Daily Times

Sir: Given the current state of the country, with its myriad crises, what we need is a serious reprioritisation of our goals, leading to relevant adjustments in policy and behaviour. Probably the most serious problem in Pakistan nowadays is that of internal security and law and order: suicide bombings take place almost every day, and thousands of Pakistanis have lost their lives to terrorism. Further, there are major criminal elements operation in our territory, dealing in everything from smuggled cars to hoarded fuel and food.
Given this state of affairs, our security agencies, apart from devoting their main resources to countering terrorism, also need to ensure that their priorities are clear as far as stabilising Pakistan is concerned. It was, therefore, disappointing to read a flurry of statements from top police officials in Punjab, who wanted the police to step up raids against violators of the one-dish rule for weddings. This is ridiculous: what the police chiefs need to emphasise is countering murders, robberies, kidnappings and terrorism. It is sad to see that even in these troubled days, moral policing of individuals (most of whom are conducing such gatherings in their private space) is taking precedence over greater vigilance against robbers, gangs and murderers.
Instead of punishing people organising weddings out of their own money and in their private space, the police, which is funded by taxpayer money, should concentrate on making people safer. I have not heard of anyone dying or losing money because of more than one dish being served at a wedding.
JAHANGIR AHMED
Lahore