Is something wrong in Kashmir?

Our response to Indian re-occupation, un-lawful and forced annexation of its

controlled part of Jammu and Kashmir on 5 August and 31 October 2019, has not
been pointed, proportionate and in accordance with the merits of Kashmir case.
People of Kashmir continue to suffer an 11 month lockdown and we seem to have
given up on them. Is something wrong on Kashmir? We hope not.
Government of Azad Kashmir laments and rightly so, that it is not allowed to open
up on the diplomatic front to represent the Kashmir case. The grievance is partly
true. But President and Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir and many others find a way
to go abroad and are free to discuss their case. At times they are accommodated in
Pakistani delegations and facilitated in various capitals for an appearance.
Government of Azad Kashmir has assumed duties under UNCIP Resolutions. It should
interpret its duties accordingly and assert its principal right to represent the Kashmir
case.
If we compare the temperature that was raised at the UN General Assembly by Prime
Minister of Pakistan in September last year and the sentiment it had generated, we
see very little as a consequence. There was a talk that Pakistan would explore all
avenues of going to ICJ, there would a reconsideration of coming out of Shimla
agreement and that Pakistan was in the process of a holding a special session of OIC
on the situation in Kashmir.
If nothing is wrong on Kashmir, then we have to consider pointed, proportionate
practical steps, bilateral, multilateral and international to seek to vacate the Indian
re-occupation of 5 August and annexation of a part of territory on 31 October 2019
All this has not happened. Foreign Minister has written 8 letters, two to UN High
Commissioner for Human Rights and six to UN Security Council and UN General
Assembly. Prime Minister has been tweeting on Kashmir. Parliamentary Committee
on Kashmir has almost disappeared in the thin air. It raves s genuine suspicion that
something is wrong on Kashmir.
We have introduced a new culture of ‘virtual conferences’ and it may be a genuine
left over means during Covid-19 lockdown, but it has its own limitations. Usually the
participants except a few are people of no consequence and are added as a number
to run the afternoon show. Most of these people have no direct physical link with
Kashmir and would not be able to visualise the pain. These conferences end up after

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spewing a truck-load of unwanted rhetoric, like our Kashmir Conferences of non-
COVID-19 times would lure people into fiction.
People have started multi-tasking on Kashmir and if it goes free for all, it would be a
betrayal. We should not forget that all of us who have subscribed to Hurriet politics,
defended militancy at the UN or advocated in favour of a political and militant
resistance against India at the UN and at other forums, carry a liability as well. Each
one of us remains responsible for the death of a generation and for precipitating a
situation that has helped Indian soldier to descend from hills and become our
neighbour for day and night.
Our elders and in particular women, who had only heard about Indian army became
victims of their ill treatment. They were humbled, humiliated, tortured and
dishonoured. My activities at the United Nations in Geneva and at the UN World
Conference on Human Rights in Vienna, infuriated Indian Government. My father,
my uncle, maternal uncle all elderly and my younger brother were arrested by Assam
Rashtriya Rifles on 19 December 1995, “on suspicion of harbouring militants and
having an arms dump in their orchards.”
If it were not for the United Nations Urgent Action, intervention from Pope,
international organizations and Supreme Court of India, they would have killed them
in cold blood. At one point my father was asked to write his will. My father told me
before his death, that he started believing that the army would kill him at that point.
They were released on 4 January 1996. December was chosen for their arrest so that
I could not activate any action for their release during Christmas. (Para 207 of UN
Report E/CN.4/1997/7/Add.1 dated 20 December 1996). As a tradition and as a
historical practice police would not enter our village without the permission of my
uncle – the Village Head. It was for the first time since 1846, that Assam Rashtriya
Rifles waded into our house on 19 December 1995.
If nothing is wrong on Kashmir, then we have to consider pointed, proportionate
practical steps, bilateral, multilateral and international to seek to vacate the Indian
re-occupation of 5 August and annexation of a part of territory on 31 October 2019.
Unless, God forbidding, there has been any quid pro quo on Kashmir, the dragging
of feet and turning cold on Kashmir would be very disastrous for Pakistan itself.
It would be a tragedy if Pakistan loses the trust and faith of the people of Kashmir.
Half a dozen or more Kashmiris sitting in Islamabad or any other extension, would
be treated as lepers in Kashmiri community and even conscientious Pakistanis would
not respect them. India will hold on to its February 1994 Parliament Resolution and

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continue to lay its claim on AJK and GB. India has planned to start a rigorous
interaction with Diaspora as a policy and seek to dilute the anti-India sentiment.
India has created a strong lobby at the UN in Geneva, in New York and among the
Diaspora in Europe. They are consolidating their effectiveness. It will help the
Government to be updated that, India has continued with its pointed and well
prepared policy to convince the OIC and other countries of the genuineness of its
actions in Kashmir. In this regard, Zee Media, hosted The 3rd WION Global Summit
in Dubai on 5 March 2020 on, “India and the Emerging World: Nationalism,
Multilateralism and Creative Diplomacy.”
It is interesting that the first agenda item in the first session was “India’s
geographically significant move – Kashmir an Internal Matter.” The three Pakistani’s
who were invited to the summit, were kept away from this very important panel. It
is disturbing that a member country of OIC should have allowed India to hold a
Conference describing Indian actions in Kashmir as a “significant move” and “an
internal matter” for India. India seems to have succeeded in disengaging OIC from
its interest in Kashmir.
By: Dr Syed Nazir Gilani
Source: Daily Times

The author is President of London based Jammu and Kashmir Council for Human
Rights – NGO in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations.

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 Political Science 3: Good Governance, Rebellions, and Contentment
At the outset of this study of political science, we concluded that citizens of every
state, voluntarily ceded their inalienable rights [the elements of their freedom] to
the state, with the guarantee that the state would protect these rights for them and
that this essentially meant that the state promised equal justice to all.
But, now we seem to have concluded that, despite Rousseau and other’s assertions,
in real life, no state can provide equal justice or absolute freedom to its citizens. They
can merely provide relatively more or less than other states. Then where does this
leave us? Why should individuals cede rights to the state if they are not guaranteed
equal justice and, what can the state then guarantee the people instead?
While the foregoing question was partially answered in the last article on this
subject, it deserves a more comprehensive address. But, it is essential to point out
that philosophy, whether political or focused elsewhere, seeks perfection. It is not
necessarily pragmatic and, this fact is emphasized by the use of Utopia/utopian as
an adjective. “Absolute freedom will result in chaos”, predict wise minds. Since
absolute freedom has never prevailed, we cannot be certain that it will result in
chaos but, it sounds reasonable. And, we do know that wherever the state has failed
in providing some vestige of governance, however flawed or faulty, chaos has
preceded revolutions. And, revolutions are usually preceded by insurrections and
rebellions as the state organ begins to crumble.
Religious fanatics can deny our children polio drops and, not only distort laws
unchallenged, they can deprive us of the very basics of science of moon-sighting not
merely with impunity but challengingly
So, perhaps this is a more complete answer; “The state is essential, because it
provides governance, and without governance there will [probably] be chaos”. Does
that imply that, the state is to be accepted, whatever it does? No; were that so, there
would be no rebellion. But, there have been rebellions, successful or otherwise,
throughout history.
The English revolted and executed Charles 1, the most devout of rulers, in 1649
because he dissolved their [useless] parliament so as to impose tax by royal decree.
Americans revolted against King George on the cry, “No taxation without
representation”. The French soon followed for similar reasons. East Pakistanis
revolted to create Bangladesh because of a host of reasons; unequal use and
distribution of wealth being predominant. The rebellion of our TTP hasn’t quite
ended yet.
What triggers such events?

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A question, both easy and extremely difficult to answer. If we are consciously aware
of the conclusions that we are reaching, as we proceed on this search, then we are
now aware that neither justice nor freedom, which we began with as our end, are
attainable in absolute and, therefore, the best compromise is what we must make
do with.
What this implies is that all citizens of all states suffer [more or less] at the hands of
the state but must continuously continue to seek better and better governance so
as to be more contented with their lot; which is the underlying concept of Civics—
on which, more on another occasion.
Revolutions occur when a discontented people turn into malcontents. What turns
them from ‘dis’ to ‘mal’; depends on the collective level of tolerance of bad
governance of the peoples. Our level of tolerance for all sufferings resulting from
injustice, and bad-governance seems especially high.
We have allowed generations of our rulers to do with us as they will in all matters.
No government, including this one has performed its policing functions satisfactorily.
Religious fanatics can deny our children polio drops and, not only distort laws
unchallenged, they can deprive us of the very basics of science of moon-sighting not
merely with impunity but challengingly. Is it because we are less intrepid and daring?
Perhaps that is also why we are not sea-faring. If so, does that have something to
with the climate and food here? I don’t know but; maybe. Certainly the bad
governance of the past seventy two years has continued to worsen and increasingly
brazenly; and we have only a few malcontents.
Let it be absolutely clear that this article is merely another clog in the study of
political science and not a call to revolt. Currently, the entire globe is faced with a
situation which can pose an existential threat to mankind and, we must, all of us, do
what we can to that end. To repeat JFK’s words, this is the time to, “ask not what
your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country”. But, we must,
all of us, also be aware of our rights and duties as citizens and, while we must
endeavor to do our duties as best we can, we must also demand our rights. We must
demand in forceful words and, if we must, protest forcefully. If we don’t, the elitists
will continue to be increasingly unjust in governance as well and then blood will have
to be shed; someday.
By: Shaukat Qadir
Source: Daily Times
The writer is a retired brigadier. He is also former vice president and founder of the
Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI).

