Sir: Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce, an American journalist and writer, once said that politics is about conflict of interests. The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli is a classical manual for opportunist conniving for political gains; people following such a course are better known as Machiavellians. Political opportunism is influencing the state of affairs to one’s advantage by hook or by crook and at any cost. Unfortunately, in Pakistan we have Machiavellians, not principled politicians. Saul David Alinsky in his book Rules for Radicals writes: “In this world, laws are written for the lofty aim of ‘the common good’, and then acted out in life on the basis of the common greed. In this world, irrationality clings to man like his shadow, so that the right things are done for the wrong reasons — afterwards, we dredge up the right reasons for justification.” This is actually the political reality. But a state at least must abide by its constitution, treating all of its citizens on an equal basis, leaving no room for the opportunists. Political opportunism is not only the tragedy of Pakistan but of the whole world. It becomes lethal when it morphs into everyday culture and trends. And this is the case in Pakistan. Political parties have no national agenda of general welfare, long term infrastructural development and for changing the destinies of people. Their farsightedness is concerned only with how to complete the election tenure, how to grab national assets and public taxes. Every party is full of opportunists and turncoats. Party leaders in fact sell party tickets for exorbitant prices. Ghulam Muhammad by dismissing the government of Khawaja Nazimuddin laid the foundations of political opportunism. Later on, the dismissal of the first constituent assembly by him gave birth to the infamous doctrine of necessity. Pakistan National Alliance and the Movement for Restoration of Democracy were two successful movements of opposition. Interestingly, the former was to wreck the government of Bhutto and the latter was to oust a dictator, Ziaul Haq. Islami Jamhuri Ittehad, another movement of the right wing parties led by the current prime minister, was to continue the legacy of the religio-dictatorial system. Today the wisdom of Dr Tahirul Qadri’s revolution is just old wine in old bottles. Nothing is new. Political parties like PML-Q, PTI, MQM and AML are hand-in-glove for solidarity with Dr Qadri on the Model Town tragedy. It is not mere camaraderie but a political bloc against the treasury benches. Pakistan can’t bear such opportunism any more. We are at war on many fronts. The time demands national unity, equality, fraternity, cohesion and integration. We should work as one under the national flag like chips off the same block. Frank Patrick Herbert, an American novelist, was very right to say, “When religion and politics travel in the same cart, the riders believe nothing can stand in their way.” And the same was preached by Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal. Our survival depends on following such wise voices. Zulqarnain Sewag Jhang