Sirajuddin Aziz's eulogising Bhutto's role in 1971 is not understandable.
KARACHI: This is with reference to Sirajuddin Aziz's article "Our 1971 debacle" (December 16). The writer's emotionalism with regard to the loss of our eastern wing is understandable but what is not is that he eulogised the role of Zulkifar Ali Bhutto in lifting the morale of a demoralised nation. In fact, I would say that he would speak half the truth about what had happened.
When Mujeebur Rehman achieved a landslide victory in the 1970 election, instead of accepting the defeat provoked the people of East Pakistan, Mr Bhutto made very provocative statements which further alienated the former. This may well have sowed the seeds of separation. He also committed the crime of boycotting the session of parliament that was held in Dhaka on March 3, 1971.
Had Bhutto agreed, at the United Nations, to a referendum for the people of East Pakistan, the army would have been saved from the impending humiliation. Surely, his role was not positive in the whole affair.
Safir A Siddiqui
Published in The Express Tribune, December 19th, 2010.
