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.
Temple in Islamabad
Last week Federal government of Pakistan decided to build a temple for Hindu community in Islamabad from public funds, which was about to start when some elements criticized the government by saying that building a temple with public funds is against the injunctions of Islam as Pakistan is an Islamic state. Surprisingly, Government came under their pressure and announced on media that no funding yet been disbursed for the temple’s construction and matter has been referred to the Council of Islamic Ideology for seeking its opinion regarding funding of money for purpose of temple’s construction.
Now it is the Council that has to decide the matter in the light of Quran and Sunnah. It is hoped that minorities being part of Pakistan won’t feel deprived as Muslims do in India and will be allowed to enjoy their fundamental right given under article 20 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1973 to profess their religion and manage their religious institutions.
SANAULLAH KALWAR
Kashmore,Sindh
Question of country’s image
The current hot debate on construction of a minority temple in the capital city is beating drum everywhere. Some of the elements in this state are striving to halt construction work of temple, whereas, others are supporting this cause for carrying out a good message at the international level that Pakistan is peaceful and rights granting country.
I do not think so both are right, this is not only place of former one but also of the minors. This country was purely founded on the core principle of religious freedom that no one would be restricted to observe ones rites, rituals and traditions in this State of Pakistan as Founder Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah said in one speech. Later ones are claiming that country’s tolerance within state and good image will be highlighted at global level.
I have a question in my mind that what kind of image of this country, they are talking about. They are talking about the IMF loans, financial aids from World Bank, Asian Development Bank, China Bank, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Switzerland, USA and China. This is the image of our country for which people are boasting about, that is solely dependent on the foreign aids.
However, who cares about the international image? This is the game of power and might is right concept. Is India caring for its harsh laws and brutalities lashed out on Kashmiris and introducing the Citizens Amendments Bill? Moreover, is Israel caring for its international image while killing the thousands of innocent people in Palestine and also its annexation plans?
Adding to it, had America cared for international image while enforcing regime change policies in a number of countries having destroyed their economy and usurped their resources. Therefore, 21st century is the politics of smart power not only of soft power. If you want to convey a good image of your country, then first of all stop begging from the other countries and make stabilize your economic and political institutions at high level.
M SOLANGI
Dadu
Undiscovered FOSPAH
We come across news of harassment of women at workplace almost on a daily basis. And unfortunately, it is considered common now. Most of the workplaces have not formulated any mechanism to deal with harassment cases in their organizations. In fact, 60% of the workplaces comprising both private and public sector do not follow labour laws.
Women who face harassment at their workplaces are either asked to keep quite as it would affect the so-called reputation of their family and husband. Or many of them do not know any forum where they can file a complaint. So I would like to draw attention of public towards FOSPAH. Federal Ombudsman Secretariat for Protection against Harassment (FOSPAH) is a government organization striving to provide harassment free workplace environment for both women and men.
It is a court that entertains workplace harassment cases only and most importantly FOSPAH adjudicates the cases within 2 months. So the victim who is reluctant to go to the court due to prolonged court hearing and delayed justice, FOSPAH is the right place for them. With Head-Office in Islamabad, FOSPAH also has regional offices at Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar.
Moreover, the affectees can also lodge their complaints through online complaint management system. In current scenario of COVID19 crisis, under the supervision of respected Ombudsman Kashmala Tariq, FOSPAH Team is at your service and has set up video conferencing system to hold case hearings. The penalties imposed by FOSPAH include fine, compensation to the complainant, transfer of harasser to the lower post or scale, compulsory retirement and dismissal from service.
Also now the organization has been given authority to hear property inheritance cases of women. It is the duty of state to ensure safe environment at offices for the servants. And so FOSPAH is the forum for them. What has been left now is awareness among the people that they develop enough strength to speak up for themselves and know their rights.
M JABRAAN BASHIR
Via email
Honour for sale
Another painful news has been circulating on social media and newspapers for the last couple of days. A 24-year-old girl, Wazira Chachhar, was {allegedly} brutally murdered in Jamshoro district of Sindh. According to the residents of the area, she was stoned to death as her face and body were badly mutilated. All her bones were badly broken with stones and sticks. Where is the state and where is the Sindh Government? In today’s age, this heinous act of public and extra-judicial killing suggests that it is not difficult to kill women in the name of honour in areas under the influence of Sindhi Waderas.
Regardless of whether the charges against her were true or false, in a state with a constitution, law and judicial system, the power to punish through a Jirga and to take a human life is itself a challenge for the state. The question of why the Vadera law applies only to women and the weak. Why can’t the powerful and influential accused in their private courts become criminals? This is because they believe that government law will not harm them.
If the decisions of the private courts or tribunals of the Waderas continue to be implemented in the same way, will the Wadera Raj not become like a state within a state? Wouldn’t this shameful audacity encourage extra-judicial action in other parts of the country? Despite protests on social media and in various areas for justice, no action was taken by the administration and the Sindh government. This is a shameful example of collusion between the Sindh Government and Wadera Shahi.
NIMRA HAQUE
Karachi
Another great blow to Bollywood
The sudden deaths this year of Irfan Khan, Rishi Kapoor, Sushant Singh Rajput, Saroj Khan and now, Jagdeep Jaffrey are great blows to the Hindi film industry. All of them have left behind memorable bodies of work that will continue to set standards for Indian cinema. Jagdeep was a veteran comedian-cum-actor who made his acting debut as a child artiste in films under various banners like AVM Productions, B.R. Chopra Films and even K.A. Abbas.
Later when he acted in ‘Sholay’, he immortalised his ‘Soorma Bhopali’ character. He also played memorable roles in films like ‘Do Hawaldar’, ‘Purana Mandir’ and ‘Andaz Apna Apna’. He knew how to make people laugh through his performances, be it the mainstream Bollywood movies, Ramsay Brothers’ horror films or in cult comedies.
JUBEL D’CRUZ
Mumbai, India
