General Yahya compelled president Ayub Khan to resign in march, 1969. And became chief martial law  administrator. Now general Yahya was president, chief of army staff and chief martial law administrator at the same time

As he knew all the reasons of Ayub downfall. Therefore, instead of fights with politicians, he removed all sanctions on political parties. General Yahya abrogated Ayub’s disputed constitution. Yahya held 1970s elections in December 1970

These were first general election of Pakistan history, with one man one vote principle. They are called the most transparent elections in Pakistan’s history. But the result of these transparent elections was very terrible

:Election results 1970

In these election Shaikh Mujeeb of Bengal clean sweeped in east Pakistan with 160 seats. But his political party failed to bag a single seat in west Pakistan. On the other side Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto bagged 81 seats in west Pakistan

But in east Pakistan, he could not win even a single seat Pakistan has clearly divided into two parts whole east Pakistan was with  Shaikh Mujib and constitutionally. He was new ruler of Pakistan

General Yahya’s responsibility was to transfer power to him. For this , Yahya called on the national assembly meeting in Dhaka on 1 February 1971. It was a historic event that Pakistan was getting elected leadership from east Pakistan

But Bhutto refused to attend the meeting not only refused, but threatened that

“anyone going to attend this meeting, i will break his legs”

Bhutto has objections on six points of sheikh Mujib Bhutto used to think that sheikh Mujib’s six points were anti united Pakistan. But political experts have opinion that in spite of all objections

Bhutto should have attended the meeting Bhutto pressurized Yahya to postpone national assembly meeting and Yahya postponed this meeting. This postponement enraged the people of east Pakistan. Bengali took this as that the elite of western

Pakistan does not want to transfer power to eastern wing. This started civil disobedience movement in east Pakistan. India, which was seeking any  opportunity, started an armed rebellion with the help of Mukti Bahni

Mukti Bahni’s armed groups started attacking Pak army and supporters of west Pakistan. This was the last chance, where Pakistan can be saved. If at this time national assembly session held and power transferred to the winner of election

Then may be the history of Pakistan take a different route. Although, it was not so simple now but instead of availing this opportunity. General Yahya missed it, and started military operation to crush the insurgency

It is a historical fact that all the political parties, including Bhutto, supported this military action. Pak army crushed Mukti Bahni’s rebellion in 9 months. But this military action created  insurmountable gulf of hatred

On the other hand, India attacked east Pakistan, seeing the conspiracy failing Pak army was encircled  by each and every side. Geography was against us, Pak arm was far a 1000 miles from center, and enemy had occupied supply line. Pak army has lost its supply lines

And the land of east Pakistan was no longer ours, the defeat was written on the wall despite all this, Pak army fought bravely. Thousands of young soldiers martyred, but it was a lost war. That can be stretched but not won. And that’s what happened

Pakistan had to face the most embarrassing defeat of its history. And 90000 Pakistani soldiers became  prisoners of India Dhaka fell and now west Pakistan was remaining Pakistan. Although it is difficult to pinpoint an individual for this debacle, as hundreds of reasons were there behind

This but if we are to name a single man who can save Pakistan, but not saved, it was general Yahya. Because as president and commander in chief. Yahya was duty bound to transfer power to election winner. But he did not do this

But it does not mean that east pakistan debacle was the sole responsibility of Yahya. Because time nurtures events in years

 … Even not come sudden

Fall of Dhaka proved the fall of Yahya  as well. General Yahya transferred power to Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto by a simple writing a paper. Bhutto became the head of chief martial law administrator and head of constitution assembly

He took over the power and issued house arrest for general Yahya. General Yahya spend remaining years in house arrest, mostly after one year of death of Bhutto. This important character of Dhaka debacle collapsed

On the other side newly established country Bangladesh faced military coup, one after the other. Even four years after separation, sheikh Mujib was killed by young military officers

So, within ten years, all three major characters of Dhaka debacle died. A commission was setup to examine this tragedy. The chief justice of Pakistan from Bengal, justice Hamood-u-Rehman, was the head of this commission

This commission prepared a detailed report on the Dhaka debacle who were responsible of this tragedy? Were also defined in this report. And factors were also determined

This report was completed in Bhutto’s era. But report not published due to political consideration and never published even to this day. Some parts of it were published in India, but it was never publicly appeared in Pakistan. The story of Pakistan is on

?What pressure did Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto exerted on India for returning pows

?How did general Zia Ul Haq succeed in imposing another martial law

To know this, watch next episode. If you like this video, than do comment, like and share, so that we continue this series and make it even more better