Most political parties have announced their manifestos. They have assured the religious minorities protection and security. Parties have promised in their manifestos that they will give minorities their due importance. Few have also vowed to protect their constitutional and fundamental rights. All the major parties have promised for provision of jobs or implementation of job quota.

Unfortunately, this only seems to be a formality. What political parties do is not a hidden fact from minorities. We have seen it happen otherwise in the past. The kind of treatment and behaviour the majority metes out to minorities is not new to them.

Hope that all the political parties will make sure that they will adopt good ethical practices towards minorities. All of the political parties should work hard to spread peace, brotherhood and harmony with each other, so that we will live and co-exist in a better environment. Acceptance and tolerance is a must.

DR ALFRED CHARLES Karachi

Money abroad FOR honest elections it is absolutely necessary that all the money that is kept abroad in banks by the central or provincial election contestants is brought back urgently. It is felt that such large sums may be used to buy votes.

To prevent it, the Election Commission should direct the Central Board of Revenue to find out whether any large amount has been withdrawn from any foreign bank during the last two to three months.

A wait till May 10 next may also be kept. If need be, help from international institutions be sought urgently.

S.SIBTUL HASAN HAZEEN Karachi

Promises to keep All PTI members and office bearers should promise that:

1. We will not break any law or facilitate the breaking of any law, no matter how burdensome or offensive we find it. This includes all traffic laws, tax laws and any and all laws that affect our lives, and of course, the lives of others, including our political foes. It will be awfully hard for us to stop at a traffic signal but we will.

2. We will not only observe all laws, but will try to educate others through our examples. We will encourage all our members to check each other when we tend to break the law. We may, as part of our elaborate media plan etc. display stickers, badges that say “Proud to be a law abiding citizen...PTI’.

3. We will not be party to bribe for any facility, and struggle to get our work done legally and morally.

4. We will make sure we do not throw any garbage on the roads and will endeavour to maintain a clean, healthy environment in our houses and in spaces we can influence.

5. If some of us choose to break laws e.g. drinking alcohol, we will refrain from doing so at public places and at our children’s weddings much as some of us get the venue to put up a little canopy where alcohol is usually served liberally and is then boasted about.

6. If we have wilfully violated laws such as income taxes, we promise to pay the government or donate the equivalent amount to a non-Imran Khan related cause.

7. We will urge every single one of our supporters and opponents to match our commitment in this promise for the ‘naya Pakistan’ belongs to all of us, regardless of who may be in government or in the opposition.

8. We promise to read and live by the basis of justice spelled out in the Holy Koran Chapter 4, verse 135.

WASIF M KHAN     Lahore

Overseas Pakistanis THIS is with reference to a news item (April 11) about the 30-member overseas Pakistanis meeting Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan.

I am a Canadian-Pakistani living in Canada and have been in a position to help Pakistan financially at the time of disasters like an earthquake and floods. I would also like to have my say in the May 11 elections in Pakistan.

I would  request the CEC to lay down emergency procedures for overseas Pakistanis to vote by email or by post or any other practical manner.

In the case of overseas Pakistanis, the election date can also be appropriately extended.

J.S. HUSSAIN     Canada