OBLIVIONAIRE: A 16-year-old girl hailing from Islamabad recently won the New York Times’ ‘Invent a Word Challenge’ by suggesting a noun for some leaders of the globalised economy. Rohana Khattak came up with the word ‘oblivionaire’, meaning a billionaire who chooses to be blind to the disparity and inequality that his or her wealth is creating. The word is very apt for our part of the world, especially within the political fraternity.

Sheikh Taimur Nawaz
Islamabad

GREAT VERDICT: The nation should thank the Chief Justice of Pakistan for the remarkable decision to restore the National Assembly. The verdict alone is good enough to silence those who over the years have questioned the judicial process in the country. The sanctity of the Constitution has been respected by the chief justice and his fellow judges on the bench which is a cause to celebrate, and, indeed, a cause to be grateful to the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Khalique Zaman Kalhoro
Aleem Village

POLITICAL CRISIS: Being a student of law, I understand the serious constitutional crisis the country went through just days ago. I find it amusing and frightening that some educated, successful people with a lot of global exposure continue to justify the trampling of the Constitution. Such a mindset will take us nowhere and will be disastrous.

Name withheld on request
Chitral

SENATE REFORMS: The upper house of parliament, or Senate, is a significant forum consisting of highly educated, experienced, erudite and seasoned members representing their respective provinces. However, it needs reforms to be a more powerful and decisive body. The current procedure for election of the senators is a mere money-minting business for the legislators. They should be directly elected like those of the National Assembly so that they are responsible to the public for their deeds and misdeeds. The Senate, then, will also have the power to accept or reject any proposal.

Guldar Ali Khan Wazir
Lakki Marwat

Published in Dawn, April 15th, 2022