IT is disgusting to know through media that the Sharif brothers were having a contingent of 750 plus policemen and 56 official vehicles in the name of security.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. If this is what the Sharifs are getting when they are not in power, just imagine what they will be getting when they get into power.

Pakistan’s biggest dilemma is this VIP mindset of our politicians and the bureaucracy. The basic definition of corruption (using public resources for private use) is blatantly violated not only by Sharifs but by all as, unfortunately, it has become an acceptable norm mostly among the elected, and some of the civil and military bureaucracy.

They treat this practice as their right. How unfair is it that 180 million people are being deprived of their basic needs so that a few thousands can fulfil their false egos and excessive needs.

As a basic rule, anybody accepting or vying public office should not be allowed or given public resources for their personal use in the name of security or otherwise as democracy by definition is a ‘form of government in which all eligible citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives’ and not the lives of a few that are or vying to be in power.

My dream is to wake up one fine morning in a free Pakistan where there is no VIP culture, no VIP movements, no discretionary powers, no palatial government residences, no freebees on public expense, where public property is treated truly as amanah, where civil servants are true service providers not masters or legacies of imperialism.

Is it too much to expect from our future elected government to give us back our very own Pakistan?

SOHAIL MAQBOOL Islamabad

Misuse of funds

THIS is in reference with unauthorized use of security, vehicles and other facilities by ex-ministers, MNAs and MPAs. First, they should be blamed that they were not able to improve security during their tenure.

Now they should be made to realise how a common man feels without all the security that they have been getting at our cost.

It is unfortunate that this unauthorised use is costing the already fragile economy billions of rupees. They also have an unfair advantage over the other leaders who do not have these facilities during elections.

It is strongly recommended that if anyone of them fails to return these facilities then they should be charged the cost of the facilities that they are utilising along with an additional 30 per cent surcharge from the day that they left their respective posts.

This recommendation may be made a law for government posts in order to ensure avoiding misuse of public facilities even after relinquishment of government posts.

SQN-LDR (r) RIZWAN RASHID Lahore