NCJ Number
63534
Journal
MIDDLE EAST JOURNAL Volume: 25 Issue: 4 Dated: (FALL 1971) Pages: 465-480
Date Published
1971
Length
16 pages
Annotation
SOCIOECONOMIC FORCES IN THE PUNJAB REGION OF WEST PAKISTAN THAT LED TO OPPOSITION AND ULTIMATE OVERTHROW IN 1969 OF THE AYUB KHAN REGIME ARE EXAMINED.
Abstract
ALTHOUGH MOST ACADEMICIANS HAVE CONCLUDED THAT THE POLITICAL DISORDER OCCURRED ONLY DURING THE 6 TO 9 MONTHS BEFORE AYUB KHAN'S RESIGNATION, MORE DETAILED ANALYSIS SHOWS THAT THE DISORDER OCCURRED OVER A PERIOD OF 2 YEARS. IT STARTED IN THE NORTHWEST PUNJAB AS A RESULT OF SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, AND POLITICAL FORCES. DATA ON PEOPLE ARRESTED FOR RIOTING IN WEST PAKISTAN AND IN PUNJAB CITIES AND TOWNS INDICATES THAT THE OPPOSITION MOVEMENT BEGAN IN SPRING 1967 IN THE TOWNS OF PUNJAB AND THEN MOVED TO THE CITIES. THE MOVEMENT HAD GREATER MOMENTUM IN AREAS WITH LOWER LEVELS OF PER CAPITA INDUSTRIAL INCOMES AND WITH LOW LITERACY LEVELS, ALTHOUGH THESE RELATIONSHIPS WERE OBSCURED WHEN DATA FROM LARGE AND SMALL URBAN AREAS WERE COMBINED. IN ADDITION, THE POLITICAL VIOLENCE WAS HIGHER IN CITIES AND TOWNS WITH LOWER RATES OF GROWTH THAN IN RAPIDLY EXPANDING URBAN AREAS, AND HAD LITTLE SUCCESS IN PRIMARILY URBAN REGIONS. THE POLITICAL UNREST IN THE SMALL TOWNS STEMMED FROM THE 3 YEARS OF AGRICULTURAL STAGNATION, ESPECIALLY IN THE PUNJAB, THAT ADVERSELY AFFECTED SMALL TOWNS' BUSINESSMEN, LAWYERS, AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS. STUDENTS RETURNING FROM CITIES TO THEIR SMALL TOWNS CAME INTO CONTACT WITH THE DISCONTENTED LAWYERS AND FORMED THE ALLIANCE ON WHICH THE ANTI-AYUB MOVEMENT WAS BASED. SCARCITY OF CERTAIN FOOD ITEMS CAUSED UNREST TO SPREAD TO LARGER CITIES. BHUTTO'S EMERGENCE AS THE CHAMPION OF THE UNDERPRIVILEGED TRANSFORMED THE MOVEMENT INTO A POPULAR UPRISING. RESULTS THEREFORE SUPPORT THE HYPOTHESIS THAT SMALL TOWNS PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE POLITICAL VIOLENCE OF 1967 THROUGH 1969. TABLES AND FOOTNOTES WHICH INCLUDE REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)