YOUR editorial ‘Listening in’ (Sept 7) about the Fair Trial Bill, 2012, due to be debated in the parliament, made me smile inwardly.

You sensibly forewarn that ‘for a population at large such intrusion counts as a serious loss of civil liberties’ because the bill “authorises the government to tap into people’s phone calls, emails, and text messages”.

The reason for my faint smile was that it’s good to know someone who’s not yet given in to the fact that we turned this country into a security state a long time ago. May I present you a small piece of evidence.

Long before the advent of the email or text messages, there used to be (and still is) postal mail. For the last 25 years I do not recall having received any of my mail/magazine from abroad without its cover/envelope not being mutilated to monitor its contents. The term civil liberties sounds hollow.

ALTAF NOOR ALI    Karachi