In a previous article, I summarized the sacrifices made by Bihari Muslims for Pakistan since the emergence of the two-nation theory under which the subcontinent was divided between India and Pakistan. The article dealt with the sacrifices of Biharis many of whom forfeited their lives and property for the sake of Pakistan and it quoted the famous saying of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, that “the massacres that took place in Bihar led to the creation of Pakistan”. The article also shed light on the expertise and skills of Biharis which rescued East Pakistan's economy from collapse, filling the vacuum caused by the flight of large numbers of Hindus to India. Disagreement and differences between the two halves of Pakistan became evident when Sheikh Mujibur Rahman announced a six-point autonomy plan that many observers considered virtually a demand for secession, especially after Field Marshal Ayub Khan dropped the conspiracy charge leveled against Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (known as the Agartala Conspiracy Case) so as to enable him to attend the Round Table Conference that Ayub Khan convened to discuss political problems in the country. But Ayub Khan did not follow constitutional procedures when he found that he was unable to continue ruling the country. Hence, instead of handing over power to the parliament speaker who came from East Pakistan as stipulated in the constitution, he handed it to the military, believing that the problem was in his personality and not in his regime. The situation calmed down after Gen. Yahya Khan came to power with a promise to hold elections at the earliest possible time. In fact, he fulfilled his promise and elections were held in December 1970. There was a consensus of observers that the elections were free and fair. In that election, the Awami League, led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, won all but two or three seats in East Pakistan. The Pakistan People's Party, led by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, won the majority of seats in the western half of the country but that victory was less than that of the Awami League. After the election, the National Assembly (lower house of parliament) was supposed to hold its session in Dhaka to prepare a constitution for the country. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was poised to form the government after winning the majority in the parliament, but Bhutto categorically refused to attend sessions of the National Assembly, demanding power-sharing between him and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as his party had secured a majority in West Pakistan. Bhutto was not against the transfer of power in East Pakistan to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman provided that he would be allowed to form the government in West Pakistan. Their disagreement prompted Yahya Khan to put off convening the session of the National Assembly. But that decision sparked protests in East Pakistan and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman called for civil disobedience. Subsequently, widespread protests and demonstrations rocked East Pakistan, and Yahya Khan went to Dhaka in search of a solution satisfactory to both parties. However, that was not possible as both leaders were keen to serve the interests of their respective regions which had given them a mandate. Instead of handing over power to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on the basis of the election results, Yahya Khan detained him together with a large number of his followers and that led to the outbreak of civil war, which lasted for nine months. The biggest losers in this war were the Biharis who stood against the partition of India and were subjected to heavy loss of life and property as Bengalis treated them as traitors and conspirators together with the Pakistani army. Although the international media highlighted the crimes perpetrated by the Pakistani army against the people of Bengal even to a degree of exaggeration, the suffering of Biharis and the crimes meted out to them did not receive fair media coverage. Even the Pakistani government, led by Bhutto, showed little appreciation for their sacrifices and suffering. Instead, the Bhutto government focused its efforts on saving and bringing back its military personnel who had surrendered to the Indian army in a humiliating manner in the war. It was said that General Niazi, who laid down his service revolver in front of the Indian army commander, hastened to surrender before receiving orders from the Pakistan military central command. He could have continued fighting for several days, and had he done so, it could have changed the history of the war or at least he could have managed to secure some conditions that might have resulted in some dignity for himself and the Pakistan army. Also, it could have protected the lives and property of Biharis and prevented them from living in misery and humiliation in camps scattered in various parts of Bangladesh.
Biharis became “stranded Pakistanis” who were cut off from Bangladesh because Bengalis abandoned Pakistan and refused to have any relations with it. Hence, it is the duty of the government of Pakistan to repatriate Biharis as it facilitated the return of Pakistani military personnel who fought side by side with Biharis in their failed bid to ensure the survival of Pakistan as a unified state. There has been no decrease in the patriotism of Biharis. They love Pakistan and have made sacrifices for it more than other Pakistanis in any part of the country. (Next week's article will shed light on the efforts that have been made to repatriate stranded Biharis to Pakistan)
— Dr. Ali Al-Ghamdi is a former Saudi diplomat who specializes in Southeast Asian affairs. He can be reached at [email protected]
