Sir: People elect political activists like Saad Rafique, who volunteer to represent them and address basic issues. They hope these politicians will give them clean drinking water, law and order, equal opportunities, subsidised education and healthcare. Sadly for this country, they have never been able to deliver. It is not just politicians like Saad who have betrayed the people of Pakistan, but all paid or elected public office holders – whether they be civilians or khakis – who have held power after the death of Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Unfortunately Pakistan is ruled by a cartel of land developers and contractors who wield immense clout within every political party through massive financial funding and are facilitated by powerful quarters, both in civilian and uniformed bureaucracy. Politics, which were used as an avenue by the Quaid to serve public interest, has become a vehicle to enrich the powerful and promote their commercial interests at cost of public welfare. Can the politicians and paid public office holders justify their involvement in development of private housing schemes for commercial benefits on land acquired through threats or intimidation from private individuals or illegal occupation of state and forest land in Pakistan, not even sparing reclaimed coastal land along our seashore? If Saad or his brother are allegedly involved in Paragon Housing Society, than they are guilty of having a conflict of interest and violating the spirit of their oath of office and should have chosen to resign. Politics, like any other public office, be it paid or elected, must only be to serve the people and perform their constitutional roles and not for deriving commercial benefits. Individuals with split loyalties must never hold any public office. ALI MALIK TARIQ Lahore Published in Daily Times, August 17th 2018.