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Culprits convicted
The imprisonment sentences of Adil Raja and Haider Mehdi following a court martial serve as evidence that any attempts to disrupt the ranks and files of the institution cannot be tolerated. Pakistan’s military, as an institution, stands on the behest of strict disciplinary code and unity within its ranks. Inciting sedition by asking serving personnel to rebel is a criminal offence. The verdict holds immense significance as it establishes two clear points.
Adil Raja’s and Haider Mehdi’s provocations to violence and rebellion are associated with the May 9 incidents. By holding them accountable and announcing the sentences, the institution of defence forces has reinstated its commitment to national security. This is a very strong message for all those who thought that they could push people towards violence against the defence forces and still come clean. The severity of the sentences, 14 years imprisonment for Adil Raja and 12 years for Haider Mehdi, reflects the gravity of the charges against them.
It also underscores the military’s determination to curb any actions that undermine the state’s vital interests. This decision emphasizes unity and punishment for those who act otherwise; who create and encourage polarity. No one is above and beyond the law. This is not the first court-martial in the country’s history but accountability within the armed forces dispels notions of unnecessary patronage. This is a win of the Pakistan Army Act and reinforces its supremacy in guiding the institution towards safeguarding the nation’s security.
QAZI JAMSHED SIDDIQUI
Lahore
Business leaders’ accountability
The FPCCI, BMP and PIAF leaders, who blame ghosts for the complete closure of productivity, citing fuel prices and inflation as alarming reasons for the present crises, should first explain their actions over the last decade. Instead of using the FPCCI platform for compromise, personal benefits and photo sessions, they need to address the closure of our medium and cottage industry.
It is crucial for them to recognize that without productivity and surplus export, talk of a sound economy is nothing but a joke. As business leaders, they are answerable for their complicity with corrupt politicians for personal gains. By now choosing emerging politicians without outlining a blueprint for industry revival, they contribute to the challenges. National responsibility should take precedence over personal interests, fostering unity over dividing businessmen into groups.
People in DGTO and the Ministry of Commerce come and go, often not realizing or sharing national responsibility. They seem focused on securing their job benefits. Some individuals feed them to use and abuse, as witnessed in the tirade of PIAF leaders in Lahore against the caretaker Commerce Minister and DGTO. Sanity is required to encourage national unity instead of dividing businessmen.
ALI ASHRAF KHAN
Karachi
Greatness
of humanity
No kudos is enough for Anwish Shafi for the letter titled “Greatness of humanity” (November 26). Rightly has he stated that greatness of humanity lies in our ability to empathize.
Far from “living”, people who “don’t have time” for the hapless Shahida Khatoons, are actually dead entities. After all, nobody can claim to be “breathing” who does not feel an iota of emotion or compassion towards the vulnerable lot. And on this yardstick, that frail old man had indeed came out with flying colours who braved the dawn deluge to provide monetary aid to an unknown dying girl Khatoon on Kolkata pavement and left off with his tattered umbrella without caring to advertise his noble deed !
In this context, I get reminded of an incident when the pandemic was at its devastating worst. Without caring to know whether the unknown person is Covid-infected or not, a set of humanitarians rushed towards the collapsed cyclist, rejuvenated him and sent him off to hospital in an ambulance with a policeman taking care of him there and thereby ensuring the diabetes patient’s safe return home! Had the persons of the neighbourhood preferred staying aloof by acting “blind”, just for sheer selfishness, a family might have lost its near and dear one despite not falling to Covid !
No wonder why visionary poet Rabindranath Tagore had came up with the lyric “I too remain connected to you in the same way you move around connected to the universe”! Tagore had urged all to unite with the human beings of the whole world. Wherever all would align themselves with each other, we would meet the divine in that very place. So by discarding the narrowness of personal interest, one would have to work for the welfare of the fellow citizens of the country and world.
KAJAL CHATTERJEE
Kolkata, India
Box letter
Gaza in flames
In the aftermath of the recent bombings in Gaza, a devastating wave of destruction has swept through communities, plunging them into despair and worsening an already intricate humanitarian crisis. The conflict, characterized by relentless airstrikes and artillery fire, has left a path of ruin, mercilessly damaging crucial infrastructure like homes, schools and medical facilities. The toll on civilians, especially the most vulnerable—children, is heart-wrenching, with their lives shattered and their futures hanging precariously in the balance. Globally, the international community watches with a heavy heart as the violence unfolds, united in the urgent plea for an immediate ceasefire to alleviate the catastrophic humanitarian fallout. Yet, the true cost in human suffering is immeasurable, as families are forced to flee, seeking refuge amidst pervasive chaos. The vital need to address the root causes of this prolonged conflict and foster meaningful dialogue for a lasting resolution is clearer than ever. In the face of the echoing consequences of the bombings in Gaza, there arises a collective call for compassion, empathy and a unified effort to break the cycle of violence—crucial elements in restoring hope and rebuilding the shattered lives of those caught in the crossfire.
FAISAL-UR-REHMAN
Sukkur
