As there appeared to be no progress in the talks, people started to show anxiety about the whole situation. While the civic conditions in almost all parts of the country showed no improvement, rumour mongers seemed to have complete freedom.

The eighth round of talks was to be held on June 14, 1977 and it was expected that it would help move towards the final solution. During this meeting the Pakistan National Alliance (PNA) rejected the proposal of a coalition government and pressed for a consensus on the date of the polls; it wanted the polls to be held before Aug 14. Mufti Mahmood wanted definite decisions on all issues in the next meeting, as, he is reported to have said, otherwise they would not take part in the future talks.

Somehow Z.A. Bhutto thought that it was the right time to bring the army into the limelight; perhaps he presumed that it was necessary to assess the opinion of the army commanders. Or perhaps he felt that the support of the armed forces could put him in a better position in keeping the opposition tamed and continue with his rule.

At the end of the talks, the preceding day, Bhutto called for a meeting of the army’s top brass at the Prime Minister House the next morning, where Maulana Kausar Niazi and Abdul Hafeez Pirzada would assist him.

The meeting was attended as usual by Gen Ziaul Haq, the army chief and all the corps commanders. There were speculations that Bhutto, pressed by the opposition’s moves and agitation, was left with no options and was trying to reassure the people that the army was with him. He might have had other thoughts too, as the country was abuzz with all kinds of rumours.

The meeting began with Bhutto seeking the commanders’ opinion about the prevailing situation. Then, after making a simple observation, “The country is at the crossroads”, he summarised the progress in the talks process with the politicians and tried to justify the reason behind meeting the army at that juncture. He tried to convey that he had called them not to seek reassurance of their support, but what he said communicated that point.

He said: “I am fully aware of my power; you must remember that I can order the army. On referendum I consulted you because I do not want to impose a solution which you do not consider to be proper. I desire national consensus and you also happen to be a part of the nation. I don’t suffer from any complex. I do not feel shy in talking to army generals because I know you for the last 10 years. I don’t feel embarrassed in consulting you. When I talked to you about the referendum you might have felt that I would emerge all the more powerful. You wanted a political solution — I agreed. You were in favour of negotiations. I, therefore, told Mufti in the very first session that I am not talking to a foreign delegation, that you people are our elders and brothers. I am not an extremist, I am a liberal. As such it did not take me time to accept what they said. I accepted all their demands, no matter how heavy a price I may have to pay for that. Producing results is beyond my power.

“Some contradictions are bound to emerge as a result of the forthcoming elections which will create instability. But it is certain that after the elections no one will like the army’s interference as they would be having a fresh mandate. Moreover, they will not quarrel among themselves. That would be bad for the country but the army wouldn’t be able to do anything about it. The only way out is that the army should take over now. But this is not a bed of roses. When I met Yahya Khan after he took over, I made it clear to him that he was in a precarious position. He said: ‘What is politics? Common sense. And the bureaucracy says that I have political foresight, that I am imbued with common sense, and can run the government.’ But that was 1969; now it is 1977. Even at that time I had said that the second martial law was always weaker than the first one ... and the third would be still weaker. Weak in the sense that firstly you won’t be able to shoot anyone, and if you do, then remember that is the worst kind of weakness. Today, there is an awakening all over the world.

“It will also be said that the Punjabi army is running the government. The other provinces will feel alienated. There would be pressure on you about the ceasefire line in Kashmir. You will face problems on the issue of the reprocessing plant. Only a political government can deal with such matters, not the army. The major powers will also question the high proportion of the defence forces to the population. But I do not mean to say that I alone am the solution to all problems. No, I am trying to find an honourable solution by talking to the opposition and I am positive that I will succeed.”

Next week: Commanders want the talks to conclude with positive result shaikhaziiz38@gmail.com