Again, Desperate Times

We all know the story about the coming of wolf.

Now let`s try another example someone calls out dinner is served, people lift their bodies from the TV lounge to the dining hall anticipating to be fed. However, what they get is laughs and claps but no food. Do this a cuple of times and they will stop responding to the call for food. But if there is no other source of food, and the kitchen is a vault guarded by armed militia, some of them will be drawn to the teasing call likes moths to a flame. Starvation will fuel their hope like foliage fuels wild fire. Need makes you naive, naivette fuels hope. To survive you need food, to get food you need hope--in this example only.

The situation in Pakistan is similar. What option is there but to be hopeful ? What if this is the chef that will finally feed us. What if he is the wolf that will eat the rats. Or the mouse that will bell the cat. Or whatever metaphor suits your fancy to get the point that I think you have already gotten.

My assessment is that he is our man. I will go as far as saying that our nation has waited a long time for a man like him. Zia and Ayub were different as were the circumstances during their rule. Musharraf is man markedly different from Zia, Ayub and Yahya. He has the same tendency to be corrupted by power as the next human being, but he has lot more character to fight that urge. And this man I beleive is not afraid and he talks straighter and more sensibly than anyone else we have had at the helm.

Yes he has inducted old timers into his cabinet who have served every other military regime. The servants are not at fault here though, other than they are good servants, they will faithfully carry out what the masters tell them and they have the experience and expertise to get it done. When the master say do evil they will do evil, when the master says do good they will do good.

Fresher entries may has purer records but not the ability to squeeze results out of really clanky machinery.

The man at the top is what matters. There is no way his immediate sub-ordiantes can stray, but it will take him sometime to get down to bribe sucking patwari.

Happy New Year everyone.

Interesting discussion about the living standards of army officers. I generally agree with Umairr`s view`s and those of some others. The vast majority of army officers below general rank live a hand-to-mouth existence. The Pakistan Army takes excellent care of its red-tabbers, to be more precise, its gold-tabbers but Umairr is correct when he says that this is a very small minority of officers.

My information is some years old but I believe that approximately 40-50% of Army officers do not make it past major rank. In contrast to this, even the most brain-dead and incompetent civil service jackass makes it to joint secretary (Brigadier equivalent) and if he is even remotely competent, Additional Secretary (Major General equivalent). Army officers, even the least intellectually gifted ones, have to continually take promotion exams Lt-Capt, and Capt-Maj. Staff College (a year long degree course at Quetta) is an absolute must for anyone who wants to make it past Lt. Col. and the War Course (another year long degree course at Rawalpindi, oops, they`ve moved to Islamabad) is another must if you want to make it to Maj. Gen.

I have family and friends in both the Army and the Civil Service and I can tell you categorically that the civil service is an unbelievably cushy life compared to the Army: for the risks involved, the perks are far superior.

Life is much easier for army officers in the services (Ordnance, ASC--though they do have Animal Transport Regiments up in the Northern Areas and Azad Kashmir and thats no picnic--, EME). The corruption opportunities are excellent for Ordnance and ASC officers if they are posted to DGDP or DMP or in Local Purchase of supplies--but again, these are a tiny percentage of all army officers. Same goes if an officer is posted to Rangers or Coast Guards--but I knew many officers there who were honest.

In contrast to this, all Customs, Police, Income Tax, and so on, officers take a huge extra-legal payoff home each month. (I apologize to the one or two honest ones I am maligning as I actually personally knew a few honest Police officers but they had large independent incomes--jagirs.)

Life for all PAF and PN officers is far easier than that for the average Army officer. For one thing, far more of them make it to higher ranks since both of these institutions are much top-heavier than the Army. The PN is absolutely ridiculous: some times it seems that every fifth naval officer one sees is a commodore or an admiral. Base facilities are much better for PN and PAF officers as well.

Again agreeing with Umairr, if an officer could be posted to the Gulf or Libya, then his financial future was secured but this really only happened in the late 1970s and 1980s. By the time of the Gulf War, we no longer had two armoured divisions in Saudi and we no longer ran the UAE and Kuwaiti Air Forces (at least the latter`s maintenance--never met a Buddhu who could tell his arse from his elbow--apologies to Jordanians and Palestinians who are competent but then Palestinians are not Buddhus).

In response to an issue raised by Bilal Ahmed, the sons/daughters of most army officers do pretty well in all the moving around as far as making friends at school goes. I know that my cousins and brothers/sisters kept meeting the same faces over and over again as we made the rounds of every-God forsaken military cantonment in Pakistan. We were luckier than most in that we (comparatively) did not spend that much time out in the boonies. I know friends/cousins who spent more time living in their grandparents homes with their mothers than with both parents at home.

Regards.

Umaairr # 570 (Mian & Nayyar)

Okay Umair Saheb, what do you think about the following item in Dawn of 3 Jan, 2000 (excerpts):

[ISLAMABAD, Jan 2: National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has been advised to seek services of legal experts to find out whether the government should file an appeal in the Supreme Court to re-open the case against former Ehtesab chief, Saifur Rehman, and Pakistan Customs for clearing 25 under-invoiced BMW cars in 1995-98.

This advice has been given in an interim report sent by CBR to the Prosecutor General`s office of the NAB. The report has been prepared by a committee of five Customs officers. The comittee was set up in November, 1999..... The Lahore High Court, Rawalpindi Bench, had dismissed the case finding Redco-BMW Pakistan Ltd and Pakistan Customs not guilty in clearing these cars.

The interim report concludes its findings as follows: During the course of investigations of records, no tangible evidence was found against Redco-BMW.

The case-file was reopened by the CBR on instructions from the military government.]

Now, certainly I have no interest either in convincing you of the manipulative influence of propoganda and propagindists with which/whom you regretably are enamored in a simplistic manner, however the subject of corruption or otherwise of the Nawaz Sharif team is vital in understanding what is happening in Pakistan at the moment, for the benefit of other chowkwallahs. One must look into details and read between the lines instead of believing all that is presented to the visual senses.

The synopsis of the above news report is: The High Court had thrown out the case against Saif-ur-Rehman and Redco. The military junta, after the coup, assigned a committee of five officials of Central Board of Revenue to dig out some way in which the case could be reopened in the Supreme Court in an appeal. The comittee, despite the fact that Saif-ur-Rehman is in Jail alongwith his boss so obviously no political influence from their side, still reported that there was no case against them and the military govt should hire expert lawyers to try to pin something on the accused.

If I was the Federal Information Minister, I could get any newspaper in the country to print extensive investigative reports claiming that UmairR is in fact Santa Claus´ ... and people will believe that too ! Judicial enquiries and comittee findings are nevertheless quite another matter.

As for BBC, they´re an independant organisation and agreed to run the documentary prepared by the ex-chief of FIA in PPP Govt. for the sake of fairness because they ran a documentary on Zardari too. BBC does not take the responsibilty of confirming the veracity of each item it runs and the views presented are not necesarily their own. It´s upto the viewer to arrive at their own judgement taking all factors into account.

As for me, I have no personal axe on the grind. It´s true I´m one of the very few who believes in NS & Cos innocence as far as these corruption charges are concerned, but then again history has shown the most widely held opinions more likely to be absurd and the Truth has always been persecuted.

In response to Fuzair (Reply # 572)

Dear Fuzair:

In your last paragraph, you attribute something to me. Actually the point was raised by Sameer (if I recall correctly). No big deal, however,

Sincerely, Bilal Ahmad

Zeemax: ``The answer is because she is not a defaulter and neither is her husband. The news reports labelling them such were lies and dis-information.`` Nawaz Sharif`s corruption, both personal and public is very well documented by many organizations all over the world. This includes prestigious news organizations like the BBC, New York Times, Washington Post, etc. There have even been video documentaries made on his corruption. I have printed much of that information on this site in earlier post. I don`t have the time to do it again. You seem convinced that NS is not corrupt. You are in a very very very small minority, that includes only his close associates, and people who have something to gain from him being in power. I have no interest in changing your mind. If you don`t think he is corrupt, well that is fine by me. I have seen too much documentation to know that he is corrupt.

Reply #: 568 Umairr :

Your argument is theoretically correct however your information is certainly lacking. It may come as a surprise to you that NS is not on the board of directors of a single company in the group. He had resigned all positions when he had entered politics. So the question does not arise of his being a defaulter through any group companies. Secondly, just one company in the whole group (Ramzan Sugar Mills)was on the list because of a dispute with the banks. Sahahbaz Saharif´s son is the MD of that company. The company paid the full outstanding amount of Rs. 270 million before expiry of the dead-line and is no longer on any list. No other Saharif family enterprise was ever a defaulter nor was on the defaulter list.

