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.
Corona-Virus in Karachi
The first Corona-virus case in Pakistan has been reported in Karachi. The patient has been identified as 22-year old Yahya Jaffery. He had recently travelled from Iran to Pakistan. He has been admitted to a private hospital for treatment while his family has also been kept in surveillance.
Reduce your risk of Corona-virus infection, clean hands with soap and water or alcohol based hand rub, cover nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing with tissue or fixed elbow, avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu like symptoms, thoroughly cook meat and eggs and avoid unprotected contact with live wild or farm animal. Take care of everyone and may the world recover from Corona-virus soon. May all be well and happy, stay safe everyone.
MARYAM AFTAB KHAN
Karachi
*****
Corona virus has entered Pakistan, as two cases of the Corona-virus have already been confirmed. We should no more take this matter lightly and we must take precautions like staying indoor as much as possible, avoiding eye contact with other people, drinking water.
Face masks should be used by the people who show symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. Schools, colleges and universities must be closed in order to prevent the spread of respiratory disease. May Allah protect us all from such fatal diseases.
DUA IRFAN
Karachi
Shortage
of masks
Pakistan is the only country where anybody can hike price on their own wish because there isn’t anyone to check out in a proper way. In the recent past, sugar and flour prices were hiked but it is very sad to share that in Karachi people have hiked the prices of face masks which is one of the basic prevention things from corona virus.
In Singapore, on the suspicision of Corona-virus outbreak the government made thousands of masks on an emergency basis and made it free for all the people of their country and provided them free and declared illegal the price hike of masks in supermarkets. But unfortunately in our country people do business on it. I request Prime Minister of Pakistan and Chief Minister of Sindh to take strict notice regarding this and make sure the availability of masks in medical stores as well as local shops.
ANTHONY SAHOTRA
Larkana
CAA may render Muslims stateless
India’s new citizenship law may render a large number of Muslims stateless which is unfair to the community. The government should think twice before implementing such laws.
JUBEL D’CRUZ
Mumbai, India
Delhi riots
Nearly 23 people have been killed so far in Indian Capital New Delhi in the deadliest violence which has seen in decades. The clashes first broke out on Sunday between protesters for and against a controversial citizenship law. But they have since taken on communal overtones, with reports of many Muslims being attacked. Photographs, videos and accounts on social media paint a chilling image of the last few days of mostly Hindu mobs beating unarmed men, including journalists; of groups of men with sticks, iron rods and stones wandering the streets; and of Hindus and Muslims facing off.
New Delhi has been a hotbed of protest against the controversial new citizenship law and protesters have been camping out continuously in several parts of the capital for the last two months. Modi government has totally failed to protect the lives, properties of the Muslims and other minorities. Muslims are the biggest minority of India, which faced Hindu enmity not only today but even before partition.
The roots of Muslim rage run deep in India, nourished by a long held sense of injustice over what many Indian Muslims believe is institutionalized discrimination against the country’s largest minority group. The disparity between Muslims India’s Hindus is striking. Indian Muslims have shorter life span, worse health, lower literacy levels and lower-paying jobs. In a nutshell, Indian Muslims live on sufferance.
AFIA AMBREEN
Rawalpindi
*****
More than 20 people have been killed in Delhi in riots that erupted during last two days between demonstrators protesting against CAA and NRC and supporters of CAA & NRC. The sheepish silence of Modi government is making things worse. The fascist regime of India has turned the capital city into battle ground where Muslims are assaulted and killed and their properties are being looted and ransacked, burnt and plundered.
The pseudo world’s largest democracy is breaking down swiftly, allowing the demon of Hindutva to come out and overpower every sane person of India. India must revisit its strategy to overcome these riots, lest it’s too late and the country is engulfed in flames of prejudice and hatred. United Nation should intercede and stop India’s barbaric extremists from crushing 200 Muslims who are, right now, at the mercy of eccentric majority.
Wisdom and sagacity does not appear to prevail in this atmosphere of clash and extinction. Arvind Kejriwal, the CM of Delhi has requested that army may be called in the city to control the situation as life of innocent Muslims is at stake. OIC should also take notice of this planned murder of Muslims and stop India from Muslims’ genocide.
IFTIKHAR MIRZA
Islamabad
Journalism
is crime?
Journalism is a way to communicate the situation prevailing in an area to the rest of the world. There are many forms of journalism such as broadcaster, photo-journalist, etc. Journalism can be considered as a difficult profession because they are meant to expose the right as well as the worst from the society. Journalism is specifically difficult in war-stricken areas. But in India-occupied Kashmir (IoK) journalism is considered as a crime.
Besides the difficulties of internet blockage, journalists of the valley face imprisonment, torture and even murder for their obvious duty. They are continuously harassed. Indian authorities are seeking undertakings from news organizations regarding assurance to defend Indian defined narrative. Due to frequent internet blockage IoK journalists face difficulty in publishing their stories and fulfilling their duties. Since the revocation of Article 370, life in the Vale has become stagnant and miserable. The lockdown of the internet has ceased communication. This is the main hindrance in the discharge of duties of a journalist in the occupied territory. Journalists are captured, detained, tortured and molested by Indian army for showing true picture to outside world.
Journalists are accused of spying and supporting Pakistan. India has prohibited International journalists to provide coverage of the recent situation of IOK whereas the local journalists work under the extreme worst situation. Presently, journalism is the most suffering profession in occupied Jammu & Kashmir. Only a few journalists, risking their life, dare enough to work in IoK in today´s situation.
Concluding more! The United Nations should take worthwhile measures to bring peace in the turbulent State and call on India to protect the life of journalists. India should also be pressurized to allow some International journalists to work in IoK and Indian army should be prohibited to capture or torture registered journalists.
MAEMUNA SADAF
Islamabad
Say no to dowry
Though, we have a law which disallows the display and exhibition of dowry. Please permit me to point out the huge repression of society in the name of culture and traditions. The evils of dowry system which has wrecked many a meadow of married life. Where many of girls couldn’t afford to get married because their parents are not able to give them luxurious dowry so how can this cruel society would accept? I shall feel very grateful if you kindly spare me a column in your esteemed daily.
The evil of dowry has marred several lives. It has assumed an alarming situation in these days of soaring prices. Dowry trend is a curse. It is social evil and prohibited in Islam. Shamefully today, no marriage is considered to be complete unless it is followed by a train of dowry. Hardly a day passes when we do not hear of a case of bride-burning in the country. The poor parents of girls heave cold sighs when the marriage becomes a wreck.
The evil practice of dowry has given rise to many social ills. This brutal practice must be done away with boys and girls coming forward and track vow not to give and take dowry. This kind of act must be discouraged by the society. Marriage should celebrate and popularized but with limited guests and lessen burdens. Strict action should be taken against the defaulters. Let’s hope that this monster of dowry will settle soon.
MISBAH JAVED
Karachi
