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.
Pakistan as mediator
Pakistan has been asked by Washington to play the role of a mediator between the US, Saudi Arabia and Iran. If we are successful our relationship with these states will be cemented. It is imperative that Islamabad ensures that its relationship with Tehran is as cordial as it used to be in the 1960s and 1970s. One hope Prime Minister Imran Khan Khan’s recent visit to Iran and Saudi Arabia will yield positive results.
If he succeeds to broker peace between Riyadh and Tehran, the winner will be the Muslim Ummah. We all should hope and pray for the success of our Premier.
SIKANDAR SAJJAD
Karachi
*****
Over the years we have seen proxy wars between Saudi Arabia and Iran for the dominance in the region. What is unfortunate is that the people that are suffering because of these proxies are the common Muslims who have nothing to do with the regional and international politics. We have seen a large amount of civilian casualties in Yemen, Iraq and Syria because of these proxies. Today the situation between both the countries is very intense and a war can be seen just around the corner.
To normalize the tension in the region Prime Minister Imran Khan has visited both the countries meeting with their top leadership in the effort to mediate between the two Muslim countries. Leadership of both the countries have shown positive attitude to PM Imran Khan and appreciated Pakistan’s peace-making efforts in the region. Now we can only hope for the situation to cool down and no more bloodshed in future, which is doubtful.
M ASIM KHAN
Islamabad
Indian minorities in UN!
At the time of departure from Hindustan deceitful British rulers helped Hinduphobia blindly ‘especially’ in case of Kashmir. Since then, Hindutva used/using every Changaze/Hitler like act for subjugating – Muslim; Christian; Sikh; and even, low-caste Hindus! UN’s Article – Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is based on solid-principles which protects basic rights irrespective of religion, race, sex, creed, and colour. All States are (bound) to formulate their constitution under these principles. Even then; terrorism of Hindutva is going on: raping 3-70yr; killing on the basis of cow-slaughtering (whereas; Hindus are owner of biggest-cow-slaughter-houses!) and; blinding through pallet-guns ‘especially’ Kashmiris.
In the 80s Hinduphobia raided the Golden Temple and crushed the occupants of the sacred place inhumanly. During BJP and BJD rule in Odisha, over 50,000 Christian homes were burnt to ashes; Nuns were raped around the country; in Madhya Pradesh, Christian ‘Priests and Pastors’ were dragged out from their Prayer-Houses and beaten to death; on August 05, 2019; abrogated Articles 370 and 35-A related to Kashmir autonomy which was/is against principles of UN’s UDHR (+) written promises made on UN Forums by deceitful forefathers of Modi. Even then, UN’s court is mum due to Member’s interest (except a few)!!
Unfortunately; laws and principles of UN also, could not be implemented in case of Muslims – due to non-representation of single-Muslim! And; on the other, Ummah leadership is sleeping. So Kashmir, Middle East (almost) Afghanistan are being run on the advice of non-Muslim directors! So, not only Kashmiris but also, all other communities in India should not wait for UN’s UDHR, UNSC. Get-up jointly; make the strongest hasp and start ‘Azadi March’ from Hinduphobia – forever!!
M AZAM MINHAS
Tatrinote, AK
Tit-for-tat
Nowadays, the PTI-led Government at the Centre is very much worried about the announced Azadi March and Dharna of Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman in Islamabad and, accordingly, the government is making every possible effort for persuading the Maulana to not go for such a big venture as, according to the government, the March holds no reason(s).
I don’t know whether or not Maulana is doing the right thing by announcing the Azadi March and sit-in at Islamabad, but one thing that I surely know is that it was the PTI of Mr. Imran Khan – now the prime of Pakistan – which started the ugly trend of Dharnas (sit-ins) at Islamabad against the government of the day way back in 2014. Accordingly, my point of view is that if doing Dharna was right for the PTI at that time, why, then, now the same is wrong to be conducted by Maulana. I think, it is nothing but “tit for tat.”
ABDUL SAMAD SAMO
Karachi
Dengue
With the number of dengue cases now surpassing the 30,000 mark in 2019, the blame for this unprecedented rise must be attributed to the incompetence of the government. The government’s abject failure in providing any sort of counter is made all the more obvious if we take the 2011 dengue epidemic, the worst in Pakistan’s history until now into account. The federal and provincial governments of the time stepped up and took effective steps against the disease, something which is seriously lacking this time.
Rain is no longer an excuse, with half of October now gone it is obvious that the government is just hoping that the weather becomes kinder sooner rather than later and provides the yearly antidote to mosquitoes. Using surveillance to catch dengue cases at an early stage is simply not enough. The only way to stop the menace of dengue is prevention and not treatment, and this is where the government is failing completely. Removing waste and stagnant water around dwellings, and consistent fumigation on the streets are the need of the hour. The government needs to do better.
QAZI JAMSHED SIDDIQUI
Lahore
Singh’s diatribe
It has become imperative for Indian politicians to malign Pakistan for their meagre political gains. The Hindutva projected by fascist Modi is taking new turns. Having numerous hallucinations about Pakistan, the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spewed venom against Pakistan which shows he is mentally unstable as such remarks can only come from a mentally retarded person.
It must be noted that India has never been a country in history. It remained a bunch of scuffling small states and it only gained autonomous status as well as shape of a country during Muslim rule of India. Record must be kept straight for the knowledge of Singh. Moreover, it is India that is facing so many liberation movements from Sikhs to Tamils. Mr. Singh! Please sweep before your own down door.
IFTIKHAR MIRZA
Islamabad
Any jobs
Unemployment has become a cancer for our society. Many brilliant unemployed youths have fallen into many vices such as theft, robbery, drugs, etc. The incidents of suicide are also on the rise. It is, therefore, the need of the hour that maximum job opportunities should be created both in the public and the private sectors of the country so that our unemployed youth are able to get jobs and become useful citizens of the country.
In this regard, Prime Minister Imran Khan’s promise of providing ten million jobs to the country’s youth may prove a significant step. But, there have been around 13 months since the PTI government took power at the Centre, and still there are no signs of the start of that process by the government. I don’t exactly know whether it was a political ploy or a miscalculated tall claim by Imran Khan during his election campaign regarding ten million jobs. Let’s see what actually transpires on this front. However, the recent statement of Mr. Fawad Chaudhry, Federal Minister for Science & Technology, has disappointed the youth.
AROOJ NAEEM
Rawalpindi
