THE Punjab chief minister has learnt his lesson. He made a promise to sacrifice anything to reach the truth about the Model Town affair. And as a first instalment he has sacrificed his law minister and principal secretary. Whether they are guilty or not is not his concern. He has a dozen more to save his skin.

But the PAT chief does not appear to be satisfied with this `sacrifice`; he wants the removal of the chief minister along with his elder brother. Whether this demand is justified or not is not the PAT chief`s concern.

Mir Tabassum Mairaj Islamabad (2) IN civilised countries, modern techniques lil
To control the demonstrators, the police resorted to indiscriminate firing by live bullets, killing eight people and injuring about 85. What was their crime? They merely wanted to prevent the police from knocking down the barricade erected outside the Minhajul Quran headquarters by a powerful bulldozer.

The question is: are there no barricades around the `Raiwand Palace`. It is ironic that during the mayhem, the male police officials were manhandling women folk in a disgraceful manner.

It is needless to say that the ghastly drama was enacted at the behest and approval of Khadim-i-Ala, the mighty Shahbaz Sharif. If he feels his conscience is still alive, he should own his misadventure and resign forthwith.

If he does not respond to the voice of his conscience and sanity, the prime minister should brush aside the consideration thathe is his younger brother and sack him.

Safir A. Siddiqui Karachi MNA`s murder THE murder of MQM MNA Tahira Asif must be condemned as must the murder of everyPakistanikilledin any partofthe country. It is the lack of punishment and failure of the state to curb heinous crimes such as murder, rape, and paedophile crimes, which has led to a where criminals are tolerated and spared instead of being severely punished.

There should be no doubt that ultimate responsibility for securing citizens`livesand property irrespective of their caste, creed or status where innocent blood has been shed lies squarely on the respective provincial government shoulders.

While the Sindh Assembly has passed a unanimous resolution condemning MNA Tahira Asif`s murder, it has chosen to ignore the murders of scores of policemen and innocent citizens within its territorial jurisdiction, as if they were children of lesser gods.

Murder must be considered a crime, irrespective of who fires the bullet or stones to death a woman, or killed by the dogs of feudal, or so called honor killings and declaration of Vani by Panchayat, or revenge killings by goons of political parties. We need zero tolerance for crimes committed against the state.

Malik Tariq Lahore Islamabad shrine blast MY heart goes out to the victims of the blast in Islamabad.

Killing innocent people and escaping from the scene seems to have become a daily routine for terrorists. Those committing such brutalities are nothing more than animals. Those targeting the public should receive capital punishment publicly. I express total trust in the government and our law enforcement agencies to bring those responsible to justice.

Shahzad Ali Channa Hyderabad Missing trade unions ZEENAT Hisam of PILER in her article (Dawn, June 16) highlighted the fading trade unionism in Pakistan and her research manifests deep knowledge of the issue. I endorse some of her sentiments. She motivates the `dying breed` to learn from the global initiatives undertaken to resuscitate it.

Interestingly, these global programmes have members and linkages in Pakistan but there is no display of a trickle-down effect.

As an employer, I admit to a mea culpa.

There is justification for what Ms Hisam enumerates in her mild charge-sheet against employers.

Except for enlightened employers who accept and encourage healthy union activities, a deep-rooted dislike to demands of workers often discourages employers from allowing workers their basic labour rights. There has been a paradigm shift in the trade union influence over the past two decades. Permanent workforce has made way for contract workers.

There are some cogent reasons for this downslide. Mainly, the focus of many labour federations is away from unionisation of the private sector and more on having strongcontrol in public sector organisations because of the real potential of political patronage, power and privileges.

Another factor that diverts labour leaders` attention is they are often on foreign-sponsored junkets where they use all means to source funding for their projects. It is alleged that at times their sponsorship proposals highlight negative aspects ofthelaboursituationinPakistan, which is often detrimental to the image of the motherland.

There are some labour leaders well-versed in labour laws, lobbying for amendments in labour related legislation, and have a respectable command of the working environment. Scant attention is paid towards motivating workers to enhance productivity, maintain hygiene at work places, ensure education and health for workers and their families.