10-6-2020
 Redistribution of resources, equality and Islamic economic system
The dream of equality is as old as the human history. Humans have been deceived in
the name of equality time and again. The evolution of civilization could not present
an answer. The world kept on experimenting but is nowhere near a solution. In
recent years the spread of in-equality accelerated and now it is a widespread
phenomenon. Technology is feared to further enhance those inequalities. The most
concrete example can be quoted from the recent shock of COVID-19. For example,
in USA more than 40 million people lost jobs but at the same time big technology-
based companies added billions of dollars to their net worth. Companies like
amazon, Facebook, Microsoft etc. are making money. During the first two months of
lockdown Jeff Bezos added US$ 34.6 billion, Mark Zuckerberg, US$ 25. 3 billion and
Bill Gates US$ 8 billion to their net wealth. Three people have accumulated US$ 67.9
billion and millions are looking for livelihood opportunities. This is for one country, if
we look at the global level the picture would be scarier. It means the fourth industrial
revolution would be accompany by a new wave of in-equalities.
However, the problem of in-equality cannot be attributed to technology only, it is
already prevalent across the world. The main culprit of in-equality is our current
economic system, which is built on the concept of ‘Capitalism’. The system is a
deceptive one with a false promise of equal opportunity. Most prominent example
of its deceptive nature is the calculation of per capita income. Second, it leads to
accumulation of wealth in few hands by means of banking, financial institutions and
capturing resources. Third, the system talks about profit, at any cost and without
taking ethical considerations like human security or relevant externalities like
climate change.
Racism is being used to create in-equality. Although, in-equality in USA is quite high
among all segments of population but the black people are worst hit by it
This is not only confined to capitalism, other experiments also presented the same
results with the exception of, the Islamic system. The analysis of prevailing economic
systems shows that there are two areas fostering the in-equalities, 1) accumulation
of wealth in a few hands, and 2) no system of redistribution of resources. The
accumulation of wealth is supported by Riba (interest) based system and there is no
system of redistribution of resources. We can only find theory of trickle-down, which
is deeply flawed. If the theory has the merit, then the most capitalist economies,
countries, with best systems of governance, should not be facing the problem of in-
equality. We can quote numerous examples from the present systems, like there are
people with trillion-dollar companies and there are people who are struggling to find
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means of sustaining life. The biggest proponent of capitalism, USA is a perfect
example of this in-equality.
The Islamic system hit these two fundamental flaws and presents a different model
of economy. The system has two very unique rules, which determine the shape of
society, economy and well-being of people. First, the Zakat and second the
prohibition of Riba (interest system). Zakat is system of re-distribution of resources,
which is only part of Islamic system of economy. It is mandatory for wealthy people
to donate a certain portion of their wealth (2.5 percent) to poor. It is annual fixture;
therefore, it is sustainable activity and must be continued without any break or
exception. The proportion also increase with increase in resources or wealth without
introducing any new rules or regulation. It also contributes to consumption, which is
desired outcome for any business entity. Poor will have resources to spend,
especially on the essential commodities. It will give impetus to local consumption
and create new business opportunities of business. The best part of policy is that the
use of Zakat is restricted for the poor only. It targets the poorest segments of society
and leads to uplifting the poor sections of the society. Another important element
of the Zakat policy is the process, which will continue till a society prospers and you
cannot find people who need it or do not meet the criteria to receive it.
So, the redistribution continues to bridge the gap and in-equality remains low, if not
eliminated completely. Although, it is to be implemented in a Muslim run system
other models can also learn and try to create their own model of redistribution
according to their culture, society and economies. However, this system can provide
them a good case study and a best practice.
Second, element is prohibition of Riba (interest). Apart from other ills, it also
discourages the circulation of wealth. The reason is that it presents a reliable way to
secure the wealth for wealthy people without taking risk. You can earn profit without
putting efforts. Hence, people do not like to invest in business, and they prefer to
earn profit. It leads to less investment in productive sectors, the sectors which
produce jobs. Therefore, the resourceless people do not find jobs but the people
with resources multiple their resources. Therefore, the major beneficiaries are
people with money and financial institutions at the expense of vast majority. It leads
to in-equality or dependents.
Further analysis shows that whenever, Islamic economic model was implemented it
created equalities and delivered sustainable development, where no one was left
behind in practical terms. We can take examples from the periods of four Caliphs

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and from the period of Umar bin Abdul Aziz (RA). In the time of Umar (R.A) there was
no person in the entire state, who was eligible for Zakat after a few years of his rule.
On contrary, the capitalist system, which presents itself as the champion of
sustainable development, could not deliver on the perceived objectives due to these
two fundamental flaws. In-equality is a wide spread phenomena, governments are
trying to introduce programs that can help sustain their basic needs. However, the
support system by governments is also under immense pressure from private sector
and interest groups. They want to eliminate it. People are protesting against the
initiatives. The yellow vest moment in France, the rise of nationalist parties, which
are against migrants, is also result of this in-equality.
The present situation have made one thing obvious; there is no alternative for
redistribution of resources. Moreover, we have to keep in mind that redistribution
of resources is very important to sustain the society. If we look at the history of
revolutions, the fundamental cause always seems to be the in-equality in a society,
which originates from the economy. The most recent example can be quoted from
the movement of people against racism in USA. The deep analysis shows that racism
is deep rooted in in-equality. Racism is being used to create in-equality. Although, in-
equality in USA is quite high among all segments of population but the black people
are worst hit by it. We can also quote an example of the wall street movement few
years back was also deeply rooted in in-equality.
Unfortunately, we are not ready to learn our lesson and are going all out to prove
that the current system is the best. We have become deeply dependent on
capitalism and does not want to look in any other direction. The elite or beneficiaries
of the system are more powerful than some of the countries. We know that the
system is creating problems, but they do not give any chance to world to move
toward a fair system of distribution of resources. However, they need to be clear
that this system of injustice and in-equality will have to come to end by choice or by
force. This is the lesson of history; which keep on repeating itself.
By: Shakeel Ahmad Ramay
Source: Daily Times

The writer is a Director Asia Study Center

10-6-2020
 Pakistan’s Foreign Policy during the COVID-19 South Asia
The world is changing its posture from a security-oriented post 9/11 to development-
focused post COVID-19 era. The virus has yet to hit South Asia with full swing, its
second and third wave may impact the region more deeply. Malnourished,
economically instable, poorly governed, politically fragile, terror-hit, and with
persistent conflicts, the virus threatens South Asia’s post COVID-19 milieu. These
subtilities are challenge to the regional leadership, but it will also provide an
opportunity for much needed change from security to development; border conflicts
to peace via amicable means.
Being a pivotal state both globally (due to nuclear power) and regionally (extensively
involved in regional politics and due to its geo-strategic location), Pakistan’s course
of action impacts the region heavily. The South Asian states, which are on the same
boat in fighting the COVID-19, have put aside other issues as much as possible,
prioritizing this one at hand. Along with the health of their citizens, the driving force
behind these initiatives can be construed as economic, as key economic factors
already show extended recession. In an era of globalization, this is a collective
concern and it comes to no surprise, despite political difference there is no way out
but mutual cooperation. Pakistan itself has taken the initiative for stronger
cooperation at many fronts.
Afghanistan- a conflict ridden country is vulnerable to the COVID-19 and worse wave
is still to come. It has yet to see massive outbreak owing to its proximity with regional
epicenter of the virus- Iran. This could be catastrophic. Iran is in COVID recession due
to its robust and aggressive counter measures. Other South Asian countries like
Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh are managing the virus spread so far. At
the same time, crisis are deepening gradually. A lot is spoken and written about the
post crisis era. However, I believe that it was to expedite the happening of events at
global level. Bad guys like the Taliban, Daaish and other insurgent groups in the
region will take full advantage of the situation by magnifying already present crisis.
Economic downturns, grievances, humanitarian and resultantly refugee and
displacement crisis may deepen.
Pakistan has yet many challenges to overcome in regards to its foreign policy in the
wake of Coronavirus. US’ constant concerns over CPEC loans and IMF’s demands on
improving the economy are major factors it has to consider while establishing its
policy
Since February this year, the Afghan Peace Talks have been of high momentum
during the Pandemic. Both Pakistan’s and India’s involvement is pivotal to the issue

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and has been so established on multiple occasions to contain their cold war in
Afghanistan. The US constant reiteration of Pakistan’s role, Pakistan’s Foreign
Minister’s presence in Doha during the signing and him stating ‘this couldn’t have
happened without Pakistan’ are all great examples of this. During the same days of
the Accord, Asad Majeed Khan, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US encouraged India
to “talk to the Taliban if their state felt it would bolster the peace process”. This
followed the US Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad’s recommendation of India’s involvement.
In regards to the country itself, Pakistan has had a proactive stance in making its
voice heard amidst the turbulence of COVID-19. President Dr Arif Alvi stated on the
20th of May during a local ration distribution that sustainable peace in Afghanistan
and good relations with it were among Pakistan’s top priorities. Having addressed
the refugee issue, he added that they along with the general public were welcome
especially in the wake of the Virus. On the same day, Foreign Minister Shah
Mehmood Qureshi in another interview stated and emphasized on Pakistan’s
supportive role in the Afghan Peace Process saying peace in the country meant peace
for the region. He also added that the delay in the process was not a responsibility
of Pakistan and it was the domestic situation that hindered the process. As of the
most recent developments, an agreement between the two states to reestablish
trade has been made under the Afghan Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA)
2010, which will be utilizing Gawadar Port as a route.
Considering the South Asian countries and neighbors, the cases continue to grow
amid the fear of inefficient health systems. In the Himalayan states, so far Bhutan
and Nepal have kept rates that are difficult to detect. The first and foremost to come
to mind is India. Both being members of the South Asian Association for Regional
Cooperation (SAARC), it was Pakistan who took the initiative of hosting a COVID-19
conference. This is significant because regional cooperation has been spurred,
something the region has been devoid of characteristically. While this platform has
brought together these countries due to the commonality of the Pandemic, Pakistan
raised the issue of Kashmir during the video session on the 23rd of April, making
evident its prime place once again among Pakistan’s foreign policy objectives.
Despite the ever-existent animosity, these countries had come under platform due
to the Virus. India itself has taken multiple initiatives, including what can be referred
to as ‘hydroxychloroquine diplomacy’, a world-known anti-malarial medicine
recommended specifically for Corona. It has been able to supply millions of units to
Bhutan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Afghanistan and other countries. However, in the
wake of the recent border disputes, India has started to have with its neighbors, a

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strong stance has been taken. Prime Minister Imran Khan, in a series of tweets,
rebuked that India has become a threat to regional peace due to these disputes. He
further added that Modi’s expansionist policies were the cause behind it and the
countries involved, that is, Nepal, China and Pakistan are all to face negative impacts.
Other countries in the region, such as Bangladesh, have been a great victim of the
pandemic despite its spurting economy. Around a thousand factories were opened
after a 10-day ‘general holiday’, with desperate workers pouring into Dhaka
exacerbating the spread. As of recent developments between Pakistan and
Bangladesh, a local pharmaceutical company has signed an agreement to import
Remdesivir, a drug that acts directly on the virus and has proven to cure sever
patients of it. Given the fact that expert opinion has given a thumbs up to
Bangladesh’s outstanding progress in the sector, it is a huge leap for both Pakistan’s
own people and the two states’ relations in the future.
Just a few days ago in response to India’s Citizens Amendment Act 2019, Pakistan
attempted to create an informal group in the Organisation of Islamic Conference. It
was an initiative against Islamophobia which was thwarted by Maldives, them stating
that it was wrong to single India out and detrimental to harmony in the Muslim
world, considering its Muslim population.
Pakistan is utilizing its diplomacy in engaging international bodies as well to curb the
Pandemic. A rescue and stimulus package has been announced by the Government
worth PKR 1.13 Trillion ($6.76 billion), which is to be funded by the Asian
Development Bank and World Bank. Analyzing on an international level, Pakistan has
yet many challenges to overcome in regards to its foreign policy in the wake of
Coronavirus. US’ constant concerns over CPEC loans and IMF’s demands on
improving the economy are major factors it has to consider while establishing its
policy. Between a faltering economy, it is no doubt that the country’s politics, foreign
policy and social life have heavily been impacted by the COVID-19. However, it is still
up to the state how it manages these dynamics utilizing the basic tool of diplomacy
to its best interest, especially in a time of such fear and uncertainty.
By: Prof Dr Syed Hussain Shaheed Soherwordi
Source: Daily Times
The author is director of the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies at the University
of Peshawar. Twitter:@SHussainShaheed

