This document is significant as it illustrates the issues discussed by Mr. Khan during his visit of West Pakistan in 1948. It is unfortunate to see that a year after partition, the issues holding the country back from true progression in the right direction are the same issues that we are still dealing with presently.
Liaquat Ali Khan was the first Prime Minister of Pakistan and the head of the Muslim League, the dominant political party in Pakistan. It almost seems like fate as he issues a warning against fifth columnists active against Pakistan and three years after this visit he was assassinated. It is also interesting to note that he managed to quell the first coup attempt in Pakistan to overthrow his Government by Major General Akbar Khan in the famous or rather infamous Rawalpindi Conspiracy Case 1951, which can be seen as the Army’s first attempt to enter the political arena.
The assassination of Liaquat Ali Khan is definitely a moment to remember in our history. As it not only swelled the political vacuum already present from the Death of the Founder but it left the country’s most important neighboring and domestic issues to catch dust on the shelves.
Please click on the pictures below separately to enlarge.
January 23, 2007 at 10:51 am
[...] Khan during his visit of West Pakistan in 1948. It is unfortunate to see that a year after partition, the issues holding the country back from true progression in the right direction are the same issues that we are still dealing with … – more – [...]
January 23, 2007 at 6:17 pm
It may be an impressive image of LAK. At the time of his speech Kashmir issue was hot. In his book “Clash of Fundamentalists,” Tariq Ali gives a good background of what was cooking for the “liberation” of Kashmir in those days – he claims to know better as his entire family was part of power elites. Nevertheless, it was poor foreign policies of LAK that made us a pawn in cold war against USSR.
Now for the Kashmir issue – we lost half of the country (Bangladesh) by depriving less fortunate provinces of their developmental funds just to maintain military and other expensive programs. I am not against strong defense but where do we stand economically and intellectually in the present time after crowing for Kashmir for over 50 years? If we had good statesmen at the time of partition, we would not be trapped in this quagmire. Kashmir issue is not going to be solved according to PK wishes – the current political posturing is just that.
Perhaps it is still not too late to settle the present boundaries and focus on nation building instead of setting up a permanent welfare system for the military..
January 23, 2007 at 10:51 pm
Thanks for reading and posting your comment Anwar.
In reply, I will have to disagree with you on LAK. It is too easy to pin everything on one person. Liaquat Ali Khan in my opinion, did the best he could at the time as unfortunately Jinnah’s death came at a crucial time, when the country had just gained independence.
On your stance that it was poor foreign policies of LAK that made us a pawn in cold war against USSR:
Although the Cold War broke out in the aftermath of WWII, it did not reach Afghanistan till late 1953. Liaquat Ali Khan was pro-west in terms of his foreign policies to the point that he paid a visit to the United States in May 1951 but it has been said that Mr Khan intended to establish Pakistan as a neutral player in terms of the oncoming Cold War.
This is also argued by Shahid M. Amin who also points out that Mr Khan intended to visit the Soviet Union as well after the dates were finalised but 1951 had already arrived by then.
Onwards to Kashmir and Bangladesh. These were two entirely different agendas for Pakistan. On one hand you had Kashmir, which at the time should have been rightfully carved out with other Pakistani provinces. Yes, it has been over 50 years. We seem to agree here as my post intended to show our issues now and then are exactly the same. Except now we only fight for the land and not the people of Kashmir.
On the other hand you have Bangladesh. Yes they were deprived of their funds because it was all pretty much being spent to develop West Pakistan and we did have good statesmen.
Liaquat Ali Khan was considered as Jinnah’s right-hand man and he was performing his responsibilities dutifully. Unfortunately, there were those who were aware of the prize if Mr Khan were to be eliminated.
Finally you forgot Mr Bhutto. Another great statesman if not the finest after Jinnah. The problem with Bhutto was that he knew he was too good. In my opinion, Bhutto should have stepped down when Mujib-ur-Rehman won the election fair and square.
Hahaha I couldn’t agree with you more on your ending.