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governance MOOD STREET TOWN
TALK documents Picture
Perfect governance Administration inaction Bureaucracy in Punjab is watching the war between the two major political parties and is not really acting, for fear it might step on the wrong toe By Ahsan Zia As the rift between the
two former coalition partners -- Pakistan People's Party and Pakistan
Muslim Punjab Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif had warned that if any one dared to destabilise his government he will have to pay a heavy price. The recent meeting between Punjab Governor Salman Taseer and Chaudhrys of Gujrat for forming a new political dispensation in the province sent a lucid message to the bureaucracy that PPP may not let Mian Shahbaz's government in the province last long. So, it would be better for the hierarchy of civil administration to not only seek blessings of the PPP leadership in Punjab but use delaying tactics in implementing the orders of the PML-N government. Punjab Governor Salman Taseer's earlier warning to Shahbaz Sharif government to refrain from using official resources and horse-trading during the presidential election has aggravated the situation as far as the question of PML-N government's control over the bureaucracy is concerned. The Punjab Governor, a representative of the state in the province, even went to the extent of directly summoning the Chief Secretary and the IG Police to direct them to ensure that Punjab administration and official resources are not utilised in the presidential election. The sources in the Civil
Secretariat reveal that a tug of war between the two major political
parties Former Punjab Minister for Agriculture Arshad Khan Lodhi says, "Such a situation that now exists in the province, is detrimental to administrative control by any government. In such circumstances, civil administration gets perplexed as to who to obey and who not to? Consequently, the government's control over the bureaucracy gets weaker. If this situation lasts long, it will definitely affect official work of the government. And, the main sufferers will be the common people who visit the government offices, especially the civil secretariat in order to get their problems solved, Lodhi says. He goes on to say Shahbaz Sharif's exceptional style of governance may earn him praise from different walks of society, especially the common man, but the civil servants in Punjab have been the unhappiest segment since his party's victory in the February 18 elections. This is all because of unabated spate of transfers of thousands of officials by his government. They have been made to perform their duties under a sense of insecurity. Najaf Sial, a member of the PML-Q forward block in the Punjab Assembly, says, "Those bureaucrats who remained in the good books of the PML-Q government, have been the main target of the PML-N government. The PPP government, nevertheless, is showing more sensibility at this stage. It has accepted with open arms all those bureaucrats in the centre who were politically victimised by the PML-N government in Punjab. These displaced bureaucrats are now working in peace in the centre." Najaf Sial goes on to say, "former Chief Secretary Punjab Salman Siddique, former Additional Chief Secretary Najeebullah Malik, former Services Secretary Farkhanda Waseem Afzal, former Implementation and Coordination Secretary Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera, former Principal Secretary to Governor Hasan Waseem Afzal, former Secretary to Chief Minister Yusuf Naseem Khokhar, former Agriculture Secretary Maj (r) Fayyaz Bashir, former Lahore Development Authority Director General Arif Khan, former Additional Inspector General of Police Tahir Anwar Pasha, former Director General Public Relation Farrukh Shah and Faisalabad Additional IG Talat Mahmood Tariq are on the top of the list of victims of the PML-N government." Several PPP leaders from Punjab keep pushing the central party leadership towards removing Shahbaz Sharif's government. Punjab Senior Minister Raja Riaz says, "If PML-N ever tries to evict the PPP ministers from the Punjab Cabinet, we will be left with no other option but to resort to an intense political war with the PML-N. We don't want to withdraw our support to the PML-N government in Punjab, however, if we are compelled to leave, then they will have to go as well," warns the minister while talking to TNS. PML-N is apprehensive that the PPP which is quite confident after Asif Zardari's election as president, will make a concerted bid to get Shahbaz Sharif disqualified by the Election Commission of Pakistan in order to oust his government. "We are not scared. We can't stop the ruling party from getting on a collision path if it wishes to do so but we will safeguard ourselves tooth and nail without resorting to any undemocratic means?" Says Naeem Mir, Additional Information Secretary Punjab PML-N. He says, "Punjab government has not been given to us as a gift or favour; it is the masses' mandate. Any effort by the PPP to undermine our government would backfire. As far as the numbers game is concerned, PML-N government is quite safe and sound in the province. This is also evident from the fact that in the presidential race, PML-N candidate Justice (r) Saeeduz Zaman Siddiqui bagged 201 votes despite the fact that the total number of seats in the Punjab Assembly is 176." Naeem Mir dispels the impression that PML-N government is fast losing control over the civil administration. He says that Shahbaz Sharif is well known for his good governance. He enjoys complete control over the civil servants. Majority of the bureaucrats and police officers presently working in the province are appointed by the Chief Minister Punjab himself. He (Shahbaz Sharif) conducted interviews before their appointments. "These officers know that our government is quite stable so they need not panic," says Naeem Mir.
