Daily Times

Sir: Apropos the letter published in your esteemed daily on June 22, 2012, entitled “Dirty politics on load shedding”, the stance taken by the letter writer is completely wrong and way off the mark. By no stretch of the imagination can the Punjab government be accused of instigating ongoing protests on load shedding in Punjab. Everyone knows that lawful protest is a legal right of the masses in a democratic dispensation. The protests seen in Punjab are a natural reaction of the common man against cruel, torturous and agonising load shedding. No sane person can accuse the Punjab government of encouraging violence during protests. In fact, the Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has made fervent appeals repeatedly to the people of the province, through advertisements and news items, requesting them to show restraint, patience, forbearance and tolerance, while expressing their legitimate sentiments against cruel load shedding. The Punjab chief minister had also appealed to the public to ensure protection of public and private property and not endanger human lives. In fact, the decision of the Punjab chief minister to set up his tent office at the Minar-e-Pakistan reflects his sense of solidarity with the common man. Frequently, the chief minister had forcefully pointed out that violence and vandalism during protests against load shedding was not the solution to our problems. In fact, the Chief Minister strongly criticised those who were indulging in ransacking and arson, and urged them vigorously not to take the law into their own hands. He had also made clear repeatedly that the official buildings are our national assets, along with appealing to the public to keep a vigilant eye on those conspirators and black sheep who are trying to turn a peaceful protest movement against painful load shedding into a violent display.

It is sad to note that the letter writer, instead of criticising the federal government for its lack of competence, interest and vision to end cruel load shedding, chose to blame the Punjab government instead. However, the one-sided viewpoint cannot alter the fact that peaceful protest is legal, constitutional and a right of the public in a democracy, but at the same time, the Punjab government has always appealed and urged the protestors to register their protest against load shedding by strictly remaining within the ambit of the law.

DIRECTOR NEWS

DGPR, Lahore