THE Sindh government needs to quell the demonstrations being held in Ghotki to protest against the Hindu community after a school principal belonging to this minority group was accused of blasphemy by a student.

Sindh is the land of Sufis and has always preached tolerance, inter-faith harmony, amity and love. Therefore it is heart-breaking to see zealots with an extremist mindset attacking an entire community and resorting to hooliganism.

The federal government should extend full support to the Sindh chief minister to deal with these miscreants with an iron hand and uphold Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah ideals vis-à-vis the state’s responsibility to all Pakistani citizens particularly the minority community.

Lalarukh SN
Karachi

(2)

ISLAM teaches its adherents to be tolerant, peaceful and accommodating of all human beings, particularly those not practicing our faith.

It is unfortunate that on Sept 15 some Muslims of Ghotki forgot these injunctions and resorted to the most abominable behaviour because a 16-year-old boy accused his school principal (a venerated retired college professor) of blasphemy. What happened thereafter should make all Pakistanis hang their heads in shame!

Extremists have no faith, nor a religion. They should be dealt with an iron hand as Pakistan has no need for these agent provocateurs in these trying times.

Shamasuddin Bhutto
Ghotki

(3)

THE riots in Ghotki to protest against blasphemy are unacceptable. Something is drastically wrong when people take the law into their hands choosing to believe a 16-year-old boy instead of a respected educationist.

Since the case is under investigation, one has to wait until the report is made public. However, ganging up to destroy personal property and a community’s temples cannot be condoned. Those who indulged in these acts are terrorists and should be dealt with as such.

This unacceptable behaviour needs to be dealt with firmly and the state should ensure there is no repeat ever.

Riaz Mahar
Sukkur

Published in Dawn, September 19th, 2019