10-6-2020
 Pakistan — a most vulnerable country
Writing in the well-read World Healthcare Journal, my review of the pandemic world
over and especially Pakistan drew a bleak picture. By the end of May, the total
number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan had almost bypassed 70,000 with nearly
2500 casualties. As I lamented, the PTI government was trying to keep to itself the
reasons why the graph has risen so steeply over the last few weeks. Perhaps it was
reluctant to actually share the number of deaths, rightly so for fear of panic.
Most likely whoever takes a closer look into the major reasons pertaining to the
pandemic will agree with me that firstly, continued lack of awareness about the
serious nature of the virus. One regrets to say masses do not respect nor observe
social distancing protocols (SOPs), so it’s only natural that more would catch the
virus. Doctors vehemently warned the authorities of the lethal perils of easing
lockdown.
I believe that if only the public had behaved more responsibly when social interaction
restarted, there’s no doubt things would not have been so bad that the Prime
Minister would have to appear with such frequency to lecture his countrymen to
take the threat seriously. Secondly, it was a colossal blunder by the Federal
government to delay lockdown, followed by further easing of lockdown despite the
opposition from the medical community. Now, having introduced relaxation of the
lockdown measures, the Prime Minister warns of the dire consequences of Covid-19
if SOPs are not followed strictly.
Six million plus people in more than 202 countries are afflicted, with nearly 390,000
dead. Pakistan, despite being close to China, was Covid-19-free until February 26
when a young man tested positive after returning from Iran. Covid-19 spiked soon
afterwards as the Khan Government allowed more pilgrims who tested positive to
enter from Iran. Unlike Islamabad, Sindh province had a clear and effective policy of
pursuing lockdown with social distancing, closure of schools, offices, businesses,
shopping malls, bazaars, and suspension of prayers in mosques,?whereas the
Federal government persistently opposed these measures and its functionaries
carried on a vicious campaign against lockdown.
Now the lockdown has been eased from June 1 but, as warned by the Pakistan
Medical Association, relaxation has been responsible for multiplying number of
deaths and infecting a larger number of people
It was noticeable that Sindh virtually gave a lead to the provinces in measures to curb
Covid-19. Sindh’s effective handling of the pandemic led to instant appreciation from

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WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and other representatives
who advised member countries to take a lesson from Sindh.
Currently, the way pandemic is surging in an alarming manner and Pakistan is
heading towards a Covid-19 emergency with the response from its Prime Minister
and government falling too short of the challenge.
Medical experts believe that the country could face a crisis of enormous magnitude
if it fails to act properly without further loss of time.
It is very depressing to note that Pakistanis seem to be taking the pandemic too
lightly. Prime Minister Imran Khan’s last address to the nation was too complacent
in asking people to learn to live with Covid-19, not to panic and to be prepared
mentally to survive for a year. It is going to be a battle to save people from Covid-19
at one end without letting them die of hunger on the other. He has so far not come
up with a concrete policy to blunt Covid-19’s march.
In comparison, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah’s persistent measures to impose
lockdown – self-distancing, banning of prayers in mosques, closure of schools,
businesses etc-have proven to be most effective. His initiate got blunted by the
Federal governments counter productive easing of lockdown.
Pakistan urgently needs a collective approach to the pandemic by strictly imposing
SOPs regarding social distancing and lockdown, and equipping doctors and
paramedics with PPE to stop further casualties. Pakistan now manages to
manufacture ventilators, face masks, gloves and gowns locally.
Lockdown did not have ready acceptability among the people and when it came to
banning of religious congregations in mosques, the clerics came up with tough
resistance. President Dr Arif Alvi, had to intervene with religious leaders to come up
with an SOP that could prohibit congregations in mosques, especially in the month
of Ramadan when prayers become more than routine, mandating the prayers to be
held at home backed by religious edicts (fatwa) by the Ulema.
It is Pakistan’s good fortune that Saudi Arabia, as the custodians of Harmein
Sharifeen-holiest of Muslim religious establishment of Holy Ka’aba in Mecca and
Masjid-e-Nabvi (Prophet’s Mosque) in Medina, had taken the initiative of closing
down both the places thus making it easier to impose lockdown elsewhere.
Hardest hit are daily wage earners living below the poverty line. Now the lockdown
has been eased from June 1 but, as warned by the Pakistan Medical Association,
relaxation has been responsible for multiplying number of deaths and infecting a
larger number of people.

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The most alarming aspect is the increasing number of casualties among doctors and
nurses. It seems inevitable that the Federal government shall have to review its
decision of relaxing lockdown urgently.
In view of the gravity of the situation, the Army Chief General Javed Qamar Bajwa
has rightly intervened and involved the Pakistan army in the war against coronovirus.
He has established a Covid-19 Command & Control Centre under a three-star general
to keep monitoring the situation.
It must be mentioned here that Pakistan has a minimal and lamentable healthcare
system and it was almost facing collapse when struck by the virus. In this period of
national emergency, several makeshift treatment and isolation centres with several
thousand beds have been established, but they require lot of funding and assistance
to successfully run them. Besides, there are permanent hindrances in the fight
against Covid-19, religious and social taboos, plus the disbelief of the masses who
question the reality of Covid-19. Their reaction is much like the reaction of mullas
over the successful walk by astronaut Neil Armstrong on the moon.
I remembering mulla cimmunity blaring from the pulpits that the moon walk was
American propaganda.
Pakistan today has become one of the most vulnerable countries in the crisis. It
needs to be helped to increase the capacity of hospitals, the number of ICU beds,
ventilators and immunity build up facilities and protective gear for doctors and
paramedics, not ruling out another spike in cases in the future.
Notwithstanding the environmental considerations, Pakistan’s poverty level, lack of
running water, toileting facilities, and dense occupancy in a house– all combine to
pose the most potent risk factors inviting all sort of diseases.
By: Wajid Shamsul Hasan
Source: Daily Times

(Author is former High Commissioner of Pakistan to UK and a veteran journalist)

10-6-2020
 Inclusive institutions
Pakistan has been run by the same system over decades, in which while regimes
change hands, the underlying theme remains the same.
The main stakeholders have failed to realize the flaw in our system, which is broken
or at best weak institutions. This has created a major void between the Haves and
the Have-Nots, where a few live in an oasis that’s a far cry for most of the 220 million
proletariats.
A weak economy, a broken political system, disenfranchised people, unmotivated
bureaucracy and an archaic judicial system – can all be directly or indirectly
attributed to the weak institutions of the country. Why has a country that sits on
mega reserves of invaluable resources, oil, gas, precious metals, an untapped
tourism industry, an envied human resource capital and a strategically strong
geographic location in the region failed to evolve? The simple answer is a system
that doesn’t support inclusive institutions.
As such there’s no formal definition of ‘inclusive institutions’ but as established for
centuries in the world and especially in the developed world, inclusive institutions
have been the basis for broad-scale socioeconomic development. The premise of
inclusive institutions is based on universality, equal opportunity, fair representation,
especially for the disadvantaged class, and equal access to resources. Irrespective of
population demographics (age, gender, per capita income, education level) and
resources, countries embracing and supporting thedr institutions have made
significant strides economically and in human capital development.
In the book, ‘Why Nations Fail’, the authors compare South and North Korea; the
two nations started with the same per capita income post World War II but there are
stark economic differences between them now, with South Korea having 12 times
higher income per capita. The incentivized public and private sectors that encourage
investments, innovation and exports are the key driving forces for South Korea’s
economic evolution. Further, compared to Western countries, sub-Saharan, South
American and Middle Eastern countries are glaring examples of systems that failed
to develop inclusive institutions and have struggled economically.
As expected, there’s a strong correlation between strong institutions and countries
that are on top of the global competitive index. An enabling environment, high
ethical standards, accountability and transparency in the public domain have not
only built trust in public representatives but also have formed an effective public-
private-sector nexus in these countries. Year-over-year rich economic growth, a

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competitive private sector and a sense of public ownership is driven by the political,
social, legal and economic institutions built in the countries.
Since inception and especially over the past 40 years, Pakistan’s economy has seen
its worst. Except for a brief period, where the GDP growth hovered at five percent,
overall, all the macroeconomic indicators have been trending downward. The pre-
Covid19 fiasco of GDP plummeting to about two percent is the most alarming state
the country has faced. The governments’ failure to develop strong institutions to
foster economic growth through an environment that supports the corporate sector
and especially small businesses has brought the country on the verge of economic
collapse.
Individuals and small businesses cannot progress in an environment where only the
ruling elite, large corporations and well-networked people can make headway. This
results in a corporate landscape that doesn’t support competition, which in turn
leads to costly and inferior quality products and services for domestic and foreign
consumers. Pakistan’s dwindling exports are a testament to this.
Further, this impedes the government effort to broaden its tax base to tax a large
group of businesses at a lower tax rate instead of imposing taxes on a small group at
a higher rate. To indicate the significance of small businesses, the US, the largest
economy in the world, has over 27 million small businesses that account for over 50
percent of the GDP. Similar economic composition can be seen in most developed
countries.
The current government’s focus to curtail the current account deficit (CAD) without
improving the infrastructure to support the domestic industry has further
deteriorated the economic condition. Though it could be argued that a large CAD
stifles an economy and burdens a currency, without improving exports and enacting
regulations that support a competitive business environment merely lowering CAD
alone is counterproductive. Industries are adversely affected and unemployment
increases for economies that rely on imports and that to an extent has enhanced
Pakistan’s economic woes. This can be witnessed in the retail sector of the country
where millions have lost their jobs and many businesses closed operations. In
addition, about 10 million people have fallen below the poverty level since 2018.
Further, though Pakistan has mega oil and gas reserves, still one of its biggest imports
for decades is oil. Pakistan’s oil imports have been over $10 billion for many years,
reaching over $13 billion in fiscal year 2018/19. The inability to tap into the reserves
could mainly be attributed to tight government regulations that have not rendered

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a competitive environment to attract the private sector and especially foreign
conglomerates.
The limited production is either managed by OGDCL itself or the government has
extended contracts to companies that have produced limited quantities of oil.
Contracts may have also been granted to companies that have yet to commence
production.
With the Covid-19 calamity that has further exposed the holes in our system and
financially debilitated the lower and lower-middle class, the time is now for the main
stakeholders to get to the drawing board and devise short (one year), medium (five
years) and long term (20 years) strategic, out-of-the-box plans to steer the country
out of the crisis and perhaps prevent a meltdown.
The only obvious solution is to build strong institutions that foster ubiquitous public
access, an objective/transparent political and efficient judicial systems, strengthen
domestic industry through incentives, competition and provide a favorable,
business-friendly environment for foreign investors.-
By: Arbab Usman Khan
Source: The News
The writer is a freelance contributor.

