Political Situation
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General Election 1970
On the face of growing protests, strikes, and wide spread demonstrations, the mighty military President Ayub Khan handed over power to another Military General – Yahya Khan. It was 25th March, 1969. General Khan was able to read the sentiment of the public. He understood that the people were not ready to settle for anything less than a democracy this time. He announced that the first general election in the history of Pakistan would commence on 7th December, 1970.
The Eastern population enacted their revenge in response to this lackadaisical and arrogant attitude of the government through the general election of 7th December. In East Pakistan the Awami League led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman secured a sweeping victory. The Awami League had won 167 out of 169 seats. In the West Julfilar Ali Bhutto’s newly formed People’s Party had won 81 out of the 138 seats. [1].
The East Pakistan rejoiced at the convincing victory of their leader. They hoped that at last it would herald the end of their misery and oppression. The country’s next prime minister in making was undoubtedly Mujibur Rahman. Alas! That was not to happen so easily. Pakistan’s military regime decided that under no circumstances would they hand over the power to the Bengalis of East Pakistan.
Political Conspiracy
What followed after the general election was a conspiracy – indescribable and despicable. In January 1971, President Yahya Khan met with Mujibur Rahman to conduct a negotiation. Rahman was firm over regional autonomy. Yahya Khan said – “You have the votes, I have the power.” Obviously the negotiation went no where.
Apparently, Yahya-Bhutto had started playing a game. This fact was corroborated by the topmost Pakistani General, General A.A.K. Niazi who lead the 1971 war. Three decades later in an interview [2] in 2001 with a Indian TV channel he said – “Yahya and Bhutto viewed Mujib’s victory in 1970 election with distaste, because it meant that Yahya had to vacate the presidency and Bhutto had to sit in the opposition benches contrary to his aspirations. So these two got together and hatched a plan in Larkana, Bhutto’s hometown, which came to be known as Larkana Conspiracy. The plan was to postpone the National assembly indefinitely and block the transfer of power to Awami League.”[2] Yahya Khan postponed the general Assembly on March 1, 1971.
East Pakistan burst into protests and indefinite non-cooperation. Trains did not run, no banks operated, ships were not unloaded. No children went to school. Day to day life was at a standstill with tension mounting with every passing hour. Yahya Khan arrived in Dhaka to continue giving an illusion of an ardent desire to negotiate. Bhutto joined him few days later. From time to time Yahya would pretend to agree with one or the other and then the next moment the discussion would fall flat. All they were doing was buying tine. In the meantime war-ships started to bring in weapons and ammunition.
On the face of growing protests, strikes, and wide spread demonstrations, the mighty military President Ayub Khan handed over power to another Military General – Yahya Khan. It was 25th March, 1969. General Khan was able to read the sentiment of the public. He understood that the people were not ready to settle for anything less than a democracy this time. He announced that the first general election in the history of Pakistan would commence on 7th December, 1970.
The Eastern population enacted their revenge in response to this lackadaisical and arrogant attitude of the government through the general election of 7th December. In East Pakistan the Awami League led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman secured a sweeping victory. The Awami League had won 167 out of 169 seats. In the West Julfilar Ali Bhutto’s newly formed People’s Party had won 81 out of the 138 seats. [1].
The East Pakistan rejoiced at the convincing victory of their leader. They hoped that at last it would herald the end of their misery and oppression. The country’s next prime minister in making was undoubtedly Mujibur Rahman. Alas! That was not to happen so easily. Pakistan’s military regime decided that under no circumstances would they hand over the power to the Bengalis of East Pakistan.
Political Conspiracy
What followed after the general election was a conspiracy – indescribable and despicable. In January 1971, President Yahya Khan met with Mujibur Rahman to conduct a negotiation. Rahman was firm over regional autonomy. Yahya Khan said – “You have the votes, I have the power.” Obviously the negotiation went no where.
Apparently, Yahya-Bhutto had started playing a game. This fact was corroborated by the topmost Pakistani General, General A.A.K. Niazi who lead the 1971 war. Three decades later in an interview [2] in 2001 with a Indian TV channel he said – “Yahya and Bhutto viewed Mujib’s victory in 1970 election with distaste, because it meant that Yahya had to vacate the presidency and Bhutto had to sit in the opposition benches contrary to his aspirations. So these two got together and hatched a plan in Larkana, Bhutto’s hometown, which came to be known as Larkana Conspiracy. The plan was to postpone the National assembly indefinitely and block the transfer of power to Awami League.”[2] Yahya Khan postponed the general Assembly on March 1, 1971.
East Pakistan burst into protests and indefinite non-cooperation. Trains did not run, no banks operated, ships were not unloaded. No children went to school. Day to day life was at a standstill with tension mounting with every passing hour. Yahya Khan arrived in Dhaka to continue giving an illusion of an ardent desire to negotiate. Bhutto joined him few days later. From time to time Yahya would pretend to agree with one or the other and then the next moment the discussion would fall flat. All they were doing was buying tine. In the meantime war-ships started to bring in weapons and ammunition.
1. Payne, Robert. Massacre. New York: Macmillan, 1973. Print.
2. Khan Niazi, Ameer A. Interview. Rediff.com. Rediff, 02 Feb. 2004. Web. 11 Jan. 2014.
2. Khan Niazi, Ameer A. Interview. Rediff.com. Rediff, 02 Feb. 2004. Web. 11 Jan. 2014.