December the 16th is an ominous day in the history of Pakistan. Rather than going into the details and aftermath of the pre and post-war events, here I would like to raise the question about the commission that was constituted to probe the causes and cardinal mistakes that lead to Pakistan’s secession. Hamoodur Rahman Commission was formed on the demand of masses that wanted to know and bring to the justice, those who were responsible for a terrible national disaster. Conclusive report of the Commission was declassified after 29 years in 2000. It was not the Commission that delayed the report, but the leadership of the time.
US Special Forces penetrated deep into Pakistan’s territory, close to national capital and strategic locations, carried out the operation which was codenamed as “Neptune Spear”, killed Osama Bin Laden and flew away. Abbottabad Commission was in progress when Pakistan’s territory was again violated and 26 soldiers were martyred in a deliberate attack. The airbase that the US Forces have vacated was granted after Musharraf, in a democratic regime. The US officials, including the president, bluntly stated that there would be no apology but only commiserations for the 26 soldiers that were killed in this incident.
If military alone is to blame for this, just like 1971, then sorry to say, we Pakistanis are good at finding and making scapegoats. Political and inept leaders step into the dirty business to quench the thirst of their Swiss banks and when Bengalis or Balochis raise their voice, they use security forces as an instrument to silence their agonised voice.
It was not the day of 16 December, 1971 when surrender took place. It had taken place when politicians of West Pakistan deprived the people of East Pakistan and raised the slogan “udhar tum, idhar hum”, just for the sake of premiership. The Hamoodur Rahman Commission documented the causes and listed those who paved the way for the dismemberment of East Pakistan. But then what? Not even a single culprit was hanged. Moreover, report was kept classified to protect the main protagonists of the secession from national wrath.
If the report of Abbottabad Commission too is to be kept classified for 29 years by the government and no action against the culprits is taken, then there is no use of wasting the time of honourable judges and the people of Pakistan who are “terribly” tolerant.
TABISH RAZA
Lahore
