On the Decay of the Art of Lying

Sometimes I wonder that the art of lying is on the way to decay as was once mentioned by Mark Twain in an essay, for discussion, which he read at a meeting of The Historical and Antiquarian Club of Hartford. With due respect, I would like to contradict with this notion. As a matter of fact when we start observing our society we came to know that this art is not only flourishing but the tactics of its usage are also refining with the every passing day. In my brief life and even more brief experience of authoritative cum pretended democratic and so called democratic governments during my politically awaked life—thanks to the vibrant media, I have witnessed a lot of mastery over this art of lying. First, I remembered the 14 Oct, 1999 speech of General Pervaiz Musharaf after taking over the Nawaz government and announced his high flown program to put the country to the right track. But instead of putting the country on the right track, he put the country on the path of militancy and extended terrorism. Then comes the financial wizard Shaukat Aziz who with his mastery of this art of lying portrays all through his almost 8 years as finance minister and almost 3 year tenure as Prime Minister that the country is doing well, growing GDP and piling reserves. Infact he marketed bubble economy in such an illusive way that along with the ordinarily masses of the country international financial institutions like WB and IMF also appreciated the way he was managing. But soon after the departure of his government all the spell broke away and country is now facing the fears of bankruptcy with huge power cuts even in the major cities, a dwindling industry and corporate sector with slowed down and declining job market. The person who is responsible for this worsened situation has already fled and not answerable for all this mess and his patron is still enjoying his life under a tight security cordon provided by democratically elected government at the expence of common tax payer. Then comes the so called torch bearers of democracy who exploit the lawyers movement for promoting their political agenda and finally got elected in 18 Feb election due the promises they made to the people to restore judges, restore true democratic system and to take steps for the promotion of an independent judiciary and independent and sovereign parliament. So far these promises have not been made, and most of the common men feel that they once more have become a victim of the art lying by the ruling elite once opposition. I think that all this courteous lying is not a sweet and loving art at all, and should not be cultivated as here in Pakistan the ruling elite whether military or democratic use this art as a tool to exploit the situation for their personal and political gains. President Zardari should take initiative to start seeing things objectively for the sake of national interest in the wake of serious internal and external threats to the sovereignty of the country. And he should negate the idea that highest perfection of politeness is only a beautiful edifice, built, from the base to the dome, of graceful and gilded forms of charitable and unselfish lying… which would not be justifiable for him and his stance so far. He with so much politeness, as PPP co-chairman and later as president, has some what diffused the impact of the struggle of lawyers’ movement and second largest party in the national assembly, once ally and now opposition PML-N, for restoration of judiciary and sovereign parliament. Mr. Zardari has effectively used his art after committing Muree declaration and then betraying and similarly on several other occasion maintained his custom and politically forced PML-N in a position that it is neither fully enjoying the ruling treats and nor able emerge as a critic of the continuation of General Musharaf’s policies as a opposition in the house. On the other hand PML-N has plunged in such situation in which its leaders are contenting on the same art but with a different way—silent lie; deception that they are conveying by simply still and concealing the truth. As many other obstinate truth-mongers, PML-N is also indulge in this dissipation, imagining that if they speak no lie, they lie not at all. Need of the hour is to speak the truth with nation to bring back their sharply declining confidence in democracy and democratic governments in Pakistan. This can be done by fulfilling the promises that politicians made during their election campaigns; by restoring the judiciary on the position of pre Nov 3, by holding the persons responsible for current political and economic chaos, simplifying and minimizing the expenditure of governmental luxuries and finally by their good governance and make sure to supply basic needs of food, water, power, justice, health and educational facilities at their door steps—which is a duty of welfare state towards its citizens. We should rely on our own strength but what we need is a dedicated effort with which we can rise and get a dignified position in the comity of nations.