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Deteriorating Lyari Expressway
I wish to draw the attention of relevant quarters of Sindh Government towards deteriorating condition of Lyari Expressway. Last week, one of my friends was returning from Hawks Bay with his family. He took the Lyari Expressway from Mauripur, and after paying the toll charges, he drove at a speed of 60 to 70 km/h. A child of about 7 years of age suddenly ran across the expressway as some boys were unbelievably playing cricket on Lyari Expressway.
In an attempt to save the child, my friend’s car hit another car on his right and later hit the pavement. Luckily, my friend, his wife and two kids remained safe but his car suffered extensive damage. When the Sindh government is taking toll charges, why is it not maintaining the expressway? There are no street lights on the road on Lyari Expressway. I have often noticed motorbikes plying on expressway whereas two and three wheelers are totally banned. Children are seen flying kites and playing cricket on main Lyari Expressway.
When Lyari Expressway was inaugurated, the entire expressway was covered with metal net on both sides but with the passage of time, all those metal nets have disappeared allowing people and stray animals to occupy Lyari Expressway where traffic moves at very high speed. Is the government of Sindh waiting for some major traffic accident to happen? Those who matter must act now before it is too late.
M RAFIQUE ZAKARIA
Karachi
Accountability inevitable
Former intelligence chief and retired Lieutenant General Faiz Hamid has been formally indicted on charges of engaging in political activities through court-martial proceedings. This represents one of the most high-profile court martial in Pakistan’s history.
While the charges against General Faiz Hamid are yet to be proven and he will contest his innocence with the full protection of the law, the arrest of three other retired officers as co-conspirators in the case indicates that the military authorities have built a strong case and are confident in their ability to secure a conviction.
It is closely tied to the ongoing legal battles faced by former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The political engineering that General Faiz Hamid stands accused of allegedly worked to Imran Khan’s advantage, and both men shared a symbiotic political relationship that bolstered their respective positions.
The parallel trajectories of IK and Faiz’s ostensible downfall show a shift in accountability landscape. With mounting legal cases against Imran Khan, it appears increasingly unlikely that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf will succeed in having them dismissed on political grounds or through repeated calls and marches.
Should General Faiz Hamid be found guilty of political engineering in favour of Imran Khan, the logical conclusion, if not the legal certainty, is that Imran Khan also colluded with elements within the armed forces to shape political outcomes. Accountability, though often delayed, is inevitable.
The decisions would be a milestone for the stability of democratic system of the country in future. It would also hinder the unnecessary intervention in politics by non-political elements.
QAZI JAMSHED SIDDIQUI
Lahore
Baloch’s medical students’ cries
For around three weeks now, the medical students of Balochistan’s Bolan Medical College (BMC), the first and biggest medical college in Balochistan, have organized a protesting sit-in inside the institute’s premise against what they call forced evacuation of hostels by the police in collaboration with the college administration, unlawful baton-charge and arrests of students (who were later on released, looting of their expensive material and, above all, the closure of the college.
All the events took place after a ‘small fight’ between two students which was, they say, solved, but then the fight was termed as a clash of Baloch-Pashtoon students.
The students, including Baloch and Pashtoon students, while negating administration’s claims, have called for action against the miscreants – whether students, the police or the college administration – and are demanding immediate opening of the college and hostel.
However, the administration has excused by calling for hostel and college’s function from March 2025, saying they are to repair the hostels. The students, on the other hand, fear a militarisation of the college, and the other hostels of the province.
The hostel repair claims are also brought on surface by the biggest university of the province – the University of Balochistan (UoB).
Right after the clash of the students with the administration, UoB admin issued a notification calling on the hostel residing students to completely vacate the hostels leaving their doors open and urged the students to take their belongings along with them.
When the students turned to the hostel wardens and provost, they made the same excuse – “we are repairing the hostels”.
ALI JAN MAQSOOD
Via email
