Sindhi Press
Retired generals’ love for democracy
Kawish
Retired army generals at a meeting while terming rule of President Musharraf as threat to the solidarity of the country, have urged him to step down and hand over power to Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.
All of sudden love for democracy has sparked among the generals, but that too after their retirement. Otherwise as chief of army or while holding high offices in army, they did not hesitate from imposing martial law, suspending the constitution and over throwing democratic governments. After they left army office, all of sudden they became democrats. This time former chiefs and high army officers had said such things, which only some democrat, sensible and saner person can say. Alas they waited for their retirement.
Rtd Gen Faiz Ali Chishti now worried about democracy, had remained right hand of Gen Zia when he overthrew elected government of Z A Bhutto. This association of retired generals is headed by him, who shared power during Zia regime, which subjected to torture the democratic people and supporting all the anti people and democracy step of Zia. Will Gen Chishti offer any explanation or apology for opening firing on processions of MRD and other excesses?

Rtd Gen Abdul Majeed Malik is also among the retired soldiers now demanding democracy. Would he like to clarify his role in the imposition of first martial in the country? He was holding rank of major in the army in 1956, and prepared a draft which Ayub Khan got signed from Iskandar Mirza and over threw the civilian government.

Former army chief Gen Aslam Beg is also there, who did not allow the Benazir government to run smoothly, while his reported involvement in Mehran Bank scandal remained mystery. During his tenure as army chief, Gen Asad Durani as head of an important organization spent millions of rupees to weaken democratic government.

Rtd general Hameed Gul is also among the soldiers turned democrats, who make dangerous investment in Afghanistan, which Pakistan was reaping till today.

The love of these retired soldiers for democracy can be appreciated but it seems strange as to why this love could not be seen when they were serving in the army, though got encountered a number of occasions to show this love. - (Feb 2)


What hell caretakers to do with Klabagh Dam issue?
Awami Awaz
The caretaker federal cabinet at its meeting has termed Kalabagh Dam inevitable to over come water and power shortage and announced to build public opinion to win support. The meeting also decided to call a conference of the provinces in the second week of the Feb, where in experts of Kalabagh dam would also be invited to find out the reason about the opposition of this dam, while political reservation to be removed by the next government.
The federal minister for provincial coordination admitted that holding of elections was the mandate of the caretaker government; however he said issues of national importance could not be ignored.

Taking up the controversial issue of KB dam by the care takers has generated much surprise and anger, as it was unnecessarily poking its nose in the sensitive and controversial issue, which tantamount to intervention. Better, for caretakers to perform their duty as envisaged in the constitution i.e. holding of polls and transform power to the elected representatives.
It is pertinent to note that the caretaker government was not performing its prime duty of holding polls properly. Political parties, candidates and voters have many a complaints which the government had failed to redress. When it was not performing its first and foremost duty how it can take in hand an extra ordinary issue, which was beyond it mandate and capacity.

It is believed that KB dam is being used as a card. Whenever the government comes under pressure it raises the bogey KB dam. This time too, this issue has been raised to divert the attention of people from prevailing political situation, but this is a very weak idea, as political matters can only be dealt politically. And national interests should not be bargained for the petty and personal interests. Every body knows that this issue had generated much controversy between Punjab and smaller provinces, but rulers have been taking benefit from this controversy and tension.

The caretakers should remain within their prescribed mandate and desist from such controversial issue and serve their all energy on holding of free and fair elections.– (Jan 30)

Selected and translated by Sohail Sangi

Sindhi Press 20

Are people really responsible for flour crisis?
Kawish
The high level meeting presided over by the caretaker prime minister failed to resolve the crisis of wheat flour, and take action against the culprits, rather it held the people responsible for it. Federal minister for food Prince Essa Khan while briefing the journalists said that entire nation was responsible for the flour crisis. He said that the situation deteriorated after Dec 27, when godown were looted in Sindh, transport problem cropped in other province and due to power crisis grinding was stop.
There are reports that a list of hoarders and black marketers was furnished at the meeting but one minister opposed action against those them.
The flour crisis is deepening but steps of the government are furthering the crisis. Irsa while rejecting the objections of Sindh and Punjab released 18000 cusecs water from Tarbela and Mangla for power generation. There are always some influentials behind the continuity of crisis it might be sugar crisis or wheat, stock exchange or oil, they have sources in power corridor. When NAB tried to probe the sugar crisis the bureau itself was made accountable, hence it left this probe halfway. An analysis reveals that crises are patronised under government umbrella. It appears that that the government was not ready to take serious effort to resolve wheat flour crisis, as instead of exposing the culprits the government was protecting them. The government did not take action against those 50 hoarders whose names were furnished at the meeting.
It is strange that despite bumper crop the country is facing worst crisis. The excuse that the crisis brewed after Dec 27 is not true, because people were compelled to pay excess on the flour price since last two months. There is no hope that the government would take any effective measure to resolve this crisis. It would be proper that an inquiry by a judge of Supreme Court be held to find out reasons and pin point culprits responsible for this crisis. – (Jan 12)