The power of trade unions has diminished primarily because of the labour leaders themselves and less due to employers asserting their influence or the government turning a blind eye. The salvation for labour lies in per force implementation of 27 conventions, including labour related, if Pakistan is to continue getting EU GSP plus status. What the labour leaders failed to achieve, the European Union will ensure that these are assured, understood and implemented.

Majyd Aziz Karachi IDPs & media THE media is considered the fourth pillar of the state, but sometimes it plays a negative role. The media is now using the word `flee` for IDPs, who are shifting from awar zone to peaceful safe places.

It is offensive to use the word `flee` which is derogatory for people suffering the worst time of their lives.

This is rubbing salt into their wounds, because they are not fleeing but shifting from a war zone to a safe place.

Riaz Khan Daavi Mardan (2) AS the exodus of people from North Waziristan continues, the challenges the government faces regarding this issue also continue to grow. There must be strong coordination between the provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the centre. Also, the local people must be taken into confidence to accommodate the tribal people.

The arrangements made for IDPs during the last operation in 2006 were far from satisfactory. Had the locals not managed the accommodation and food needs, the government arrangements could never have persuaded any of the IDPs to come to the camps. As the majority of the IDPs are coming to Bannu and Lakki Marwat, therefore both the provincial and federal governments should concentrate mainly on these districts. Also, the local people must be encouraged, who are already assisting the whole process of relief voluntarily. As many IDPs prefer to seek asylum in villages and with their relatives, that is why a proper registration mechanism is needed.

Above all, the self-respect of these honourable people should be kept in mind.

E ngineer Intizar Khan Via email Moderation a virtue THIS is apropos of `The middle path` by Amin Villani (Dawn 19 June). This is a quality piece written at the right time. Islam teaches us moderation in all aspects of life.

Pakistani society is being transformed into an extremist one. It is a major factor in our society`s descent into anarchy with injustice, nepotism, favouritism and corruption becoming the norm.

On the materialistic side contradictory to Islamic teachings we wish to accumulate as much wealth as possible by all means and show off the same, looking at the less privileged with revulsion as if we are superior; Islam on the other hand lays emphasis on equality except on the grounds of piety and piousness.

On the spiritual front, the situation is worse as tolerance of dissent is fast disappearing. The nation is giving free rein to self-proclaimed custodians of religion to implement their interpretation of Islam no way near its actual teachings.

It is time the nation began to exercise moderation to become a prosperous,modern state.

How this negative message overshadows Pakistan`s efforts and contribution to the world is quite evident from just one story -`Pakistan world`s largest host of refugees: UNHCR` filed by Mateen Haider in Dawn, which quotes the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. It states that by hosting a huge number of Afghan refugees, Pakistan should be given credit at the world forum when Palcistan`s `problems` are discussed. This fact and other contributions such as sending peace keepers worldwide shows that this nation has a lot of positives to offer.

Anas A.Khan Canada Behbood scheme T HIS refers to the letter by Kalim A.

Chishtie `Behbood scheme` (June 18). The writer has correctly pointed out that it was out of the blue that the government came up with the idea of taxing the profits of the Behbood scheme. If the finance minister can`t give anything to senior citizens, at least he shouldn`t take away what they have.

The Behbood scheme enables senior citizens to barely make ends meet. Widows, retired personnel and other poor people who have invested in this scheme, wait a whole month to avail a meager profit. Taxing this amount is a great injustice to them.

Many of these senior citizens are not in sound financial condition as many of them have to marry off their children, pay house rent and meet daily expenses.

Justice demands that the finance minister should rescind the order of levying the unjustified tax.

Air-Cdre (r) Azfar A. Khan Rawalpindi Cell phone traceability CELLULAR phone service companies in Pakistan have been issued 3G and 4G licences.

I request the authorities concerned that cell phone traceability access either through sim card or mobile EMEI number, or both , should be given to the law enforcement agencies, as this tracking will be quite helpful in catching criminals and terrorists.

Umair Uz Zubair Via email 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