Interesting columns
I and a large number of my friends enjoy reading Farouk Luqman’s columns in Arab News. His writings reflect his deep knowledge of the affairs of different countries, especially Asian nations, where the writer has widely traveled, met people and interviewed prominent leaders including the heads of state. He always goes down memory lane, digs out precise information and share them with the readers.
His columns, especially on the prominent Indian writer Kushwant Singh, former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos and former Pakistani President Muhammed Zia-ul-Haq gave substantial information about these leaders.
His article on former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi with special reference to the assassination of Indira Gandhi was full of information based on his personal encounters with them.
I am sure his powerful writings are well received by a huge audience of different profiles in Saudi Arabia. — Ghazanfar Ali Khan, Riyadh
Polio vaccine ban
According to media reports, thousands of Pakistani children are at risk of polio disease. Militant organizations have banned polio vaccination campaigns in their areas. According to health officials, 160,000 children in North Waziristan and 80,000 children in South Waziristan are at risk of polio disease because the government in not able to organize a vaccination campaign due to security concerns. The vaccination campaign in the tribal areas is the worst-affected after last year's fake vaccination campaign organized by the CIA to hunt down Osama Bin Laden in Abbotabad. The Pakistani doctor who organized the fake vaccination campaign has been sentenced to 33 years. After the Abbotabad operation, several foreign medical teams have left the tribal areas because of security concerns. Local health official also received threats from militants. Militants have already banned health workers from entering South and North Waziristan for immunization campaigns. According to health officials, due to the ban imposed by militants a record number of polio cases have been reported this year. Due to last year's floods and army operations, thousands of families have migrated to temporary shelters and do not have proper medical and sanitation facilities. The government is not able to reach thousands of children due to security reasons, which is very unfortunate. — Khawaja Umer Farooq, Jeddah
Ramadan cease-fire in Syria
This refers to the article "Syria and fatal mistakes." Obviously, the Arab Spring is a result of military dictatorships, which in absence of good governance descended into family cults, or sectarian repressions in Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen, Libya, Somalia, and on and off in Pakistan. Late President Hafez Assad was a ruthless dictator and one time within 48 years reportedly killed 36,000 people in Hama. If at that time the world would have unanimously condemned this, we would have seen a different Syria today — united under nationalism, universal value system, and not one minority cult ruling the vast majority. There was a total failure of both content and context in the media, which even now is used to hide the most hideous crimes.
However, we hope the Arab League together with the OIC is able to bring about a cease-fire at least during this holy month of Ramadan, and have all warring factions to stop any violent activity. It is time to bring about sanity. Bashar Assad's government and others fighting for their rights must realize that a protracted civil war will leave Syria in ruins and there won't be anything left to govern. The month of Ramadan is a special month of worship, forgiveness, mercy, and good deeds, which include refraining from harming any fellow human being, let alone fellow comrades-in-faith.
Somehow all parties to the conflict have to be convinced to come around the negotiating table. There is no substitute to a comprehensive peaceful settlement. After all these atrocities, massacres and senseless killings and destruction, there are no winners or losers. It is most likely that after this long protracted civil war, the ruling clique will prevail, but with which moral authority! The country will be so impoverished that the civil war will mutate into fanatical senseless violence, as we are witnessing in Somalia. — Seif A. Somalya, Jeddah
Benefits of volunteering
I was happy to read the article “Volunteers donate blood for pilgrims.” We always see bad things in this world and it's difficult to see good things like this. It's a good idea to be one of these volunteers because Ramadan is coming soon. By volunteering, we demonstrate how important the pilgrimage is for us Muslims.
We should educate people about volunteerism not only during Ramadan, but also all through out the year. We should remind people about the benefits they receive when they volunteer. They will feel good about themselves, increase their knowledge, meet new people, get experience, and improve their physical and mental health. There are so many people who need help in so many different ways. We can all find a way to volunteer. Volunteering can also change the perception of our country among the foreign people. Finally, remember that good things don't go away with the wind. Their effects stay in our hearts forever. — Nuwaiser Murtada, By e-mail
