THE will of the people is exercised through the ballot and like it or not we do have a democratically-elected government in place.

To insinuate that our political leadership and the army are not on the same page is to accuse the army of treason. If TV analysts speak on behalf of the army, it would mean that the army believes itself to be a parallel government or more ominously a state within a state. This would be a catastrophic situation and the people have every right to know how things stand between the two.

Every right-minded citizen will stand behind the political leadership ... this or any other or else we will find our freedom in jeopardy once again.

I entreat that people not be subjected to this kind of ambiguity. The army’s role is subordinate to the political leadership and anything short of that is unacceptable.

Perhaps the people who failed to come into power speak through these doomsday analysts, their only objective being to bring the government tumbling down. If so, it is the duty of both Nawaz Sharif and his commander-in-chief to make matters clear and in no uncertain terms. It goes without saying that this will also help the peace process underway with the Taliban.

It is Nawaz Sharif’s duty to use the power invested in him by the people for the good of the people. The whole nation stands behind him and to waste such an opportunity would be tantamount to betrayal.

Mrs Tabassum Waqar
Lahore