THIS refers to the letter ‘Maryam’s campaign’ (Sept 19) by Rafique Zakaria. The writer’s concern is justifiable. The Supreme Court has been overly soft on the Sharifs from day one. There existed a plethora of proven charges against Mr Sharif, including submission of forged documents, which carries an imprisonment for up to seven years. But the Supreme Court judges in their wisdom in the final verdict dropped the more serious charges and indicted him solely on the basis of the salary mentioned in the Iqama.

Despite the appointment of a monitoring judge from the Supreme Court, the Sharifs have refused to appear before the National Accountability Bureau against the summons issued thrice. The reference was filed by the NAB in the accountability court on the last day of the timeline set by the Supreme Court. The appeal in the Hudaibiya Paper Mills case against the Lahore High Court decision has not yet been filed. The NAB chairman declined to put the names of Sharif family members on the ECL, nor did he order freezing of their bank accounts and properties as required under the NAB law for an absconder.

It is rightly said that there are two sets of laws in Pakistan — one for the powerful and influential and the other for the ordinary mortals. There is open defiance of the constitution and the law while certain independent institutions are being maligned but the state is unwilling to act. Is this not a banana republic?

Erum A. Baig
Karachi

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RECENTLY Maryam Nawaz brought a young lion loaded on to a vehicle in an election rally (Aug 31). The Lahore High Court has banned exhibition of animals at public meetings.

The PML-N workers during a 2013 election rally had also brought a Bengal tiger, which suffered exhaustion and dehydration. Now once again the same treatment is being meted out to a poor animal, violating court orders.

In the US, the two main political parties — the Republicans and the Democrats — have elephant and donkey as their election symbols. But they never bring these animals at their election rallies.

In all civilised countries there are rehabilitation centres for dogs, cats and other animals where they are taken care of and many citizens adopt them. Exactly the opposite is happening in our country.

In Pakistan, an animal is kept hungry and thirsty for hours in a crowd, just to attract people without considering the misery of the poor creature.

On the other hand, the law enforcement departments remain silent on this maltreatment to animals.

All animal-loving and law-abiding citizens should demand of the government to instruct the department concerned to ensure that the law is followed by all irrespective of their status or political affiliations.

Aamir Aqil
Lahore

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2017