GENERAL ZIAULHAQ IN THE LIGHT OF RESULTS

Instead of the person of General Ziaulhaq we are critics of his actions which resulted in the present difficulties that Pakistan is suffering from. The biggest problem is the terrorism in the name of religion. During his lifetime General was holding meetings after collecting all Islam lovers and tried to create unity among Muslims. But it did not produce the desired results rather it resulted in religious harshness and the tolerance for each other gradually disappeared. It was during General Ziaulhaq?s period that first time incidents of terrorism happened in mosques, shrines and religious meetings and processions .Thousands of people were killed in such incidents. These included people belonging to all religious schools of thought and big clergy men and common citizens, political leaders and social workers, the Imams of mosques and their followers, and the children, women and other street by-passers.

In order to counter the peoples party, General Ziaulhaq gave lot of financial aid to Sindh?s principal linguistic party and Jiye Sindh movement of G.M.Syed and provided them government patronage. In spite of his shrewdness General Ziaulhaq was a non-political personality. The purpose of courting the regional, linguistic and separatists movements by General Zia was perhaps to make them patriots and bring them in the mainstream of country?s politics and thus undo the influence of peoples party in their areas of influence. But what happened was exactly opposite to this. The objectives of these linguistic and separatist parties were diametrically different from General Ziaulhaq?s objectives. In these areas People Party became weaker but it was replaced by anti-Pakistan elements. The steps taken by those, who do not understand national objectives and are non-political, damage the country beyond measures. It is therefore imperative for the rulers to think dispassionately about the outcome and result of their actions before undertaking the steps of their liking or disliking. In American system the most interesting thing is that when the president or any cabinet member wants to take any step then the matter is referred to the three committees comprising the personal staff of the president. There is a committee of twenty five to thirty intellectuals, university professors and others who have a deep knowledge of international affairs constituted for the purpose who study the pros and cons of the action and its negative and positive consequnces. This committee thoroughly analyses and debates the suggestion for its application on the regional level or for other parts of America and presents its negative implications in writing to the president. Whether the president on his part either undertakes measures to counter the negative effects of the proposal or altogether cancels it is a separate matter. But those who are now dreaming of ruling over the whole world give so much thought to their affairs and what do we do? We first take the step and later think about the consequences or pay the penalty.

Islam has taught us to first weigh and then speak out. The weighing means that what ever action you propose to take you must thoroughly ponder over it. You should say some thing after thorough thinking about the consequences so that you might not have to suffer later on. During Gen. Zia?s period many such steps were taken which had to be retrieved afterwards. For example he held party-less elections for the assembly but had to form Muslim League and later on had to dismiss this government on the charges of corruption, bribery and moral turpitude . The sudden death of Gen. Zia had very bad effect on the conditions in Pakistan. Because he had planned many schemes whose script was in his custody. After his departure no one was prepared to implement these schemes. This included the matters related to Afghanistan which he tackled with the help of couple of his colleagues from the army and those colleagues also met their end in the plane crash along with the General. That is why Afghan problem is still lying unresolved.

General Zia created an anti-Bhutto force although he had already hanged him. After Bhutto there was no leader of his stature who could fill his place. But due to these steps of Gen. Zia Pakistan is still divided into pro and ant- Bhutto camps and as a result of political confrontation Pakistan politics is in a gloomy state for affairs for the last sixteen years. That is why no political party has succeeded in Pakistan. The political leaders who are politically immature hurl such frivolous charges on each other that people do not want to see their faces after that. And then the Ziaulhaq- trained politicians in spite of democracy take such steps which a person can not imagine even in dictatorship. Throughout his life Late Ziaulhaq took every step in the name of Islam and for the pleasure of Allah and his prophet(PBUH) but not a single step was taken with the sincerity of purpose and love for Islam. He did every thing in the name of Islam to prolong his rule. But one thing that goes in favour of forgiving all his self-aggrandisement is his sincerity with the Atomic Programme. He turned the dream of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto about Atomic programme into reality with full sincerity maintaining its secrecy.

Like an expert in diplomatic affairs he established good relations with India. In secret he continued working on the Kashmir front but extolling traditional relations and diplomacy with them he tstarted talking about trade relations with them. And on the other hand he occupied Siachin glacier which is situated at a height of 26 thousand feet above sea level. Gen. Zia was any way a patriot and atrue soldier. In 1983 he took strong measures to forestall the Indian army?s advance but he could not repulse Indians from Siachin and with retaliation he inflicted heavy losses to Indian forces and chose the highest situated arena of war in the world for tug of war and got vacated much of the area and India had to bear heavy loss. General also received F-16 planes from America which resulted in making Pakistan?s air power stronger than India?s air force. During Indira Gandhi?s period and thereafter the General used to visit India to watch cricket matches without invitation. It is said that Indian government felt embarrassed due to such a step. Whenever he liked he would visit India without any prior programme and Indian government felt constrained to provide him full protocol.

In 1986 the activities of freedom fighter increased on the Kashmir front and in Siachin also Pakistan army showing unprecedented gallantry inflicted heavy losses to Indian forces. Those days the news was in circulation in the world media that India is planning to attack Pakistan. On this General Zia went to India to watch cricket test match and in his short meeting with Rajiv Gandhi conveyed to him that Pakistan had made a bigger atomic cracker with Uranium augmentation than what they had done. ?Because Uranium is quite cheap so we have ample stock of this material. If some one dares to cross Pakistan?s border and there is any danger to the security of the country we shall by grace of God very successfully strike the desired targets with it because we have already manufactured launchers for this purpose.? It is said that Rajiv Gandhi got flabbergasted on hearing this and he thought in his mind that this old man was trying to bluff him. He sent an Indian journalist Kuldip Nayyar to Pakistan who had very cordial relations with many Pakistanis here. He met General Zia and expressed his desire to meet Pakistani scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan. On this General advised Kuldip to see renowned journalist Mushahid Husain and the later took Kuldip to see Abdul Qadeer Khan. Kuldip interviewed Dr Khan and Khan warned Indian leaders that Pakistan was fully prepared to face any challenge from India.

A lot of dust was raised as to why Mushahid Husain arranged a meeting of Dr Khan with the journalist of an enemy country and for many weeks Mushahid had to face the allegations and abuses of people. Later on this interview was released through BBC and Indian media. After a few months it was confirmed that Mushahid had arranged this meeting at the behest of the government so that Kuldip could verify the hint given by Zia to Rajiv Gandhi during their short meeting in Delhi. After this Zia ruled peacefully and visited India when ever he wanted like visiting a friendly country.

General Zia had made the right of the Pakistani people to vote subservient to his own will and exploited the name of Islam and faith more and took less measures in that direction. If Zia wanted he could enforce Islam during his rule and Pakistan could be made a model Muslim country in the world but it could not happen. After Zia?s death Pakistan came to square one. Zia snatched the government from Bhutto and after his death it went back to Bhutto’s daughter.