Thre Ittefaq Foundaries and Steel Mills business was transferred to the other side of the family in their division of assets some years ago and the Sharif brothers have no financial interest any longer in the Ittefaq Group. Some companies of that group are on the list.

Besides, the exit control list contains the immediate family members of defaulters regardless of whether they are directors or shareholders. A case in point is Asma Jehangir who is on the ECL because her husband is a defaulter.

So how come the wife of the biggest defaulter in the country is not on the ECL ? The answer is because she is not a defaulter and neither is her husband. The news reports labelling them such were lies and dis-information.

Zeemax: The fact that Nawaz Sharif is the biggest loan defaulter in the country is now well-documented. All this information is available with the banks, and is quite easy to access. Infact he is now a defaulter in England as well, and from what I have heard the English legal system may take over his luxury flats.

The classic default strategy is to default through companies one owns, which are separate entities than the individual, and not to default as an individual. This way the defaulter can stash away the bank loans, and declare bankruptcy on the companies. If the default is proven, the companies` assets are sold off, the defaulters private visible assets (like his luxury flats, cars etc.) maybe sold off. The defaulter may go to jail for a few years, if he/she is not in political office. However the cash which was obtained through politically influenced bank loans remains stashed away hidden somewhere.

When one says that NS is a defaulter that actually means that his companies, in which he is a major shareholder are at default. He himself personally probably does not owe anything to the banks. He is personally liable because he did not pay any taxes (a separate issue), and because he obviously used political influence to get the loans for his companies. If Kulsoom is also a major shareholder in the ownership of the companies then her name should be on the ECL as well (if it can be proven that she used political influence, as well, to get the bank loans). If she is just a minor owner (owns some shares), then she is off the hook. Obviously every shareholder of a defaulted company cannot be held responsible. There could be thousands of shareholders of public companies, and tens, if not hundreds, of investors in private companies.

Kulsoom however may end up on the ECL for other reasons like tax evasion, etc.

Dear Umaair,

Your sympathy was not soloicited towards Kalsum Nawaz in my post # 558. However a specific question was posed i.e., if the Sharif family is a the largest defaulter in the country, indeed a defaulter at all, how come Kalsum Nawaz is not on the exit control list ? Is it because of some beurocratic error ? Or is it because all the news reports to that effect were simply lies and dis-information ?

Rgds

To: A1, Ali1, Alireza, Amit, Anil, Anil Sharma, Arun Gupta, Assad_K, Bilal Ahmad, Bd, Bulbul, Chief Justice, Chowk Staff, Dragon Slayer, Dua’go, DullaBhatti, Fh, Fuzair, Gautama Sidharata Buddha, Gnostics, Godot, Gymnosophist, Hamidm, Iahmad, J.Alam, Jay, JR, Kafir k. Khan, Krashid, Majestickhans, Moez Mohsin, MQ_Rahat, Pardesi, Patrick Masih, Pu Li, Qanungo One, Rachna, Raja Amir Janjua, RAS Siddiqi, RoohiAD, Sadna, Sahib, Senior Justice, Shahzad C, Sohny Dharty, Syedha, TAhmad321, Tariqlodi, The Happy One, The Ravian One, Temporal, Tvarad, Umairr, XXYZ, Zeemax, ZZ and all Ckowkwallas.

Wishing you and your families a happy New Millenium, a happy New Century and a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. I wish the same to all the people of sub-continent.

SameerJB: Seasons Greetings to you as well. I have enjoyed discussing these issues with you. Having spent half my life in the military and the other half in the civilian private sector has been quite an education. I think both sides need to be better informed about the other. A lot of people in the military think all civilians are ill-disciplined opportunists, who don`t give a hoot about Pakistan. This may be true for most of the politicians, but I have found it to be untrue about the average civilian. Similarly, a lot of people in the civilian arena consider the miiltary personnel to be resource-grabbing war mongers, who retire filthy rich. This maybe true for a very small minority of the officers, but not for most of the officers.

I think the Pakistan military image has been hurt badly by a few over-ambitious generals, like Zia. At the some time the civilian image has been hurt by politicians like BB, NS, and the corrupt beaurecracy. These people constitute a very small portion of the military and civilian sector. To understand the actual military and civilian world requires looking at the average, and not the extreme.

Zeemax: Regarding Kulsoom Nawaz. Perhaps she has become an innocent victim of her husband`s wrong doings. Perhaps not. All I can say is that I paid more taxes than Nawaz, Shahbaz, and Kulsoom combined even when I was a 23 leiutenant making Rs. 5000/month. They have had a ball off my money (and your money, and the money of the poor people of Pakistan). Isn`t it strange how the rulers of the poorest nations have the grandest lifestyles. So it is very difficult for me to sympathesize with any of these people. However, justice should be provided to all, including the extremely corrupt. So I hope she can get her passport, and is allowed to go for an Umra. I also hope, in due time, her family is prosecuted for all the crimes they have committed.

Dear Umairr: It was very kind of you to explain the questions about children of armed forces personnel and a look into the life of retired colonels and lower ranking officers, in great detail in your posts # 559 and 562. I understand now why you have such a large number of very intellegent posts in great details about the armed forces; it is in your blood. Naturally three generations of sevice in the armed forces not only makes you well-informed but passionately involved in related issues. Once again thanks a lot for providing very relevant and precise information and honest opinions.

Season`s Greetings!

Regards,

Sameer

STILL HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS

Reply#540 tariqcodi

Dear Lodi Ji, Why should general Rani wail, she is still happy and prosperous. After all those years, her family still happens to be one of the leading suppliers (pimps) for the generals, with her daughter working in the foreground, general Rani enjoys her live in a posh house at Rawalpindi Cantt. LONG LIVE PAKISTAN ARMY, THE ONLY VIABLE INSTITUTION. LOL. Bye Bye Lodi Ji.

Roohi

SameerJB: Interesting topic you have mentioned here, regarding the military kids. My father, grandfather, and great grandfather were all life-long military people. I am the only one who quit half way through.

As far as the PAF and PN children are concerned, I think their life is quite good; quite a bit better than their civilian counterparts, if you don`t count the lack of finances. In the PAF, the children live in bases (colonies), which are very safe, and have an extremely good atmosphere for kids. Even in the middle of the worst riots in Karachi, the people in the PAF and PN bases could leave their doors unlocked and walk out in the middle of the nights, inside their bases. The PAF children do move around a lot from one city to another, but only within a limited no. of bases. So they keep running into the same people at each base. In case of the PN everything is in Karachi, or Islamabad, so the Navy kids do not move around at all. On the whole, I think the military life for the kids in the PAF and PN is extremely good. The atmosphere inside the bases is very clean; everyone is educated, no ethnic rivalries, no financial competition, quite liberal, a lot of respect for women, absolutely no crime, security guards at the base entrance, officers` club facilities, everyone is friendly with everyone, people look after each other, pretty good facilities for kids, i.e schools, swimming pool, sports grounds etc. etc.

Life for the Army kids I think, is a different story. The army is so big, that army kids have to move around all over Pakistan, to even the remotest of the areas. So they rarely run into each other. They are more than likely do face some of the issues you have mentioned.

You are correct in stating that retired officers are not in very good financial shape now, if they do not have an external source of income; specially the ones who do not end up with a plot. Usually the cut-off rank is Colonel/Wing Commander. Very few make it past this rank. I met one of my C.O.s (retired Colonel) at a base, a few years after he had retired. I late found out that the guy had come to the base just so he could make a phone call, because he could not afford a phone after retirement. One of his wealthy retired military friends has set him up with a tire shop, and that is how he made his living. It was quite sad.

After retirement life was something my friends and I never discussed, because it was a scary topic. Luckily, I was able to start up a second career, because I left at a very young age. An odd two or three of my friends will make it to the general rank, so they will be fine. Another two or three will get a chance to spend a few years on assignments in Saudia Arabia and Dubai, and make a lot of money there; they will do alright, as well. I am not quite sure what the rest will do after retirement, if they do not have any external source of income.

Umairr /Bahmad # 559, 560

Umairr, you are right about Islamabad`s plots not given to military personnel. Most of the plots were bought by higher ranking military officers from civilians during Zia`s era. Many civilians employees sold the plots for 1-2 lakh rupees each thinking it a great return on their 20K rupees investment.

