THE savage terrorist attack on a political gathering of Balochistan Awami Party in Mastung, which killed more than 128 people, deserves to be condemned in the harshest of words.

Many families face ruin as they have lost their sole bread-winners in this tragedy. The footage shown repeatedly on some TV channels of a father with tearful eyes sitting besides the body of his son was heart-breaking indeed.

However, what is painful to the people — especially in Balochistan — is that all TV news channels thought it fit to give wider coverage and greater air time to former prime minster Nawaz Sharif’s return from London and arrest at Lahore airport. The violent death of 128 people in Balochistan it seems to them did not matter

To paraphrase a recent Dawn editorial: Balochistan remains the most neglected part of the country as far as news reporting is concerned. The media needs to play a pivotal role and project the concerns and issues of our province.

A prosperous Pakistan is possible only in a peaceful and progressive Balochistan.

Farooq Tareen

Quetta

(2)

TWO events occurred in Pakistan on

July 13. The first, a terrorist attack on a political rally in Mastung claimed the lives of 128 people besides seriously injuring more than 180 others, many of whom later died. The second event was the arrival in Lahore from London of a man and his daughter to appeal a court conviction.

Amazingly, the entire media without exception went to town and gave exhaustive coverage to the Lahore event.

No channel had many details of the massacre in Mastung. The political parties involved in electioneering did not cancel a single rally or public gathering. Even the government is yet to announce national mourning and lowering of the flag.

What sort of people are we? Should we call ourselves human beings? Shame on our leadership, more than that shame on the people, for choosing to live like mute beasts.

Pervaiz Kausar

Sahiwal

(3)

MORE than 128 Pakistanis died a violent death in Mastung in a bomb blast on a political rally while another four were killed in Bannu in a terror attack. Thousands of Pakistani civilians have fallen victim to terrorism, yet those whose names appear in the fourth schedule have been allowed to contest elections.

When will we realise that only the Quaid’s vision of a modern democratic welfare state will ensure our survival as a sovereign independent state and not the doctrines espoused by adventurers out of necessity to perpetuate their stay in power? The constitution must be supreme and rule of law visible.

Every state institution, including elected executive, judiciary, bureaucracy and security apparatus must understand that they are there to serve people, whose collective interest defines national interest and security of their lives and property is the primary objective of state.

For far too long, have this country’s assets, resources and land been abused by a few, who having benefited the most, abandoned it and moved their families and wealth abroad. Pakistan was created for the welfare of its citizens and not for a parasitic few.

Let the people take note when they leave their homes on July 25 to head for polling stations.

Malik Ali

Lahore

Published in Dawn, July 15th, 2018

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