JAVED Hashmi accepted his defeat when the results of only a few polling stations were announced by TV channels. His early announcement rightly annoyed his supporters in the PML-N ranks as a lot of corrections and manipulation, popularly called punctures, are done during the final preparation of results.

Mr Hashmi’s acceptance of defeat was too early but his parting of ways with Imran Khan was too late, and that has cost him his seat in the parliament.

He needs to correct his timing if he still wants to stay in politics.

Malikul Quddoos
Karachi

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I AM glad to see Amir Dogar win the Multan by-elections since it indicates that people have now started to vote for ideology rather than personalities. It is a healthy sign.

However, I feel extremely sad to to see a historic and revolutionary leader like Javed Hashmi politically fade out at this senior stage of his life. He should have been at the epitome of his career.

I am at a loss to understand why Hashmi did that somersault on Imran Khan. How can he say all the things he is saying now while he was with Mr Khan on every step: demanding resignations from the container and pronouncing Mr Khan as the future prime minister?

I am sad about you, Hashmi. No cry of ‘baghi’ or ‘daghi’, just plain sadness.

Umme Muhammed
Lahore

Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2014