MOOD
STREET By Ali Sultan By the time you read
this my friend's sister, X, will be alive and well. We've been classmates,
liked She got pretty weak and was shifted to a hospital. Her skin was yellow and darkening and her hair looked thin and coarse, but the moment you walked up to her bedside, X would cup one hand over her face and say, "Oh, I must look terrible." She said: "I'm feeling stronger today. I really do think I'm getting better." The glucose drip injected her with another dose, and her eyes closed. Her hands settled on the blanket, and she drifted off to sleep. We always think we'll get better. But we'll all die in a bed like this, worrying about how our hair looks. Or in the back of a screaming ambulance, its red lights bouncing off other cars and reflecting on our faces, while the paramedic ignores our own blood pooling on the floor. This inevitable trap, this destiny, is why I love a certain breed of horror movie. Why we all seem to love them. Movies I'll refer to as 'cycle' movies, which include some of the most popular movies of the past 40 years: The Ring, The Amityville Horror, Carrie, The Stepford Wives. In all of them, an individual is trapped by an established cycle of events that doom and destroy. From their story you can imagine that same cycle or process stretching into the past or future, destroying an endless chain of similar people, all of them denying the dire nature of their circumstances until their fate is inevitable. It's always a chain of events that the audience recognises early, but the lead character recognises too late. Whatever the reason, I love, you love, we all love the cycle movie. Think of them all: not just The Stepford Wives, in which we watch the latest in a long series of suburban housewives get murdered and replaced with robots, but movies such as The Wicker Man in which a policeman investigating a murder falls victim to the same sacrificial process that killed the last victim. Think of the 1976 film The Sentinel, in which a fashion model realises too late she's destined to become a recluse, watching the gates of Hell so demons can't trespass among humans. In all of these stories, we witness one cycle in an endless chain of victims or sacrifices, all of them individuals who must die to preserve life for the larger society. In the movie version of Stephen King's Carrie, the troubled, telekinetic girl dies. But in the original book, her death is followed by a final letter that describes an infant girl who can already manipulate her toys with her mind -- thus suggesting the next cycle. In King's novel The Shining, the caretaker-eating hotel burns -- but in the television mini-series that he wrote and directed, the hotel is being rebuilt in the final shot, giving the story another cycle of victims. No, the victims never get very smart in a cycle story. But the viewers get smart; if the viewers ever run across an abandoned ocean liner filled with gold bars, as in Ghost Ship, the viewers will know to run before greed traps and dooms them. In that way, the victim dies for the viewer to find enlightenment. People watching cycle stories are people who learn from history. Only horror movies can tell these cautionary tales with their unhappy endings. It's the nature of the genre that events won't go well, people will suffer and die -- the end. One small mistake early in the plot, and you're doomed. All it takes is one small mistake or flaw, and you'll be destroyed, like the curious teenagers in The Ring. Your death will be certain and predictable, comforting even. It's almost as if a victim in a cycle movie is more than a fictional casualty, she's more like a sacrifice to keep the rest of us safe. By witnessing his or her death, the rest of us feel more safe. Like watching the strangers who suffer and die on the television news every night. In hurricanes and rebel insurrections. We've seen the cycle run its course, and this time we weren't the one who drew the wrong lot and had to perish. If nothing else, there's comfort in recognising that no matter how much we fail and sin, death will limit our suffering. Even if it's just the death of our innocence -- the petty, vain, plotting person we've always been -- just seeing that ego destroyed provides a kind of relief. Really, death or imprisonment make a nice change for the troubled characters who find themselves trapped in cycle movies. That's why we enjoy these horror movies. We're watching a dream about characters living inside their own dream. As they deny the end of their lives, we're denying our own inevitable death. The cycle horror story is comforting the same way Punjabi movies are comforting: you already know how they're going to end. TOWN TALK • Pakistani film is shown at Alhamra, Hall III, The Mall every Thursday at 8pm. • Puppet Show at Alhamra, The Mall every Sunday at
11am. • Talent Hunt Show (singing) every Saturday at 7pm at Alhamra, The Mall. • Panjabi Sangat is a weekly gathering every Friday and Sunday at Najam Hussain Sayed's house at 7pm where Punjabi classical poetry is readand sung. The Sangat has been going on for the last 30-40 years. Any person who visits the Sangat can freely and actively participate in the above mentioned activities. • 'Vasda Lahore' photo exhibition is being organised by Lahore Sudhaar and Urban Resource Centre Lahore. This exhibition will be based on entries submitted by citizens (which will then of course go through a selection process for the exhibition). The deadline for submissions is 30th September 2008. Other than photographs, verse and poetry, as well as sound recordings are also welcome. • LFLC Book Club Meeting on Saturday, Sep 20 at South Asian Media Centre from 4:45pm to 6:15pm. The book of the month is Kamila Shamsie's Kartography. documents Letter and spirit Newspaper ads about loss of allotment letters can serve varying purposes By Shahzada Irfan Ahmed Ever wondered why pages
