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.
Updating voters’ lists
This refers to my article published in this newspaper on November 11, 2021, titled ‘Odd move by ECP. In that article, I had referred to an advertisement by ECP, published in newspapers of November 7, which announced a month-long campaign for revision of voters lists starting the same day.
I had also expressed surprise over a clause in the advertisement, which stated that only government servants and their family members could get their vote registered/transferred to their temporary residential address. I had pointed out that this condition might deprive millions of economic migrants to Karachi who have their CNIC showing their permanent address as that of their ancestral home in other provinces or in the interior of Sindh. Such persons must be allowed to register/transfer their votes to their temporary address in Karachi where they have been living for decades, and where they are mostly like to be on the election day.
I had also expressed fears that even if unsuitability of this condition is admitted, and remedial action taken, the one-month exercise might be over by then. And behold.
The same advertisement has appeared again in the newspapers of November 28, just eight days before the expiry date of the operation, with three additional clauses which state: 1) If your vote is unregistered, fill form 13 and ensure registration of vote on the basis of permanent or temporary address on your CNIC. 2) If you want to transfer your vote to permanent or temporary address on your CNIC, fill form 13.
3) If government servants and their family members want to register or transfer their vote to permanent or temporary address recorded in their CNIC or some other temporary address (due to their current posting), they should fill form 14.
Surely, these procedural details should have been notified right at the start and the ECP teams visiting voters door-to-door briefed accordingly to enable them to deal satisfactorily with the matter. Announcing these details on the 22nd of the 30 days’ campaign can hardly produce satisfactory results.
S R H HASHMI
Karachi
Keep
Metro clean
Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I would like to say that people frequently use the Metro and find it very convenient.
While travelling, I have noticed that though there is strict vigilance still people deface the Metro trains and stations. I feel that if the concerned authorities collaborate with the Directorate of Education and run awareness programmes in schools, we would be able to cover a wide spectrum of people and spread the message. It would be a great service to the city if you publicise this issue in your newspaper.
MUHAMMAD HAMZA ZAIB
Lahore
Public libraries
Gilgit and surrounding towns, villages are devoid of any public library yet an educated girl Neelam Wali from a far-flung village Sosot Gupis, district Ghizer seeing students idle during Covid lockdown took initiative of setting up a library in her village to promote culture of reading in students. Her sister donated her heritage land and building for this purpose. She is thankful to Rural Education and Development (READ) Foundation, a non-profit educational network to address education and literacy in Pakistan.
The Foundation supported her financially and provided books to set-up a library. She named it ‘Jahan Library’ after her mother’s name. Also, she is looking forward in establishing a digital library too. Ms Wali is indeed a role model for other educated youth to spread light of knowledge in their respective areas.
ZAHID ALI ZOHRI
Nagar, GB
Christmas is a joyous time
It’s the Christmas season once again and I’m sure you must have all started to shop for gifts and decorations that you had put away last year and plan to hunt for the perfect Christmas tree this time.
At home, your mom must have already started to soak the raisins that go into her special Christmas plum cake and you must be waiting for Santa Claus with his reindeer-drawn sleigh – perhaps even wonder what gifts he will leave for you under your Christmas tree this year.
Christmas is a celebration of the ultimate love of God abandoning the glory of heaven to make His dwelling with us. It is that time of the year when we welcome joy and cheer into our homes, when we sing carols, wear our best clothes and celebrate with our near and dear ones.
Christmas to Christians is a time for reflection and an occasion to share one’s joys and sorrows. It is a time to reach out and touch the life of another person with love and warmth. It is a time to share love and friendship, care and concern. Among the various celebrations connected with Christmas, the sending of Xmas cards to friends and relatives has become a ritual.
JUBEL D’CRUZ
Mumbai, India
