Because of a despot a nation can regress 100 years, which is exactly what Ziaul Haq managed to do very well.
ISLAMABAD: This is in response to Mohammad Zia Adnan’s article published on August 16 titled “Ziaul Haq, My grandfather”.
While I must compliment this young man for his writing skills, unfortunately, articulation cannot change the history of events as well as the damage done to a nation. They say that a visionary leader can take a country 100 years ahead and in the same tone, because of a despot a nation can regress 100 years, which is exactly what Ziaul Haq managed to do very well, the repercussions of which we are still facing in the form of drugs, arms and extremists. These were the “gifts” that the young man’s grandfather left to the people of his country. I am sure that the writer wasn’t even born when his grandfather was wreaking “havoc” within Pakistan, a country built with blood, sweat and tears by the only real leader this country has had until now, the great Quaid-e-Azam, Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
During the 1980s, I was a teenager and lived in Islamabad. My father is an ex-fighter pilot who actually fought two wars for the sovereignty of his beloved country. As a young teenager, I remember the repressive environment we used to live in. It was worse than living in a police state. Telephones were bugged, key people were followed by intelligence agencies to report to the General about their activities and there was a general feeling of wretchedness in the air.
I know that the writer is being a loyal grandson, but since he is in the process of educating himself further, I would urge him to develop a more pragmatic and individual opinion rather than being influenced by someone else’s views. He should come to Pakistan instead of sitting in London and criticising other ineffective leaders, who I agree have looted this country.
Yes, agreed, there were other political forces who also contributed to the downward spiral of this country with the likes of Operation Blue Fox et al, but General Zia did this even more effectively when he gave sanctuary to Afghan refugees who have done irreversible damage to Pakistan and continue to do so. It is very easy to criticise and criticise one must, but not at the cost of justifying the “wrongs” of others.
Syed Adnan Haider
Published in The Express Tribune, August 19th, 2014.
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