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.
PM please!
Margalla Town, Islamabad, situated hardly 03/4km from the PM Office, was establishment 45-year ago and is almost filled-in according to planning parameters of CDA.
At present, population of the town is more than 15,000 and same is of surrounding villages. The population is increasing rapidly.
Even then, world standard facilities are still awaited: roads, education, water treatment-plant, drinking-water, basic-health facilities, tax-collection bank and post office.
Margalla Town Welfare Society (Regd.) – a group of educated & senior citizens – in addition to a-lot-of-social work (also) established, well-secured Security System (SS).
The Society is also trying her best for the last many years for expansion of main road passing through Phase-I & II.
The distance of this piece of road is hardly 2.6km. This could be completed within two months – if work taken in hand devotedly.
Though Special Assistant to Prime Minister on CDA Affairs did his best (honestly) for completion of expansion work, yet could not succeeded in his endeavour till today!
At present, this road is in-between uncarpeted/carpeted so, breakage of vehicles and accidents appear occasionally which have taken scores of lives.
O’ this is the reason that the deprived people, motivated by political figures (sometime) join marches towards D-Chowk, to vent their agony created through injustice and discrimination by the administration/local department/s of any area (!).
If, government, especially her representatives/departments serve the public according to their manifesto – nobody would forward single-step, to join marches and sit-ins de facto.
When, this situation is going on under the shadow of PM’s Office, what is happening on corners of the country, it is difficult to judge really (?!) Honourable Prime Minister is requested to please pass on strict directives to the concerned department for completion of expansion work on road of Margalla Town – PTI Zindabad (!).
M AZAM MINHAS
Islamabad
Criticism of politicians and public office holders
It is an accepted norm that those involved in politics or holding any public office must have the tolerance and patience to withstand criticism. This is as much an Islamic tradition as it is a democratic requirement.
It is only in cults that their leaders or followers refuse to exhibit any tolerance for criticism and dissent. Fascism nurtures, when such cults hold any paid or elected public office.
While addressing the officers at Staff College Quetta on 14 June 1948, MAJ elaborated on the obligations of those who pledge an oath to uphold the Constitution.
He stated that ‘the executive authority flows from the Head of the Government of Pakistan”, and therefore any command or orders that may come to you cannot come without the sanction of the Executive Head”.
He reminded them of their oath which binds them to uphold the constitution and obey the elected executive head.
The 1973 Constitution, while it simultaneously requires all citizens to respect the Judiciary and defence forces, it makes it obligatory on both these institutions to work within their constitutionally defined corridors, and under no circumstances be seen to be involved in politics.
Ever since the Law of Necessity was invoked to regularize unconstitutional and supra constitutional acts of individuals and dictators, the judiciary involved in these decisions, has been subjected to criticism and public ridicule.
However, those members of the judiciary who complied with their oath to uphold the Constitution continue to enjoy immunity from public scrutiny, whilst their judgments once given are open to criticism. This also holds true for our sensitive state institutions like the defence forces.
Anyone involved in politics, directly or indirectly, is open to public scrutiny, because their politicized actions and decisions impact the life of citizens.
MALIK TARIQ ALI
Lahore
Electronic voting machines
Imran Khan and his Advisors continue to insist that electronic voting machines (EVMs) alone can bring transparency and put an end to every election becoming disputed.
Meanwhile Spanish firm Minsait hired by the government for third-party audit has reported that the existing e-voting solution for overseas Pakistanis “does not fulfil the constitutional requirements of vote secrecy, and neither the voters nor the ECP would have any guarantee that the results obtained from the system represent the choices made by the voter.
Why the government has suddenly started pressing for electoral reforms after repeatedly facing defeats in by-polls.
It is common perception that electronic voting system institutionalized rigging as the EVMs can easily get hacked and the vote count can be tampered with.
Before passing the Bill, it was all the more necessary to create a consensus if it was genuinely interested in an electoral system acceptable to all.
The ECP holds that several reforms proposed by the government are in conflict with the Constitution.
The controversy revolves around the EVMs, the insecure e-voting system for overseas Pakistanis, the handing over of some of the constitutionally mandated functions of an independent ECP to a government-controlled NADRA and the delimitation of constituencies based on the number of voters rather than total population.
The government needs to review its position before putting the electoral reforms to vote in the Senate.
JAMSHED ALAM SIDDIQUI
Lahore
