Ex-brigadier gives ‘real reasons’ of Benazir’s 1990 govt’s dismissal

ISLAMABAD: One of the major reasons of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s government’s dismissal in 1990 was her statement when she publicly stated that Pakistan Army crossed the red line by enriching uranium to the levels which were not acceptable to big powers.

This was claimed by MI Sindh former chief Brigadier (retd) Hamid Saeed Akhtar while talking to The News. “Rampant corruption, police operation of Pucca Qila, Karachi operation were the obvious reasons but the slain PPP leader’s government was dismissed by former president Ghulam Ishaq Khan on several other grounds which I cannot even mention,” he informed.

He said when Ishaq Khan was presented undeniable evidence against Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, the former president directed the authorities concerned to hold a briefing for her. However, things did not go well after which the former president had to invoke Article 58(2)B. “I submitted a written statement before the Supreme Court of Pakistan in which I have cited the reasons why the politicians were distributed the money. The honourable judges of the apex court after reading my statement remarked that first nine paragraphs of my statement are irrelevant to the case therefore I can claim the confidentiality for these paragraphs.

“However, I explained the apex court that if these paragraphs are not made part of my statement, the whole purpose of my statement would not be conveyed. Hence my statement was made part of the case”, informed Brig (retd) Hamid.

According to Brigadier Hamid’s statement submitted before the Supreme Court of Pakistan, in 1990 he was commanding an Artillery Brigade in D I Khan, in the same year following an indigenous uprising of Kashmiris in the Indian Held Kashmir, both India and Pakistan deployed their forces in the border areas. His brigade had just reached the border area when he received the orders to join regional office of Military Intelligence in Karachi. He talked to the corps commander and submitted that he wished to be with his troops during combat. He further pleaded that he had no intelligence background or formal training. The corps commander advised that his services are very urgently required in Karachi to control the deteriorating security situation in Sindh. Accordingly, he reported to his new duty station and assumed command w.e.f July 23, 1990.

“At that time MQM had recently fallen apart from the ruling political party (PPP). PPP workers had resorted to taking revenge on MQM for their political betrayal through the use of force. MQM reacted even more violently, through their armed political workers. PPP, MQM, PPI, JI and JSM activists were relentlessly killing one another. The daily death toll was 100-110 besides countless left wounded and incapacitated. PSF, APMSO, IJT and JSQM had taken prisoners the activists from their rivals and committed horrendous and inhuman atrocities on them e.g. drilling holes in knee joints with the drill machines and burning their delicate parts with electric soldering machines. I immediately held meetings with Tariq Azeem, Dr Imran Farooq and Saleem Shahzad of MQM, Prof Ghafoor of JI, Dr Hameeda Khoro and Mumtaz Bhutto of JSF, Abdul Wahid Aresar of JSQM and Mukhtar Awan of PPI and gave them strong message that if they did not stop killings, arson and looting, army might be forced to step in to restore peace”, says Brigadier Hamid.

The statement further says that initially the belligerent forces denied their involvement in the unlawful activities, however when irrefutable evidence of their crimes was produced, they took the advice more seriously. Following were the visible effects of intelligence intervention on security situation: (A) Within one week killings reduced drastically from 100-110 to 20-30 per day, (B) exchange of prisoners of the belligerent sides was arranged and the exchange took place in Karachi corps headquarters.

“All the above was achieved through negotiations and dialogue, not a single bullet was fired, nobody was kept in illegal confinement and no torture was committed to extract information. The importance of my primary task i.e. intelligence and counter intelligence far outweighed my involvement in the internal security matters but at that time internal security had assumed greater importance”, says the retired brigadier in his statement.

The statement further says that soon after, the provincial government launched a police operation against Mohajir populace residing in Pucca Qila, Hyderabad on a day when PM, COAS and Karachi corps commander were on a tour abroad and army units were out on annual exercise. In this operation police killed dozens of men, women and children. The matter was reported to higher echelons. President Ghulam Ishaq Khan ordered the army to move in and stop this carnage. Station Commander, Hyderabad gathered about three hundred soldiers from the personnel left behind for guard duties and reached the site. On his intervention, the police force withdrew. PM Benazir Bhutto on her return to Pakistan gave a press statement that the army had supplied POF made weapons to Mohajirs. Police had besieged the Pucca Qila to recover these weapons. When police force was about to reach the cache in Pucca Qila, the army stepped in and took away the weapons in military vehicles. Everybody was shocked by this statement.

“After this mayhem, MRC (Mohajir Rabita Committee) gave a press statement that they (Mohajirs) were being forced to look towards India for protection of their rights. India readily responded to the call by stating that Mohajirs were India’s ex-citizens and India was obliged to ensure their safety and protection against state terrorism and genocide. Such statements reminded one of the Indian interventions in former East Pakistan, which finally resulted in the dismemberment of our country”, claims Brigadier Hamid in his statement.

“Earlier that year the PM had also publicly criticised the army for crossing the red line by enriching uranium to the levels which were not acceptable to big powers. She also gave an interview to BBC in which she mentioned of her support to India in crushing Khalistan movement. Sometime later the PM also criticised the army for conducting annual exercise in the Sindh province without her consent. ISPR had to clarify through a press release that under the law, COAS was not obliged to seek anyone’s permission for conducting training exercises in any part of the country. All such incidents were reported by the press media,” he claims.

The former provincial MI chief claimed that during the same year, the government also gave attractive jobs to the Al-Zulfikar activists in railways, PIA, Customs, KPT, Immigration, Exercise and Taxation and other sensitive departments, thus endangering national security. These activists of AZO had been imparted proper training by India, in sabotage, arson, bomb blasts, mass killings and other acts of terrorism. The authentic record of these terrorists was available with all the intelligence agencies. All these matters were reported to higher ups through normal command channels.

“General perception of the common man was that the ruling party had got the votes but lacked the vision to run the country. Something appeared to be in the offing. On August 16, 1990 [actual date is Aug 6, 1990], president Ghulam Ishaq Khan dissolved the PPP government, using power under Article 58(2)B. In Sindh an interim government was formed under Jam Sadiq Ali as the chief minister. (A) On Sept 12, 1990, DGMI Major General Muhammad Asad Durrani visited Karachi and gave the following orders to me.(B) Open six accounts in different banks and send me the title and number of each account. (C) Keep on monitoring these accounts. Some funds shall be deposited in these accounts from time to time. You will keep me updated regarding the balance in each account on weekly basis,” informed Brigadier Hamid.