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print versionby Mohiuddin Ahmad
The birth of Bangladesh is still a nightmare for an average Pakistani politician, rightist, centrist, Islamist or pseudo left whoever one may be (barring few exceptions). This has been manifested in the reaction of Pakistani political hawks who still mourn for its ‘break up’ in 1971. The military defeat and the psychological injury they suffered are still haunting them. Based on a judgment by the International Crime Tribunal (ICT) of Bangladesh and authenticated by the Supreme Court, the execution of the Jammat-e-Islami leader Abdul Quader Molla on 12 December has triggered sharp reaction in Pakistan and her close allies USA and Turkey. Incidentally, Turkey, a member of US-sponsored military alliance CENTO, and the USA provided support to Pakistan in 1971, though the latter was perpetrating one of the worst genocides in the post-2nd world war history. During the trial, the Muslim Brotherhood sent a Turkish delegation to Dhaka to monitor the proceedings of the ICT. After the execution of Molla, there were demonstrations in Ankara and Istanbul against Bangladesh authorities.
Pakistan’s interior minister condemned the act of the Bangladesh government. Within a day, the Pak foreign ministry issued a clarification mentioning that the execution of Quader Molla is an ‘internal affair’ of Bangladesh. However, the Pak drama continues, as the Pak parliament passed a resolution condemning the execution. Imran Khan, seemingly a gentleman politician, also expressed concern echoing the Jammat-e-Islami tone. A youth rally in Dhaka organized by the Gono Jagaran Manch on 18 December has burnt his effigy. The rally tried to march toward the Pak embassy in Dhaka, but was blocked by the police.
It is crystal clear that Pakistan has not yet been able to learn the lessons of history, as she is still sucking its wound inflicted by the joint command of the Bangladesh freedom fighters and the Indian forces forty two years ago. A large crowd of over three lakhs assembled at the historic Suhrawardi Udyan on 16 December to commemorate the historic occasion marked by the unconditional surrender of Pak General A.A.K. Nazi along with 90 thousand odd troops at the same ground at 16:31.
It is equally surprising that the 1971 stage has set a comeback. Pakistan is still patronized by its old allies. In I971, Pakistan accused India of hatching conspiracy of dismembering Pakistan. In 2013, India remains a villain in its ‘bid’ to deviate Bangladeshi Mslims from ‘Pakistani brethren’. A flourishing secular-democratic Bangladesh is indeed a challenge to the values that Pakistan upholds and threatens its very foundation. It would be interesting to watch how the Pak civil society leaders react. In 1971, they were reportedly in the dark. In the present day digital era, what excuse they have?
