Agents of Death

You made some very valid points in your editorial “Agents of Death” (Sept. 5) on the Nahr Al-Bared standoff. Most causes in history have had the misfortune of being championed by crooks who use them for their private gains. Islam and Palestine seem to be among the most favorite of such causes now.

The thugs who took over the Nahr Al-Bared camp cared nothing for Palestinians or Islam. They found in the helpless refugees the ideal situation to create a serfdom of their own. The logic was simple: It does not take a big force or much courage to scare a few thousand starving civilian families into submission and declare yourself commander of the camp. True, one has to be truly sick in mind to think of exploiting such a suffering lot as the residents of a Palestinian refugee camp to base your little khilafat on. But then they are all mental cases. Anybody with some sanity would have known that no country, even so weak a one as Lebanon, would allow that to happen.

The government of Lebanon should be congratulated on showing no mercy in dealing with the criminals. Any hesitation would have emboldened other small-time players to try their hands at big games. The tough no-nonsense action may have saved many other camps from a similar fate.

Abdul Khaliq, Jeddah published 14 September 2007

Agents of Death [2]

The editorial was excellently written. Men and women of good faith and intentions should read it carefully, and post it where others can read it. It spoke eloquently of the dangers posed by radical extremists to civilized society, whether that society is in the Middle East or in the West or anywhere on this Earth. Those societies that do not actively oppose the radical extremists who are attempting to hijack Islam will be “Talebanized”.

Larry Mammoser, United States published 14 September 2007

Rescued Maid

Mohammed Rasooldeen’s story “Maid Rescued After 8 Years of Forced Labor” (Sept. 6) showed how maids are being abused inside Saudi homes. In such cases of manifest inhumanity, the authorities should make the sponsor pay all salaries, incentives, vacation pay including traveling expenses and the end of service benefits. They should also be paid double their dues as compensation for her suffering in those years. The government should also pay her compensation and make sure that the sponsor is punished.

P. Pasha, Riyadh published 14 September 2007

Rescued Maid [2]

What sort of action have the law-enforcement authorities taken against the employer who committed this barbaric act? Judging by the past, even her complaint will not be entertained by the police. I am sure this is not in the spirit of Shariah.

Asif Rasool, Jeddah published 14 September 2007

Rescued Maid [3]

The report indicates that there is something horribly wrong with Saudi Arabia’s concept of dealing with domestic help. The abuse of housemaids seems to be the rule, not the exception. Almost every day we get to read about maids being abused physically, mentally and financially for a prolonged period of time. How can Saudi society tolerate such inhuman, barbaric acts perpetrated by a section of their society — no matter how small that section is?

How can these people forget that the name of their country is being tarnished around the world by their misdeeds? This land should be a living model for everything good and pure. How can some of the people forget so easily the teachings of the Prophet (peace be upon him) regarding justice, equality and good behavior required from all good Muslims?

It is about time exemplary punishment is meted out to those people who not only violate Islamic laws and the prescribed code of conduct, but also destroy the reputation of the great country of Saudi Arabia.

Imtiazur Rahman, Jeddah published 14 September 2007

Supreme Court Verdict

The decision of the army government of Pakistan to send Nawaz Sharif back into exile was pure dictatorship. Pakistan is a democratic country. The reason for this violation of all laws is obvious. It is hard for any military dictator to give up power. President Musharraf is no exception to this rule. It is difficult for him to distance himself from politics and hand over power to representatives chosen by the public. However, that is a shortsighted policy. Pakistan needs a democratic government and free and fair elections. Musharraf was not chosen by any democratic process.

Inam, Riyadh published 14 September 2007

Supreme Court Verdict [2]

I am an ordinary Pakistani and hence you can call me “public.” I am not from any political party and hence I represent the general “public opinion” about the issue. I am shocked to hear that this defiance of the Supreme Court of Pakistan was committed in “safeguarding the interests of the Pakistani people and protecting the country’s stability.” Oh, please stop doing anything in our name and for our benefit. Do you really believe that our Supreme Court wanted instability in country? Our benefits lie in the rule of law and justice. If there is any legal case against Nawaz Sharif, he should have a chance to defend himself in a Pakistani court.

