themselves by expressing satisfaction over law and order.“Sindh suffered from lawlessness yesterday and it continues to suffer today. The province is watching bloodletting in the name of tribal feuds, honour killing and other heinous crimes.”Daily Tameer criticised the government’s recent decision to reduce the job quota for rural areas. It warned that the decision would aggravate poverty in the rural areas.The paper cited the example of Badin, Thatta and Thar, where poverty had crossed the 60-per cent mark. The quota reduction would rob this poor region, and others like it, of the few job opportunities they had. The Tameer suggested that if quota revision were unavoidable, it should be made on `poverty basis’.The Kawish and Ibrat, in opinion pieces on a meeting of the inter-provincial coordination committee (IPCC), opposed making Kalabagh dam a part of the national agenda.The Kawish said the sitting was a replay of earlier meetings – Sindh and the NWFP opposing Kalabagh dam and Punjab showing indifference to their reservations.The Ibrat said the centre and Punjab’s attitude betrayed an insensitivity to the smaller provinces’ views.The daily Tameer criticised the Sindh chief minister over remarks against former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. The daily noted Dr that Arbab Rahim had unnecessarily angered sympathisers of the PPP and the people of Sindh. The newspaper said political differences notwithstanding, bad language should not be used against rivals.