In his letter ‘Punjab conundrum’ (July 18) in response to the article ‘Punjab conundrum’ by Ashraf Rashid Siddiqi, Jamil Ahmad Abbasi drew a simplistic conclusion by blaming Punjab for the squalid conditions existing in the other provinces. Admittedly, Punjab has enervated the bond of federation by holding on to the reins of power through occupying the institutions of army and bureaucracy.
Nevertheless, the stark inherent weaknesses of other provinces are equally to blame for their ostracised existence. These provinces could have prospered even in the absence of a level playing field. Economic exploitation and social disparities have the tendency to disregard kinship. Southern Punjab is an apt example of the point I am stressing.
Haroon R Siddiqi
Karachi