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.
Blasphemous cartoons
The French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo has republished the same cartoons about the Prophet of Islam (PBUH), which prompted a deadly attack on the magazine in 2015. This is an act which can’t be tolerated by Muslims throughout the world. Each Muslim believes that respect of the Prophet (PBUH) is more than that of our lives.
Muslims may sacrifice their everything including wealth, power and prosperity but can’t bear blasphemous cartoons. Muslims know how to protect their religion and respect of the Last Prophet. So France should look back to the incident of 2015 which claimed 12 lives outside the magazine’s office. Muslims are not terrorists, but they take the guns in their hands to protect their faith.
French President refused to condemn Charlie Hebdo republishing cartoons by saying that France has freedom of speech. French President Emmanuel Macron, adding that he was not in a position to pass a judgement on the editorial decision of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo to republish the cartoons.
Muslims condemn such nonsense remarks of President of France. The blasphemous cartoons would hurt nearly two billion Muslims and would coerce to protect the respect of the Last Prophet by all means. Therefore the government of France should ban such terrorism-spreading blasphemous cartoons. OIC and all Muslim countries should collectively threaten to French Republic that no Muslim would accept profane of the Last Prophet (PBUH).
IMTIAZ ESSA HALEPOTO
Jamshoro
Institutional restraint
Ever since Pakistan was created through a political struggle by leaders refusing to succumb to offers of lands and titles by Raj, this country and the future of 220 million citizens has been a victim of adventurism by few men without vision and competence, lacking in commitment to the concept of a modern democratic welfare state, with a constitution as supreme law.
Failure by various institutions, including the political parties and paid civil and uniformed bureaucracy to work within the constitution’s defined corridors, has today created a crisis where every powerful stakeholder needs to exercise restraint and take a step back. Pakistan surrounded by enemies, cannot afford the confrontation that confronts this country from within and outside its geographical boundaries.
Nobody can justify Rs 70 crores expenditure by the state on building security wall or renovation of private house spread of hundreds of acres, nor 50 to 90 acres of expensive real estate or agriculture land allotted to paid servants of state for performing duties for which they were employed. The British Colonial Raj used allotment of lands to buy loyalties of natives willing to collaborate with them, a practice which they never employed within the UK. Everybody in this country needs to take a step back and reflect upon the follies committed and damage their greed has inflicted on this country.
MALIK TARIQ ALI
Lahore
Bad governance
I feel downhearted that Harare was once a shining city three decades ago. It was once one of the best city in Africa and many people wanted to visit this city because of its beauty. Today, everything about the city is unpleasant and disgusting. There is no maintenance of public toilets persistent shortage of water is causing sickness like cholera, typhoid and dysentery. Garbage and litter are found everywhere. Uncollected garbage bins are scattered everywhere with flies. The lights in central business district are not working and it is unpleasant to walk in Harare during the night.
There are many vendors in the streets of Harare and it is really difficult to walk from street to another street without seeing street vendors. Buildings in the city centre are no longer shining as their paints are coming off. Some of the shops are filthy and have not been repaired. During the peak and congestion time, there is too much confusion and chaos as people and traffic fight for the way.
The current President Emerson Mnangagwa has failed to fix the problems that have swallowed pride of Harare as the sunshine city. President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his ZANU PF government has failed to revive the city of Harare and he should resign.
TAPIWA MUSKWE
United Kingdom
Parambir Singh sacked
Parambir Singh, the Police Commissioner of Mumbai should be sacked immediately, as he is a disgrace to the entire nation. Since he has nothing to do and is sitting idle because of the pandemic, he has been targeting Republic TV, it’s editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami, and its staff of over 1000 employees since the last eight months just because they have been telecasting facts like the Palghar lynchings of two seers and their driver and the demolishing of Kangana Ranaut’s bungalow by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and the Mumbai police unlike other TV channels.
The Police Commissioner has also filed an FIR against all of them. Shame on him. Mumbai does not need a Police Commissioner who has a criminal background like him and who is a puppet in the hands of the Chief Minister, Uday Thackeray and listens to all what he has to say.
JUBEL D’CRUZ
Mumbai, India
