Will fall help Imran Khan to boost his poll prospects?

Pakistan missed a beat with the news of Imran Khan's injury in an accident during a rally in Lahore (Fall proves election boost for Imran Khan, May 9).
It's unfortunate that he will have to remain in bed rest.
The 60-year-old, who is relatively new to Pakistan's political scene, conducted several rallies in a day.
His injury has probably taken a toll on his enthusiasm, but the fire he has lit in the hearts of his supporters will continue to burn.
Rabia Rizwan, Dubai
Government must serve the people
The Indian government rushing to fulfil its promises only before the election is pathetic (Cheap food bill may prove hard to swallow, May 9).
Suddenly the government realises that it has an obligation to feed more than 800 million people, which will cost it Dh84.5 billion. Where will this money come from?
The people, of course. Commodity prices will inevitably rise. These narrow objectives aimed at fulfilling political agenda creates a mess for the whole country.
According to the report, the National Food Security Bill, which aims to feed 70 per cent of the population, could widen India's already swollen budget deficit next year, increasing the risk to its coveted investment-grade status. The government knows it.
I wonder why it does such things. Will this country ever get a government that genuinely thinks about the people?
Name withheld by request
Beating children is not a solution
I am writing in response to the news article Teachers regret lack of discipline (May 7). I work for the Glenelg School in Madinat Zayed, in the Western Region, a place "notorious" with expat teachers for bad student behaviour.
Last year, the school marked its first anniversary. When the school first opened its doors, and the students came in, it was a surreal experience.
The first weeks, and to an extent the first few months, were very much a struggle, to say the least. The parents did not trust us, the students were not aware of proper behaviour, and the staff did not know how to respond to the students.
That was then. Today it's a different school. The students and teachers have great relationships, but the teachers are still the clear authorities. A good relationship has been established with the community. Bullying and fighting are no longer the norm.
When we go on field trips, the people in charge at the different places we go have a hard time believing our children are from the Western Region. They compliment our children for their good behaviour. How has all this progress been possible? Our principal supports us in everything we can justify. Our staff are dedicated.
We are consistent with our praise and our punishment. We try to praise a lot more than we punish. When we do punish, we make sure the students and parents understand the reasons.
We can't expect our children to perform to the highest of their ability, if we, as teachers, don't.
Name withheld by request
Tenant safety should be priority
I've read a number of stories lately about safety issues in apartment towers, so perhaps a note of caution for tenants is in order.
It reminds me of a recent incident in Saudi Arabia. When a contractor checked out a residential apartment building there as part of a structural survey before entering a rental agreement, he found the emergency exits blocked with chains and padlocks.
The owner said it was to stop residents from bringing in undocumented tenants and stealing the fittings.
He could not understand why the contractor refused to rent the building if the chains and padlocks were not removed. He considered them additional security measures benefiting the tenants.
Peter Nixon, Abu Dhabi
Try to keep the pavements clean
Pets, particularly dogs, are causing a mess on pavements. Owners taking their pets for walks need to be more careful and should ensure they clean the areas made dirty by their pets.
I am a resident of Khalidiya in Abu Dhabi and I witnessed this phenomenon in my area three times over the past week.
Not only pets, but fast food outlets such as KFC are also responsible for making the area messy with oil running down the pavements. These things create an unpleasant sight and unhealthy environment.
I request the civic authorities to deal with these issues more strictly. Although these are small matters, they are nevertheless a nuisance that can be avoided through simple measures.
Asma Nabeel, Abu Dhabi
Syrian people need our help
I refer to the blog post Children at war: the faces of Syria's lost generation (May 8). The UAE Red Crescent is seeking donations and we must contribute. The UAE is helping in Syria in an amazingly powerful and positive manner. It is providing food, water and clothes to refugee camps.
Brigitte von Bulow, Abu Dhabi