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.
Social justice
The aspiration for social justice, through which every working man and woman can claim freely and on the basis of equality of opportunity their fair share of the wealth that they have helped to generate, the importance of achieving social justice is ever more pressing, with the rise in inequality and exclusion, which is a threat to social cohesion, economic growth and human progress. With climate change, demographic changes, technological development and, more generally, globalization, we are witnessing a world of work that is changing at an unprecedented pace and scale.
Islamic governance has often been associated with social justice. Establishment of social justice was one of the motivating factors for the Muslim Brotherhood; the implementation of social justice would require the rejection of consumerism and communism. The Brotherhood strongly affirmed the right to private property as well as differences in personal wealth due to factors such as hard work. However, the Brotherhood held Muslims had an obligation to assist those Muslims in need. It held that Zakat (alms-giving) was not voluntary charity, but rather the poor had the right to assistance from the more fortunate. Most Islamic governments therefore enforce the Zakat through taxes.
HAFSA NADEEM
Islamabad
Are fairness creams about racism?
Racism is a term invented in the West in the context of its own conquests of coloured peoples and in-built negative attitude to the people it subjugated. In Pakistan, we are no strangers to stereotyping, but racism is a wrong term when it comes to our obsession with fairness.
This kind of discrimination over fairness is for real in our country whether it is by colour of skin, gender or age. It is now in our routine to discriminate against people who are older and less good looking or people who have darker skins. We need to fight against this by making people aware of their hidden preferences something they may not recognize in themselves. We as Pakistani people are not racist so we need to ne conscious of our discriminatory attitudes. Nothing more, Nothing less.
MARYAM NOOR
Wah Cant
Professional beggars
Karachi is the biggest city in Pakistan and also one of the most thickly populated cities in the world. Its population has increased rapidly and accordingly has given rise to many social evils. One of those major problems is Professional Beggars, walking on the streets of Karachi. It has become their regular practice to crowd public spots and cheat people. Many are engaged to begging as a professional and earning handsome amounts through this. Begging has even been cursed by Islam. Because of these beggars it is becoming hard for us to differentiate between needy people and otherwise.
The beggars interrupt us when we are on roads, shopping malls, signals and so on. Even they are perfectly able to work and earn money for themselves. But we can still find beggars of all ages and genders. I feel sympathy for those child beggars who are trained to beg rather than being in school. We shouldn’t give them money because it might shape their mentality restrict them to a begging bowl. Instead, we should give them a piece of advice to go and find some other way of earning which is worth both appreciation and is essential to lead a comfortable and dignified life.
JAVERIYA KHAN
Karachi
Road accidents
Road accident are very common in our country due to the irresponsible drivers. They do not follow the traffic rules as well as due to the high number of vehicles always traffic jams take place. Resultantly, many people lose their precious lives. According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, there are an average of 9,000 accidents and 4,500 deaths on the roads each year. It is all about the irresponsible drivers and traffic police.
Therefore, I humbly request the traffic authorities to make strict laws and regulations to save people. Also, the drivers are requested to follow traffic rules in order to save yourselves from any sort of accidents.
PARVEZ MOULA BAKSH
Malir, Karachi
UK immigration plan
It is a noble idea for Home Office to treat EU and non-EU citizens coming to the UK equally after the UK-EU free movement ends on 31 December. People have to appreciate that bankers, care workers, entrepreneurs, teachers, nurses, artists and sports people have made London one of the best cities in the world both from EU and non-EU countries.
The UK should also continue to offer international protection to people who have genuinely escaped homophobic attacks, civil wars, persecution and discrimination on race and ethnicity in their home countries as refugees.
HANDSEN CHIKOWORE
London
Over 200 days of lock-down
Kashmir is burning and whole world is still silent. More than 200 days have elapsed and international conscience is still in deep slumber. The apathy of Muslim world alone is highly regrettable. Those who spend millions of dollars on saving animals are deaf and dumb on severe breach of human rights in India-occupied Kashmir.
Kashmiris are spread all over the world and are quite well off; they must raise voice against Indian atrocities, abrogation of special status of the valley and cut-off internet and other communication services. They must join hands not to make a human chain but for presenting their case in international court of justice to defeat Hindutva whose hegemony has been established in India by Babri Masjid verdict. It is time to raise head, just it’s too late even our voice is totally ignoed.
MUHAMMAD HAIDER
Karachi
Sada-e-Kashmir Conference
A few days ago, the PTI volunteer force organized a Sada-e-Kashmir Conference at the Arts Council Rawalpindi in connection with the Prime Minister of Pakistan’s agenda to show solidarity with Kashmiris. A large number of students, youths, parents, teachers and people of all shades of life attended the conference. I was lucky enough to be one of the participants.
Ali Mohmmad Khan, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs was the chief guest on the occasion while many other MNAs graced the event as guests of honour. The most important part of this conference was the performance of the children of the Kaiynaat school system, who were dressed in Kashmiri clothes and presented tableaus to highlight the great cause and become the voice of the Kashmiri people. There is no doubt that love of Pakistani people is naturally with Kashmir. The proof was seen in this conference. On the other hand, people of Kashmir feel proud to be buried in Pakistani flags.
Nowadays, people of the India-occupied Jammu & Kashmir are facing the worst form of Indian state terrorism and brutalities. These kinds of conferences increase the confidence of Kashmiri people. We Kashmiris thank to the PTI volunteer force for raising their voice for the oppressed people of the IoK, who are under military siege by the Modi government from 05 August 2019. Further, this conference has been highly appreciated by the youth of Kashmir. We also urge the world community to take immediate steps for providing relief to the Kashmiris suffering atrocities at the hands of the Indian authorities after its illegal annexation by ending its special status. The Kashmiri people also demand Pakistan to mobilize its embassies so that India’s brutal face could be shown to the world.
SHAMS HUSSAIN FAROOQI
Via email
