THIS is in response to news items in the Dawn Multimedia section titled `Israel bombs Gaza strip again` [1] and news item titled `17 killed, over 100 injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza` (July 9).

While covering the clashes, international news agencies and news channels (including CNN and BBC) portrayed the entire scenario as if both sides, i.e. Hamas in Gaza andIsraelare retaliating againsteach others` actions, and that Israel`s bombing of Gazaisinresponse tothe rocketattacks launched by Hamas from Gaza.

On the contrary, there has been a hugely disproportionate use of force by Israel.

Homes, vehicles and other targets are being attacked using fighter jets and through the sea, whereas rockets fired by Hamas are mostly short ranged, lack accuracy and have not inflicted a single casualty during the clashes. These rockets mostly land in uninhabited areas and are quite rudimentary compared to the ordinance used by Israel.

Hamas is no match for the Israeli army`s might and its highhandedness against civilians. Gaza is known as the world`s largest open air prison with a transport, aid and fuel embargo permanently imposed upon the besieged strip.

Also, it is worth mentioning that Hamas is also the winner of elections in Gaza and thus a legitimate political force representing the people of Gaza -a fact conveniently overlooked by the international media by declaring them as militants and terrorists.

Nizar Diamond Ali Karachi Use of force PRIME Minister Nawaz Sharif has condemned the excessive use of force by the Israeli government on defenceless Palestinians. I wonder if he has any moral authority left to criticise the brutality of Israel after the Lahore Model Town incident in which 16 persons including women were killed and about 90 others injured by the point blank firing of the Punjab police.

Malik ul Quddoos Karachi Reducing govt tenure THIS has reference to the latest suggestion by Khursheed Shah, the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, regardingreducingthe tenure ofthe government from five years to four years.

I agree with this proposal. In fact, I had already voiced my opinion about this in aletter on Dec 7, 1996. I had even added that afterthree years ofgovernance there should be a reference held to determine whether the government in power should be allowed to complete its four years if it is found to be corrupt, incompetent and unsatisfactory.

If not, then it should step down and there should be a re-election to elect a new government for the next four new years.

Maj (r) Saeed-uz-ZamanJanjua Karachi New Sindh PA building THE new Sindh Assembly Building has been constructed at a cost of approximately five billion rupees. The justification given for the project was that the old building was not equipped with modern facilities.

I am surprised that this princely amount has been spent on a building that could have been better usedin the construction of hundreds of schools and hospitals.

It seems that these people have learnt nothing. If one looks at the parliament building in the UK, it is much older than the old Sindh Assembly building. This speaks volumes about our MNAs and MPAs whose public image is that of being corrupt, non-efficient and to say the least, useless people as far as the public are concerned.

On first thought this may seem to be undue criticism of democracy and the deliberate humiliation of parliamentarians, but one is forced to do so when our public representatives continue to make merry, wasting the exchequer`s meagre resources on unneeded projects and misusing public money.

Altaf AhmedNizamani Tando Jam Parliamentarians` trips OUR parliamentarians seem to have a greatcravingforforeign trips at taxpayers` expense. Hardly any month goes by when our public representatives with a delegation of law makers in tow do not go abroad.

At times like these when the government is appealing for donations in and outside the country to feed / lodge IDPs, spending money on parliamentarians` trips abroad is deplorable.

I strongly feel that the parliament and senate should surrendertheirbudgetary allocations for trips abroad as well as funds for their entertainment etc towards the IDPs fund.

Indeed, our law makers should visit IDP camps to acquaint themselves of the miseries and pain that the uprooted families are suffering.

Mohammad Samiullah LahoreArsalan Iftikhar CAN the media stop being distracted by Arsalan If tikhar`s allegations and instead ask Mr Arsalan on what basis he accepted the post in the Balochistan Investment Board. In a previous case involving Mr Iftikhar, he had stated that he does not have a job, and runs his own business.

