Nawaz Sharif has emerged as the most powerful Prime Minister of Pakistan since Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. The military has never interfered with his agenda; instead it has supported him in strengthening his power... In fact, he has annoyed many, especially those among the big landowners and bureaucrats. He represents the emerging middle class and has a non-feudal background. (Now) The levers of civilian government have grown so weak that the powerful premier has had to rely more heavily on the army to hold the country together and to perform basic tasks such as collecting unpaid electricity bills, building roads, and fighting crime. Nawaz Sharif continued to rely on the army despite some strong opposition from his very PML(N). The only explanation is that Nawaz is comfortable with the Army and has devised with the establishment a working relationship.

Resuming shopping in Paris for war

Pakistan is hopeful that France will release its blocked Mirages and theAgosta-class submarines soon. Pakistan has taken up the matter with France, which has been saying that the delivery of eight Mirages and one submarine has been delayed for technical reasons, a senior official has said in Islamabad. Paris suspended supply of the contracted military hardware to Pakistan in a recent decision, that Pakistani officials believe stabs the country in the back.

Get rid of West's apron-strings

THE FRONTIER POST: As a free people we must overcome the dependence upon a western-dictated economic existence. Otherwise we may as well cease to call ourselves an independent sovereign country. This can be done provided our rulers will govern the nation according to the constitution. The looters must be made to cough up the 2000 billion they gobbled up. The wastage of foreign exchange on fruitless foreign joy-rides must be done away with. And the unbelievably large and expensive perks being enjoyed by the bureaucracy must be cut to relate to the lifestyle of an average citizen.If we remain attached to the apron-strings of others for economic reasons then in situations like the one now emanating from the Nawaz-Clinton parleys, we will never serve our geo-strategic interests as a free country.