Pakistan scene
In July 1947, a referendum was held in NWFP which resulted into accession of the province to Pakistan. In November 1947, tribal elders opted to attach Tribal Agencies to Pakistan. People of Northern Areas won independence on their own and in August 1948 joined Pakistan. In 1948, Kalat merged with Pakistan when the Khan signed the necessary merger documents. Gawader was purchased from the Sultan of Oman in 1958. This was the final shape of the then West Pakistan which is still in tact.
After independence, a campaign of hatred against East Pakistanis was started. They were called rice and fish eaters and it was said that they produce more children. It was also said they spoke loud for their rights. This discriminatory attitude of West Pakistanis against the East Pakistanis was not corrected by our leaders and disliking for each other reached the climax. In 1970, when Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's party won the elections our army generals, in collusion with Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, refused to hand over power to him just because he was a Bengali. Consequently, Bengalis who created Pakistan had to make their separate country-- Bangladesh. Our generals who always claim that they impose martial law to save the country from disintegration surrendered and the whole nation suffered humiliation.
General Musharraf has not learnt any lesson from history. Situation like the one in East Pakistan in 1971 has been created in tribal areas. Air and artillery bombardments on innocent people including females and children have failed to subjugate the tribes.
Gangly Khan
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