REFERENCE Irfan Husain`s column `Crisis? What Crisis?` Oct 8). Clearly the writer has a personal issue with PTI leader Imran Khan. Otherwise why would he distort every decision taken by the PTI and its leader to protest corruption, rigging and a total lack of accountability prevalent in the country today.

In an earlier column `Fourth time lucky?` (Sept 24), he had attributed Nawaz Sharif`s failure to strengthen political leadership solely on Mr Khan and PTPs protests against electoral rigging and corruption. In his latest column, he continues down the same path of attack, only this time he sees the PTI`s democratic right to protest as simply a means of bringing Mr Khan to power.

Now once again Mr Husain has sought to accuse Mr Khan of seeking to derail democracy by coming on the streets to demand the PM present himself for accountability after the Panama papers revelations. Mr Husain also needs to be reminded that Mr Khan has offered himself for accountability alongside that of the PM but then Mr Husain seems to thinl< the revelation about offshore companies is not a big deal.

As for Khan`s distaste for parliament that Mr Husain talks of, the fact is the state of the parliament speaks for itself. The government, especially the leader of the House, barely shows a presence. Never has it happened in any Parliament`s history that a budget session would be devoid of quorum repeatedly. As for the latest joint session intended to show unity, the exchange of abuse and low attendance put that intent to rest in full national and international view.

Had Mr Sharif the proclivity to function within the parameters of the parliamentary system, including that of accountability, he would have had the strength of parliament behind him. But his obduracy and authoritarian bent have prevented that. Mr Khan`s movement for accountability and for ending corruption is the only way to salvage and strengthen parliamentary democracy in Pakistan.

Shireen M. Mazari, Spokesperson for PTI chairman Islamabad