The private life of men who aspire to hold public office is open to public scrutiny in democratic countries to ensure that they do not have weaknesses that can affect their decision making process. This is a practice established in democratic cultures. For example, in the USA, the front-runner presidential candidate for 1988 election, Mr Gary Hart was rumoured for his infidelity to his wife Lee whom he was married for 28 years. In spite of the fact that consensual sex is not a crime in USA, he had to pull out of the race for his relationship with a model Donna Rice. Similarly, politicians accused of financial impropriety have no place in politics and become a burden for their parties.
Unfortunately, Pakistani politicians or their scions, who harbour political ambitions, have been in the news for all the wrong reasons. These young men and women having inherited billions seem to have lost all sense of propriety in their private lives and instead of being role models, are a bad example for our youth, who would look up to them if they are elected to a public office.
Those who are born with a golden spoon in their mouth need to be tutored to act responsibly if they have any political ambitions. Parents of those seeking political roles need to counsel them to reform and lead their private lives in a more responsible manner.
Involvement of politicians in financial scams and white collar crimes should force their parties to debar them from contesting elections. Absence of ethics in politics has led to weakening of the political democratic culture in Pakistan, where these very weaknesses are exploited by various agencies and vested interest groups to blackmail those holding important offices.
IRFAN BUTT
Karachi