I would like to draw attention towards a shameful incident that happened on Oct 8 when a student of Karachi University flung his shoe at an honourable speaker, Clifford D. May, during his lecture.

Mr May is a former journalist of The New York Times and was speaking at the Department of International Relations (IR) on the topic 'Pakistan's Role in Countering the Challenge of Terrorism' when a student of the department, Mohammad Hussain, flung his shoe at him.

He is a first year BS student and supposed to be one of the best students of his class. No one could ever think that he would do something as foolish as that. Somebody should reprimand the boy that he was not the Iraqi journalist and that Mr May was not former US president Bush. How could he forget that the books he is studying are mostly written and published by American authors? If the boy did not agree with Mr May's views, he could have put forward his point of view and could have argued on it. However, throwing a shoe is no way of expressing one's dismay.

I am sorry to say his act has demolished the image of Pakistani students across the world. I condemn his rude behaviour.

PARAS SHAKIR
Karachi

(II)

LAST year an Iraqi journalist, Muntahir Al Zaidi, flung his shoes at George W. Bush and was put in jail, but luckily did not have to stay there for long. After this a series of similar incidents occurred. One was reported in India where Mr Advani was the target.

On Oct 8 a seminar on “Pakistan's Role in Countering the Challenge of Terrorism” was taking place in the Department of International Relations at Karachi University where a former journalist of The New York Times, Clifford D. May, was speaking as a guest.

He expressed his thoughts about Pakistan and was cynical of his views regarding Islam. A first year student of BS, Mohammad Hussain, flung his shoe at Mr May; however, it missed him.

Being a student of International Relations at Karachi University myself, I believe we need to exercise tolerance in our ranks. No doubt, there is a lot of anxiety in our society as Muslims are being discriminated almost everywhere. But we need to express our dissent and displeasure in a much more acceptable way.

For fighting against extremists elements we should reform ourselves first.

I know our society is anti - American, but anger and violence are certainly no way to react.

WAJEEHA NASEEM
Karachi