10-6-2020
 Protecting teachers
On May 15 this year, Mr A received a phone call from the head of campus at his
school informing him that the school no longer required his services and he would
not be entitled to any remuneration beyond the then current month of May.
Upon probing into the reason behind this apparently arbitrary and shocking decision,
Mr A was insultingly told that that the work he does in the school can be carried out
by any random member of the domestic staff.
A couple of decades back, Mr A had qualified as an engineer from NED, Karachi’s
best engineering university and could have availed offers from family members of
joining them to settle in Canada. He, however, chose to stay back and instead
dedicated his years teaching science in private schools.
His choice was even more specific, as he was determined to teach students in Islamic
schools and somehow managed to make his ends meet with his modest school
salary. That fateful day, after serving an Islamic school for nine years, Mr A was not
only slapped with a termination, but also cruelly belittled for his contributions to the
school.
Thinking about the instant fallout of losing a job in the time of this pandemic and
economic uncertainty was certainly painful. And the manner in which he was told to
exit left him guessing as to what was remotely Islamic or educated about such
actions. His emails to the school founders, who are renowned corporate figures,
received no response. Living in a rented apartment with four children and no
personal savings, this ageing man can only pray for a silver lining from somewhere.
Across the same Islamic school in the girls’ campus, freshly graduated MBAs and
doctors, are regretting their decisions of forgoing their careers. Asked to clean
shelves, drop each child to the gate when their cars arrive and receive deductions at
every excuse when no over-time structures are in place, they feel that they are in an
abusive workplace which simply exploits their commitment to this cause of
education and Islam.
Nevertheless, such working conditions are not specific to specific schools. Employees
across private schools need protection. Breaches of contractual obligations, lack of
adherence to the agreed job descriptions, lack of professionalism, sudden
termination, unfairness and most importantly the exploitation of the younger
faculty’s passion to serve the cause of education at the hands of school bosses runs
rampant across private schools.
Sports days, carnivals, academic evenings, theaters and substituting for absent
teachers are acceptable excuses where school leaders can smilingly squeeze his/her

10-6-2020
teachers for work without paying a single penny extra. Whether they are schools
catering for the lower-middle class or the elite schools of Clifton and Defence serving
the upper class, the working conditions for employees in schools seldom vary.
The consequences of such unjust working conditions are profound. Apart from
subjecting our teachers to excessive burden and anguish, it gravely deprives them of
their due human rights. This in turn has a direct impact on teacher morale and thus,
adversely affects the quality of education delivered in schools. Further, hearsay
about this dimension in professional circles prevents talented graduates from joining
schools.
While we would desire schools with inspiring faculty members for our children and
the school websites may also market that, it is the lack of employee protection at
the hands of school leaders which prevents the passionate and self-driven young
minds from sticking around in the teaching profession.
It is, therefore, tremendously important that our faculty members be protected from
the unfair and unjust practices of private schools, including these recent religious
schools. One would wish that teachers could have their unions that could speak for
themselves, but we are past that era. In the current situation, after the passage of
the 18th Amendment in our constitution and education falling in the provincial
domain, the onus lies on the provincial governments to ensure that private schools
are operating under the ambit of the law and that the interests of employees are
duly protected.
There should also be free legal aid for school employees to seek justice in courts of
law and file suits against their employers for cases of workplace harassment,
bullying, unfair terminations and failure to abide by agreed contractual clauses.
Private school associations should also become more active forums and develop
standards for compliance, rather than just announcing holidays.
Further, civil society organizations working in the field of education which have thus
far devoted most of their attention to public-sector education or schools in low-
income areas should also play their role in highlighting the plight of teachers in the
private sector and advocate for their rights.
For education to improve, we must attract and sustain highly talented individuals as
teachers. However, that will never be the case if they are left at the mercy of school
barons. Finally, it bears mentioning here that our laws and rules, besides restraining
certain behaviours, are important normative statements symbolizing what our
society stands for. If we are to be a society which values traditions of knowledge and

10-6-2020
learning, then we ought to place our teachers on a higher pedestal and take care of
their well-being.
By: Abdul Haseeb Shaikh
Source: The News
The writer is a faculty member at the Government Elementary College of Teacher
Education, Hussainabad, being managed by Durbeen.

10-6-2020
 A missed opportunity
Despite the Covid-19 pandemic hogging headlines the world over, thanks to the
massive havoc it is wreaking in terms of human and economic losses, the perennial
India-Pakistan dispute continues to remain alive and kicking.
The epoch-making step taken by the Modi’s nationalistic and Hindutva inspired
government on August 5 last year upset the status quo in a spectacular way and
unleashed dynamics whose consequences have not only reshaped the nature of
bilateral relations between the archrivals but also upped the ante for peace and
stability in the Greater South Asia region.
Indian PM Modi’s one odd tweet expressing sympathies for the bereaved families on
the loss of human lives in a plane crash in Karachi represented a minor departure
from a pattern marked by belligerence and brinkmanship employed by New Delhi in
its post-August interaction with Islamabad.
The fact that peace in South Asia hangs by a thread is endorsed by the recurrent
clashes along the LoC as well as the possibility of a terrorist incident a la Pulwama,
bringing both the countries in an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation. Prime Minister
Imran Khan has been consistently empathic in articulating an apprehension of India
launching a false flag operation to take the global spotlight away from its action in
Held Kashmir.
The annexation of Jammu & Kashmir to the Indian Union, courtesy the scrapping of
Article 370 and Article 35-A, has shut the doors of dialogue on Islamabad and New
Delhi for a foreseeable future, adding to uncertainty and confusion in their conflict-
ridden relations. A ‘no-dialogue’ state also characterized by downgrading of
diplomatic relations means that both the governments do not have even normal
means of communication to manage an unexpected crisis.
This massive rupture in the bilateral relations did not come off all of a sudden. There
has been a gradual buildup with events happening periodically over the years, and
the lack of sufficient response increasing the costs for peace-building and normalcy
in the bilateral relations.
The story of India-Pakistan relations is a story of missed opportunities. The following
is instructive in this regard:
A review of election campaigns run by various political parties in India and Pakistan
makes for an interesting reading. For Indian political parties, the BJP in particular,
elections in India are pivoted around Pakistan. A familiar pattern has emerged in the
run-up to an election. A real or an alleged incident of terror or skirmishes along the

10-6-2020
LoC hands over a justification to Indian political parties to launch a full-throttle verbal
attack on Islamabad in an effort to outcompete each other in Pakistan-bashing.
In such an environment, the talk of the performance of the sitting government is
hushed up and critique of the manifestos of the contesting political parties is put on
the backburner. In the end, it all boils down to Pakistan and the mantra of cross-
border terrorism.
Contrarily, as suggested by an appraisal of the issues dominating the pre-election
political conversation in Pakistan, India does not figure as one of the main talking
points of mainstream political leaders. If anything, manifestos of the political parties,
be it PTI, PML-N or PPP, demonstrate a unanimity on the need for improving
relations with the eastern neighbour. Even Jamat-i-Islami and other right wing
parties that made quite a fuss about the signing of Lahore Declaration in 1999 are
unable to bring India into the national conversation.
The obdurate Modi government missed another important development in Pakistan,
which, if leveraged, could have opened up vistas of opportunity for resolution of the
outstanding issues bedeviling the bilateral relations. As Pakistan took on a plethora
of terrorist and militant organizations in a fight for its survival spanning over a
decade, a gradual realisation developed within the civilian and military leadership
that the country’s security challenges stemming from the non-state actors were
graver and more urgent than those posed by neighbours.
This development marked a strategic shift in Pakistan’s India policy with all elements
of national power convinced of the need for engagement and resolution of all
outstanding issues through negotiation. Former PM Nawaz Sharif’s attendance of
Modi’s oath-taking ceremony in 2014 and Prime Minister Imran Khan’s desire of
working with Modi can be seen in this context.
In his victory speech, PM Imran Khan listed improvement of relations with India as
one of the key agenda points of his administration, thus indicating a fresh emphasis
on how vital rapprochement with New Delhi was. He followed it up with a couple of
goodwill letters to PM Modi in which he underlined the need of sustainable peace
to rid people of two countries of the shared challenges of economic backwardness
and poverty.
Likewise, the robust and active Pakistani media and civil society organizations added
their powerful voice to the peace efforts, reflecting a change in mood and thinking
in Islamabad. This runs contrary to the hawkish tone of the Indian media vis-à-vis
Pakistan which, with a few exceptions, emerged as a mouthpiece of the right-wing
Hindutva-peddling BJP government.

10-6-2020
The Indian leadership demonstrated a myopic approach in failing to read the
significant transformation in the worldview of Pakistan’s political and strategic
community. The Modi government’s insistence on painting Pakistan in a bad light as
a promoter of terrorism flew in the face of the changed reality of a country that has
won global applause by winning the war on terrorism spanning over almost two
decades. India’s Pakistan policy seems stuck in a time warp, lacking the capacity to
adjust to new realities.
Modi’s revocation of the special status afforded to IOK and subsequent actions to
remake India in the image of the Hindutva ideology that feeds on exclusivity and
Xenophobia has pushed it into a blind alley. The Hinduisation of the country presents
manifest dangers to its multi-ethnic and multi-religious character, capable of
plunging it into a deep pit of self-destruction. Post-August India has been engulfed
in raging fires that have weakened its Gandhian foundation.
The situation in IOK remains so volatile and dicey that the Modi government has
been unable to lift the lockdown out of the fear of the unknown despite the passage
of ten months. What transpires in Kashmir over the next few years will reshape not
only India but also the future of its relations with Pakistan. The prospect of an
estranged and hostile neighbourhood is a likely outcome of Modi's hawkish policies.
History tells us that there is no coming back from the path India has chosen.
By: Amanat Ali Chaudhry
Source: The News
The writer, a Chevening scholar, studied International Journalism at the University
of Sussex.

