Similar punishment
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the people who filmed the heinous crime [of two brothers being killed in Pakistan] (“Video of mob killings sparks anguish”, Gulf News, August 23).The reason being that the people responsible can be easily identified and caught immediately, without any excuse. The same punishment should be meted out to them. Along with them, all the spectators and the men in uniform who watched the terrible crime and did nothing to stop it should also be punished. I would like to add that if the Interior Minister Rahman Malik does not keep his promise of punishing the perpetrators in the same manner, then he should also be punished.
From Ms Umbereen Rahman
Dubai
The silent community
This is with regard to the brutal killing of the two brothers in Sialkot. I am really tense at the situation in the city and I am confused at how a crowd of people could witness such an inhumane act and not come forward to stop it. The way the innocent boys were murdered is alarming. I watched the video and since then I have been unable to focus on anything. But, I am feeling sorry for the large Pakistani community here [in the UAE] who have still not come up with any protest — none of the non-governmental organisations (NGOs), public authorities or the authorities at the Pakistan Consulate have protested. None of the radio stations ran any programmes to discuss the matter. I request you [Gulf News] to please draw the attention of the people who are not paying attention. If it was someone else’s son this time, it could be ours tomorrow. Why are we waiting for our turn? Why not come forward and fight against those inhumane people? The Pakistan government only dismissed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) — is this the solution? Moreover, I heard on the news that even he managed to run away. Where are we heading? The whole of Pakistan is suffering because of the floods. We still don’t learn. I request all those moneymaking NGOs, public authorities and everyone who is concerned to please speak up and condemn the situation. If you can’t do anything, at least raise your voice against the act. This is the time to wake up and fight back. It is the question of our land, our people and our children. I hope that I will get to hear something from the higher authorities regarding the matter.
From Ms Touba Awais
Dubai
Justice needed
I’m a Pakistani living abroad and my heart has been crying ever since I saw how some people killed two youngsters in Sialkot, Pakistan, and that too, in the presence of several people and some policemen. While I feel sorry for the young ones, I feel equal hatred and pity for the ones who saw this brutal act as mere spectators. I hope and pray that the animals that killed them will be brought to justice and hopefully would be publicly hanged to make an example of them.
From Mr Naveed Asghar
UAE
Accept all aid
Pakistan had apparently refused the offer of $5 million (Dh18.3 million), made by the Indian government for flood relief victims (“Islamabad accepts $5m aid from India”, Gulf News, August 21). This is unfortunate. The Pakistan government may feel that the amount is very less but it must bear in mind that the Indian government has stepped in to help, despite some bitter recent events. Just about 22 months ago, a vicious terrorist attack took place in Mumbai, India, killing over 300 innocent citizens. Concrete action has yet to be taken against those involved in the Mumbai attacks. It is encouraging and heartening that many Indians are involved in harnessing the relief endeavours in places like Dubai. They are contributing not merely money and medicines but also their time and organising skills. This is not the time for political debates and agendas. It is vital to focus on supplying food, water and medicines to the needy. The suffering among the flood hit areas has to be addressed urgently. This is the time to accept all gifts, donations and provide succour to those who have lost their homes and belongings in Pakistan.
From Mr Suvank Rout
Sharjah
Ray of hope
The people in Pakistan need help. There is nothing wrong in accepting aid from India. India also graciously accepted the relief aid that Pakistan sent during the 2001 Gujarat earthquake through C-130 transport planes and even the money raised by Pakistani channels for the 2004 earthquake. People should be placed before politics. Such goodwill gestures by both countries at times of crisis gives a ray of hope that relations can be improved between the two countries.
From Ms Irim Ahmad
Dubai
Tour for relief
I am glad to hear the decision by the Zimbabwe cricket team to tour Pakistan to help and raise money for the people whose lives have been ravaged by the floods (“Zimbabwe offer to help flood victims”, Gulf News, August 22). It is a very brave step taken by them as international cricket has come to a complete stop in Pakistan after the attacks that took place in Lahore, Pakistan, in which some Sri Lankan cricketers were injured. It would be great to see other cricketers and celebrities to take such initiatives and help the ones who are suffering in Pakistan. Everyone should remember that such a calamity can also hit them.
From Mr Sumair Arif
Sharjah
A day’s meal
A recent picture in Gulf News of two pretty children eating bread with onions is simply pathetic (“Does anyone care?”, Gulf News, August 20). Ramadan is the time to be kind and give. Every expatriate, irrespective of religion, cast, creed or status can use their kindness to give and help the thousands of children in the flood hit areas. From a simple contribution from Dh1 to Dh5 could easily generate a huge amount from the expatriate community in the UAE. If we sacrifice one iftar meal or one good dinner, thousands will eat a good day’s meal in Pakistan.
From Mr Murali Sundaram
Dubai
Peace in Pakistan
Recently, I went for a vacation to my home country, Pakistan. Usually when we go back it brings immense joy to us, but this time what I experienced was just like a nightmare. There are so many problems in Pakistan, but the most complicated one is of insecurity. During my stay, I heard gun shots and felt like I was sitting in a war zone. For people living there it was normal, but for me, since I am away from my country for a long time, it was the scariest moment of my life. When we were young every face was smiley. There was peace in my country. During the monsoon season it rained, but now the country is engulfed in floods — perhaps the worst calamity the people of Pakistan have experienced. As a Pakistani, it pains me when I see what is happening in my land. People living here [in the UAE] can only feel the pain and comment, but the people who are suffering — their pain cannot be described in words. Let’s pray that the situation gets over soon and peace returns again to Pakistan.