I would like to mention couple of other points briefly. 1) It is very hard on the children of lower ranking army officers( probably also true for PAF officers) to keep moving every 2-3 years from place to place. The children are unable to develop long term friendships in schools and neighborhoods which is essential part of learning and growing up. It is not easy for an 8-10 year old kid to understand a move from Lahore, Karachi or Rawalpindi to Kohat or Pano Aqil or Okara. In my experience, I have seen these children mostly develop friendships with their relatives whom they see more regularly than their classmates of previous posting and many become introverts and less cheerful. Am I right?

2) This deals with short working life of those officers who fail to move beyond majors rank. I believe most of the majors do not make it to lieutenant colonel. The average working life of 18 years forces them to retirement in their mid forties. For many of them it is very difficlt to start all over again doing something different. Yet they need to work because their children are still young and can not support their parents. I have seen few retired majors going to work riding their bicycles.

Bilal, I have read most of the Noam Chomsky`s book including the one you mentioned. He is amazing. Another good author on the same line is Howard Zinn whose writings are much simpler. I believe morally no war can be justifed in modern times because of the heavy toll it incurs on the warring parties in human as well as material terms, especially for the poor countries.

Dear Umair and Dear Sameer:

I am grateful to both of you for your informative replies (Reply # 555, 556, 559). These replies have forced me to rethink about some aspects of Pakistani society. Please keep informing.

Sincerely, Bilal Ahmad

P.S. I know a very high-ranking retired PAF officer. He seems to suggest (as told by his son) that his family needs no less than Rs. 50,000 per month to maintain a barely reasonable standard of living. I have reasons to believe that this retired officer is an honest person, though the figure of 50,000 seems a bit too high.

This for the attention of Umairr :

Dear Umair,

Consider the following; and I would appreciate your specific comments:

1)Begum Kalsum Nawaz wanted to go for Umra last wek and asked for permission from the ministry of interior. The ministry said she was free to go anywhere because she wasn´t on the exit control list. That was a surprise because the press had been saying the Sharif family was the biggest defaulter in the country (you have been cutting / pasting a lot of those news reports as well). How could she not be on the exit control list when all defaulters of over 10 million Ruppees along with their families are on it?

2)She applied for a passport from the passport office after above clarification to proceed for Umra . The passport office said she had to surrender her previous (official) passport first. Mrs. Sharif told them that the Govt already had her previous passport because it was left in the PM house occupied now by musharraf. The passport office insisted nothing doing ... come up with the previous passport and we´ll give you a new one ! Begum Sharif asked `` But how ??``. There the matter rests as of now.

Doesn´t that seem awfully like ``1984`` ? That book which introduced the concept of ``Doublespeak`` ?

SameerJB: You have presented an accurate view of the financial situation of the military officers. There is a sharp difference between the living standards of those who joined in the 50s, 60s and 70s (like Musharraf), and those who joined in the 80s and 90s. No doubt the people who are generals now, lived the good life throughout their careers, and are quite well off now. They were paid well, promoted quickly, went overseas, got a lot of plots etc.

Even now, the military looks after its generals quite well, in and out of the military. This is the side of the military that I disliked the most. The current Air Marshalls, Generals, Admirals were well off in their junior military days, are looked after well when they are generals, and usually end up even better-off when they retire. They use up a disproportionately high percentage of the welfare resources of the military officers. The maintenance budget of a single general`s military house on a base is comparable to the maintenance budget of all the bachelor`s quarters combined. So while the very senior officers live in mansions, the rest of the officers are lucky if they can get anything closely resembling a house. The military accomodation of the Pakistani generals is better than the military accomodation of US generals. However, only a very small percentage of people become generals. The total strength of the PAF is around 40000 +- 5000. There are only around 22 generals.

Right now a non-independently wealthy retired non-general has one thing that can save him, i.e. lucky enough to get a plot in some sort of a Defence society. These opportunities although getting more and more scarce, are still avialable. Usually by the time, one reaches the rank of a colonel, an officer is able to get a plot, even now, through monthly investments. Since the military housing societies have a good reputation, the price of these plots go way up when they are developed, as you mentioned. If the retired officers did not have this, they would end up as paupers. However, I do not think military officers are given plots in Islamabad city, anymore. They are only eligible for plots in military housing societies, which are usually on the outskirts of major cities.

Zeemax, your remark about procurement seems quite accurate. Even though I do not have any proof, I do think that certian sections of the military, below the rank of generals, do have an opportunity to be corrupt. These include supply, ordinance, ranger units on the border, pilots and sailors that are in units that go overseas to bring in military hardware (C-130 crews etc) etc. However, these do not constitute a majority of the military. They are perhaps 5% of the total force. On the whole, the average officer (not counting the officers in the areas directly related to buying and selling, like procurement) doesn`t really have the opportunity to be corrupt, until he reaches the general ranks.

Reply #: 555 Umairr

[corruption opportunities in the military, do not really start until one reaches the general ranks]

I beg to differ. Corruption opportunities exist at all levels in the military procurement wing. I personally know of instances where majors routinely ask for invoices of much more than the worth of the merchandise ..

Bahmad # 553 and 554

Dear Bilal Ahmad:

I agree with your comments regarding Dr. Mubashir Hasan`s article and devolution. I very much agree when you say

``Dr. Mubashir Hasan is serious about the issue of devolution. I am not sure if he fully understands the implications of this project. He is both experienced and knowledgeable.``

It is not surprising that most Pakistani politicians and ruling elites become much honest and saner once they have no vested interests left, after retirement. Dr. Mubashir Hasan was once very serious about ill-concieved nationalisation whose consequences we are still bearing.

I see that Umairr has just respond to your inquiry about the salaries of lower ranking officers in detail. At present, a major makes about 10K rupees per month and a colonel`s salary must be less than 20K. A major`s salary is about the salary of section officer in the government. The people with marriage-age daughters these days prefer section officer son-in-law over a major. One of the reason being the every two year transfer in the case of a major. They spent years moving from place to place, from Kohat to Pano Aqil to Multan, to Lahore and once to hard areas like Gilgit, Siachin etc. On the other side a section officer is residing in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore etc. for most of his career. The chances of a section officer`s promotion to deputy secretary are about the same as a major`s to lieutenant colonel. A best comparison in my opinion is between a civilian and a military MBBS degree holder doctors. In most cases a civilian doctor is financially much more successful than a military doctor of the rank of a major and moving station to station like other majors.

The financial assets of a retired military as well as civilian officer vary from person to person. Let`s exclude the inherited assets for discussion here. The city of Islamabad has several thousand houses worth, on the average, a crore rupees each. Most of these houses belong to former civilian officers, small businessmen, retired military officers, expatriates and professionals. The price really reflects the expensive real estate than the buildings themselves( notice feudals are generally absent in this list. They usually have much bigger and beautiful houses in their hometown where real estate is much cheaper. Thus a big and beautiful house in Badin or Lala Musa may not be worth as much as Islamabad Houses which can be rightly compared with Karachi and Lahore DHA schemes. I am not sure which class is most represented, at present, in those DHA scemes). Most of the real estate in Islamabad was distributed through employees societies at dirt-cheap prices in the seventies. Those who made the wise decision to invest 10-20K rupees then, are ``crore patis`` at least in solid assets, including PM`s late father. The prices of real estate in Islamabad sky rocketed during Karachi`s termoil during BB government, because many rich Karachiites decided to move to the safety of Islamabad(just like money from Russia has sky rocketed the property values in Tel Aviv). Same is true about retired military officers who invested in the military housing schemes 20 years ago in most major cities. I am not sure how much down payment is necessary to own three franchises in the US. It must vary greatly from place to place. Assuming 150K per franchise; 450K for 3 franchises which is equal to a crore rupees is equal to a house in Karachi, Lahore or Islamabad. BTW, Pervez Musharaf`s reported 16 crore worth real estate will buy several franchises.

I am not trying to defend the person you mentioned or suggesting the absense of corruption but making a point that despite all the crisis in Pakistan, a 1-2% or maybe 3% are doing well and possibly could bring enough cash to US to become a small businessman.

Here is another interesting information about Afghan refugees in Islamabad. They prefer to buy property in a sector called G-8 which is now mostly owned by Afghan refugees. One can not believe that they are refugees from a country which is in constant termoil and one of the poorest country of the world. Their women go shopping to most expensive markets in Islamabad and spend extensively on jewelleries and other luxuries items. These people are generally more religious than average Islamabadi and passionately support Islamic causes back in Afghanistan.

