The nation is at war. Terrorists are all around. We are fighting
them in Swat and Waziristan. They are playing havoc in Balochistan.
The terror threat is real and the only way is to fight this menace
out, no matter how long it takes. But what if the people at the helm
of affairs, too, start playing havoc with the people? Isn’t the
load-shedding syndrome also part of the terror war? Doesn’t it
remind us of Ahmed Rashid’s “Descent into Chaos”? All around is
spread distress, resentment, disappointment, despondency and the
people are protesting against the government for prolonged
load-shedding and excessive electricity bills which have made the
life of people a hell. This is a kind of terror which the government
is adding to the menace. Is it part of the conspiracy? The
collaborators have won on the front of spreading despondency,
crippling our economy etc. The government by apparently deliberately
creating power crisis in the country is playing the role of
Taliban’s extension. This means somehow or the other we are all
perpetrating terror. The mismanagement seems deliberate whereas the
PM has already said there is no dearth of water to produce required
electricity. We can fight the war unleashed by terrorists, but how
can a nation fight those who at the helm of affairs unleash reign of
power terror. We have black sheep in our herd who are hell bent upon
opening fronts one after another to let us down. This is really our
hardest time. God bless Pakistan. Wazirabad
Customs laws violation
S Bukhari
As appeared in the media, flagrant violation of custom laws by
sitting provincial minister of Punjab,have caused an immense
embarrassment to dedicated voters of Muslim League (N), and for all
those who hitherto have been praising good governance in Punjab. An
excuse; ignorance of law, if accepted can give clean chit to all
those offenders languishing in the jails. They would be willing to
submit even an affidavit ‘for not knowing the law’ as justification
for committing the crime.
It appears that the inquiry initiated against the errant MPA, looked
into the matter without terms of reference which is prerequisite for
holding a fair investigation, and therefore it ended into vague
findings. It will be in the fitness of things to launch fresh probe
into public misconduct of the minister; inefficiency of customs
personnel to the effect that the baggage ultimately was taken out,
unscanned in violation of rules and above all conduct of airport
security force who allowed the minister to give protocol to his
friends in outbound areas may also be vetted and disclosed for
education of air commuters and common citizens. It would be
advisable for the minister to relinquish his office voluntarily in
the interest of good governance and for preserving better image of
the party, whose vote bank otherwise is fast expanding beyond the
province. Karachi
Tax on babies
Dr Irfan Zafar
A proposal has been presented before National Assembly for imposing
tax on having many children by Minister for Population Welfare. For
the last 62 years this was the only Productive thing this Nation of
170 Million souls has been doing without any Tax. Let’s not Tax the
only Productive Industry we are left with. Islamabad
Standing opposition
Aftab Malik
Media in our country is playing a very sensitive and at times
critical role to keep a check on anti-people and anti-State
elements. It in fact is the standing opposition in our country.
Scorching heat, chilling winters can hardly bar a reporter to avoid
his basic duty of finding facts.
The night never falls on them and without any blink they keep us
posted with the latest. Not paid though as opulently as the
opposition politicians, these reporters very much defending the
interest of Pakistan. Recently we saw them offering their lives in
the line of duty while being killed by the terrorists. What is being
proclaimed by the ministries on talk shows is so often countered by
the anchors because the real story perhaps is already present. It is
indeed very difficult to hood wink the man in chair extensively fed
with real facts on ground.
The basic issues like education, health and speedy justice which
make our government look fragile as stated by even Obama too, would
have rested bundled under the carpet if the defenders were not
standing out to highlight the miseries of a common man. By some how,
a common man in our country always goes on to miss the train. The
media has per force come alive to his miseries. Perhaps that is why
we see many ordinary victims reporting to the media which under
normal circumstances would go to the police or to the
representatives of masses. How much these people are being
recognized at national level for the untiring services rendered by
them as standing opposition in the sun? Well that is to be
considered by all for us as a nation. Government should think making
some strategy for them too. Rawalpindi
Gift to nation
Murad Ali Mohmand
The government has once again hit the feelings and emotions of
people by increasing the prices of POL. Chief Justice of Pakistan
has failed to take any serious action against the government
miserable actions and policies. The POL prices were recently reduced
by the Chief Justice orders but now the President and Prime Minister
have increased them with out any valid justification and they also
faced much criticism on Carbon tax. We don’t know what they do in
Parliament. They first decide and then later on change their
decision and they don’t even feel guilty on their poor policies
which they admit in Parliament too. One day would come when the
people would come out on the streets and will Inshallah through this
poor government who has failed many times in all of their actions.
They have not given any relief to the people of Pakistan and what
they have given are poverty, illiteracy, load shedding, flour crisis
and terrorism. God save our country. Peshawar
