THIS is apropos of the letter, “President visits flood-hit areas” (Sept 15). The writer’s assumptions are far from reality and he draws wrong conclusions from the photograph.

It is quite evident from the photo that there was no VIP security protocol at all for the president, which is given to all high officials of the state. VIP security protocol consists of four circles of security commandos protecting a high profile person of the state. Does the photo show this? Definitely not.

Moreover, the President’s visit to Shaheed Benazirabad was not for making an impression or a photo session. It was to visit the flood-affected areas to help the victims. In fact he waded through knee-deep water.

Despite the security officials’ warnings that the enemies of Pakistan could attack him, he set aside all threats because he was out to visit different bazaars and streets without any VIP security protocol to comfort the affected people.

The President’s Shaheed Benazirabad visit highlighted the severity of the recent flood in the international media, and the international community, the UN and countries like US and China announced aid for the flood victims.

The writer argues that the President did all this to annul the impression of his absence from the country during the devastating floods last year. The writer should have gone through facts and figures before making such a comment.

Last year the President not only visited the city of Sukkur on the banks of the Indus river in the southern province of Sindh, he also travelled along the one-mile long Sukkur barrage, surveyed the churning Indus waters, met flood victims and visited all flood-ravaged areas of Sindh.

The President also visited the flood affected areas of southern Punjab and K.P along with US Senator John Kerry. The writer’s emphasis that “he (President) must have shaken hands with the ghosts of the inhabitants of that area as no one could be seen around him except his security people” is uncalled for.

DR. SAIF UR REHMAN Islamabad