The following article
shows certain very rare and extra ordinary qualities of human beings depicted
in these two very important characters of our country. They changed the entire
course of our history. Their impact will continue to overwhelm the political
life of our country for centuries to come. The readers can make their own
assessment about their unforgettable role for eulogizing them or otherwise.
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| Left: Lt. Colonel (Retired) Syed Iskandar Ali Mirza - Right: General Muhammad Ayub Khan |
There are many men
and women in History who had two faces as all that glitters is not gold.
Iskandar Mirza and Ayub Khan were among such persons. Lt. Colonel (Retired)
Syed Iskandar Ali Mirza Defence Secretary was due for retirement in 1954 on
attaining the age of 55 years (he was born on 13th November 1899 and
General Muhammad Ayub Khan the Commander-in-Chief of Pakistan Army, was due for
retirement on 17th January 1954, on completion of his three years'
service (he was appointed c-in-c on 17th January 1951). Mirza got
King's Commission from Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1920 and Ayub got
King's Commission from Sandhurst on 2nd February 1928. While passing
out, they took oath that they would ever remain loyal to the Great Britain and
the British Raj at the peril of their lives. They remained true to their
oaths and remained ever loyal to the King of Britain and later Queen Elizabeth
II of Britain. Oblivious of their new responsibilities after independence of
Pakistan on 14th August 1947, they had their hearts and souls for
their original masters and the West. Both joined hands in their personal
interest exclusively (and not in the interest of the state). Both tore the
entire fabric of the Nation for their lust for power by not allowing the
political system to flourish in the country. Their indulgence in political
affairs of the country resulted in the breakup of Pakistan (separation of East
Pakistan) with great humiliation in December 1971. Iskandar Mirza's great great
great grandfather Syed Mir Jafar Ali Mirza was a traitor so he had a hereditary
trait of disloyalty. He served for six years in the Military Police of the
British Indian Army. As a Captain, his services were transferred to Indian Political
service and posted in KPK as the British Indian Political Agent in 1926 and
served there upto 1946. He played his role in the best interest of the British
Indian Government and also served with Olaf Chero, the British Governor of KPK
at the time of Independence. This Governor had organized and inspired certain
people in KPK to stage an Independent "Pakhtunistan State" comprising
of present KPK and the tribal areas. Iskandar Mirza stayed In KPK for twenty
long years and was instrumental in introducing tribal Sardars to the Governor.
For Pakistan's bad luck, Syed Iskandar Ali Mirza was later posted in the
British Indian Defence Ministry as Deputy Additional Secretary Defence. It was
most unfortunate that an officer who was not from Indian Civil service (I.C.S)
but from British Indian Political service and a very loyal officer of the
British Indian Government was accepted in Pakistan and appointed Defence
Secretary as a retired Lt. Colonel after Independence.
He
was apparently very obedient and sweet but highly deceitful. Lt General(R)
Abdul Majid Malik has written in his memoires that Syed Iskandar Ali Mirza made
a false file and got Ayub appointed C-In-C. Now both became King Makers in
Pakistan's politics. The Prime Minister Nawabzada Liaquat Ali Khan had
liberated Azad Kashmir. Pandit Nehru approached UNO for a ceasefire assuring a
plebiscite in occupied Kashmir. This event was exploited to that extent for two
and a half years that ultimately became known as "The Rawalpindi
Conspiracy 1951" against the authority of the PM. The Officers were not
arrested or tried in a court Martial when General David Gracey was C-in-C.
Major General Shahid Hamid, who was head of military intelligence never told
the PM about the conspiracy. The Rawalpindi Conspiracy was dramatically leaked
outasAyub was appointed C-in-C. This creates lots of doubts about the
credibility of this story. Mirza and Ayub were called at Sargodha by the PM on
receiving information from Mr. I. I. Chundrigar Governor KPK, who was earlier
informed by a Sub Inspector Syed Askar Ali Shah (brother of late Lt Colonel
Syed Sultan Ali Shah). Both lied to the PM that they knew nothing about the
said conspiracy. "They will go to
Peshawar and meet Asker Ali Shah to know details". On the other hand, Ayub
writes in his book that General Gracey had told him about "Young
Turks" in Pakistan Army. The officers were arrested on 9th
March 1951, but their trial started on
15th June 1951 by the Hyderabad Tribunal. Certain civilians
including Faiz Ahmed Faiz were also arrested to give a communist touch to the
false story. Four months after the start of trial of officers, the PM was
assassinated on 16th October 1951. If the conspiracy were true, then
the life of PM was certainly in great danger, but neither Civil nor military
intelligence and security cared for his life on that fateful day of October 16,
1951. PM's assassination was a blessing in disguise for Syed Iskandar Ali Mirza
and Ayub Khan. They were the beneficiaries of PM assassination. They formed a
Troika with Ghulam Muhammad. He was sick, a cripple and these two gentlemen
were his crutches, and became King Makers; otherwise both would have retired in
1954.