10-6-2020
 The descent of America
Complaints about American decline have been commonplace since at least the
Vietnam War era. In the late 1980s, declinism experienced an upsurge with the
publication of The Rise and Fall of Great Powers, by Paul Kennedy, which warned of
the dangers of imperial overstretch. Even America’s putative victory over the Soviet
Union in the cold war represented only a minor lull in the chatter about the erosion
of US status relative to other countries, particularly a rising China.
Closer to home, meanwhile, the grumbling over America’s crumbling usually spikes
around the release of the American Society of Civil Engineers’ quadrennial
infrastructure report card.
In 2017, the ASCE awarded America a D+ for the state of its roads, bridges, schools,
parks, and public transportation. The grade was no surprise to many Americans.
“This is an advanced economy?” people ask themselves as they wait for a broken-
down bus, hit a pothole on the highway, turn away from the undrinkable water
coming out of their taps, or drop their child at a school that’s just a few steps away
from being condemned.
In US schools, D is unsatisfactory but still officially passing. In terms of infrastructure,
the United States teeters perilously on the edge of failure.
In the last few months, however, America has gone over the edge. The country has
quickly, recklessly, impulsively entered the failure zone. First, there’s the failure of
leadership. The country has been ruled for the last three years by a corrupt,
incompetent, would-be dictator who, when faced with a spate of crises, has proven
spectacularly unfit for the job.
Second, there’s the failure to protect American lives. More than 100,000 people have
died from the coronavirus, a level of death generally seen only in wartime. Third,
there’s the failure of the American dream. The economy has collapsed due to the
coronavirus, and the unemployment rate has surged to nearly 20 percent.
Finally, there’s the chronic failure of American racism. In the last week, people have
taken to the streets to protest the death of yet another African American at the
hands of the police. On May 25, a police officer in Minneapolis handcuffed George
Floyd on suspicion of forgery, pinned him to the ground, put a knee on his neck, and
killed him. Floyd was one of over 7,500 people killed by the police since 2013.
Protesters are fed up with police profiling, targeting, and killing. But they are also
outraged at the disproportionate impact of the pandemic and the economic collapse
on people of color. The anger is entirely understandable. “I can’t breathe” applies to
victims of police violence and the coronavirus both.

10-6-2020
The protests themselves are a sign of hope, notwithstanding the over 60,000
National Guard that have poured onto the streets in 24 states.
By: John Feffer
Source: The News
Excerpted from: 'The Descent of America'. Counterpunch.org

10-6-2020
 Populism and the coronavirus
The collapse of communism in Europe, leading to the former Warsaw Pact countries
progressing rapidly after adopting market economies, the unprecedented growth in
China since the 1990s, and the focus on growth, development and trade in most
developing countries has led to a kind of global wealth creation the world has never
known.
But the notion that history has ended, in the sense that the liberal democratic model
coupled with a market-based economy has won the battle of ideas, as popularised
by Francis Fukuyama in the 1990s, is hardly incontestable. Fukuyama’s prediction
that wars amongst nation-states would end has also not panned out. Not only that
half or more of the world population doesn’t live under a liberal democracy but that
even where liberal democracies exist, they are in a flux. Moreover many questions
are being raised about the desirability of the market-based economic model.
While the last three decades saw improvements in the lives and livelihoods of people
around the world, and national incomes rose appreciably, income distribution was
often top-loaded. Greater international trade led to the wages of workers rising in
the developing countries, but it also resulted in wages of unskilled people declining
in developed nations. This fuelled discontentment in the developed world.
Moreover, in the developing world a new class of elites emerged that
disproportionately benefited from this development and growth. There is no doubt
that workers in the developing world did earn more in the last few decades, but they
didn’t do well relative to the rich. The angst however targeted not capital but the
weak in society: ethnic or religious minorities.
Often this social discontentment saw many decidedly non-liberal notions gain
momentum. While crass racism and (in non-Islamic countries) blatant misogyny
were not politically correct anymore, nationalism and xenophobia (particularly
Islamophobia) got a new life. We saw all manner of populists, nationalists,
authoritarian and even fascist political leaders emerge around the world, many with
an overly simplistic, us-versus-them, view of the world.
The governance record of these leaders hasn’t been impressive for their countries.
Leaders with little appreciation for nuance and understanding of governance were
particularly destined to fail. But then these populists and nationalists only focused
on groups whose support brought them to power. The larger electorate or national
welfare was never their concern.

10-6-2020
I have written in this newspaper about the Dunning-Kruger effect, which postulates
how people who are not knowledgeable about a subject believe that solving
problems existing in that subject are easy. Many populist leaders fit this description.
In the United States, Donald Trump saw all of America’s problems emanating either
from foreigners entering the US or from “bad deals” on security and trade she signed
with allies. In his mind, a country running a trade surplus was necessarily taking
advantage of the US. Similarly, immigrants who came to the US indulged in crime
and “stole” jobs. The considerable evidence to the contrary was not really relevant.
In India too the nationalist Narendra Modi had one all-encompassing idea: Muslims
were everything that was wrong with India. His antipathy for Muslims was evident
since the massacre of thousands of Muslims in Gujarat in the 2002 but this anti-
Muslim stance was not a winning coalition by itself. Unlike the inexperienced Trump
or Imran Khan, Modi had a record of delivery in his stint as chief minister of Gujarat.
Therefore he was able to complement his nationalism with a pro-growth agenda that
was supported by the Indian business lobby.
Even though he has maintained India on a growth trajectory, his signature economic
policy has been the demonetising of some currency notes in 2016 that led to a
reduction in economic growth. But his big passion has always been to delegitimize
Muslims. Thus not only has he oppressed and brutalised Kashmiris but also
marginalised Muslims all over India. This may be a good ploy to win approval from
his Hindutva base but the long-term effect of alienating such a large minority cannot
be good.
At home of course we have Khan, the populist who over the last few years has
claimed that Pakistan had one central problem – corruption – and the only antidote
to this was to give him power. As proof of corruption he offered examples of our
high budget deficits, our high debt, rising utility prices, and especially the metro bus
routes built by the PML-N. He claimed that if deficits, debt and prices were rising that
was proof enough of the prime minister being corrupt. Moreover the entire PTI as a
chorus said that there was corruption in the metro bus projects: the
“incontrovertible” proof offered was the high cost of the projects themselves.
A section of the population believed in his rhetoric and two years ago Khan was
installed as our prime minister. In these two years, the PTI has run our economy to
the ground and after examining all the PML-N projects, isn’t able to make a single
specific corruption allegation. Moreover deficit, debt, inflation are all much worse
under the PTI and even its unfinished solitary metro bus project has cost more than
any three of the PML-N’s projects combined. If the PML-N were corrupt, then going

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by Khan’s logic, the PTI has to be uber-corrupt. But as is typical of populists, none of
this has chastened the leader.
Whereas Trump had the fast-growing economy and the breaking of international
treaties to show to his base – and seemed on a path to re-election – and Modi had
India’s growing international importance and repression of Muslims to please his
base, Khan had nothing to show to his base except jailing his opponents (without
even instituting legal cases against them).
However the advent of coronavirus has exposed these populists, nationalist and
authoritarian leaders and their empty rhetoric. The virus has in particular shone a
light on the utter confusion and chaos in policy that is typical of populists. The United
States, the most innovative and scientifically advanced country in the world, has had
the highest incidence of infection and death toll of any country on earth. Brazil, ruled
by the authoritarian Jair Bolsonaro, now has the fastest growing cases. Pakistan on
June 3 had the second-fastest rising cases in the world and yet ranked at 142 for the
number of tests per capita, behind Senegal, Benin, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
An interesting thing is how some of these populist leaders are speaking against their
own policies. So Trump urged his supporters to “liberate” states from lockdown,
Bolsonaro asked his citizens to defy his own government’s social distancing
guidelines and Khan railed against lockdowns even as his own government imposed
and extended them. Modi wanted investigations to see if water from the Ganges
could cure covid. And finally in what can be only described as an epiphany, Khan is
now encouraging tourism in Pakistan. This when international flights aren’t allowed
to bring in passengers and domestic flights are running at about half capacity.
The coronavirus pandemic has infected millions, killed over 400,000 people, and
inflicted damage worth trillions, but it has also exposed the limitations of
authoritarian, nationalist and populist politicians. Perhaps it will also restore the
model of competent democratic leadership.
By: Miftah Ismail
Source: The News
The writer has served as federal minister for finance, revenue and economic affairs.

10-6-2020
 The cost of power
While the United States was grappling with Covid-19 and China, the gruesome
lynching of 46-year-old African-American George Floyd occurred. A sad story was to
unfold when Floyd bought a pack of cigarettes and gave $20 to a grocery store
employee, who later reported it to the local police claiming the $20 bill was
counterfeit. Minutes later, police arrived and Floyd was violently arrested by Derek
Chauvin, a white police officer, who placed his knee on his neck. Floyd’s pleading
with “I can’t breathe” and also begging for his mother failed to draw mercy from the
callous white policemen. This cruelty went on for 8 minutes and 46 seconds and this
man of lesser fortune breathed his last.
The brutal killing triggered demonstrations and protests in the US, and a curfew was
imposed in cities across the country. Violent demonstrations around the White
House led security staff to evacuate President Donald Trump to an underground
bunker for his safety. The protests that began in the Minneapolis on May 26 spread
to the rest of US and then to Europe, Africa and elsewhere. Protests with the
thematic tagline “Black Lives Matter” resulted in riots, looting and street skirmishes.
Due to mass unrest in more than 24 American cities, nearly 20,000 troops were
called in to assist state administrations. The Trump administration seems to be in hot
waters for taking a ‘hard-line stance’ while dealing with the crisis.
Blackman prejudice or racism dates back to days before the first American Civil War
(1861-1865) when the indigenous American population was butchered by white
European settlers and slaves were brought in from Africa and brutally discriminated
against. From then on, incidents of violent racism against black Americans by whites
has continued. Blacks constitute 12.5% of the US population (Hispanic and Asian
residents comprise 18.3% and 5.9%, respectively). Despite constitutional guarantees
for equal rights, blacks are a part of the country’s marginalised communities. Their
average income is far less than that of white Americans and they also remain
underrepresented in education and job market. The colour of their skin holds them
back in most spheres of American life.
Recent times have exposed the impregnable US and if it continues to trail the same
path, it is likely to grow less and less invincible. There are three factors that have
exposed America’s vulnerabilities: China, Covid-19 and blatant racism. Its
competition with China over a host of issues has placed China at an advantageous
position. While China has played its cards wisely and positively, the US has lost a
measure of its international influence. Its handling of Covid-19 too exposed its
incapacity to deal with the pandemic. The US was not only required to deal

