SUMMARY of the Article “The disappeared” by Arif Hasan, Dawn [Published on December 30th, 2023]
Arif Hasan highlights the prevalent issue of avoidable deaths in Pakistan due to accidents, emphasizing the negligence leading to collapses, fires, and accidents in various settings. The author also points out the dangers of traveling in the country, where incidents like plane delays, train derailments, and unsafe road travel pose significant risks. He notes the indifference of political parties to address these issues, attributing it to the detachment of the elite political class from problems affecting the common people. The article shifts its focus to a more severe and recurring crime, the forced disappearance of individuals, predominantly from Balochistan, allegedly orchestrated by state agencies. Hasan stresses the prolonged agony faced by the families of the disappeared, with some cases extending over 20 years. The piece highlights the historical struggles of the Baloch people, evolving from armed resistance led by sardars to the current urban and educated generation demanding change and representation. Hasan warns of potential unrest akin to the East Pakistan situation if the state fails to acknowledge and address the evolving aspirations of the Baloch youth. The article concludes by urging the government to release disappeared persons, return bodies of those killed, and establish institutional safeguards against future disappearances, ensuring adherence to human rights principles.
Easy/Short SUMMARY:
Arif Hasan discusses the grave issue of avoidable deaths and travel risks in Pakistan due to accidents and negligence. He criticizes political indifference to these problems, attributing it to the elite’s disconnect. The article then highlights the alarming crime of forced disappearances, particularly in Balochistan, allegedly orchestrated by state agencies. Hasan emphasizes the prolonged suffering of the families and warns of potential unrest if the government fails to address the evolving aspirations of the Baloch youth. The conclusion urges the release of disappeared persons, returning bodies, and establishing safeguards against future disappearances.
SOLUTIONS of The Problem:
1. Enhanced Safety Regulations:
- Implement and enforce stringent safety regulations in construction, transportation, and public spaces to prevent accidents.
2. Political Accountability:
- Hold political parties accountable for addressing critical issues like accidents in their manifestos and election campaigns.
3. Public Awareness and Education:
- Launch public awareness campaigns and educational programs to educate citizens about safety measures and precautions.
4. Transparent Justice System:
- Combat bribery and nepotism to ensure a transparent justice system, holding the privileged accountable for their actions.
5. Community Engagement:
- Foster community engagement in safety measures and disaster preparedness to enhance collective well-being.
6. Human Rights Protections:
- Strengthen human rights protections, particularly against forced disappearances, by ensuring registered FIRs and adherence to constitutional principles.
7. Baloch Representation:
- Recognize and cater to the changing aspirations of the Baloch youth, ensuring their representation in political and social movements.
8. Conflict Resolution:
- Address historical conflicts with sensitivity, engaging in constructive dialogue to prevent unrest and secessionist movements.
9. Release of Disappeared Persons:
- Immediately release all disappeared persons, providing closure to their families and upholding human rights.
10. Institutional Safeguards:
- Establish institutional safeguards against forced disappearances, ensuring adherence to constitutional rights and principles.
IMPORTANT Facts and Figures Given in the Article:
- Types of Accidents Discussed: Collapses, fires, transportation accidents, robberies, and accidents during legal battles.
- Specific Risks Highlighted: Plane delays, train derailments, unsafe road travel, and potential dangers in various settings.
- Focus Region for Forced Disappearances: Predominantly Balochistan.
- Duration of Some Disappearances: Over 20 years.
- Historical Baloch Struggles: Initially armed resistance led by sardars, evolving into an urban and educated generation demanding change.
- Potential Consequence Warning: Likelihood of unrest similar to the East Pakistan situation if evolving aspirations of Baloch youth are neglected.
MCQs from the Article:
- What does Arif Hasan attribute the indifference of political parties to issues like accidents?
A. Lack of public awareness
B. Elite’s disconnect
C. Stringent safety regulations
D. Political accountability -
According to the article, what crime is considered more serious than avoidable deaths?
A. Robbery
B. Factory fires
C. Forced disappearance of persons
D. Train derailments -
Which region is predominantly mentioned in relation to forced disappearances?
A. Punjab
B. Balochistan
C. Sindh
D. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa -
What historical struggles of the Baloch are discussed in the article?
A. Peaceful protests
B. Educational movements
C. Armed resistance led by sardars
D. International collaborations -
What is the potential consequence warned by the author if the state neglects the evolving aspirations of the Baloch youth?
