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9/28/1957 - O tempora! O mores! in Pakistan by Walter D. Friedenberg

INSTITUTE OF CURRENT ORLD AFFAIRS WDF temPora_ O_ ____s Pakistan American Consulate Dacca East Pakistan September Mr Walter S Rogers Institute Current World Affairs Fifth Avenue New York New York Dear Mr Rogers When I West Pakistan surprising number intelli citizens considrlng state affairs their country saying wWhat dictator aPakistani Hitler These East Pakistan eople large saying solution Pakistan problems natlonal elections possible reference people This difference opinion I think represents difference wlngs East Pakistan sUsceptible cratic ideals I represents national shift outlook passing Pakistan troubles whatever solution As wishes toward nation which proclaimed religious polltical ideals chosen democratic forms govern I agonlse while First Pakistan disadvantage being separated wings lying miles apart miles apart West Paklstn flank Middle East East Pakistan touches Southeast Asia In West Pakistanis wheat cotton speak Urdu East Jute speak Bengali In West large landowners dominate countryside East farmers their fields however small West East present Pakistan economies With little change capital labor costly sparing exchange goods Moreover there tussle between East West The East Pakistanls regard themselves cultured inhabitants desertW West The East nation biggest foreign exchange earner though Governme investment expenditure takes place West Easterners political domination Westerners greatly outnumber civil services The West Paklstnis think themselves civilized people jungle East Pakistan right leaders because better education experience government business warfare Th__ey political domination Easterners outnumber population million fifth This suggest civil imminent rather there imperfect understanding between wings brief practice thinking themselves fellow Pakistanis Pakistan troubles however transcend East West differences His torically Pakistan start before Pakistan When British conquered India Muslim leaders fallen noble state Moghul Empire while ambitious Hindus adaptable Eng language learning gained three generatlon advantage Muslims national movement began earnest Awakened Muslims worked Hindus Independence movement until Muslim League separate Muslim state With split Congress popular support leadership reformer politician Mahatma Gandhi moved toward Independence while making lndependence social economic plans The Muslim League meanwhile narrower support leadership lawyer politlcian Mohammad All Jinnah campaigned Partition while giving scant attention Partition policy The morning after question newly established nations course Now In general India ready Pakistan India framed Constitution general elections considerable social economic advance Paki completed Constitution general elect mostly discussing rather accomplishing professed social economic goals From beginning Pakistan shared India burdens overty undernourishment passivity isolation millions people debilities colonial problems caring refugees facing other quarrels Kashmir But Pakistan difficult India The areas Pakistan evenly developed West Karachi textile plants irrigation system parts Indus basin mostly barren East Pakistan hinterland Calcutta Jute growing without Jute For Pakistani leadership educational professional Muslims produced acute shortage competent pUblic admin istrators The conerting slogans Muslim homeland Is lamic democracy constituted government brought sharp conflict between orthodox Muslim elements secularists nature state between East West balance representation between third Govrnor General Constitution makers portions power What Pakistan decided become finally mlslamic Repub based observance principles Democracy Freedom Equal Tolerance Social 2ustice enunciated Islam TM parliamentary democracy Islamic character welfare state government planning enterprise doctrinaire ideas about socialization national resources But present public affairs Pakistan considerably admirable future public ggals Public administration become increasingly corrupt bribery graft nepotism influence peddling present ministries construction projects Anti Corruption Department Inefficiency sYstem operation clogs administrative processes Top level leadership since death 2innah assas smaton Prime Minister Liaquat AIi Khan failed inspire support polltclans public there premiers years Politics Best consumes great energy Better expended elsewhere The Muslim League strength schsm dsaffect present array Partles Leagues Fronts engaged daily mutual public condemnation Remers legis latures change affllatlon frequently resembles market Political issues really debated decided slogans preferred arguments Dealing economy scarcity businessmen little affor political influence securing contracts permits licenses prerequisite profit Despite profits favored treatment industries Investors prefer speculate agric ultural produce their money certain quick gainers cigarettes betel leaes moing pictures The black market handles foreign currency newsprint soluble coffee medicines other scarce goods smuggling Jute India widespread In flation mocks increase production cloth other consumers Frmer surplus areas eceme deficlt areas planning muchas weather nation spend amounts money import grains Pakistan troubles India wherever blame belongs Pakistan invest extravagantly armed forces again expense development programs In despite relatively level popular expectation Pakistan there general disappointment progress national mismanagement There national inferiority complex there persistent aping things British American bristling patriotism India there begrudging admiration Indian accomplishment The Sam river national I think politics At Center Prime Minister Suhrawardy holds office suffer Republican Party composed West Pakistan landlords heavi outnumber Smh rawardy East Pakistan Awami People Leaguers cealltien Government He travelled friends Pakistan favorite refrain foreign policy brings natlen large scale foreign assistance He fewer friends The West Pakistan Provincial Assembly highly select several provinces merged One Unit several disbanding legis latures selected their number members unified Assembly There popular election The ruling Republican Party generally regarded taking signals Pakistan President Iskan Mirza expected aloof polltlcs Last Spring Republican ChlefMinlster unable muster majority asked President Rule Central administration prevent breakdown Constitutional machinery After Summer breather provincial mlnstratlon returned Republicans recovered their indisposition In East Pakistan popular elections March brought trouncing Muslim Leaguers power seven years But ictorious United Front barely formed Cabinet Central Government newcomers police control Jute imposed President Rule months Meanwhile United Front disintegrated ministry issue famine there Popular Government coalition Awaml Leagers balance power Hindus Last Spring Mr Suhrawardy began promisi general ele6tions March parties joined demand But Election Commission unable ready because monsoon travel difficult especially riverine East Paki there campaign doubtful elections sooner March Whether preparation elections unusual amount shifting going In East Pakistan popular Maulana Abdul Harold Khan Bhashani rightist religion leftist politics Awaml League protest Suhrawardy foreign policy aSSumed leadership newly formed National Awami Party NAP composed considerable number dissidents Awami Laague crypto Communists Party illegal Pakistan personal political parties West Pakistan On West Pakistan Assembly meeting Lahore Sep tember NAP pledged One Unit create provinces response demand regional autonomy gaining Muslim League Republican Party support The Republican Party founded years One Unit Party agreed One Unit exchange support budget The One Unit resolution passed ational Assembly The Muslim League The One Unit resolution created betweenMr Suhra wardy Republicans would pulled except Awaml League support Cen Cabinet The East Pakistan Assembly convened Dacca September Aaml League wondering strength NAP three other parties Opposition freshly split unfriendly camps liable anything The issue session Opposition adjournment motion first Amidst Jeering shouting table thumping during which audible except noise reported Government forces turned motion margin After remarkably leglslatie accomplishment Assembly adjourned yesterday shouting itself intoaSlOO monthase insalaryretroactive toApril inexplicable except usefulness during election campaign This makes I weary recital Perhaps I little morning Actually Pakistan police state populace crushed rebellion Is there rubber stamp legislature And there progress Pakistan There reform East Pakistan reclamation waste sinking wells distribution fertilizer seeds An Industrial Development Board building factories there projects provide flood control gatlon waters electricity There schools better health loyal Army atlent citizenry intentions Pakistan rejected dmocra It Just Yor