February 1971: Larkana, Rawalpindi and An Election Undermined
Syed Badrul Ahsan
Syed Badrul Ahsan
There are all the reasons why the state of Pakistan collapsed in Bangladesh fifty years ago, and not just because of the killings its soldiers committed in this land followed by military defeat at the end of 1971. A half century ago, Pakistan’s ruling classes, aided and abetted by a section of unscrupulous politicians, made it known in February 1971 that they were willing to put up impediments to the constitutional process that was about to be inaugurated in the country.
And that was quite a surprise, given that President Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan had visited Dhaka in January of the year and publicly declared that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman would be Pakistan’s future Prime Minister. That of course was nothing of the revelatory kind. The Bengali leader had led his party, the Awami League, to an overwhelming victory at the elections and was naturally poised to take over the g
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January 17, 2021 Share
“Pakistan has formally recognized the secession of Bangladesh, her former eastern wing, after a brief but bloody war two years ago, and has in effect conceded that a common religion is not enough to unite peoples separated by language, social and cultural barriers and 1,100 miles of India.” – John Watkins
Pakistan was formed on the basis of ‘Two Nation Theory’ and led by Jinnah who told that Muslims and Hindus have distinctive culture and civilization which makes it impossible for a peaceful coexistence which necessitates that Muslims need a country that will be for Muslims only. One the basis of religion, Pakistan was partitioned from India in 1947. Pakistan was formed to provide equal opportunities to all Muslims whether they belong to any region, language and colour; unfortunately, after only a few years Bangla speakers were marginalized and stereotyped.
SIALKOT: Seven people were killed including two students, while over 200 persons were injured seriously when police opened fire and lathi-charged at various places in Srinagar yesterday [Jan 9], says a report received here from across the cease-fire line.
… [The] Police arrested over 500 persons from Ananatnag, Baramula, Srinagar and several places for defying Sec. 144 imposed earlier. The report added that workers of the Plebiscite Front, Awami Action Committee and several other organisations took out a long procession to voice their feelings of resentment against the decision of the Indian Government to ban the entry of Sher-i-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and Mirza Afzal Beg in the valley under Safety Act. … - Agencies