and pages of newspapers are full with ads carrying announcements of One wonders how can these people misplace or lose altogether such important documents that entitle them to own pieces of land worth millions. This appears really strange keeping in view the fact that these documents are not supposed to be carried every time you move and are needed on very rare occasions. The ads are obviously placed in the newspapers as per the requirements of the concerned housing authorities to issue Certified True Copies (CTCs) of these letters or duplicates. The purpose behind this exercise is to bring it to the notice of the general public that a certain person is trying to get a new allotment letter issued in his/her name. In case there's some other claimant to the ownership of the plot he can contact the issuing authority and seek relief. What needs to be determined is whether all those who place these ads have lost their allotment letters or there are others as well who do it for some other purposes. The News on Sunday contacted different stakeholders in the real estate sector on the issue and received varied answers to the question. It may appear strange but it's a fact that people misplace their allotment letters very easily, says Muhammad Ijaz Advocate, a Lahore-based lawyer dealing in property cases. He says people leave their original documents at photocopy shops, offices of real estate agents, restaurants, shopping centers and even in the public transport vehicles they commute in. There are many who do not remember where in their houses they have kept their documents and have to get duplicates issued at the time of need i.e. when making a land transfer, he adds. Arif says on rare occasions people try to pre-empt a fraud or even commit one by placing such ads. For example, he says he knows of a case in which a progressive seller of a plot reneged on his commitment even after receiving biyana (earnest money) from the prospective buyer. He says the person transacted a deal with the buyer using the old document and its photocopy days after getting a duplicate letter issued in his name. To further strengthen his case he affixed his signatures on the deal which were different from the ones on his National Identity Card (NIC) and those available at the respective housing society's office. When the dispute arose he defended himself by saying that someone in possession of his lost allotment letter had transacted the deal, Arif adds. Similarly, he says in many cases people pre-empt such frauds by placing such ads on getting a tip that someone is trying to misuse their existing documents or their copies. Syed Athar Ali Kazmi, President Real Estate Advisors' Association of Lahore, tells TNS that suspicious ads appear only in unpopular newspapers with very limited circulations. The ads appearing in the widely read national dailies are genuine and noticed by a huge number of readers, he says adding: "That is why the leading housing societies ask the applicants to place their ads in widely circulated newspapers." Kazmi says frauds take place where the sellers and buyers transact deals on their own and do not bother to visit the office of the concerned housing authority. Secondly, the problem with our people is that they try to be oversmart and save money where it's needed to be spent the most. "Hiring a legal adviser can save people from hassles and financial losses but God knows why they are reluctant to do that," he adds. Kazmi says chances of fraud are high in the cases of open files which are like open cheques and can change hands very easily, without the involvement of the housing society's office. The allotment letters to open file holders are issued once the balloting is done and all dues cleared. Before that, any person in physical custody of the file is its owner, he adds. An official at the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) tells TNS that the authority follows a foolproof mechanism and regularly warns those planning to transact property deals to do that in the presence of DHA personnel. He says in order to minimise chances of fraudulent deals DHA has approved a list of property dealers. Only these dealers can enter DHA premises and broker property deals between the buyers and the sellers, he adds. About the placement of the said ads in newspapers, he says it's part of DHA requirements to issue a duplicate allotment letter in the name of the rightful owner of the plot. He says other requirements include submission of an affidavit duly attested by an oath commissioner, attested copy of Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC), a First Information Report (FIR) regarding loss of allotment/transfer letter, placing of an advertisement in two leading newspapers in two columns, covering letter requesting for issuance of duplicate letter, paid challan of Rs 10,500 as fee, two recent photographs and an associate membership form. The official says the applicant is also required to declare in the affidavit that he has misplaced original letter. The same has not been used by him or on his behalf for sale, gift or mortgage to any financial institute. In case anything is found contrary to this later on, the person can face legal remedial action initiated by DHA, the official concludes.