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effectively with the pandemic, but also as a global power rendering help to nations
lacking healthcare infrastructure to deal with the coronavirus.
While the first two factors relate to global politics and capacity, the third factor,
blatant racism has not only hurt US values of liberty, equality and freedom of speech,
but has also harmed its democratic credentials. President Trump was routinely
impulsive in his response to the protestors. Instead of calming down the justified
emotions, he chose to stir acrimony by threatening to invoke the 1807 Insurrection
Act that allows the use of active duty troops against protestors on American soil.
This, in my opinion, needs serious introspection. Saner elements in the US need to
rise to the occasion if they wish to save and live with the “American Dream”. The
American democratic edifice and values remain endangered if the US does not come
to terms with bigotry, and rid itself of racism.
By: Dr Talat Shabbir
Source: The Express Tribune

10-6-2020
 Science, Covid-19 and consciousness-raising
Science thrives during complex crises. It admires a riddle, respects a problem, adores
a predicament and is perpetually on the lookout for a mysterious phenomenon that
it can happily delve into. Science, or rather the scientific method, is the ultimate
mirror that can reflect all reality in all its glorious exquisiteness. In a constantly
changing, huffing and puffing universe, science not only gauges the rate of that
change but also discovers the reasons why this change must occur. It is made of
brash inquisitiveness and is driven by the twin-engines of awe and curiosity. It has a
symbiotic relationship with reality, which is, more often than not, represented by
sheer catastrophes. These catastrophes reconfigure and reinvigorate science;
science, in turn, figures them out, giving them a cause-and-effect form that most
humans can understand, assimilate, control and transfer to other human brains. We
need science to raise our consciousness about the universe.
Covid-19 is also catastrophe. But the brilliant scientific method, a dazzling seven-
tiered mechanism, is combating it boldly. The mechanism consists of making an
observation, framing questions regarding that observation, conducting research in
connection with the observation, designing a hypothesis, performing experiments to
test that hypothesis, recording and analysing the data and finally devising a reason-
based answer to the original question framed!
More than 380,000 people have been killed worldwide by Covid-19 so far. Calamities
routinely disrupt and hurt societies, and science routinely obliterates these
calamities. This arrangement raises the consciousness of people about science which
makes societies aware of the “naturalness” of natural events and uncovers the
causes of these events. Originally popularised by intellectually resourceful feminists
in the United States in the 1960s, consciousness-raising is an extraordinary tool
which can be used to understand and articulate particular problems. For societies
where science has been marginalised, consciousness has become frozen.
The process through which science is combating Covid-19 is also the process that is
raising the collective consciousness of many societies. Although, typically these are
societies that are unaware of the known gamut of reality owing to lack of knowledge,
ascendancy of dogma and denigration of science, apparently many in the UK, the US,
Italy, Spain and other developed countries have also not yet become completely
conscious of the shenanigans of this planet’s biosphere! Their consciousness is now
being raised by science which has revealed that a single disease could affect millions
of people without much ado! They have learnt that diseases could be fought
collectively and effectively! Science has shown that apparently weird notions and

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practices like social distancing, quarantine, isolation, immunity, herd immunity,
vaccination, pathogenic transmission chains, asymptomatic carriers and protective
equipment can help eradicate a communicable disease. Their raised consciousness
regarding science and Covid-19 has also made them aware of the chilling fact that
ignorance can kill!
The containment and treatment of Covid-19 depends primarily on individual
decision-making. Consciousness-raising through science can impact the mental
processes that consciously and subconsciously construct individual decision-making
matrices. Individuals are often irrational and their cost-benefit analyses regarding a
given disease are flawed. Thus, the most effective response to pandemics depends
on behavioural insights. Again, consciousness-raising via science can recontextualise
the process of making a particular decision.
The inimitable Nassim Nicholas Taleb has argued that most people are sceptical
about the wrong things and gullible about the wrong things! Here too,
consciousness-raising is pivotal. Think about the laughable shamanism, anecdotal
non-sense and destructive policies of Donald Trump regarding Covid-19 and try to
appreciate Talib’s truism! Imagine Americans demonstrating fervently in 20 states
against restrictions imposed on citizens to prevent the spread of Covid-19! Trump
exhibits the workings of a static mind that needs to be lifted from the abyss. Compare
his charlatanism to the highly rational approach of Angela Merkel. She has a mind
whose consciousness has been raised to impressive heights.
Without the opening and soaring of a mind, would it be possible to defeat Covid-19?
By: Shariq Jamal Khan
Source: The Express Tribune

10-6-2020
 Streets of rage
America was a tinderbox; George Floyd the flame.
In 2013, when George Zimmerman was acquitted for the killing of 17-year-old
Trayvon Martin, civil rights activist Alicia Garza coined the phrase “Black Lives
Matter”. Seven years later, the phrase has reached its peak as a galvanising cry
against racial injustice.
For over 10 days, Americans have watched as protests paralleling the civil rights
movement erupted across the country. The majority of protestors have taken to the
streets by speaking the language of Martin Luther King Jr: the peaceful protest.
A small minority has taken to the language of riots.
This latter group has been condemned for choosing the path of violence to fight a
system of racial injustice. Labelled no better than the police who killed Floyd, with
right-wing pundits on Fox News calling them “domestic terrorists”.
To be sure, riots result in innocent people suffering, the destruction of property,
communities being broken, and years of recovery. But it is incongruous to group
those rioting in America in the same category as a police force that allows a man to
be lynched in the streets. The reasons for why riots like this occur are far more
nuanced than anything Fox News is capable of understanding.
“In the final analysis, a riot is the language of the unheard,” Martin Luther King
explained. “As long as America postpones justice, we stand in the position of having
these recurrences of violence and riots over and over again.” King abhorred violence,
but he understood why it happened. Likewise, we can condemn violent protest while
still sympathising with the injustice that causes it. After all, the riot, as a tool for
political change, appears when systematic oppression causes people to believe that
no other choice is left for them in order to be heard.
The peaceful protest, protected under the First Amendment to the American
Constitution, is often suitable enough to allow groups who have faced injustice to
vent their feelings to produce change. But over the years, the African American
community has seen their legitimate demands for justice ignored by America’s
leadership. Reaching a tipping point with the election of Donald Trump who became
a lodestone for American racism to converge around.
The system appeared rigged against the community. Men like Ahmaud Arbery were
killed for being black in a white neighbourhood. The prosecution department was
reluctant to frame charges against the killers, arguing that they acted in self-defence.
Breonna Taylor was unarmed when she was shot dead in her apartment by police
officers in March. Studies suggest that black men are 3.5 times more likely to be

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killed by the police in America than white men; one in every 1,000 black men will die
from police violence.
The community found itself helpless as police officers were found not guilty by a
justice system that granted them qualified immunity.
When the traditional methods of obtaining justice fail, unconventional methods
become feasible. Necessity created the strategy of civil disobedience, which proved
successful in fighting oppressive regimes. It involves breaking the law without
resorting to violence such as when the civil rights movement broke segregation laws
in the American south.
Legal philosophy has grappled with the issue of when it is just to disobey the law.
The answer seems to be when the traditional avenues of justice become so illusory
that change can only be brought by disobedience. It is difficult to judge, from an
objective standard, when this point exists. Leaving it to a contextual analysis in every
situation. However, civil disobedience can pivot towards violent disobedience in the
form of riots if the state exercises its coercive force in disproportionate ways.
When peaceful protest is answered by police firing rubber bullets that blind people,
when crowds are dispersed using chemicals just so that the President can pose for a
photo op, when police vehicles accelerate into crowds of protesters, and when a
black man is arrested during a protest for going on one knee to say to the police, “all
of you are my family” — expect a reaction.
Riots in these situations are caused by oppression. The more you oppress and silence
a group fighting for their place on the table, the more likely you will force them
towards violence. A state that fails to recognise this is a state with its head in the
sand.
Here, there is a lesson for our country as well. We have taken up a trend of labelling
the peaceful protester as treacherous. We see criticism of the status quo as
rebellion. And while we laud the protests in America and India, we spurn the ones in
our own country tackling injustice. It is horrifying when members of the government
condone this attitude towards groups raising their voice against discrimination faced
by people in Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa; the plight of religious minorities
who have been subjected to a system of apartheid; the misogyny faced by women
in all walks of life in Pakistan.
We are a tinderbox as well, the question is: will we do something to prevent the
flame?
By: Hassan Niazi
Source: The Express Tribune

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The writer is a lawyer, formerly practising and teaching law in Lahore, and currently
based in Singapore. He holds an LLM from New York University where he was a
Hauser Global Scholar. He tweets @HNiaziii

10-6-2020
 10 NFC: Don’t upset the apple cart
The composition of the 10th National Finance Commission (NFC) has set off alarm
bells within the provinces and supporters of provincial autonomy. Almost all political
parties, barring the PTI, have openly opposed the composition of the body terming
it to be against the vires and spirit of the Constitution. Moreover, the leaders from
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Balochistan have also objected to the appointment
of Dr Musharraf Rasul and Javed Jabbar as representatives of the provinces in the
NFC, as being non-residents of the respective provinces.
Article 160 of the Constitution makes it obligatory for the President of Pakistan to
notify the NFC for five years with an objective to work out the debts between the
federal government and the provinces in accordance with Article 2(3). A plain
reading of this clause clearly limits NFC to the distribution between the federation
and the provinces of the net proceeds of the following taxes as mentioned in sub-
clause 3 of the aforementioned article. It allows grants in aid by the federal
government and the provincial governments to borrowing powers, and any other
matter relating to finance referred to the Commission.
Although the article mentions the President as the authority to constitute the
commission and frame terms of reference, he does not enjoy unfettered powers.
Those powers are to be exercised with due diligence and in accordance with the law
as enshrined in Article 4 of the Constitution and judgments of the courts. Moreover,
the overall spirit of the Constitution and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) also
has to be adhered to.
Sub-clause 3A of Article 162 of the Constitution has restrained the powers not only
of the President but all others with the insertion of the words: “The share of the
Provinces, in each Award of NFC shall not be less than the share given to the
Provinces in the previous Award.” Therefore, it made it imperative to have drafted
the terms of references keeping in view the spirit of this clause.
The Supreme Court held in Mir Ahmad Nawaz Khan Bughti v Superintendent, District
Jail, Lyallpur (1966) that “Article 4 is intended to negative any claim by the
Government that any category of its acts in relation to citizens and other persons in
Pakistan are not subject to law at all”. On the same analogy, the acts of the President
are to be tested.
The adviser to the prime minister on finance and revenue is alien to Article 160(1)
which mentions the minister of finance of the federal government, but the
notification authorises the adviser to the prime minister to chair the Commission.
This is one of the basic legal moot points. In this context the Rules of Business of

