THIS is with reference to the article `Value of compassion` (May 9). It was uplifting, except that the writer had to choose Karen Armstrong to stress the soft image of Islam, forgetting the fact that every Sura of the Holy Quran opens with Bismillah Arrehman Nir-Rahim, where Divine attributes of Compassion and Mercy are mentioned as Islam`s core attribute.

The writer of the article failed to mention that our Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) was Rahmatul Alemeen, i.e. full of compassion for all, whether Muslim or not.

I fail to understand why we should quote foreign scholars to underline the aspect of Islam.

The Holy Prophet (PBUH) pardoned his tormentors when he entered Makkah triumphantly, one of whose inhabitants, Hinda, had chewed the liver of his beloved uncle Amir Hamza.

In South Asia, Islam was not spread by sword but by saints such as Data Hajvery, Nizamuddin Aulia and Moinuddin Chishti et al. Had Islam been spread by force, entire India would have been converted to Islam.

In modern days Al-Qaeda, Taliban and Boko Haram are violent reaction against those who have persecuted and tortured Muslim populations in the colonial era and in occupied Muslim territories like Palestine and Kashmir.

Abdul Saeed Khan Ghori Advocate on Record, Supreme Court Karachi (2) THE article `Value of compassion` certainly touches upon the core problem faced by the nation today. Karen Armstrong is a great believer in humanity, and that is why she devoted so much of her time to write a booklet, especially about Pakistan, a country considered a member of the `axis of evil` by the developed world.

During my recent visits to Germany, the people were so surprised to see a `normal` person from Pakistan, because the media has painted such a horrible picture of us.

The most insightful part of the British scholar`s Letter to Pakistani was her understanding of Islam, for she regards compassion as essential to Islam something we Pakistanis have lost sight of.

Her message to Pakistanis is to exercise restraint and refrain from `spiteful remarks, indulging in gossip, or pouring scorn on other people`s religious beliefs or cultural practices` besides doing one gooddeed a day. I wonder how many of us will follow this advice.

ZulfikarFareed Karachi CPP: some facts THIS is with reference to Nadeem F.

Paracha`s article `The rise and fall of the Communist Party of Pakistan` (April 13).

The writer tried to enrich the readers with the history of Pakistani communists, but failed to mention the rise of the CPP. I need to correct some more facts regarding the CPP and Pakistani communists. Like the Jamaat-i-Islami and All-India Muslim League, many political parties had to bear the fallout of the partition. The CPI also was divided in February 1948.

Sajjad Zaheer was the leader of West Pakistan Communist Party while East Pakistani communists remained in Calcutta till 1950. After the partition the CPP was also a small group with its tiny and scattered,supportbaseinLahore, Rawalpindi and Karachi.

Mr Paracha wrote: `The CPI was of the view that the newly-created country (Pakistan) was ripe for a communist revolution due to the fragile nature of the country`s politics and economics at the onset of the partition of India in 1947.

Reality though was much different.

Itis also afact thatno one,exceptSajjad Zaheer, went back to India. Another fact is that the DSF was not banned but merged with the All-Pakistan Student Organisation in the mid-1950s. The DSF was not a leading student outfit in the country. It had some influence in Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi only.

Another correction is regarding the Awami Jamhori Party, which was not formed in the Zia period as mentioned by the writer.

During the Zia era the NSF was also a small and scattered organisation.

Entryism, as referred in the article, is not just done by communists. In power politicsitis a usualtrend andhas a history.

Aamir Riaz E ditor, Awami Jumhori Forum Lahore Lawyer`s murder MR I.A. Rahman`s informative eulogy for the slain Advocate Rashid Rahman (May 13) is a graphic, moving portrayal of a person of rare courage and character.

Rashid Rahman exemplified the qualities of compassion and practical action that are sorely needed to counter the invidiousspread ofbigotry andhate.Itis reprehensible that the legal and judicial sectors in Multan and Punjab in particular are unwilling to challenge the misuse of the blasphemy law to accuse and kill indiscriminately.

The brave and consistent services of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan are a stark contrast to the abject failure of institutions charged with the duty of ensuring security and justice.

This writer had the privilege of voluntary service for some years with Mr Rashid Rahman when he devoted sincere and sustained attention for the reform of juvenile justice, through our shared membership of the Board of the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child, founded by Advocate Anis Jilani.

Rashid Rahman`s sacrifice must not go in vain.

His profound loss is a challenge, most of all, for the federal and provincial governments to take bold actions to find and prosecute the suspects and tofoster conditions to re-engineer the mind-set responsible for this, and similar tragedies.

Javed jabbar Karachi Parking mafia THIS is apropos parking charges being collected at various places in Karachi.

