This refers to the news report, "NATO airstrike kills six children in Afghanistan," (May 28). This is very devastating. How long the killings of innocent civilians in Afghanistan and Pakistan will go on. I am also surprised to see the indifference of Pakistani and Afghan governments toward their citizens. Their people are being killed by drone attacks and other means, but they don't have guts to do anything to stop the massacre.
My question is: Will America tolerate if Pakistani or Afghan forces go to the US and kill Americans there? I am sure, they will certainly not.
The US and NATO are killing innocent people in raids and drone airstrikes on the pretext of fighting "war on terror." Under the pretext of eliminating "weapons of mass destruction", the US and its allies attacked Iraq that later proved to be a fabricated story as no weapon of mass destruction was found there. The revolution in Libya is also said to be result of foreign intervention. My point is if America is so much concerned about human rights, why doesn't it help the Palestinian people against the brutalities of Israel that has occupied the Palestinian land.
Everyday Palestinians are killed, their homes and properties confiscated, but America doesn't seem to be moved by the plight of the Palestinian people. This is sheer double standard.
I do not say all Muslims are good. Certainly there are Muslims whose acts and deeds have brought bad name to their religion. But, to attribute all acts of terrorism to Muslims is totally wrong. (Anees Lokhande, Alkhobar)
Process Pakistani passports in EP
The news of the extension of the validity of the Pakistani manual passports until 2015 has pleased the Pakistani community in the Kingdom. Ambassador Naeem Khan and Sen. Sahar Kamran deserve special appreciation for their painstaking efforts to orchestrate this extension. Nevertheless, the community in the Eastern Province earnestly requests these dignitaries to initiate the processing of machine readable passports (MRP) in Alkhobar as well. Currently, we need to travel to Riyadh for obtaining the passports, which is quite cumbersome, especially for families. Furthermore, it requires us to take a day or two off from work, which is not easy in the Saudi work system. Since officials from the Pakistan Embassy are visiting Alkhobar fortnightly, the team can take the necessary data of applicants in a USB for the processing of the MRPs. In this age of Internet and IT exposure, it is a workable and manageable solution. We look forward to a positive and favorable response from the embassy in this regard.
(Hafeezur Rahman, Jubail)
Graft case against CJ’s son
At least sense has now prevailed as Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has decided to separate himself from the three- member bench hearing the suo motu notice over allegations that Arsalan Iftikhar, son of the chief justice, received millions of rupees from a real estate business tycoon. The reason cited for his decision not to sit on the bench hearing his son’s case was to avoid any conflict of interest and make the hearing fair and transparent. Earlier another bench of the Supreme Court insisted that it can hear and decide on a contempt of court case and by this the possibility of “influencing the judgment” was ignored very conveniently. In that case prime minister was tried and punished despite his lawyer’s protest that the bench should not violate the common sense that a judge shall not hear a contempt case involving him.
It’s being alleged that Bahria Town owners spent millions of rupees on Arsalan and his immediate family members’ foreign visits in a bid to garner favors from the chief justice who has been hearing corruption cases against Bahria Town. It may be true that chief justice may not be influenced, but the question is: How come the chief justice didn’t notice that his wife, son and son’s family are spending their holidays in most expensive European capitals. Arsalan has been a government officer, doing some business during the last few years. Millions of people like him are doing the same sort of business in Pakistan, but how many of them can afford to spend summer holidays in five-star hotels in Europe! Apparently it is a case of double corruption where bribes were received but job not done as promised. Let’s hope the law takes its course. (Masood Khan, Jubail)
Letters to the Editor: US double standard
