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Honour
Dr Khan’s daughter
Mr Salim Chaudhry, a prominent writer, recently shared a video featuring the daughter of the late Dr. A.Q. Khan, expressing her grievances regarding the misconduct of certain government departments. She revealed that her father had served as the Chairman of a hospital in Lahore, a project he oversaw from its construction. Known for his integrity, Dr. Khan took swift action upon receiving complaints from staff members, dismissing four administrators involved in wrongdoing.
Tragically, after Dr. Khan’s passing, these individuals unlawfully seized control of the hospital. They have since been misappropriating donations intended for the hospital’s welfare. Despite her efforts to seek justice through legal channels, including filing a case and contacting law enforcement and relevant authorities, Dr. Khan’s daughter has faced roadblocks at every turn. She is determined to reclaim the hospital and expel those who tarnished her father’s legacy.
The glaring question remains: how did these individuals acquire the authority to remove a respected figure like Dr. Khan from his rightful position? Furthermore, why is his daughter, a qualified medical professional, being disregarded by the authorities in this matter? Sadly, the answer lies in the pervasive influence of nepotism and corruption that plague Pakistan’s institutions. Dr. A.Q. Khan endured scrutiny during his lifetime for his pivotal role in establishing Pakistan as a nuclear power. Now, his daughter finds herself unjustly bearing the brunt of disgrace.
I implore the President and Prime Minister to intervene swiftly, acknowledging Dr. Khan’s invaluable contribution and extending support to his daughter. Let us allow the man to rest in peace, having endured enough tribulations during his lifetime. It is imperative that we do not compound his suffering by neglecting his daughter’s plight.
DR MAQSOOD JAFRI
New York
Political fatigue
The current political situation is driving people to leave the country. What is happening here? No government can peacefully complete its tenure; such is the greed for power among the opposition. They seem indifferent to the country’s prosperity. I am exhausted with this politics. The nation is frustrated with this dirty game. Let the country prosper, let the government complete its tenure and let us live. People need to adjust to the new setup. We cannot afford this chaos anymore. We don’t know what the opposition is thinking, but their actions only lead to more complications.
We are fed up with this political system, where every aspect is subservient to a larger scheme. Let the government complete its tenure; perhaps in the next elections, the opposition will have the chance to lead. We want progress, stability and prosperity for Pakistan. We lack the courage to endure this political turmoil any longer. Every time we turn on the television, we hear about the opposition’s conspiracies to seize power. Our minds are overwhelmed; we want to shut out the noise. This should be enough.
The nation never aspired for this modern era where individuals cannot plan for their future due to economic situations and political instability. Do not be so greedy that you disregard the nation’s welfare. If a person fails repeatedly, they eventually give up. For God’s sake, let us live peacefully and work towards progress instead of regression.
AREEBA ALTAF
Larkana
Education emergency
Pakistan has too much on its plate to worry about the seemingly unimportant issue of education. So what if 26 million of its children remain out of school? Clearly, there are more pressing matters than a disturbingly low literacy rate (the lowest in South Asia) and report after report ringing alarm bells over the dismal quality of education provided to 43 million who somehow manage to enter classrooms.
The federal government’s decision to declare an education emergency for the next four years aims to spell an end to the gaping disparities and ensure that all Pakistani children could finally enjoy their birthright to education and a better future. Why would the privileged classes be bothered about education, healthcare or even the survival of the masses? Education is widely recognized as a fundamental pillar for social and economic development and therefore, any government intervention should have been considered a crucial development.
However, some of the burden of this crippling lack of a sense of urgency does lie on the shoulders of the ruling elite. Their attention to such a critical issue, which could equip the future workforce with the skills and the vision needed to find a pathway towards prosperity, has never progressed beyond lip service. The ill-planned schemes, including the Single National Curriculum, have failed to achieve the elusive goal of quality education, with successive governments doing little to address the issue.
QAZI JAMSHED SIDDIQUI
Lahore
Box letter
Corrupt medicine
We are the world’s largest democracy. We must preserve what our freedom fighters like Bhagat Singh, Netaji Subas Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi fought for. Let’s not lose this legacy for a power-hungry politician. It is very important that we, the people of India, wake up and take action before it’s too late. If you compare the prices of medicines you bought eight months ago with the current prices, you will be shocked to find that the prices of medicines have gone up to 100 per cent. Why did these pharmaceutical companies suddenly raise the price of medicines so much? The answer is electoral bond. Several pharma companies had to pay crores of rupees to the BJP government as forced bribes through electoral bonds. In order to recover this money, the companies had no alternative but to increase the price of medicines without any control. The government allowed these companies to increase the prices of even essential medicines. If this is not corruption, then what is it?
JUBEL D’CRUZ
Mumbai, India
