An extension for the army chief

This is with reference to Ayesha Siddiqa’s article of July 25 titled “Command and control of war”. No one dares to write so openly about the extension of the tenure of army chief and the reasons for this important decision than the said writer.

The extension was given mainly due to political reasons as stakes of political parties, the military as well as the international community are involved. I agree with Ms Siddiqa that the war on terror is a long drawn out process and a single person’s presence – or absence – will not really affect its timeframe. How can it be that the military depends on only one individual to carry forward its agenda of fighting the Taliban?

That the PPP-led government approved the extension and that most other political parties have welcomed it just goes to prove that democracy is bowing down to the military. Clearly, America must have had considerable say in the matter because it has been widely reported in the media that Washington’s top military brass get on very well with our army chief.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 27th, 2010.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/31310/an-extension-for-the-army-chief-v/

Lift the film ban

This is with regard to your coverage of the banning of the film Tere Bin Laden by the Central Board of Film Censors. The people of this country, especially the younger generation, need to have some fun and entertainment. They should have parks and playgrounds but in most instances these have been encroached upon or neglected by the government.

Also, what do we get to see and read about every day? That our elected representatives have bought fake degrees to win elections and that dozens of our countrymen and women die every day in suicide bombings. Don’t we deserve to see some good films? It’s a tragedy that the government has banned a film simply because it is scared of either America or the Taliban and al Qaeda. The ban should be lifted and the government should provide security to theatres which screen it.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 20th, 2010

http://tribune.com.pk/story/28886/lift-the-film-ban/