The Simla Accord was a success for Pakistan, though the rightist and religious parties bitterly criticised Z. A. Bhutto for what they saw as selling out. The accord held a promise for a better future, in terms of repatriation of over 90,000 POWs and return of 5,113 square miles (26,242 sq kms) land, and a pledge for taking new steps for closer ties. As such it was a breakthrough.
Unfortunately, from the day Bhutto and his 92-member entourage returned from Simla on July 3, 1972, a number of comments were made about him selling out Pakistan’s cause, entering into a secret agreement and surrendering before India. However, the record shows that there were no other options than what had been done and accepted by both the countries. Immediately after, Bhutto faced the tragic issue of language riots in Sindh. The fire of hatred bore such ferocity that Bhutto had to meet every person who mattered; the issue finally cooled down but not before taking its toll.
Even while busy handling the riots, Bhutto stole time to make efforts to implement the Simla Accord though the political hurdles at home were numerous. On July 10, 1972, seven days after the signing of the accord he convened the National Assembly session for a discussion over the accord and final ratification. As leader of the house he knew the parties’ attitude. The division in the House was quite obvious: NAP, JUI, PML(Qayyum) and PDP were with the treasury while JI, JUP, PML-C and TI on the opposition benches. Despite the fact that he could pass the move he wanted a consensus in the same way that he had evolved before leaving for Simla on June 28.
During the next five days almost every opposition member spoke and levelled a variety of allegations against the ruling party coalition leadership. Almost every speaker said that Bhutto had betrayed the Pakistani people and sold out Kashmir to save his power. Some members charged that he was responsible for the separation of East Pakistan.
From the ruling benches Mahmood Ali Kasuri advised the party that if India wanted peace Pakistan should reciprocate. The NAP leader and Governor of Balochistan, Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo, claimed that he saw a change in the mood of both the countries’ leadership which should be respected and nurtured. Maulana Ghulam Ghaus Hazarvi advised that the intention of peace should be respected so that development could take place. Among others who spoke were Khan Qayyum, Maulana Kausar Niazi and Dr Mubashar Hussain, but it was Bhutto who had to reply and sum up the debate on this important issue.
Bhutto heard everybody and on the fifth day rose to speak. He began by elaborating on Indo-Pakistan ties and narrating the ups and downs of the relations; he replied to the criticism point by point.
“If I have betrayed … let the people of Pakistan determine it,” he said. Responding to the allegation of strengthening his personal position, he linked the accord with the future of Pakistan: “It is not the future of my personal position that is at stake … At stake is Pakistan.” Replying to the allegation about the separation of East Pakistan, he asked the House to face the reality: “Let us face the truth. If you want to hang me, hang me by all means, but the fact remains that I am not responsible for the separation”.
As usual he spoke in his inspiring style, moving bit by bit. It appeared that the listeners were becoming his sympathisers. To the critics of the Simla Accord, he argued: “There were only two other possible courses: the first was immediate war with India; the second, “to go under the Indian tutelage” for all time. Neither was possible under my leadership. My mandate is to build Pakistan. I will build Pakistan … I cannot go to war. Not in five, 10 or 15 years”.
As he finished his speech, almost the whole house stood in acclamation, reassuring and praising, including the members from KP and Balochistan. The accord had been ratified. Bhutto did not appear jubilant, for he knew what lay ahead as he had yet to get the recognition of Bangladesh approved by the parliament — a more arduous task than ratification. For that he had to begin afresh.
That was July 15, 1972. India ratified the accord on August 3, 1972, and it became operational from August 4, 1972. Observers believed that a beginning of a new era had been made and it depended only on the two leaderships’ intention to translate the perception and hopes that had been laid down in the accord.
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