— the order that requires pot-bellied cops to slim down their waistlines in thirty days, or else and how this will be another exercise in futility since bulk acquired over the years cannot be got rid of so quickly except by surgery. People say while this order has given many persons a good laugh especially while viewing the cops in question on TV, a serious note should be taken of the situation and exercise made mandatory for those in this force.

— the assembly proceedings that had women legislators pitched against their male counterparts in a provincial assembly and the disgraceful language used by the latter to address their female colleagues, especially one who was the most vocal of them all. People say the ineffective manner in which the speaker handled the situation speaks volumes about those selected to fill such positions and stern action should be taken by the chief minister against all protagonists of this shameful incident.

— the ‘catch me if you can’ shenanigans going on between the law enforcing agencies and powerful persons who are trying to give them the dodge because they do not want to bear the shame of being called ‘convicts’ or ‘criminals. People say since there is now an ongoing process of bringing corruption and other wrongdoing out in the open, political entities and others in powerful positions should change their ways instead of trying to evade justice for their misdeeds.

— the murder of a popular Pashtun singer and her father and how it is a repeat of another similar killing that took place a few years ago and for similar reasons, a misguided sense of ‘honour.’ People say ‘live and let live’ is a good policy to follow, but it has no relevance in our society because everyone is concerned with what others are doing and chattering tongues create problems where none exist, making individuals act inhumanly against their own.

— the legal or ‘illegal’ status of ‘advisers’ and how these persons carry out the duties of ministers by issuing executive orders and announce policies just like any minister is tasked to do. People say if these persons can perform such duties, why is it necessary to have a huge cabinet of ministers who spend a lot of money to get elected then try and make more than their share since ‘advisers’ can be hired and kept in check.

— the growing moral and social breakdown of society and how actions that brought discredit to ones family or oneself were not the done thing in days gone by but now they are an opportunity to boast about how to evade the law or break it. The recent cases of the scions of those who tread the corridors of power using their influence without a smidgen of remorse are a case in point, which is a sad reflection of changing values. — I.H.