A dangerous time
Madam,
I was shocked to hear of the assassination attempt on Ahsan Iqbal’s life. One would think that a man would be safe in a corner meeting of his own constituency. It is my fear that as the election approaches, this cycle of violence will intensify. I remember the previous election and how nerve-racking it became for the average citizen. Every day, our television screens were filled with scenes of terror, all the way from Karachi to Peshawar. I wonder why the time leading up to the election is such a time of anxiety. It should be an exciting period, for all citizens involved in the contest; those seeking votes and those who are going to cast them. But unfortunately, elections in Pakistan are not just controversial, they are also violent events. Benazir’s murder in 2008 is another example of this. Every time leaders go out to ask for votes, they become targets. If they take measures to protect themselves, then they are criticised for being elitist. In political science they taught us that the pursuit of democracy was a noble cause, yet its practice in Pakistan is a tedious and dangerous exercise. How unfortunate!
Zubaida Bibi,
Via email.
Teachers on strike
Madam,
I am the student of Karachi University and our campus has not seen any academic and administrative activity in the last few days.
Teachers of Karachi University are protesting because they have not received their salaries in many months. They have also put nine other demands before Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan, who is also the chancellor of all public universities in the province.
Since these demands of the teachers and the university staff are just, we should support them. However, students are facing problems because of the strike. Our final semester exams were scheduled this month but due to the strike, they have been postponed.
Ramazan is here and it is very difficult to come for exams while one is fasting. I request the authorities to address this problem soon.
Areeb Taqi,
Karachi.
Mental illness
Madam,
Depression is a mental illness and if not treated on time, it can be deadly. The sad reality of our society is that we only give attention to physical illnesses and ignores the mental ones.
Depression works as a slow poison; it slowly kills from the inside. One of the main causes of depression is the struggle for a successful career. Since there are limited job opportunities in Pakistan, most people do not get even a chance. Another reason for rising rates of depression among the youth is the pressure from parents to study a certain subject. This attitude kills so many dreams. Frequent conflicts in relationships are another source of depression. The pressure of good grades and assignments also serves to depress youngsters.
So many careers have been destroyed and countless beautiful souls have been crushed by depression. I believe that it is time for more openness and acceptance about these issues. Parents should support the dreams of their children and should appreciate them if they wish to do something different. It would be good for their children’s creativity and will also create job opportunities. There should be a counsellor in very institution where people can get proper help. In the end I would like to request everyone who is reading this that please take a moment and reflect. Try to be empathetic towards others because everyone is struggling and fighting a battle. Remember every life is precious and worth saving.
Mehak Ali,
Karachi.
Fake degrees
Sir,
It has become so easy in Pakistan to have fake degrees by just giving bribes to the authorities. In Turbat, I have witnessed many people who are not enrolled in any institution get degrees. They don’t attend the classes in these institutions and do not invest their time in other academic activities. This is disheartening for those students who are regular with their attendance in classes. A number of students have quit their studies because they felt discouraged by these practices. As a nation, we must not compromise on the education of our children. It is the responsibility of the government to look after issues related to education and it should intervene in these dishonest practises.
Ali Jan Maqsood,
Turbat.
Dasht has no universities
Madam,
I would like that say that Dasht is a big area of Balochistan, but there is no college for students to pursue higher education. All students here have completed high school but have no other opportunities for higher education and so they simply stop pursuing it. As most people here are poor and can’t afford to go to Turbat, they are compelled to leave their studies till their matriculation. Education is everyone’s right and the government is responsible for providing schools, colleges and universities for students so that they succeed in their lives. Unfortunately, the government is silent on this issue and this silence is depriving a generation of their fundamental rights.
So, it is my humble request to the government of Balochistan to take action on this issue and provide a college to the people and save their lives in future.
Kapoot Murad,
Dasht.