The era following the Indo-Pak war of 1965 proved to be a turbulent one for the Ayub-led administration....
COVER STORY
The era following the Indo-Pak war of 1965 proved to be a turbulent one for the Ayub-led administration. Anti-authoritarian sentiment swept the nation, leading to a mass movement initiated by civil society and the citizens of Pakistan. Ayub’s trusted aide and the architect of modern-day foreign policy, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, resigned from the cabinet in 1967 in the wake of the hastily drafted Tashkent Accords, and joined forces with those opposing the Ayub regime.
A bleak economic outlook, spurred by the recent conflict, combined with the administration’s efforts to stifle dissenting voices and the populace’s aspiration to restore democracy, led to the resignation of General Ayub Khan in March 1969. General Yahya Khan, Ayub Khan’s second-in-command, was made the chief martial law administrator.
Under significant pressure from the public and politicians representing both wings of the country, General Yahya agreed to organize general elections in December 1970. The Pakistan People’s Party, headed by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, made headway in West Pakistan, while the Awami League, led by Sheikh Mujeeb-ur-Rehman, dominated in East Pakistan. Given East Pakistan’s larger population, the outcome of the general elections there was crucial in determining the next premier of Pakistan.
However, the electoral results intensified the existing socio-political strife between the two regions. Sheikh Mujeeb-ur-Rehman’s Awami League emerged victorious in East Pakistan, securing 160 out of 162 allocated seats. This overwhelming victory underscored the deep-rooted tensions and highlighted the disparity in political power and representation between the two wings of the country.
In contrast, the PPP emerged victorious in West Pakistan, securing 81 out of 138 seats. Both parties were centered around geographical and ethnic politics, leading to the Awami League’s inability to gain traction in the West and the PPP’s similar lack of success in the East. The conflict between the two political leaders, Sheikh Mujeeb’s commitment to the Six-Point Movement he presented in 1966, failed dialogues between stakeholders, the chief martial law administrator’s inability to maintain impartiality, and his reluctance to convene an inaugural session of the National Assembly contributed to the brewing of an armed uprising within the region.
Sheikh Mujeeb’s Six-Point Movement sought to grant autonomous status to the provinces, but these points were seen as counterproductive to national cohesion and integration. However, the formulation of the Six-Point Movement was a response to the grievances endured by the populace of East Pakistan, who felt neglected by the federal government’s focus on the development of West Pakistan.
The commencement of Operation Searchlight in March 1971 by Pakistan’s armed forces in East Pakistan escalated the conflict, which was further fueled by both covert and overt espionage and military actions launched by India, Pakistan’s arch-nemesis. It appeared that the president was influenced by Bhutto and unable to take appropriate action. In the end, the use of brute force proved ineffective in quelling the rising tensions, and Pakistan’s military finally surrendered on December 16, 1971, leading to the birth of Bangladesh.
Bhutto was sworn in as a civilian chief martial law administrator on December 20, 1970, and Sheikh Mujeeb officially assumed the premiership of Bangladesh, marking the disintegration of the state of Pakistan.
Bhutto was influenced by socialism and, in an effort to alleviate the nation’s economic predicaments and curb the influence of the famous “22 families,” he envisioned and expedited a nationalization program. This program involved the nationalization of core industries in Pakistan, including agriculture, education, banking, insurance, and the heavy engineering sector, among others.
However, some commentators argue that nationalization had an adverse effect on the state’s economic growth. When examining the GDP growth rate, the contrast is notable: during the 1960s, the GDP growth rate was 6.8 percent per annum, but it plummeted to 4.8 percent per annum during the 1970s. Additionally, other macroeconomic and microeconomic factors exhibited a relatively declining trend, according to a recently published report by Kazim Alam.
The process of framing the constitution was also done under Bhutto’s leadership, culminating in the enactment and ratification of the Constitution of Pakistan on August 14, 1973. This 1973 constitution still governs the nation today, though it has been fine-tuned over the years to align with the country’s evolving social and economic trends.
During Bhutto’s administration, Pakistan’s nuclear program was initiated as a countermeasure to India’s nuclear advancements. Records indicate that Bhutto took a keen personal interest in the program, even holding meetings with esteemed scientists to jumpstart its development.
Bhutto’s downfall can be attributed to the results of the 1977 elections. The Pakistan National Alliance, a coalition of parties opposing Bhutto, alleged that the national polls were compromised and rigged by the Bhutto administration. This led to the initiation of the “Nizam-e-Mustafa” movement. As protests and instability gripped the country, Bhutto declared a state of emergency on April 21, 1977. However, the situation spiraled out of control, prompting the then army chief, General Zia-ul-Haq, to dismiss Bhutto’s government and assume the role of the nation’s chief executive.