There are few who are rich for a variety of reasons while most other retirees are barely surviving. There is a lot of hopelessness feeling among the current military as well as civilian officers when they talk about their future and post-retirement life because their salaries and savings are not compatable with the inflationary prices of buying solid assets.

Regards,

Sameer

bahmad: I do not think it is possible for a recently retired colonel to buy a fast food restaraunt anywhere (much less America), from the money he made in the army. The few ways he could do so was if he joined the army around the late 60s early 70s, and had a chance to spend a few years in places like Saudia Arabia, Dubai etc. The other way for him to do so would be if he were independently wealthy, or had a successful side business while he was in the army, or had an opportunity to be corrupt (corruption opportunities in the military, do not really start until one reaches the general ranks). If you have found one in America who has fast food restaraunts, then he must fall into one of the above categories. However on the whole, retired colonels nowadays, with no other source of income accept their military salary and pension, have a low standard of living.

When I explained the living standards of the military personnel, I was talking about the salary and benefits offered by the military, without taking into account the extra income the person may be making from other sources. There are hundreds, perhaps thousands of retired colonels. A few of them are obviously quite rich, but most are not; at least not the ones who have retired recently. The salary I made as a Captain was around 6,000 thousand ruppees/month. Counting all the benifits (marriage allowance etc.), it was around 8,000. I received free medical for myself and my family. I was supposed to always have a two bedroom apartment at discounted rent, but only got it on one assignment (that is about the only major benefits/perks I can think of). Three times a year I received one domestic ticket on PIA for half price. Apart from that, I paid for everything including electricity, food etc. at normal group rates (which are slightly discounted from single rates). Certain speciality groups like pilots, SSG get additional allowances (around 10% to 40% of their base pay = Rs 1000 to Rs 3000 extra), because their jobs are quite dangerous, even in peacetime. Most of my friends, with equivalent qualifications, and less experience in the private sector were making around Rs 20,000 to 25,000 with better benefits. My friends who were pilots in PIA were making around Rs. 55,000, with much much better benefits. You can probably add between 5 to 12,000 to a Captain`s salary and benefits for a colonel. The colonels usually had a lower standard of living than the Captains, because of school going kids etc.

If you want to find out the living standard of the military, please go and check how they live. The odd wealthy retired colonel you have mentioned, was either independently wealthy, corrupt, or was able to have a succesful side business going while in the army, or fell into the very small category of officers who even nowadays were lucky enough to go on deputation to the middle-east oil rich militaries (where they can make over 1 lakh ruppees a month).

In response to Sameer (Reply #: 551)

Dear Sameer:

Thank you for your critique of Dr. Mubashir Hasan`s piece.

I am not sure if I could make a good comparison between General Musharraf and other previous regimes. I, however, do see some commonality between the present and the last regimes. Both appear intensely sympathetic to the agenda and policies of the IMF, the World Bank, and similar organizations. It seems that Musharraf has been assured by the economic technocrats that this is the only possible course to get out of the current economic crisis. I wonder if this is the only short-term solution.

Technocrats at the World Bank support the notions of good governance and devolution. No World Bank study, to the best of my knowledge, has dealt with the issue of devolution in the context of Pakistan. This issue, however, is not as simple as our present ruling elite seem to believe.

Omar Asghar Khan, son of retired Air Marshall Asghar Khan, is responsible for a plan of devolution. He holds several portfolios. This very fact raises doubts about the seriousness of the present regime on this important and potentially conflict-prone issue. Sardar Mengal has already shown his opposition to the District idea. Just after his opposition, it was announced that devolution would entail both regional (provincial) and local (district) levels (perhaps this was the original intent).

Dr. Mubashir Hasan is serious about the issue of devolution. I am not sure if he fully understands the implications of this project. He is both experienced and knowledgeable.

I have previously stressed the need for the formation of an independent Commission for devolution in Pakistan. This Commission should support a critical discourse on devolution. Internet and other avenues may be used: (1) to inform the public about the objectives and plans of devolution; (2) to encourage open debate; and (3) to revise the plans in light of the public input. The final draft of the devolution plan should pass through a political process and implemented in stages.

There is nothing wrong with a three-tiered devolution plan, though such a plan should be based on the past and present history and realities. One major question in this respect would be: Should there be four or more autonomous provinces. Any plan that would seek to disturb the present provincial set up would generate a lot of conflict. One option would be to maintain the four existing provinces, but subdivide each of them into several planning and development regions, each consisting of several districts, under the umbrella of the existing provinces.

In view of the geography of Pakistan, your comment on the location of proposed high courts seems valid. Rather than having a high court in each district, we may have one or more high courts in each planning and development unit based upon a trade-off between the notions of efficiency (threshold) and effectiveness (geographical distance).

Your have also raised the question of dominance, i.e. the local and regional bourgeoisie (like the Sardars in Baluchistan) would dominate the devolved political units. This is a good point. It seems inevitable. But, after the implementation of the devolution plan: (1) the local/regional elite will not be able to blame the center for every problem; and (2) they will be obliged to legitimize themselves. I, however, do not share Dr. Mubashir Hasan`s optimism that devolution would ``ensure the election of honest, God-fearing and competent people who really want to serve the people.`` Honesty, fear of God, and competence cannot be ensured even at the neighborhood level. In the short run, the net result would be uneven.

Sincerely, Bilal Ahmad

In response to Umairr (Reply # 552)

Dear Umair:

Could you given me some idea of the honest monthly earnings of officers less than post of Bridadiers. Can a retired Pakistani Colonel purchase three fast food franchises in the US (when he claims to have made a very good standard of living in Pakistan and has just come to the US)? I suspect, there are many more ex-army people like him in the US. It is just a matter of finding out.

Sincerly, Bilal Ahmad

Zeemax: ``Yes I know several disgruntled officers between the ranks of captain and colonel. In fact the most disgruntled of all are the majors. Brigadier above are the happiest.`` I agree. Major and Colonels are probably in the worst economic situation. Captains and below are either bachelors or newlyweds, with small families, and are generally quite motivated. Brigadiers nowadays, although not wealthy, are at least looked after well by the military, in terms of the perks you mentioned. Major and Colonels have family expenses like the Brigadiers, however have few perks, unless they are in a C.O position. Also, when Brigadiers and above retire, they can get a position in semi-govt. agencies, like Fauji Foundation or Shaheen Foundation, or in the civilian beaurecracy. If Captains and below retire, they are young enough to start new careers. They also do not have too many familiy expenses. However, Majors and Colonels fall into neither of the above categories. If they retire, they are on their own, and most of them don`t have too many marketable skills. Usually, they get employed by one of their retired coursemates or retired military friends who are independently wealthy, or have done well after retirement (a small category).

BAHMAD # 953

Dear Bilal Ahmad:

Here are few of my comments regarding Dr. Mubashar Hasan`s article.

(DEVOLUATION features prominently in the seven-point agenda of the chief executive.)

Tha agendas, platforms and manifestoes of the previous governments were no less impressive. What makes PM diffrent? Absolutely nothing, he has already provided sufficient evidence for a haphazard form of governance.

(Now the question is whether the leadership is in a position to enforce its will on the mighty forces which want to maintain the status quo.)

The present set-up does not have the skills to run the country on their own and already relying much more heavily on the federal bureaucracy (ruling elites). There is no chance in the near future for the set-up to go against the people they are in bed with.

(This can be ensured by granting them complete political, administrative and financial autonomy in respect of the subjects which fall within their jurisdictions.)

The local or district councils will be completely dominated by the feudals in the rural districts of Punjab and Sindh, by mullahs in the rural districts of Pashtun speaking areas and Balochi sardars in Balochistan.

(Electoral reforms should be introduced to minimize the role of money during election campaigns. This will ensure the election of honest, God-fearing and competent people who really want to serve the people.)

The NA members of the suspended National Assembly belonging to MQM, PML memebers from large urban centers of Punjab did nnot win by overspending. In the rural districts in the contests between opposing feudals probably spend equal amounts. Pakkistan does not have shortage of God-fearing people who will be even more incompetent than the current NA members. Place like Muridke and Raiwind are full of God-fearing people.

(A High Court bench should be established also at the district level. The number of judges in the higher judiciary will have to be increased accordingly.)

Extremely small number of cases actually reach to the High Court level. This step can wait until other more important issues have been settled.

(Circumstances have provided a golden opportunity to the government. It should make much of this in order to ameliorate the lot of the masses who have suffered a lot at the hands of successive governments. It is a `now or never` situation for Pakistan.)