Doubts about postponement of polls
Tameer Sindh

A volley of doubts exists regarding postponement of elections. It is argued that situation is not conducive for holding polls. Apparently, the government stricts to the commitment of holding polls on Feb 18, but some circles within the government view that if bomb blasts continued, polls would not be held. Some other circles apprehend certain steps of the government which were annoying and creating problems for the opposition in the country.
The PPP the biggest political party contesting elections has reportedly provided a number of proofs regarding pre poll rigging. PPP leaders also complained that over half a million party leaders and activists have been booked in the cases of rioting which erupted after assassination of party chairperson Ms Bhutto. The reports suggest that majority of the cases were registered on political basis and interestingly, beggars, teachers, police officials and in some cases people who had died some time back were also -cited as accused. Over two dozen journalists in different districts were also implicated in these cases.
These political rivals were booked for terrorist acts without scrutiny which appears to be a part of victimisation.
The elections were held in the countries having a situation worse than Pakistan. Former minister for interior affairs Moin Haider rightly pointed out that, if during war in Afghanistan and Iraq or a situation after revolution in Iran the polls were held, then why not in Pakistan.
The rulers want that PPP may not get sympathy vote of assassination of Ms Bhutto. Strange enough, they forget that after hanging of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, elections were held many years late, but people did not forget the martyrdom of Bhutto. Memory of the people is not as short as of rulers. Therefore, as long as the polls would be delayed, PPP would get more sympathies of people. It is imperative that the government should hold election, that too in free, fair and transparent manner. - (Jan 12)

Selected and translated by Sohail Sangi

Sindhi Press 19
Linguistic bias not acceptable
Ibrat
The riots erupted after assassination of Ms Bhutto; the president has held responsible some linguistic and political groups for vandal incidents. By the linguistic group it might be people of Sindh, who were protesting on the murder of their beloved leader, while reference to political group seems to be of PPP. It is true that people of Sindh protested and took to streets but some miscreants took advantage of the situation and resorted to looting and burning of private and public properties. How the president construed that this all was linguistic based and the entire Sindh was involved in vandalism. But now the entire Sindh is being punished as thousands of people have been booked under Anti terrorism act.

These words do not suit to president of the country, who is holding a responsible office. It is the language which PML-Q is speaking…..The protest and incidents of damaging properties also took place in Lahore and Rawalpindi but the cases were registered in Sindh only. All people living in the federation of Pakistan belong to one or the other nationality, which does not mean that they do not want to live in the federation. For that matter the rulers also belong to some linguistic group.

People of Sindh are not responsible for the riots; while law and order collapsed some third party took the benefit of the situation. The history of this country is witness to it that the elites of ruling class were responsible for creating linguistic prejudices /biases as they deprived the smaller nations of their rights and created national question.
It would be advisable, at this juncture such prejudiced and injuring statements should have been avoided and the utterances of rulers should not contain such things which reflect their stereo type attitude towards certain linguistic group of people. (Jan 5)


Awami Awaz
Benazir Murder should not go un-investigated
The President has sought help of Scotland Yard experts to investigate into tragic murder of Ms Benazir Bhutto. PPP thinks that if the October 18 incident had been investigated by foreign experts, Liaquat Bagh incident would have not happened. The gruesome murder of former prime minister is becoming complicated and controversial. The government claim it was carried out by Baitullah Mehsud, while PPP holds some one else responsible for it.

It is regrettable that like other political murder, the evidences have been washed out in this case also. Just after the incident all the evidences at the place of incidents were removed in the name of cleanliness.

Scotland Yard team when investigated Mir Murtaza Bhutto case, it was not allowed free hand and hurdles were created in its working, as a result of which it left the probe half way. This team has got a past experience which is multiplied by the destroying the evidence from spot what remains primary data for the team.
The team would be probing the case on the request of a government, for which the affected party- PPP has no confidence.

It is really deplorable that under present government no probe would be credible. The government had already named some culprits, and have been changing its version hence it has become party and how it would possible for her to withdraw from its previous position as it would affect its reputation. Some circles hold the government responsible for it and rule out the possibility of any impartial inquiry in the presence of present rulers.

