Imran Khan's hands were tied

A supporter of incumbent ruling party Pakistan Tehrik-E-Insaf celebrates after Prime Minister Imran Khan dissolved the lower house of parliament, in Karachi, Pakistan, on April 3, 2022. On the advice of Prime Minister Imran Khan, Pakistan's President, Dr Arif Alvi, approved the dissolution of the national assembly, paving the way for general elections in three months. EPAShow less

This is in reference to Johann Chacko’s op-ed Is it time to start thinking about a post-Imran Khan Pakistan? (March 31): Pakistan’s founders won a bloody and hard-fought independence from colonial rule and subjugation in 1947. But for decades Pakistan has been run by opportunistic leaders. Imran Khan challenged a corrupt status quo when he came to power in 2018. He was denied a two-thirds majority in the vote through a manipulation of the electoral process. His hands, therefore, were tied by a coalition set-up and he was unable to reform the system. Mr Khan’s mandate and mass appeal, however, have been endorsed in local body elections, as recent as March. Pakistan should never again suffer at the hands of those who looted the country over the past three decades.

Mohammad Hamza, Dubai

Dubai rent: fair for the landlord should be fair for the tenant

In reference to Nick Webster's story Agents urge Dubai tenants to know the law as landlords flout rent control rules (April 6): in my view, a 20 per cent hike in a year is too much. A hike should be about 5 per cent in three years, which gives peace of mind to all. One cannot increase the rent to any amount just because you leased it below market price when the market was down. A landlord should not act in a manner that will benefit only him or her. It should always be fair to both parties.

Fazal Ibrahim Cassim Ariff, Dubai

My landlord has given the building management to a management company and they are now asking for an increase of 16 per cent. I need to weigh my options now and this guide definitely helps.

Rajesh R, Dubai

Keeping up with the times

With regard to your report Married couples in England can now divorce without blaming each other (April 6): bravo, this is such a huge stride towards a new world.

Eli Aragon, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Sri Lanka is at an inflection point

This is about the article Sri Lanka's state of emergency revoked as president loses majority (April 6): it pains me to read about Sri Lanka these days. In the 1950s, it was a model nation, not just for its neighbours, but for many other post-colonial Asian countries. As former Singapore prime minister Lee Kuan Yew once said, Sri Lanka had everything going for it, from a relatively good standard of education, a civil service largely of locals, and experience in representative government. “When Ceylon gained independence in 1948,” Lee said, “it was the classic model of gradual evolution to independence.” Alas, decades-long ethnic strife, economic mismanagement and corruption have put paid to its hopes of becoming an Asian powerhouse – for now. However, I believe in the Sri Lankan people and their ability to pick themselves up. What they are going through now is unfortunate but this could well be the beginning of a new era. The country can yet prove its immense potential.

K Ragavan, Bengaluru, India