WITH reference to the graph titled, “The rise and fall of Nawaz Sharif “depicting Mr Nawaz Sharif’s political journey (July 7): there is one major omission and one major factual error.

The graph states that the gentleman joined “PML-N” in 1976. There was no “PML-N” in existence in 1976. Soon after General Zia ul Haq dismissed Mohammad Khan Junejo as prime minister in May 1988, Mr Sharif and colleagues who had been part of the Zia-Junejo regime abandoned Mr Junejo, created disorder at a PML meeting held at Islamabad Hotel in June 1988 and declared their own faction to be the true PML — just as every other faction claims to be.

Prior to June 1988, about eight years earlier, Mr Sharif quit the Tehreek-i-Istiqlal in about 1979-80 and soon became finance minister in the government in Punjab, in which he served up to May 1988, i.e. a period of about eight years. He then led the ISI-sponsored IJI alliance to curb the PPP in the November 1988 polls, subsequently becoming Chief Minister of Punjab (December 1988-August 1990).

None of these facts are part of the graph which makes a sublime giant leap from 1974 to 1990 overlooking 16 crucial years. The election of Mr Sharif in 1990 as prime minister is also listed without comment — whereas it has been long-known that the October 1990 polls were pre-rigged with measures such as permitting caretaker ministers to become (eventually successful) candidates in the polls .

Readers expect Dawn to ensure the highest standards of accuracy.

A citizen
Karachi

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2018

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.