Mrs. Nusrat Bhutto injured Dec. 17, 1977

This was a historical event that I personally witnessed on December 17, 1977 at Qaddafi Stadium, Lahore. My friend Azam and I were watching a cricket test match between Pakistan and Australia. Our seats were in a section right above the ladies enclosure. If I remember correctly it was a couple of hours into the game when we heard loud chanting of political slogans from below. We were not sure what it was, since the large shed that hangs over the woman’s enclosure obstructed our view. Later we found that Mrs. Nusrat Bhutto and young Benazir Bhutto were in the ladies enclosure below us. They were protesting for the release of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (former prime minister of Pakistan) who was in jail facing alleged murder charges. Bhutto’s elected government was removed on July 5, 1977 by General Ziaul Haq’s coup.

All the cricket players rushed to their quarters as the police moved in to apparently calm the crowd.  Suddenly the police started lathi-charge in the women’s enclosure; Now we could clearly see the scuffle between PPP supporters and the police. During this brawl I saw police baton or it may even be a bottle of coke thrown back by the police injuring Mrs. Nusrat Bhutto. I saw blood gushing out from her head. While all this was going on the rest of the stadium was being evacuated except for our enclosure. There was no way out for us; we were surrounded by police who were shooting teargas shells in our direction.

The angry mob started throwing anything they could find on police. In seconds the angry mob broke the fence that separated the cricket field from the audience. Few of the PPP workers escorted Mrs. Bhutto and Benazir to the upper enclosure where we were stranded. They stood just few feet away from us. I saw Benazir tearing her dopatta (scarf) and wrapping it around her mother’s head.

It seemed that we had no way to escape this mess, when a huge man carrying six crates of Coke bottles appeared from behind us. He placed the crates on the ground and shouted, “Through the bottles!!! (at the police) if you want to live” Surrounded and with no other choice the stranded started tossing bottles towards the police. This forced the police to temporarily retreat, which gave us a chance to escape. Outside the stadium every thing including buses, cars, and even trees, bushes and shrubs were on fire. We were lucky to find our bike in the parking area that narrowly escaped of being torched.

It is said that Mrs. Bhutto’s head wound never received proper or timely treatment and it left an ever-lasting injurious effect that gradually disabled her for life.

An Army formation in NWFP had requested the presence of an IAF officer for Air Force liaison work at a brigade-level exercise . As the designated officer could not, or did not want to make it there, Fg Offr Patel was asked to report for the exercises. He arrived at the Officers’ Mess to find it totally deserted. In walked Lt Col (acting rank) Md Ayub Khan, who was flabbergasted to see that the Air Force had actually sent an officer for the exercises! They had been so used to having their requests ignored all this time that they did not expect Fg Offr Patel to actually arrive!! Within a short while, it was abundantly clear that both had sruck an instant rapport. During the course of the conversation, Fg Offr Patel mentioned that he had some knowledge and interest in palmistry, Ayub Khan could not resist extending his hand to find out about his future, and asked Fg Offr Patel to examine his ‘future’ and tell him what was in store for him.

Lt Col Ayub Khan Commanding 15-16 Punjab Regiment, Landi Kotal, Khyber Pass,1946.

Patel looked at Ayub Khan’s hand , looked up and told him “I can tell that one day you will be King.”. Patel continued, “Not only become a King, but you will also get dethroned!”. This statement would have some interesting repercussions later!

It so happened that at the Brigade-level exercises, Ayub Khan’s battalion out-performed the other two battalions of the Brigade. Both the other two Lt Col’s had to face a dressing-down from the Brigade commander on their poor showing. The Brigadier then praised Ayub for his good show and congratulated him. Apparently, when Patel also congratulated Ayub and mentioned the word of praise from the Brigadier, Ayub responded saying that he didn’t trust the Brigadier and that he would back-stab Ayub at the first opportunity he got!

After a few months, Fg Offr Patel was at another exercise, when a loud voice hailed him from behind ” HEY YOU!”. Patel turned back and immediately recognized him as Ayub Khan. Ayub Khan growled at Patel “Aren’t you the one who told me that one day I would be a KING?” . When Patel saw Ayub Khan’s badges of rank, he instantly realised the irony of his prediction – Ayub Khan was wearing the crowns of a major – one rank below what he had held during their previous meetings! Patel’s second prediction of Ayub being dethroned had already occurred!.

