October 16, 1951, stands out in the history of Pakistan as a day when the first Prime Minister of the country, Liaquat Ali Khan, was shot dead during a public rally in Rawalpindi’s Company Gardens
The history of Pakistan has been tumultuous with several assassinations of political leaders since the country’s inception in 1947.The shootings and terrorist attacks have continued in frequent intervals for more than seven decades and have taken lives of several politicians.
October 16, 1951, stands out in the history of Pakistan as a day when the first Prime Minister of the country, Liaquat Ali Khan, was shot dead during a public rally in Rawalpindi’s Company Gardens. The bullets fired in 1951 at the Company Gardens, later renamed Liaquat Bagh, was the first assassination in Pakistan. Unfortunately, it was not the last attempt as recently on 04th Nov 22, PTI chairman & former PM Imran Khan became the latest to join the long list of politicians, who have faced such attacks.
This leads to the question to which we try to find the answer
Is Politics in Democratic Pakistan a pathway to Jannat ?
The literal meaning of Jannat is a green garden, in earth or in heavens. As per religious interpretation, it is a place created by Allah for his believers in which they shall dwell forever.
Islam defines Heaven as Jannat; the Paradise where noble people rest after leaving their mortal remains. The Holy Quran describes it as ‘gardens of pleasure’, where people are rewarded after death for the good actions that they commit during their lifetime.
Hence, it is believed that if one follows the rules set by Allah, commits no sin, and stays good throughout life, they go to Jannat. There are seven levels of heaven in Islam, and each level has a different core and construction with a different prophet residing in them. For the believers there will be a true kingdom on which they will have full control and whatever they desire will take place, no one will disobey them.
Having known seen the meaning of Jannat, we shall now analyze as to who is to be blamed for the assassinations. Either the political rivals kill each other for political gains or it is a National trait which has set in and leads to killing of the country’s political heads. Since formation of Pakistan in 1947, important political leaders who have been assassinated by being hanged, shot or killed in suicide bombings have been mentioned below.
PM Liaqat Ali Khan
On 16 October 1951, Khan was shot twice in the chest while he was addressing a gathering of approximately one lakh person at Company Bagh in Rawalpindi. Upon his death, Khan was given the honor title of "Shaheed-e-Millat", or "Martyr of the Nation". The Municipal Park, where he was assassinated, was renamed Liaquat Bagh. Coincidentally, ex-PM Benazir Bhutto was also assassinated in 2007 at the same location.
PM Zulifar Ali Bhutto
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was another stalwart leader, PM of Pakistan and was the founder of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP). He was hanged by the military regime of General Zia-ul Haq in April 1979. Just few furlongs away from Liaqat Bagh.
General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq
He was a Pakistani four-star general and politician who went on to be the sixth President of Pakistan after declaring martial law in 1977. The military dictator was killed in a mysterious plane crash on 17 August 1988. Many suspect it as assassination. Till today it is an unsolved mystery.
PM Benazir Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto, the two-time PM of Pakistan, was brutally assassinated on 27 December 2007 in Rawalpindi despite having high security in view of death threats. A UN investigation revealed that Bhutto's assassination could have been prevented if adequate security measures had been placed. The gun and suicide bomb attack was carried out at the same venue where Liaquat Khan was killed.
Gen Pervez Musharraf
General Musharraf is one lucky leader to have survived multiple assassination attempts. In 2000, Kamran Atif an alleged member of Harkat-ul Mujahideen al-Alami, tried to assassinate Musharraf. Another attempt on 14 December 2003 also saw that Musharraf survived the assassination attempt when a powerful bomb went off minutes after his highly guarded convoy crossed a bridge in Rawalpindi. On 25 December 2003, two suicide bombers again tried to assassinate Musharraf, but their car bombs failed to kill him and 16 others died instead. On 6 July 2007, yet another attempted assassination failed, when an unknown group fired a 7.62 submachine gun at Musharraf's plane as it took off from a runway in Rawalpindi.
Ex PM Imran Khan
On 3 November 2022, Imran Khan former PM of Pakistan and chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) political party, was shot in Wazirabad Punjab. During a long protest march against the government, the leader was showing a ‘threat letter’ at a public meeting. Luckily, he only injured his leg and is recovering well.
Having analysed the various incidents, we conclude that since its formation in 1947, Pakistan has had a blood-stained record when it comes to heads of State as they have faced everything from being hanged, shot or killed in suicide bombings. Further ahead we analyse the probable reasons for these killings
Corruption
Political Ideology of Pakistan. Ironically, none of the Pakistani PM has ever completed the five-year Government term. Essentially, this comes down to the fact that all Heads of Government have been dismissed due to charges of corruption. Corruption has proved to be an irreplaceable ingredient in the history of Pakistani democratic rule of law. Corruption in general has plagued the country and has infiltrated the socio-economic & political landscape. During, Zia-ul-haq’s era, elections were manipulated by the powerful Pakistani intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), channeling millions of Rupees into his election campaign.
