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- November 13, 2023
- Uzair Zubair
- 0
Yahya Khan was the third president of Pakistan and the second chief martial law administrator. He is considered a big reason behind the separation of East and West Pakistan and also the genocide in Bangladesh.
Biography:
Khan was born on 4 February 1917 in Chakwal, Punjab, British India, to a Qazlibash family (according to references). His family belongs to an Iranian conqueror, Nadir Shah. he is of Pashtun origin.
According to an Indian journalist, Yahya Khan’s father, Sadat Khan, served in the Indian imperial police in Punjab. he was awarded the title of Khan Sahib for killing many freedom fighters secretly as the British needed to get rid of them. He joined as head constable and retired as deputy superintendent.
Religion:
Yahya was a Shia Muslim. An Indian journalist said that Yahya used to perform Islamic rituals and was a man of good morals. But when he gained power, he started to get involved in alcohol consumption and womanising. However, at the end of his life, he turned religious.
As Ayyub Khan said “Give me half a dozen officers of the calibre and moral standards of Yahya Khan, and I can show you what Pakistan can do as a great nation of the Islamic world”.
Family:
He had a son (Ali Khan) and a daughter (Yasmina Khan).
Education:
Khan received his early education from Col Brown Cambridge School Dehradun and later went to the University of Punjab, where he graduated first.
Service in British Army:
Yahya Khan joined the British Indian army in 1939 and became part of the Baluch regiment. During World War II, he performed his services in places like North Africa and Iraq. Khan was captured by the enemy and was imprisoned, but he managed to run from prison and came back to India.
Service in Pakistan Military:
At the time of the separation from Pakistan, he was at the rank of major. So, after separation, he joined the Pakistan army. At the age of 34, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier. He worked as in charge of 105 independent brigade in Jammu and Kashmir from 1951 to 1952.
Afterwards, he became the vice chief of general staff and led a group that worked to make the Pakistan army more modern between 1954 and 1957. He also worked as chief of general staff from 1958 to 1962. He helped Ayyub Khan in the 1965 presidential elections against Fatima Jinnah.
Besides, he also performed his responsibilities in civil matters, such as being in charge of the project for the development of Islamabad.
Yahya Khan became chief of staff of the army ( the second biggest position in the military at that time) after the war of 1965. In March 1966, he became commander-in-chief of Pakistan ( the top military position). He was made full general.
Yahya Khan worked hard to reorganise the Pakistan army. When the United States stopped giving aid to Pakistan and India, it turned to China for help. Therefore, Chinese tanks started replacing our tanks. They created more infantry divisions and additional corps headquarters. All of these changes made Pakistan’s army stronger.
Martial Law:
Pakistan faced many challenges during Yahya Khan’s presidency. A movement against the government started in West Pakistan, which grew continuously and soon reached East Pakistan. Ayyub Khan tried to calm things but could not. Instead of allowing a peaceful power transfer, he asked Yahya Khan to take control and declare martial law. So Yahya Khan declared martial law and became Pakistan’s second martial law administrator on 25 March 1969.
During Yahya’s time, he made some decisions, such as breaking one unit and others, which didn’t bring any positive changes; instead, it increased the conflicts between West and East Pakistan, further leading to the separation of East and West Pakistan. Yahya had also dissolved parliament and removed civilian officers. He maintained his order throughout the country, and military officials were on duty.
Efforts Towards Democracy:
Yahya Khan made two significant decisions. He established the National Security Council (to assess national security issues) and promulgated the legal framework order ( to break the one unit) these changes were to step towards democracy.
General Elections 1970:
President Yahya Khan planned to hold elections throughout the country, which were held in December 1970, but the results came out with a shocking reality.
Awami League from east Pakistan, led by Sheikh Mujib Rehman won in east Pakistan, whereas Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) won in west Pakistan in all four provinces.
Mujibur Rahman won 160 seats from East Pakistan, PPP won 81 seats from West Pakistan and PML from West Pakistan won 10 seats. These results led to the conflict between East and West Pakistan. The Awami League and PPP meetings failed to agree on the transfer of power from West to East Pakistan. At that time, the people of East Pakistan felt politically oppressed, and they felt like they were not being given their rights. Consequently, East Pakistan declared independence, and the Bangladeshi Liberation War started.
Bangladesh Liberation War:
During this complex situation, Yahya Khan started Operation Searchlight with the help of the military to suppress East Pakistanis. This was the beginning of a tragic war. This marked the beginning of a tragic chapter in the nation’s history. The Pakistani government wanted to stop the Bengali nationalist movement and to maintain the unity of Pakistan. This resulted in mass killings and rapes. It was the most tragic event ever in the history of Pakistan. The Bangladesh liberation was started, and India jumped into the war supporting East Pakistan. The war changed into the Indo-Pak War in 1971. This resulted in the independence of East Pakistan and India capturing a significant portion of West Pakistan. However, this portion was later returned to Pakistan, but the event had long-lasting effects on the countries involved.
The surrender of the Pakistan army to Bangladesh and India spread anger among the people of Pakistan. Yahya Khan transferred the government to Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. Yahya Khan was considered a leading cause behind the separation of Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Yahya Khan’s presidency is not considered a good period in the history of Pakistan, and he is regarded as a cruel leader in the history of the world.
Death:
Yahya was under house arrest till 1979. He was released by General Fazle Haq (martial law administrator). After that, he remained away from public events and used to write his memories, which have not yet been published. He died in Rawalpindi, Punjab, on 10 August 1980.