Photography hobbyists find avenues to pursue their passions and share them with the world By Jazib Zahir When Afzal made a recent
trip to the northern areas of the country, he experienced everything he "There's only so much you can retain on your own," he says. "Photography allows me to capture those rare special moments forever and continue to share them with friends and family." Afzal proudly shows off photos from his business trips to Turkey and the Middle East on his desktop computer. The best snaps, including a bird's eye-view of an ancient amphi-theater in Turkey, have been blown up and displayed on his livingroom wall. While Afzal's full time occupation is being a brand manager for a multinational firm, he pursues photography as a serious hobby. He fondly recalls his first camera, a Kodak toy that had to be disposed after twenty-five pictures, that he received on his eighth birthday. Through the years he has had the opportunity to experiment with a variety of digital and film cameras and has even set up a makeshift studio in his garage where he tinkers with lighting and placement in photos. Photography as a hobby
can be quite expensive. Professional cameras incorporating wide angle lens "Casual photography is one thing," explains Afzal. "There are lots of cameras around that provide instant gratification for those who seek the thrill of pointing and shooting. But if you are serious about creating stand-out images it requires significant investment of time and money. You will need to browse magazines and online resources to learn the latest tricks and tips to get the most out of your photos." Waqas has adopted a much more casual approach to photography. His instrument of choice is a svelte Sony Cybershot that fits snugly into his trouser pocket. He sees the camera as a means of preserving candid moments from get-togethers with friends and family. He also uses it to chronicle the lives of his children as they progress through school. "I have limited
photos from my own childhood," he reminisces. "Film cameras
really limited us from Waqas is also impressed by how simple technology has made it for him to edit and share his photos. "I don't consider myself a professional," he insists. "Many of my images come out blurred but photo editing programmes allow me to fix flaws like red eye with a few simple clicks. And then it's so convenient to distribute my photos to others by e-mail. I can even upload entire albums and share access selectively." Academic institutions too provide their students an opportunity to exercise their trigger fingers. Several students get exposure to generate professional looking photos through their endeavours in college magazines and yearbooks. Ahsan, who was an editor of the Aitchison Pictorial recalls his assignment to represent his school through a collage of about two hundred photos. "I had to make sure every aspect of the institution was captured," he recalls. "That meant photographing the ground staff and peons, the old architecture and the nooks and crannies that most people hadn't noticed." Students at the Lahore University of Management Sciences have managed to make photography a social and academic inquiry. The LUMS Photography Society conducts workshops to teach others the intricacies of the art. Annual exhibitions of student work are held in the student lounge. Some lucky photographers are even able to clinch sales. The impact of photography can go well beyond titillating a few observers. Afzal has uploaded his photos of the Pakistani landscape and environment on popular photo sharing site Flickr and believes that it allows him to share the beauty of Pakistan with the rest of the world. "Too many foreigners associate Pakistan with extremism and poverty," he laments. "I try to show them the other side of Pakistani society, the natural beauty and the artisans on the roadside. It may not boost tourism but I think it improves our image." Afzal recalls uploading pictures of Swat Valley and receiving comments from awed observers. "One person couldn't believe he was looking at Pakistan and asked if the picture was from Switzerland," he says with a laugh. "But I simply replied that photographs don't lie so what you are seeing is the truth about Pakistan."
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League-N -- widens, the latter's government in the Punjab seems to be
increasingly losing control over the civil bureaucracy.
for control over the vital province of the country has left the official
work in the civil secretariat virtually at a grinding halt. The officers
are exercising extreme caution before signing any file. They prefer to
pass the day gossiping about political developments and possible
reshuffling in the top bureaucracy by the future rulers. The shrewd ones
-- though appointed by the PML-N government -- are also finding ways to
get access to the PPP leadership so as to secure their future as early as
possible.
the same horror movies , argued liked crazy over whether the mini-series
or the movie of 'The Shining' was better. Read, critiqued and edited each
other's screenplays for different classes every week. Last month she was
diagnosed with jaundice and thought that she was going to die. I've seen
every draft of every screenplay X's written. One of her short synopsis,
'The girl with the scars,' she brought for review to class each Thursday
for a year, did some 50 rewrites, until I could recite all 18 pages from
memory.
allotment letters, issued by various housing authorities, lost by their
rightful owners. The number is even higher on Sundays as placing ads on an
off day draws attention of much more readers than those likely to scan
them during week days.
hoped for; scenic beauty, fresh air and untarnished wilderness. Weeks
later, he vividly recalls the sights and sounds of Murree and Nathiagali,
courtesy the assortment of photos he captured with his Canon's PowerShot
digital camera.
for panoramic images and flash for lighting control easily run well over
Rs. 15,000. Photographers on the move need to carry several heavy
batteries that are in need of frequent recharging. Throw a
stability-inducing tripod into the mix and you have a past time that is
pricey and requires you to lug around cumbersome equipment.
capturing too much. The digital photography of today is guilt-free. You
literally snap dozens of photos at a time and just chuck out the ones you
don't like. It's easy to set up a complete digital scrapbook for your
family."