Crisis and Continuity: National Identity, Islamic Socialism, and Authoritarian Politics in Pakistan (1971–1979)

Abstract

The years 1971 to 1979 are landmark years in Pakistan. There was a great change in the national identity and the governance it had. After Pakistan got rid of East Pakistan and the establishment of Bangladesh, the country was left with serious issues. This center of the Two Nation Theory faced a fundamental premise which was very threatening. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto emerged to vie for a complex era for driving the country. He initiated the Islamic socialism that bolstered the application of values coupled with socialist economic policy. Alongside these economic policies, he started to regulate and take care of the most major problems, one of such was to take care of industries and also redistribute the land. All these, nonetheless, continued to group the people within the country. The situation of the divisions based on the sect, the language people speak, the ethnicity created the situation that negated to one people one nation.Bhutto's rule also led to the concentration of power in his hands to an extreme level, which brought with it the lack of democratic processes in his country, his government’s tyrannical tactics and his dependence on martial law. The effect of this is still a burden faced by his country. The Islamic policies of the government during the time of General Zia-ul-Haq focused on the promotion of Islamic solidarity in the Middle East, which was weakened by the weak foreign policy of the previous government. Although Pakistan was not part of the OPEC, it quickly seized the opportunity to make a goodwill gesture in return for the aid it would receive in the form of oil and the 1.3 million citizens that it had to take in from the Islamic world. His eminent Marshal, that is, the Supreme Leader of all commanders, led the Islamic nations, Pakistan and Commander Zia to ensure the removal of such grief. Iran remained strong, but its place was not obvious because it was bereft backed.