Every individual has a right to privacy but when public office holders utilise state funds and resources for frequent private visits to foreign countries, then it becomes an issue open to public scrutiny and audit. Any responsible state would ensure that every cent or paisa spent from taxpayers’ money or national exchequer should be strictly audited to prevent abuse of power by irresponsible and unethical public office holders. Principles like conflict of interest must be strictly complied with if national interests are to be protected and cancer of corruption is to be curtailed.
Since Musharraf’s tenure this abuse has reached epidemic situation. He went on needless foreign trips to visit his family living abroad, since most of them held foreign nationalities. When Asif Zardari became President he is reported to have made fortnightly private trips to Dubai and some European countries on state expense. Even PM Nawaz Sharif has been doing the same, with countless visits to London, Saudi Arabia and Dubai.
These frequent foreign junkets have brought into disrepute the high public offices they hold. Such visits must be cut down to bare minimum and their cost must be borne by individuals themselves. In any case the holding of any public office by an individual, be it elected or paid, must be justified by the person by being seen devoting his time and energy looking after affairs of state from within country not from abroad.
Why should public office holders, who make policy decisions which affect destiny of millions, own assets abroad, unless and until they have lost faith in future viability of this country? Those who do so make themselves open to succumb to pressure of foreign nations, where their assets and families are located and hence are likely to comprise on vital state security and national interests. These restrictions must be strictly imposed on those who hold paid sensitive assignments in security and bureaucratic establishments or serve as ambassadors.
T ALI MALIK
Lahore
