15. It was a conspiracy and an international one at that. But it could not have been carried out in practical terms without active and acquired assistance through local collusion. The crime could not have been committed without the involvement of local hands.
16. A young officer of the PAF Akram Awan was under interrogation by the ISI for being an agent of Raw and Mossad. This officer was working in collaboration with enemy agencies to plan and execute an air strike on the Kahuta Nuclear Plant by Israel in connivance with India. He was arrested a few months back and did not know any thing about the Bahawalpur crash. Awan was shown a video covering the plane crash. When he came to know that Major General M. H Awan was also among those killed, Awan suffered an emotional breakdown and started crying. General Awan had helped the young officer with his education and career. Upon learning about the death of his benefactor, Awan wept uncontrollably. Experts confirmed that this reaction was not an act. In this instant reaction, he uttered, "Sir, I never knew these bastards would do this!"
17. Awan said that he had been handed over match-box type of device by a Mossad Officer in New Delhi to be delivered to Air Martial (retd) Agha Zulfiqar Ali Khan in Pakistan. The device, once placed in the cockpit, would render the crew unconscious in less than 25 seconds. He said that meetings took place at the residence of said Air Marshal and in which an Indian envoy, a US army colonel and an agent of Mossad, who had traveled to Pakistan on an American passport, were also present. Photographs, videos and other confessional material were handed over by ISI to General Aslam Baig. Awan was eventually imprisoned and is serving his sentence in jail. However, the case with solid leads is pending. Where are these files now? When the person involved is alive and available, why can't the investigations be carried out? Why was the retired Air Marshal not questioned? Instead he was allowed total access to intelligence agencies to further destroy the evidence.
18. The event at Bahawalpur did not require presidential participation. Munitions pieces are put to test before induction in the armed forces. It is normal practice. Why was the Vice Chief of Army Staff (VCOAS) so keen to have invited the president at this particular point in time? Why did General Durrani insist that the president attend the event? Who persuaded the Chairman JCSC to join the presidential entourage? Why were the doctors not allowed to carry out post-mortems? Why were those who knew about details of the incident transferred to far-off places? The then VCOAS insists that an inquiry was ordered and conducted. If so, where are the findings? Who benefited the most is the fundamental question. Those who killed Zia-ul Haq could have done so at any time. Why was this particular moment selected to kill him? Had the dismissed government of Mr Junejo been in place, no one would have gained anything by this crime. Both the ISI and IB had informed in advance about a possible threat and the president was cautious enough not to have left Rawalpindi after dismissal of the Government. Our frequent pleas to the Americans in connection with the investigations irked them to the extent that they blatantly told us that if we are to play a positive role with regard to servicing our country, then we will have to bear with this personal loss. Such countless questions remain unanswered to this day.
19. Disappointed, we contacted a well-known US law firm -- F. Lee Bailey -- for legal assistance. They opined that if we sue Lockheed Inc, the onus will be on them to prove that the crash was not because of any mechanical failure. This, in turn, will strengthen our plea of a conspiracy and terrorist act of subversion and sabotage. The lawyers were thrilled and exclaimed that they had the case of the century. He informed me that the head of the US Civil Aviation Authority had invited him to lunch for discussion over the issue. However, having met the said gentleman, he expressed his inability to further pursue the case for unknown reasons.
20. All through her life Ms Benazir Bhutto had been talking of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to cover and examine our national history. I agree with this. The commission should examine and investigate national disasters, like the deaths of Quaid-e-Azam, Maadar-e-Millat, murder of Liaquat Ali Khan, the Rawalpindi conspiracy, secession of East Pakistan, Ojhri Camp, the conspiracy leading to martyrdom of Shuhada-e-Bahawalpur, Kargil, Lal Masjid and the killings of Nawab Akbar Bugti and Ms Bhutto.
21. It is strange that President Zardari has claimed that he knows who killed his wife. Still millions of US dollars are being spent from the state exchequer by taking her case to the United Nations. Similarly, President Pervez Musharraf is alive and kicking, enjoying his life in London. Those who attempted to kill him are serving time in jail, with at least one of them executed. Interestingly, he himself will not know the exact number of his killers, the names of cities/towns and the types of courts where those accused of his murder are being tried. Similarly, in the case of Shaukat Aziz, his alleged murderers have been tried and stand convicted. Conversely, not a single individual involved in the case of Shuhada-e-Bahawalpur or other such incidents has been caught.
22. I had earlier warned that if the murder of the top military hierarchy is not investigated, such incidents would continue to take place.
23. In my own capacity I do not wish to point fingers. It is up to the government to fulfill its obligations by investigating this national loss.
24. Being son of the shaheed general, I am proud that he died with his boots on and in full military fatigue. I alone do not represent his legacy. There are millions in the country and outside who stand by his ideals, achievements, services and sacrifice. They admire and adore him. He died a hero's death. While embracing shahadat, he was carrying the Quran. His funeral to the final abode was unprecedented in history with millions of fellow countrymen from every stratum of society paying homage and mourning over loss of their hero. The funeral prayer, at two holy mosques as well as Masjid-e-Aqsa, is a rare honour for any Muslim ruler.
25. On behalf of all those people, I demand from the government of the day to bring to book the enemies of Pakistan who by their act of subversion and sabotage have executed the conspiracy. By targeting Zia-ul-Haq, they targeted the spirit of Pakistan. He was a dictator, yes. Dictionary and literary meanings apart, it is the mentality that determines the definition. What is a dictator, democrat, bureaucrat, aristocrat, autocrat, or a theocrat? Anyone can be a dictator. A down-to-earth democrat can turn into a worst dictator. We have already experienced this. People knew that he was a dictator and they also knew that he was a benign dictator. He ruled not only Pakistanis but their hearts and minds as well. He worked very hard for the betterment of his people.
26. Ever since his departure, the country is in constant crisis, slide and siege. The government, with begging bowls held in both hands, is engaged in asking everyone for assistance, alms and charity. Life for an ordinary man is a nightmare. He is unable to earn and arrange for two simple meals for the family. We have lost our national dignity. With Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP) not listening and trusting our rulers, IMF is back in business. The country has been denied and deprived of its Islamic identity, sovereignty and statehood.
(Concluded)
The writer is a former minister for religious affairs. Email: ulhaq.ijaz @gmail.com
