THIS refers to your editorial ‘Business of politics’ (July 5). The editorial says: “From Sharifs’ business partnerships with a number of ruling families in the Middle East and the Gulf, to their interests in that most recognisable of political assets, sugar mills, the obvious and perhaps hidden ‘conflict of interest’ are numerous.”

Like the Sharifs, other political parties and politicians are no less egregious in their mixing of business and politics.

I agree with the editorial that there is an absolute and conclusive need for having an independent and powerful ‘ethics czar’, a body that can stop or at least highlight the conflict of interests that the politicians and other government servants often face.

The nexus between business and politics must be dismantled if democracy is to truly flourish. The nation expects their highest judicial body – the Supreme Court of Pakistan – to do the needful.

Panama papers case provides a golden opportunity.

Maj (r) Mumtaz Bashir

Lahore

Published in Dawn, July 17th, 2017