MIAN Nawaz Sharif has taken the ongoing tension between his party and the PPP a notch higher by declaring that the present democracy is no different from dictatorship. He has described sovereign Parliament, independent judiciary and independent foreign policy as three pillars of democracy that he thinks are missing in the system. According to him with 58(2)b still intact, the Parliament cannot be considered sovereign. Further, as the government has failed to restore CJ Iftikhar Chaudhry and other judges, the judiciary remains under the administration's shadow, and since the government has yielded to US pressure in matters involving national interest its foreign policy is not free. Many would readily agree with Mian Nawaz Sharif that the Sword of Damocles hanging over the National Assembly's head in the form of 58(2)b needs to be removed and the issue of the deposed judges resolved. Also, the country should devise a homegrown independent foreign policy. It has, however, to be recognised that the present government has assumed office after elections whose results were accepted by all political parties. In spite of its real or perceived shortcomings, it would therefore be pressing the point too far to maintain that it is no different from a dictatorship. It was on account of the government's democratic credentials that the PML-N had earlier joined it, and despite resignations by its ministers from the centre the party continues to run Punjab in coalition with the PPP. What is more, despite sitting on the opposition benches the PML-N continued to extend support to the government for a fairly long time. Instead of dillydallying on the issue of the 17th amendment, the PPP should support an 18th amendment in line with recommendations contained in the Charter of Democracy with the help of coalition partners and the PML-N. There is also a need to urgently strike down 58(2)b. Similarly, the apprehensions regarding the PPP trying to pack the courts with cronies need to allayed by appointments in line with the formula agreed in the CoD. The Parliament should also debate the foreign policy to bring it in line with national aspirations. The PPP maintains it stands by its promises to repeal of the 17th amendment and 58(2)b. Further, there is a need to make necessary amendments in the constitution to make appointments of members of the superior judiciary in accordance with the CoD What is required under the circumstances is to sort out whatever differences might exist between the PPP-led coalition and PML-N in order to work out a consensus on the issue and if that does not work out, to settle the matter through parliamentary vote. This is how democracy works. Meanwhile, nothing should be done that adds to political uncertainty or helps the anti-democracy forces.