Articles and letters may be edited for the purposes of clarity and space. They are published in good faith with a view to enlightening all the stakeholders. However, the contents of these writings may not necessarily match the views of the newspaper.
Hazara massacre
For decades Pakistan remained target of terrorism and sectarianism and it continues. The most recent barbaric attack in Mach, Balochistan in which 11 poor coal miners belonging to Hazara Community were brutally killed by terrorists. Series of brutal killing of Hazara community since 2011 is continuing.
We are no strangers to this barbarism. Thousands of Hazara men, women and children remained in a sit-in on highways, streets in frigid temperature demanding state to protect them. Moreover this desperate incident is a grim reminder of episodes occurred in 2011, 2013 and 2018 in which Hazara community staged sit-ins. From then on Hazaras have been appealing and demonstrating for justice and protection of their lives. How long this community that live in harmony and peacefully with other communities will continue to tolerate these incidents?
Government must take stern measures to stop this barbarism and assure Hazara community that it would not happen again. Government should seal all entry points from where these terrorists penetrate to stage attacks and those who support and facilitate them should be taken to task. Now it remains to be seen how PTI government, which is playing its pivotal role as a facilitator between the US and Taliban in Afghanistan, will provide protection and justice to Hazara community. This situation also poses question mark over functioning of institutions in Balochistan.
IRFAN ALI QAZI
Karachi
Forced marriages
Women are often considered financial burden in family and mostly confined at their homes. In Pakistan women are forced for marriage in early ages by their parents. Some parents sell their daughters for few pennies. Greediness of their parents make them compromise with an unknown and aged person. But after that unwanted marriage they are tortured and thus their rights are crushed.
Moreover, mostly in rural areas they can’t even get proper education and are also physically harassed. According to the law early and coerced marriage is a crime. State authorities must pay attention and give exemplary punishment to those who commit these crimes so that they realise that a woman is not a burden.
HASNAIN ASAD MEMON
Sukkur, Sindh
Garbage collection
Collecting garbage from residents is fast becoming a troublesome issue for Municipal Corporation in Mumbai and its suburbs, since no concrete steps have been taken all these years to segregate it. Segregation of garbage should be made compulsory for all housing societies not only in Mumbai but also all over the country. Dry waste, wet waste and e-waste should be collected separately.
Those people not willing to co-operate and who think this is a stupid thing should be fined heavily. When we segregate waste, the amount of waste that gets land filled reduces considerably, resulting in lower levels of air and water pollution. Segregating waste also makes it easier to apply different processes to the waste, like composting, recycling and incineration.
JUBEL D’CRUZ
Mumbai, India
Anarchy in Washington
The US is currently facing situation that is threatening democracy. It was day of announcement of president-elect Joseph Robinette Biden’s final victory as new president of America. The day, however, seemed to be under chaos, anarchy and most-importantly riots across the state as former president Donald John Trump negates results of the election. In this regard, pro-Trump’s protestors stormed the capitol and entered Congress building to disrupt electoral confirmation process. The US is presently a divided country where democracy and rule of law are under threat.
The state, which has been overtly and covertly fuelling civil wars in many parts of the world, is now itself facing a similar situation. American-led intervention in Syrian civil war is a leading example. The proverb “what goes around comes around” proves to be true with the US. Very interestingly, a country that lectures the world about human dignity, security, justice and rule of law is itself trapped in anarchy.
WAJAHAT ABRO
Shikarpur
Poor water supply
Through space of your esteemed newspaper, I would like to draw attention of concerned authorities towards problem of poor water supply in Quaidabad area. The water is supplied once a week in the area for only few hours late night, with very low pressure. The people of this area are facing acute problem of water.
Particularly during this winter season, it has become all the more serious. Besides this, the water is muddy and polluted. Many people of the colony have fallen sick. There are complaints of jaundice and lose motion after drinking this polluted water. Sometimes water is supplied in early morning hours.
People have to wake up very early to get water. Their sleep is disturbed and office goers have to wait for water. As a result, they get late for office and face anger of their officers. I request higher authorities to look into this matter. The authorities need to take immediate and urgent action to ensure regular and clean water supply in Quaidabad area.
IQRA MAJEED
Karachi
