A FREUDIAN slip by Shahbaz Sharif in support of the Taliban has revealed the exact policy of the PML-N. This was not a slip of the tongue, but it is the ideology which this leadership has been following ever since Zia's regime being a right-wing party in Pakistan.

Nawaz Sharif has a number of times asked media men who interview him that there would be no direct questions on terrorism. This only shows that the Sharif brothers want to avoid discussing this important national issue and have a soft corner for militants.

All national-level parties have condemned Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif's statement, especially the parliamentarians of the NWFP, who are in the frontline in this war on terror. Shahbaz's statement to 'spare Punjab' smells that he believes in provincialism more than nationalism. He must understand that we are already facing trust deficit among the provinces and the issue of autonomy is on the cards already.

Punjab is considered Big Brother, but it talks about provincialism and supporting the militants' ideology. Therefore, 'Big Brother' must revisit its strategy for militancy and criticise extremists rather than demanding mercy from them. The links between Sipah-i-Sihaba and the PML-N already became known to everyone during the by-election in Jhang.

So a big party has relations with banned outfits and its leadership. These designs are really alarming for the entire nation and for our image worldwide. Besides, their statement about banned outfits has really added fuel to the fire.

QAMAR CHEEMA
Islamabad

(II)

IN TV talk show on Shahbaz Sharif's highly condemnable statement, it was amazing to note the headline the TV channel chose — 'was it justified to throw away chador?'

This was a reference to a NWFP woman MPA's gesture. Angry over what the Punjab chief minister said, PML-Q lawmaker Nighat Orakzai threw her chador in disgust towards PML legislators in the NWFP Assembly.

The headline of the talk show and the discussion that followed were a crude and unsuccessful attempt on the TV channel's part to divert the discussion from Shahbaz's pro-terrorist stance. What the TV channel was doing was to go the whole hog in support of the Raiwind tribe.

From day one the Sharif brothers have remained establishment planted.

Even when he realised his irresponsible utterances Punjab's chief executive ran up to Army House to save his skin instead of tendering an apology to the nation.

Musharraf in his book 'In the line of fire', has well exposed his 'bravery' when Shahbaz was caught in a toilet swallowing Musharraf's dismissal orders. God saved the nation by a hair's breath when, having a brute majority in parliament, the senior Sharif was all set to declare himself Amir ul Momineen.

PML N, Taliban and Jamaat-i-Islami are all on the same page.

Dr M. R. SIDDIQUI,
Karachi

(III)

I HAVE long been suspecting that there is a maulvi hidden somewhere behind the clean-shaven faces of Sharif brothers.

However, now the mystery is no more a mystery. Their inclination towards the religious right is not due to any love of God and religion but merely to exploit the misguided, poor masses of Punjab.

I intentionally say 'masses of Punjab' because it seems as if the Sharifs are limiting themselves to Punjab more and more with every passing day. Every “who's who” has been maligning the politicians of smaller provinces of being anti-federation and a threat to national security, and this has been happening for decades now.

It is time for saner elements of society from all the provinces to rise and chant 'Pakistan Khappay'.

AHMED NADEEM
Canada