Government Jobs To Be Given According to Party Quota System?

Bilal Zuberi

Karachiites will certainly remember fiery speeches from Altaf Hussain and other MQM leaders of the 1980’s and 1990’s where he argued and pleaded against the rural-urban quota system which had been imposed in the Sindh province since 1973. MQM, at that point, had argued strongly that such a quota system was not only undemocratic, but also prejudiced, and sought to alienate the educated urban middle class, and create a permanent rift between the Sindhis and the Mohajirs.

The argument, as I remember clearly from public rallies and TV appearances of Altaf Hussain, was that Pakistan needed to move towards a merit-based system, and far away from a quota system. This would be just and equitable, and would also ensure that the best qualified people were taking up government jobs.

With that manifesto in mind, the news today in Daily Times that Sindh gov’t has decided to do away with a Rural-Urban quota system, in favor of a political party based quota system, where MQM gets to have 50% of the appointment offers, comes as a surprise. Yes, maybe I should not be as surprised as I am given the recent history of MQM’s performance as a political party and in the government, but it still boggles my mind how they consider this to be just, equitable and better for the province? And what happened to the idea that a quota system was creating a dangerous rift between the different communities? According to the news:

For the first time since 1973, the Sindh government will appoint officers according to their party affiliations rather than on an urban-rural quota. This decision, made about two months ago, has proved extremely unpopular with ministers and other workers of the government who are planning to protest.

Thus, the quota system has been replaced with a ‘party quota’. The former policy stated that 60 percent of employees will be from rural areas and 40 percent will be from urban areas. The new policy says that 50 percent of employees will be from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), 30 percent from the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid and the remaining 20 percent from other ruling coalition parties.

A recruitment cell has been set up at Chief Minister House and the CM has put close aide Senator Abdul Ghaffar Qureshi in charge. All departments, excluding those running under the control of MQM ministers, have been asked to send their appointment letters to the cell from where the letters will be distributed among the “successful” candidates. Under the unannounced agreement, all vacancies in the jurisdiction of the City District Government Karachi would also be filled through MQM’s nominations.

While governments all over the world have political appointees in certain key posts, it is almost unheard of in modern competitive economies to have such a ridiculous quota system. Does this mean that non-members of political parties, or members of opposition parties, now have no chance of getting government jobs even if they were much better qualified for them? What does this mean for the government bureaucracy that is already plagued with nepotism, incompetence, and corruption. And to say the least, what about continuity in operation. Will we see a change of faces, and confusion, at the local post office, courts, government offices every time the provincial government changes?

Not surprisingly, civic organization and labor unions are starting to protest against such a plan, even if currently no new hires are being made by the government.

Sources said that provincial ministers of the ruling party have advised their party workers and employees to protest. A leader of the Sindh Employees United Alliance and president of the All Pakistan Clerks Association Peral Dayo told Daily Times that they planned to file a petition in the Sindh High Court and would hold protests. Unions have announced a Sindh-wide protest and some of them have said that the issue will be taken up at the All Pakistan Democratic Movement meeting in Islamabad today.

The policy seems not only as bad as, if not worse, than the earlier policy of quota system, but is also bound to create further fissures between the working class in Sindh. There is no need to provide more fuel to the divisive party politics that is already burdening the economy of Sindh.

Javed Ghamidi: The Fundamentalist Moderate?

I must admit I was not aware of Javed Ahmad Ghamidi very much before reading the article below from The Boston Globe. But what I read below about his interpretation of the literal or the fundamentalist Islam is certainly intriguing. I am definitely interested in gaining more information about him, some of his scholarly works, and the general religious philosophy/theology that he subscribes to. I also just read a large chunk of his work titled Burhan (published in 2002, caution: large 6MB file in Urdu), which is essentially a dissertation that critically analyzes, and articulates against, important issues such as monetary compensation in case of a murder, the need for witnesses in the case of a woman’s rape, adultery, militant action against state, etc.

The work he is doing is quite admirable, even if I disagree with the specifics of some of his interpretations, for at least he is prying open a tiny window for serious scholarly debate and discussion in the Muslim community of Pakistan on some of the very issues that not only divide us much, but for the past many years have also kept our development and prosperity as a nation hostage and captive.

