PTM’s demands
Madam,
Nearly 15 percent of Pakistan’s population is Pashtun. Time and again our Pashtun brothers and sisters have proved their loyalty and love for Pakistan. The slogan Da Sanga Azadi Da (what kind of freedom is this?) is being taken up by many Pashtuns these days and it can now be heard in the entire country
The journey of Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) is not very long. It was established by eight university students in May 2014 with very basic demand of removing landmines from tribal areas. The killing of Naqeebullah Mehsud, the controversy surrounding Rao Anwar and missing persons cases brought the PTM in the spotlight in 2018. This was the time the PTM started gaining support. At the same time, controversies and scandals started surfacing regarding the PTM’s chairman and leadership – the Khaisor event and allegations of Matorkey brothers and there are now allegations of foreign involvement in PTM. Between truth and politics, the major concern is the impact on a young mind, particularly that of the Pashtun youth.
Every new day is bringing new things and new dimensions to this conflict but need of time is to secure the future of our precious Pashtuns who love Pakistan no less than others and who are being held hostage time and again. The correct answer to this puzzle lies only in genuine and considerate resolution of their mainstream problems.
Rubaiha Shaheen,
Via e-mail.
Power crisis
Madam,
Ramazan is a holy month for Muslims. Unfortunately in this holy month, Muslims suffer even more than usual; prices of essential items are soaring and this is compounded by severe load shedding. Before Ramazan, the load shedding issue was not so bad, yet the timetable for load shedding during the holy month makes one want to cry. In my neighbourhood, power is gone from 5 am to 7 am, 9 am to 10 am, 2 pm to 4 pm, 6 pm to 7 pm then 8 pm to 9 pm and later, from 12 am to 1 am. This shows how we are suffering in Ramazan every day. People who are fasting cannot sleep properly. It hurts me to see how everyone around me is suffering in the holy month. The government should work on this issue and I hope it will soon take some action in this regard.
Rehmat Khan,
Turbat.
Teachers’ salaries
Madam,
I was selected and appointed as an educator in Sheikhupura in March last year. There were 45 other candidates. Recruitment was done under the Education Policy 2018. We began getting our salaries from March 2019 and are yet to be paid for the previous months.
In the Punjab, educators serving in educational institutions have been serving without salaries for as long as 10 months as the Education Department is still engaged in the process of verifying these newly appointed teachers and getting paperwork in order.
It is routine for newly appointed teachers to serve without salaries for eight months. In the case of our batch, we served for 11 months without pay. Thankfully we have been paid since March 2019, but an uphill task faces us — how to secure the release of 11 months pay from the department?
This is a plea to the higher authorities to direct the education department to ensure that newly recruited teachers are paid on time.
Riaz Amjad,
Sheikhupura.
Terrible roads
Madam,
Karachi is the largest and most populous city of Pakistan. Its roads are busy around the clock. Due to continuous traffic, these roads have broken down especially in Malir, Saudabad and Model Colony. Sewage is also a constant problem in these areas. The conditions of these neighbourhoods have become so bad that one hears of accidents almost daily. It also causes severe damage to vehicles. These roads are repaired constantly but substandard materials and the callous attitude of the city district government is not a permanent solution for broken roads and choked gutters. The authorities seem to be short-sighted when it comes to road repairs.
Maria Khan,
Karachi.
Social media
Madam,
Social media networking has helped us connect with people around the globe but advancement in technology is dangerous for teenagers as they are likely to get addicted and begin isolating themselves from real life interactions.
Social networking sites have a strong presence in our daily lives. But somehow, one effect of social media’s presence in our lives is that we are losing our empathy, our concentration skills and our ability to get along with others.
Instead of sharing our problems with those close to us, we share them on social media where people have no interest about our issues. Likewise, the productivity of teenagers is decreasing. We end up being frustrated and depressed when we do not get many likes or retweets. We shouldn’t cut ourselves off from social media sites but we should use them carefully.
Rania Junaid,
Via e-mail.
Exchange marriages
Madam,
Watta-satta (exchange marriages) is practiced in many parts of Pakistan. In a watta-satta, two families trade brides. These marriages put females in a precarious position as divorce between one of the couples may result divorce between the other couple. Such marriages are a crime. Section 498-B of the Pakistan Penal Code prohibits forced marriages. I request the government to impose a ban on exchange marriages, which often also involve child marriages.
Khadija Shah,
Karachi.
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