It appears that despite strong will of the people an impartial and credible probe seems to be impossible, as we have witnessed the case of Liaquat Ali Khan and Mir Murtaza Bhutto. However this should not be repeated and this murder should not remain mystery. - (Jan 4)

Selected and translated by Sohail Sangi

Sindhi press 17
Reasons behind railway accidents
Ibrat

The railway accidents taking place after every two or three months expose the claims of ministry of Pakistan Railways about its performance and modernising this system. Earlier we have a fewer accidents. The railway ministry has launched a number of trains on the main track which is about century old. Just increasing number of trains can not be termed modernisation. If responsible railway officials have a chance to travel through these trains, they would be able to have first hand information about the facilities really availed by the common man. Passengers are loaded like animals in these trains. The infra structure is also dilapidated. After Britain we have made no investment on infra structure, but added some bogies and trains. Hence the track which was laid about one century back was on last legs.
In past trains were supposed to be safer, cheaper and comfortable means of travelling as compared to the road transport. But now these facilities are no more characteristics of the railways. We have frequent, more and dangerous railway accidents
There might be different reasons for this growing number of accidents, but negligence of the railway ministry and weaker infra structure would be the common factor of the accidents. We have still very old kerosene oil lighting system at railway stations. The changes which are claimed are cosmetic.
It is regrettable that the railway authorities did not release the lists of deceased of Karachi Express which met an unfortunate accident last week near Naushero Feroze as yet.
It is believed that the failure of railway system is an engineered one and a preparation for its privatisation. After continuous negligence the government will have strong excuse to sell out this national asset on throw away price. – (Dec 20)

A cruel joke with unemployed youth
Koshish
A cruel joke is played with unemployed youth of Sindh. PML-Q and its allies at the end of their tenure issued thousands of offers letters of primary teachers. Most of these letters were given through the PML-Q candidates to win the elections. When these youths reported at concerned officers for joining, they were refused on one or the other pretext. Now it is learnt that secretary education has verbally instructed the EDOs education not to give them joining as these orders were issued without fulfilling the requirements.

PML government had earlier also played such cruel joke. A number of youths was issued teachers appointment letter, but later, due to dispute raised over quota among the ruling partners these appointments were cancelled. So the PML-Q tenure ended but youth of Sindh did not get the job.
Sindh has a higher ratio of unemployment as compared with the other provinces. The main reason behind it is that Sindh did not have representative government since a long time. The other reason is that there was inflow and pressure of people of other provinces, who try to find job and livelihood resources in Sindh.
Karachi having a large number of jobs in private sector, but here hardly 20 per cent people from Sindh are employed. It is accepted rule that people of the area have got first right over the resources. But in Sindh we have quite different situation. People of Sindh are not getting their due share in the federal jobs also.
It is irony that thousands of youths were cheated by issuing fake orders. We would demand a thorough probe in to the issue and expose those people involved in the scandal. – (Dec 20)

Selected and translated by by Sohail Sangi

Sindhi press 17
Reasons behind railway accidents
Ibrat
The railway accidents taking place after every two or three months expose the claims of ministry of Pakistan Railways about its performance and modernising this system. Earlier we have a fewer accidents. The railway ministry has launched a number of trains on the main track which is about century old. Just increasing number of trains can not be termed modernisation. If responsible railway officials have a chance to travel through these trains, they would be able to have first hand information about the facilities really availed by the common man. Passengers are loaded like animals in these trains. The infra structure is also dilapidated. After Britain we have made no investment on infra structure, but added some bogies and trains. Hence the track which was laid about one century back was on last legs.
In past trains were supposed to be safer, cheaper and comfortable means of travelling as compared to the road transport. But now these facilities are no more characteristics of the railways. We have frequent, more and dangerous railway accidents
There might be different reasons for this growing number of accidents, but negligence of the railway ministry and weaker infra structure would be the common factor of the accidents. We have still very old kerosene oil lighting system at railway stations. The changes which are claimed are cosmetic.
It is regrettable that the railway authorities did not release the lists of deceased of Karachi Express which met an unfortunate accident last week near Naushero Feroze as yet.
It is believed that the failure of railway system is an engineered one and a preparation for its privatisation. After continuous negligence the government will have strong excuse to sell out this national asset on throw away price. – (Dec 20)

A cruel joke with unemployed youth
Koshish
A cruel joke is played with unemployed youth of Sindh. PML-Q and its allies at the end of their tenure issued thousands of offers letters of primary teachers. Most of these letters were given through the PML-Q candidates to win the elections. When these youths reported at concerned officers for joining, they were refused on one or the other pretext. Now it is learnt that secretary education has verbally instructed the EDOs education not to give them joining as these orders were issued without fulfilling the requirements.

PML government had earlier also played such cruel joke. A number of youths was issued teachers appointment letter, but later, due to dispute raised over quota among the ruling partners these appointments were cancelled. So the PML-Q tenure ended but youth of Sindh did not get the job.
Sindh has a higher ratio of unemployment as compared with the other provinces. The main reason behind it is that Sindh did not have representative government since a long time. The other reason is that there was inflow and pressure of people of other provinces, who try to find job and livelihood resources in Sindh.
Karachi having a large number of jobs in private sector, but here hardly 20 per cent people from Sindh are employed. It is accepted rule that people of the area have got first right over the resources. But in Sindh we have quite different situation. People of Sindh are not getting their due share in the federal jobs also.
It is irony that thousands of youths were cheated by issuing fake orders. We would demand a thorough probe in to the issue and expose those people involved in the scandal. – (Dec 20)

Selected and translated by by Sohail Sangi