How can a person, with no job experience and no international investment experience, be given an important post in the BIB? How did he qualify? Who recommended Mr Arsalan for this post? These are questions that demand detailed explanations.

Dr Saman Baseer Peshawar SPSC exams: languages THIS is apropos the letter `Sindh PCS exams` (July 5) by Waqar Umar Memon. The writer is demanding that, like CSS examinations, the Sindh Public Service Commission should also give candidates a choice to select Urdu or Sindhi because many candidates have grown up in urban areas and do not have grip on regional languages.

It seems that the writer has not gone through the syllabus properly. He is demanding something which is already there.

There is no compulsion to select only Sindhi.

One can even choose from the following languages: Sindhi, Urdu, Punjabi, Balochi and Pashto. He can opt for his essay and general paper from any of the above languages. There is no such freedom in any other provincial public service commission.

Sanaullah LarkanaEmbassies in F-6/3 THE Diplomatic Enclave in Islamabad is exclusively assigned to embassies and the area is designed to meet all their needs.

However, some embassies are still operating in residential areas especially F-6/3 causing inconvenience to other residents.

I have been living in this locality for almost three years. The inconvenience caused by the embassies` presence and the extra-security measures taken for them are a nuisance for immediate neighbours.

The Bangladeshi embassy is located on our street and almost a dozen security guards can been seen at all hours. After the hanging of Mr Abdul Kader Mullah, the street has been blocked on one end due to `security reasons` which has brought further inconvenience for residents.

This security paranoia seems to be increasing. The other day I was stopped and questioned by a policeman right outside my own house. Similarly, residents have to take a longer route to get to the main road as movement past the embassy is not allowed.

The residents appeal to the authorities to shift these embassies to the Diplomatic Enclave.

Junaid Saleh Hayat Islamabad Honour killing THIS is apropos three news reports `two killed for honour in Mansehra,``youth kills mother for honour` and `girl killed for sake of `honour` (July 7). There is no `honour`in honour killing.

I read the three reports with much sadness and fail to understand why our society has come to such a sorry pass. I shudder to thinl< what will happen to our country andits peopleifsuchincidents continue to occur.

I feel the ultimate responsibility for this situation is that of the government. The government must take action and hold itself responsible for all such crimes. The least it can do is issue directives to the provincial governments to take action and hold the concerned SHOs responsible where such crimes take place.

Sayed Sajjad Ali Shah Larkana `Suggestio falsi` ON June 27 at 1pm I was admitted to Aga Khan University Hospital for gastroenteritis when after three hours I learnt that a few TV channels broke unverified news about my ailment which I never had.

This news panicked, agonised and shocked my relatives, friends and, above all, my leader, Mr Altaf Hussain. Although thechannels discontinued this unverified news on contradiction, the damage had been done.Idohope that the channels thatbroke such suggestio falsi would be more careful and prudentinreportingverihedfacts.

Syed Sardar Ahmad MPA (PS-124) Karachi Laptops vs health THE government is distributing laptops among students. Almost all basic health units in Punjab have no computers despite having computer operators.

The government should provide these health facilities with computers so that institution can be strengthened. This will also help health department going online.

Adiffaved Mandi Bahauddin Unruly traffic IT is said that if you want to know a any nation`s mentality you should have a look at its traffic.

I wonder , what would someone say if they saw the traffic in most cities of Pakistan particularly during Ramazan. All one sees is rash driving, a lack of traffic discipline, overspeeding and overloading of public passenger vehicles and many such chaotic scenes.. This is the main cause of road accidents every day.

Naushaba Abid Islamabad Cheap luxury THIS refers to your report `Another Surcharge on Electricity Expected` (July 8) The poorofthecountryneednotfretat the impending increase in utility prices under IMF pressure. Because of the generosity of our people-friendly government, the poor of the country are going to save so much money on their next purchase of Mercedes, BMW or Land Cruiser due to huge reduction in duties/ taxes that the impending increases in electricity or gas bills (and potato prices) will be amply compensated.

Dr Ahmed Qidwai Islamabad 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