A small number of people have created the golden opportunity for themselves to be in-charge of the government. The suffering of the masses is a continous phenomenon of the last 52 years and has played no role in the decision to overthrow the NS government. The last statement is a total nonscense. There will be better opportunities for devolution in a revived economy as well as revived democracy. No previous democratic government is on-the-record for opposing devolution to district level.

Most of the other items have already been presented by you and others on this forum. In my opinion, Pervez Musharaf should have only one-point agenda, either revival of the economy or return to democracy as soon as possible.

Regards,

Sameer

Umairr # 549

Point taken Umair. Yes I know several disgruntled officers between the ranks of captain and colonel. In fact the most disgruntled of all are the majors. Brigadier above are the happiest.

I think it has something to do with the military evaluation system. They intentioally keep the lower cadres at subsistance level for reason of motivation to make it to Brigadier above.

I have seen too many psycho cases who were sauperceded majors. Supercession is the most painful aspect of a military career and indeed destroys the victim mentally.

Thanks for your detailed reply.

Rgds.

Zeemax:

Whether the Pak military has done an exceptional job of Pakistan, or a terrible job is a debatable topic. One could argue either way, and come up with a pretty good argument.

However, I have noticed that many civilians seem to have some very incorrect perceptions about the living standards and perks offered to military officers. Perhaps from the outside it seems as if the military personnel have a good standard of living. However the actual situation is completely different. Had the perks been so good, I would have still been in the military. Military officers have perhaps the lowest living standard of all professionals in Pakistan. I have seen both sides, and believe me I know what I am talking about.

You need to keep a couple of things in mind. The military was a very prosperous profession in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. During those days, military officers had some of the highest living standards in Pakistan. Every PAF pilot had a chance to spend 4 to 5 years in Dubai, Saudia Arabia etc., where they were paid a fortune. I believe the army had a couple of brigades in the Middle East. The officers who built their careers during those times are now generals (like Musharraf), and no doubt they did quite well for themselves. Most, if not all of them, were able to make enough money legally, to send their children abroad. I know in the 50s the average PAF pilot made more money than a US Air Force pilot.

The situation from 80s onwards has been very very different. Group Captains in the PAF are now willing to take entry level jobs in PIA. I know so many retired colonels who are living hand to mouth. The perks you talk about, in the military, are only available to the rank of Brigadier and above. Every now and then one gets the free house/apartment, as advertised. I spent over half my career in one room shelter accomodation. Many of my friends still travel in buses with their families. My friends in the civilian and private sector, with equal abilities, and doing the same job, are in much better position than my friends in the military. My own standard of living more than doubled since I left the military (even while I was still in Pakistan).

The lifestyle you have described was enjoyed by people who are now at the rank of generals, basically throughout their careers. It does not exist anymore. The foreign postings are almost non-existent. The people reaching the ranks of Brigadier now, can barely afford a middle class living (unless they are independently wealthy).

Another problem is that, in my opinion, the Pakistan military is a very top-heavy organization. Way too many generals. These generals hog up all the welfare resources that should be spent on the junior officers. They insist that they should be allowed to match the lifestyles of their civilian counterparts. In the process, the colonels and below are left with nothing. This is one of the reasons I left the military. I spent all my time criticizing this problem.

The military is not the profession of choice for the Pakistani above average youth anymore. It used to be from the 50s to the 70s. Not anymore, due to the very low living standards.

Zeemax # 547

I agree with you about having a direct link from the home page to all the articles related to current Pakistani situation. However, you may find it convenient to bookmark, ``Again, Desparate Times`` article. This one provides link to replies as well as to, ``He had no Choice``.

Regards,

Sameer

Why doesn´t Umair Khan of Chowk make a seperate forum for opinions which appear in `` He had no choice ``, ``Again, Desperate Times``, ``In search of Benovalent Dictators``, ``Hegemony of the ruling elite`` ? I´m getting sick of this hide and seek game !

Umairr # 538

Re army pay :

I never stated that the army is over-paid. What I did say was that how is it a favour to the nation for their voluntarily/condescendingly not drawing ``travelling allowance / daily allowance`` as they did during their stint in Wapda, after seizing power uninvited ? I also said that since they can´t even do their job right for which they´re paid i.e. country´s defense, why should they be paid extra for doing what they aren´t supposed to do in the first instance ?

In any event, you may agree that a mere figure of the take-home-pay does not define the actual standard of living. It´s the benefits and perks which count. You being an employer yourself will doubtless know the basic salary in the pay slip is kept at a bare minimum intentionally to lower the tax burden, while the employee is compensated through benefits/perks & cash reimbursements. Military is no exception. General (Retd.) Musharraf has revealed that he has paid his income tax but he didn´t say how much ! I would like you to venture a guess; Even at the highest echelons of military this tax would probably be less than my monthly phone bill.

Now about miltary´s perks - something a mere mortal lowly creature like a civilian can only dream about ! Free housing, free transportation on duty for all and off-duty for senior officers, the best medical care available free, automatic admission of children to the very best cadet schools and colleges at heavily subsidised cost, grocery shopping through subsidised CSD stores, choicest residential real estate in prestigious locations in cities at laughable prices - making many military men millionaires overnight, post-retirement pensions and benefits, choice jobs in army run commercial enterprises and beurocracy after retirement. What else could anyone want ? The PIA pilots and merchant marine men of your example get none of the above perks.

By above I however do not wish to imply that these perks are unfair. The armymen, after all, are expected to lay down their lives for the country without a second thought. No monetary benefits could compensate for that expectation. It is quite another story whether that expectation is met or indeed has ever been met.

This is just to place matters on record.

Rgds

My Reply #: 543

My post was addressed to Umair (UR). The last phrase should have been ``a sense of national disunity.`` Perhaps it was due to my sloppiness. I apologize.

Sincerely, Bilal Ahmad

Bahmad: You stated, ``Your statement: ``In Pakistan they [most army personnel] get very little pay for there work, in comparison to their civilian counterparts.`` This seems to be a quote from one of my replies, although you did not mention my name. So I will take the liberty of explaining my position.

What I stated is a fact, and is extremely well documented. All, not most, military personnel in Pakistan, do get very little pay in comparison to their civilian counterparts. This is actually true at all ranks, not at just the junior ranks. Whether one agrees or disagrees with their payscale is a separate issue, however it does not change the reality of the fact.

You stated, ``. I have made a distinction between army personnel and institution, which you and a few other supporters of Pakistan army don`t seem to appreciate.`` In the end, it is a combination of the personalities of the personnel that forms an institution. So the two are tightly inter-twined. You seemed to have assumed that I am a supporter of the army. Perhaps you have reached this conclusion, because I am not ready to criticize the military for every issue under the sun, and for all the problems in Pakistan.

For the record, I am definitely not a supporter of the military. However I am not an opposer, either. I am just trying to describe the situation as objectively as I can. There are areas where the military needs to be criticized, and other areas where it is doing fine. My comments were in reply to a comment from Zeemax indicating that the military employees are overpaid, ``The soldiers will do us a favour for not getting paid twice, and that too for not doing even a single job.`` My experiences have indicated to me that this statement is very false.

You have a right to your views about the military. I have no interest in changing your views. However, I am not quite sure how well you understand the military. I would appreciate it if you do not jump to a conclusion on my being a supporter or opposer of the military, just because I am not criticizing the military with the same intensity that you are. Regarding your list: I definitely agree with 1. Partially agree with 2,5, and 6. Disagree with 3, and 4. I don`t think I will be able to change your mind regarding 3 or 4, so I will not attempt any explanations.

Your statement: ``In Pakistan they [most army personnel] get very little pay for there work, in comparison to their civilian counterparts.``

Comment: A major source of Pakistan`s plight are not really the common soldiers and lower-level officers. I have made a distinction between army personnel and institution, which you and a few other supporters of Pakistan army don`t seem to appreciate. As an institution, Pakistan army has: (1) meddled in national politics; (2) forced the nation to bear the exorbitant cost of adopting a policy which undermines the need for peaceful resolution of conflicts; (3) created a need to spend a large chunk of our meager national wealth for the purchase of arms and ammunition from foreign countries (even in very hard times); (4) created and perpetuated a sense of inequality and deprivation among the people of Pakistan, especially in Sindh, Baluchistan and erstwhile East Pakistan; (5) encouraged the export of mercenaries to other countries (particularly to safeguard American interests in the Middle East); and (6) occasionally imposed violence upon the citizens of Pakistan which reinforced a sense of national.

