In Continuation of Crisis in Pakistan.
Ayub Khan called his coup to be a revolution. Ordinarily revolution means a change for the better in governance of a country. But Ayub Khan’s revolution ushered in a rigorous martial law whereby people were deprived of their fundamental rights. The political parties were outlawed and banned, the name of Islamic Republic of Pakistan as given in 1956 constitution was cut to the size of Republic of Pakistan. It is unfortunate that this martial law was hailed by disgruntled politicians and molvis, so much so that Maulana Ehtisham-ul-Haq Khanvi stuck to Ayub Khan and was once available for fastening Imam Zaman on his left upper arm at Chaklala Airport, when the military dictator was to leave for a journey as head of Pakistan. There is a very startling feature which gives a conclusive picture of director of Politicians in Pakistan to show how vacillating they are both in their commitments and loyalties. The classic example is that of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. He was inducted in politics by Sikender Mirza who took him as Minister of Commerce. The distinction of the incumbent was that he was the youngest member of Sikender Mirza’s cabinet. People in those days normally believed that because of Mrs. Nusrat Bhutto, who was an Iranian lady (and some people said that she was related to Begum Naheed Sikendar Mirza), this favor was shown to the youngest minister in the history of Pakistan. (Once daughter of Sikender Mirza, Mrs Iqbal Imam, who was our guest, told us that Naheed Sikender Mirza had no relations with Nusrat Bhutto.) On his part Mr. Bhutto did not resent Ayub Khan’s ouster of Sikender Mirza, he rather accepted portfolio of foreign ministry under Ayub Khan and served him as a loyal child, sometimes calling Ayub Khan ‘Daddy’.
I had very cordial relations with Maulvi Fareed Ahmed, an MNA from East Pakistan, who would often visited my house and tell us about his exchange of retorts with Mr. Bhutto. Once this exchange of retort was in following terms;
Mula you are a dandy (touching his glazing red tie) Bhutto said to Maulvi Fareed Ahmed, who replied, but I don’t call Ayub Khan my daddy. Later on Mr. Bhutto played Brutus to Ayub Khan.
Ayub Khan ruled the country for eleven years. During his first five years he introduced industrial agriculture reforms and laid foundations for economic development of Pakistan.
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