Machiavellian-ism in our Politics

Really a lucky man! His notorious treatise could not win the favour of Medici family for whom he prepared this unique prescription how to keep their power prolonged and protected. But he was really lucky even more than four and half centuries after his death the rulers all over the world use the same prescription for stability of their rule and reinforcement of their wicked ideas and swindling tricks to fool the people. ‘Machiavellian’ has become a metaphor for deceitful way of gaining and remaining in power. In spite of being widely condemned as a cynical and amoral of the incisive brilliance, ‘The Prince’ (published in 1532) is still self-apparent. The rulers have any acquaintance with this handbook or not, unscrupulous and manipulating tricks suggested in it are still in vogue.

Intellectually our politicians are immensely dull but very interestingly Machiavelli is their ‘guru’. As suggested in infamous work of Machiavelli they lie and keep on lying until it is accepted to be the truth. Machiavellian has done a great deal to encourage hypocritical characters play a leading role and popularize two-faced people in the politics. No sign of guilt and remorse ever appears on their ugly faces playing double game. The truth and conscience are the first and major casualties of the political system we have. Not only our political body suffers this abscess its enormous and complex brunt are obvious in our entire social. Even the religious elements are under its effects. Lies and hypocrisy has deeply penetrated in our collective life and success is beholden to only deceptions and lies.

What more breach of trust there can be than that the people are credulous about their political and religious leaders but their packs of lies prove them nothing but only incredible. Their reasoning is always the casuistry than a practical fact. Backing out from a principled stance is also a thing from Machiavellian traits. According to an agreed upon Hadith of the Holy Prophet (p b u h) lying while talking, breaking the promise and showing dishonesty when entrusted with are three signs of a hypocrite. For only the petty gains they show a turnaround from their stances and abandon their principles for expediencies. I had and still have no interest in the by-election of NA: 55 where Sheikh Rashid met his disgraceful defeat. To me the people like Sheikh Rashid, Choudris of Gujrat, governor Salman Ta’sir and also Sharifs are only a metaphor, manifesting disloyalties, deception and wickedness.

Jama’te Islami has not failed in the same game of winning the favours of its bitterest opponents with sycophancy and falsehood. What made Hafiz Suleman Butt, the candidate for NA: 123 in by-election give his testimony without a solid proof in a TV talk show that Shakeel Awan, the winner of NA: 55, had set fire to the monuments of Benazir at Liaqat Garden Rawalpindi, where she was assassinated. How an urgent wave of sympathy and esteem for the slain leader of PPP has risen so high and a close relation has got built with drunkard governor of Punjab? I have come to conclusion that Machiavellian-ism has overcast our politics and sheltered many of Sheikh Rashids in religious cloaks also. Aya 8 of Surah Al-Maidah gives a clear command to not abandon the trait of justice in any case, enmity, hatred or contention for a seat of National Assembly:
‘Oh you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah as just witnesses; and let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just; that is nearer to piety; and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Well-Acquainted with what you do.’

Jama’t had entered in politics with the claims to introduce lofty standards of high morality and exaltedness and refute Machiavellian criterions. The slogans ‘Inqelab, Inqelab, Islami Inqelab’ which used to be raised by the sincere workers of Jama’te Islami long ago still echo through the expanses and in our ears. Jama’t stood with a program to bring an entire change of and not for being the part of this rotten and stinking system. Is it not ridiculous that instead of thwarting the increasing influence of Machiavellian-ism, this organization also has started using the same tricks for the seats in assemblies, yes presently only one seat in hand, NA: 123 of Lahore. The evils, since long, it has been disapproving, it seems, is making its own choice now.

Machiavellian trickeries by any faction of Muslim League, PPP, MQM, ANP and even JUI of Maulana Fazlurehman for political gains are not the things uncommon in our political life. They are not only in compromise with the existing system but see their interests fervidly boosting it. New thing is Jama’te Islami accommodating itself in the system with change of its goals and unfortunately the change of its nature too. Had Machiavelli living today perhaps no pleasure would have been greater for him than seeing Jama’te Islami follow his treatise forgetting what its own literature says. Congrats! Mr. Machiavelli!