Sincerely, Bilal Ahmad

DEEP DENIAL

Somebody used the phrase ``deep denial`` recently

on chowk. I think we are all in deep denial when it comes to the Civil and Military bureaucracy in Pakistan. The fact of the matter is that the military and civil bureaucracies appropriate the bulk of the country`s wealth. Pakistan has been effectively turned into an animal that is a cross between a garrison state and a colonial enclave with the natives continuing to grow bananas. People like Professor Rashid living in the Cantt have also benefited from the system. The Cantt represents the most expensive real estate in the country. To expect him to raise questions about defence spending is expecting something he is not designed for. He has other good reasons. They will lift him up in the middle of the night and move him to an unknown destination. So like an old Soviet style academician cum functionary one does not expect him to call a spade a spade. He will sing praises of any economic policies pronounced by Mutturro or crafted by his ``advisors`` who like to believe that they have set up a Rand Corporation for Pakistan.

Reverting to the denial business we must out of necessity debate as to what is wrong with the military establishment and question their priorities and professional decisions. They have seriously endangered our security by allowing to weaken economically. They have not left any money for education, science and technology and whatever else that makes a nation secure. Muttarraf alone has legally amassed a nifty fortune of Rs 160,000,000 million and likely to rake in more. We have to question their technical priorities as well. I am certain that we are not getting good value for money. There is something seriously wrong with the Pakistani Armed Forces if officers like Muttarraf and nuts like Gen Aziz have been advanced. Maybe the ``wrong kind of officers have been advanced`` as McArthur advised JFK. And we propably have too many generals and batmen to go with them. No wonder a maginot line military set up has emerged...

Ref: Fuzair #485

I have read your posts with great interest and a pleasant surprise, ,hearing it from a Pakistani.

{The Army was not allowed to suppress the communal riots of 1946}

The direct action casualties in 1946 were less than 2000, probably not enough to bring in the army. The number of deaths in Punjab in 1947 has been estimated at up to a million and a displacement of 11 million refugees.



{If the British would have stayed on, the partition of the Punjab would never have occurred}

I agree. A few more years of British rule was a small price to pay to avoid the cataclysm of 1947, and a legacy of hate and wars. I am no anglophile, but I am reminded of John Cleese in ``Life of Brian`` questioning:

``What have the Romans done for us, except irrigation, sanitation, education, transportation, law and order...?``

{Personally, I think that the Hindu chauvinists would have gagged on an additional 250 million plus Muslims--and five more Muslim majority states!--in addition to the 150 (?) million they have now.)

I may be wrong but I believe the Hindu chauvinists held the extreme view of ``one person, one vote`` without reservations based on caste, creed or religion. Godse`s brother is said to have kept an outline of United India on a wall like a Hindu deity to be worshipped, as atribute to his brother`s cause.

Elsewhere you described how your family protected Hindu women, even suffering injuries and death while doing so. What nobility! What rare valor!!

Ref: Fuzair #485

I have read your posts with great interest and a pleasant surprise, ,hearing it from a Pakistani.

{The Army was not allowed to suppress the communal riots of 1946}

The direct action casualties in 1946 were less than 2000, probably not enough to bring in the army. The number of deaths in Punjab in 1947 has been estimated at up to a million and a displacement of 11 million refugees.



{If the British would have stayed on, the partition of the Punjab would never have occurred}

I agree. A few more years of British rule was a small price to pay to avoid the cataclysm of 1947, and a legacy of hate and wars. I am no anglophile, but I am reminded of John Cleese in ``Life of Brian`` questioning:

``What have the Romans done for us, except irrigation, sanitation, education, transportation, law and order...?``

{Personally, I think that the Hindu chauvinists would have gagged on an additional 250 million plus Muslims--and five more Muslim majority states!--in addition to the 150 (?) million they have now.)

I may be wrong but I believe the Hindu chauvinists held the extreme view of ``one person, one vote`` without reservations based on caste, creed or religion. Godse`s brother is said to have kept an outline of United India on a wall like a Hindu deity to be worshipped, as atribute to his brother`s cause.

Elsewhere you described how your family protected Hindu women, even suffering injuries and death while doing so. What nobility! What rare valor!!

Sameer JB #530

KUTCH TO KAR KAMA KHAI MACHANDAR!

At 52 they have not grown up- at best, heeding to your advice, they can do is grow beard.!

LET MUSHARRAF BE ADVISED TO WATCH “YES MINISTER”!

RoohiAD#532

I don’t remember General Rani to have wailed at all.

Zeemax#534

The very demand that became the cause of punishment to the whole city and its satellite!

Bahmad #536

If he just succeeds in ridding the country of the feudalism in whatever short time he is allotted, in my view he would pass as THE SUCCESS! Isnt it naive to expect of him to turn the sea of red to green in a jiffy?

Umairr #538

It was over heard in an Officers Mess While they were gossiping away. The heated discussion was if sex is entertainment or a job. No body coming to an agreement it was agreed to call a recruit and ask his opinion, he said, “Sir had it been a job it would have been assigned to us!

Bilal Ahmad:

A raise of 100 rupees is not even worth mentioning in the current inflationary environment. It might buy a half kilo of meat and that`s it. I hope that the Employees Unions should reject it. Thanks but no thanks.

Zeemax:

I honestly hope that it does not come down to Zia`s fate. Unfortunately he is raising the bar too much. It will be stupid for anybody to believe that black boxes were actually blanks. All the case rests on one star witness. He originally suspended the assemblies and now completely ruling out the restoration of assemblies. Why not just dissolve them. I guess he likes status quo or suspended in the air, like the Columbo-Karachi flight. So far his seven-point agenda is 1-6) get NS scalp and 7) 100 rupees per month to each grade 1-16 employees.

Zeemax: You stated, ``The soldiers will do us a favour for not getting paid twice, and that too for not doing even a single job.`` This is an incorrect statement. I will go on a out on a limb, and take a guess that you have never been a soldier.

Having been both a soldier, and now a civilian, I can safely state that the civilian professional lifesytle is much easier, and offers a much much higher salary for the same job, than a soldier`s. Compare the pays of a PIA pilot with that of a PAF pilot. It is much more difficult to fly a PAF plane than a PIA plane. Compare the salary and lifestyle of a computer science M.S. degree holder in the army with that of a civilian professional with the same degree, doing the same job. Compare the salary of a Pak Navy officer with that of a Merchant marine officer. Compare the salary of a Brigadier managing thousands of men, to his civilian counterpart managing the same amount of people. One may like or dislike the military (I liked some aspects of it, and completely disliked other aspects), but one thing is for sure, i.e. soldiers in any military, especially at the lower ranks, do quite a bit of work. In Pakistan they get very little pay for there work, in comparison to their civilian counterparts.

RoohiAD # 178

He won´t leave just by your wishing him to leave. Some other general will eliminate him in due course.

Army has a very very dangerous politics of it´s own. Lethal in fact. Guess who shot Zana-ul-Haq´s butt out of the sky ?

[.. your kins will not find your remains if you dealy your departure ..]

Yeah, Zana-ul-Haq´s jawbone is buried too in the Faisal Mosque grounds. That´s all they could find.

SamerJB # 530, bahmad # 531

[I agree with cutting defense spending but that alone will not make a dent in the 32 billion dollar debt.]

[....fiscal prudence including a cut in the defence budget by Rs 7 billion.]

When asked as to from which heads of military budget the saving of Rs. 7 billion

would come from ? The spokesman of Inter Services Pubölic Relations (ISPR) Brig Rashid Qureshi said it would come from ``non-operational`` heads, for example he said the army-men will not draw their TA/DA (Travelling allowance/Daily allowance) while on civilian duty although they´re entitled to it.

I´m speechless ! The soldiers will do us a favour for not getting paid twice, and that too for not doing even a single job. In any case, a cut of this amount can simply not come from administrative sources. The figure was just grabbed out of the air.

Consequently, in my opinion this matter of Rs. 7 billion defence cut is a lie and only for public consumption. The army will not cut a single penny rather they´ll take more. There´s never been an audit of military budget compliance even in civilian rule so it´s unthinkable now.

Musharraf`s Address: Raise for Grade 1-16

Two main objectives of General Musharraf`s recent address, according to Professor R. Rashid (an economist and a supporter of the address), were poverty alleviation and self-reliance. Where Musharraf announced several taxes which would significantly increase the prices of various goods and services, he announced a minuscule raise of Rs 100 per month for most government employees (grades 1-16). What difference will this raise make to alleviate poverty of the government employees? It would perhaps allow an average family to eat meat once a month (provided all other things remain the same). The following letter also questions the intelligence of the new regime.