This system of parking does not appear to be transparent. First, some of the persons collecting the charges hand over parking tickets without any mention of the authority on whose behalf they are receiving the money.

Second, thereisnocontrolover unauthorised parking of vehicles in the rear of the ones parked in the front row, blocking not only reverse movement of rightfully parl(ed vehicles but also creating a bottleneck in the flow of traffic.

This unchecked way of the parking smacks of collusion between various government functionaries and the parking mafia. I have also come across reassurances at no parking zones by an unauthorised person that the carsgiven under their charge would not be taken away by the traffic police.

This is an open secret. All these malpractices need to be arrested with firm determination by the authorities concerned in the interest of the government revenue and flow of traffic.

A transparent system also needs to be developed under which car parkers may ensure that they are giving parking fees to an authorised person.

Hira Ahmed KarachiLoadshedding TERM loadshedding means that the difference in demand and supply of electricity had to be accommodated by shutting down in some areas.

Over the years, this term became a perpetual feature and the so-called outages became almost a routine. Now this term is a most commonly used phrase by literates and illiterates. Politicians use this term as their electioneering slogan.

The IPPs and then RPPs terms were introduced to the common man`s vocabulary. Loadshedding has now become something as commonly used a term as bread or milk for children. Let me make clear some misunderstanding: 500 MW shortage is equal to one-hour outage. With 12 hours outages in cities and 18 hours in rural area, it is tantamount to about 7,00 to 8,000 MW shortage or difference between supply and demand (whereas the government always says that shortfall is only 2,000 to 2,500 MWs). This is preposterous.

The IPPs are not producing because of non-payment, called circular debt running into over Rs500bn.

Twenty-five per cent of electricity produced and distributed is stolen through illegal means in connivance with Lesco, Mesco, Hesco and all such distribution companies. The billing and collection system is marred with corruption. Then there are this `royal class` of billions of rupees defaulters since the time of Shaukat Aziz.

All these put together means that electricity distribution is the most lucrative way of hoodwinking 190m (save `royal class`) of poor and deprived people who are now being burdened to make up for the losses to keep the ball rolling through strange and unique ways of f allacious meter reading, faulty meters, surcharge, levies and dues.

In short, French Philospher Voltaire`s statement holds absolutely true: `Nine-tenth of France is dying of hunger and the remaining tenth of indigestion` Amjad Habib Mirza Lahore Nigerian schoolgirls THIS refers to the report, `Nigerian extremists threaten to sell kidnapped girls` (May 6) and the column `A Nigerian nightmare` by Mahir Ali (May 7).

It is both outrageous and spine-chilling the way Boko Haram leader Abubalcar has claimed that the 300 or so mainly Muslim schoolgirls kidnapped in Nigeria`s state of Borno are slaves whom his group will sell in the market or retain themselves. He tried to justify this by saying, `Women are slaves. I want to assure my Muslim brothers thatAllah says slaves are permitted in Islam. .

I don`t know whether he considers those poor victims to be slaves because they were attendingschools providingeducationhe considers haram (unlawful) or that all women are merely slaves? If the first reason is true, he must realize that these students areagedaround12to15years and,assuch, cannot be punished for following their parents` will to study in those schools.

One would also like to point out the following: 1) If all women are slaves, how would he like if somebody kidnapped his female family members and sold them? 2) In his well-known book, `Islam in Focus`, Hammudah Abdalati has nicely explained in the section titled, `The Status of Woman in Islam,` that rather than being considered slaves, a woman is recognised as a full and equal partner of man; that she is equal to man in the pursuit of education and knowledge and is entitled to freedom of expression as much as a man is.

3) He further says: `Time and again, the Holy Quran reproaches those who used to believe woman to be inferior to man (16:57-59, 62; 42:47-50; 43:15-19; 53:21-23).

In view of all this, it is suggested that the Nigerian government should urgently acquire the fatwa on this issue of respected Muslim scholars, such as the Imam of Kaaba and those from Cairo`s Al-Azhar University to widely disseminate through the electronic and print media to expose the fraud of Boko Haram.

S. Qadri Karachi An extinct commodity? THE last book of telephone directory was issued by the former management T & T Department about two decades back and, thereafter, the concept of a telephone directory appears to have been erased following the privatisation and takeover of this department by the PTCL.

May I ask the PTCL if it has done away with this facility for its subscribers. Over and above, it used to generate a hefty revenue for the ex-owners from the advertisements that used to occupy space on almost every page.

A.RaufSozer Karachi Letters should not exceed 350 words, and may be edited for the purpose of clarity and space. Letters should carry the writer`s address, CNIC and phone numbers.-Editor