Sir: PMLN supremo Nawaz Sharif has said that the problems between his party and the ruling Pakistan People’s Party are getting worse. He has blamed the PPP’s reluctance to come to terms with several of the PMLN’s demands, while refusing to let go of his party’s opposition to the current dispensation, which he terms as principled. This is hardly good news for the politics of Pakistan. After a short period of hope after the February 2008 elections, it seems that we have returned to the confrontational petty politics of the 1990s. The politicians must get their act together, and instead of trying to score points against each other, must work constructively to solve Pakistan’s economic, security and political problems. Let us not forget that it was because the politicians made such a hash of running the country during the 1990s that the stage was set for yet another military takeover. The ball is in the politicians’ court; it is time they made use of this opportunity to strengthen democracy and bring stability and prosperity to Pakistan. SHEHNAZ ALAMIslamabad