A dark chapter

There was nothing contrary to the facts in Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s comments about Field Marshal Ayub Khan. However, he forgot to mention the role of the then chief justice who not only validated the abrogation of the first constitution but also the coup by invoking the doctrine of necessity. There are many other feathers in the cap of Ayub Khan besides the abrogation of the constitution and imposition of martial law. The elections held during his rule were marred by irregularities and all the present methods of humiliating political opponents were used against Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah.

It was in these elections that the first seeds of ethnic violence were sown in Karachi. However, despite all the above, it would be an injustice not to mention that progress was also made during this difficult period. It was an era of industrial and agricultural revolution but the 1965 war with India and the subsequent Tashkent Declaration put a brake on all economic growth and what followed was political turmoil, another martial law, the dismemberment of Pakistan and nationalization of all industries. The rest is history.

Malik ul Quddoos

Karachi