I wish to point out the apathy of our rulers regarding the menace of target killing that has become a routine in Karachi. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say our government has failed to do anything as over 400 people have lost their lives within the first seven months of 2009. It doesn't take a genius to figure out the plight of the bereaved families who are left crippled for life because the 'target' is usually the patriarch of the family and, in most cases, their only breadwinner. I have two harrowing stories to tell from my neighbourhood where this brutality was unleashed twice, once in 1990 and then in 2009. I appeal to President Zardari to take the murderers to task and also announce compensation for the affected families. -SHAISTA SOOMRO, Karachi, via e-mail, August 9.