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.
Fight poverty
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that while he is “absolutely willing and ready” to engage with India, the “onus remains on India to take a necessary step to engage towards result-oriented solutions”. He also highlighted the need for both countries to engage in order to fight poverty, unemployment and meagre resources.
For decades now, and even after Modi came to power, Pakistan has been trying to build bridges between the two sides. From Kartarpur Corridor initiative to returning Indian pilot Abhinandan as a goodwill gesture during the peak of confrontation in recent times, Pakistan has taken several peace initiatives and invited India to talk.
Every time Pakistan makes a peace overture, India responds in a brazenly hawkish manner. We have seen how India under Modi has not just become an over zealously oppressive state but has also ruined its diplomatic relations in the region. It was India that took the August 5, 2019 step unilaterally in Occupied Kashmir and closed the doors for talks with Pakistan. Now it is the test of the Indian side to respond in a positive and purposeful manner for the sake of peace and harmony in the region.
MUNAWAR SIDDIQUI
Lahore
Desecration of sacred place
It is unfortunately sad that some land mafias and land grabbers exist in Sukkur; the third largest city of Sindh by land, mass and population. Sukkur city has a distinct identity. There are a number of historical places and beautiful sceneries. It would not be wrong to say that Sukkur is a city of Saints and Shrines. Saint Hazrat Khair-ud-din commonly known as Jeay Shah Jeelani is one of the famous shrines whose Gadinasheen or Custodian/Caretaker is Pirzada Family.
This Saint migrated from Baghdad to Sindh in the 15th Century along with some religious companions for the preaching of Islam. They devoted their whole for rendering service to Islam and humanity. There is an old place of worship (Chilla Gah) in the road of Sukkur Civil Hospital and a Mosque where he used to stay for forty days in remembrance of the Almighty. Now, the Mosque is in a completely damaged situation. This is a sacred place. A vast piece of land has been desecrated in an illegal way by some corrupt officials and land mafias. None is raising the voice and dares to take some severe steps. There are also two ancient graves, one of Saint Jeay Shah’s son and the other is his wife. Names of these graves are being replaced on some unknown persons by some pseudo intellectuals so that they could misguide others and take some advantage.
It injures the feelings of believers and natives when their sacred places are desecrated or violated. Sadly, there is no one who could stop and prohibit this. I appeal to the Sukkur Municipal Corporation (SMC) and other relevant and concerned authorities to look into this matter and take some crucial actions.
PIRZADA HASSAN RAZA
Sukkur
MPhil allowance
MS and MPhil degrees are equivalent. To acquire either of these degrees thirty credit hours are required to be completed. Both are equal to 18 hours of formal education. And both degrees can be pursued with either course work stream or research work stream. The HEC has already clarified that there isn’t any difference between MS and MPhil degrees, the difference is of just nomenclature and nothing else. But sadly, in Sindh province only MPhil degree holder government servants enjoy MPhil allowance that is two thousand and five hundred rupees, while MS degree holders are deprived of any such allowance.
This is sheer injustice on the part of the Sindh Government. In Punjab both MPhil and MS degree holders get equal amount of the allowance that is five thousand rupees. While the MS degree holder government servants under Sindh Government have been subjected to disparity. The Sindh Government should remove the concern of MS degree holder government servants by granting them an allowance, equal to MPhil allowance, which is their due right.
M ILYAS KALHORO
Larkana
Al-Capone vs NAB law changes
Big corrupt crooks have lots of money that they use to hire specialists that ensure that these crooks are secured and never caught by local laws. During the alcohol prohibition in America, a gangster named Al-Capone became very strong. The American law enforcement had a difficult time arresting Al-Capone for any crime because he used other workers for the criminal activities and there was never any proof against him.
But the American police eventually caught him on the charge of not paying taxes when they found proof of his income from the illegal businesses. Although the police could not prove the income was illegal, they instead charged him for not paying taxes on this income and put him in jail, effectively ending all his illegal operations.
The intent behind writing this piece is that in Pakistan, the authorities have the resources and potential to apprehend the criminals but, the Almighty knows better, why they are not doing the things which are obligatory.
SHAHRYAR KHAN BASEER
Peshawar
