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.
Credibility of elections
Holding free and fair elections is the constitutional obligation of the Chief Election Commissioner.
The Constitution of Pakistan mandates that the office of CEC should be independent, free from interference of the executive.
The writ of CEC must prevail over all institutions of the state, including law enforcement, civil bureaucracy and uniformed services during the interim period elections are being conducted and schedule announced.
As long as the orders of the Election Commission are not followed in letter and spirit, there cannot be any credibility of the results.
We recently witnessed that even after CEC Azad Kashmir had ordered that a certain federal minister of Pakistan must not be present in this autonomous region, his orders were flouted.
As long as such an egoistic mindset prevails, these controversies about elections will continue to haunt Pakistan.
Irrespective of whether elections are conducted in the existing format or using Electronic Voting Machines, it would make no difference viz-a-viz authenticity and credibility of the process, if the office of Chief Election Commission is not seen to be totally independent, free from any political, bureaucratic, or any other institutional interference.
Pakistan was created through a political and constitutional struggle led by politicians of integrity and commitment like Quaid-e-Azam and Allama Iqbal. It can survive and prosper only if the modern democratic welfare state emerges as per the vision of MAJ.
The will of the people must prevail, which can only be achieved through conduct of free and fair elections. Our religion gives legitimacy to a government which represents the people and there is no place for either monarchy or dictatorship in Islam.
MALIK TARIQ ALI
Lahore
Corruption
Corruption is rampant in our society. When I say corruption, I don’t only mean the conventional corruption associated with politicians.
We, as a nation, are corrupt. From a poor hawker to the most elite class, one way or the other, everyone is corrupt.
Corruption, in all its forms, has seeped deep in our society that no-one can escape from its clutches.
Departments responsible for justice and punishment are so corrupt themselves that people are openly saying justice is on sale.
Corruption has expelled justice from Pakistan. It has polluted the society and eradicated the distinction between right and wrong while destroying ones moral, ethical and religious values.
People consider it their right to be corrupt yet go on blaming the government for being corrupt. Poor people go to the government for their concerns and queries but return bare hand due to corruption.
SHIZA IMDAD
Karachi
Victim blaming a new normal
Victim blaming attitude marginalises the victim and makes it harder for them to come forward and report the abuse.
The Pakistani society is bearing the same brunt. What happened at Minar-e-Pakistan is not under the radar.
The incident ensued into a full-scale wrangle where social media not only spoke galore of victim blaming treatment but was overwhelmed with uncouth statements against the victim.
Untowardly, the grim spectre of overly persisting and pervading patriarchy continues to haunt us. The more gloomy side of the picture is our obstinate attitude of turning blind eyes and deaf ears towards such menace.
Surprisingly what’s more terrifying is our adaptation to it as the new normal, let alone halting it.
AYAZ AHMED SHAR
Mirpurkhas, Sindh
The emerging cancer
According to a recent report, 20% of Balochistan’s 2.2 million population is suffering from cancer. Additionally, the death ratio of cancer patients in Baluchistan is 300-400 yearly.
Moreover, the number of cancer patients are soaring up and becoming a serious threat to people of all ages in Baluchistan owing to the non-availability of a cancer hospital.
More importantly, the forth Covid-19 wave is spreading like wild fire in Balochistan’s rural areas and people are losing their lives due to insufficient health care staff, adding more challenges for the people of Baluchistan to survive.
The government couldn’t oppose this deadly disease from decades which has strengthened its roots nor will it give relief during this pandemic.
KHUDA DAD BALOCH
Malir, Karachi
