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.
Spinning false narrative
The Daily Mail finally and belatedly apologised for its slanderous story filed three years ago. Shebaz Sharif had been accused of misusing DFID funds during his time as Chief Minister, and the news outlet and the journalist that filed the story could not furnish any substantial evidence for these claims ever since the report was first printed in 2019. But even after the case is a victory for PM Sharif, political opponents in the PTI are spinning the narrative and maintaining their stance of corruption against him and his family.
Since 2013 or even earlier, PTI has been pushing its narrative of fighting against corruption without ever sufficiently defining what corruption they are referring to, or even how it will counter it. This has meant that corruption as a term has been used to conduct a witch hunt on many occasions, with devastating effect.
PTI supporters, for instance, wholeheartedly believe that opponents are corrupt, and no amount of retractions and court cases are likely to convince them otherwise. Despite eye opening revelations in Toshakhana case, the PTI workers still think their party head “Sadiq and Ameen”.
There are reports that the PTI government helped furnish Daily Mail with the ‘evidence’ that it used in court, and the fact that the case still went against the publication’s favour indicates that the PTI narrative, as expected, contains little proof. Corruption is the abuse of power for personal, political or economic gain which is why the term can be used so wantonly. The abuse of power and bribery are common practices in Pakistan, PTI government used its power and politics only to malign the opposition not for betterment of the common man.
QAZI JAMSHED SIDDIQUI
Lahore
Story of the advent wreath
A lighted candle has always been a sign of expectation and hope. In the days before Christianity in Scandinavia, people placed lighted candles on a wheel; prayers were offered to their god of light in the hope that the earth’s wheel would be turned back toward the sun, bringing light and warmth. Like many beloved Advent traditions, the modern-day tradition of the Advent wreath originates in Germany.
The story goes that in 1839, Johann Hinrich Wichern (1808-81), a pastor in Germany, built a wreath out of an old cartwheel to help the children in his mission school count the days until Christmas. He added small candles on it to be lit every week day and on Saturdays during Advent. On Sundays, a large white candle was lit.
Although, it wasn’t widely popular until the 19th century, German immigrants then brought the tradition with them to America in the 20th century. The evergreens used in today’s wreaths, represent everlasting life. Holly leaves and berries represent the crown of thorns and blood; and pine cones symbolise the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Nowadays, the colours of the candles vary. Whatever the colours may be, the first candle represents hope and the prophets of the Old Testament; the second candle represents faith and Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem; the third candle signifies joy and the shepherds; and the fourth candle represents peace and the angels, with their message of peace on earth and goodwill to all men.
JUBEL D’CRUZ
Mumbai, India
Parking crunch
In recent ages, with an infrastructural development, technological evolution accelerated the demands & public needs. Though these are fruitful but have some issues as well. A pleasant environment is necessary for a man and we find it hard when we travel through cities, shopping malls, markets, parks and other public places due to lack of parking management .
Often roads and markets are densely packed and clogged due to wrong parking. In metropolitan cities like Lahore, Karachi, Multan and Peshawar, there are no proper parking facilities. Traffic, due to road parking, becomes irritating and it is also a violation of fundamental rights as these cause obstructions in free movement. Urban planning overlooked these aspects, which are raising the lifestyle issues for citizens.
Moreover , the government has not made any long-lasting and permanent solution and planning to cope with this burning issue. It should work on the development of parking infrastructure according to the lines of parking supply and demand in packed and dense areas of cities rather than giving parking contracts to the contractors.
Many contactor companies are working in major cities for the parking of shopping malls, markets and public places but it is the tip of iceberg. For alleviation the strain of problem, government should focus on developing the infrastructure arrangements as underground, individual , podium and off street models etc. The government should work on different projects of parking infrastructure policies development by creating designed spaces and sites. It would not only raise the quality of life in cities but also help in traffic & planning with reducing accidents ratio.
ALI AKBAR
Nankana Sahib
