Former foreign minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri advised government to avoid isolating Pakistan internationally on the pretext of maintaining good relations with the US. He suggested the making of a truth and reconciliation commission on the pattern of South Africa to address the human rights violation issues during the fall of Dhaka. He also suggested doubling the share of Balochistan in federal postings and resources to avoid any Dhaka-like situation.
He was speaking at a seminar held in connection with anniversary of ‘Fall of Dhaka’ on Friday in Aiwan-e-Iqbal. Several sessions were held in the provincial metropolis to mark the sad event in the country’s history. The seminar in Aiwan-e-Iqbal was one of main activities in this regard and was also attended by former foreign secretary Shamshad Ahmad Khan, veteran journalist and Pakistan Today Editor Arif Nizami and columnist Orya Mqabool Jan.
Kasuri further said that speeches in Dhaka on the atrocities committed by West Pakistanis would be more emotional and heated than here in Pakistan but the brutalities affected both supporters and opponents of Bangladesh.
He said it was isolation in international community that had aggravated the problem of East Pakistan in 1971.
“Cultural diversity strengthens nations and does not weaken them, we should not have had an issue in calling Qazi Nazr-ul-Islam our national hero” he said. Relating the day with current situation of Pakistan, he said, grievances of Balochis should be addressed on priority basis. However, he avoided being pessimist on the overall situation and noted that freedom of media and judiciary were two milestones achieved by the nation in recent past. He praised the positive role of the army in the crisis-ridden democracy.
Former foreign secretary Shamshad Khan necessitated the redressing of the whole system by ending VIP culture, feudal system and introducing proportionate representation in assemblies. Calling the ‘Fall of Dhaka’ a failure of politicians, he said the rulers continued to prefer their interests on that of the country.
Veteran Journalist Arif Nizami, speaking to the seminar, criticised the role of army in politics. He said the biggest issue faced by Pakistan was the martial laws. He also spoke about the dubious role of Mansoor Ijaz, carrier of the controversial memo, and said the democratic institutions were so weak that merely unconfirmed words of a man had destabilised them.
Columnist Orya Maqbool Jan, giving an emotional oration, said 1971 gave a new life to “Two Nation Theory”. Had this ideology been not effective, Calcutta would have also been included in Bangladesh, he said. He criticised democracy saying that it was a failed system in which the power was distributed to 400 people instead of one in autocratic regimes.
