How successful was Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto as Prime Minister of Pakistan? Explain your answer. [14] (Past Paper, June 2000: Q4/c)

[Important note] Z.A. Bhutto was president of Pakistan from 20 December 1971 to 13 August 1973. During this period he has significant achievements like drafting the 1973 constitution, Simla Agreement with India through which he recovered the 93,000 prisoners of war and regained 5000 square miles captured land from India. He restored the national confidence after separation of Bangladesh; constructed Pakistan Steel Mills in 1972 with the help of USSR. Such achievements must not be mentioned in your answer because the question is explicitly asking about Bhutto when he was Prime Minister. Similarly, his nationalization policy and military operation in Balochistan also started during this period. So be careful!

[Successes] Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was the 9^th Prime Minister of Pakistan from 14 August 1973 to 5 July 1977. As a politician he strengthened his political party, the Pakistan People’s Party and won the parliamentary elections in 1977 by significant margin. His party remains the largest national party even today.

He strengthened relations with China, former USSR, Saudi Arabia and the Arab world. He played active role in uniting Muslims of the world. He hosted the second Conference of Islamic States in Lahore in February 1974. This conference was a historic event that projected Pakistan as a leading Muslim country. He was trying to create an economic alliance between the Islamic countries. He signed a number of bilateral agreements with the gulf countries for facilitating Pakistani workers to seek overseas employment. Millions of skilled and non-skilled workers obtained jobs in the Middle East. There was significant rise in foreign exchange for Pakistan.

Bhutto was serious in raising the living conditions of industrial workers. He introduced labor policy in which he increased the workers’ rights and power of trade unions. Similarly, to empower small farmers, Bhutto introduced land reforms in which the land ownership limit was reduced and the tenants were given first right of purchase. Security of tenure was also granted to the peasants.

Z.A. Bhutto continued his policy of nationalization of key industries. Banks were nationalized in 1974 followed by nationalization of flour, rice and cotton mills. Although there was no significant economic growth, but inflation rate was brought down from 25% in 1972 to just 6% in 1976.

Development expenditure was substantially increased in the health and education sectors both in rural and urban areas. Rural Health Centers and Basic Health Units in urban areas were established. Training colleges for doctors and nurses were also established. A large number of elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, intermediate colleges and junior colleges were established in urban and rural areas.

Bhutto is considered the chief architect of Pakistan’s nuclear program.

Bhutto kept continue the military operations against Baloch separatists to suppress the rising insurgency in the province of Balochistan. The separation movement was dealt with iron hands and it was completely crushed though at the expanse of thousands of civilian and military casualties.

[Failures] The nationalization process was not successful. The nationalized units went into loss as they were run by inexperience civil servants. Foreign investors and many big businessmen took their money out of Pakistan because their confidence in government was shaken. A considerable number of small traders were ruined when their small businesses were taken under direct control of government.

Academic standards were dropped in the nationalized educational institutes. This was due to increased number of students and less number of trained teachers. There was no significant change in literacy rate (only about 1% rise) despite of changes in curriculum.

FSF (Federal Security Force) was a brutal force which was used for detaining suspects indefinitely. It was considered his personal army that was used for breaking up opposition rallies and frightening his political opponents. Its Repressive measures greatly damaged his reputation.

He made structural changes in army to reduce powers of senior generals and also minimized their role in politics through the constitution of Pakistan, but he himself invited army for help against the massive protests of grand opposition after 1977 elections. He could not negotiate terms with opposition parties through political dialog.

Relations with USA went down due to startup of the nuclear program.

[Conclusion] Overall, Bhutto was a successful politician as he pulled massive crowds in his public speeches. He founded a very deep-rooted political party. But he could not bring major improvements in economy, education, agriculture or social welfare. He could not fulfill his commitment of “Roti, Kapra aur Makan” (food, clothes and shelter) with the poor people of Pakistan.