Pakistan is a country currently in turmoil but this has not always been the case. In the 1960s, Pakistan’s economy was robust and was progressing in the right direction. Prices were stable and the stock exchange rose continuously. In the 1970s, after the breakup of Pakistan, leading to the independence of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and what some called ‘the judicial murder of Mr Bhutto’ the country’s fortunes began to change dramatically. So, what happened?
The dismemberment of Pakistan was a great shock to the young country. Some blamed Gen. Yahya and Mr Bhutto, and others blamed Shaikh Mujibur Rehman. However, a scrutiny of the events that took place shows that Shaikh Mujibur Rehman’s Awami League won a majority of seats in the National Assembly in the election, so the power should have transferred to him. It was not. What most analysts termed; chaos ensued. Mr Bhutto was handed power in ‘West Pakistan’ (now just Pakistan) and he began salvaging what little respect and reputation the military and the politicians had left. Analysts and politicians blamed the military defeat on Gen. Yahya and political blame on Mr Bhutto and Shaikh Mujib. This led to a grave polarisation in the armed forces and among the politicians.
After his fiery speech at the Security Council and his attempt to get the Muslim countries together, the public and analysts believe external forces began to collude with internal enemies of the country to get rid of Mr Bhutto and start a new era in which Pakistan became an economic target and a system was set up which kept the country economically dependent and its people poor. These facts are confirmed, to some extent, by the books, “The Nine Lives of Pakistan” and “No Exit from Pakistan.” In 1977, Gen. Zia hanged Mr Bhutto, though some called it a judicial murder. His hanging could well have been a punishment for making Pakistan nuclear and trying to forge an ‘Islamic alliance.’ Few people knew this but some believe that his hanging took place three days after the government made the announcement. This was to gauge his popularity. If the people had come out in his support and posed a danger to law and order then he may have been spared. This fact should act as a warning for those politicians who pride themselves on being ‘popular’ in Pakistan. Pakistanis only think about where their next meal is coming from. They are an ‘Insha’Allah’ nation. I have witnessed the moral bankruptcy in the country. Social ills permeate the country. Narcissistic and egotistical politics have destroyed the fabric of the country. Human rights are things of the past, and corruption is rampant. Justice is denied, openly. Speaking the truth is a sin and yet they all sit back and say: “Insha’Allah, everything will be ok.” Or some blame the West and Israel.
Many analysts believe that Political barons and sinister forces are at work and have taken control of the country’s economy in the 1990s and replaced able administrators with illiterate and corrupt individuals who did or do what the mafia tells them. Indeed, the PPP and PMLN leadership made promises that they did not keep but filled the posts in the institutions- civil service, the judiciary, police, election commission and NAB with their corrupt supporters, family members and friends. PPP and PMLN are viewed as family businesses. The PIA and many schools have employees, rewarded for supporting the two parties, who sit at home and yet get the pay leading to the virtual collapse of the aviation industry and the educational system. Corruption continued to increase and progressed to uncontrollable levels in the early 1990s. After nuclear tests the economy began to fail and corruption reached its peak. Some politicians and analysts blamed the Americans and others blamed the interference in politics by the Armed Forces. They, it is alleged, removed the Prime Ministers of PPP and PMLN for failing to take orders from the military and for failing to act on the policies formulated by them. Gen. Bajwa’s announcement in February 2022 that the Army will not interfere in future politics led credence to these allegations of military interference in the past.
In the 2018 general election, Mr Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) won the election and immediately the PPP and PMLN and other eight or nine fringe parties began to blame the military for installing, what they called, “a selected Prime Minister.” Within a few years, his government was in trouble. Like Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, Mr Khan’s premiership was too cut short, it was alleged, by the military. Yet the politicians continue to be at loggerheads and fail to form a consensus or pass laws during their tenure in office, limiting the military’s powers. Gen. Bajwa, allegedly, forced all nine or so parties to form a coalition to oust Mr Khan through a vote of no-confidence, calling it a democratic act. Yet many know that true democracy has never existed in this God-forsaken land.
PTI leadership said that the reason for Mr Khan’s removal was his foreign policy as he refused to give airbases to the Americans, and refused to recognise Israel, like Mr Bhutto tried to get the Muslim countries together and leaned more towards China and Russia for economic support. Acts, which they claim, did not go down well with Washington. Some analysts also allege that the primary reason for Mr Khan’s removal was Gen. Bajwa’s insistence that Mr Khan should recognise Israel. If this is the case then it can be said that there is a vociferous section of thinkers, politicians and military officers in Pakistan who want to recognise Israel. In the light of current geopolitics, this advice of Gen. Bajwa seems a good one. Most analysts accept that Mr Khan did make a series of tragic mistakes during his tenure and even after his removal from the government. The more tragic mistake was to remove his party from parliament and then dissolve provincial assemblies in Punjab and KPK provinces, thus paving the way for his opponents to plot anything against him. These errors have landed him in prison and most likely out of the forthcoming elections. Despite the army’s assertions that they will not interfere in politics, there have been special legal dispensations given to Nawaz Sharif. PTI and some analysts claim that the military has decided to install Nawaz Sharif as the next prime minister. If so, then why hold the elections? It would be a waste of billions of rupees. Could the reality be different? Is it the military interfering again or is it just the judiciary or other powerful forces that operate in Pakistan? What is clear is that Khan is being denied open justice. He may be anything else but he is not corrupt and this is the belief of most Pakistanis. More significant is the fact that the Pakistani media is not free and currently anyone even mentioning Mr Khan’s name is subject to punishment. PEMRA, the media’s regulatory body has taken action to shut down TV channels without giving a reason. The reason is always perceived to be that some journalist has spoken the truth and the powers to be did not like it.
It is now widely believed in Pakistan that the recognition of Israel is a necessity; it is a need of the time. The opposition to it comes mainly from the short-sighted religious community and some politicians but if anyone is foolish enough to openly support such a move then, like me, he or she is bound to face the wrath of our bearded and other emotional brothers. Unfortunately, emotions, rather than brains govern the Muslim Ummah today. Pakistan is supposed to be a Muslim country and the inhabitants are supposed to follow the Holy Quran and believe in Allah. Yet Allah almighty states in the book, in Chapter 5, verses 20-21 that he has written over the holy land to the Bani Israel. This settles everything and should lead to the immediate recognition of Israel by all Muslim countries. Bearing in mind, the current situation in the area, the recognition of the country may alleviate the leadership’s concerns about its security and fear of threats against its very existence. The Quran says that we Muslims must face the truth, even if it goes against ourselves. The truth is that Israel is there to stay and the current conflict was started by our brothers, not them. I too accept that Israel’s response is not proportionate but it shows that it fears for its continued existence, it does not trust its neighbours and is attempting to safeguard itself against any future misadventures by our brothers who light the fire and then take refuge among civilians in hospitals and residential areas.
I realise that those who speak the truth in this world stand to lose their life or are made to suffer in other ways. So be it. Life in this world is not permanent and must end one day. Someone once said:
“Truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is.”
This article is my opinion and most of the information is known to me personally and available publicly. The article is also a commentary on the issues currently facing the world, Muslims and especially Pakistanis. ©Sufi Abdul Aziz. The next article will be on the Kashmir issue.
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