THE barbaric attack on a group of unarmed and peaceful citizens is shocking beyond belief. After repeated attacks, the same lines are repeated ad nauseum but no meaningful steps to provide security are visible.

While one can debate the accuracy of Seymour Hersh`s account, he is right on target when he points out that security services are only for government officials.

A visit to shopping malls will reveal mini-convoys with elaborate security even for the wives of these high and mighty. The other visible security is harassment of motorcyclists, and that`s it.

Who will protect us? Dr A. Ahmed Karachi (2) THE prime minister and the Chief of Army Staff offered their condolence to the Aga Khan over the recent killing of Ismaili Muslims. Better yet, the prime minister visited Sultan Ali Allana, an Ismaili leader, at Karachi to condole with him and also announced a day of mourning. What a swift and remarkable gesture of brotherhood, courtesy and responsibility indeed! I wish they had demonstrated the same spirit and similar treatment for other citizens of Pakistan Christians, Ahmadis, Bohris and Shias who have been experiencing the worst oppression of the time for years together in their own homeland.

Jon H. Rizvi New Jersey United States (3) T HE massacre at Safoora Chowrangi reminds us of the attack on a Bohra mosque on a Friday some time back, besides the murderous attack on a church in Peshawar last year. With each act of violence, the enemy grows stronger.

The problem is our selfishness our `P attitude instead of `our`. We must combat this menace by fighting the intolerance and hatred sown among us. Pakistan can solve its problems if each one of us strives not to succumb to intolerance and bigotry.

Aliza Anees Karachi (4) THE pain of hearing about such an incident is one that is common to most of us. What is more sickening than the crimes committedtoday is the level of intolerance that is getting increasingly normalised in our society.

The perpetrators of the Safoora crime claim to be doing this in the name of Islam, a religion that advocates peace, a religion that is derived from the very word `peace` Spilling the blood of innocents does not purify this country, it hollows it further.

There is no place for bigotry in a civilized society.

A country which claims to have come into being because of the persecution Muslims were experiencing as a minority in South Asia is now witnessing persecution itself. The ink has not yet fully dried on the pages of the partition, and here we are, painting our present with the blood of innocents.

No matter how frequent these incidents are, they should not be accepted as something that just happens. It does not just happen. It happens because we, as a people, have become intolerant.

The flag of this nation is green and white, the latter representing the minorities.

These are our colours, we cannot blot out one in favour of another. These are our colours, and it`s about time we started owning them.

Asma Imran Karachi