Umar Khalid, Dammam published 14 September 2007

Poetic Justice

When he became prime minister last time, Nawaz Sharif sent Asif Zardari to jail. No regrets there. If there was a crook that deserved to go to jail in Pakistan it was the husband of Benazir Bhutto. The regret, if any, was that there was no law to shoot him and end it all.

However, Allah had other plans. Not much latter, Nawaz Sharif landed in the same jail, sent there by Gen. Pervez Musharraf, the man he had promoted out of turn to become army chief. Sharif was paying for the mistakes of Musharraf’s ill-conceived adventures in Kargil where he had sent soldiers on a military mission that did not have government sanction. Musharraf, in order to save himself from a court-martial, decided to stage a coup. Sharif was sent to the same jail where Zardari was an inmate. Reports say that Zardari greeted Sharif on arrival with an “Ahlan Wasahlan!” That has been the rule in Pakistan since its birth. Once you become prime minister, you are just one step away from jail, exile or execution. The question is: Will Sharif be around to greet Musharraf when it is his turn to depart?

Faheem Khan, Dammam published 14 September 2007

Altaf Hussain

Khwaja Umer Farooq has rightly said (Sept. 12) that leaders must not be afraid of death. Unfortunately, the names mentioned in his letter are not those of leaders. They are absconders. Altaf Hussain is not a wealthy person. If he gets back to Pakistan, he will have to live in a dusty and murky locality called Azizabad. Of course, he is living in a posh area in London and is leading a luxurious life. So long as the “bhatta” business is prospering in Karachi and other urban areas of Sindh, why should he or any of his self-exiled colleagues think of returning to Pakistan?

Ghani Haider, Riyadh published 14 September 2007

Altaf Hussain [2]

Umer Farooq is astonished that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s leader Altaf Hussain is not showing any interest in returning to Pakistan, unlike the other two leaders — Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto. Nawaz Sharif has tried and was sent back to Saudi Arabia on Sept. 10. Benazir Bhutto may expect a different welcome because with the blessing of “the international community” (read US), her power-sharing deal with Musharraf is almost in the final stages. It is in the best interest of Pakistan that leaders such as Altaf Hussain should remain away from our country.

M. Rehman, Riyadh published 14 September 2007

Stranded Pakistanis

While I agree with most of what Faiz Al-Najdi had to say about Naimatullah Khan and his party Jamaat-e-Islami in his letter “Stranded Pakistanis” (Sept. 4), it is unfair to lay the entire blame on Jamaat-e-Islami for the sufferings of these patriotic Pakistanis.

It was the Pakistan Army that used these Urdu-speaking Pakistanis for their agenda. The Army created the East Pakistan Civil Armed Force and Razakar — a paramilitary force — to curb the local Bengali insurgency. When you use force to resolve issues, excesses are bound to be committed. So, excesses were committed in the treatment of the local people and these Urdu-speaking people were used as pawns.

Jamat-e-Islami always plays the role of a B-team of the Pakistan Army — as was recently confessed by its chief, Qazi Hussain Ahmad himself. They also worked with the army there and are equally responsible for all that happened there. So, the blame should be put equally on the Pakistan Army. It forgot these people once there was no further need for them.

Jamat-e-Islami and the army will never do anything for those people, as both are now busy making money out of the Jihadists in Kashmir and Afghanistan. Instead of wasting time on them, people like Najdi should speak to Altaf Hussain of the MQM. If Altaf puts his foot down, nobody can ignore him, even Gen. Musharraf. So better act fast and go and beg Altaf for this and he will respond.

Narmeen Khanzadi, Vancouver published 14 September 2007

A Question for Bertrand Besancenot, Ambassador of France

What right has France or any other country to tell Iran or any other country in the world, what to do?

All those telling Iran not to have nuclear resources have not searched their souls.

Why? They are the worst kind of hypocrites.

Harry West. NY published 14 September 2007