This is apropos your editorial comments and numerous reports and statements by opposition on issue of ethics following disclosure of Panama leaks and holding offshore accounts by citizens of Pakistan. It is not just an issue about legality or otherwise of those holding such accounts, which can only be established after money trail has been disclosed, but an issue of ethics, morality and conflicts of interest of those holding public offices of importance where fate of millions and national security is at stake.
When elected and paid custodians of state and national exchequer themselves become party to institutionalized corruption and flight of resources, than such a state becomes victim of financial terrorism from within. It is a biblical saying that there is enough in this world to satisfy needs of all humans, but not to fill insatiable greed of one man. It is both an Islamic principle and a universally accepted code of governance that rulers should be free from any conflicts of interest. Trading was and is legitimate for any citizen, but yet Hazrat Abu Bkar ceased his business upon assuming role of Caliph. Those who aspire to hold elected or paid public office should either choose to do business or hold such offices.
The basic objective of colonialists was and continues to be flight of capital accompanied by systematic monopoly over natural resources of colonies under occupation so as to ensure an uninterrupted supply to sustain financial and industrial growth in Europe. From days of Clive Lloyd to last Viceroy of India the modalities have changed. Following killings of millions of young men and women in WW II, it was no longer possible for British colonial empire to sustain their physical hold forcing Raj to gracefully bow to political struggle waged by Quaid e Azam and Gandhi in 1947. However former colonialists with their developed human resources still needed natural resources and funds to sustain their engine of growth and they encouraged corrupt elected governments and tyrannical dictators of Third World to park their illegitimate wealth in foreign banks to boost their economy, and these New East India Company operatives were assured confidentiality by giving legitimacy to offshore accounts for one way flow of wealth.
Malik Tariq Ali
Lahore