What exactly had happened? The brigade commander, while praising Ayub Khan in front of the British Lt Cols, had done exactly as Ayub had predicted. Ayub Khan had never taken leave in his four years of wartime service. He was asked to go for the maximum amount of leave ( 48 days?) that could be availed at that time and when he came back from that leave, he was shocked to find a British Lt Col sitting in his chair at battalion HQ.

When Ayub was on leave, since there was a rule that no one holding an acting rank could hold it for more than a specified amount of time which was exceeded by the period of leave that Ayub had availed. Another Lt Col was bought in as CO and the Brigadier covered up Ayub’s demotion by saying he wanted a good officer like Ayub as a Brigade Major at his HQ!

Later Ayub Khan was to become the Chief of the Pakistani Army and later the President of Pakistan. The the ‘prediction’ had finally come true. Wg Cdr Patel never did contact Ayub Khan after he became President, though he recollects rather wistfully that he should have written to Ayub Khan reminding him of their earlier encounter.”

These paragraphs were taken from: CONVERSATIONS WITH WING COMMANDER HK PATEL (RETD)

http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1940s/Hoshang02.html

Below you will find rarely seen archival videos of President Ayub Khan. Today’s politicians of Pakistan look like jesters when compare to the charismatic personality of the Field Martial… Wow! You may call him a dictator but those were the times when Pakistan stood as an example for all the other developing countries in the region. Some of the highlights of his presidency:

• Pakistan’s new capitol Islamabad
• Land reforms
• Educational reforms
• Industrial reforms
• Warsak dam, Mangla dam, Tarbela dam, Rawal dam
• Expansion of irrigation system
• Successfully defended Pakistan against Indian threat in 1965
• SPARCO Pakistan’s space program
• Foundation of Pakistan’s nuclear program
• RCD cooperation between Pakistan Iran and Turkey
• Development of “Buldiati” system to get common folks involved in political process.
• Start of Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV)
• Provided housing for millions of refugees of partition.
• Started free milk and healthy snack program for for elementary schools.
• Women started to come out of their vials to in help build a strong nation.
• Saved Pakistan from going in hands of corrupt and dishonest politicians and religious fundamentalism.
• Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) the National career was the pride of the country.

FM Ayub Khan, painted by Sajjad Hussain, (1968/69)

Pakistani politicians  could not take this success and blamed Ayub for corruptions. No charges have been ever proven against him. It is so sad that for personal political gain our politicians and ignorant people (Awaam) have disrespected and dishonored services of an honest, sincere, and a great leaders like Field Martial Mohammad Ayub Khan the president of Pakistan. We used to be ahead of the game and now we are years behind where we should have been. Shame on all the corrupt politicians of today who are shredding Pakistan into million pieces. Enjoy the videos……

Roving Report: Ayub Khan

Part 1

Part 2

Ayub Khan Interview On Conflict With India

Jacqueline Kennedy in Pakistan (Colour)

http://www.texasarchive.org/library/index.php?title=America_Welcomes_President_Ayub

Kids enjoying bioscope slideshow.

At one time bioscopes were commonly seen in the streets of Lahore, but with time and advancements in electronic media they are rare to find. Now they are more likely to be found in relatively small towns and villages. But even with state of the art advancements in technology bioscope still present a unique experience and charm for its audience. People who have experienced a bioscope show in their childhood may still remember the excitement by which the kids used to gather around to view the show.

The content of the slideshow is usually the images and artwork stripped from magazines and old books. The imagery used may include architectural wonders such as the Taj Mahal, Shahi Killah (royal fort) Lahore, Badshahi Mosque; the beautiful landscapes, mountains, and beautiful gardens; the screen shots from Lollywood actors and films; artworks and photographs of abnormal people such as extremely fat woman (Baran mun ki dhoban); and any strange animals or things.

The bioscope box presents a linear slideshows with no built-in audio. The bioscopewallahs are true folk artists and master storytellers. With every slideshow a narrative songs is sung by the bioscopewala while he taps the bioscope box for percussion with his one hand and winds the slideshow with the other.