Floods and the military

LOS ANGELES: This is with reference to Lt-Col (r) Mohammad Ali Ehsan's letter of Aug 25. Our armed forces are definitely earning our gratitude but the point that Ayesha Siddiqa (on whose article the initial letter was published) was making is that this is something normal all over the world, as in militaries do this when natural calamities happen.

Unfortunately, comparison is being made with the simultaneous inefficiency of the civilian side of the government and consequently suggestions are being made that perhaps the elected system is worth discarding. Altaf Hussain’s recent statement strengthens this apprehension. Our armed forces have not, so far, performed well in wars or in running civil administrations through martial laws.

It is therefore important to curb the temptation to look back to the army for intervention. What we need is for regular elections where the electorate can give its verdict and this is the only way to strengthen democracy.

C M Sarwar

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th, 2010.