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.
Kashmir Solidarity Day
Pakistan had declared 5 August as Kashmir Day, with the resolve that it will spare no effort to show our moral, political and diplomatic efforts to highlight the plight of oppressed Kashmiris. The government and state media held special programs within Pakistan, including processions in Islamabad and all other major cities of the country. A One-Minute silence was also observed on directive of government.
However, I am afraid there are no reports of any diplomatic efforts by or foreign missions to organize formal meetings for highlighting plight of innocent Kashmiris in the media of countries where our major foreign mission are located such as USA, UK, Middle East, Gulf States, Turkey, Iran, Malaysia, European capitals, SE Asia, Far East etc. In the UK, Kashmiri Diaspora organized rallies. Processions within Pakistan lacked lustre which was expected. The PTI, as party in power, should have coordinated with all major political parties to organize rallies in major foreign capitals and within the country. This was the time for powerful stakeholders to ensure that groups which would hold Dharna on slightest pretext, should have brought hundreds of thousands as show of solidarity with our Kashmiri brethren.
We lost perhaps the golden opportunity to liberate the IoK in 1962 when China advised us to do so, because the resolve and commitment was missing. If Pakistan is serious, it must achieve economic growth, because without that our national security and sovereignty cannot be ensured. We need to realize that posting retired officers as ambassadors will fail to achieve desired results that are needed to strengthen national interests.
MALIK TARIQ ALI
Lahore
Final solution to fix justice system
The Justice System of Pakistan is defective. To get justice through the regular system is impossible. And the main culprits for this defect are the lawyers. In Pakistan there is no limit on the number of clients or cases a lawyer can work on at one time. If a lawyer is famous, he would keep on taking new cases, without concluding the old ones.
This leads to a situation where the lawyer has to attend many cases in a day. As physically it is not possible for the lawyer to be available in all locations, therefore, some of the cases each day are not even heard because of non-availability of lawyer. Using this technique the lawyer keeps on receiving fee of new cases, while the older clients eventually are forced to hire a new lawyer to try to conclude their cases but in most instances they are faced with same issue of non-availability of their lawyer after a couple of months.
Similarly the Public Prosecutor and Assistant PP, receive many cases each day. Physically it is not possible for them to study and prepare these cases each day, let alone be physical present for all of them. This leads to delays and weak prosecutions, resulting in criminals escaping Justice and victims not getting proper representation.
With new technologies it is very easy to fix this problem, but since the current justice system benefits the powerful criminals and the few famous lawyers, therefore such improvements will be bitterly opposed. The simple solution is to allow lawyers to work with not more than 10 clients at one time. Lawyers would be allowed to take on new client after concluding their older case. This would ensure cases are concluded quickly.
SHAHRYAR KHAN BASEER
Peshawar
Deteriorating status quo
Through the courtesy of your venerated newspaper, I would like to bring into the notice of high brass of my country about the law and order situation in the city of lights. One can easily observe that law and order of the city is turning from bad to the worse which is a nerve breaking issue.
Moreover, it seems that wrongdoers have taken the law and order of the city for granted and do what they want to do fearlessly. It has been observed that all miscreants are involved in violating the ethical values and do certain harmful acts. Habitants of the city are robbed of their belongings and the law enforcers just act as silent spectator. There is widespread perception that law grinds the weak and the strong rules over the law” The miscreants are encouraged by the unconcerned attitude of the law enforcement agencies. Shall the high brass of the city take serious steps to control the crime rate? Serious consideration along with prompt action is required to resolve this serious issue.
ANUSHA KHAN NIAZI
Karachi
Adapting to the Digital Lifestyle
Work from home is not a new concept globally, however, in Pakistan it certainly has become a norm after COVID-19 hit us. The pandemic and its related risks to our health have now forced most of the organizations to let their employees to work from home, apart from the frontline workers who have to perform essential duties. Working from home in Pakistan is tough, nonetheless, we see companies like PTCL etc. whose frontline workers are facing the pandemic head on, in their efforts to provide consumers uninterrupted internet and communication services no matter where they live.
With the support of the government, Pakistan has an enormous opportunity and the basic infrastructure to move forward in its journey of being digitally savvy while also including rural communities. Ability to adapt to digital solutions whether education, government or companies will become the catalyst to the ‘New Pakistan’ and therefore we must look forward to all the telecommunication service providers like Mobilink, Telenor, Zong and Ufone to help the people in these trying times.
HASHIM KHAN
Islamabad
Beirut carnage
The port city of Beirut has seen one of the worst explosions of recent time. More than a hundred people have lost their life and thousands are critically injured. Lebanese Prime Minister has appealed to other countries for help. The apparent cause of explosions appears to be a storage centre of old explosive material. A maxim reads, the only lesson we learn from history is that we learn no lesson from history.
Pakistan faced same situation on April 10 1988 when missiles at Ojhri Camp, Rawalpindi, exploded killing 103 people and injuring more than 3000. It should have been made mandatory by governments of all countries to keep explosive material away from densely populated areas. Prayers for the deceased souls.
IFTIKHAR MIRZA
Islamabad
Lebanon mourning
It is sorrowful to hear the most terrible incident in Beirut, capital of Lebanon. The massive explosion has shaken the whole country and left the state in tatters. It is not more than history being made in the history of Lebanon which experienced such a horrible blast. The country is mourning over the demise of hundreds and injuries of thousands.
The range of this deadly catastrophe was even higher than a mile. The storage of 2700 tonnes of ammonium nitrate in the warehouse near the port is being considered the cause of this disaster.
Though ammonium nitrate is used as fertilizer in agricultures yet it can cause huge blast if added with some explosive material like aluminum etc. However, US President, Donald Trump, considers it as an attack. What comes next will be the serious response.
FAROOQUE PANHWAR
Sukkur