On Oct 99, Nawaz Sharif attempted to relieve Musharraf from his command. However, the Military staged a successful coup d'état and overthrew the Prime Minister & his Government. Mr Sharif was sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of corruption, kidnapping, attempted murder and terrorism over the diversion of Musharraf's plane when it was low on fuel. He was also prohibited for life for any involvement in political activities. Mr. Sharif's downfall by Gen Musharraf reminded the dangerous & dark reality of Pakistani Politicians who have tried to limit Army’s influence in Pakistan.
Benazir Bhutto, daughter of the Former Pakistani Prime Minister and President Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, and also an Oxford and Harvard graduate, has always presented herself as the guardian of the deprived, underprivileged and a promoter of freedom of democracy. During her two terms in office as Prime
Minister, she acquired wealth, assets and property worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Her first Government was dismissed on 6th August 1990 by President Ghulam Ishaq Khan after she was accused of corruption. The corrupt past of Benazir Bhutto became apparent during the rule of General Pervez Musharraf, when an informant leaked documents, the leaked papers comprised of bank statements from various accounts in Dubai & Geneva.
Pakistan’s Army is as corrupt as the politicians. Pakistan Army uses the proclaimed fight against corruption to delegitimize political actors rather than to combat financial mismanagement. There are innumerable scandals and sordid stories of the financial bungling, bribery, extortion, influence peddling by serving and retired generals for personal gains. Reports also suggest of their involvement in smuggling rackets and narcotics trafficking.
Thus it emerges that Corruption & Political rivalry are the primary reasons for various assassinations or assassination attempts on political leaders in Pakistan. As a result, none of the government has completed its mandated tenure.
Helpless People of Pakistan
One can only wonder how helpless the people of Pakistan must be and in turn appreciates them as they have a real difficult choice to make amongst the Corrupt Democratic Leaders and the Military Dictatorship. With these two options, People of Pakistan have no other choice rather to have faith in the democratic system and to re-elect their representatives to form a government. However, no sooner the government collapses due to corruption. It has become a cycle in Pakistan which concludes with either a collapse of the government or any successful mil coup. Notwithstanding, the people of Pakistan have always taken responsibility in ensuring quick justice by sending their corrupt leaders on the pathway of Jannat. Thanks to the Pakistan Cricket team, that the People of Pakistan at least be happy & celebrate; forgetting their woes for some days and enjoy their team’s journey to the finals in the recently concluded T20 World Cup. Albeit,. Again they had to satisfy as the runners up.
October 16, 1951, stands out in the history of Pakistan as a day when the first Prime Minister of the country, Liaquat Ali Khan, was shot dead during a public rally in Rawalpindi’s Company Gardens
The history of Pakistan has been tumultuous with several assassinations of political leaders since the country’s inception in 1947.The shootings and terrorist attacks have continued in frequent intervals for more than seven decades and have taken lives of several politicians.
October 16, 1951, stands out in the history of Pakistan as a day when the first Prime Minister of the country, Liaquat Ali Khan, was shot dead during a public rally in Rawalpindi’s Company Gardens. The bullets fired in 1951 at the Company Gardens, later renamed Liaquat Bagh, was the first assassination in Pakistan. Unfortunately, it was not the last attempt as recently on 04th Nov 22, PTI chairman & former PM Imran Khan became the latest to join the long list of politicians, who have faced such attacks.
This leads to the question to which we try to find the answer
Is Politics in Democratic Pakistan a pathway to Jannat ?
The literal meaning of Jannat is a green garden, in earth or in heavens. As per religious interpretation, it is a place created by Allah for his believers in which they shall dwell forever.
Islam defines Heaven as Jannat; the Paradise where noble people rest after leaving their mortal remains. The Holy Quran describes it as ‘gardens of pleasure’, where people are rewarded after death for the good actions that they commit during their lifetime.
Hence, it is believed that if one follows the rules set by Allah, commits no sin, and stays good throughout life, they go to Jannat. There are seven levels of heaven in Islam, and each level has a different core and construction with a different prophet residing in them. For the believers there will be a true kingdom on which they will have full control and whatever they desire will take place, no one will disobey them.
Having known seen the meaning of Jannat, we shall now analyze as to who is to be blamed for the assassinations. Either the political rivals kill each other for political gains or it is a National trait which has set in and leads to killing of the country’s political heads. Since formation of Pakistan in 1947, important political leaders who have been assassinated by being hanged, shot or killed in suicide bombings have been mentioned below.
PM Liaqat Ali Khan
On 16 October 1951, Khan was shot twice in the chest while he was addressing a gathering of approximately one lakh person at Company Bagh in Rawalpindi. Upon his death, Khan was given the honor title of "Shaheed-e-Millat", or "Martyr of the Nation". The Municipal Park, where he was assassinated, was renamed Liaquat Bagh. Coincidentally, ex-PM Benazir Bhutto was also assassinated in 2007 at the same location.
