Hegemony of the Ruling Elite in Pakistan

On a forum concerning a so-called Millennium Conference pertaining to development in Pakistan, I raised a set of simple questions: Is Millennium a buzz word? Why Pak Millennium Conference? Why this conference would be annual? I also tried, though unsuccessfully, to engage in a mini-debate on the uncritical acceptance of Eurocentric images, thoughts, worldviews, etc. We need to fully understand what the word Millennium means, how it affects our psyche, and how to combat with both positive and negative effects of a particular discourse -- such as the discourse on Millennium.

Happy new Millennium (a period of joy, serenity, prosperity, and justice for all).

Sincerely, Bilal Ahmadt

P. S. Sameer, thanks for your best wishes and kind thoughts. You indeed are organized.

Sameer:

Wow! What an effort it must`ve been.

I reciprocate your sentiments.

Peace and Goodwill all around.

May they find cure for common cold and cancer in the next century.

May India and Pakistan become one again. (remotely possible) in the next century.

May India and Pakistan form a federation to be called Pakistan (not even remotely possible) in the next century.

so long till ......(pls write in your favourite cliche here)

rgds

t

Sameer;

Land Reform, Free Market Economy, and Socialism

In a recent article in Dawn, entitled ``Focus on Agriculture,`` Syed Fakhr Imam writes:

``It seems that the entire panacea of agricultural ills has boiled down to land reform as understood to mean a drastic reduction in land holding, an attractive slogan in the hands of yesteryears. More recently the ``land to the tiller`` slogan has brought devastation, destruction, and ignominy to the former Soviet Union, which became captive to Western Powers by becoming deficient in food grains, needing to import 30 million tonnes from Europe, after imposing stringent land ownership ceilings.

Currently the two major global themes that are being enunciated by the Group of 7 countries are Democracy and Market Economy. Since the takeover in Pakistan of the new regime on October 12, 1999, there is a growing noise amongst the chattering classes on the need for land reforms. These chattering classes want to revive socialism, a negation of market economy, for application to land holdings (the current land ceiling being 8000 PIUs, which is approximately 100 acres), while allowing free market policies for all other economic sectors, industry, business, trade, real estate owners, etc. In other words, capitalism for all, but socialism for landowning farmers who may have inherited and some of whom may trace their lineages for a few generations and have a linkage with history and tradition.``

Mr. Imam is a former minister and a member of the suspended National Assembly. Several questions emerge from the reading of this excerpt. These are: Why people are riding on the bandwagon of land reform? What benefits or losses will accrue as a result of the proposed reform? Who will benefit, how? Who will lose, how? Why previous land reforms were not so successful? Who benefitted and who lost in the previous land reforms? Why free private enterprise for all, but restricted free private enterprise for landowning farmers? What is Mr. Imam`s personal agenda for writing this piece? One could ask additional questions regarding his rhetoric (socialism; former Soviet Union; etc.), maybe we first need to seek some answers of the questions raised by me.

Sincerely, Bilal Ahmad

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, Truth, 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.

Bilal:

Syed Fakhr Imam`s article appeared on Dec 14, issue of one of the Pakistani papers. If you cannot find it let me know. I have a printout. Will gladly fax or mail it to you. (temporal3@hotmail.com.)

I was at the KU about a decade later.

For your article Fatehyab Ali Khan may not be the right person, but he can guide you to the right ones.

Those were the activists` hey days. Fatehyab, Ali Mukhtar Rizvi, Mairaj Mohammed Khan and the late Shahinshah.

The former three are still kicking. If you know Fatehyab you would also know Masooma Hasan. She was in Pol. Sc. Her family built and run the Pakistan Institute of International Affairs, near the Topsy, Musical Fountain, Rex CInema Chowk. Masooma was at one time Pak Amb. to Australia and last I heard was chairwoman of NIPA. You can reach Fatehyab through her.

As for the Mazdoor Kissan Party ----this couplet surmises all:
Naa mazdoor, naa kisssan
bus Fatehyab Ali Khan.

You can also get interesting feed back from Kaiser Bengali and his organisation Social Democratic Movement. It has branches all over Pakistan. Kaiser probably teaches at KU. He visited Toronto past summer. I attended one of his talks.

It will be interesting the way you are thinking. By inviting feedback from all interest groups and then churning them, synthesising them, you would perhaps arrive at some novel solutions. Good luck.

rgds

t

I have a suggestion towards Pakistan`s economic problems. A large portion of its annual revenues go out in the form of interest and principal repayment, which I believe is over 50% of its total revenues. After considering defence and govt salaries and other `fixed` expenditure, this leaves very little for development. Why not declare a unilateral moratorium of three-five years during which period no interest/principal repayments will be made and no fresh loans taken either.

