Politics & Mindset of banning , making and breaking Political Parties in Pakistan
Part 1 (1947-1977)
Aamir Riaz
In recent past when General Mushraf was breaking PPP and PML(N) and making Patriot& Q-League Mr Altaf Hussain, Imran Khan and Muthida Majlis e Amal (MMA)i-e an alliance of all religio-political parties (Devbandi, Shia, Ahl e Hadith, Sunni brealvi) were with Mushraff . At that time neither Altaf nor MQM could think of reverse action. Even media supporters of MQM were busy in highlighting weaknesses of both PPP and PML(N). In many ways, making, breaking and banning of political parties represent a mindset and is interlinked too. National Awami party was banned in 1975 and it is the only example in which Z A Bhutto adopted a due process and went to Supreme Court. Was it a good decision? or not, it is a separate question but General Zia had released all prisoners without consulting SC.
After infamous speech of Altaf there was a demand to ban MQM and it raises an old debate regarding banning of political parties. However, media is narrating misleading facts regarding banning of parties in past. We inherited tradition of banning political parties and media from colonial masters. Many leftist groups and independent newspapers, magazines were banned during Raj. Following that tradition Pakistan banned Communist Party of West Pakistan in July 1954 without going to Court. The party head quarter was sealed that was situated at 114 McLeod Road, Lhore in Lady Sir Fazl e Hussain Building. Publishing house of the party People's Publishing House situated at Nisbat road, Lhore was also sealed. It is to be remembered that ruling ML had lost grip even in early years. Mian Iftiqar Mamdot (ex CM Punjab), Mian Iftiqar u din, Ayub Khurro, H S shurawardy etc were among those who left ML and formed different parties. Provincial elections held from March 1951 till mid 1954 in all the 4 provinces were enough proof of deterioration in ML. After the forced removal of Ghulam Muhammad at August 1955, Mirza+Ayub nexus played the negative rule that laid foundations of breaking and making of political parties. But before his removal Ghulam Muhammad had formed 2nd Constitutional assembly on the basis of fresh provincial mandate in May 1955 and that assembly played an important rule. At that time Sikandar Mirza and Ayub Khan (He was the first Army Chief who took extension) managed to form the first pro-establishment political party in Pakistan at October 1955. It was the same month when as Governor General Sikandar Mirza had imposed One Unit Scheme in West Pakistan. General Ayub khan's brother was CM NWFP at that time. Grounds were prepared for Republican Party that had members from elite of all provinces and States in it. The President of the party was none the other but Dr Khan Sahib, brother of Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan. it was begining of a new nexus between Khans of Charsada and Major General Sikandar Mirza and Ayub Khan. Dr Khan Sahib was famous due to his anti ML mindset and was Congress CM in former NWFP till 14th August 1947. His record against ML and its leaders was a known fact. He became first CM of West Pakistan at 14 October 1955. Major General Sikandar Mirza was elected first president at March 1956 due to his support from Republican Party in the 2nd constitutional assembly. it was the same assembly that passed the first constitution of Pakistan same time. One Unit Scheme and many infamous articles were included in that constitution due to support of Republicans.In short Ban on CPP and formation of the Republican Party were pioneer acts and you can consider it beginning of bad governance in Pakistan. The first test of the Republican Party of public support was first general elections and its date was January 1959. That elite nexus knew very well that they had no support in public. The party had elitist politicians from Sindh, Baluchistan, Punjab and KPK and States like Dir, Swat, Bhawalpur, Khairpur etc. But now they wanted to avoid general elections. one should remember the political scenario as well. After the ban in 1954 many leftists leaders and workers later on joined Awami Muslim League of H S Shurawardy and Azad Pakistan Party of Mian Iftiqar u din. Many of them in 1957 became part of newly formed National Awami Party. NAP had members in national as well as provincial assemblies. NAP was against liberal & Democratic H S Shurawardy and supported Sikandar Mirza and Republicans too. Anti Suharawardy stands of Mollana Bhashani and West Pakistani NAP leadership was suited to Mirza+Ayub nexus in many ways. No doubt, it was an anti-imperialist Pro-Moscow alliance between communists and nationalists yet in Pakistani context it weakened liberal democratic struggle but at the same time it gathered East and West Pakistan communists and nationalists under one umbrella first and last time. Same year in local bodies election at Karachi, Jamat e Islami won majority. Awami League had routes in East and West Pakistan due to popular H S Shurawardy. You can well imagine that new political players were more strong then ruling nexus at that time in different areas of the country. So Ayub Khan imposed dictatorship three month before election. Ayub banned all political parties. Political activities were banned for three years. Ayub knew failures of Republican elite so he tried to built new leadership of politicians through Local Bodies...Looks Democratic but serves Masters....When political parties as well as their activities were banned politics found its course in educational institutions. Ayub followed traditions set by Liaqat Ali Khan and used slogan of corruption against his opponents. It further corrupted the political scenario. Ayub lifted the ban from political parties after imposing infamous 1962 constitution. Ironically Molvi Tamizudin got powerful post of Speaker. Ayub formed another Republican party and gave it a name Convention Muslim League. Muslim League was further divided in numerous factions in later years. Till 1966 NAP was among the best powerful opposition parties in both wings of Pakistan including the Punjab along with Awami