POLIO CAMPAIGNS: Polio eradication campaigns have for long been facing security risks in Balochistan. Late last month, a police officer escorting polio vaccinators was killed in one Pishin incident, followed by the killing of another security personnel in Chaman. The government must provide adequate security to the polio teams. Thorough search operations should be conducted in the targeted area before the polio vaccination process begins.

Farhan Rauf
Turbat

UNANSWERED QUESTION: The recent press conference by two senior army officers was good in the sense that it reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to stay apolitical. The fact is that there is no political role assigned in the Constitution to any military institution, and it is good to know that the army is not intervening. However, the officers stressed that the army had not been intervening in political matters since March 2021. It sounded like an admission that prior to that date, it did. If so, who will take notice of such an issue?

Asad Ali
Matiari

COLLATERAL DAMAGE: The death of journalist Sadaf Naeem, who died while covering the ‘long march’ by the opposition, would be taken as nothing but ‘collateral damage’ in a fight between two forces. The journalist lost her life in the line of duty and deserves due acknowledgement. We must remember that it is the responsibility of the organisers of any political rally or procession as well as of the state to ensure the safety of its citizens.

Mariam Khan
Lahore

MORAL DEGRADATION: The recent case of theft at the tomb of Capt Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed paints a gloomy picture of society. The army officer had fought gallantly during the Kargil war and later received Nishan-i-Haider, the highest military award for bravery. The theft at the grave of a brave soldier has left me and many others saddened and depressed. Incidents of such nature reflect our moral degradation.

Mujeeb Ali Samo
Larkana

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2022