Bad ideas
Madam,
The federal government headed by Prime Minister Imran Khan faces host of internal challenges topped by an economic crisis internally and serious challenges like persistent hostilities with India on the external front.
The federal government, under the energetic and determined leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan, is making all out efforts for overcoming these challenges and is concentrating on policies and programmes for the welfare and well-being of the people in accordance with PTI election manifesto. Yet one feels sorry to point out that all the good things being done and all the good intentions are being undermined by most unwelcome, unpleasant and avoidable controversies created by PTI federal ministers and leaders themselves.
The PM should strictly direct federal ministers and party leaders to avoid getting involved in controversies and concentrate on their own work. It is also worth mentioning that despite having a number of advisors and special assistants, the PTI’s media wing is very weak compared to the PPP’s and the PML-N. The PTI somehow also does not have all that friendly print and electronic media.
Whatever the PTI’s government is doing for welfare and well-being of the people is not being followed up in columns of newspapers through favourable articles and letters to the editors by some friendly people. Mere tweets by the information minister are not serving the purpose and rather providing opportunities to the opponents to hit back at the ruling party.
Jahangir Tareen is no doubt is a founding member of the PTI and its former secretary general but still he cannot and should not be attending the federal cabinet meetings if the prime ministers desires it.
Murtaza Naseer,
Lahore.
India’s status
Madam,
I am writing in view of the statement by BJP President Amit Shat that Article 370 of the Constitution will be abolished in 2020 when the party will have requisite majority in both the houses of parliament.
I believe this is nothing more than a storm in tea cup because even if Article 370 is abolished, the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir cannot be abolished because it derives legitimacy, legality and power not merely from the Constitution of India (Article 370) but also mainly from the Instrument of Accession (IoA). In a nutshell, if Hindu India is thinking that by abolishing Article 370 (and its corollary 35-A) Hindus will be able to transform the demography of Muslim Kashmir in the favour of Hindus, they are horribly wrong - constitutionally and legally. Abolishing Article 370 will not abolish the Jammu and Kashmir constitution and its clauses about permanent residents.
This confusion in the mind of Hindu-majority India is due to the fact that India does not understand that according to the IoA, India’s status is nothing more than that of a caretaker. It is hoped that instead of raising meaningless hullaballoo about Article 370, the people of India will endeavour to ensure plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir as mandated by the Instrument of Accession which is the only legally permissible solution to chronic and gory Kashmir problem.
Hem Raj Jain
Bengaluru, India
Bad choices
Madam,
Exposure to violence on television, movies and in video games increases the risk of violent behaviour among teenagers. With more and more people using mobile phones, text messages, e-mails and chat rooms, young people have created new means of social interactions in which aggression can occur abruptly and with great consequences. Innocent children might become victims of their own minds.
Children begin to avoid physical activities once they get gadgets in their hands. Playing with electronic gadgets and eating fast food without any physical activity leads to obesity. Children do not realise this in the beginning but later suffer throughout their life. This is one of the reasons why children should not have access to electronic gadgets until they reach a certain age.
Myra Khalid,
Multan.
Gas bill
Madam,
I was shocked when I received my gas bill for the month of March. It was highly inflated and out of my reach. According to the gas company’s reading, I have been billed as a category four consumer, which starts at Rs780 per Metric Million British Thermal Unit (MMBTU) rather than category three (Rs275 per MMBTU) for some reason.
This blatant overcharging must be rectified. The government must look into this gross violation and safeguard the interest of the consumers.
It is unfair to apply incorrect categories on consumers and expect them to pay.
Zahid Ranjha,
Lahore.
A tribute
Madam,
The passing in 2018 of Dr Kaniz F Yusuf went largely unnoticed in the country. I would like to honour the memory of an outstanding academic, the well-regarded and reverently-remembered former vice chancellor of what was then known as the Islamabad University (now the Quaid-e-Azam University).
Dr Kaniz Fatima touched countless lives as she did mine and I have been richer because of her mentorship: I had started my corporate law practice in Lahore in 1969 and was fortunate to be appointed a visiting lecturer on Public International Law for the Pakistan Foreign Service Officers at the Civil Services Academy. A few years into this teaching, I got a call from Dr Yusuf inviting me to teach the same subject at the Islamabad University; she mentioned that the Foreign Office had recommended my name. After some discussion, we agreed on my weekly two hour classes on Saturdays. I offered that I would teach honorarily but would look to reimbursement of my air fare and transportation facility in Islamabad. She readily accepted both and undertook that she would personally supervise the transport facility. That was my first contact with her.
I started my teaching association with Islamabad University but found on my first travel for this that the transportation facility at the Islamabad University was not satisfactory. On return to Lahore after that lecture, I called Dr Yusuf and the moment she found about my disappointment with the transportation arrangements, she immediately apologised and undertook that for all my future visits, her, that is the vice chancellor’s, car would be at my sole disposal for my visits to Islamabad each Saturday and this happened to meticulous compliance throughout my association with Islamabad University.
This is a story of gratitude from a lawyer and teacher from the 1970s when he was in his early thirties and on the start of his legal career; that the vice chancellor extended so much respect and understanding to a young visiting lecturer from Lahore showed her mind-set and attitude to attracting faculty to her university.
I have remained an admirer of Dr Kaniz Yusuf all my life and treasure the moment today to acknowledge publicly, for the first time, my immeasurable debt to her for encouraging and mentoring me.
Dr Parvez Hassan,
Via e-mail.
Child labour
Madam,
It is very unfortunate that a province rich with resources is full of young people working as labour, instead of going to schools. According to a report titled Pakistan’s Labour Force Survey, more than five million children involved in child labour in Balochistan. There is no doubt that children are the future of the country, yet they are not being provided their rights. Child labour destroys lives. In fact, our Constitution does not allow anyone to employ people under the age of 14, but this fact is neglected in the province. It is estimated that 2.3 million of 3.6 million children in Balochistan are out of school. The government needs to do something to end child labour. It should set up organisations that campaign against child labour.
Ammara Shah,
Quetta.
The Friday Times, Plot No 52-53, N-Block, Main Guru Mangat Road,
Gulberg II, Lahore, Pakistan. 042.35779186; Fax: 042.35779186, email: tft@thefridaytimes.com
*Letters must carry addresses and phone numbers
*We ask you to restrict your comments to 300 words.