Thread by @Saadkhan725

Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto : The Enigma

+es

1. Pakistani Nationalist
2. Statist
3. Initiation of Nuclear Program
4. Foreign Policy
5. Pivotal role in curtailing Sindhi Nationalism (Forever indebted)

6. Compromises in adoption of constitution. ( Though he loved his role as Presi under 72 Interim Act)
7. Taking the fight to Presi Daoud Khan of Afg by arming Gulbadin Hekmatyar in 75. This was the start of Pk using proxies in Afg.
8. Shimla agreement

-es

1. Fall of Dhaka ( Major role -> Larkana meeting and Polish resolution). I am not absolving anyone.
2. Absolutist regime (The most draconian as per Anatol Lieven)

3. Nationalization of economy. This basically fucked up our economy and we are still reeling from its effects. Growth plummeted while debts soared as free market capitalism was thrown out of the window.
4. Undermining of bureaucracy via lateral entry scheme.

This opened the floodgates of politicization of bureaucracy
5. Packing up govts in KP and Bln. Please refer to Ops conducted by Gen. Tikka Khan in Bln
6. Emergence of ethnic consciousness among Urdu speakers.

7. Estb of Fed security force which was basically Gestapo/NKVD.
8. Rigging of 77 elections.
9. Eviscerating judiciary via constitutional amendments.
10. Media suppression.