I HAVE been reading Dawn for the last 40 years. The reason for sticking to Dawn was your sensible policy.

Lately, I have been disappointed because of your views on sensitive issues such as capital punishment, Valentine’s Day and Basant.

There cannot be two opinions that capital punishment is an Islamic punishment. Dawn should not become an advocate of Western society.

The reason Western society opposes the death penalty is an admission that their system is flawed which endangers conviction of an innocent. However, does it mean that every man has the power to kill others but the state has none? You call this justice? Ask the people whose loved ones have been killed.

Two decades ago, there was no Valentine’s Day and no New Year celebrations. Now our business community buys stuff from Far Eastern countries and creates a market here. It has to sell those products, whether or not they conform to our values.

As for Basant, don’t we have other sources of entertainment for our people? What about sports, horse riding, swimming, boating, camping as entertainment?What about our beaches and mountains? Can’t these be developed for entertainment?

Rubina Jan

Karachi

Published in Dawn, February 25th, 2018