The Lahore Journal of Economics 10 : 2 (Winter 2005) pp.

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Book Review
M. Asghar Khan, Weve Learnt Nothing from History; Pakistan: Politics and Military Power, Oxford University Press, Karachi. pp 306, Price Pak Rs. 450/The writer M. Asghar Khan was Pakistans youngest Air Marshal and the first indigenous CnC, who was also later the Chairman of PIA. M. Ashgar Khan is the author of a number of books, Pakistan at the Cross Roads, Generals in Politics, and Islam, Politics and the State-The Pakistan Experience. His professional life has been spent serving Pakistan, where he proved to be one of the best at whatever task he sought to perform. His political life has been expended in trying to restore democracy and law and order in the nation, thus his entrance into Pakistani politics at a time when some one with an honest character and moderate means would not have done so. At the outset of this book he narrates an incident that proves his patriotism and complete dedication to Pakistan. M. Asghar Khan was to leave Pakistan for higher education in Indonesia, and during his preparations to go he met with the Quaid, and sought his permission to leave, upon which the Quaid replied No, you must not go to Indonesia. Pakistan will need good pilots. M. Asghar Khan became the Air Marshal and proved his mettle when he single handedly came out with the 1965 heroic deed of destroying the efforts of the Indian Air Force, which was about six times greater in might. Apart from these political and career driven struggles there is an undercurrent of M. Asghar Khans genuine concern for the poverty-stricken and uneducated. He has filed human rights petitions against prominent Pakistani figures, and is constantly showing concern at the misuse of public money for political purposes. This book is a narrative of contemporary history through the eyes of M. Asghar Khan, who always wanted Pakistan to be a country of law abiding people. After his service to Pakistan the author entered politics in 1968. This time is what he writes about in the first ten sections of the book, he states himself that this book has the same facts told in his earlier book Generals in Politics which was not allowed to be published in Pakistan. He

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goes on to narrate the prelude to the debacle and ultimate tragedy of East Pakistan and the emergence of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto as a political force. In his own ways the author narrates reasons he sees for the dismemberment of Pakistan. He actually recounts in the book the hard times Pakistan faced politically and various Human Rights issues under Bhutto from 1972-77, when he was the primary political opponent of Bhutto. This opposition is evident of M. Asghar Khans naivety and unfamiliarity with politics and politicians in those early years. After the death of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto at the hands of Tara Masih the author stops on the political history front and from then on the book takes a turn into some of his political thoughts. These thoughts are primarily based on his experiences, his love for the nation and his foresight into what he thinks will work in Pakistan. From section eleven till twenty the author talks about various topics such as the developing role of the ISI from its role as a source of reliable information for the politicians and the army, to its eventual advisory role under Bhutto. He also discusses the need to make Balochistan a federation, because of its alienated nature and radical cultural diversity. Section thirteen talks about a proposal by the author to divide Pakistan into twelve provinces to cater to the urge for small administrative or national units. The next section discusses the need to re-administer land holdings for better output and supervision. Then the author talks about a critical issue in Pakistani mentality, corruption, and how it has permeated into the mind sets and systems of the nation, and how it has impeded our growth and made our visions blurred and myopic. Section sixteen elaborates on the need for devolution of power so that politics becomes a source of serving the people rather than a race for the acquisition of power. Then the author deals with the controversial issue of Pakistans stand on Jihad briefly, and eloquently states the irony that the crusade launched by President George Bush against terrorism is in fact a struggle to control the monster that the United States has itself created. Again he talks about a much familiar issue, Indo-Pak relations, the need for a solution for Kashmir and the inevitable nuclear stand off which is draining vital resources from both nations which could be put to better economic use. Towards the end the author discusses what he sees as the future of Pakistans democracy and the book concludes with the authors appraisal of General Pervez Musharrafs five years in power consequent upon the re-entry of the armed forces in the countrys politics in 1999, after a brief and tumultuous interlude with democracy.

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A subtle theme of the book is the authors views on how the Pakistan Army has always meddled in the Pakistani political arena. Through the emergence of marshal law eras under Ayub Khan, Zia-ul-Haq and Pervaiz Musharraf the author has detailed the slow progression of Pakistan away from democratic ways. This theme also includes the authors continual disappointment with each government and the systems they encouraged. These thoughts are also in the authors mind because he himself was a strict disciplinarian and renowned as one of those people whose examples of integrity and character are put forth. But this disappointment also brooks hope, and optimism that ultimately justice will prevail. This book is an insightful exploration of Pakistani history and the more sublime aspects of power and the people wielding it, thus making it a must read for people from all walks of life.

Lahore School of Economics Lahore

Rabia Khan