TANKER MAFIA: Almost every government-owned water supply scheme is dysfunctional in Quetta. This has left people at the mercy of the tanker mafia that exploits them by increasing the water tanker prices to make quick bucks. A water tanker, which usually costs Rs1,500, was sold to us at Rs2,500 during Eid. Ironically, neither the authorities issue official rates nor the tanker mafia bothers to follow any fixed rate. The government should repair its water supply schemes to ensure adequate supply, and should control the tanker mafia.

Zaheer Sardoo
Quetta

SOUL-SEARCHING: The previous government is gone, but the ousted party and its followers are finding it hard to digest the harsh reality. Instead of doing politics of hate and confrontation, the party will be better off analysing what went wrong where, and its own contribution to its downfall. The party should learn from its mistakes and should demonstrate patience and political maturity if it aspires to return to power.

Aamir Malik
Karachi

DEFENDING AN ACCUSED: It is interesting to observe how the ousted premier has been trying to defend the corruption charges against a particular friend of his wife. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has started investigations into cases of alleged corruption and disproportionate increase in the assets of the said person, and, for some reason, the former PM seems agitated by this development. As I said, I find it rather interesting.

Akbar Jan Marwat
Islamabad

POLARISATION AND MEDIA: The level of polarisation in the country has reached a level where it is causing rifts within families and among friends. The situation has a lot to do with what is being churned out on electronic media 24 hours a day and its edited clips that are circulated. All political talk shows and live coverage of press conferences need to be banned for the time being. This will result in a friendlier and civilised discourse in the country instantly.

Moin Mohajir
Karachi

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2022