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.
Extremism in Pakistan
Extremism of every kind is found in abundance in Pakistan. But religious extremism takes the spotlight. Pakistan used to be one of the safest and accepting societies with tolerant people during the fifties and the sixties. But once Pakistan started being a part of big power politics, it took some steps that are haunting the state even four decades later. Pakistan during the Soviet Jihad exported jihadi culture and mentality and gave it a place to take root inside its own people.
Furthermore the new dictator used religion to garner legitimacy and started a wave of Islamization. Militant groups began to rise and were strengthened by state support. A jihadi ideology was allowed to bloom. These groups soon started activities inside the state as well. Different groups started clashing with each other. Religious and sectarian quarrels turned into bloody conflicts and people were hurt on both sides. The people were the ones mostly affected by all this.
Pakistan has already been a confused state. Not able to decide between the Islamic principles or the western models. The people had been in an identity crisis ever since independence. All this resulted in creating a highly polarized society where intolerance for others’ religious and political beliefs became the norm.
Religious clerics always used the religion card to turn on people’s emotions. As seen in the TLP protests and the mob lynching of Mashal Khan and the Sialkot incident, the masses are always quick to mobilize and turn brutal on the call of religion. That is why the state needs to actively prioritize the education of the masses, so they cannot be held hostage by such people and are not easily manipulated.
SEERAT AMAN
Gujranwala
Toxic parenting tool
A few parents are so much toxic which often levy very exorbitant stress upon their children—at very tender age—leading them towards sickness and disordered; both mentality and emotionally.
Toxic parents are often ego-centric, manipulative, inattentive being gowned up with them can be a knotty experience, and it takes time to heal. Mushrooming expectations of parents, mingled with academic pressure, leave children vulnerable to a range of of problems. Educational superiority must not be parent’s sole interest.
Children undergoing parental pressure to excel in educational institution are often unwilling to attempt anything until and unless they are motivated, encouraged and convinced that they will be the best at it. They experience abysmal apprehension of being perceived as imperfect by their toxic parents.
Children reeling under parent’s immense duress may also be victim of being mental maladies, sleeping apnea, anorexia, distraught with poignant anxiety and defensive attitudes. In addition, certain fatal pressure diminishes children’s interest and hobbies in having any activities as well as keep them aloof from their relatives, friends and family. Afraid of obtaining failure may also get them addicted to squalid acts, like drugs, cigarettes, liquor and many more which deter children from communicating with their parents.
What is more agonizing note is that myriad of parents—teeming with toxic mentality— want to live their lost dreams via children and tend to start planning their children’s future— rather then living children’s desired dreams— when the child is rather young and immature. Parents must relinquish their self-centred and toxic outlook against their vulnerable children; furthermore, encourage and motivate them about what they actually want to do in their life as well as allow them to pursue their own desired dreams and opt their professional career instead of imposing enormous pressure and restrictions upon their children.
USAMA MUGHAL
Kandhkot, Sindh
Is freedom of speech safe for common man?
We all know that the freedom of expression is a right of everyone but this is unfortunate that it has become one of the life threatening acts in most countries. Let us talk about facts and reports which clearly say that a large number of journalists and people who speak about rights are killed each year just because of expressing their opinions or asking something which hurt the powers.
The best example for this is the example of Sajid Hussain, a Baloch journalists and the chief editor of online news site “Balochistan Times”, who was killed by unknown forces in Sweden. There are several Pakistani journalists who have either been threatened or killed just because of talking publicly on points which were hurtful for powerful people.
Of course, freedom of expression is only a phrase which has no reality for the common people. There has not remained any reason to deny the fact that expressing one’s personal views on powerful people or states can be a cause of death or even enforced disappearance.
Furthermore, freedom of expression is only safe for politicians who are corrupt not the real and heroic journalists. Is there any one for deny the fact mentioned above that many journalists are killed worldwide only because of speaking the truth and unveiling the reality? Of course, not. Thus, I ask the government to ensure the safety of real heroes, journalists and the people who talk about the problems of people and confront powers.
MOULA BAKHSH
Malir, Karachi
