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.
US report
on judiciary
While there should be no doubt that the US Administration’s views about Pakistan are jaundiced, there should be a cause for concern within our country to set our own house in order.
The US State Department’s damning report about our judiciary may be exaggerated, but needs serious evaluation to address concerns, where there is merit in the criticism.
What can we expect from the US State Department after it itself has been a beneficiary when Raymond Davis managed to get away, with the help of powerful quarters in this country? We have too often made a mockery of our laws, while independent judges are harassed.
As long as rule of law and supremacy of Constitution is not restored in accordance with the vision of Quaid-e-Azam that Pakistan should be a modern democratic welfare state, where all citizens are equal before the law and justice is seen to be done, instead of just lip-service.
The Law of Necessity seems to reemerge in this country, whenever the Constitution is held in abeyance, or when state land is forcibly occupied by powerful groups, or a crime is committed by powerful individuals and groups.
While thousands rot in jail for minor crimes, others like this criminal who stabbed Khadija Siddiqi 24 times in broad daylight, gets a lighter sentence, getting generous remissions that shock millions in this country.
Pakistan, as a state, has often succumbed under pressure and compromised its sovereignty to serve short-term US strategic interests in connivance with their known apologists and supporters within corridors of power. We were abandoned thrice to face the consequences in isolation.
Over 70,000 Pakistanis have lost their lives, our economy shattered, yet there are many who are willing to serve their American masters at the cost of national security and sovereignty.
MALIK TARIQ ALI
Lahore
Three days, three hash tags, three stories
From #JusticeforQuratulain to #JusticeforSaima to #JusticeforNoor, Pakistan witnessed three different hash tags in three consecutive days and my only concern is where is the justice? We know the phrase that justice delayed is justice denied and justice rushed is justice crushed, but unfortunately when it comes to Pakistani women, justice is neither delayed nor rushed and is abandoned instead/at all.
So Noor was held hostage and brutally murdered by a man she trusted and people blamed her for going to the killer, Zahid Jaffar’s house in the first place.
Even though she obviously never intended to be brutally murdered, let’s give these people the benefit of doubt that yes, she was at fault, but what about Quratulain who got murdered by her husband in her own house just two days before Noor?
Or what about Saima who also was murdered in her own house by none other than her own husband just a day prior to Noor? What was their fault? Living in the same house as their husbands or trusting that the fathers of their children won’t kill them?
Thousands of women are subjected to domestic violence, sexual harassment, honour killing and murder, yet we still think it would be ethically wrong to pass the bill against Domestic Violence? Until when will we continue to blame the victims and not the real culprits? When will Pakistani women finally feel safe? How many more Noors, Quratulains, Saimas and Zainabs will it take for us to open our eyes and realize whatever is happening is not just wrong but barbaric and inhuman?
EISHAH MUQADDAS
Islamabad
World Friendship Day
Today is World Friendship Day. The idea of first World Friendship Day was proposed by Dr Ramon Artemio Bracho of Paraguay during a dinner gathering with his friends in year, 1958.
It was followed by the formation of World Friendship Crusade, an organisation which promotes friendship irrespective of caste, race, religion, colour or region.
A friend means well, even when he hurts you. But when an enemy puts his arm around your shoulder — watch out! (Proverbs 27:6).
JUBEL D’CRUZ
Mumbai, India
*****
No doubt, friendship is the coolest and the most liberal bond one can have. Friends are the beings who stand by your side through thick and thin.
Nicole Richie writes, “True friends are like diamonds-bright, beautiful and valuable, and always in style.”
Similarly, Friendship Day is celebrated worldwide. This day is observed on 30th July every year in honour of all those friends who make life a little more vivid.
The tradition of dedicating a day to friends started in 1935 in the US. From then on, every country owned the idea of a Friendship Day.
On this day, I do pay my gratitude to all my friends for staying by my side every time; for never giving up on me; for finding the colours to paint me where the world left me grey. Withal, I admire the profound feeling of a friendship.
MARIA NASEEM
Turbat
Economic situation in Zimbabwe
I am deeply traumatised that South Africa is following in the footsteps of Zimbabweans in terms of destructions through violence and horrible actions that will deter investors from investing in South Africa. The world is watching and potential investors are watching as well.
The African National Congress and South African government should show strong leadership and manage the situation effectively rather than letting the situation escalate as what happened in Zimbabwe when ZANU PF led the chaotic land seizures that forced the economy to collapse and forced many Zimbabweans to flee to South Africa in millions.
ANC should not act like careless, clueless and corrupt ZANU PF party and its President Mnangagwa who have failed on many occasions to bring economic sanity and transform Zimbabwe democratically.
KUDZAI CHIKOWORE
London
