Gilani’s faux pas
Watching Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani's interview with Becky Anderson of CNN was not only an awkward experience, but one that was downright painful too. When he was informed about the latest Gallup poll that suggests one-third of Pakistanis want to leave the country, to everyone's shock and dismay, he shamelessly responded: “Why don’t they just leave then!”. Then he added without a trace of remorse or guilt: “Who’s stopping them!” The interviewer was at a loss for words, and probably did not believe her ears, just like those of us who watched the interview.
I wonder if natural disasters, earthquake or flood caused more damage to Pakistan, or the humiliating words of this man who was "elected" by the people of Pakistan, to serve and run their country. Only after the sacrifices of thousands of people was Pakistan formed. The dreams and hopes of its citizens have brutally been crushed by the prime minister of a country that 180 million call home.
Farheen Farid
Texas, US
Street crimes
I would like to draw the attention of the authorities toward the increasing number of street crimes. I was attacked on May 11 in the parking lot of Panda superstore, Hai Al-Wazaarat area, Riyadh, at around 5:30 p.m. I was speaking to someone on the phone when a teenager riding a bicycle attacked me from behind, snatched my mobile phone (iPhone 4), injured my hand and ran away.
It is disappointing that there is no security or security cameras outside the store to provide protection to their customers, although the store has security persons inside its premises. The store should ensure security outside as well as within its premises. When the police was called, it took an hour for them to reach the place.
I would highly appreciate if some action is taken in this regard.
Abdul Raouf
Riyadh
Pakistan’s real enemy
After the brutal murder of Dr. Khalil Rasjed in Quetta, the Red Cross has announced the suspension of its aid projects in Pakistan and recalled foreign staff to the capital. The US House Armed Services Committee approved a bill that will prohibit the preferential procurement of goods and services from Pakistan until NATO supply lines to Afghanistan are reopened. The US Congress has proposed to reduce aid to Pakistan to just 10 percent of the available funds and stop all the reimbursements. Earlier, a house appropriations panel for foreign aid denied $800 million to Pakistan from a special fund for training and equipping its military in counterinsurgency tactics.
Pakistan’s defense minister warned that his country may face sanctions if the NATO supply lines are not opened. Earlier both the US and Afghanistan signed a strategic partnership agreement while keeping Pakistan and Taleban out of the equation. This agreement allows the US to maintain its military presence in Afghanistan for the next 10 years, which means Pakistan will no longer play a vital role in the stabilization of Afghanistan.
Shouldn't we all be grateful to the Pakistani Parliament for all this stalemate and isolation? The country’s Parliament deliberated for months on the issue of NATO supplies, and under the pressure of right-wing hard-liners, came up with preconditions that have made the whole country a hostage.
The Parliament asked for the drone attacks to be stopped but that too has not happened. Moreover, the US has already ignored Pakistan’s demand for civil nuclear technology for obvious reasons.
Can we come out of the dream that we are the masters of the region and that the US can neither retreat from Afghanistan nor shape up its future without our help?
Time is running out. Do we still need help to identify who our real enemies are that have taken the whole region hostage to enforce its extremist ideology?
Masood Khan
Jubail
Letters to the Editor: Gilani’s faux pas