Sincerely, Bilal Ahmad

Dawn Internet Edition

December 22, 1999; Letter to the Editor

Rs 100 raise

I was really amazed and shocked to hear about the Rs100 increase for government employees in the Chief Executive`s recent address to the nation. It seems as if the CE is not living in Pakistan otherwise he would have known that such a pittance cannot compensate for the skyrocketing price hikes and the increase in utility bills, etc.

ILYAS JABBAR

Karachi

Pakistan is currently in a Constitutional, ``damned if you do, damned if you don`t`` situation. On one side is an unelected military dictator, who has openly violated the constitution. On the other side, is an elected civilian dictator, who after getting elected, established his dictatorship by blocking all legal methods (judiciary, accountability etc.) of getting rid of him. The civilian dictator was also massively corrupt on a personal level, and blatantly incompetent as a statesman (if anyone still believes that NS was not extremely corrupt, then I have a used car that I would like to sell them). The military dictator has yet to prove his competence or incompetence.

Instead of looking for, and discussing ideal political scenarios (which will not occur in Pakistan for decades, if ever), we need to concentrate on realities. We need to figure out which amongst the two above-described figures/forms of govts. is better for Pakistan, right now. We also need to realize that certain issues are mutually exclusive. If NS was incompotent, that does not necessarily mean that Musharraf will be competent. If Musharraf proves to be incompetent, that does not mean that NS should not have been kicked out for his personal corruption, which is becoming more and more legendary by each passing day. If Musharraf turns out to be a huge success, that does not necessarily mean that each coming general, after him, will prove to be a big success, as well, etc. etc.

Is an honest general better than a dishonest politician? Is there a practical realistic third option (there are plenty of unrealistic and idealistic third options. But in my opinion, it is useless to discuss those)? Was there any way of prosecuting NS for his corruption, without getting the military involved, keeping in mind that his Ehtesab Chief had not allowed a single corruption case against Nawaz to proceed to the Supreme Court? What would have happened, if NS had been able to manipulate the next elections, since he controlled every civilian institution of Pakistan, in a dictatorial manner? Should an army intervene, if a PM attempts to divide it into two parts, by completely eliminting its high command, and by appointing his personal freind as the COAS?

NOT NEWS IN PAKISTAN

A dip in the learning curve



They have survived militancy only to fall victim to government apathy. Living in pathetic conditions in displaced person camps, with little support from the State education system, the students of the Kashmiri Pandit community look forward to a bleak future.

The Pandits, traditionally the learned people of the Valley, were the first casualties of the militancy that began 10 years ago. About 2.5 lakh fled in a massive exodus. While some families moved to other parts of the country, the majority stopped in Jammu in the hope that they would be able to return to their villages one day.

The migration worried the Muslim families in Kashmir because it meant that all the good teachers were leaving. They had to send their wards to Jammmu and even further beyond, if they were to get any education at all. But the Pandits, the very community associated with education, is even worse off than the Muslims today. ``Our children are struggling for an education and we can`t do anything to help them,`` says M.L. Chatha, ateacher.

These internally displaced people are alienated within their own country. A decade after their exodus, they still languish in DP camps. They dislike the word `migrant` and insist on being referred to as internally displaced people.

``We have started to hate this term,`` says Kundan Kashmiri, a resident of Purkhoo camp. ``It has created problems for us. Our wards, who are studying in camp schools, are categorised as migrants and therefore cannot get admission with the regular students in colleges.``

GET LOST GENERAL MUTTERRAF

Your economic package was a total disappointment, and so was you attempted accountability. It is time for military to leave honourably restoring Nawaz Sharif`s government. Read the writing on the wall, general Mutterraf your kins will not find your remains if you dealy your departure. Leave at once.

Roohi A Ditta

Musharraf`s Speech: Rebuttal of Ayaz Amir?

Professor R. Rashid, an economist, disagrees with Ayaz Amir`s reaction to Musharraf`s speech (see the letter below). It seems that I, and perhaps Ayaz Amir, are too rigid in our ways of thinking such that Professor Rashid`s letter has not convinced me (and perhaps Ayaz Amir) to change my (our) views. Rashid suggests that the ultimate objective of the speech was poverty alleviation and self-reliance. Both objectives are great and worth pursuing. I am not sure how too many taxes, such agricultural income tax, gas tax, General Sales Tax, would alleviate poverty. Could someone help me resolve this riddle?

Sincerely, Bilal Ahmad

Dawn Internet Edition

December 21, 1999; Letter to the Editor

`A speech best left undelivered`

AYAZ Amir`s piece, `A speech best left undelivered` (Dawn, December 17) is negative: full of irate responses. He has reacted to General Pervez Musharraf`s address of December 15 by saying that it was lacking in vision and was full of good intentions without giving the country a sense of direction. I disagree with his perception of the general`s package of reforms. It is only fair to put matters in perspective.

As a concerned citizen, with a background in economics, I find that the general`s diagnosis and prescription for our sick economy makes sense. His strategy for economic revival is focussed on fiscal prudence including a cut in the defence budget by Rs 7 billion. It is planned to achieve self-reliance in agriculture which is the base of our economy by improving land use. For the first time in our history, state and evacuee lands are to be distributed to landless peasants. Agricultural incomes will be taxed. This is a dire need and a departure from the past pattern. All incomes should be taxed and agricultural incomes must be brought into the tax net. Similar measures have been announced to introduce egalitarian policies to help the poor in urban areas.

Credit must be given where it is due. The government is trying to tackle myriad problems bequeathed to it by the profligate predecessors who indulged themselves in plunder with impunity. Now that accountability has been put in place, it is hoped that corruption and mismanagement of public funds will be checked. It is necessary to curb the tendency to amass private fortunes by swindling public funds.

I suggest that Ayaz Amir might like to reread the text of the general`s address. This would help him to change his mind. I believe that it is not possible for the government to make simultaneous advance on all fronts. The best way would be to fix priorities on the basis of first things first.

Let us support the government to tide over the short-term difficulties and wish them success in its endeavours. The ultimate objective is to alleviate poverty and achieve self-reliance: A few steps have already been taken towards these goals. More will follow in the days to come.

PROFESSOR R RASHID

Lahore Cantt

BAHMAD # 518 / ZEEMAX / TEMPORAL /CONCERNED

I am so grateful to all of you for some exceptionally intellegent posts over the weekend about the current crisis and its solutions. I almost fully agree with Zeemax about his opinions regarding feudalism, BB/Zardari corruption, IMF and unsuitability of socialistic welfare state model for Pakistan.

The issues relating to debt and its servicing and revival of the economy are key questions but I see too much undue importance being given to PM`s speech. Ayaz Amir and others are also too focused on it.

[Nawaz Sharif`s follies will then look less imposing than perhaps they do at present`` (Dawn December 17, 1999).

What is wrong with our bureaucracy? Why the people, like myself and Amir, are alienated with it? What Amir means when he says ``aloof and arrogant``? What role Pakistani ruling elite have played in the apparent failure of Pakistan? Why ``[nearly] 56% of the current budget is going towards debt servicing``?]

It is ironic that most the jounalists will rather blame bureaucracy for PM`s percieved shortcomings, keeping him aloof from all the blame and somehow are convinced of his sincerity. On the other hand they put all the blame squarely on NS (for his follies) without mentioning bureaucracy, debt servicing etc. It is NS to be blamed for Karachi/Sindh situation and sectarian violence; it is bureaucracy to be blamed for failure to recover loans from defaulters and cotton export crisis. If PIA loses money during NS regime, he gets the blame; if they lose money now, it will be due to the world-wide rise in the jet fuel prices. Grow up, Journalists.

In the absense of a `real` growth of the economy, the revenue enhancement picture will remain bleak despite rise in the price of gasoline etc. With no money to spend on public services, the motorway model is a viable alternative. Anyway least government intervention is the best way to keep bureaucracy out. At present I do not see any real prospect of getting out of spiralling debt crisis, except a written off by the donors or moratorium on debt payment for a certain period of time till economic recovery. However, a moratorium coupled with the business as usual( bureaucracy and higher spending) will worsen the situation.

I agree with cutting defense spending but that alone will not make a dent in the 32 billion dollar debt.

A question frequently asked is where was this money spent. I think actual money coming to Pakistan may be as little as 15-20 billion dollars or even less. Rest of the loans were used for debt servicing.

