THIS refers to your editorial ‘JIT report’ (July 10). You rightly concluded the editorial, saying that “as a consequence of the JIT report the path to the next general election must not be undone”.

It is not just enough to have the next general elections in the familiar way. We need drastic changes. It is not enough for just Sharifs and Zardaris to leave, planting their proxies in place and carrying on in much the same manner as before. We need a complete clearing of the decks.

We need a caretaker government to take over and enact electoral reforms, especially defining eligibility conditions in clear, enforceable terms to ensure their strict application.

We also need to get the population census to speed up its work and produce final results sooner than planned. And we want fresh elections to be held on the basis of revised constituencies as determined according to the latest population census results.

Only a fresh breed of honest persons reaching assemblies and forming a dedicated government and effective opposition later is what could put the country on the path to progress. Such a government could also endeavour to bring back the wealth stashed abroad to reduce and eliminate crippling Pakistan’s loan burden.

S.R.H. Hashmi

Karachi

(2)

THIS is with reference to the joint investigation team (JIT). Almost every second man in Pakistan goes about arguing over the Sharif family’s ultimate political fate. Our media has made us feel as if it is only the outcome of the Panama case, the JIT resolution and the resignation of the prime minister that can turn the fate of Pakistan and make it a corruption-free and democratic country.

The ruling class creates questions which have no relationship with people’s problems. One political act will disappear, others will follow and continue exploiting the people.

Aijaz Ali Jakhro

Thatta

Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2017