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.
Thanks for JDC
Today we need to support and appreciate that JDC (Jaffaria Disaster Cell) is the top of the non-governmental organization in Pakistan.
We must appreciate the struggle of General Secretary Zafar Abbas and his whole team because he sets up Pakistan’s first private and free Coronavirus hospital after constant hard work.
MUHAMMAD HAIDER
Karachi
Minorities in Pakistan
This is with reference to the protest carried out at Bahawalpur in the recent past by Hindu community for demolishing their homes. Indian media is portraying this incident to propagate negative image and create atmosphere of uneasiness among minorities living in Pakistan. In fact, it was anti-encroachment operation in Yazman, carried out by Teshildar after getting approval by AC Yazman. Masha Raam (Hindu Leader) and accomplices are state land encroachers from Hindu Community. They encroach state land and sublet it to the members of their community and mint money.
No burning of houses, dispossessing of land of physical torture was done. Anti-encroachment operation was done peacefully and amicably. Ironically, India today is ruled by Hindu supremacist group led by Modi, whose past track record is proof if any is needed, that this man can go to any extent to appease his political base who believes in Hindutva.
Within months of changing constitutional status of India-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, his Party through brute majority has managed to enact Citizenship Amendment Act, which has led to nationwide mass unrest. Protests against CAA are not only confined to Indian Muslims but has angered others who fear that this would ultimately lead to clash between Hindu Upper Caste supremacist and Dalits and members of other faiths, ethnic groups etc., given zero tolerance RSS school of thought has for others.
Minorities in Pakistan are enjoying equal status and privileges. The anti-Pakistan lobbies in order to defame Pakistan are propagating that minorities are facing suppression, injustice and forced conversions. In reality, since its creation in 1947, Pakistan provides a lot of privileges and benefits to its religious minorities to create a sense of oneness in them. Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah envisioned Pakistan as a country where all segments of society especially minorities would have equal rights.
ANZA KANWAL
Via email
Karachi politics of violence
While Pakistan faces multiple crises, PTI has raised unresolved issues of various JITs constituted to investigate serious crimes committed by militant wing of MQM and Uzair Baloch. One can only pray that rule of law is enforced and not another cycle of political scoring.
For too long financial capital and its major city has been held hostage by criminal elements within political parties. Extra-judicial killings were often resorted to by British Colonial Raj in all their colonies. At the time of independence in 1947, the paid bureaucracy which we inherited, had, some time during their career, been instrumental in extra judicial killings of natives who dared to challenge the Raj.
Iskandar Mirza resorted to such hideous acts of oppression and terror when he was posted as Governor East Pakistan in 1954, and this led to a lot of heart burning amongst Bengalis. In West Pakistan Governor Kalabagh used this selectively against known criminals. However, foundations of criminalization of politics in Pakistan was laid by Zia junta which created MQM to counter PPP in urban Sindh. After alleged abduction and torture of serving Maj Kaleemuddin on 20 June 1991, Operation Clean-Up was successfully launched against criminal elements within MQM by Gen Naseerullah, which continued till such time that BB was dismissed in 1966.
MQM, however, became a lethal militant force under patronization of Musharraf, when it went berserk, killing adversaries, indulging in kidnapping for ransom and even dared to stop Chief Justice of Pakistan from entering Karachi on 12 May 2007, killing over 60 citizens. The most heinous was the burning alive 260 labourers in Baldia Factory incident.
Musharraf, captive to his political agenda and desire to prolong illegitimate rule continued to support Altaf Hussain even after he publicly called creation of Pakistan” biggest blunder in history of mankind” on 6 November 2004 while speaking in Delhi.
ALI MALIK TARIQ
Lahore
Discriminatory judiciary!
It is clear that the judiciary and legal system in Zimbabwe are highly affiliated and influenced by the ruling party ZANU PF. The judiciary and legal system should be independent from any political influence to make it just and fair. The opposition members of MDC are arbitrarily arrested and denied bail in most cases but the former Health Minister Obadiah Moyo who was at the heart of $60 million US dollars Covid-19 scandal was immediately given bail when the three female MDC activists were initially denied bail.
The former Health Minister is walking free and has not yet been prosecuted or stripped off his parliamentary membership in accordance with the gravity of his scandal which threatens to exacerbate the already collapsed health system. President Mnangagwa has failed to reform the state institutions and make them independent from the ruling ZANU PF Party.
KUDZAI CHIKOWORE
Via email
