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.
Black-coat terrorism
Lawyers’ hooliganism in the name of registering their protest is not a new thing but this time around, it transgressed all the ambits of decency and law. They are known for doing it on streets and even in courts, but how could they choose a hospital for a protest venue!
Just to satiate their egos and avenge their ‘dishonour’ from uploading a mocking video showing a group of their colleagues urging the IG to press charges against two doctors, the berserker lawyers, who are meant to be the guardians of law, trampled the law: Swarmed Punjab Institute of Cardiology(PIC) in Lahore—even ransacked ICU; forced the doctors and the paramedics on duty to run for their lives—left unattended, several heart patients in critical condition lost their lives; manhandled Provincial Minister Fayyazul Hasan Chohan and media persons; torched a police van; fired gunshots and pelted police with bricks and stones.
This disdainful act from a professional community represents the guardians of law and constitution of a democratic country has caused the entire nation to hang the heads in shame and remorse. Even during wars, hospitals are off limits to aggression. The only other organized forces that have attacked hospitals so far are TTP, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi(LeJ) and ISIL. And lawyers have aped them. No one is above law and it is time to show alliance to rule of law and not tribalism. Hence, no one should go scot-free. All involved and easily identifiable should be disbarred and prosecuted to law to its fullest extent.
ZAHID ALI ZOHRI
Nagar, Gilgit-Baltistan
Climate change
Climate change has affected the people and the environment of Pakistan in different ways. Although Pakistan is a relatively small emitter of green house gas as compared to other countries, the country has, however, been greatly affected by the negative impact of climate change.
According to the Pakistan Economic Survey of 2014-15, the “increase in frequency and intensity of extreme weather events coupled with erratic monsoon rains causing frequent and intense floods and droughts” are the most prominent problems Pakistan will face due to climate change. The survey concluded that the change in weather patterns has destroyed infrastructures, has taken many lives and has had devastating impact on agriculture sector which in turn has affected Pakistan’s economy.
According to the BBC Climate Asia report, the majority of the Pakistani people surveyed claimed that climate change has heavily impacted their life in the form of floods and droughts, and most importantly has affected the availability of resources such as energy and water. 53% of Pakistanis felt that their life had become worse off than they were five years ago. Although the effects of climate change are evident, the survey found that the majority of the people were unaware of the meaning of climate change, and “ascribed changes in climate and extreme weather events to the will of God.
MUJAHID RAMZAN
Via email
Liar, Lawyer!
The recent tussle between men in black and men in white has shown us how sad our educational system is. We produce hundreds and thousands of physicians, lawyers, CSP officers and what not every year. They are undoubtedly as brilliant in their respective fields as produced by foreign universities. But alas, they are all ill at ease when it comes to ethics and morality. I beg our ruling elite to announce a state of educational emergency in country with a focus on ethics that we do not teach.
Dear readers, please reflect for a moment, what good is an outclass engineer, if he does not learn the difference between working for the good cause and working for an evil cause? What good is medicine if a doctor learns only to make profits, not safeguard lives of the poor or needy? What good is the memorisation of hundreds of constitutional articles if humanity is lost? Tears roll down as I try to close this letter. Please, be kind to our youth. Teach them what we, as a society, failed to learn.
USAMA KHALID
Rawalpindi
Let’s talk: Depression
Depression is an illness characterized by persistent sadness and a loss of interest in activities that one normally enjoys, accompanied by an inability to carry out daily activities, for at least two weeks. Depression is affecting over 350 million people worldwide. In addition, people with depression face a loss of energy, a change in appetite, sleeping more or less, anxiety, lack of concentration, indecisiveness, restlessness, feelings of worthlessness, guilt or hopelessness and thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
Depression is something that can happen to anybody at any phase of life. This is the most shamefully neglected health field in Pakistan. Mostly depression occurs due to several financial and housing difficulties. In Pakistan, there are merely 750-trained psychiatrists, which is very low. Depression is not sign of weakness that is why there should be no shame of seeking help or sharing thoughts with others.
Depression is treatable with the help of talking therapies, anti-depressant medications or combination of these. If someone is going through depression, it is necessary to talk about it with someone trustworthy. Most people feel better after talking to someone who cares about them. Professional help is also necessary to bring patients from dark to light.
HADIA AZIZ
Islamabad
Poor enrolment of girls
I would like to inform your readers about the state of female literacy in Pakistan. Pakistan is a country where the majority of its population is below the age of 35. It is a country of young people. Consequently, education is a service which can play a big role in cultivating the youth of the nation.
I write this letter to express my deep concern over the serious problem of poor enrolment of girls in schools in the primary and upper primary classes. Unfortunately, a lot of gender disparity exists in our country. The birth of a male child is celebrated with aplomb while the birth of a female child is lamented. Pakistan’s pervasive gender gap in primary school enrolment puts it behind other South Asian countries including India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh: 65% of Pakistan’s primary-aged girls are enrolled, compared to 77 percent of boys. It is imperative that the government take steps to ensure better participation of the female child in education. It is also important to change conservative social attitudes towards the girl child’s education.
AIMAN AMJAD
Rawalpindi
Congratulations Aleem Dar
Aleem Dar has stood in 129th Test match as an umpire breaking the record of West Indies famous Steve Bucknor’s record of 128 test matches. He is currently adjudicating the Test between Australia and New Zealand in Perth, Australia.
Another feather in his cap is in offing as he has stood in 207 one day matches just two matches behind the world record on 209 matches. Born on 6th June 1968 he is a member of International Cricket Council’s Elite Panel and respected by most of the cricket player’s fraternity. Congratulations Aleem Dar for your this achievement and we wish you achieve more and more success in future.
IFTIKHAR MIRZA
Islamabad
