Dictators created, nurtured, promoted undeserving political leaders, with nation suffering from misrule of both
RAWALPINDI: This is with reference to the article “Beyond Defining Moments” by Shamshad Ahmad, published in The Express Tribune (January 17). I would like to say that the history of Pakistan has to be viewed keeping both East and West Pakistan in view. In fact, in the formation of the Pakistani consciousness of today, East Pakistan played a major role. In 1946, the Muslim League enjoyed a landslide victory in former Bengal while it lost in erstwhile NWFP and only had a marginal majority in Sindh; in Punjab, it was seated in the opposition. The first coup occurred after the mysterious assassination of then prime minister Liaquat Ali Khan when a physically and mentally unfit bureaucrat (certainly not a politician) occupied the powerful seat of the governor general of Pakistan. He completed the coup in league with Iskander Mirza, General Ayub Khan and Mr Bhutto by dismissing former prime minister Khwaja Nazimudin, a trusted ally of the Quaid-e-Azam and a vital pillar of the Pakistan movement. He appointed Mohammad Ali Bogra (an unknown person in politics) the prime minister, and joined Western pacts headed by the US, which led to all the chaos that we are facing to date. We annoyed the USSR, damaging our Kashmir case due to the vetoes of Soviets. It is pertinent to point out that Liaquat Ali Khan and Khawaja Nazimuddin declined to join the American-sponsored pacts. In 1958, martial law was imposed on the eve of the general elections. The so-called ‘basic democracies’ system was invoked, causing deprivation and alienation in East Pakistan, which led to the dismemberment of the country.
Eventually, a fraudulent election was held, causing the defeat of Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah. Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy, a brilliant lawyer and politician, a stalwart of East Pakistan and a pillar of the Pakistan movement, was hounded mercilessly by Ayub Khan and Mr Bhutto, forcing him into exile where he died in mysterious circumstances.
The third political stalwart of East Pakistan, Maulvi Fazlul Haq, was incarcerated. Ayub Khan had deep-seated contempt for East Pakistanis. As far as West Pakistan was concerned, the minority provinces were subjected to political deprivation. All these events led to the tragic 1971 war. Dictators created, nurtured and promoted undeserving political leaders, with the nation suffering on account of misrule from both. In order to learn lessons from history, one has to follow history based on facts and then take remedial measures.
Dr Mahmud Ahmad Akhtar
Published in The Express Tribune, January 21st, 2015.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
