A SPATE of unfortunate incidents in the past week point to the alarming fact that intolerance among the public regarding political differences is growing.

Khawaja Asif had ink thrown on him in Sialkot on March 11 when he was addressing a public meeting. The next day former prime minister and PML-N leader, Nawaz Sharif was hit by a shoe thrown at him in Lahore. On March 13, a shoe was hurled at PTI leader Imran Khan, but it hit another leader of the party. These incidents are deplorable and should be condemned by all in the strongest words.

No one has the right to resort to violence over the difference of opinion. Dialogue is the only way to resolve differences in a democratic state.

Throwing shoes and ink at one’s opponent is definitely not the solution to the problems facing our country. On the contrary, it gives a bad image of Pakistan to the world.

The country already suffers from a negative image in the international community. The people resorting to juvenile behaviour only reinforce the perception that the Pakistani nation has extremist tendencies.

It is the state’s responsibility to ensure that every individual is imbibed with the virtues of tolerance and accommodation.

Hafiza Farhat

Khushab

(2)

ALL citizens have the right to ventilate their grievances against rulers, but doing so through such acts must be condemned. Instead, we should use ink wisely while electing our leaders to avoid throwing it on them later. A dot is mightier than the blot.

Riaz Ahmed

Karachi

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2018