Army high command, not Bhutto, responsible for 1971 East Pak fiasco, says daughter
Islamabad, May 20(ANI): Former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhuttos daughter Sanam, who lives in London and stays away from Pakistani politics, has issued a statement asserting that the Hamoodur Rehman Commission Report had exonerated her father of the 1971 East Pakistan fiasco, and lay the blame squarely on the army high command under General Yahya Khan.
Analyzing and probing the probable lapses of Pakistan Army during the East Pakistan debacle of 1971, the Hamoodur Rahman Commission did reportedly come up with a lot of intriguing and explosive facts, but its report remains a black hole, a 16 May report of The News had said.
Apart from fixing responsibilities on key Army officials, the top arbiter of his time had also blamed the then Premier Zulfikar Ali Bhutto for the East Pakistan fiasco. However, as was expected of him, Bhutto had gone on to accuse the Enquiry Commission of exceeding its jurisdiction, the report added.
This is a complete travesty. Anyone who has read the report will testify to the fact that the report exonerates my father but lays the blame squarely on the army high command under General Yahya.
The fact is that the officers and men of the Pakistan Army were completely demoralised and devastated and, in order to rebuild their morale and honour, my father not only stopped the reports publication but also put a ban on all media diatribe and propaganda against the armed forces, Sanam said in a statement, which was sent to The News through her friend based in Islamabad.
My father worked day and night to rebuild a broken country from the ashes of defeat and to restore the image and honour of the Pakistan Armed Forces. His reward was the gallows! she added.
Sanam launched a strong attack on Bhutto-haters who, she said, continue to malign her father even so many years after his death.
They thought that they had buried Bhutto for good, but cannot accept that Bhutto lives in the hearts and souls of even a brand new generation, which never laid eyes on him, she said.
The truth is that my father rules this nation from his grave and his enemies are unable to fathom the mystery of his legend. My father gave his life for his country but refused to barter its sovereignty and that is why despite the calumny he stands so tall, she added.
Army high command, not Bhutto, responsible for 1971 East Pak fiasco, says daughter