INTERPRETING ISLAM: The Karnataka High Court in India is petitioned to hand down its verdict on the controversy of hijab after determining whether it is ‘essential’ to Islamic faith or not. How can a bench mostly comprising non-Muslims and trained in common law get to decide the ‘essentials’ of Islam? How can the ‘content’ of Islam be determined by a body that is neither trained in Islam nor does it profess its allegiance to Islam? Is this an attempt on the part of Karnataka High Court — inadvertently egged on by Muslims themselves — to be taken as the ‘interpreter’ of Islam?

Rehan Khan
Islamabad

BRUTALITY: Television channels recently captured Karachi police beating peaceful political protesters rather mercilessly. The provincial chief minister simply remarked that if excesses were committed, he would take action. We must remember that during the French Revolution, the royals thought they were safe in their castles, but the anger of the people overwhelmed everything and swept away all things mortal.

Safir Siddiqui
Karachi

COMMEMORATIVE COIN: The government has extended an invitation to the United Kingdom’s Prince Charles and his wife to visit Pakistan in connection with the celebration of 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Since Pakistan and the UK are close friends and long-standing partners, the State Bank of Pakistan and the Pakistan Post should issue a commemorative coin and a stamp to mark this occasion.

Syed Ali Musa Zaidi
Rawalpindi

BASIC ETIQUETTES: I am a student of the University of Punjab residing in the hostels in Lahore. The environment at the hostels is just not right for someone keen on his studies. Most of the hostel residents don’t have the basic etiquettes related to one’s conduct at a place of learning. They talk loudly and don’t keep their mobile phones on the silent mode. University students are meant to be the role models for society in terms of discipline and etiquettes.

Zahid Ali Zohri
Nagar, GB

Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2022