I was first introduced to the idea that a strict and fundamentalist interpretation of Qur’an and Islam, while upholding and in fact elevating the commonly understood global human rights of people, was indeed possible by Dr. Riffat Hassan. I was introduced to her work on women’s rights, and honor killings, where she argued that Qur’anic teachings left no uncertainty about the rights of women and that all the atrocities being leveled at women in the name of Islam were not only misplaced, but also cast a serious blow to the proper understanding and interpretation of the divine text and Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) message to his followers. I was struck not just by the simplicity of her message, and the solid scholarly support she found for her views from within Islamic texts, but also at the power of conveying such a message in Muslim communities in present times.

Over the past few years the socio-religio-political crises that have plunged most of the Muslim world, and especially Pakistan, in an internal strife and that has pitched them in an armed confrontation with the West, has made it glaringly clear that the real Jihad that Muslims need to be fighting at this time is an internal one - an academic one - one where Islamic fundamentals are understood in the context of a modern world that would no longer ascribe to, or tolerate, bigotry, racism, sexism, and any other form of religion-sponsored terrorism. While some may consider such an idea for reform as alarming - as though a community of 1 billion muslims is being forced to reform and change their ideology of life and religion - I see this as a most necessary step to prevent our society from being war with itself, the non-scholarly type that we have seen play out in the form of the Red Mosque debacle and the recent suicide bombings in Pakistan.

It is an unfortunate reality that over the past few centuries a twisted, perverted, and most probably male-oriented, Islam has been perpetuated among the masses via organized orthodox movements and their pet state-functionaries. Real scholarship within Islam, including a discussion on taboo topics, a revisit to clarify and clean up previously held beliefs, and a scholarship that allowed for dissension and debate, has not only been scoffed at, but also sometimes violently suppressed. Now a few brave people like Ghamidi and Riffat Hassan, just to name the few I am now familiar with, are making a genuine effort to not just speak of reform within the practiced Islam simply for reform sake, and only as a response to Western demands or ideologies, but as a necessity towards a more complete and correct implementation of Islamic rules in our own every day lives. They deserve credit and support whenever possible. It is our chance to actually cleanse the society of the malice that has been perptuated in the name of religion for far too long.

LETTER FROM PAKISTAN

The Fundamentalist Moderate

Religious scholar Javed Ahmad Ghamidi has become a popular figure in Pakistan for his strict reading of the Koran — which, he says, dictates against gender discrimination, terrorist jihad, and other favorites of modern Islamists

By Shahan Mufti | July 22, 2007

AFTER THE SUICIDE bombing in Islamabad last week that killed 17 civilians, I picked up a slick hardbound book called “The Islamic Shari’ah of Jihad” in a local bookstore. As I read through the first few pages it became clear to me that this was no apology for Islamic holy war. The book analyzed every verse of the Koran that mentions the word “jihad” and related it to its precise social context in seventh-century Arabia in order, it said, to “remove some grave misconceptions.”

I opened to the chapter titled “Suicide Bombers.” I was disturbed by the events in the city — the joyous mood of a pro-democracy rally, with thousands swaying to anthems, snuffed away in a moment of scattered body parts — and I wondered about the Islamic basis for what I had witnessed.

The chapter was brief, barely two pages long, and it focused on one verse (5:32) of the Koran: “He who killed a human being without the latter being guilty of killing another or being guilty of spreading disorder in the land should be looked upon as if he has killed all mankind.”

There was little else left to say.

Lufthansa (and other international airlines) starting flights to/from Pakistan

German airlines, Lufthansa, a member of the Star Alliance Network, is finally coming to Pakistan with flights 3 times a week to Karachi and Lahore. I feel as though I have been waiting for this news for a while. My past few trips to Pakistan have been near disasters as far as the airlines are concerned. Some time back most top international airlines (at least those that fly through Europe) decided to stop going to Pakistan. Pakistanis traveling back home from the US were left to take Gulf-based airlines such as Emirates, Gulf Air or Etihaad. PIA, the flagship national carrier was also stopped from flying through Europe, essentially bringing its US operations to a halt.