This will leave an enormous amount of money that can be used for development activity, especially infrastructure. The IMF and the creditor nations may not like it, but what can they do? They will have no leverage since Pakistan will not ask for fresh loans either (in the short term). All the money saved should be sufficient, if prudently invested, to make a fresh start.

Of course, one could also look at reducing defence expenditure by reducing tensions with India and Iran.

In response to temporal (Reply #: 153)

Dear temporal:

Good commentary and suggestions. Educated people are privileged, and they need to do their job by educating a massively uneducated society in Pakistan. The role of educated people has been dismal in the making of Pakistan. People often confuse literacy with education. In my view, a lot of so-called illiterate and less-educated (in terms of schooling) people have a better consciousness of unequal and unfair reality around us. Pakistan will continue to serious problems as long as there is unfairness and lack of freedom of minds and spirits. Women have played an important role so far, but it is not enough.

Do have a copy of Fakhr Imam`s article? Do you any information about the role and experiences of Fatehyab Ali Khan (Mazdoor Kissan Party)? I would like to know.

Sincerely, Bilal Ahmad

P. S. Fatehyab was a senior colleague of mine (as a student of Karachi University) in the early 1960s. He was also the President of Karachi University Students` Union (circa 1961).

Bilal:


In #151 you say, ``In future, I will post additional information about the land reforms in Pakistan with some sense of why they failed.``

I would sugggest you do an article on Land Reforms. And in addition to examining why they failed I would suggest you dwell more on what can be done to enhance farming. I am sure with your sense of fairplay you`d do justice to ALL sides of the issue.

In addition to the article by Hakim Ali Zardari there was another article by Syed Fakhr Imam recently. There were some interesting angles in these two articles.

The `Dou begh zameen`` concept is all but outdated and designed to keep the poor peasant perpetually in slavery. It barely provides sustenance to the peasant farmer. And as an economic unit it is counter productive to national interests.


So much for free land distribution to haris and peasants. Without necessary infra structure, cash advances, bridge financing, crop insurance, education, supply of seed and fertiliser, and buying and storing facilities etc. this land re-distribution is nothing more than photo op for our pseudo leaders.

If mechanized and scientific farming is introduced all over Pakistan, ofcourse with the necessary support infrastructure, it would go a long ways in alleviating the rural miseries and .

And I envision some if not all of our big jagirdars playing a postive role in it.

Land remains an under utilised asset of Pakistan.

rgds

t

rajanjua #147

hamidm #145

Piousness and sanctimoniousness are not confined to people on one side of the border. Please do a search on all my posts and all your own posts and compare who has been the most negative(and expressive about hatred) about the other. For the record, I do have a deep hatred, for hatred itself.

And by the way, I meant IK Gujral when I mentioned an Indian Prime Minister calling GB a `fourth-rate nation` or something like that. One question, why does this expression preoccupy you more than the prospect that Pakistan may end up being a fourth-rate state? What I remember of IK Gujral, he declared unilateral MFN status for Pakistan on India`s behalf. Pakistan, no doubt considered it a conspiracy by India to dominate Pakistan economically. What I admire most about supposed `Akhand Bharati` BJPites is that their PM caught a bus to Lahore in all his poetic simplicity. Pakistan no doubt considered it a ploy to snatch away what is rightfully its own as India has been doing consistently since Independence. Another step in denying Pakistan its rightful place in the scheme of things.

Guys, what do you think they were trying to do? Hit you when you were bowing down or trying to create an environment to reduce hostility? Now we will be back to the Pakistani circular argument of Kashmir.

India must reduce troops --India must reduce hostility -- give us a good deal on Kashmir or we will take it by force -- India must reduce troops--etc

India`s merry-go-round

Try to reduce hostility with Pakistan, talk about Kashmir -- fight Pakistan in Kashmir -- Forced to increase troops -- try to reduce hostility, talk about Kashmir--etc

My own merry-go-round

Say ``Make up your minds`` -- reply to hate posts --say ``do what you want to do as a country`` -- Say ``Make up you minds`` -- etc

If I disowned responsibility why would I be on a discussion board. But I am not taking responsibility for some Pakistanis lack of clear vision. If someone talks of reduction in troops, another talks of the moral duty to fight `Hindus`, yet another espouses `secular` dictatorship for his country while demanding something else for someone else. And which entities are mostly blamed for not yielding all things to all people? Take a guess.