League in East Pakistan. But NAP disintegrated in numerous factions in between 1966-8. It broke in two factions NAP Bhashani (Maoists) and NAP Wali (Pro Moscow) at first stage and then further divided in various left nationalist factions. That disintegration was largely due to internal cum personal clashes but all groups had ideological reasoning for separation too. Same time a new party was formed under the leadership of Z A Bhutto in Lhore and it attracted many leftists too. In 1969 Abdus Samad Achakzai too left NAP wali. He was a Pukhtoon nationalist from Baluchistan. He was in favor of making a united Pukhtoon province but Chardsada Khans were more interested in revival of NWFP. Achakzai called it a betrayal from Pukhtoon cause. It further shrunk NAP Wali. Results of 1970 elections proved that there were two major parties in Pakistan i-e PPP & Awami League. NAP wali was 7th largest party in united Pakistan and 6th largest party in West Pakistan. It got only 6 seats in national assembly out of 300 in comparison of PPP (81), PML-Q (9), JUP, JI, JUI (7 each). Even in NWFP the NAP wali did not do well and got 13 seats out of 40. Although it was number one yet PML-Q got 10 seats too. In Baluchistan due to Baloch participation NAP Wali got 8 seats out of 20. After 1970 elections General Yahya remained reluctant to transfer power. At 25 March 1971 he banned Awami League and launched a military operation that ended with breakage of Pakistan. Z A Bhutto, leader of majority party took over the charge at 20th December 1971. At that time some internal and external forces were busy in further disintegration of Western wing of Pakistan. Some powerful Baluch sardars had contacts with Iraq against Iran due to border conflict of Iranian Baluchistan. I interviewed Raheem Zafar , who was among the founders of BSO and got training in Iraq few months after 1970 elections against Iran. On the other hand Afghanistan was interested in separation of Baluchistan and NWFP. Land lock Afghanistan wanted an access till ocean. In a recently published book Jumma Khan Sufi , a Pukhtoon communist described those events with details when Wali Khan had formed Pukhtoon Zulmay in May 1970 for that purpose. I reviewed that book Confessions of a Pukhtoon Revolutionary in the TNS. The year 1971 was important mild stone regarding shifting of Sea control from UK to USA as par Tehran Conference of 1943 and Yalta agreement of 1945. Iran wanted a regional role but USA was not interested partly due to its choice to control strategic Red Sea and partly due to Iran's past friendship with UK. Status of Iran as regional power did not suit its Arab neighbors. In spite of all odds Bhutto engaged NAP Wali and after negotiations agreed to give NAP Governor-ships and Chief Minister-ships in NWFP and Baluchistan. Although in NWFP Qyum Khnan's party had 10 votes and PPP had three votes and Qyum Khan told Bhutto that he could won majority with the help of JI (4 seats), Council Muslim league and independents but Bhutto did not allow him. Instead of making alliance with liberal progressive PPP, Wali khan made alliance with his old Congress friend and hence Mollana Mufti Mahmood became CM who had won only 4 seats out of 40. interestingly Mollana M M imposed Islam in NWFP and secular NAP wali was his partner in 1972. in later years same Wali Khan became part of infamous PNA and in late 1980s he joined IJI. But before taking oath, NAP Wali workers led protest rallies in Karachi, interior Sindh and Baluchistan and targeted Khana Farhng e Iran etc. Supposedly protesters were Baluchs and trained in Iraq. Sindh president of NAP wali Barister Aziz ullah described that situation in his book Untold Story well. Iran protested and Bhutto had to bear the pressure. It is to be remembered that 1970 assembly was a constituent assembly and assembly was bound to make constitution in specific time frame. Bhutto thought that a consensus constitutional document would benefit the country and people well in post Dhakka Fall scenario. In those negotiations Mir Ghous Baksh Bazenjo of Turbat (Baluchistan) played an important role yet his fellow Baluch partners were remained busy in other activities. Ironically a karachi based communist group under the leadership of Imam Ali Nazish was supporting Pukhtoon and Baloch separatists. When Bhutto agreed for NAP's Governors and CMs he may had an impression that after taking power they might review their politics but they had other designs. That was the scenario in which ZAB broke provincial government of Baluchistan and nominated his own Governor Akhbar Bhugti and removed Bazenjo. Baluchistan Assembly remained intact and it elected new CM Jam Mir Ghulam Qadir Khan. In protest or fear NWFP CM resigned and later on provincial assembly elected Sardar Inayat ullah Gandapur as new CM. jumma Khan Sufi penned details how Jalabad trained Pukhtoon Zalmay increased sabotage activities in Pakistan with the help of Wali Khan in 1973-5. ZAB government collected all details and sent the case in SC. After many hearings SC not only banned NAP but imposed 5 year embargo on some NAP politicians for not taking part in elections for 5 years. After that ban Sherbaz Mazari of the Punjab, Hoti sardar and Nasim wali Khan founded a new party National Democratic Party (NDP) and joined anti Bhutto alliance PNA. During those proceedings Bazenjo annoyed with Wali Khan and after 1975 he never joined him in a political party till his death. It was partly due to Wali Khan's links with Afghanistan and partly due to Wali Khan's links with Zia ul Haq much before 1977. Bazenjo did same with some powerful Baloch Sardars. At July 5th, 1977 Zia imposed dictatorship and released NAP leaders. Zia did a promise with nation that he would hold elections in 90 days. At that important time Wali khan helped Zia and demanded accountability before elections. WaliKhan demanded accountability from a military dictator. After postponement of elections Zia started his agenda to destroy PPP, the major popular party of Pakistan and rest we all knew. But i Will complete it soon.
Some references
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