AS a citizen, I congratulate all winning candidates and send heartfelt sympathy to those who lost. I also salute the ANP leader for conceding his defeat gracefully even before the declaration of final results by the Election Commission of Pakistan. He shines like a lone star in the sky in this muddled and polarised political environment, which abounds with conflicting prejudices.

By doing so he laid the foundation of a true democratic dispensation and set a standard to be followed by all who lost the polls.

The bitterness of election campaign ought to be buried and forgotten as part of history. Victory, as they say, has many parents and defeat is an orphan. Hence, winners need to pay gratitude to constituents and shake hands with political opponents for congenial relationship among the masses rather than divide people with the ‘with us or against us’ syndrome. As for those who lost, greatness lies in accepting one’s own mistakes rather than blaming others for the failure.

The PML-N got a heavy mandate. However, as the saying goes ‘absolute power corrupts absolutely,’ brute majority without checks and balances is hard to stomach by fragile human beings.

Therefore, Nawaz Sharif with his 30 years of experience in political gimmickry ought to learn from his past and show large-heartedness to create an environment of reconciliation for smooth completion of his tenure.

Parliamentarians might amend the constitution and reduce the five-year term to four, because the opposition and the public become inept to bear the brunt of bad governance for such a long time.

RAJA SHAFAATULLAH Islamabad