A NUMBER of incidents during the last couple of weeks have shattered the peace of my mind. One was a gang-rape incident in Muzzafargarh and the other was a communal issue dealing with the allegd desecration of the Holy Quran.

It is unfortunate that women have been victimised in a country where lessons of respect for women were imparted. In the same way, this land of Sufis always gave lessons of perseverance and tolerance.

As members of society, we never hesitate to criticise the government and state institutions.

The accused in the gang-rape incident went scot-free on bail. His supporters were seen distributing sweets and exchanging greetings. This attitude further invigorates the nefarious actions of such misogynists.

I remember another event of our social decay in which the rich murderer of Shahzeb Khan was showing victory signs before entering the court for his trial.

We have lost pluralistic thinking which has been propagated by our religion. In fact, religion has become a tool of violence for those misled and brainwashed.

Did anyone check the reliability of the person who blamed a Hindu for an act of desecration of the Holy Quran?

If anyone is involved in desecration of the Holy Quran, he must be prosecuted within the ambit of the law.

We should be clear on the stance of peace, progress, tolerance and cooperation. We can only wipe out social evils such as communal riots and violence against women by discouraging culprits at every level. Social criminals must be expelled by society.

If the current trend regarding these heinous crimes continues unabated in our society, soon a day will come when we ourselves will become its victim!

Engr Zahid Shahani
Sukkur