NAWAZ Sharif has won a clear majority in the National Asembly and does not need any help from other parties for forming a government at the centre.

So, he should go ahead and do so. The people are dismayed when they hear that he is wooing Maulana Fazlur Rehman, a person about whom people have many reservations.

A heavy responsibility is placed on his shoulders. As such he should shun questionable persons and devote himself wholeheartedly to the urgent task of solving the problems facing the teaming millions of Pakistan.

DR ZAHEER ASGHAR KHAN Lahore

Suggestions for prosperity NOW that a new federal government will shortly take over the responsibility of the country, a comprehensive Safety and Health Act be passed to prevent the increasing accidents.

Schemes like the Benazir Income Support Programme and Employees Old Age Benefits Institution should be transformed into a national social security system for providing old-age benefits, medical care and unemployment compensation.

Appropriate steps should be taken to provide relief and amenities to senior citizens. A rail-based mass transit system operating on multi-modal concept be planned and implemented in big cities.

More development projects should be financed through build, operate and transfer mode to increase the role of the private sector.

BASHARAT AHMAD Islamabad

Lion’s share: I AM deeply touched by the courage exhibited by Pakistanis as they came out in high numbers to cast their vote in spite of threats from terrorists and bomb attacks and killings.

It is reported that the turnout was 60 per cent, more than we see in most Western democracies. What was most encouraging was the high turnout of women and young voters, many of them first-time voters.

The challenges are many, both internal and external, and the new government does not have a majority support from provinces other than Punjab.

Nawaz Sharif’s party is also known for corruption and patronage and this transition will be a critical time for Pakistan. However Pakistanis have proven to be a resilient and brave bunch and I hope that this democratic awakening will keep Pakistanis engaged and that they will hold their leaders responsible and accountable.

As disappointed as I am that Imran Khan did not win a majority, the next five years will be an important opportunity for him and his party to gain experience in practical politics. An experience they obviously lacked when they entered the elections. My concern is how Pakistanis have chosen provincial governments along ethnic lines. I pray that national interest will win over ethnic and provincial rivalries.

SHAHINA SIDDIQUI Canada

Imran-Altaf row THE exchange of barbs between the two leaders is most unfortunate. Imran Khan should not have stated that Altaf Hussain was responsible for the death of Zehra Shahid Hussain.

At best, he could have said that he suspected so, if he had to. But worse has been the response of Altaf Hussain. Everyone heard it but no newspaper would print it.

Most unfortunate as the ugly episode is, it should not be allowed to escalate. Well-wishers on both sides must intervene and persuade both sides to simultaneously withdraw the acrimonious accusations.

S.M. ANWAR Karachi

PTI & local govt polls AFTER the 18th Amendment, the local government system is now a provincial matter. According to Article 140-A of the constitution each province will, by law, establish the local government system and devolve political, administrative and financial responsibilities to elected representatives of the local government.

In the past, all elections for local bodies were held under military rule on different local government models. After the May 11 elections the PTI has emerged as the largest political party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and is in a position to form government in the province.

It was the election slogan and commitment of the PTI that if it came to power, it would hold local government elections and implement its rural governance vision for empowering the community through which powers will be given back to power givers at the local level.

Public funds will be in the hands of the people and spent by them. The PTI’s political will is to decentralise powers at the village level.

Unfortunately, after coming to power, our political elite, members of assemblies emphasise on the centralised approach just for taking development funds for their constituencies. But now we hope that the PTI government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will, under the constitutional obligation, hold local government elections to strengthen the democratic process at the grassroots level as early as possible.

KAMRAN AHMAD Abbottabad