THIS refers to the news report `Back to square one on Panama commission` (May 14). The media has not highlighted nor discussed the implications of the two candid observations made by Chief Justice Zaheer Anwar Jamali in his response to the government.

One, the chief justice, without mincing words, has drawn attention to the state of poor governance in the country. Two, he laments that the civilian institutions have been paralysed.

The aforesaid serious allegations, coming from chief justice, deplore the fact that every matter which needed to be resolved at government level, comes to the apex court.

Are not these observations an indictment of the ruling government? Can the government, legally and morally, remain in power, after the breal(down of the governance and the state institutions? If the government does not step down, is it not a violation of the constitution and the oath that members have taken? A careful reading of the chief justice`s reply show it is an interim response, and there is no commitment on forming a commission. His letter clearly mentions that the final response can only be decided after certain important input, which is missing, is provided.

With the institutions, including the investigating agencies, dysfunctional as pointed by the chief justice, would he like to form a commission which cannot deliver? Certainly not. His letter is a discreet hint towards this.

Arshad Karachi