Regaining Our Lost Sovereignty.

Sovereignty is essential for a country and its people. No nation can survive or advance in its absence. On August 14, 1947, the All India Muslim League (AIML) under the able leadership of Muhammad Ali Jinnah succeeded in carving out a new country in the Indian Subcontinent. While Jinnah took oath as the first Governor General (GG), he selected Nawabzada Liaquat Ali Khan as the Prime Minister (PM) of the nascent republic. Jinnah was consumed by the struggle and perished a year later. He was replaced by another stalwart of the movement Khawaja Nazimuddin who hailed from the Eastern Wing where AIML was launched in the year 1906. Together the two founding fathers of Pakistan were weathering the teething problems when a conspiracy was hatched to eliminate the PM.

The political struggle continued till October 1958 despite palace intrigues. When Pakistan became a republic, Mirza took oath as the first President. The fear of losing power prompted Mirza to clamp martial law and call off the elections under the 1956 constitution. Khan decided to strike back and deposed Mirza to assume direct control of the country. Mirza sought help from the US Embassy but it never came. For years I have been probing the rise of Khan as Commander-in-Chief despite a very poor service record. Better options existed at that time. It is widely believed that the PM was pressurised in this appointment. Elected leaders who pick up army chiefs against seniority/merit are made to suffer. Bhutto admitted that the appointment of Zia was his biggest blunder and so did Nawaz for promoting Musharraf. In the words of Lt. Gen (R) Tariq Khan, 'Every country needs an Army, it is better to have one's own'.

While Mao Tse Tung was the undisputed leader of the Chinese revolution, Chou-en-Lai was its manager. During his visit to Pakistan, a very warm welcome was accorded to him...