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Public Interest Amendments
Amid increasing concerns for public safety and ethical integrity, the following pro-posed amendments seek to impose strict penalties for serious offenses. By introducing capital punishment for severe crimes, these measures aim to enhance accountability and protect citizens.
1. Capital Punishment for Acid Attack Offenders and Accomplices: It is pro-posed that any individual found guilty of perpetrating or abetting an acid at-tack should be sentenced to death. The court should adjudicate the case at all levels within 15 working days, and if convicted, the offender and accomplices should be executed by public hanging within three days of the final verdict.
2. Capital Punishment for Food and Medicine Adulteration Offenders: Any person involved in the adulteration of food, including bottled water, beverages, processed or unprocessed milk, foods, sweets, and the use of non-food-grade chemicals or colors, as well as the manufacturing of substandard or harmful food products and medicines, should face the death penalty. The legal process must be concluded at all levels within 15 working days, with public execution of the convicted parties within three days following the final judgment.
3. Life Imprisonment for Unnecessary Cesarean Surgeries: Medical profes-sionals, including both licensed and unlicensed practitioners, who perform un-necessary cesarean surgeries should be sentenced to life imprisonment. Legal proceedings should be completed within 15 days. Furthermore, professional medical bodies should develop clear, internationally-aligned guidelines for ce-sarean operations. This should include the mandatory daily publication of relevant surgery statistics, including the details of doctors, hospitals, and medical centers involved, on their respective websites. 4. Ten Years of Rigorous Imprisonment for Disrespecting the National An-them: Any Pakistani or foreign citizen found disrespecting the national an-them of Pakistan should be sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment.
Conclusion
These proposed amendments seek to establish stricter penalties for heinous crimes and unethical practices, reflecting a commitment to justice and public safety while aiming to deter potential offenders, uphold the dignity of victims, and foster national pride and integrity.
Syed Nayyar Uddin Ahmad
Lahore
Native
Language
Native language is essential to national identity and cultural heritage. Disconnection from one’s native tongue can lead to a loss of cultural roots and hinder intellectual growth. In many regions, education is often conducted in a second language, creating barriers for students. When children are taught in their native language, they can communicate better, enhancing their academic performance and social skills. While foreign languages are important, they should not overshadow the value of native languages, which help children understand their environment and culture.
It is vital for educational authorities to prioritize the inclusion of native languages in the curriculum, empowering children and preserving our cultural heritage.
Granaz Younus
Karachi
Dowry: cultural curse
To truly grasp the impact of dowry culture in Pakistan, one needs only listen to the stories of countless women and families crushed under its weight. What should be a joyful union often turns into a heavy burden, as the expectation of dowry looms over families like a shadow. This harmful tradition, influenced by materialism and societal pressure, reduces marriage to a transactional event—where the value of a woman is measured by the wealth her family can offer, rather than her character or achievements.
Many families are forced into debt solely to meet societal expectations, dehumanizing wom-en in the process. The crushing psychological and financial burden of dowry leaves families desperate, while women, caught in the middle, are often subjected to rejection or cruel mis-treatment. This practice perpetuates gender inequality, reducing women to objects of trade and leaving them vulnerable to domestic violence, emotional abuse, and, in some tragic cas-es, untimely deaths due to unmet dowry demands.
While a legal framework exists to combat dowry demands, enforcement remains weak, and social acceptance of this harmful practice remains high. It is time to reject this toxic tradition. We must encourage marriages based on mutual respect, love, and partnership. Leaders, reli-gious scholars, and educators play a crucial role in promoting alternatives such as simple, dowry-free weddings. Amassing wealth for dowry only weakens our daughters, while investing in their education and financial independence strengthens them. It is time to dismantle dowry culture and pro-mote marriages built on mutual respect and equality, free from the weight of financial expec-tations. The role of the government in enforcing anti-dowry laws is critical, but so is our col-lective will to eradicate this damaging custom.
Tania Shahjahan
Kamber Ali Khan
