Conspiracy theory

It was not a Pakistani speaking in Mahmood Achakzai in the National Assembly on June 18. All he said was conspiratorial, yet groundless. “The secret agencies are patronizing terrorists of the globe  even rebels from China  and providing them safe havens in the tribal belt”, he said.

I can’t question a leader’s patriotism. It is unbelievable that he is not well informed as to what exactly is going on in the tribal areas. Why, so far, have more than 800 security men laid down their lives, and hundreds of tribal people equally embraced shahadat while protecting these areas from foreign terrorists and their collaborators? Is he himself not a tribal leader? Doesn’t he know the recent bloody clashes in which the cola tribesmen flushed out foreigners, including Uzbeks and Chechens? So much so that they killed or hunted out local collaborators. Is it because the agencies are giving them protection? Are the agencies giving them shelter to launch assassination attempts on the President and Prime Minister? This is ridiculous.

The irony is that Mr. Achakzai has tried to win our enemies’ hearts by undermining Pakistan’s time-tested friendship with China. If he says there are Chinese rebels hiding in the area, why not pinpoint them, why not join with the government to arrest them and hand them over to China? Why are we all trying to damage the country? Why not have a unfied approach while speaking at forums such as the National Assembly? 

Eschmall Sardar
Peshawar

Karachi pirates

Who else is responsible, other than the Karachi city government and the Sindh provincial government, for over 200 fatalities when winds of 60 knots and rain not more than 13mm struck this poorly managed city? As if this was not enough, armed gunmen held workers of the Edhi Trust hostage, including Rizwan Edhi, for providing safe sanctuary to over 200 dead bodies while the Sindh Governor spokesman insisted that only 66 people died. The sole purpose of city government is to provide security to its citizens, ensure their welfare and provide a reliable infrastructure of roads, schools and hospitals. Karachi earns billions of rupees from taxes and excise duties imposed on imports and exports from Karachi Port. It is the richest city in terms of revenue in Pakistan, which earns billions from excise, paid by importers living upcountry and the city government should not have allowed the erection of unsafe advertisement boards all over the city to supplement their coffers. Somebody should conduct an audit to expose the massive revenue pilferages, most of them to foreign bank accounts through illegal means, to fund the lifestyles of those living in self exile. The city government has failed to deliver. There is no room to maneuver when the governor and Nazim are from the same party. 

Ijaz A Siddiq
Canada

Kazmi’s capture

A Pakistani citizen resident of Karachi and a lawyer by profession, dared to talk against the MQM’s excesses. He also made the cardinal mistake of joining the ranks supporting Imran Khan. Mr. Kazmi was kidnaped, tortured and threatened with dire consequences if he continued to live in Karachi unless he changed his political alignment. He was later arrested for a case registered against him about two years back where he was alleged to have issued cheques that bounced. Given the level of financial propriety, transparency in privatization deals, plundering of state land and billions of dollars in unpaid loans written off, this will be perceived as politicized, stat sponsored harassment of the citizens of Pakistan.

One is concerned about the fate of a fellow citizen. Is there somebody in Islamabad who has the moral conscience to let us know what is happening? The state cannot afford to be a persecutor of its citizens, nor can it deny them their fundamental rights as enshrined in the Constitution of Pakistan.

Nasir K Kakakhel
Peshawar.

Love news

A pair of news broadcaster  whether they be two males or two females or a male and a female  appear on a private TV channel before the news headlines but open their mouths after gazing into each others’ eyes for a good four to five seconds. Other TV newsreaders take a second or less which looks quite normal. The act gives one the impression that they are having a private conversation.

Ali Akbar
Karachi.

See no evil

The recent attack onthe Christians in Faisalabad is deplorable. Our government and the mullahs, both of whom do not forgo any opportunity to fulminate and foam at the mouth at every real or imagined blasphemous act, do not have the moral  courage or the decency to speak up against an injustice being perpetrated against a human being and a fellow citizen in their own backyard. What is one more attack on a religous minority?! It is business as usual in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. 

Nuzhat Aziz
Islamabad.