If-I-am-assassinated-by-Shaheed-Bhutto

did not seize political power. The whole world would be under coup-gemony ifthe yardstick of Pakistan’s coup d’etats were to become applicable as ajustification for military intervention.I am absolutely certain that, if the Chief of Staff of the Italian Army hadappeared on television in Rome on 5 th July 1977 and, after reciting a passagefrom the New Testament, told the people of Italy that he was compelled tointervene, objectively speaking, his words would have carried more credibility.This did not happen and will not happen because it would spell disaster for Italyand her unity;The armed forces do not have to instigate, encourage or capitalize on acrisis to seize power. Whenever that is done, the crisis is made worse, notresolved. It reappears and becomes more evil. If it is true, as the Chief MartialLaw Administrator said at his press conference in Rawalpindi on 1 st January1978, that political problems can only be solved by political means, he shouldhave gone on to add, “and by politicians, not by soldiers.” At the end of the FirstWorld War, Prime Minister Clemenceau of France made a very profoundobservation. It is an observation that the Generals of Pakistan would do well toremember. Clemenceau remarked, “War is too serious a business to be left to theGenerals. “This profound observation is infinitely more valid when peace is thebusiness.The truth of the matter is that, with all the internal and external intriguesand conspiracies, there is no escaping the conclusion that, by the twilight of along day of ordeal, I had mastered the situation. Even the opposition is nowforced to admit this. After his release from protective custody, the PNA leader,Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, admitted that an agreement had been reached on4 th July 1977, because at 10.30 p.m. I had withdrawn my objections. TheAgreement was to be signed on the following fateful day.On page 391 the White Paper quotes Rao Rashid’s note of 29 th May 1977:“The law and order situation is constantly improving. Although PNA retains apotential of creating another law and order crisis if the talks fail, passage of timewould progressively lessen their potential. As much time, therefore should bebought in conducting the negotiations as possible re-election in the near futurewould be disastrous from all points of view.”“All points of view” include the national point of view more than anyother point of view. After dinner, at approximately 1.20 a.m. on the night of 4 thJuly, or morning of 5 th July 1977, when the conspirators had already struck, Mr.Hafeez Pirzada told me, “Congratulations, Sir, the crisis is over.” I asked himwhat made him say that. He said that the steam had gone out of the opposition. Ilaughed and told Mr. Mumtaz Ali Bhutto to wash off some of Pirzada’s perennialIf I am Assassinated; Copyright © www.bhutto.org 209