Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - December 4, 1968, Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg free press wednesday december 4, 1968 feeling again test a lib Khan mounting in Pakistan by Peter Hazelhurst Rawalpindi Pakistan special the sunday times in a Mere three weeks of political upheaval Paki Stan s once omnipotent president Ayub Khan has seen the Rise of an opposition that could shake his 10 regime to its foundations. Into the turmoil ignited three weeks ago by the fiery former foreign minister z. A. Bhutto has stepped another powerful rival to the president air marshal Asghar Khan former com Mander in chief of the air Force. Significantly he is now supported by three key men who could make or break his political career the highly respected former chief Justice of East Paki Stan s. M. Murshed the former governor of East Pakistan Gen. Azam Khan and the uncrowned Strong Man of the North West Frontier Region Abdul qua Yum Khan. The threat to Ayub Khan s regime is now patently a serious one. Yet Only four weeks ago the president ruled supreme As the popu Lar Soldier statesman whose Iron hand brought economic Progress to a nation of Well Over 82 million muslims for More than a decade. Today Many people who idolized the president in october openly curse him former colleagues in the armed services and administration have turned against his regime and otherwise docile students have come onto streets to defy police Batons and government ban Ning orders. Four weeks ago political awareness in Pakistan was non existent or at least muffled by the omnipresent hand of bureaucracy. The opposition remained a p a thetic and divided. In Public pakistanis avoided controversial Politi Cal subjects with silent shrugs and nervous Side Ward glances and the press was a tool of the regime. And then in the first week of november student unrest erupted violent clashes with police turned student de mands into political terms and an isolated attempt was made on the president s life. Within Days an unprecedented tide of disaffection swept Urban Pakistan to take the stunned regime by Surprise. In the streets today Paki Stanis talk in animated and even hostile tones a Large Section of the press is openly defying the govern ment and the opposition although somewhat Over optimistic in this Heady moment talks of rapid Reform. As the dust begins to Settle it appears that sever Al isolated factors were fused by coincidence in Early november to precipitate the crisis. Most important is the classical example of an oligarchy Drifting away from the people. President Ayub s attempts to create a grassroots political organization the Muslim league failed. Members of the ruling party Are mainly hangers on Content to ride on the president s personality. As party prestige Sank this fall High prices aggravated by a severe sugar shortage and suspicions that the minister of Commerce has Large family interests in the sugar Industry brought discontent to boiling Point. Adding insult to injury Pakistan had just been subjected to an overdose of official propaganda emphasizing the regime s achieve ments with a decade of reforms Campaign. In Karachi unchecked rumours that the president was grooming his son Gohar Ayub As his heir had raised tempers to fever pitch for Gohar Ayub had assumed the role of the City s political Boss. But the real spark came from or. Bhutto who left the government three years ago after a clash with the president. Much to his sur prise or. Bhutto began to find overwhelming support for his one year old opposition people s party. Probably the regime s most bitter critic or. Bhut to had been stamping the country calling for the abolition of the president s Basic democracy system in which an electoral College of 000 democrats elect the president and National As Sembly. With months of his whirlwind Campaign d r. Bhutto found himself the Darling of the crowds. His Appeal for the restoration of parliamentary democracy islamic socialism and the ancient War with India Over Kashmir had fired the imagination of the students and muted criticism took on braver tones. In the Middle of nov Ember students came on to the streets to defy govern ment orders Banning demonstrations. Then countrywide agita Tion was sparked off when police shot two students As the crowds swarmed to a hotel to Welcome or. Bhutto. Or. Bhutto and other More militant leaders were whipped off to detention centres leaving the swelling opposition ranks leaderless but in fighting spirits. It was at this psychologically Apt moment two week ago that air marshal Asghar Khan entered the political fray against the regime. A Youthful 47, Asghar Khan who retired As head of the air Force shortly before the 1965 i n d o Pakistan War is still the hero of the air Force the Man who built the service into a modern fighting Arm. In the Public s mind his integrity is beyond doubt and his Assurance that he is in politics not to seek Power but to restore democratic values to the country has found growing popularity in the past two weeks. His addition to the ranks of the opposition undoubtedly poses a serious threat to the present regime. You rate More at atom boy a business built on a simple philosophy the customer conies we invite you to compare. We know you will be convinced that you too can buy with com plete Confidence at your Friendly Tom boy store. Your store Tor Christmas food shopping what is value Check d beef it is the Best beef Money can buy specially selected government Insp Antee Lerider Nessema flavor. Trimmed of excess Bone and fat. Value Check d red or Blue Brand beef King of roasts prime rib roast Malkin s fancy assorted i r a Iii Utility. 3-4 Iii Canada y roas1 Chic la. 14 of. Tins where Friendly Peon dutch oven White sliced v eggs cheese onions pickles seven farms. Grade 1a Small. 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