Sadhana

Ethnic Politics in Pakistan (particularly Sindh)

The word ``Mohajir`` literally means immigrant. After the partition of India milions of Muslim immigrants came to Pakistan, these immigrants included both Punjabis and non-Punjabis. However, the word Mohajir is currently used for the non-Punjabi Indian Muslim immigrants and their off-springs (even if they were born in Pakistan). Mohajirs are concentrated in large urban centers of Sindh province. One major demand of the Mohajir Qaumi Movement (both movement and political party) was the creation of a new province in Pakistan. This meant the partition of Sindh province. The word Mohajir (M in the MQM) was replaced with Muttahida (which means United) to suggest that the MQM was not merely a Mohajir organization. The policy of apparent moderation has once again been changed to a policy of difference (and perhaps separation). The following news clipping is from Dawn (December 29, 1999). Is this a sign of trouble? Is MQM going to adopt a cooperative or confrontational policy with the non-Mohajir (native Sindhi) residents of Sindh who dominate at least in the rural Sindh.

Sincerely, Bilal Ahmad

Special: MQM to change strategy

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief, Altaf Hussain, has finally agreed with the viewpoint of party hardliners that Mohajirs problems can not be solved by the system prevailing in the country or through peaceful means and will soon announce a major shift from his previous stance.

There are indications the MQM may return to its old name, Mohajir Qaumi Movement. Party leaders, however, are tight-lipped about the likely line of action of Mr Hussain. In the past, Mr Hussain had also announced retirement from politics when he developed differences with murdered Chairman Azim Ahmed Tariq. ``We are waiting for his announcement,`` said one leader.  

Feudalism: A Question of Abolition?

The author of the following letter, Sheikh Umar Khan, calls for another but effective round of land reform in Pakistan. In future, I will post additional information about the land reforms in Pakistan with some sense of why they failed.

Sincerely, Bilal Ahmad

The Nation, Letter to the Editor

Wednesday, December 29, 1999

State-cum-jagir lands

This refers to Hakim Ali Zardari`s article, `A word about jagirdari and feudal system` (December 5). Mr Zardari has claimed that due to the land reforms introduced by Ayub Khan, no jagirdars exist in Sindh today. While naming big jagirdars whose jagirs were abolished, Mr Zardari has not mentioned Sultan Ahmad Chandio whose jagir measuring three lac acres was also abolished.

It needs to be explained here that after the Mutiny of 1857, the British Government thought it prudent to reward loyalties; a number of feudal lords succeeded in establishing proprietary claims to vast tracts of state land as jagirdars, where they came to wield considerable power, influence and prestige.

Under the land reforms introduced by General Ayub Khan, jagirs were abolished and the land was resumed without payment of compensation. All jagir land reverted to state land, to be disposed of in a prescribed manner by the West Pakistan Land Commission.

Having served in the Land Commission during General Ayub Khan`s regime, I can affirm that the jagirdars who had predominance and sway in the region blocked all efforts of the Land Commission to dispose of the resumed land till the time Ayub Khan`s land reforms were thwarted by Yahya Khan. Thus the jagirs were abolished but the land remained in their possession.

Some of the jagir land was distributed in Sindh recently by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif among landless haris. Lacs of acres still remain for disposal. It is high time Chief Executive General Musharraf disposed of all available state-cum-jagir land along with the unallotted evacuee land as per his announcement.

It will not only be a catalyst for increased agricultural production, but also erase the remains of an unjust and deceitful act of the British raj.

-- SHEIKH UMAR KHAN, Lahore, December 23.

In response to temporal (Reply #: 149)

Dear temporal:

The image that you expect from your crystal ball is optimistic. We have paid a big price of our unjust social order. Societies do not evolve or transform in short time spans. They are a product of innumerable actions of all kinds of people -- both rich and poor, educated and uneducated (nor merely illiterate), wise and unwise. I don`t expect, a quick transformation of Pakistani society, but I do believe in a slow, gradual, and uninterrupted social change based upon a vision and a sense of direction. It is a shame that a lot of Pakistanis are still living a less than human life.

We need to keep on writing against injustice and the lack of freedom. A strong internal critique with some positive suggestions is the only way to move forward.

Sincerely, Bilal Ahmad

Bilal:

Here`s an article a friend sent me yesterday.

If I gaze in my crystal ball, I can tell you what would happen in future. Instead of taking any measures to alleviate the injustice and suffering the powers that be would transfer the Superintendent of the Jail and other minor functinaries and then withdraw back into their shells.

cynically,

t


Plight of women and children in Adiala prison

By Narjis Zaidi


RAWALPINDI: As many as 112 women and 14 children, including 10 foreign nationals, are in Adiala prison. 72 female prisoners are charged for
drug trafficking, 21 are booked under Hudood ordinance and the remaining are jailed for minor offences. 10 women have been granted bail, but are
still in jail as they do not have the money for surety bond.

A visit to the Adiala prison by this correspondent and three members of the Crisis Centre for Women in Distress reveals that the majority of the accused have no lawyer, are languishing in the prison for months and years as under trials prisoners, have been abandoned by their families and feel severely stressed because of the long separation from their children.