Devolution and Provinces

Devolution is process of decentralization that entails transfer of power from the national (center) level to the local and/or regional level. The need for devolution exists due to: (1) the presence of dissatisfied or nonconforming groups within a society (nation-state); (2) the need for an effective governance and delivery of public goods and services according to the needs and wishes of local and regional communities. The following letter by M. Shamim Raza suggests that the issue of devolution is not as simple as some people (including General Musharraf) thinks. A bureaucratic solution of the centralization-decentralization debate may not bring desired results. Devolution is a serious political issue, it needs to be dealt with through a (democratic) political process. Comments welcome.

Sincerely, Bilal Ahmad

Dawn Internet Edition, December 20, 1999

Devolution of power

Devolution of power plainly suggests transfer of power from the centre to the provinces and from the provincial to the local government as actually enshrined in the Constitution (now suspended). Any deviation from this recognised path will damage the equation and make the `cracks` grow bigger.

The SNF executive presided by its chief Mr. Mumtaz Ali Bhutto has been critical of the move of the administration to transfer power to the districts for the benefit of the people in solving their problems locally (Dec 10). The party is clearly suspicious of the mode of transfer from the Centre which has been ignoring the just and long-standing demands of the smaller provinces.

The contention of the SNF is that power should be transferred to the provinces and it is for the province to manage local affairs. The power struggle between the centre and the provinces has been agonising. With the passage of time and myopic attitude of the Centre the distrust has grown so much that neither of the two is prepared to accept the words of another.

It is an irony of fate that 1973 Constitution, though drafted in a hurry and approved unanimously by all the parties in the parliament at that time, did not provide a binding base for our living together. The fault was not with the constitution. It has fully met the demands of provincial autonomy. It is simply unfortunate that we could not evolve a mechanism to transfer those given power to the provinces. This is now the core issue of equation between the federation and its units.

In his address to the nation (17-10-99) the Chief Executive in his 7-point agenda promised to strengthen the Federation and remove inter-provincial disharmony. It would be a great achievement if it is realized early.

Two months have already passed but nothing is visible how this solemn promise will be effected and the confidence of the aggrieved provinces restored to their satisfaction.

Mr. Mumtaz Ali Bhutto has clearly stated in the said executive meeting that the Council of Common Interest (CCI) could be the only platform to speed up this issue in the light of the ground realities and evolve a mechanism to transfer power to the provinces.

The issue is very sensitive and has been agitating the minds of the smaller provinces since long. Having the entire state machinery and a viable think tank at his disposal it is now the golden time for the CE to solve this problem of distrust for good. The idea put forward by Mr. Bhutto also needs sober consideration.

M. SHAMIM RAZA

Karachi

In response to Zeemax (Reply #: 520)

Dear Zeemax:

I don`t know much about Irfan Hussain and Ayaz Amir to even politely resent your comment about them (your reference to ``gutter journalism``). However, being little bit aware of the past political history of Pakistan, I have developed some respect for these two journalists. The job of journalists in Pakistan is not easy. There are people who have sacrificed a lot in a country where it is very easy for some people to become filthy rich (and powerful) in a very short span of time.

Musharraf`s speech is an event, it does not tell us much about the process. We really don`t know what is coming next. I am, however, inclined to believe that the General is currently facing some realities of the political process. It is easy for the army to engage in a coup, it is hard to deliver what is really needed. If you are interested in take, take, take, and take by all means, you cannot simply give. I am somewhat sympathetic with your statement that: ``. . . it´s pointless to criticise the military for their lack of direction in running the country - when they can´t do right what they´re trained to do i.e. to fight and defend the country - then how can they be expected to do right what they have no idea about ?`` Yet I tend to disagree with your comment where you seem to undermine the power of the people (however oppressed they are). If Musharraf has not learned this historical lesson regarding the ultimate power of the people of Pakistan, he is bound to fail.

Sincerely, Bilal Ahmad

pardesi #519:

kuldip nayar`s article appeared at -

http://www.rediff.com/news/1999/dec/18nayar.htm

Hi there!

Well this is really a great article and it seems a lot of work has been done by both proffesors. I really agree with them on the point that ``next election would have eliminated Nawaz Sharif (NS) as last election did with BB`` beside that I am great supporter of the fact that its the matter of choice people picked NS and as he turned to be a real nerd people got to take the suffring of their own choice. This would have serve as a filtration process which this, and all earlier, coup has unduly stoped. The coup has strengthen the habit of people to start jump once, their chosen, rulers turn insane instead of waiting til next elections to eradicate the evils.

Jerry

In his opinion piece, ``Any lessons learnt,`` Anwar Ahmad writes (The News International, December 20, 1999):

``There are so many other aspects of this tragic chapter of our history we need to face and learn from. Now that the guns-or-butter choice has assumed survival proportions--underscored by the military`s diversion of Rs7 billion from its budget to poverty alleviation--defence and development issues must be brought into the open, rationally debated and then decided.

Our greatest failure must be seen as a process, rather than an event, and studied objectively at all levels--from kindergarten to the university and the corridors of power. Only then will our children and decision-makers know what went wrong and where. Only then will the past mistakes be avoided.``

Comment: Human social life needs to be viewed as a process. In this sense, class is process, society is a process, place is a process, nation is a process, and/or history is a process. For example, we cannot understand social inequities unless look into the processes that lead to their production and reproduction. A true democracy is a means through which we think freely and develop better understanding of the processes that lead to a particular situation -- be it the fall of Dhakka or extra-judicial killings or our national debt. A proper diagnosis is a prerequisite to proper treatment and cure.

Sincerely, Bilal Ahmad

In response to Qanango-One (Reply # 521) Part II

Zeemax is a knowledgeable person. Pu Li (Reply # 917) has made some excellent comments on Zeemax`s post. Jamil Rashid and Hasan N. Gardezi have contributed a chapter on Pakistan`s political economy which deals with the two perspective identified by Zeemax (see Gardezi, H. and Rashid, J. 1983. Pakistan: The Roots of Dictatorship. London: Zed Press). I recommend you to read the same.

Sincerely, Bilal Ahmad

In response to Qanungo-One (Reply # 521)

Yes, your friend is correct (she is smart too). My question is indeed rhetorical. But, it does not mean that we can`t ask such questions even if we believe that we know the answer(s). My opinions are my opinions based upon my understanding and experiences. I want to learn from the understanding and experiences of other people too. I have often expressed my views openly declaring our ruling elite (army-bureaucracy-bourgeoisie) to be corrupt, unresponsive, exploitative, insensitive and not merely ``aloof and arrogant.`` However, I don`t believe in static ideas, thinking, modes of action etc. Learning is a never ending process. The more we learn, the more we realize how little we know. This is perhaps one reason that our ruling elite do not want us to know much. This is one reason that we know so little about: ``Why ``[nearly] 56% of the current budget is going towards debt servicing``?

Sincerely, Bilal Ahmad

Absolutism and Democracy in Pakistan?

In an opinion piece, ``Politicians not the only culprits,`` Rifaat Hamid Ghani writes (The News International, December 20, 1999):

``The bureaucracy and the military, in any case, follow a tradition that is not answerable to the public. They are now no longer subordinated, even formally, to the concept of being answerable to a sovereign parliament or any civil social authority. The only errant element really answerable to the public, the elected element, is the one people can and are punishing in choosing to disempower.

The process could go too far. We would be hard put fighting a dictatorship, should it not remain benign, with no political structures other than its vetted local bodies in place at the grassroots. If the regime turns absolutist, we may be missing sadly the very political parties we are only too happy to be quelling today.``

Comment: Ghani has provided a good warning to us. We need to think about it. Is Musharraf`s economic package the only solution to our country`s economic woes? What is likely to happen if we start defaulting on our debt payments? Why can`t Musharraf, in consultation with the representatives of all political parties in Pakistan, announce the formation of a high powered ``Commission`` to prepare a report for a new political system for the restoration of (true) democracy in Pakistan? Why can`t we start one or more independent political discourses (with the blessing not control of Musharraf) to devise a guideline for such a Commission to seriously consider and/or follow? Would it not be a democratic way to devise a system of democratic governance?

Sincerely, Bilal Ahmad

518

bahmad: A friend visiting me just commented that your question is rhetorical, since you are already quite well aware of the answer(s) ; being a `trained specialist` in this area. Is she correct?

On the ``He had no Choice``, Board see Zeemax`s #915 and let us have your opinion too. Incid