A. Economic downturn
B. Unrest similar to the East Pakistan situation
C. Political stability
D. Technological advancements
VOCABULARY:
- Negligence (noun) (غفلت): Failure to take proper care or show the necessary attention.
- Indifference (noun) (بے تفاوتی): Lack of interest, concern, or sympathy.
- Aspirations (noun) (طمح): Strong desire, longing, or aim; ambition.
- Sardars (noun) (سردار): Tribal chiefs or leaders in certain South Asian regions.
- Stifling (adjective) (دبانے والا): Suffocating or suppressing; causing difficulty in breathing.
- Bureaucracy (noun) (سرکاری ڈپٹمنٹ): A system of government in which most decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives.
- Safeguards (noun) (تحفظات): Measures taken to ensure protection or safety.
- Secessionist (adjective) (الگاواڑی): Supporting or advocating for the withdrawal of a region from a larger political entity.
- Enshrined (verb) (محفوظ کرنا): Preserved or protected.
- Adherence (noun) (استقامت): Attachment or commitment to a person, cause, or belief.
📢 Attention Readers!
We are deeply concerned about individuals who share our summaries without providing proper credit. We kindly request that you refrain from removing the attribution label affixed to this article. Considerable time, effort, resources, and expertise have been invested in its creation. It is essential to exhibit professionalism by crediting the source appropriately and acknowledging the rightful contributions. Your cooperation in sharing the original article is greatly appreciated. Failure to comply with this request may lead to legal consequences.
We maintain a dedicated team of advocates ready to address instances of unprofessional and unethical behaviour, including copyright infringement.
🔥 Get Concise Editorial Summaries, Solutions, and Vocabulary Meanings! 🔥
🔵 Prepared by the Expert Team at CSSMCQs.com! 🔵
👉 Looking for a hassle-free way to stay informed about current affairs and editorial insights? We’ve got you covered! 💡
✨ Introducing “Dawn Important Editorials“! ✨
📚 Join our WhatsApp Channel for quick and comprehensive summaries of the latest editorials, along with well-crafted solutions and helpful vocabulary meanings. 📚
🔍 Why Choose Us? 🔍
👉 Our team at CSSMCQs.com uses their efforts to bring you accurate and efficient summaries.
👉 Stay updated with the most important points from the editorials, saving you time and effort.
👉 Benefit from our expertly crafted solutions that offer insightful perspectives and creative ideas.
👉 Expand your vocabulary with our thorough explanations and translations.
👉 All this is at your fingertips, available in one convenient WhatsApp group!
🌟 Why Reading Summaries are so necessary for CSS & PMS Aspirants?
📝 Cultivating Critical Analysis:
Summaries of editorials and opinions distill the essence of complex arguments, enhancing your ability to dissect intricate ideas, extract core arguments, and recognize underlying themes.
📝 Efficient Time Management:
CSS aspirants often juggle multiple subjects and topics. Reading summarized editorials and opinions allows you to grasp diverse viewpoints in a fraction of the time.
📝 Diverse Perspectives:
CSS exams require a comprehensive understanding of various perspectives. Summaries expose you to a range of viewpoints on critical issues, helping you broaden your intellectual horizons.
📝 Quick Updates on Current Affairs:
Summarized editorials provide quick updates on the latest happenings, enabling you to stay informed about recent developments without delving into lengthy articles.
📝 Constructing Coherent Arguments:
The concise nature of summaries teaches you how to articulate complex ideas succinctly. This skill is invaluable when constructing well-structured and concise answers in the CSS exam.
📝 Enhancing Writing Skills:
Analyzing succinct summaries equips you with the ability to distill your thoughts into concise, coherent sentences – a skill that directly translates into writing impactful essays and answers.
📝 Practical Application in Interviews:
Summarized opinions give you a bank of well-articulated arguments that you can draw upon during interviews. This helps you participate actively in discussions, demonstrating your depth of knowledge.
📝 Retaining Key Concepts:
Summarizing editorials involves identifying the core concepts. This process reinforces your memory and understanding of crucial topics, ensuring they stay embedded in your long-term memory.
📝 Stimulating Critical Thinking:
When you engage with summarized editorials, you’re encouraged to think critically about the main points and arguments. This practice nurtures your ability to question assumptions and delve deeper into subjects.
