TAX AND RETAILERS: This is with reference to the article ‘Taxing times’ (Oct 27). I would like to add to the argument a little. Among those who do not fall in the tax net currently are the retailers who have always been successful in violating government decisions to bring then under the tax net. They use various tactics to push the government on the back foot and are always successful. One wonders why it is so easy to defy the government so blatantly.

Shakir Lakhani

Karachi

November 27, 2023

https://epaper.dawn.com/DetailNews.php?StoryText=27_11_2023_007_005

We've always known that most of our police constables and inspectors are corrupt and are often involved in robbery and similar crimes. It's because they've been appointed by politicians who have been paid to get them employed. But most police officers are usually not involved in crimes like dacoities (even though some of them do take their share of the money earned by their subordinates indulging in crimes).

So people were shocked when a police officer was found involved in robbing a trader in the Orangi township of Karachi. Umair Tariq Bajari is a DSP who raided the trader's house and looted more than twenty million rupees besides jewelry and other valuables. As expected, he was found involved in kidnapping for ransom and looting others in the past. I'm sure there are others like him indulging in similar crimes elsewhere in the country but the victims are too scared to report. As they say, "It's better to stay away from the police as much as possible".

When I was running the salt works, some expensive electrical items were stolen. My partner, who was dreadfully afraid of cops, begged me not to report the theft. But I had no choice, as the electric utility company would not replace the meter unless the police was informed. I went into the police station but my partner remained outside, convinced that I would return only after being soundly beaten. The Station House Officer was very polite, offered me a cup of tea, then escorted me to my car. My partner was amazed. This fear of the police is ingrained in the minds of most Pakistanis.

Khawar Maneka, the ex-husband of Bushra Bibi (Imran Khan's current wife) has suddenly appeared and cast aspersions against his wife. We already knew that she married Imran Khan despite having five children and being married for 28 years to Maneka. At that time, Maneka had praised both his ex-wife and her new husband, saying that they were both very pious and God-fearing. He even went to Saudi Arabia in the same plane with them (being so close to one's ex-wife is forbidden in Islam). But then, he's been a senior Customs officer, so you can't expect him to know much about Islam.

It's been known for a long time that Maneka has benefited enormously from Bushra's marriage to Imran. So one wonders why now, after almost four years, he's come out with these allegations about his wife. Perhaps he's been told that all cases against him will be withdrawn if he does so.

Now he says that she wanted a divorce so she could marry Imran Khan on the first of January (2018), otherwise Imran Khan wouldn't become the prime minister of the country, so she didn't observe the mandatory waiting period (iddat), which makes one wonder how she can pose as a Muslim spiritualist. It also proves that Imran Khan doesn't know anything about Islam and he should stop talking about making Pakistan another Madina. In the state of Madina, such a man would probably have been stoned to death (along with his wife).

What really amazes me is that Imran Khan, despite being an Oxford graduate, believes in all this mumbo jumbo of astrology, palmistry and what not. I can understand the average Pakistani falling for such stuff but at least Imran Khan shouldn't have been duped. But then, truth is stranger than fiction.

 

COAL POWER: This is with reference to the editorial ‘Dirty energy’ (Oct 15) which opposed the use of coal in power plants for electricity generation. Despite the fact that coal is ‘dirty’, it is used widely in India, China and the United States for the purpose. This is because of advanced coal-cleaning technology at their disposal. The harmful elements are removed before the coal is used. If used properly, local coal can be used to produce more than half of our electricity requirement.

Shakir Lakhani

Karachi

November 20, 2023

https://epaper.dawn.com/Advt.php?StoryImage=20_11_2023_007_009

 

This question has always perplexed me. We have seen, in recent years, George Bush waging wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, killing millions of Muslims, and not being punished for it. Before that, in the 1960s and 70s, the Americans bombed Vietnam to kill millions, but still no one has the guts to try them for war crimes. Nowadays, the Israelis are bent upon exterminating Palestinians and despite widespread protests in almost all countries, no one is able to stop them.

Of course, one reason is that the Americans are militarily the most powerful nation on earth. They give almost four billion dollars every year to Israel (which undoubtedly uses part of it to bribe US congressmen and senators). The Zionists are in fact so powerful that the US will now give more than fourteen billion dollars to Israel, despite not having enough to spend on health care for its own citizens.

There is something else which we ignore. It's what we do and they don't. For instance, they never prevent their women from voting in elections. They won't even think of forcing a biology teacher to say that evolution never happened or that women should not be allowed to venture out of their homes. They don't consider birth control as a heinous sin. Their governments do not encourage attacks on minorities. They implement their laws strictly. 

But of course our leaders will never do what they do. 

One of the defects in Pakistan's politics is that the prime minister is not popularly elected. He needs to persuade only 172 elected parliamentarians to vote for him. Even though his party may have won only thirty percent of the total votes cast, he can form the government. And to persuade them to vote for him, he promises them ministerial posts and other perks. The result is that there are too many ministers and advisors in his cabinet who enrich themselves instead of spending our tax money on health and education. The men who benefit are the "electables" who have a hell of a lot of money that they spend on getting elected by the gullible voters. They not only help in getting the prime minister elected, they can also blackmail him whenever they feel he's not helping them to get even richer than they already are.

Nawaz Sharif wants to get elected again (after being prime minister three times). I believe he should retire now, as he's crossed the age of 70 and has had heart problems in the past. In any case, he's not liked by those who wield power in the country. His younger brother is much better in administration and governance. He is a born diplomat, unlike Nawaz (who is not a good administrator and doesn't like opposition to his rule).

 

 

Support Palestine

It is indeed shameful that many Muslim countries are not doing enough to prevent Israel from slaughtering Palestinians. On the contrary, the Zionists and their supporters are all united behind Israel. The Zionists will not stop after expelling Palestinians.

The space between the two stripes on the Israeli flag represents all the land between the two rivers Euphrates and the Nile (Eretz Israel), which Zionists aspire to occupy. A strong response is needed to ensure that Israel doesn’t get away with genocide.

Shakir Lakhani

Karachi

November 13, 2023

https://e.thenews.com.pk/detail?id=254631

 

November 13, 2023

ISLAMOPHOBIA

ISLAMOPHOBIA: Despite violations of human rights in Palestine and occupied Kashmir, the West has preferred to remain silent. The reason it does not support Palestinians and Kashmiris is the fact that the vast majority of these two nations happen to be Muslims. There is no other explanation for the behaviour that the West has chosen to practise.

Shakir Lakhani

Karachi

https://epaper.dawn.com/DetailNews.php?StoryText=13_11_2023_007_003

 

DEMONETISATION: This is with reference to the report ‘Transitioning away from a cash economy’ (Oct 5) which suggested demonetisation of the Rs5,000 currency note in a phased manner. I agree with the proposal since it will to a large extent help the government control corruption. This will make life tough for anyone involved in any sort of corruption. The government needs to give the suggestion due consideration.

Shakir Lakhani

Karachi

November 10, 2023

https://epaper.dawn.com/Advt.php?StoryImage=10_11_2023_007_010