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Z.A. Bhutto was making efforts to regain Pakistan’s lost status in the international community and wanted to move forward taking all parties together. But it was not possible without taking other parties in confidence. This problem was exacerbated by inexperience in running governmental administration. Even his own party men became so dejected that only months after taking power, many stalwarts began to distance themselves, giving Bhutto a feeling that perhaps an intra-party coup was brewing. In the early stages of government such developments could result in cracks in the party infrastructure.
Mahmud Ali Kasuri was the first to break away. A senior lawyer and a man of high integrity, he worked in various positions related to law and legislation. A man of international repute he was very loyal to Bhutto, who appointed him minister for law and parliamentary affairs and assigned him the task of drafting the interim constitution and later the permanent constitution.
Being a liberal and committed lawyer, he used to argue with Bhutto about fulfilling the pledges made to the people such as lifting of martial law and withdrawing emergency regulations. This annoyed Bhutto, though he did not react immediately. Due to his liberal approach Kasuri decided to leave; his resignation was initially rejected but finally accepted. This caused the first dent in the party.
This was followed by Rana Mukhtar, a senior member of the party, and Ahmad Raza Kasuri, a devout PPP follower. Both were critics of Bhutto’s policies and wanted to make the party democratic where every member should be heard and suitable suggestions accepted. Ahmed Raza Kasuri was so impressed by Bhutto’s speeches that he joined Bhutto’s team a year before the formation of PPP was formally announced. After the formation of the PPP government he openly criticised Bhutto’s policies which Bhutto took as seditious.
In Sindh too, some of Bhutto’s policies were opposed by party workers and loyalists. A man like Mir Rasul Bakhsh Talpur, his brother Mir Ali Ahmad Talpur, and Mumtaz Ali Bhutto all felt ignored in party affairs. Perhaps Bhutto had forgotten that during the formative days of the party, whenever he came to Hyderabad he stayed at Mir Rasul Bakhsh Talpur’s Phuleli residence, despite the fact that there were at least three other political families in the town. Talpur faced problems during Ayub’s administration but stood by Bhutto. The dissidents from Sindh were ignored for opposing emergency laws and asking for an end to undemocratic methods.
A little later, another committed and dependable party loyal Sheikh Mohammad Rashid, health minister and president of Punjab PPP, threatened to quit after his drafted progressive bill was not considered by the leadership for placing before the House.
Likewise, Mairaj Mohammad Khan, minister of state for public affairs quit the cabinet without being given an audience before the acceptance of his resignation. His departure was also attributed to outspokenness, disliked by Bhutto.
The ouster of PPP’s first secretary general J.A. Rahim who was one of the founding fathers of the party in 1967 was very tragic. A civil servant by profession he was a well-read man who wrote the constitution of the PPP. As a confidant of Bhutto, he served in various high positions and manoeuvred to implement the party manifesto. He was a philosopher and a committed progressive worker. In 1974, Bhutto began to oust radical and diehard workers in which J.A. Rahim was also set aside. Rahim’s relations deteriorated further when he asked Bhutto that instead of dealing with public issues with workers with disregard, he should opt for respect and dignity. As a punishment he was sent to Paris as ambassador. When he returned after two years he was tortured by the FSF over some issue and jailed in 1976. In 1977 he died in miserable conditions.
A large number of party workers from lower ranks also quit when they saw the treatment meted out to senior leaders. Apparently there seemed no reason for quitting the party as it was generally observed that there were no ideological differences but basically it was varying standards applied to workers and leaders. Workers were aware that they were the real force of the party but they were treated shabbily. In contrast the opportunists were given a red carpet welcome and showered with favours.
The second reason was that Bhutto had appointed Khan Abdul Qayyum as interior minister to bully the political opponents especially the NAP leadership.
But when needed he was used to teach a lesson to the party workers as well. This was a very ugly situation which continued till Bhutto’s government was toppled and he was arrested in 1977, prosecuted and hanged in 1979.