📝 Adaptable Learning:
Summaries allow you to adapt your learning approach based on your time and goals. Whether you’re seeking a quick update or an in-depth analysis, summaries can cater to your needs.
To receive the summaries, solutions, and vocabulary meanings directly on WhatsApp, click the link below and join “Dawn Important Editorials” now:
🔗 https://cssmcqs.com/dawn-editorials-articles-summary-for-students-pdf-download/
📝 Register on our website [https://cssmcqs.com/register/] for more exclusive benefits and resources.
📢 Stay informed, be prepared, and excel in your knowledge-building journey with CSSMCQs.com! 📢
🔔 Join our WhatsApp group and seize the opportunity for valuable insights! 🔔
Looking forward to having you as part of our vibrant community!
Best regards,
CSS MCQs
dawn.com
The Disappeared
BY Arif Hasan
IT is normal in Pakistan to die because of some accident. This happens all the time and in fairly large numbers. Most of these deaths are avoidable.
You can be walking along a road which has a high compound wall running along it. Without any notice, it can collapse, injuring you, and if you have a child walking with you, it is possible that he may die. Then, while you are sitting and having tea, the building in which you are sitting can also collapse. If you are shopping, the mall can catch fire, and so can high-rise buildings, and more often than not, the fire engine hose cannot reach the storey where the fire is most intense. It is also important to note that factory fires have killed hundreds of Pakistani workers.
Traveling in Pakistan has also become very dangerous. If you are catching a PIA plane, it is more than possible that it will not take off for reasons that are not explained to the travellers. If you take a train, it might be derailed, catch fire, or one of your fellow passengers might even be raped by the railway caretakers. Then, if you are travelling by road, your vehicle might fall into a ditch or be submerged by a landslide.
It is also possible that you may be robbed at gunpoint and even shot if you have the wrong name. If, on the other hand, you are travelling by boat, it is possible that the boat will sink, and if you are fighting a legal battle on a land issue, the witness in your favour can be shot dead, and that too within court premises, and the case in point can continue for over 20 years.
Pakistanis tolerate all this, as no political party considers these issues important enough to be taken up in their party manifestos or election campaigns. This is because the politicians belong to the elite of the country, and these are not issues they are affected by. However, it has to be pointed out that they control the institutions of the state that are responsible for the accidents identified above. These accidents are seldom deliberate and are not part of government policies.
The bodies of many of the missing are found in deserted spots.
Another reason is that in Pakistan, if you are rich and privileged enough, you can buy the type of justice that suits you, through bribery and nepotism. This kills all transparency, makes accountability almost impossible, and puts the blame on the working class in the administrative system or on the junior middle-level bureaucracy and technical staff.
However, there is a crime that routinely takes place which is far more serious than all the deaths listed above put together: and that is the crime of forced disappearance of persons who are picked up from their homes and are taken away without their relatives knowing why they are being taken away, where are they being taken to, for how long, and what they have been accused of. There is sufficient evidence to show that this is being done by state agencies as part of their policy.
A very large number of those who have been kidnapped and/or disappeared belong to Balochistan, and some of them have later been found dead in deserted places. Their relatives have been waiting for their return, in some cases, for more than 20 years. One can only imagine the pain this has caused to their relatives and the shame to the more conscientious of Pakistanis.
The Baloch have fought for their rights since the inception of Pakistan, and during Gen Ayub and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s time, their struggles (which were armed ones) were led by their sardars and for which they took to the hills to challenge the state. These struggles were terminated through negotiations.
However, things have changed; the new Baloch generation is urban and well-educated. They represent the future, and sardars do not represent them. Like all young people emerging out of oppression, they are radical, hungry for knowledge, and anxious for a change from the stifling status quo in which they have been forced to live, and in keeping with the emerging trends in Pakistan. Their women are playing an increasing role in political and social movements.
If the state does not recognise and cater to these changes, especially in a region where there has been an unaddressed history of conflict with it, it is more than possible that an East Pakistan-like situation can emerge.
The government in power needs to release all disappeared persons, make available the bodies of those who have been killed so that funeral rituals can be performed, and set up the necessary institutional arrangements that ensure that in the future there will be no disappearances that lack a registered FIR and/ or in violation of human rights as enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan.
The writer is an architect.
www.arifhasan.org
Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2023