From Mr Sophy Aqeel
Sharjah
Editor’s note: To send reader comments, log on to gulfnews.com/about-gulf-news/contact-us
Readers’ issues raised with organizations
Free visa offer
I had a bad experience with Emirates airlines staff at Al Ain branch. On June 8, my family decided to call over my grandmother, uncle and aunt from India taking advantage of a special offer by Emirates which promised to discount the visa fees and deposit. The offer was valid till June 9. So the same day my dad and I visited the Emirates office in Al Ain at 6:45pm. Unfortunately it was closed; the closing time is apparently 6pm. I called up the Emirates customer care section and was told that I could submit the required documents on June 9, before 3pm. The next day my brother and I visited the office and were speaking to a person at the counter. The latter wasn’t updated about the offer and so he asked his colleague about the details and then told me he couldn’t do anything for me because I didn’t have the proper documents.
I was carrying my dad’s salary certificate since he was the applicant. The application was not addressed to Emirates airlines or the immigration authorities and I told the person at the counter to give me some time so I would get a new one. At that juncture, a person who deals with the visa process came to him and said she didn’t want photos printed on the form and that, in fact, hard copies were needed. I told them I would get all the necessary things and be back. She said that I would have to be back before noon.
I called up my dad and asked him to arrange for the certificate and he got it in 45 minutes. I collected the photos from my house and visited the office at 11:40 am sharp and straight away headed to the counter where I had been briefed about the documents needed. She took all the papers and asked me to return next day to pay the fees and deposit. I asked her why I was being asked to pay the fees when I had come back well within the time they had asked me to and had all the required documents.
She said: “The captain is not there in Al Ain, I can’t help you, if you want the offer go to Dubai now.” I passed the message to my dad. He promptly called up customer service. They seemed to understand the problem and after dad gave the person from the customer affairs section my number that person called me and asked to hand the phone to some staff there, which I did. The staff at the counter again said that the captain was not there.
This got me angry and I told him: “The next time you guys should mention that offer ends in Al Ain at 12pm, Abu Dhabi at 1pm, Dubai at 3pm, that would be clearer for all of us.”
Then he said, something could be done on special request and to bear with them. So I left the office. Then the manager of Al Ain office asked me to come to the office as soon as possible, possibly before 3 pm. I reached there by 1.30pm and called him. He told his staff to get my job done on the special offer. His staff kept me waiting till 2.30 pm and asked me to leave telling me she would call and inform me about the approval. So I left. At 5.30 pm, I called them and was told: “It will be done, don’t worry, by tomorrow — there is rush today, so tomorrow it will be done.” I had to leave for Doha that evening.
Next day, on June 10, my sister visited their office and was told to pay because the approval had been received that day. “If you insist we can give you the offer but immigration will give you a problem,” she was told. My sister called me. On calling the office, I was told, “do what you want and complain anywhere you want to”, before the phone was slammed down. Could you help me make people aware of the inefficient staff of Emirates at Al Ain, who are giving the airline a bad name and customers a hard time?
From Dr Othman Mohammad Rafi
Al Ain
Dr Rafi updates:
My family received a call from Emirates, they are willing to return the visa fees now. But I am not satisfied with that since my family and I suffered a lot of emotional stress and embarrassment at the Emirates office in Al Ain. They made me run around, insulted me over the phone when I tried to politely contact them to resolve the matter. If they had to return the money why did they charge me in the first place. My dad will go and collect the visa deposit but not the visa fees cheque. I need a better response from Emirates and assurance that I will be satisfied.
An Emirates spokesperson responds:
Emirates regrets the inconvenience Dr Othman Mohammad Rafi experienced when trying to book the limited-period Emirates free visa offer through one of our dedicated Emirates sales offices.
Emirates places a great deal of emphasis on the high standard of service we offer our customers and we were disappointed to learn that Dr Rafi’s expectations were not met. It is never our intention to leave our customers unhappy with the services provided. Our Customer Affairs team have been in contact with Dr Rafi and, as a gesture of goodwill, have credited him back with the visa charges he incurred.
Confusion over phone charges
Last week I migrated from du’s elite plan to prepaid and my BlackBerry was activated on my request. The next day my number was converted and. As told, I recharged my du with around Dh400 hoping that the BlackBerry monthly charge would get deducted from the credit.
My BlackBerry connection was active but the credit didn’t get deducted. Instead of that my credit got deducted as I am using the data package and not the BlackBerry. I didn’t notice this until after a few days when my balance was Dh210. When I checked, again, my balance was only Dh4. I complained to du about this and I received a call. Du told me that my BlackBerry situation would be resolved within three days and credit issue sorted out in seven days and that I would receive a call from du informing me about the response to my complaint.
It has been more than seven days and I have not received any information about my complaint. I have called the customer care a number of times, visited du’s office also and called the head office but there has been no response.
From Mr Samad Khan
Dubai
The management of du responds:
Thanks for sharing reader queries. With regards to Mr Khan’s query over his BlackBerry prepaid mobile service, we would like to confirm that, following further investigation, the issue has been resolved. The customer’s BlackBerry service has been reactivated, following which no further problems have been reported. Furthermore, all disputed bills have been settled as well. We sincerely regret any inconvenience caused to Mr Khan in this regard.
Editor’s note: If you have similar consumer complaints, send them to us at readers@gulfnews.com
