FIFTY-one years back on Oct 27, 1958 Field Marshall Mohammad Ayub Khan took power by deposing President Iskandar Mirza and became the first military ruler of Pakistan.

In 1960 Ayub Khan assumed the presidency through a 'yes' or ' no' referendum by securing 95 per cent 'yes' vote.

Later in 1964 he reconfirmed himself as president again; not by any democratic process but by applying a sham of democracy, which he himself invented and named as 'basic democracy'.

While conversing with renowned Bengali poet Begum Sufia Kamal, Ayub Khan alluded to the East Pakistanis as bestial people. The rebuttal from the late poet was “You are their president too.”

Due to his indifference towards the Bengalis he could not reconcile to their sentiments at any point of his dictatorship. He had to resign in 1969 while facing violent opposition from both wings of Pakistan, which ultimately culminated in the disintegration of the country.

The dismemberment of Pakistan and consequent birth of Bangladesh has proved that a political problem cannot be solved militarily; also a religious identity cannot override the linguistic and cultural identity of people.

A.K. SHAMSUDDIN

Canada