While Emirates has provided an OK experience in the past, one cannot really say the same about Gulf Air and Etihaad. Here is my view on it. I think they treat Pakistanis as second class citizens (maybe not if you fly first class with them which I now intend to do if I have to take them to Karachi or Lahore) - and I sometimes find Pakistanis put themselves in a situation where they get treated poorly. For example, I have seen Pakistani families use such caution, care, niceties, and decorum while flying from through US and Europe, but somehow lose their politeness (and cleanliness) on the last leg of the Gulf-to-Pakistan flight.

Maybe the Lufthansa experience will be different… I hope so.

Lufthansa announces flights from Pakistan

LAHORE: Lufthansa, a German Airline, has announced to start its flights towards Karachi and Lahore from October 2007.

An official press release by the company on Saturday announced that the company would start its service from October 28, 2007 thrice a week flights from Karachi to Lahore and Frankfurt.

Vice President sales and services Southeast Europe, Africa and Middle East, Joachim Steinback has stated Lufthansa Network would strengthen the bilateral economic relation by connecting the commercial and industrial cities of Pakistan, Middle East and Germany.

Joachim Steinback, who is also heading the strategically most important regions of Lufthansa Network, said that passengers of Pakistan and Germany would have access to the extensive route network of Lufthansa connecting through the Lufthansa hub Frankfurt to other European countries as well as to the United States.

Mr Steinbach further said, passengers would benefit from the new Lufthansa flights since the non stop connection from Pakistan to Germany would reduce travel time by up to three hours as compared to current connecting flights from gulf to Europe. He said this step of Lufthansa airline would be a great advantage for the business travellers.

Lufthansa also announced appointments for Pakistan and Mr Ian Patrick would be Lufthansa Country manger for Pakistan and Afghanistan. Mr Patrick has a long and varied airlines experience as he has experience of consulting for numerous fields of marketing, revenue enhancement and route feasibility. staff report

UPDATED: Another news item

More international airlines to operate from Pakistan

By Muhammad Yasir

KARACHI: At least three more international airlines are seeking permission from Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for initiating their passenger flight service from Pakistan, Director General CAA Farooq Rehmatullah disclosed this to Daily Times.

Three airlines, namely China International Airline, Virgin Atlantic Airline and Midland Airways are negotiating with CAA for initiating passenger flight service from the country, which is being considered by CAA management.

The CAA in its currently formulated five-year business plan has decided to increase the number of international airlines operating in the country from 24 to 40 between 2008 and 2012.

It s also planned to make Karachi and Lahore regional hubs for West-bound air traffic from the Asia-Pacific region, by seeking investments in airport-related infrastructure of the two cities.

On the question that Pakistan International Airline (PIA) could suffer from this liberal airspace policy, he replied that CAA had changed its strategy, making it more competitive, compatible and professional.

He added that previously all the policies had been made to protect PIA and other national airlines but these airlines could not produce the expected results.

Three airlines are also seeking CAA’s permission for extending their flights.

The CAA has allowed the Deutsche Lufthansa AG Airline to resume its passenger service to Pakistan from October 28 this year. Germany’s Lufthansa has served its flight service for 39 year in past for Pakistan. Lufthansa will come on stream, with thrice-weekly flights from Frankfurt to Karachi and, for the first time, also to Lahore. However, it would extend its services to five flights a week after six months and one flight per day after one year.

Moreover, the CAA has allowed British Airways to extend its passenger flights from thrice weekly to six flights a week by November this year. These flights ply on Islamabad to London and other European destinations.

Singapore Airline is seeking CAA’s permission for increasing its thrice-weekly flight from five flights in a week.

Regarding establishment of airport cities, Mr Rehmatullah said that CAA has planed to urbanise surrounding areas of airports with all advance features including hotels, shopping centers, apartments, cafes and other, adding that CAA would make this public at the end of the year.

Aviation experts commenting on the issue said that the resumption and introduction of airlines would create a competitive environment among international and national airlines that would benefit the passengers and tourism industry.

“The competition will reduce the fare rates of international and local flights gradually,” they added.

