THIS is apropos the non-fiction review ‘King and kingmakers’ (May 23) of former Punjab governor Shahid Hamid’s interesting memoir Treasured Memories.

The reviewer has rightly mentioned that sycophancy is rampant in Pakistani high society, and has quoted Shahid Hamid as having related an episode in which during a flight, he overheard a senior official say to Nawaz Sharif: “Prime Minister, when you are in the 22nd year of your term ...”

It is true that such outlandish, servile and flattering attitude of some toadies has mainly contributed to the bloated egos of some of our leaders because it degrades the virtue of self-discipline and the notion of good governance.

Anyone vying for an elected position in public service should know that the holding of office is a privilege of limited time span as per the dictates of law.

Abbas R. Siddiqi

Lahore

PLANTING TREES: My hometown is Johi, and the word means ‘a group of trees’. The place was given the name because back in the 18th and 19th centuries, there used to be trees and plantations across the land. Unfortunately, the number of trees has gone down now, and the place is more arid than green. The authorities must conduct plantation drives, while the people should take responsibility as well.

Wajahat Soomro

Johi

DAHARKI ENCROACHMENT: The streets of Daharki, a city in Sindh’s Ghotki district, have been encroached upon by shopkeepers, leaving little space for the pedestrians. The locals have registered several requests for an anti-encroachment drive in the city, but nothing has happened for the better. Apparently, the encroachers have the backing of the administration. The higher authorities should intervene to remove the encroachments.

Abdul Basit Soomro

Daharki

NO AMERICAN BASES: The categorical statement of ‘absolutely not’ by Prime Minister Imran Khan regarding the use of Pakistani bases for operations in Afghanistan demonstrates clarity on the issue. The interviewer’s confirming question – ‘Seriously?’ – also shows that the answer was unexpectedly clear. However, it needs to be seen to what extent this clarity is maintained and practised. After all, sustaining international pressure, and that too from a superpower, is not everyone’s cup of tea.

Kamran Akhtar Siddiqui

Sukkur

FOOTPATH NO MORE: Adjacent to the Sindhi Jamait Cooperative Housing Society on the main National Highway, a portion of footpath has been encroached upon by vendors. The footpath holds great importance for pedestrians due to the heavy traffic on the highway. Also, the alternative route is generally in bad condition and is unusable. The relevant authority should remove the shops from the footpath and repair the pavements for the safety of the pedestrians.

Mohammad Khan Sial

Karachi

Published in Dawn, June 27th, 2021