Crash
of the plane bringing Major General Iftikhar (GOC Lahore), and Brigadier Sher
Khan near Jang Shahi between the nights of 12 and 13December 1949, was also a
blessing in disguise for Iskandar Mirza Ayub axis. Similarly, crash of plane
over Khewara mines carrying I.G. Special Police Mian Aitezaz Uddin was also a
blessing in disguise for all those who were involved in the assassination of
the PM. General Gracey had told Lt. General Wajahat Hussain (1956) that he had not recommended Ayub as
C-in-C because he was ambitious and most unsuitable for appointment as C-in-C.
65
years of Research on PM's assassination endorses the belief of Dr Ayesha Jalal
that the Rawalpindi Conspiracy was a false case, organized by the British and
the American Agencies in collaboration with their sympathizers in Pakistan
Government and the Armed forces. It is obvious that the Rawalpindi Conspiracy
involved the assassination of the PM as a drop scene. It was the main aim of
fabricating the false story of the Rawalpindi Conspiracy 1951. The political
scientists believe that the story of the Rawalpindi Conspiracy was fabricated
to shock the PM. It intended to blindfold the PM by showing false loyalty by
planning to unduly prolong the trial, create hatred against the PM and the War
Heroes (alleged officers) by the print media and facilitate the assassination
of the PM by neglecting or withdrawing the State Security by the Civil and
Military Intelligence agencies during the visit to Rawalpindi on the fateful
day of 16th October 1951. On 17th October 1951, the
Troika of Ghulam Muhammad, Iskandar Mirza and Ayub Khan captured power. After a
lapse of one and a half year, both Iskandar Mirza and Ayub Khan realized that
they would have to quit their respective posts on retirement in 1954. They had
no chance of staying back in their seats. They were also unlikely to get an
extension from the PM Khwaja Nazimuddin. Therefore, both decided to remove the
Prime Minister on 17th April 1953. After nine months Ayub was due
for retirement on 17th January 1954, followed by the retirement of
Iskandar Mirza in the same year (1954). Both the king makers called the
Pakistan's Ambassador in the USA Mr. Muhammad Ali Bogra to reach Pakistan
immediately. According to the message delivered to Mr. Bogra the Governor
General wanted to see him immediately, failing which he would be sacked. The
Ambassador managed to land at Karachi Airport between the night of 16 and 17
April 1953 after encountering great difficulties. He was received by the king makers at the
Airport and was taken to the VIP lounge. He was told to stay there till sunrise
until the Governor General gets up. They told him that he has been appointed
Prime Minister of Pakistan. He was surprised to know this news. In the morning
Mr. Bogra was taken to the Governor General later on Mr. Bogra was taken to the
office of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister Khwaja Nazimuddin had gone to
visit East Pakistan; he was declared dismissed and was instructed not to return
to West Pakistan. Three Files were placed before Mr. Bogra.
According to file number 1 Mr. Iskandar Ali Mirza was
appointed as the Interior Minister in addition to his duties as the Defence
Secretary. According to the Second file, Ayub Khan was appointed as the Defence
Minister in addition to his duties as the C-in-C. According to the third file,
The Prime Minister Muhammad Ali Bogra awards three years extension to Ayub Khan
as C-in-C almost nine months before the date of his actual retirement on 17th
January 1954. After a lapse of two years Mr. Bogra was sent back to the USA to
resume his duties as the Pakistan's Ambassador to USA. Both Iskandar Mirza and
Ayub Khan forced Ghulam Muhammad to go on two months sick leave and thus
Iskandar Mirza assumed the position asActing Governor General on 6th
August 1955. On 6th October 1955 Iskandar Mirza becomes Governor
General and the Gazette notification is issued in 1955 that Iskandar Mirza had
retired from the post of the Defence Secretary w.e.f. 1954. Next PM
ChaudharyMuhammad Ali ( who had advised or misguided the then Governor General
Khawaja Nazimuddin to become Prime Minister) presented the 1956 constitution.
Syed Iskandar Ali Mirza, becomes the First President
of Pakistan and sacks Chaudhary Muhammad Ali as the 4th PM of the
country. Mr. Hussain Shaheed Soharwardy is appointed the 5th PM of
the country. Ayub Khan gets another two years extension on the recommendation
of Iskandar Mirza from the PM H.S. Soharwardy. This extension will expire in
1959 (on 17 January 1959). It was another extension in advance. The PM Mr. Hussain
Shaheed Soharwardy is not only sacked but also later produced in the court of a
Lt. Colonel duly handcuffed. Mr. H.S. Soharwardy laments on his great mistake.
He declared the act of granting extension to Ayub Khan as a second tragic
event, the first being the death of his dearest wife,two years after his
marriage. Iskandar Mirza appoints Mr. I. I. Chundrigar and Mr. Feroze Khan Noon
as the 6th and 7th PM. Later Ayub Khan took over on 7th
October 1958 and exiled Iskandar Mirza. He died on 13th November
1969 at the age of 70 in London. He was removed with great disgrace and
humiliation and denied burial in Pakistan. Shah of Iran received his body and
gave a State Funeral and buried him near the tomb of General Zahidi (Father of
his ex-son-in-law Arad Sher Zahidi).
Alas!
Ayub left with great disgrace and humiliation at the hands of his own
hand-picked C-in-C Yahya Khan. He used to abuse the politicians even the
companions of Quaid-e-Azam. The students returned the same abuse to him which
was very sad.
