EGYPT has woken up from decades of dogmatic slumber and shattered the myth of invincibility of the modern Pharaohs. This is a great moment of rejoicing for all freedom-loving people around the world.

Freedom of one man or one country is freedom of all men and all countries of the globe. A strong message of support from civil society of Pakistan should go to the Freedom Square of Cairo where anti-Mubarak demonstrators who against heavy odds are defying the powerful regime.

We have a unique chance to secure high moral ground by speaking in favour of the freedom-fighters of Egypt.

We need to heed the call of history which is being voiced and written by the sons and daughters of a brotherly Muslim country which has proved that there is no conflict between democracy and Islam.

We must honour the Egyptian martyrs and their long-lasting contribution to liberty, equality and fraternity of man who is born free but is everywhere in chains.

B. A. MALIK Islamabad

Dramatic change

EGYPT has been a coherent political entity with a recorded history leading one of the first civilisations to develop irrigated agriculture, literacy, urban life and large-scale political structures.

Here ruled great kings and dictators like pharaohs of all times. It has always been the leader of the Arab world. Consequently, what happens in Egypt will definitely affect the Arab world.

In recent days the world witnessed a dramatic political change in the region. Since the early 1980s, Hosni Mubarak has been ruling the entire country but here his government seems to have braked to a halt.

The major source of trouble to Hosni Mubarak’s regime is the increasing desire of the Egyptians to discover the true political colours of the remaining politicians. The reasons why the 82-year-old ruler is no more wanted are quite evident. Hosni Mubarak was always offensive, attacking opposition parties for their destructive criticism on his government’s economic and political policies.

In his 30-year-long governance he practised opposition crackdowns and human rights abuses. On the other hand, he seemed to be ignoring the opposition and placing them in closer control of his government.

His dictatorial nature destroyed alternative political structures in the country. From the day first, his government relied on foreign exchange earnings from tourism (finally rebounding from shock waves), remittances from Egyptians working abroad, Suez Canal revenue and growing oil exports.

After suffering years of brutal repression, Egyptians would like to see the back of this dictatorial regime.

Despite being successively elected for five terms, Mubarak couldn’t ensure the provision of even basic amenities of life to the largest part of society.

About the Egyptian political change, human rights groups have rated the Middle East the most repressed region on the planet. The very change will either lead the region to solid democracy or will generate chaos, extremism and regional instability.

Hosni Mubarak must step down for the larger interest of the country’s security and stability. The leading opposition party, Muslim Brotherhood, demands a peaceful transfer of power.

They not only demand the departure of Mubarak but also an end to police brutality and corruption that became systematic under his rule in the country.

Liberation Square in the capital of Egypt witnesses impressive protests from people who are fed up with years of repression, corruption and economic hardships.

NIZAM AMIN DORRAZAI New York