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Garam Chashma diary: JUI attempts inroads
-Clarification
A local JUI leader called me up today to say that my report
about the visit of Maulana Fazlur Rehman gave the impression
that money had been used to purchase loyalties of the people.
This impression is wrong, I never said it and it was not my
intention. I only wanted to say that the politics of development
funds must end and real issues must be brought into politics.
Development funds are the basic rights of the tax payer. However
in Pakistan and especially Chitral these funds are dished out as
favours to friends , supporters as project leaders or to
engineers specially chosen for that positions on political
grounds, who get back fifty percent of the money as kick backs.
These I call easy money. Individuals and groups mostly choose
loyalties on those basis. And I warned the people of Garam
Chashma that they must decide their political loyalties on the
basis of their long term interests. For that purpose I had
indicated areas where conflict management and solution was
needed and JUI was the most fit party to resolve those issues to
promote harmony , peace and sustainable development. We cannot
afford to be disloyal to each other if we want to promote
permanent friendship and brotherhood. This is the reality of our
politics. This is not against any political party and JUI must
not take it personally. Hiding heads in the sand like ostriches
will not help. Issues must be resolved to pave way for true
development. Which better party can be asked to do this job than
JUI which is the most popular religious party in Chitral and
Islam enjoins upon us to heal wounds and bring people close to
each other. I am confident that JUI has the courage and
credibility to do this job which is necessary for merit based
politics in Chitral.
In case my views have hurt the feelings of friends I apologize
to them but it was never my intention to wish JUI or any of its
worker ill. I might well be one of their voters tomorrow if I
find them more useful for the people in terms of peace and
development. I am a democratic person and would expect my future
party to respect my right to free expression and to disagree.
Otherwise what is left is fascism and we must all fear that and
guard against it. --(Islamuddin, 31 July 10)
Comment:
Referring to the report titled “JUI attempts inroads”, If
Mawlana Fazlur Rehman has given the impression that, money had
been used to purchase loyalties of the people. I think that is a
true statement, if Mawlana has not stated that, he was suppose
to say it. Because this is a fact that, every politician coming
in power at National, Provincial, or district level has tried to
black mail and hijack the development funds for promotion of
political interests instead of focusing the real needs. But the
problem is to identify the “needs and needy”. So far no NGO or
government organization has been able to come up with solid
definition of “needy and need”, leaving it open and making it
easier for black mailers to make any justification to posses and
utilize the money for their own future interest or thanksgiving
gift for past. The problems and needs vary from place to place.
Some problems are more serious in Chitral Bazar than many in
far-flung areas of Yarkhoon lasht or Merdin in GaramChashma.
Unfortunately the implementation strategy of development are
designed and tailored in a way that it could only fit and makes
projects applicable in particular areas of interest. Is there
possibility to locally change such strategies? So the local
administration and the local NGO authorities can be able to
spend the money on the basis of the priorities deviating from
the pre-tailored strategy(s). If no then there is need of
discussion upon it. There is no doubt that funds are dished out
as favors to friends, supporters and staff are chosen for those
positions on hidden capabilities and grounds. If we are sincere
to promote permanent friendship and brotherhood, we must do our
best and strengthen ourselves to show courage to say “no” to the
dictated strategies in Chitral which usually effect our
inter-faith relations and brotherhood. The voice of the public
should be honored, and strategies must be transparent and
understandable even standing outside the capsule of beliefs.
--Dr Khalil (Jughooru), Hamilton, Canada,
03, Aug 10
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