Need to correct history by forming judicial commission on the incident and holding the responsible persons accountable
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA: On July 5th, 1977 misery struck Pakistan, when a group of self-serving and interest-seeking generals, purely for their interest and for that of international establishment, seized power by ousting Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. Martial law was imposed on the pretext of restoration of law and order, and to hold free and fair elections in 90 days as promised by Gen Ziaul Haq.
The world witnessed in the years to come that not only the usurpers prolonged their tenure by manoeuvring locally and internationally, but they changed the entire social course of Pakistani society. His leadership altered the course of politics in the country, results of which still haunt Pakistan.
He pounced upon the opportunity to bring about fundamental change in the makeup of the Pakistani federation by injecting faith through seminaries across the country. The society which was otherwise a tolerant, accommodating and plural in nature got transformed into a rigid, intolerant and conformist. Zia took every opportunity to strengthen his dictatorial rule. Mendacity was the order of the day under the general. The space for dissent shrank and rigidity filled it up, it’s been 40 years now since that fateful day of July. Whether it’s a sheer coincidence or something else but it fell on the following day of America’s Independence, which is celebrated on July 4th.
There is a need to correct history by forming a judicial commission on the incident and holding the responsible persons accountable, and declare this day a black day.
Malik Atif Mahmood Majoka
Published in The Express Tribune, July 5th, 2017.
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