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.
Constitution & Parliament under trial?
Every practicing faithful is disturbed by the ongoing tussle between parliament, president and chief justice, especially during the holy month of Ramzan. The apex court within hours of receipt of a petition against proposed curtailing the powers of CJP on suo moto cases, suggesting rules and procedure to regulate under rules, proposed through “Practice & Procedural Bill 2023” was heard by a larger bench, and a pre-emptive short order undermining the legislative powers of parliament were to be quashed before this law could see the light of the day.
History is no respecter of persons, so we must always learn from history and not overrun the rule of law under intoxication of power by the highest of the highest. King Charles-I struggling with parliament eventually landed the country in an unending civil war and his own execution in a bid to rule arbitrarily and claim to be able to raise taxes without parliament’s consent and his pro- Catholic leaning policy became a bone of contention that made him unpopular.
He attempted to impose the Anglican book of common prayers and that triggered a rebellion forcing him to recall parliament in 1640 then attempt to arrest five MPs for treason in 1642. In 1648, parliament upon King’s refusal to sign a bill, parliament defeated him by assuming powers of the King through a unanimously passed resolution and tried King, found him guilty of treason. He was beheaded outside London’s Whitehall.
Today the Pakistani nation finds itself as slaves, where national interests of great powers are followed with force, which was not so blatantly visible to our naked eyes but was dormant. Nobody is concerned about the news that the Ata price may touch Rs. 200/- per Kg before the coming Eid with spiral rise in cost of every essential item of life due to ill planned monetary policy.
ALI ASHRAF KHAN
Karachi
Real estate
Many people blame the real estate sector for being responsible for creating economic inequality in country. They refer to the so-called easy money that people supposedly make in this business. However, blaming one segment of society merely on the basis of their choice of business or profession is not justified at all.
We need to see what the real problem behind inequality in the country is. For this purpose, we can use a scientific approach to be accurate. When we compare Pakistan with the rest of South Asian countries using the Gini coefficient, we will see that Pakistan is behind rest of South Asia in terms of income equality.
This proves that real estate is not the reason behind income inequality in the country. Many rulers in the country have tried to reduce the income gap with their development reforms but have failed. Therefore, it is a matter which resulted due to failed development policies over the past many years.
Rather on the other hand real estate companies have been advocating income equality in the country. Many real estate companies seek the government to implement policies so that the sector can contribute towards the development of the country.
WAQAS ASMAT
Islamabad
Energy
crisis
Political instability is one of the main factors behind the energy crisis in Pakistan. Since the inception of Pakistan in 1947, the political graph of Pakistan has never gone through a stable road and has not gotten smooth.
The gravity of the situation can be extrapolated from the fact that there is not a single government, from Liaqat to Khan, to complete its tenure since the birth of our country.
By changing regimes, the interests are also changing. Resultantly, energy generation projects started in the period of one government hardly get completed in the period of another one.
In this way, previous projects are either left out in the cold storage or called unnecessary and new ones are initiated to see the same fate in future. In other words, there is unwillingness among governments to improve the energy sector.
Therefore, there are more than one reasons held responsible for imbalance between demand and supply factors of energy but a divergent political graph also triggers this formidable challenge at full blast.
AAMIR ALI JAMRO
Sukkur
Battle of bulging egos
At a time when Pakistan is facing grave economic crisis, requiring a cohesive effort by all politicians and the three constitutional pillars of state, this country stands divided. Spreading hate and division was the policy of colonial occupiers and cannot be the path to tread for men who want to be elected in a sovereign state.
Egoistic mediocrity basks in their misplaced notion of glory, whilst the country faces financial challenges that threaten its very survival. Even the judiciary seems divided, captive to their own pursuits and territorial skirmishes, which is the worst that can happen in any country. The future of over 230 million is at stake, just because of bulging egos of men whom fate had placed at helm, through manipulation and intrigues, by a few who were paid to serve the nation, not rule them.
Sanity seems to be a casualty, overshadowed by myopic mindset of men, blinded in the pursuit of power, in a no holds bar game of thrones. It is shocking that these few are totally oblivious to the damage it is causing to the very citizens whose votes get them elected and whose taxes fund salaries of the paid elite and the institutions created to provide them justice, security, equal opportunities and basic necessities of life.
This is a country whose Father of Nation laid down his vision that Pakistan would be a modern democratic welfare state with a Constitution as supreme law and a social contract defining how various institutions, funded by the state, are to interact and perform their designated roles with the sole objective of serving the people. Those whom fate has placed at helm, owed it to the people to repay back by serving them and not by exploiting religion, sowing seeds of division to nullify MAJ’s motto of Unity, Faith and Discipline. All three visionary advices are missing today. People are divided, suffering because of the ineptitude of a few. Hope is running out that sanity may prevail.
MALIK TARIQ ALI
Lahore
Box letter
Shortage of water
It’s a pity that Karachi, which generates huge revenue for the nation, remains deprived of water, which, despite being an essential commodity, is commercially sold by the notorious tanker mafia. The artificial shortage and illegal sale of water by the mafia has been going on for years. I wonder how many more years the residents will have to purchase water for their daily use. The illegal hydrants and tankers owned by high-ranking officials are operating openly across the city, and cleverly evading millions of rupees in taxes. On the other hand, the residents have to pay water bills every month despite having to purchase water for themselves. Due to the recent rains, water in the hub dam has touched the peak level, but it is of no use to the people of Karachi because it is not being supplied to the city except for a few areas. Millions of people suffer from the illegal practice carried out by the tanker mafia. The need of the hour is to develop or design a comprehensive strategy to end this artificial water shortage. The government is bound to provide the necessities of life to the masses.
WAREESHA MUKHTAR
Karachi