PM Zulifar Ali Bhutto
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was another stalwart leader, PM of Pakistan and was the founder of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP). He was hanged by the military regime of General Zia-ul Haq in April 1979. Just few furlongs away from Liaqat Bagh.
General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq
He was a Pakistani four-star general and politician who went on to be the sixth President of Pakistan after declaring martial law in 1977. The military dictator was killed in a mysterious plane crash on 17 August 1988. Many suspect it as assassination. Till today it is an unsolved mystery.
PM Benazir Bhutto
Benazir Bhutto, the two-time PM of Pakistan, was brutally assassinated on 27 December 2007 in Rawalpindi despite having high security in view of death threats. A UN investigation revealed that Bhutto's assassination could have been prevented if adequate security measures had been placed. The gun and suicide bomb attack was carried out at the same venue where Liaquat Khan was killed.
Gen Pervez Musharraf
General Musharraf is one lucky leader to have survived multiple assassination attempts. In 2000, Kamran Atif an alleged member of Harkat-ul Mujahideen al-Alami, tried to assassinate Musharraf. Another attempt on 14 December 2003 also saw that Musharraf survived the assassination attempt when a powerful bomb went off minutes after his highly guarded convoy crossed a bridge in Rawalpindi. On 25 December 2003, two suicide bombers again tried to assassinate Musharraf, but their car bombs failed to kill him and 16 others died instead. On 6 July 2007, yet another attempted assassination failed, when an unknown group fired a 7.62 submachine gun at Musharraf's plane as it took off from a runway in Rawalpindi.
Ex PM Imran Khan
On 3 November 2022, Imran Khan former PM of Pakistan and chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) political party, was shot in Wazirabad Punjab. During a long protest march against the government, the leader was showing a ‘threat letter’ at a public meeting. Luckily, he only injured his leg and is recovering well.
Having analysed the various incidents, we conclude that since its formation in 1947, Pakistan has had a blood-stained record when it comes to heads of State as they have faced everything from being hanged, shot or killed in suicide bombings. Further ahead we analyse the probable reasons for these killings
Corruption
Political Ideology of Pakistan. Ironically, none of the Pakistani PM has ever completed the five-year Government term. Essentially, this comes down to the fact that all Heads of Government have been dismissed due to charges of corruption. Corruption has proved to be an irreplaceable ingredient in the history of Pakistani democratic rule of law. Corruption in general has plagued the country and has infiltrated the socio-economic & political landscape. During, Zia-ul-haq’s era, elections were manipulated by the powerful Pakistani intelligence agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), channeling millions of Rupees into his election campaign.
On Oct 99, Nawaz Sharif attempted to relieve Musharraf from his command. However, the Military staged a successful coup d'état and overthrew the Prime Minister & his Government. Mr Sharif was sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of corruption, kidnapping, attempted murder and terrorism over the diversion of Musharraf's plane when it was low on fuel. He was also prohibited for life for any involvement in political activities. Mr. Sharif's downfall by Gen Musharraf reminded the dangerous & dark reality of Pakistani Politicians who have tried to limit Army’s influence in Pakistan.
Benazir Bhutto, daughter of the Former Pakistani Prime Minister and President Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, and also an Oxford and Harvard graduate, has always presented herself as the guardian of the deprived, underprivileged and a promoter of freedom of democracy. During her two terms in office as Prime
Minister, she acquired wealth, assets and property worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Her first Government was dismissed on 6th August 1990 by President Ghulam Ishaq Khan after she was accused of corruption. The corrupt past of Benazir Bhutto became apparent during the rule of General Pervez Musharraf, when an informant leaked documents, the leaked papers comprised of bank statements from various accounts in Dubai & Geneva.
Pakistan’s Army is as corrupt as the politicians. Pakistan Army uses the proclaimed fight against corruption to delegitimize political actors rather than to combat financial mismanagement. There are innumerable scandals and sordid stories of the financial bungling, bribery, extortion, influence peddling by serving and retired generals for personal gains. Reports also suggest of their involvement in smuggling rackets and narcotics trafficking.
Thus it emerges that Corruption & Political rivalry are the primary reasons for various assassinations or assassination attempts on political leaders in Pakistan. As a result, none of the government has completed its mandated tenure.
Helpless People of Pakistan
One can only wonder how helpless the people of Pakistan must be and in turn appreciates them as they have a real difficult choice to make amongst the Corrupt Democratic Leaders and the Military Dictatorship. With these two options, People of Pakistan have no other choice rather to have faith in the democratic system and to re-elect their representatives to form a government. However, no sooner the government collapses due to corruption. It has become a cycle in Pakistan which concludes with either a collapse of the government or any successful mil coup. Notwithstanding, the people of Pakistan have always taken responsibility in ensuring quick justice by sending their corrupt leaders on the pathway of Jannat. Thanks to the Pakistan Cricket team, that the People of Pakistan at least be happy & celebrate; forgetting their woes for some days and enjoy their team’s journey to the finals in the recently concluded T20 World Cup. Albeit,. Again they had to satisfy as the runners up.
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