THIS is apropos your editorial ‘Why not call a snap election’ (Aug 11). It doesn’t make any sense.

Firstly, there is no political crisis in the country. A court case has been blown out of proportion, courtesy a section of the media (your newspaper in particular).

Secondly, Mr Nawaz Sharif has been disqualified for life by the Supreme Court for concealing the truth thereby meaning he lied and is dishonest.

Thirdly, irrespective of the election results he can never be the prime minister again unless the same five-member bench of the Supreme Court agrees to review their judgement.

Fourthly, the section under which Sharif was dismissed is not controversial as contended by you. The provision under which a member of parliament is disqualified or refused ticket for contesting an election was duly passed by the National Assembly under Gen Ziaul Haq, Sharif’s political mentor/godfather.

Many more people in the past have been penalised under this act but I have never seen you ever complaining; so why all hullabaloo now? According to Western standards, lying and dishonesty is a far greater offence than having sex outside wedlock. The possible impeachment case of President Clinton is not too old.

We all know why the American public was upset with him. It was not because of his sexual relationship with Monica Lewinski, but owing to dishonesty and perjury.

For a leader, honesty and truthfulness is of prime importance. Mr Jinnah, the Quaid-i-Azam, could hardly speak Urdu. Most of his speeches were in English. But people trusted him because he was trustworthy, honest and most importantly not corrupt.

Amjad Mirza
Rawalpindi

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2017