Ayub on Bhutto
Well before the military
action in East Pakistan, both President General
Yahya Khan and Z.A. Bhutto had virtually agreed
in principle to the break-up of the country. “Diaries
of Field Marshal Mohammad Ayub Khan” edited
by Craig Baxter testify to this tragic truth.
Following are the excerpts:
Before proceeding to Dhaka in March, Yahya and Bhutto
had agreed that it was no longer possible to retain
East Pakistan. Separation was unavoidable. Bhutto
did not want to say that openly. He wanted Yahya
to take the responsibility. Yahya desisted at the
last moment and fell out with Mujibur Rahman. Previous
to that there was an understanding between Mujibur
Rahman and Yahya. But Mujibur Rahman would only
offer him a presidency of the Indian type, Yahya
refused. It was then that he started hobnobbing
with Bhutto again with a view to securing his position.
Yahya was anxious to hand over power to the public
representatives provided he could retain his position
with considerable powers.
Whilst the situation in East Pakistan is deteriorating
nobody amongst the junta seems to be concerned.
In fact, they seemed very confident.
The thinking is that Yahya will remain the president,
Nurul Amin as the prime minister and Bhutto is demanding
to be appointed as the vice prime minister. He does
not like the word deputy.
Bhutto will not hesitate to remove Yahya as soon
as he gets the chance. They have very little faith
in each other.
Lt General Peerzada is with Bhutto
His ambition was to replace Yahya or become commander-in-chief
of the army with the help of Bhutto. Lt. General
Peerzada keeps Bhutto well posted with secret information.
Victimisation
of Ayub’s family:
A reliable friend confirmed today that a team of
special police had been set up to go into my, and
even my distant relatives’ financial transactions
under orders from Bhutto. The Central Board of Revenue
had been told to tax us at least one crore. If we
paid it up it would break our backs. If we did not
then we should be put in jail. In this connection,
I was told that the IG Special Police, who was recently
appointed, has been transferred because he called
on me for Eid greetings.
Gatecrashes
into Gen Gul Hassan’s house
Hassan Amin said that the other night Bhutto gate-crashed
into Lt. General Gul Hassan’s house, against
his protestations through the assistance of Qureshi,
and stayed on till after midnight. Lt. General Gul
Hassan wanted to talk to him on serious matters
but he kept on cutting jokes, mimicking and laughing,
keeping everyone amused. I call this a strategy
of indirect approach. Win the man’s confidence
first, find out his complaints against the seniors
and then use him for nefarious ends at an appropriate
moment.
In doing this Bhutto is looking ahead. He has judged
Lt. General Gul Hassan correctly. He is a strong
headed man, devoted to his profession with considerable
influence with younger people and has strong likes
and dislikes. He could be worked up on any serious
issue.
Hassan Amin said on one occasion Bhutto told him
to look after Lt. General Gul Hassan as he would
come in useful one day. I am sure Bhutto’s
objective was to get Hassan Amin to pass this on
to Lt. General Gul Hassan so that he felt obliged
to Bhutto. Hassan Amin said that Lt. General Gul
Hassan was no fool. He would not allow himself to
be made use of. At the same time, he said that Lt.
General Gul Hassan regarded Lt. General Hamid, the
COAS, completely ineffective, as the man was under
the influence of alcohol the best part of the day
and night. Besides, he had no power of decision.
Lt. General Gul Hassan had also complained against
General Yahya for having promoted some useless people
to the rank of General. He, that is Lt. General
Gul Hassan, said that Musa had one useless Maj.
General Nazir, who did so much damage around him
whereas Yahya had so many. I told Hassan Amin that
this was exactly the sort of thinking that Bhutto
will exploit in order to involve and make use of
Lt. General Gul Hassan. Hassan Amin said that Mujibur
Rahman was no match for Bhutto. Bhutto would twist
him around his little finger. I have also heard
people say Mujibur Rahman regards himself no smaller
goonda than Bhutto. Lt us see who twists whom. But
one thing is certain: several of Bhutto’s
elected members have already given their allegiance
to Mujibur Rahman. Bhutto, too, is aware of this,
so Mujibur Rahman is not sitting idle.
ZAB proposed
division of Kashmir
A confidant of Bhutto, who is the Chairman of the
Press Trust, which is completely under government
control, is going about selling the idea that in
Kashmir, India should get Jammu, Pakistan Azad Kashmir,
and the valley to become independent. Then the valley,
Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, should form confederation.
He might well be voicing Bhutto’s views.
Political
murders through Gen. Akbar
Several political murders have taken place during
the last month or so. The victims are leading political
figures in the Jama’at-e-Islami. The suspicion
is that General Akbar’s cutthroats have done
this at Bhutto’s behest. The Jamaat, though
non-violent, considers that Kasaas is permitted
by Islam. They think that if revenge has to be taken
then the man to go for is Bhutto. They have fanatics
amongst them. They are quite capable of carrying
out such an operation and sacrifice themselves.
Besides, Bhutto is seeking a violent end the way
he is going. I am told that his arrogance and behavior
with people is atrocious and abominable.
ZAB accuses Tikka Khan of coup against Bhutto
Apparently Bhutto is well assured of the loyalty
of the army which is how it should be. He could
not, of course, find a better goof than General
Tikka Khan. But the army has never been a threat
to any politician until they make a mess of the
country. Then it becomes a survival and rescue operation,
and if the survivors are incapable of carrying it
out some junior will take the jump. This is the
common experience of most new countries.
I understand that Bhutto sent for General Tikka
Khan and told him that he had concrete evidence
that he was planning to overthrow him. General Tikka
Khan said before he, Bhutto, went any further he
would give him the true story. Some politicians
had approached him with the proposal to remove Bhutto.
His answer was that the army was not interested
in any such thing but he wanted also to make it
clear that the army would not shoot down peaceful
demonstrators.
I understand General Tikka Khan flew to Nawabshah
to receive Bhutto. On arrival the crowd showered
him with flower petals. They must have been Urdu-speakers.
I am told that former Major General Akbar Khan of
the Rawalpindi conspiracy fame sees the Russian
ambassador every other day. I am sure he must be
seeking their assistance for his plans. He has also
caused a lengthy proforma to be filled by every
army officer to ascertain his connections and political
reliability. Why the Army chief is allowing this,
I cannot understand. Intelligence anticipates that
the country would almost be in a state of civil
war by the end of the year.
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