Rehana Kauser of Rawalpindi is a typical case. In February 1993, she was booked under Section 302 (attempted murder) for killing her husband. Pregnant at the time of her arrest, she gave birth to a baby girl in jail and has been in Adiala and Kot Lakhpat prisons ever since.

Named Ayesha by the cell mates, the six-year-old girl has not seen the world beyond the compound of barrack number II in Adiala prison. The case has been under trial for six years and ten months. Meanwhile the accused mother and innocent daughter have served a lifetime sentence as
February 2000 will mark seven years of their long ordeal in prison.

Sombol, a Thai national, was booked under the drug trafficking act and was arrested from the Islamabad airport four months back. A mother of
four minor children, Sombol appeared distressed as she had no news from home. ``We are very poor,`` she said, and requested the visiting team to
mail a Christmas greeting card to her children in Bangkok. The prison manual allows its inmates to write and receive mail but the Thai mother
insisted on communicating with her children through the free world channel.

Rukhsana Bibi, 22, of Pir Wadhai is imprisoned for the last 20 months. She is accused by her husband of killing their three-year-old daughter.
``I had gone out to fetch milk leaving my little daughters, aged 3 and 5, in the house. They went near the fire and one of them got severely burnt. My enraged husband held me responsible for the accident and booked me under Section 302 (attempted murder).

After spending one year and eight months in jail, Rukhsana has been declared innocent by the court and has been bailed out. What more is required to free her from the detention is a surety bond which she has not been able to arrange. Proven innocent, young Rukhsana narrated details of severe police torture in Pir Wadhai police station at the time of her arrest. Rukhsana`s sixteen-month-old son, born in the prison, was down with cold and high fever. The CCW is making
arrangements for provision of surety bonds for the under bail women, currently ten in number.

Another accused, still waiting to be heard is Nasreen Akhtar of Nawabshah. She was arrested sixteen months back along with her husband
in the famous Nina Aziz murder case. ``For several days both me and my husband were mercilessly beaten up in the police station for signing the
murder confession but we did not. We are innocent.`` The couple`s only child, a three-year-old daughter has been sent back to Nawabshah on
their request.

Farasat Bibi of Wah Cantonment was remanded to Adiala prison from the local police station two days ago. She is charged for trying to hide her
brother in law who was being raided by the Wah police on suspicion of heroin addiction. After her arrest on December 18, Farasat Bibi was
cruelly beaten by the male SHO of Wah police station. ``He stripped me of my dignity in the presence of several men and made me a `murgha` for
hours, she said, weeping bitterly at her humiliation by the SHO and showed marks of physical abuse on her arm and lower back.

The Pakistan legal system disallows physical torture of accused persons as part of investigative procedure. Police torture on Farasat Bibi by a male SHO is a serious violation of law, said the CCW lawyer and observed that there was clear evidence of the law enforcers taking on presumptive powers. Should a prisoner who cannot afford bail remain in prison? Is
poverty itself a crime to be paid with incarceration?

In response to hamidm (Reply #: 145)

Dear Hamid:

A good response in spirit (except the last sentence). Although I still see some element of over-simplification, nobody would disagree with your point that we are ``still stuck in the cesspool of human misery.`` I would like all of us to look into the origin, growth, and perpetuation of economic, political, cultural, psychological, and spiritual misery in both India and Pakistan. I think, part of this is a result of our over-emphasis on the preparedness for war. As far as the case of East Pakistan and the 1971 war is concerned, we need to first look into the causes why our own house was not in order. I think, you are giving too much credit to Indira Gandhi for her unwise and unwarranted role in the disintegration of Pakistan in 1971.

I believe that both Indians and Pakistanis need to develop internal critiques of their respective countries first. An external critique needs to be very cautious and mixed with an element of cooperation, support, and friendship. As far as Sadhana`s writings are concerned, I have a lot of admiration for her ideas, writing style, command over language, and sentiments (though being a human being she is also likely to get carried away occasionally). I think, we are all in a process of learning from each other.

Sincerely, Bilal Ahmad

Re: #144 sadna

Very cute, Madam :-). But your suggestion only solves the internal problems of us war-mongering, gun-totting, hijab-wearing, fanatical terrorists. If you want peace in the region you need to chill-out on that Akhand Bharat dream of yours-the only way you can convince your neighbours that you don`t have any such grand plans is to cut down on your armed forces, which you can neither afford nor justify as a defensive force. The message of ``shanti and love`` from Shiv Sena and Advani, et. al., sounds a whole lot more ominous and discomforting to us war-mongers when backed by one of the largest armed force in the world.

In the meantime, while you are campaigning for an arms reduction by your government-I`ll be preacing for the eradication of all these Lashkars-

Sincerely yours,

Janjua The Terrible