Past and Tense: Noorani, Bhutto and the early years of the ‘New Pakistan’ 1972-1976

Abstract

Despite the disaster in East Pakistan, General Yahya Khan wanted to maintain his position of authority.However, a "minicoup" on December 20, 1971, forced General Yahya to resign, and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto became the Chief Martial Law Administrator (CMLA) and President of Pakistan.Bhutto spoke eloquently to the people after assuming office, heralding a "new" beginnig for Pakistan and promising to uphold democratic institutions and hold his government responsible.

The present study mainly focuses on the political role of Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani to confront Bhutto’s Socialism and his ‘autocratic’ regime in and outside parliament as a parliamentarian and the president of Jamiat –i- Ulema- i- Pakistan – a leading Religio-political party of the time.