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LETTERS:

Post letters to Letters to the Editor, The Daily Times, 41-N, Industrial Area, Gulberg II, Lahore, Pakistan Phone: 92-42-5878614-19; Fax: 92-42-5878620 E-mail: letters@dailytimes.com.pk Letters may be edited for length and clarity

We live in horrible times

Sir: As a mother of two children, aged 13 and 9, I take a keen interest in their education and try to inform them not just about the subject matter at school, but also in current affairs and what is happening in the world. At the same time, I take care not to expose them to content in the media that may contain excessive violence or things that go against the moral fabric of our society.

But lately, it seems that the violent films and video games that I keep my kids away from have turned into real life and are being beamed to us through the news channels. I have trained my kids to keep up with the news; but not a day goes by now without there being news of mass slaughter of innocent civilians in some part of the world or a suicide bombing in some part of Pakistan. And if there’s none of that, then there is always news of domestic crimes, riots and murders. There is hardly anything to feel good about these days, and that is reflected in the media. One can only hope that things will get better soon and that my generation will leave a better world for the children we are raising today.
NASREEN SHEIKH
Lahore

Quetta under threat

Sir: I appreciate Senator Sanaullah Baloch’s courage to speak up against the brewing Talibanisation in Quetta and its surroundings. However, this is not the first time that fingers have been raised against the suspicious activities of the Taliban and other entities tied to them. Afghan officials and notable Afghanistan experts like Ahmed Rashid have been saying for years that Quetta is being used as a safe haven by Taliban leaders and their supporters.

In the face of Mr Baloch’s statements, the government’s lack of response is worrying. The citizens of Pakistan expect the government to clarify its position on this most troublesome development. This is a very serious issue that should worry not only the Baloch, but all moderate and secular people of Pakistan who are affected by the Taliban and their activities.

Supporters of the Taliban have been attacking internet cafes and CD shops in Quetta, claiming that these are places that promote obscenity. This is just the starting point of their violence, as was seen in Swat and the tribal areas. The government would do well to learn the lessons from its past mistakes. The Taliban, Al Qaeda and their affiliates are the enemies of Pakistan; they should be stopped before it is too late. Balochistan is already in the grip of an insurgency, and it can hardly afford to see the Taliban rise as well.
CHASHMAN KHAN
Quetta

Lahore blasts

Sir: Five blasts occurred in Lahore on January 9, targeting a popular entertainment quarter of the city. This is a blatant attempt by the terrorists to disturb the people of Lahore, inject fear into the city and disrupt normal life. This follows similar blasts that took place some weeks ago at supposedly ‘indecent and immoral’ places. The people of Lahore should not bow to the intimidation of these terrorists. These elements have already destroyed the cultural life of a once-vibrant city, i.e. Peshawar; and are trying to achieve similar outcomes in Islamabad and Lahore. We must prevail in the face of this threat and preserve our cultural identity.

On that note, it is sad to see so many ‘analysts’ and anchors justify such bombings. There is no justification for such violence that is meant to harass and kill innocent civilians. Those in the media have a responsibility to report in a fair, balanced and accurate way. And in no way do justifications for bombings and terrorist activities fit into that framework.
HAMID CHAUDHRY
Islamabad

No ceasefire for Gaza

Sir: It was sad to learn that Israel has rejected the United Nations Security Council’s resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Israel should realise that while Hamas is a terrorist organisation that threatens its citizens, it has no right to murder civilians in an all-out military offensive. It baffles the mind that a country that has one of the most respected and feared intelligence agencies in the world cannot carry out precise and targeted strikes against Hamas. It seems that, as has been pointed out by several observers, this offensive is meant to extract political capital from the situation for the incumbent party in the impending Knesset elections. If so, that is a sad statement on the integrity and humanity of Israel’s leadership.

Shame, too, on Hamas, which has also rejected the UN’s calls for a ceasefire. There have been reports that, apart from the Israeli massacre of innocent civilians, Hamas has been using groups of Gazan civilians as human shields. Once the dust has settled and this conflict is over, the international community should conduct an exhaustive inquiry into what happened in Gaza. And those found responsible for the deliberate murder of civilians, be they Israelis or Hamas militiamen, should be tried for war crimes.
JUNAID AKBAR
Karachi

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