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1973 have explicitly defined that “Cabinet” means and consists of the prime minister
and the federal ministers, meaning thereby that the adviser to the prime minister is
not even a part of the cabinet. Similarly, the same rules lay that “Minister” means
federal minister in charge of the ministry, making it clear that the adviser has got no
legal authority under the Rules of Business of 1973 framed under Articles 90 and 99
of the Constitution of Pakistan.
The TORs also include the assessment and allocation of resources to meet
expenditures related to the Azad Government of the State of Jammu and Kashmir,
Government of Gilgit-Baltistan and newly-merged districts of K-P i.e. erstwhile FATA.
This also brings us to other constitutional and legal issues. Under Article 1 of the
Constitution, the territories of Pakistan comprise only the provinces of Balochistan,
K-P, Punjab and Sindh, Islamabad Capital Territory and such states and territories as
are or may be included in Pakistan by accession or otherwise. As such, Kashmir and
Gilgit-Baltistan are not part of Pakistan and have not formally been merged into
Pakistan. They only enjoy a special status under the international law. FATA already
formed part of the federation and now stands merged with the province of K-P with
a commitment to provide 3% of the NFC.
Any plan to meet expenditures made on security, natural disasters and public debt
by reducing the share of provinces appears to be a subversion of Article 160 sub-
clause 3A. The Constitution clearly demarcates the responsibilities of the federation
and provinces. Therefore, shifting the burden of failures of the federal government
to provinces is not appropriate. As far as rationalisation of subsidies given by the
federal and provincial governments in their budgets and agreeing on a mechanism
to finance them, the burden can be shared to the extent of benefit accrued to the
respective provinces. In the context of exploring ways to reduce losses of state-
owned enterprises and agreeing on mechanism, conversely the provinces may ask
for sharing the burden of their owned entities. It seems strange that how the burden
of losses of state-owned entities such as the Steel Mills, PIA or Railways can be
shifted to the provinces.
With regard to non-statutory nominations, Javed Jabbar showed grace by publicly
stepping down to avoid controversy. It is expected that Musharraf Rasul will also
demonstrate the same spirit and the Government of K-P may appoint any other well-
versed retired civil servant who has stakes in the province such as Shakil Durrani,
Riaz Noor and Amjad Ali Khan to avoid further embarrassment.
The better course is not to upset the apple cart. The above-mentioned issues were
settled after a lot of debate with consensus. The best option available is to get rid of

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the sick state units persistently causing loss in billions, improve tax collection, and
enhance international trade by improving the quality of cotton seeds for quality
cotton yield making it compatible with the international market.
By: Syed Akhtar Ali Shah
Source: The Express Tribune
The writer is a former secretary to the Home and Tribal Affairs Department and a
retired IG. He holds a PhD in Political Science. He currently heads a think tank, Good
Governance Forum, and can be reached at aashah7@yahoo.com

10-6-2020
 A global movement
“‘I can’t breathe’ goes beyond saying that you are depriving me of freedom, of
humanity, of respect. It says: ‘You are depriving me of the right to air itself’.” — Ben
Okri
THE last words of George Floyd, who suffocated to death at the hands of a policeman
in Minneapolis has galvanised the struggle against all kinds of injustices across the
globe. A black man brutalised and killed by a white policeman has triggered violent
protests in America in the past, but the fury witnessed in the latest case of visible
racism has much wider political implications. Such outrage over the death of an
unarmed person by a militarised police force has not been seen for a long time.
There have been massive and sustained protests across America, moving black and
white people alike against racism and injustice. The movement has now spread to
other countries. Hundreds of thousands of people shedding their fear of the deadly
coronavirus joined the protests not only in European capitals but also in other
continents.
The wave of protest across the world is part of a democratic struggle to defend
human rights.
The horrific incident has become a catalyst for change. ‘I can’t breathe’ has now a
wider connotation, ie stifling the right to live and free expression. Its uncanny
connection with the condition linked to the coronavirus has made the phrase a more
powerful expression, one that defines oppression and the deprivation of basic
human and democratic rights. It has now become a worldwide outcry against
authoritarianism and ethnic and cultural discrimination.
‘Black lives matter’ may be a rallying cry but the protesters have also been moved by
other manifestations of the violation of human and democratic rights and growing
inequalities. It has also been a reaction to the rise of white supremacist power in
America under the Trump administration that has seen growing incidents of violence
not only targeting blacks but also political opponents.
President Donald Trump’s policy of ‘us vs them’ has polarised America far more than
at any other time in the country’s history. His statements calling for the use of brute
force to suppress the protests has fuelled anger. It has now gone beyond the demand
for police reform: it has become a struggle against racism and inequalities so deeply
entrenched in the American society. Covid-19 that has taken a much larger toll
among black and minority ethnic groups in America has further exposed the
economic and social inequality in the world’s richest and most powerful country.

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Indeed, white supremacist ideology is the basis of Trump’s power. But the growing
racial divide has also exposed America to the criticism of having double standards.
Not surprisingly, the global protests against the murder of Floyd have ignited fury
against Trump’s America.
Most protests have taken place in front of American embassies around the world as
pent-up anger has exploded against the current US administration. It reflects a
broader global despair about Trump’s America and what it means for the rest of the
world and its own struggle for human rights. As one analyst points out, the killing of
an unarmed black man is a reflection on race, values, leadership, and common
decency in the US. Floyd’s death is denounced as ‘death from discrimination’.
The incident may have put the US on the defensive, but it has had little effect on
Trump who has vowed to crush the protests. His fascistic politics presents the most
serious threat to all those values that America claims to have stood for. It, however,
remains to be seen how the growing anger in America over his policies will affect his
bid for a second term in office with just a few months left for the presidential poll.
The global protest is a reaction not only to racism in the US, but also to the rise of
ultra nationalism in parts of the world where many espouse hate-based politics that
dehumanises segments of the population. Such fascistic politics justifies inhumane
treatment and the marginalisation of minority religious and ethnic groups, including
repression of freedom, mass imprisonment and expulsion.
These ultra nationalist leaders with their rabid ideology justify their actions by
creating a mythical past. They promote anti-intellectualism and attack anyone
challenging their retrogressive and oppressive ideology that aims to divide the
population on the basis of ‘us’ and ‘them’. Donald Trump may be the most ardent
proponent of this ideology, but there are many others of his ilk who threaten liberal
democratic values.
People want to live in a society where they enjoy freedom of thought and action.
Unfortunately, in the past few years, majoritarianism — which seeks to assert racist,
political and cultural hegemony — has reared its ugly face. Punitive actions against
minority groups are a means of suppressing pluralism in society and imposing a
particular narrative.
More worrisome, however, is that even under a democratically elected government
there is now a move to stifle freedom of expression and plurality of views. The rise
of right-wing populism has undermined basic freedoms in multiple countries.
The latest wave of global protest against racism is part of a democratic struggle
defending human rights. The phrase ‘I can’t breathe’ has now become a powerful

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expression in the global battle against racism, oppression and the attempt to
suppress freedom of expression.
As Nigerian writer Ben Okri writer noted, this phrase should become the “mantra of
oppression”. These last words of a man being suffocated to death have now become
a powerful tool of resistance. These three words go beyond saying that one is
deprived of the freedom to live.
The massive protests in America and the rest of the world, not seen for decades,
have given a new momentum to the struggle for racial justice and freedom from
oppression. That one incident has unleashed pent-up anger against injustice and
discrimination and shaken not only America but also other countries. With growing
support, this movement is becoming stronger and will have far-reaching political
implications; in fact, it can provide impetus to rights movements across the globe.

By: Zahid Hussain

Source: Dawn
The writer is an author and journalist.

10-6-2020
 Speak up, Pakistan
ON April 10, 2020, 27-year-old Safoora Zargar was arrested by Delhi Police. A
research scholar at Jamia Millia Islamia, Zargar was accused of having a role in the
Delhi riots conspiracy case. Zargar, who is pregnant, has been in judicial custody
since then. Zargar’s lawyers have argued that she should be released on bail on a
humanitarian basis because her pregnancy, along with health complications and the
prevalence of Covid-19 in Indian prisons, created a situation where she would be at
significant risk.
That, at least, was the hope when a hearing on Zargar’s case was held late last week.
Judge Dharmendra Rana did not see things the same way. Unwilling to consider the
particular situation Zargar confronts, he refused to evaluate her actions on an
individual basis, instead focusing on the extent of the widespread riots. In a tersely
worded order, he stated: “When you choose to play with embers, you cannot blame
the wind to have carried the spark a bit too far and spread the fire. The acts and
inflammatory speeches of the co-conspirators are admissible [under] the Indian
Evidence even against the applicant/accused.”
This meant that it was not just the statements that Zargar made in public assemblies
that were considered in adjudicating on her bail application, but also the statements
of any of the many activists and students that were allegedly involved in the Delhi
riots.
Safoora Zargar chose to speak out against the injustices of the Modi administration,
and for that she’s in prison.
Pakistanis, particularly Pakistani feminists, need to pay attention to the Safoora
Zargar case. Young, female and Muslim, Zargar chose to exercise her democratic
rights and speak out against the injustice and statist violence of the new citizenship
laws introduced by the Modi administration.
Instead of following traditional models of sitting at home and letting male colleagues
protest, she chose to add her voice so that other young students, Muslim and
otherwise, would be inspired to do the same. Like the many black and brown people
protesting in the world at the moment, she refused to be intimidated by the brutal
tactics of the Indian state, which, having abandoned the democratic values that were
such a part of its system of governance, is only interested in silencing and
intimidation.
The refusal to consider Zargar’s advancing pregnancy in her appeal for bail is just one
more iteration of the hate-mongering tactics of the Modi administration. The judge’s
statements, inflected as they are with a cruel relish for the defendant’s situation,

