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Z.A. Bhutto knew the electoral history of Pakistan, especially the two elections he was part of, i.e. the elections based on Ayub Khan’s Basic Democracy system in 1962 and the 1970 elections held by General Yahya Khan. In all the elections official machinery was used as part of the policy of the ruling party to get reelected by any means.
They took it as their divine right and did not like to be challenged. The 1964 presidential elections are of special mention when divisional commissioners were made sector chiefs of their jurisdictions and later they boasted of the role they played in getting Ayub Khan elected. Import licenses, car permits and other gimmicks were used to full extent.
For Bhutto, the 1970 elections were different as General Yahya had no interest in them for two reasons: one, he was advised by the intelligence people, which was ironically wrong, that the rightist elements were to take over the country as a result of the next polls. Secondly, he was simply interested in his personal enjoyment. However, the results were quite amazing as the average voter broke all ploys used by traditional political families and voted for PPP in West Pakistan and Awami League in East Pakistan.
Bhutto was honest in his intention to fulfill the pledges he made with the common man but the moment he took oath he became a changed person. His only objective became to retain power by any means. As he pondered over the mid-term elections, he became a hostage to his will. He forgot that it was the average man who brought him to power in 1970 and he decided to bank on the official machinery. He began to follow the blueprints of intelligence network. Contact with the workers was lost. In contrast, it was far easier for the opportunist newcomers to hold meetings with him in the hope of securing a berth in the assemblies. Bhutto knew their character but he also wanted to ensure his party’s success. He needed vote-getters through money and official means, and was least bothered about the party workers.
The newcomers especially in Punjab and Sindh were not able to manage things. They busied themselves in petty squabbles, using the party as a jumping pad. These changes could not keep the party workers close to the party. All of Bhutto’s efforts in creating a place for the party in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa backfired. With this background whenever Bhutto thought of holding mid-term elections he felt he was alone.
Unlike all previous governments, Bhutto brought deputy commissioners to report to him about the prospective candidates, above all, the chances to win a seat. Slowly he lost contact with the party workers. The official machinery had taken over to the extent that Rao Rashid, one of his special assistants, accompanied him everywhere.
At a stocktaking meeting held at Lahore and attended by all four chief ministers, Punjab was the focus; Punjab’s chief minister was Sadiq Hussain Qureshi (July 15, 1975 till the government’s ouster by Ziaul Haq on July 5, 1977). The Shimla-born businessman-turned politician held a favourable position with Bhutto and had earlier been the governor (March 1974-March 1975), but carried a poor reputation for the average worker. To Rao Rashid he was a man of very strange nature. He preferred to appear as king with flatterers around him. Without going through newspapers or any other means, he would spend his evenings in joyous discussions.
At the meeting Bhutto asked him about the expected seat position in Punjab if mid-term elections were held. Without pondering over the sensitive nature of the question he said: “Jaisa aap hokum karein”. This infuriated Bhutto and he told him that if this was the position then why was it necessary to hold the elections. “If you are to provide me as many seats as I ask you then there is no need of holding elections. We should all go home and rest. Let some stronger person come. He will remove all of us.” Despite Bhutto’s harsh tone, Qureshi did not understand or follow what he was being told. He used to tell his friends that Bhutto would take care of the situation.
Bhutto was aware of what his party had done for the people during the past five years. Every government does whatever it perceives is good for the people and in return hopes for the future. Despite flaws and re-emergence of drawing-room politics, Bhutto was sure the party would continue in power.
