Bonanza for retiring secretaries

ALL principles of natural justice have been thrown to winds by the powers that be by allotting one 500 square yard plot each to as many as 41 serving Federal Secretary in Sector D-12 of Islamabad which in the open market could fetch, if sold, around Rs. 20 million. Those of equivalent grades and positions but not serving as Federal Secretaries however have been ignored. This discrimination has been made apparently to keep the top bureaucrats holding key positions in good humour. Incidentally, quite a number of these privileged ones are re-employed and continue to serve as Federal Secretaries after they have attained the age of retirement. Probably, in its anxiety to continue to benefit from their loyalty and expertise, it is being proposed to enhance the retirement age to 62.
This policy of the present establishment to retain trusted bureaucrats in key positions is understandable because ultimately it creates justification for others to continue to hang on to their position after having crossed the prescribed retirement age. This does not help the system. Such a policy acts as a disincentive for the senior civil servants waiting in the wings for top slots. Apart from causing heartburns, this practice promotes a class of boot-lickers who are ready to sell their should to the devil to please the top leadership. Resultantly, the role of the bureaucracy has been totally compromised. We do not see around senior bureaucrats who have the courage to render honest advice even at the peril of their job. Unfortunately, “Yes” men have gathered around top leadership and consequences are going to be devastating for those in power and the nation.
It is just and fair that top civil servants should be given adequate incentives like their peers in the armed forces on retirement. However, post-retirement benefits must be given across-the-board. In the present case, Federal Secretaries who already have plots in Islamabad or elsewhere under Government schemes have been given the benefit of getting an additional plot in Islamabad though rules of the Capital Development Authority or the Ministry of Housing and Works debar Government employees having a plot under the Government schemes from getting an additional plot. This dispensation smacks of favouritisms more so when equally senior civil servants not posted as Federal Secretaries have been ignored. While retiring Government employees deserve to be looked after, post-retirement benefits must be given to all to avoid accusations of discrimination. The policy of extending benefits to a few top civil servants can not be justified on moral and legal grounds.
The Government decision to shower undue favour on the selected few could trigger litigation as deprived Government employees may approach the courts.

Alienating Muslims

FRANCE has joined an alarming and growing tendency in some European countries to paint Arabs and Muslims as a ‘threat’ to civilised West. The once liberal and multicultural European country, home to the largest Muslim community on the continent, has barred more than 70 Muslim baggage handlers at Charles de Gaulle airport from entering ‘secure’ areas.
The security clearance of the Muslim airport staff has been withdrawn as they are seen as a potential ‘risk to passengers.’ It is said that the Muslim staff had been under surveillance for several months.
Do the French authorities then have any credible evidence to back their suspicions? The only ‘evidence’ against the airport workers in question is their Muslim identity. The only other ‘evidence’ against these usual suspects is the fact that they originally come from Pakistan and Afghanistan and have frequently visited these countries of their origin.
While Western concerns about the threat of extremism are understandable, it must be pointed out that these reasonable concerns are giving way to unreasonable paranoia and discrimination towards Arabs and Muslims. After September 11 developments, new arrivals, especially those with an Arab and Muslim appearance are already made to feel extremely unwelcome in the US. Hostile reception, physical frisking and excessive scrutiny at US airports are now a matter of course, rather than exception.
And now one European country after another appears to be taking its cue from the US. If France is keeping its Muslims away from secure areas, Britain is watching them in true Orwellian fashion. John Reid, the UK home secretary, this week compared the campaign against extremist Muslims to Europe’s war against Hitler’s Nazis! Irresponsible words and attitudes like these will not exactly bridge the gulf between the West and Muslim world.
As if the historical injustices in the Arab and Muslim world hadn’t been enough, the US war on terror and war against Iraq have divided our world like never before. But instead of trying to understand the sources and reasons of anger and frustration among young Muslims, Western countries are further alienating the Arab and Muslim world by actions such as these. Shutting off young and restless Muslims will not make our world a safer and better place. It will lead to greater alienation of the Muslims and deepen the chasm between the West and Islamic world.

—Khaleej Times