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reeked of wanting to make a statement regarding Muslim womanhood and the
state’s control over it. In an India so filled with hatred that all Muslim women’s
reproductive capacities are interpreted as some sort of an impending threat to the
Hindu nationalist state that the Modi administration wants to build, the refusal of
bail reflected an intention to deliberately threaten her pregnancy.
Like all the particular cruelties of the subcontinent’s particular post-colonial present,
this control over women’s reproductive abilities dates back from the colonial era.
During that time, British administrators, who believed that all Indian women had
‘loose morals’, made statements just like those made by Judge Rana presiding over
Zargar’s case. Any means to show that the government could have power and
control over the most intimate details of women’s lives was welcome and publicised.
Its import, as in the case now with Safoora Zargar, would be to deter all and every
Indian Muslim woman from ever challenging the draconian laws imposed by the
Modi administration.
Then there is the issue of ‘special circumstances’. Woman-hating and minority-
baiting judges like Dharmendra Rana love to suggest that women’s equality
automatically means that they should be saddled not just with social prejudice that
they already face but also be denied the ‘privileges’ that are not available to men
(such as release during pregnancy). Indian (and Pakistani) men need to understand
that this is a flawed and self-serving (and somewhat stupid) idea of what gender
equality means. The word ‘equal’, after all, is not the same as the word ‘identical’.
Equality means that the particular circumstances and realities of each gender should
be the basis on which they are meted out punishment, held responsible, etc.
In this case, a woman exercised her right to make political statements critical of the
current Modi government while she was in the very early months of her pregnancy.
Since then, the advancing pregnancy, along with a burgeoning and unrelenting global
pandemic, mean that continuing to imprison Zargar imposed hardships and dangers
far greater than would be faced by a man in her situation. There is nothing in any
interpretation of gender equality that says that women must suffer more than men
in trying to do the same thing.
The Modi administration has spent the past several years of their successive terms
padding the judiciary with judges who do their bidding. It appears that the judge
hearing Zargar’s case is one of these men, uninterested in the principles of fairness
and freedom of political expression, and wanting only to kowtow to their dear
leader. If these were his priorities, then, indeed, he has done a tremendous job in
showing how the persecution of Indian Muslims is not simply something carried out

10-6-2020
by Hindu nationalist mobs but also by the judiciary, the very arm that was once
dedicated to disseminating justice.
Pakistani feminists need to add their voices to the international outcry against the
Zargar case. Pakistani government officials should record their concern and
consternation at the judge’s decision with the representative of the Indian
government. Pakistanis committed to religious and political freedom should create
petitions and social media campaigns in Safoora Zargar’s name. They may not be
able to improve her current situation (of being held hostage by the Indian judiciary)
but they can make sure that she knows that she is a heroine not just in India but also
in Pakistan and all over the world.

By: Rafia Zakaria

Source: Dawn

The writer is an attorney teaching constitutional law and political philosophy.

10-6-2020
 The new normal
ELEVEN-year old Ayaan sits at his desk every morning, ready to log into Google
Classroom, meet his friends virtually and learn as best as he can from his teacher in
this new normal. However, multiple issues pop up. There is a power-cut less than 10
minutes after his class starts; there are horns blaring outside; a fight breaks out
between his younger siblings and, when the electricity comes back on, his Wi-Fi
connection takes its own sweet time.
Students of all ages contend with these issues daily, as do the teachers who are
struggling to become tech-savvy in a very short time. Whilst there is sufficient help
on the internet through tutorials, we still have to learn to steer our own boat as we
teach courses online. There is no shortcut — a crash course on how to manage these
courses will not do much to prepare our students for their online world of learning.
Online learning demands tech-savvy teachers.
Just as face-to-face teaching requires some preparatory groundwork, online
teaching has similar demands. Providing students with login instructions and details
does not necessarily equip them to navigate technological demands. Most students
require step-by-step guidance on how the course will be conducted, the dos and
don’ts and a ‘what can go wrong’ component that prepares them for
troubleshooting as they trudge along.
Many students would benefit from a short course on ‘netiquette’ which is the
equivalent of table manners. It helps students learn to do research on their own,
search through resources skilfully, watch out for their own cybersecurity and get the
best out of live online forums.
They not only need to learn when to ask questions or interject an online discussion,
but how to conduct themselves vis-à-vis the online ‘raise hand’ icon. Limiting the use
of unnecessary private online chatter between students, using emojis wisely, cutting
out ambient distractions, using portable Wi-Fi if possible, are all ways of equipping
students for their new normal.
Online teaching allows for bite-sized concepts that can be customised for
differentiated learning as the teacher takes students through digital worksheets. The
level of difficulty of questions set can be controlled — it rises or falls based on the
number of correct answers as students take short online assessments. Each student
is then challenged according to individual ability and teachers get insight into their
individual needs. Online reports generated automatically relieve teachers of the long
and tedious task of marking answers. YouTube videos provide classroom

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demonstration of any topic under the sun, and these can be easily incorporated
during teaching time.
The idea of ‘paying attention’ in class is almost obsolete in this new world of teaching
and learning. In the bygone days, when we did not listen attentively, we missed out
on valuable information. Online information, on the other hand, is mostly freely
available and can be revisited by students anytime, anywhere. As students take
greater control of their learning, the dependence on instructors is reduced. The
teacher who was once a ‘sage on the stage’ is now needed only as a guide, a mentor
or supervisor. There is no crystal ball to see how strong or independent this
generation will emerge through the trials and tribulations of learning through Covid-
19 times, but the transformative power of technology is clearer than ever.
Schools and universities would be better off setting up the technological
infrastructure quickly. It takes much longer to get a kitchen ready, up and running
than it takes to prepare food. Whilst others are experimenting with different
cuisines, schools in countless parts of Pakistan are still struggling to get their
technological kitchens up and running.
The good news is that massive amounts of prepared content is available at minimal
or no cost, most of which is interactive. The bad news is that not all our educational
institutions are equipped to utilise it quickly and efficiently.
This might be a good time for schools and universities to collaborate with established
educational entities that are facilitating online learning through teacher-training
programmes and free digital resources. Getting onto the technological bandwagon
now might mean an easier ride forward for most students and teachers who will find
themselves at a competitive advantage once they have equipped themselves with
the demands of working online.
Equally important is the need to enlist parental support. Many schools are now
offering ‘parent facilitation programmes’ that provide the information and training
required to those who are entirely new to technology. As we stand at this
unprecedented crossroads, parents might be the vital cog that can help schools carry
children through this new experience. Covid-19 has also shown us that, for a country
like Pakistan, adult education is just as important as schooling for children.
By: Neda Mulji
Source: Dawn

The writer works at Oxford University Press Pakistan.

10-6-2020
 Back to what?
THE time will inevitably come when we are able to look back on the current
pandemic with mixed emotions — a mixture of horror and despair, and in all too
many cases, a sense of bereavement.
Yet, buried beneath the plethora of daily reports about the still unfolding health
emergency and economic catastrophe, far less depressing stories have occasionally
cropped up. Stories of uncommonly blue skies over New Delhi and Lahore. Of fresh
air in Beijing. Of wildlife proliferating, of vibrantly hued flowers blooming with
renewed vigour, of birdsong bursting forth in milieus where it had long been
drowned out by the discordant symphony of mechanisation, and in some cases of
animals setting out to investigate the built environment that has long encroached on
their natural habitat.
The temporary cessation of human activity in varying degrees across the world
inevitably led to a huge drop in greenhouse gas emissions, even though the level of
atmospheric carbon dioxide continued to rise. This is a reminder of the extent to
which the environment we live in is affected by our way of life. But that hardly counts
as a revelation — we’ve known it for ages, and only numbskulls or motivated
ideologues any longer question the anthropogenic contribution to climate change.
If only it could be easier to breathe in the post-pandemic world.
Almost all environmentalists agree that what we have lately witnessed was an
anomaly rather than a turning point. The ongoing return to ‘normality’ — welcome
in many ways to most people — means economic activity will sooner or later return
to something resembling its previous levels. That’s largely a blessing for billions of
people. In certain ways, though, it can also be seen as a curse.
To take an esoteric example, consider the tourist hotspots in countries such as Italy
and Spain. Locals in Barcelona and Rome have long been militating against the
routine invasions by hordes of sightseers from abroad, who crowd out the city
centres and are blamed for rising prices in general and exorbitant rents in particular.
The complaints are valid, and in recent weeks, amid easing restrictions, there have
been reports about residents rediscovering in relative tranquillity local attractions
such as museums.
At the same time, though, the absence of international tourism takes a terrible toll
on the economy. Much like cheap flights, it’s both a blessing and a curse. Global
travel has become considerably more affordable in the past few decades, which is
decidedly worth hailing as an advance — but not unequivocally. The ability to

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venture abroad is a positive: it tends to broaden minds, perhaps even when the
priority is to sightsee via the lens of a smartphone camera.
On the other hand, the aircraft crisscrossing the skies contribute heavily to
atmospheric pollution. The near cessation of passenger flights, alongside a sharp
drop in terrestrial travel, was among the major contributors to the remarkable fall in
emissions in recent months. No one is calling for the cessation of air travel. It is
essential in some cases, almost mandatory in others. Yet many short-haul flights are
surely surplus to requirements where a rail alternative is available, and it is always
galling to read about CEOs flying in on their private jets to Davos to burnish their
green credentials.
The controversial recent film Planet of the Humans, removed from YouTube for
copyright violations but now back up once more, makes some pertinent points about
how some corporations have painted themselves green primarily from a profit
motive. On the other hand, plenty of its criticisms of wind and solar power have been
ripped to shreds by critics who hold no candle for capitalism.
More broadly, in many spheres of life, the idea is to strive for a balance. Of course,
that isn’t advisable in certain cases. It would — or at least should — never be
acceptable, for instance, to say or imply that a little bit of racist, ethnic, caste or
sectarian bias is fine as long as it steers clear of Ku Klux Klan, Rashtriya Swayamsevak
Sangh or Taliban territory.
On the other hand, who could seriously object to fewer flights where convenient
alternatives are available, or to fewer private vehicles where public transport is
efficient? And why would anyone object to the use of fossil fuels being ramped down
at far greater speed where more sustainable sources of energy are viable?
A study last month concluded that the present trajectory of climate change would
make large parts of the planet — including much of India, Nigeria, Pakistan,
Indonesia and Sudan — unlivable in 50 years. Late last year, meanwhile, a report
from the Global Alliance on Health and pollution found that India, China, Nigeria,
Indonesia, Pakistan and the US accounted for the highest number of deaths from
pollution.
A future in which humanity coexists with birdsong and blooming flowers in both
conceivable and desirable, but it requires action. It’s now or never, as Elvis Presley
sang. And in the long run, as John Maynard Keynes aptly put it, we’re all dead.
By: Mahir Ali
Source: Dawn

10-6-2020