However the PNA leaders said that that was not possible. Like any dictator, he started manipulations as he wanted the PNA, an alliance of nine parties, to merge into one party. He was told by his close aides and a bunch of advisers that the PPP’s party was over, and the PNA would get simple majority. Zia promised elections on and said he had no other intention and the army would go back to barracks after polls.
Late General Ziaul Haq imposed his martial law on Jand claimed that it had come as the last resort due to a deadlock over a political solution to crucial issues, though the fact remains that it was imposed when the deadlock between the PPP government and the opposition PNA had ended and both sides had agreed on fresh elections in 90 days under an interim government, with 50 per cent representatives from both sides. Accountability in this country has often been used as a pretext for change of political loyalties, for which both carrot and stick strategies were used. Thus, the breed of politicians produced by these long military rules, direct or indirect martial laws, lacked vision, ideological outlook and conviction to make the system better. It has often been claimed that the martial laws were imposed because of deadlock or vacuum, but historically each dictator came up with his constitution, political and so-called accountability system.
The military dictators, in a bid to prolong their rule, seek legitimacy from handpicked judiciary and selected politicians. We are still facing threats of terrorism, extremism and unstable democratic system. Forty years have passed after imposition of a martial on July 5, 1977, but we are yet to recover from its damaging effects. It caused colossal damage to institutions and left the system more unstable every time. The martial law is damaging for the country, because it is not a system but misrule. Politicians too are responsible as they allowed themselves to be used with a ‘price tag’. This cycle is going on in this country since 1958, but the worst martial law was imposed on July 5, 1977, which continued till 1988.
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