letterstoeditor

JUDICIARY AT ITS BEST IN PAKISTAN

This refers to the editorial, ‘The judiciary-military tangle in Pakistan’ (Dec 19). This is the first time in Pakistan’s history that a former military chief has been found guilty of treason and awarded the death sentence. It is more significant for a country in which the military has always held great sway. The country has seen coups and was ruled directly by the military for more than three decades. It is not easy for the judiciary to stand up to the interests of the establishment but that is what it has done. What Musharraf’s fate should be is up to higher courts to decide. But the spirit of the special court’s judgment is to hold the men in uniform accountable for their actions.

Sanjay Chopra, Mohali

TACIT ADMISSION OF TWO-NATION THEORY

During the debate on the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB), Union home minister Amit Shah accused the Congress of being responsible for the country’s partition. Let us remember that the Congress he referred to is not the Congress of Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka, but the Congress of Gandhi, Nehru, Patel and other stalwarts some of which BJP swears by. It is disingenuous to say that Muslims cannot be persecuted in the three countries mentioned in the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The proof of the pudding would be in letting them prove whether they are persecuted or not. To exclude them from CAA is a tacit admission of subscribing to the two-nation theory which, rather than the Congress, was responsible for the partition of the country.

Rattan Lal, Jalandhar

OPPN MUST JOIN HANDS TO SAVE DEMOCRACY

This refers to the report ‘In detention, Kashmiri rivals warm up to each other’ (Dec 19 ), it is a good omen that politicians of different shades and political agenda in J&K are rallying round to protect people’s democratic rights after the abrogation of Article 370. The need of the hour is that all opposition parties in the country sink their political differences and join hands to oppose the divisive agenda of the present dispensation, which has violated the basic structure of the Constitution through the enactment of Citizenship Amendment Act. It is time for all political outfits to put their heads and hearts together to preserve the secular character of the Constitution and protect the democratic set-up in the country.

RM Ramaul, Paonta Sahib

ALLAY FEARS, CLEAR DOUBTS

The knock-down-drag-out situation over the Citizenship Amendment Act seems to have developed more because of the BJP’s wont of acting before thinking than the divided and demoralised opposition parties’ “mischief” or ability to “mislead” the Muslim community over this contentious law. Instead of blaming the Muslims for playing into any party’s hands, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership must listen patiently to what they want to say and allay their genuine fears and clear their doubts expeditiously.

Tarsem Singh, Mahilpur

VIOLENT PROTESTERS MUST BE DEALT RUTHLESSLY

In the ongoing protests against Citizenship Amendment Act, damaging public property and attacking policemen on duty should be considered a heinous and unbailable crime. It should be treated as treason. Attack on police force by protesters should also be treated as a grave crime. It’s an unpardonable act to react violently against any legislation. The country is above everything else. To maintain law and order and safeguard the interests of the nation, the police force should be given much more power to deal with law-breaking protesters. The politicians should not use innocent men to fulfil their own aspirations.

Sukhdev Singh Minhas

CELLPHONES LEADING TO UNHEALTHY YOUTH

This refers to the article ‘Reconciling a child’s right to privacy and autonomy’ (Dec 19). Of course, there is a need to protect children’s right to digital privacy. But as a parent, I feel there is an equal need to prevent the children from being addicted to the net. In the name of privacy, let it not be a free-for-all situation. Children are spending more time on their smart phones for ‘pleasure’ rather than seeking useful information. Juvenile crimes are increasing because of easy access to negativity and thrills on the social media. Hence, the parents should have every right to check on their adolescent children against the misuse of their cell phones. Let an asset not become a liability, leading to unhealthy youth.

Colonel RD Singh (retd), Ambala Cantt

CONFLICT OF RIGHTS

Apropos the editorial ‘Violence is unacceptable’ (Dec 19), the crux of the malaise afflicting our polity is the conflict of rights and their misconceived display as if these were absolute. This leads to instances such as animal rights of a dog overriding human rights of its bite-victim; parliamentary rights of some members disrupting the House proceedings, negating those of other members wanting to work in congenial environment; democratic right of holding protests (often planted and turning violent) undoing rights of the common man and policemen; rights of a criminal eclipsing those of victim; and sacrificing justice over expediting trial and punishment. Procedural wrangles too play spoilsport. Only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches. The onus lies on the Supreme Court and Parliament to draw the line.

Lalit Bharadwaj,

Panchkula

HAT-TRICK MAN KULDEEP YADAV

Kuldeep Yadav has been one of the best bowlers in the world for the past many years. He has achieved another milestone by becoming the first Indian to score more than one hat-trick in one-day internationals (ODIs). Now, he has only Lasith Malinga ahead of him, who has scored three hat-tricks in one-day internationals.

Madhav Sharma, Jalandhar