Nothing foreign

Pakistan faces censure from the FATF for foreign and domestic funding of extremist organizations which have been censured by UN and other international agencies. It was the failure of the State Bank and financial regulatory agencies tasked with prevention of such transactions which has placed this country under observation. It is an international practice in developed and developing country to keep a check on foreign funding, not just for banned organizations but also political parties and individuals, especially those who have held important offices or are holding such public offices. State sovereignty is liable to be compromised if political parties, or those holding or have held sensitive public offices are allowed to get foreign funds.

The fate of Pakistan should be decided by those who have no split loyalties and have not pledged an oath allegiance to any other state. There should be no exceptions except for charitable organizations whose accounts are subject to audit by the state. Nowhere else in world do individuals who have held sensitive posts are allowed to live abroad once out of power. We are today reaping harvest of seeds sown by Ayub, Zia and Musharraf etc.

Malik T Ali

Lahore