Bhutto was subsequently tried for the murder of a political opponent and was sentenced to death on March 18, 1978. This sentence was carried out a year later, in April 1979.
The invasion of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union in December 1979 brought Pakistan and the USA closer, despite their previously lukewarm relations. In a bid to counter Soviet influence, the USA forged an alliance with Pakistan’s military dictator, resulting in the influx of billions of dollars in foreign and military aid, which played a significant role in reviving Pakistan’s economic growth.
To legitimize his control over the country, General Zia organized non-party elections in 1985, leading to the appointment of Muhammad Khan Junejo as the Prime Minister. This new setup was designed to preserve General Zia’s autonomy and ensure that both the federal and provincial cabinets remained subservient to the presidency. However, from the outset, General Zia and Junejo were at odds. Junejo aspired to revive true democratic culture within the country and lift the state of emergency, which conflicted with Zia’s approach to governance.
The Junejo-led government was dismissed by the President of Pakistan in May 1988 due to escalating conflicts between the two leaders. General Zia tragically perished months later on August 17, 1988, when his aircraft encountered a mysterious accident. Instead of extending martial law, General Mirza Aslam Baig, Zia’s second in command, opted for the revival of democracy and invited Ghulam Ishaq Khan to assume the role of interim president. General elections were organized in December 1988, leading to the designation of Benazir Bhutto, daughter of the late Bhutto, as the Prime Minister.
The Benazir-led government was dismissed by President Ghulam Ishaq Khan on corruption charges in August 1990, and the country went to polls again in October 1990. These elections resulted in the formation of the Nawaz-led PML-N government, although the PPP alleged that the polls had been rigged.
The Nawaz-led government was dismissed in 1993 due to escalating conflicts between President Ghulam Ishaq Khan and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Although the Supreme Court later reinstated Nawaz Sharif’s administration, the country again went to polls in October 1993 after both Ghulam Ishaq Khan and Nawaz Sharif vacated their positions on the advice of the military establishment.
Benazir Bhutto once again took the reins of the state, but her government was dismissed in November 1996 after she developed differences and conflicts with President Farooq Ahmed Leghari.
In a surprising turn of events, former cricketer and philanthropist Imran Khan founded Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, hoping to revolutionize the system and offer an alternative to the two ruling political elite families who had dominated the country’s politics for the past decade.
Nawaz Sharif reappeared on the political horizon of the country following the 1997 general elections. In response to India’s nuclear tests conducted in May 1998, Pakistan conducted its own nuclear tests on May 28, 1998, disregarding the international sanctions that soon followed.
In October 1999, General Musharraf dismissed Nawaz Sharif’s government after Sharif attempted to dismiss the general amid rising conflicts between the two in the wake of the Kargil conflict. Musharraf alleged that Nawaz was unable to withstand external pressure from foreign leaders, leading to a humiliating retreat. Nawaz, on the other hand, claimed that he was kept in the dark regarding the details of the military operation and maintained that he had the right to dismiss the chief.
The next nine years of Pakistan’s history are marked by controversies and conflicts. In the wake of the U.S.’s war on terror in Afghanistan in 2001, Pakistan once again aligned itself with the USA, leading to an influx of military and financial aid. Similar to his predecessors, General Musharraf organized a general election in a bid to consolidate his power and introduced a devolution of power plan to ensure grassroots-level administration. However, the Musharraf administration was also marred by instances of human rights violations, with the case of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui being a prominent example.
In December 2007, Benazir Bhutto was assassinated after returning from exile. The 2008 elections led to the formation of a PPP-led government. The 2013 elections saw the rise of Nawaz Sharif once more, although opposition parties claimed that the 2008 and 2013 elections were rigged.
The APS incident in December 2014 shocked the nation to its core and strengthened its resolve to defeat terrorism. In July 2017, Nawaz Sharif was disqualified by the Supreme Court on corruption charges, though his party, PML-N, completed the five-year term. The 2018 elections led to the rise of a new face, Imran Khan, who was eventually removed through a vote of no-confidence in 2022, leading to the return of the House of Sharif.
The country is currently reeling from the worst economic and political crisis in its history. The hope for Pakistan’s future lies with its youth. To overcome the challenges we face, the youth of Pakistan must play a vital role in the nation’s development and strive to realize Quaid’s vision for the country.
