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.
Sanctity of Quaid’s death anniversary
We expatriate Pakistanis are shocked to witness that there is total disregard by elected federal and provincial governments and the opposition parties to observe the sanctity of Quaid’s death anniversary.
The usual bickering by the spokesperson of the federal government and response by the opposition is shocking and shameful to say the least.
The State media and most private television channels, with exception of a few, devoted more time to 9/11 or the needless debate on EVMs and derogatory and unparliamentary remarks against their political adversaries.
They seem to be either so obsessed by their political agenda and obsessions that they even failed to mention the name of Father of Nation and re-telecast his audio recorded messages.
There was a time when Jinnah Saheb’s speeches were broadcast and programmes held on 11 September and such occasions of national significance like 14 August, 23 March, 25 December etc.
It seems that Jinnah’s vision is of no significance to the political elite at helm. Nations that don’t honour their national heroes suffer and lose sight of their national priorities.
It is time the people stand up and ensure that Jinnah’s Doctrine prevails and not that of adventurers and usurpers of the constitution. May Almighty Allah SWT guide us and bless Quaid’s soul and all other pioneers of our freedom movement.
SALMAN MALIK
Via email
Justice for students
It is a well-known fact that the students of Balochistan Medical College (BMC) are facing challenging times. Students held a protest at Abdul Sattar Chowk against the unfair online entry test in the college.
However, they were beaten, baton charged and arrested by the police in Quetta. Unfortunately, this means that the Baloch students have become helpless and hapless.
Yet one needs to question why the government resorted to such an uncivilised and barbaric act instead of negotiating with the students by listening to their concerns and coming up with a solution.
Moreover, a number of students were wounded and admitted to hospitals. It is termed as a failure of our government that continuously fails to address such genuine issues.
The Government of Balochistan is earnestly requested to address this issue immediately and release all the arrested students and solve their legitimate demands.
ALTAF ADAM
Awaran
My first day
in school
A school is a place of learning for a child. It is a training ground for him/her. It is a place to gain academic knowledge and learn communicated skills between students.
It is here that he/she forms new associates, comes in contact with young boys and girls of his/her age and forms new ideas and habits. It is here that he/she prepares himself/herself for the stage of life. So the right type of educational school is for great importance for him/her.
I was enrolled in a school at the age of five. It was basically a primary school. The memory of my first day in school is still fresh in my mind. It was a small school with eight rooms.
There were ten teachers including the P.T. teacher. The headmaster’s office was separate. The school had a compound with lush green lawns and flowers bedded
My mum took me to the headmaster’s office and got me admitted in the school. I still remember that the first day of my school was a Monday and my mum had packed two sandwiches for me to be eaten during the short recess.
My class teacher was very gentle. She encouraged me and treated me kindly. I felt a bit nervous in the new environment.
The boys of my class looked at me with wonder and smile. I had with me my English textbook and got my first lesson in alphabet.
Soon the bell for the interval rang.
The boys rushed out of the classrooms. Some of them gathered round me. They laughed at me and made fun of me. A few sympathized with me and befriended me. I had a novel experience.
The final bell went at one thirty in the afternoon. All the boys felt very happy. I also took my school bag and hurried back to my home with my mother who was waiting for me at the school gate.
The memory of my first day at school is still fresh in my mind. I feel proud when I describe it to others. It is natural on the part of every boy/girl to remember their first day at school.
It gave me a terrible feeling of fear and anxiety as I went to school on the very first day with my mother. Actually, it was my dad who first thought of sending me to school.
Today, several years later, I feel happy that I went to school.
If I hadn’t, I would be doing odd jobs for people like running errands, watering the lawns, scrubbing utensils, looking after the sick and the aged, or even washing clothes and wouldn’t be able to become a writer and write this article for young readers you.
JUBEL D’CRUZ
Mumbai, India
Harassment around us
I have heard lots of stories about murders and killings in the name of honour yet never knew a story in my neighbourhood.
One evening I heard my parents narrating the story of our neighbouring girl and regretting her fate.
She was almost called mad by the people. I never tried to know what actually happened to her innocence.
I heard them saying that she too was an ambitious and courageous girl like all of us, but all that changed when 40-year old uncle raped her.
She got pregnant at an early age and couldn’t bear that pregnancy. So she aborted and it seemed hell on earth for that family.
The girl could not tolerate all this and ended-up losing her mind until this day. According to her she stopped living the day her soul was murdered. Today she yells at every man she sees, can’t sleep without taking sleeping pills.
SHANEELA NASEEM
Turbat, Balochistan
