Political History of Pakistan (1969–1971) – General Yahya Khan and the Fall of East Pakistan

Political History of Pakistan (1969–1971): General Yahya Khan & Fall of East Pakistan

General Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan assumed power on 25 March 1969, following widespread public unrest against Ayub Khan. Yahya became Pakistan’s second military ruler, taking charge as both President and Chief Martial Law Administrator. He pledged to restore democracy through free elections, but mis‑managed the transition so badly that the state lost half its territory.

This article continues our political‑history series. Earlier chapters:

• Liaquat Ali Khan Era (1947–1951)
• Instability Before Martial Law (1951–1955)
• First Constitution & One‑Unit Scheme (1954–1956)
• Suhrawardy, Chundrigar & Feroz Khan Noon (1956–1958)
• Ayub Khan Era (1958–1969)

1 | From Tashkent Backlash to Yahya’s Coup

Ayub Khan’s legitimacy crumbled after the Tashkent Declaration. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto branded it a sell‑out, galvanising students and labour unions. Facing near‑revolt, Ayub handed power to Army Chief Yahya on 25 March 1969.

2 | Abolishing the 1962 Constitution & Basic Democracies

Yahya scrapped the 1962 constitution and the Basic Democracies system, promising direct, party‑based elections. Unlike Ayub, he freed political prisoners and assured a neutral caretaker role.

3 | Legal Framework Order (28 March 1970)

The LFO created a unicameral National Assembly of 313 seats—162 East, 151 West. It demanded a new constitution within 120 days of the first sitting and guaranteed “one person, one vote.”

4 | 1970 Elections – A Nation Polarised

Held on 7 December 1970, Pakistan’s fairest elections produced a fractured mandate: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s Awami League swept 160/162 East seats; Bhutto’s PPP won 81 West seats but none in the East. No party commanded a country‑wide base—an ominous sign.

5 | Bhutto–Mujib Table‑Talk & the Six Points Deadlock

Constitutionally, Mujib should have become Prime Minister. Bhutto refused, fearing marginalisation. Between 15 and 24 March 1971 Yahya hosted Bhutto–Mujib negotiations in Dhaka. Mujib insisted on his Six‑Point plan—confederation‑style autonomy. Bhutto called it “a roadmap to Balkanise Pakistan.” Historians argue that genuine compromise on the Six Points might have preserved unity.

6 | Postponed Assembly & Civil Disobedience

Bow­ing to Bhutto, Yahya postponed the National Assembly set for 3 March 1971. East Pakistan erupted. Awami League launched a massive non‑payment of taxes, strikes and takeover of government offices. Mukti Bahini, a nationalist militia covertly armed by India, gained recruits daily.

7 | Operation Searchlight (25 March 1971)

Yahya ordered Operation Searchlight—a night‑long assault to disarm Bengali units and silence dissent. Thousands of civilians died. Mujib was arrested and flown to West Pakistan. The crackdown radicalised an entire population.

8 | Nine‑Month Counter‑insurgency vs Mukti Bahini

From March to November 1971, Pakistan Army fought a gruelling nine‑month guerrilla war against Mukti Bahini. Major towns were retaken, yet countryside resistance persisted. Despite tactical victories, the army was overstretched, isolated and dependent on vulnerable air‑supply corridors.

9 | Operation Chengiz Khan & Indo‑Pak War 1971

With India openly backing Mukti Bahini, Pakistan launched pre‑emptive air‑strikes—Operation Chengiz Khan—on 3 December 1971 against Indian airfields. The gambit mirrored Israel’s 1967 Six‑Day War strategy but faltered; India retaliated on both fronts, rapidly advancing towards Dhaka.

10 | Surrender & Creation of Bangladesh (16 Dec 1971)

Cut off from reinforcements, Lt‑Gen A. A. K. Niazi capitulated in Dhaka on 16 December 1971. Nearly 93,000 Pakistani troops became POWs—the largest surrender since WWII. Bangladesh emerged, severing Pakistan’s eastern wing.

11 | Diplomatic Theatre: Bhutto at the UN

On 15 December 1971, Bhutto addressed the UN Security Council, tearing up draft resolutions and declaring, “So what if East Pakistan falls? We will build a better Pakistan.” The speech, while dramatic, could not reverse facts on the ground.

12 | Fall of Yahya & Rise of Bhutto

Public fury forced Yahya’s resignation on 20 December 1971. Bhutto assumed offices of President, Foreign Minister and Chief Martial Law Administrator, promising a “New Pakistan.” Yahya died in house arrest in 1980, largely shunned by history.

13 | Hamoodur Rahman Commission

Bhutto instituted the Hamoodur Rahman Commission to probe the disaster. Its classified report blamed military misjudgement, intelligence failure and political obstinacy. Only fragments have leaked; the full text remains officially unpublished.

14 | Tragic Epilogue

Within a decade of 1971, the principal actors met violent or ignominious ends: Yahya died disgraced; Bhutto was hanged in 1979; Mujib was assassinated by junior officers in 1975. Their rivalry reshaped—and scarred—South Asian history.

15 | Legacy & Lessons

• Key Lesson: Denying an electoral mandate invites chaos and dismemberment.
• Strategic Error: Military solutions cannot resolve political grievances.
• Enduring Impact: The 1971 schism still shapes Pakistan’s civil–military relations and federal debates.

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💬 Share Your View: Could Pakistan’s unity have survived had Mujib’s Six Points been accepted? Was Operation Chengiz Khan a strategic necessity or fatal gamble? Comment below!