Indeed...thank you for going through it, it's a little lengthy and has some obvious mistakes-didn't have much time to review it. Due to some commitments i had to post it. Again thank you for over looking them, if there are some historical errors do point them out.
Thank you, my good friend. You haven't even 'thanked' it.
why, what did i ever do to you?
i(f there are some historical errors do point them out.)
We deserve what we get, don't expect anything good, 'be the change you wish to see.'
Part 2 will be much better than this, it where our real problems start- Ayub and Yahya's tenure, wait for it.
Give it a read guys...
@niaz ,
@fatman17 ,
@Irfan Baloch ,
@farhan_9909 ,
@Side-Winder ,
@notorious_eagle ...
Honnourable WAJsal,
I had read the your post but decided not to comment because like most articles this is mostly about the history of West Pakistan; not of Pakistan as it was during the first 25 years and therefore decided not comment.
One should keep in mind that all histories including that of Herodotus, the person who wrote the first history book ever; always describe the way the writer sees it. Such as calling a half filled glass “Half empty or half full”. Since now you have tagged me, please take my criticism not as finding faults but the history as I see it. I would describe what in my opinion are important facts/events, and unless included, Pakistan history will remain incomplete.
Firstly, the propaganda that Pakistan was a dream of Allama Iqbal is incorrect. Allama never mentioned or desired total independence. The Two Nation Theory proposed separation of Muslim majority areas within the larger Indian federation.
IMO readers of Pakistan history must know that Ch. Rehmat Ali was the first to use name of Pakistan and call for full independence in his famous pamphlet “Now or Never; Are We to Live or Perish Forever” of 1933. Incidentally, Ch. Rehmat Ali offered name of Bengistan for the Muslims areas of Bengal & Assam.
One should also not forget that partition was extremely painful. It was the biggest migration in history. About 15-million people, roughly half from each side were displaced and about a million died, more than half were Muslim migrants from East Punjab & UP crossing the border on trains.
Political scene of East Pakistan where 54% of the Pakistanis lived until 1971 and the events that led to the break-up of Pakistan are important.
An agitation against the imposition of Urdu as national language was started by the students of Dacca University students as early as 1947 which blossomed into full scale language riots in 1948. IMO this along with the fact that despite being in the majority; East Pakistanis felt that they were being treated below par is the root cause of the resentment against Punjabis which finally caused the break - up of Pakistan in 1971.
Among the notable leaders of Bengali origin that are now completely forgotten in Pakistan is the Sher-e Bengal, Abdul Qasim Fazal Haq. It was Fazal Haq who moved the Lahore Resolution (now called Pakistan Resolution) on March 22, 1940 asking for the independent state of Pakistan. Another prominent leader of early Pakistan also forgotten is Abdul Hamid Bhashani. It was because of Maulana Bhashani’s efforts that Sylhet (part of Assam) was won over thru a referendum and became part of Pakistan.
Passing of the Objective Resolution on March 7, 1949 which declared Pakistan to be an Islamic State is also a milestone in Pakistan’s history. This gave the originally anti-Pakistan Islamic parties the basis to demand implementation of the Sharia Law; something against the wishes of the Quaid who envisaged a liberal progressive Pakistan.
A sad event which has plagued NWFP (KPK) politics since 1947 was the Charsadda Firing. On 12th August 1948 provincial police was ordered by the Chief Minister, Abdul Qayyum Khan to open fire upon unarmed Khudai Khidmatgars of Bacha Khan on the orders of. It is claimed that about 600 were killed.
British only partitioned what was under their control, how the independent states amalgamated into Pakistan is worth knowing. When and how independent states of Bahawalpur, Khairpur, Chitral, Swat, Dir. Kharan, Makran etc joined Pakistan is also important.
People of Gilgit & Baltistan rebelled against the Dogra rule and by Nov. 1947 managed to throw out Kashmir State troops and joined Pakistan without any outside help. Therefore when I hear that bigoted JI Amir Munawwar Hassan calls the TTP butchers 'Shaheed' even though Pakistani Baltis have been dragged out of the busses and butchered by TTP for being Shia; I feel extreme anguish and curse TTP & their followers to hell. Baltistanis certainly deserve better.
On the 1951 murder of Liaqat Ali Khan: alleged role of Dualtana ( Chief Minister of Punjab) & Mushtaq Ahmad Gurmani; who were responsible for the security of the Prime Minister; should also be touched upon.
Role of Sindhi leaders such as Pir Ilahi Bukhsh & GM Syed during and after partition should also be included.
How Baluchistan came to be part of Pakistan should be mentioned. Are Pakistanis aware that Kalat, Kakran, Las bela & Makran had joined together and declared independence in June 1958 with Khan of Kalat as Khan-e Azam? Iskender Mirza had to send Pak troops to recapture the area.
Perhaps I am the wrong man to comment. Having falling in love with Pakistan at an early age, I still feel nostalgic about Quaid’s Pakistan which had two wings. Secondly I feel the that it is wrong not to appreciate the States that joined Pakistan thru their free will and recognise hostility of the States with the separatist tendencies.
I have already seen history being altered in India and in Pakistan. Additionally, people tend to make saints of their heroes. I am different. I admire a person more if despite having the weaknesses of normal humans, he manages to achieve greatness
Soon all of my generation would die out and Pakistanis will be fed adulterated history. For example Sirajul Haq recently stated that if the Quaid and Allama Iqbal were alive today, they would have joined Jamaat Islami. Nothing can be greater ‘Untruth’.
At one time Allama Iqbal was full of admiration for Mirza Ahmad of Qadian, he never stops praising Hazrat Ali (RA) and also questioned whether the Amir (Hazrat Omer RA) has the power to amend the Azaan and institute Traveeh. Therefore he would have been hounded out by the Salafis (similar to Dr Javed Ghamdi). Quaid on the other hand would have been killed right away by Lashkar Jhangvi for being a Shia
It is important that early Pakistan’s history should be truthful and leaders described as they were, wart and all. Else forthcoming generations would be brain washed with the lies. In this very forum there is a post which calls the RSS bigots as ‘Founding Fathers of India” completely ignoring that it was RSS who murdered ‘Bapu’ of all Indians, the Mahatma Gandhi.
Finally, Ghulam Mohammed has been referred to as Ghulam Ali on a few places. Please correct this as well.
I am an oldman who is passionate about Pakistan and when provoked, gets carried away therefore seek your indulgence.