They also said that the introduction of new airline companies would bring advance aviation technologies to Pakistan. Other facilities like cargo services will have to be improved as the land is cheaper in Pakistan and international airlines could use this to their advantage.

Picture(s) of the Day: Al-Hambra in Granada, Spain

Lots is happening in Pakistan. Well, not all is bad though. Yes there have been suicide bombings, and people are really quite scared of what may come if this continues, but in the middle of all this terrible news came the Supreme Court ruling that President Musharraf’s dismissal of the Chief Justice was illegal and stood no ground. The case has been thrown out and Chaudhry Iftikhar has been reinstated.

Pakistani newspapers, blogs, and even international media is touting this as a historic moment for Pakistan, and a momentous victory for the democratic forces. I agree that the decision of the Supreme Court against a sitting President and military general is probably unprecedented and remarkable indeed. The court has shown its mettle, though it must be added that it was the lawyer’s movement that probably gave the support to the independent judiciary that it so lacked earlier.

But this is also an important time for all the forces, parties, groups etc that rallied with the lawyers in this movement to think deep about what they plan to do next. Were they supportive of this extra-judicial firing of the Chief Justice only because it gave them a way to vent their anger against Musharraf’s rule? Politicians: where are your policy documents on how you would deal with the growing rise of extremism in Pakistan? Lawyers: how do you plan to convert this historic victory for the rule of law to actually make it meaningful for the masses who struggle to find even a hearing, let alone justice, in Pakistani courts every day? And the society that is now celebrating this victory: how does it plan to stop fighting against itself? As Adil Najam put it eloquently, ours is a society at war with itself. And we better find a way out of it soon or the flames of war will engulf us all so badly that we won’t even know which way is right and which way is wrong.

Anyways - this post was not about the Pakistani politics. I wanted to post some pictures from Al-Hambra that even some readers requested for. Click on th epictures should take you to the full image. Al-Hambra is absolutely beautiful and certainly worth visiting for any of you that haven’t. I am writing this from Kyoto, Japan (where I am for work) and if I get time to venture out I will take some pictures here as well. I have heard it is absolutely gorgeous here, the ancient capital of Japan.

Operation Silence and Religious Extremism in Pakistan

I only recently returned from a two week trip to Jordan, Spain and Morocco. In all three countries I saw some of the most incredible wonders that were either built by Muslim rulers in their heyday, or now belong to them. For example, I could not recommend more to everyone that they should visit the Al-Hambra Palace in Granda, Spain if they can. Built in the Nasirid times in the 12th-14th century, it is not just beautiful - it is mesmerizing. I stood in the courts and patios, admiring the wonderful architecture and the tile-work, the towers and the garrisons, the beautiful water fountains and the water channels, and the gardens of Generalife - pondering upon where the Muslims had one been in the arts, crafts and sciences, and where they had (generally) degenerated to as a global community.

I returned to Boston only to learn of the military operation that had finally been initiated (it is now complete) in the Lal Mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan. I had written earlier, a long time ago it seems now, that the idiots of the mosque had to be controlled or else it would erupt into a disastrous situion. Well, that is exactly what happened. They provoked the government, and more importantly, the society in which they lived until it just could not be tolerated any more. The government acted upon it after showing more restraint than they should have - for they could have cleared house without as much bloodshed that eventually occurred - and now more than 75 people are dead. One brother of the crazy leadership was caught trying to snek out dresse din a woman’s veil, while the other was killed in the army operation.

One can google to read tons of analysis (and some paralysis) that has been done on this matter in the aftermath of the military assault on the mosque to terminate the extremist militants holed up inside. The politicians are spinning it the way they think public may respond better and the analysts are torn if this was an act in final recourse, or an inability to negotiate properly with hostage-takers. All said and done, the entire episode presents that ugly face of religious extremism that has pervaded the Pakistani society in various ways. Yes, they are still a minority in a population of 140+ million, but they are both vocal and growing in number. Their influence increases as our moderate politicians and reform leaders fail to provide honest, dependable, and trust-worthy leadership. As I wrote to my family recently, we are in desperate need of a Sir Syed Ahmad Khan who can show and lead Muslims towards more education, science, technology, and cultural advancement, than retrogressing into the lifestyle of the muslims in past centuries.