Power and loot

This refers to the viewpoint, ‘This farce of ‘reconciliation’ must now be buried’ (June 21) by Shaheen Sehbai. Power means political power that is protected and supported by the military power. It is an instrument through which the powerful can and should make laws and plan for the country’s development for the benefit of the common man.
Alternatively, power can also be an instrument for building personal empires which are tantamount to loot in the writer’s language. The third alternative is the middle path. Here the powerful remains moderate in making personal fortunes and also look after, to some extent, the interests of common man. Ever since the creation of Pakistan, all those who wielded power practiced the power and loot formula.
Major (r) Shamshad Ali Lhan
Karachi