THIS is apropos of A. Majid’s letter ‘A more complicated script’ (Jan 1). The writer has expressed his shock over Cyril Almeida’s article on Dec 30. The writer has objection over the words ‘President Zardari and his gallery of rogues’ in the article. He may have political affiliation, sympathies or loyalties with the president and his cronies, but the fact is, being a taxpaying apolitical person, I didn’t find the words ‘unfounded’. It is also implied by the writer as if everything is honky-dory and the criticism is injustice to a government which is popular among the masses. The fact is we are facing the worst of the times in our history. From a fragile economy, growing militancy, lawlessness to rampant corruption, inflation, nepotism and bad governance, the country is in a morass.

It seems as if we are living in mediaeval times for people are forced to use wood owing to gas shortages, while the current power crisis is the worst. The essence of democracy is in freedom of thought and speech. In our society there is a tendency of treating some political and public figures as holy cows. Nobody, not even the president, has an exemption from being criticised by the media or the public.

If our political leadership has failed to deliver, the media has the right and a duty to put it to sword. The political environment is suffocating and gagging the press will do more harm. In the backdrop of the present testing times, I wonder how one can expect kind words for the government from the media commentators or the people.

People had elected the present leaders to serve, not to subjugate or push their voters to limits. Respect, even by the president, is not demanded only because he is an elected representative. It is always commanded through good deeds.

Mr Majid’s emotional outburst against Mr Almeida is certainly misplaced and is like rubbing salt to the electorate’s wounds. Whatever Mr Almeida wrote were the sentiments and the voice of 180 million people of Pakistan who are hard pressed in the worst period of our history. Sycophancy has never been Dawn’s policy. Please carry on the good work Mr Almeida.

AMIR AHMAD Karachi