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January 15, 2002
REVIEW: Those eventful 24 years
OVER the years, a sizable bulk of written material relating to the history and politics of Pakistan has been produced and is available to general readers and specialists in the form of books, research papers and articles in newspapers and journals. The subject has many aspects and facets and as such the existing material does not preclude the possibility, even the need, of fresh writing and new books on the subject.
The book Pakistan history and politics 1947-1971 written by Professor M. Rafique Afzal is intended to meet this need. According to the author, as he observes in the preface of the book, “most of the studies (on the subject) are of a topical nature or deal exclusively with just one theme or one aspect of history” while “there has been a need for a comprehensive account in a historical framework”. According to him, his “present work is an attempt in that direction”.
This is an account of the most momentous period in Pakistan’s history. The country which was set up in 1947 split into two in 1971 when East Pakistan became Bangladesh.
In these 24 years the country’s history went through four phases. The period 1947-54 was the one when Pakistan emerged as an independent country on the world map and grappled with the teething problems it faced in constitution-making. With the dismissal of the first Constituent Assembly in 1954 by the governor-general, Ghulam Mohammad, the political dimensions were transformed. The democratic process entered a new phase in 1954-58 when the bureaucracy gained control of power with the military exercising its influence on decision making from behind the scenes. The year 1958 witnessed the end of the civilian administration and the first military takeover took place under General Ayub Khan.
The next decade, 1958-69, was the period of military rule — the first the country experienced. It spelt the formal demise of democracy in Pakistan, which was a blow from which it could never recover. The entry of the army into politics has since become a permanent phenomenon and even when a civilian government has been at the helm, the military’s presence in politics has been pronounced.
Then came the second military dictatorship of Yahya Khan in 1969 which ended with the break-up of Pakistan in 1971. The seeds of this tragedy had been sown much earlier. But this period of transition was also crucial. The hamhanded manner in which the main issue of power-sharing between the two wings of the country was addressed resulted in the civil war of 1971 and the secession of Bangladesh after a lot of bloodletting.
The author refers to the importance of source material in historiography. It has been said that a newspaper report is a first draft of history and modern day historians have drawn heavily on reports published in the press. In Pakistan, however, as Prof Afzal rightly laments, disruption has been caused to the availability of this source due to the imposition of a variety of curbs, including censorship, imposed on newspapers, during long periods of military and dictatorial regimes. As a result, newspapers and journals could not undertake due reporting of events denying access to writers to indigenous sources.
There is another factor that is relevant to our history writing. This is the approach of historians, academics and other writers in dealing with sensitive issues and events that have been fundamental to our existence. For example, there is the reason or justification behind the demand and the establishment of Pakistan. Was it the religion of the Muslims, their distinct cultural identity or their economic status? Then there is the separation of East Pakistan and the coming into being of Bangladesh. Was it the outcome of some specific events and developments that took place in the fifties and the sixties? Or was it the culmination of a long process dating back to the previous century?
Crucial events having varied implications can be interpreted in different ways. If the historians’ approach is essentially subjective and coloured with an element of emotionalism, then it is likely to result in a distorted view of the historical process. It is in this context that book is valuable. The author has aimed at objectivity. In his narration of crucial events and developments, which have frequently been surrounded by controversy, he has presented different and divergent view points.
He is correct in his treatment of issues such as the progress and retardation of the democratic process, federalism and autonomy of federating units, fluctuating role and fortunes of political parties, the making and unmaking of constitutions, foreign policy and economic developments that have evoked controversies but needed objective factual narration.
Constitution-making in Pakistan has remained beset with problems. Issues such as the Islamic content of state polity, federalism and autonomy have been taken up in this book. The author says there was no example of an Islamic state in recent history that could serve as a model for Pakistan. He recounts how the religious parties unaware of the hurdles in the way, built up pressure leading to the presentation of the Objectives Resolution. The author also dwells in considerable detail on the implications of federalism and autonomy for the demand for an autonomous East Bengal within the framework of a loose federation.
In the context of the breaking away of Pakistan’s eastern “wing”, it can be said that a series of factors and developments led to it and the book records most of them, including the language issue and the demand for greater provincial autonomy which arose within a year of the establishment of Pakistan.
Some readers of the book who were witness to the developments preceding the 1970 election, its aftermath and the situation emerging after March 1971, would have wished to read a more detailed analysis of the factors in the last scenario. But the author has chosen to be relatively brief.
As it would appear, maintaining brevity had to be a challenging task as the author undertakes to compress the eventful 24 years within the space of less than 500 pages. This would not distract a general reader who would find the book readable and interesting. For those who want a deeper study, the copious references to the source material given in notes should prove useful.
Pakistan: history and politics 1947-1971
By M. Rafique Afzal
Oxford University Press, 5 Bangalore Town, Sharae Faisal, Karachi-75350 Tel: 021-4529025
Email: ouppak@theoffice.net
ISBN 0-19-579634-9 490pp. Rs595
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