We often hear claims of the PPP stalwarts that they must be allowed to complete their 'mandated' period to govern for five years. They seem to think that this claim to five years of rule is valid irrespective of the quality of governance. That is not logical. The first address of the first Caliph of Islam, Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA), ought to serve as a guideline for our rulers. He had told the people, "Set me right if I go wrong". That shows the five years mandate is not a license to wreak whatever havoc the rulers may wish. The people have every right to set the rulers right or to ask for a fresh mandate if it is felt that rulers are going wayward. The restoration of the independent judiciary was a fit example of people setting the rulers on the right path. And the rulers must never feel immune to the inherent right of people to change the government by peaceful protest or have a mid-term election even before the expiry of the five years 'mandate'. -DR M. YAQOOB BHATTI, Lahore, December 12.