Losing Hope After Being Rejected

We call Pakistan Pak Sar Zameen, “the Land of the Pure.” But pure for whom? Tell me, honestly… pure for whom? For the criminals? For the rapists? For the child abusers? For the killers who walk our streets untouched by iron shackles or jail cells? Because it certainly does not feel pure for our children. The entire country is busy discussing India’s Jantar Mantar, an issue that we have no business obsessing over. Everyone knows what India should do, but everyone forgets what Pakistan must do. On that very same day, while the nation was distracted by a controversy across the border, six-year-old Dua was murdered in Karachi. Where was the collective scream? Where was the demand for change? And where were the changemakers? We have time to argue about borders, about politics, about things that do not touch our homes. But when a child is murdered in our own city, we scroll past, we sigh, we say “Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un,” and we move on. We move on! And Dua is not alone. In 2026, it feels like every other day another child loses their life. Six-year-old Muhammad Wali from Lea Market. Three-year-old Kulsoom from Quaidabad. Tomorrow, another child will be slaughtered. Another name will join the cemetery’s roll call. How many more parents will decorate graves instead of hearing the pitter-patter of their tiny feet? This is the lullaby that replaces safety in our children’s souls. Our children fall into open manholes because nobody bothers to close them. They are thrown from rooftops. They are abused until they cry, raped until they are wounded, murdered until their funerals become routine. Yet we choke on the same bitter question. Why are the murderers not swinging from ropes? Why are the rapists not rotting in cells? Why are the abusers not dragged through the streets until they beg for death? A nation is not judged by how boldly it sings the national anthem. It is not judged by the scale of its army or the height of its flags. It is judged by the number of tiny coffins that leave its homes. So I ask again: if this is truly the Land of the Pure, why are the purest souls in this country the ones who cry alone, die alone, and are forgotten alone?

By Nazaink Majid I am writing this letter to seek justice for the tragic and heartbreaking murder of Ali Raza. Mirza Raza Ali, a famous Wafflix food grand owner from Gulistan -e-Johar and who was murdered in Gulistan -e- Johar, Karachi. According to a Pakistan today on the police investigation, Mir Ali Raza was in contact with his fiance until 11:30 PM, after which he returned to his home in PECHS. At around 3:00 AM on July 28, his fiance attempted to reach him again. Over a span of roughly 20 minutes, she made more than 40 panic calls and sent multiple text messages expressing immediate concern for his safety, none of which were answered. Police Sources confirmed that before leaving his PECHS house, Mir Ali Raza had abruptly deleted his social media accounts and disconnected his whatsapp. And he sent some amount of money to his father’s account. On 28 July at 4:12, Ali Raza went to his home. The following days, on the night of 29 July, his body was left at a location, and people discovered it on the morning of 30 July. The painful death of Ali Raza shows that people’s lives are not safe. No family should have to suffer the loss of a loved one in a such a way. Ali Raza’s death is a reminder that every life matters and every citizen deserves safety. We demand justice for Ali Raza and safety for every citizen of Karachi. No one should live in fear. Every person deserves justice, Safety and the chance to live without danger. The Ali Raza’s death should not become just another incident forgotten with time. It should be a wake-up call for stronger action, and safety for everyone. We appeal to the authorities to stand with the victim’s family, investigate this matter with honesty, and ensure that justice is served. No family should have to suffer such a loss, and no one life should be taken without accountability.

By Waseem Hasil Every family eventually faces the quiet, overwhelming pain of losing someone they love. In those raw moments of grief, the last thing anyone should have to worry about is whether they can afford the paperwork required to officially honor their loss and settle their loved one’s affairs. I am writing to you today not just as a citizen raising a policy issue, but as someone deeply concerned about how our current administrative system treats grieving families during their most vulnerable hours. While government policies often announce free registration, the human reality at the ground level tells a very different story. Citizens arriving at local union council offices or municipal counters are frequently met with unexpected charges, costly attestation fees, and confusing legal hurdles. For a family that has just lost its primary earner, coming up with extra money for delayed registration fines, stamp papers, or succession documentation is an agonizing extra weight to carry. It feels deeply unfair that obtaining a basic legal paper, something essential for pension claims and family inheritance, becomes a financial negotiation. Official procedures should reflect compassion and empathy, serving as a support system rather than an added obstacle. When we allow indirect fees and procedural delays to mount, we make an already heartbreaking situation needlessly harder for ordinary people who are simply trying to do what is right. I sincerely appeal to your office to step into the shoes of those waiting at municipal desks across the country. Please establish strict oversight to clear away hidden fees, simplify the paperwork, and ensure that every family, regardless of their financial status, can obtain a death certificate with dignity and ease.

By Baloch Khan Through the columns of your respected newspaper, I would like to draw the attention of the concerned authorities to the serious shortage of water in Dasht. The people of our area are facing great difficulties because clean drinking water is not available. Women and children have to travel long distances to fetch water. Sometimes the available water is dirty and unsafe, which causes many diseases. Farmers are also suffering because there is not enough water for their crops and animals. I request the government and the concerned departments to solve this problem by repairing water supply systems, installing new water pipelines, and providing clean drinking water to the people of Dasht as soon as possible. I hope my letter will be published and the authorities will take immediate action.

By Baloch Khan The education gap is one of the biggest challenges facing Pakistan. Students in cities often have better schools, qualified teachers, and modern facilities, while many students in rural and remote areas study without basic classrooms, libraries, laboratories, or even enough teachers. This unequal system denies many children the opportunity to achieve their full potential. Every child deserves access to quality education regardless of where they live or how much their family earns. The government should improve public schools, appoint qualified teachers on merit, provide learning materials, and ensure equal educational opportunities for all students. Investing in education is investing in the country’s future. Unless this gap is reduced, social and economic inequality will continue to grow. It is time for the authorities to take practical steps to ensure that every child receives the education they deserve

By Baloch Khan Through the pages of your newspaper, I want to draw attention to the serious problem of pollution in Karachi. The city is facing increasing air, water, and waste pollution due to smoke from vehicles, industrial emissions, garbage, and improper waste disposal. Pollution is badly affecting the health of citizens. Many people are suffering from breathing problems and other diseases because of polluted air. Burning garbage and increasing traffic are making the environment more harmful. I request the concerned authorities to take strict action against pollution. More trees should be planted, waste should be properly managed, factories should follow environmental rules, and citizens should be educated about keeping the city clean. I hope your newspaper will highlight this important issue and the authorities will take immediate steps to solve it.