(Khaleel Y. Siddiqi, Toronto, Canada, E-mail: khaleel@rogers.com)

Instalment # 4

Event # 6, Mr. Bhutto’s Dialectical Materialism:-

After his dismissal from Ayub Khan’s Cabinet, Bhutto became, as usual, a persona-non-grata in all governmental circles. CID & all Intelligence Agencies started watching his activities and he was under total ‘Surveillance’. His friends and admirers in government left meeting him, what to talk of his friends in the business community! Despite all those restrictions, Bhutto succeeded in forming a political party (PPP) in Lahore, with the assistance & co-operation of progressive persons like: Dr. Mubasshar Hasan, Hanif Ramay, J.A.Rahim, Miraj Khalid, etc. However, this was all being done very secretly.

Agha Amir Hussain had his “Classic Book Depot” at the inter-section of Mall Road and Hall Road. It used to be centre of all ‘Progressives’ in Lahore. I do not remember a day, during my 20 years in Lahore, when I could not visit the Book Depot. I learned about the formation of this political party at the Book Depot from the famous poet & writer, (Late) Safdar Mir. I could also learn that Bhutto was in Lahore and staying in Flatties Hotel but was under strict surveillance. After two or three days, I along with Haneef Malik of Paper Corner, Ganpath Road, Lahore, went to see some of his customer who was staying in the same hotel. I had already informed Haneef Malik that Mr.Bhutto was also staying in the same hotel and had also told him the facts that caused Bhutto’s expulsion. At about 11.30.p.m., when we were coming out, I saw Mr.Bhutto sitting all alone in the lounge, sipping some liquor. Ignoring any CID watch-man, I dashed to him and after saying Salam sought his permission to kiss him ! Mr. Bhutto got up set with this sudden approach and odd request and asked me to introduce myself. I told him that I was a Free Lance journalist subscribing articles in Daily Kohistan, on social & political events, and that from my Brother-in-Law, Mr. Ekbal Ather, had heard the entire story of his (Bhutto’s) courage, brilliance & wit that caused his ousting from the Cabinet. With that explanation, he took a sigh of relief and then said: “ Oh ! you can now surely kiss me !” So I kissed his fore-head. Then on my request, he agreed to give me time for an interview the very next day at 11.30.a.m., in his room.

The next day, I asked Naseem Sahib for deputing Kohistan’s photographer to cover that Inteview but was refused. Naseem Sahib was a six-footer healthy man but was a very coward person. He did not want to project a man who was against the existing ruler, General Ayub Khan. Then I contacted Aali Rizvi, the Editor of Kohistan, who readily deputed his staff photographer. I reached the hotel at 11.25 and got surprised to see Mr.Bhutto waiting for me, well dressed, in the Lounge. He took me and Rafiq ( the photographer) straight to his room, made us sit at a table and asked me to start the interview with the request that I would not ask questions about his personal life , family affairs, etc. While Rafiq was fixing my tape-recorder on the table, I gave Mr. Bhutto the list of questions I had prepared. He went through the list and very much appreciated the questions I had for him to answer.

The interview lasted for about one and an half hour. Here I would like to reproduce only two of his HISTORICAL comments: one about Army’s Role in Pakistan and the second, about Moulana Maudodi:-

Army’s Role in Pakistan: Mr.Bhutto said: “ Ayub Khan is a General who has conquered his own people and become a Field Marshal ! Armd Forces have started ruling-over and looting their own country-men instead of serving and protecting them, Pakistan Army (including Air Force and Navy) is no more a fighting force capable of defending the country. It has turned into a well discipline Political party. . Every person who joins army after his Matric or Intermediate Certificate, & starts his career as 2^nd Lt., dreams of becoming President of Pakistan, although he is trained “ To do or die….Not to ask what & why.” What could you expect from persons of this educational background and that kind of training ? Nothing but an ideal Yes Man with no vision or foresight ! These ‘Yes Men’, some of them even after their retirement, have been posted and inserted into Ministries, Govt. Departments and Autonomous Bodies which tattered the very fabric of the Civil Adminstration”.

“After 17-days Sept.1965 war with India, two things further corrupted the Army:-

1) Their salaries were revised and increased with retrospective effect, i.e. from January 1963. This sudden increase in their In-come, took out the venom of a fighting force from their blood. They have become lethargic and lavish.

2) Then almost 47 % of fertile land at the banks of river Indus in Sind, has been allotted / awarded to Defence Forces Officers and Jawans for their meritorious services during 1965 war. This, at one hand, added to the wealth of Defence Personnel and on the other hand, created a hatred for the Army among the local inhabitants.

You will see that this Army will not go back into their barracks until they destroy the country & disgrace the entire nation in the eyes of the world.”

While commenting on the political consciousness of the people, he remarked that our country for lack of education and presence of Jageers (feudal system) is yet not fit for a democracy. Feudal Lords are, in fact, a menace in the progress of the country. They are have lot of Un-earned Income from their Jageers, & would, therefore, never like their servants to get some education.

He was of the firm opinion that the alliance between West & East Pakistan was an Un-natural association. With the exception of religion, which was a very thin link, there was nothing common between the two wings. As such, in his opinion, it would break in very near future particularly because of the negative behaviour of West Pakistanis. As far as West Pakistan, it would survive & prosper only if equal rights are given and basic needs (Roti, Kapra & Makaan) are provided to the people.

When asked about political parties in the West Wing, he said that there were, in fact, only three parties. One was Jamat-e-islami, the other would be the Peoples Party (his own) and the third was the Army !

I asked for his opinion about Moulana Maudodi of Jamat-e-Islami. He admitted that Moulana was a noble, very well read and a big scholar of the Quran. When I questioned as to why he would not join Moulana’s party, Bhutto stunned me with his wit and brilliance. He answered: “ Moulana Sahib is undoubtedly a very noble person and a big Islamic scholar, but he is travelling on this path of politics, sitting in the rear seat of a Tanga ( Horse Carriage). Being a very fat person, he can not move nor can turn his face. So he can only see what is past and can not see what is coming ahead !!”

This interview was published in the Daily Kohistan , Lahore, Pindi and Multan exactly the day when Mr. Bhutto announced the creation of PPP in a Press Conference, held at the Flaties Hotel, Lahore.