Correspondents' Correspondence Simmering Pakistan
NOORANI, A.G.
Simmering Pakistan New Delhi—Although he executed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto—his main political rival—last April 4, the future of General Mohammed Zia ul-Haq is far from secure. The Pakistani strongman's...
...On February 10, at a special ceremony in the National Assembly Hall, he declared that beginning immediately Islamic justice would be applied to the following offenses: intoxication, theft, adultery, and false imputation of adultery...
...Such a move is certain to draw fire during the election campaign—particularly if the General also carries out his threat to grant the Army, by constitutional amendment, a permanent right of intervention whenever it feels the political situation has gotten out of hand...
...In fact, the return of the Bhuttos or their allies to power would endanger Zia's life...
...According to some reports, after the coup Bhutto hinted to Zia that he had committed this offense...
...Parliament shall by law provide for the punishment of persons found guilty of high treason...
...Feelings toward Punjab run high in the other provinces, especially since the four Supreme Court judges who ultimately rejected Bhutto's appeal were all Punjabis—as is General Zia himself...
...This places him in a considerable bind: If he does not permit them to campaign for the People's Party, founded by Bhutto, the validity of the election will be cast in doubt...
...The Pakistani strongman's support has been crumbling, with the biggest blow coming April 14 when the Pakistan National Alliance (PNA) quit the Federal Cabinet...
...and all parties and candidates are to abide by a forthcoming campaign code whose main provision will eliminate as election issues three basic questions "already settled through consensus in the 1973 Constitution"?namely, provincial autonomy, the Federal Parliamentary system of government, and Islamic ideology...
...the party had to distance itself from him...
...Nookasi...
...Nevertheless, Zia now confronts a greater challenge...
...In addition, he has pointed out that some political elements want to discuss the issue of equal representation between Punjab and the remaining three provinces...
...Two prior announcements by Zia?technically, at least, the PNA's reasons for its defection—initiated the process that has led to a loosening of his hold on power...
...A coalition of seven parties (there were originally nine, but the relatively liberal Tehriq-e-lstiqlal and the National Democratic Party withdrew a few months earlier), the PNA had always been Bhutto's foremost opponent...
...He laid down certain conditions, though, that upset the politicians: Present restrictions on political activity are to continue in force...
...That may have cost for former Prime Minister his life...
...On the other hand, if they are allowed to speak, Zia will be at the mercy of an electorate inflamed by the two fiery women...
...Indeed, his reputation for indeci-siveness is such that Pakistanis say the initials after his name, CM LA, stand not for Chief Martial Law Administrator, but for "Cancel My Last Announcement...
...It decided, however, that by eliminating the popular former Prime Minister, Zia had become too much of a liability...
...Late last month, he released from detention Bhutto's wife, Nusrat, and daughter, Benazir...
...Choosing the latter course would be consistent with his record...
...Then, on Pakistan National Day, March 23, Zia designated November 17 as the date of the first election to be held in over two years...
...This, he maintains, would insure a "balance of power...
...The National Democratic Party leader, Sherbaz Vazari, has served notice that provincial autonomy is too important a matter to be censored, and that he will bring it up during the campaign...
...On October 1 he reversed himself, claiming that the country was undergoing too much political turmoil for a smooth return to civilian rule...
...On August 1, 1977, for example, Zia said that national and provicial elections would be held October 18...
...It remains to be seen whether Zia will cancel again, rather than take the chance of having power fall into the hands of anyone likely to enforce Article Six against him.?A.Ci...
...He also declared that Zakat—the payment of 1/40 of one's income to the poor and needy?would be levied starting July 1, and that an interest-free financial system would be established within three years...
...The General has further proposed amending the Constitution before the November balloting to define the powers of the president and the prime minister...
...Parliament did precisely that, and the penalty for treason is death...
...For the man he allowed to be executed was careful to insert in the 1973 Constitution a provision (Article Six) that reads: "Any person who abrogates or attempts or conspires to abrogate, subverts or attempts or conspires to subvert the Constitution by use of force or by other unconstitutional means shall be guilty of high treason...
...Because it is more densely populated than Sindh, Baluchistan and the Northwest Frontier, Punjab has had majority representation in Parliament since the 1970-71 elections...
...Zia has only two viable options: He can either go through with the election as scheduled, or he can postpone it...
Vol. 62 • June 1979 • No. 12
