CONGRATULATIONS to Imran Khan for winning the 2018 election. Naturally, he will form government. The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf should not follow his predecessors beaten path.

I mean he should shun the regal lifestyle that almost every prime minister and president followed. Pakistan is a poor country and such a lifestyle is an insult to the common Pakistani.

Imran should honour his promise of converting the Punjab Governor House into a university. Similar treatment should be reserved for the other houses that are a burden on the exchequer.

One hopes he honours his promise of abolishing VIP culture and 40-vehicle motorcades.

I pray the PTI leadership follows the simplicity practised by the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and early caliphs. There are more recent examples in this vein, that of Imam Khomeni and former president Ahmadinejad, a PhD scholar who lived in a two-room apartment and continues to do so.

Actions speak louder than words. Pakistan awaits the new prime minister.

A. Siddiqui
Karachi

(2)

CONGRATULATIONS Pakistan! A new Pakistan has emerged. Indeed Almighty God has answered our prayers at last. “The blood and tears” of our parents’ struggle for Pakistan have been answered. Millions were killed and uprooted in the 1947 holocaust and the fall of Hyderabad State after the collapse of the Raj.

We can now heave a sigh of relief. Let us march forward towards our goal with honesty and integrity. Pakistan has many problems, including a tottering economy, unemployment, domestic terrorism, widespread corruption and institutional misunderstandings. As a Briton of Pakistani origin hailing from Karachi, I hope the would-be prime minister will pay special attention to Karachi’s problems, including the completion and expansion of the mass transit scheme, the traffic anarchy and sanitation.

An honest man like him, I am sure, will make a dent in these problems.

Dr Ahmed Ali Khan
London

(3)

IT was great to have an election on time and we are all ready to accept and congratulate the winning candidates. However, the ECP, with so many sources at its disposal, has played a really disappointing role. The election staff for candidates was fatigued and many lost contact with their colleagues and even families. What does the ECP have to say to them, especially to women who were stuck at the polling stations after midnight?

The ECP’s explanation for delays and their chief’s declaration that that no complaints were received regarding Form 45 are lies. We are unsure about the real reasons for this massive failure despite the mammoth expenditures of the ECP. The ECP should at least have the courage to apologise for all the mess they have created. The refusal to provide Form 45 is a clear violation of electoral laws.

Hassan Zaman Shah
Karachi

(4)

THE political parties, particularly PML-N and PPP, crying foul and blaming the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for irregularities in the election process must be asked why they did not reform the ECP when they were in power. Furthermore, the current Chief Election Commissioner was also appointed by them.

Mirza Ibrahim Baig
Karachi

(5)

THE general elections have proved that despite all the talk of “Naya Pakistan”, Sindh has chosen to stay with the PPP again. This election was a chance to choose a better party. Sindh has once again opted looters to govern, destroy and demolish. The people of Sindh have shown that they do not deserve change.

Dil Rukh Zehra
Hyderabad

(6)

PAKISTAN has spoken, loud and clear. Entrenched status quo, masquerading as democracy for three terms, has been finally defeated. A new dawn , a promising future awaits the nation

Zia Hashmi
Karachi

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2018