1970 Election

Ayub Khan handed over power illegally and

unconstitutionally to Yahya Khan, the Commander
in Chief, on 25 March 1969, after a countrywide
movement against him.
Soon after the acceptance of power, Yahaya Khan
proclaimed Martial Law for the second time in
Pakistan and became the CMLA and President of
the country.
GENERALS
 YAHYA’S Intentions
• Yahya Khan made it clear that although his government would
be very tough in maintaining peace and order in the country,
but his regime would be only for a short period.
• He announced that his was an interim government and that
the power would be handed over to elected representatives
after recreating an atmosphere for general election.
• That the election would be held on the basis of universal
adult franchise
• That Pakistan would be a parliamentary form of government
• Political activities would be suspended for a while though
political parties would not be banned .
• The promise of election was welcomed by all sections of the
people.
 LEGAL FRAME WORKS
• On November 28, 1969 Yahya Khan made a
broadcast where he said that he would evolve
a general framework for elections on the basis
of a consensus among various groups and
political leaders.
• He said that there are three issues before
Pakistani people , 1. One Unit , 2. One man
one vote versus parity, 3. Relation between
the Center and the Federating Provinces.
 YAHAYA’S ELECTION PREPARATION
• Yahaya observed that the one unit issue would be
sorted out before election by dissolving it and creating
new provinces.
• The National Assembly would be elected on the basis
of one man one vote principle. This gave East Pakistan
a clear majority in the National Assembly.
• The autonomy would be granted as far as it does not
interfere with the idea of Pakistan.
• He announced that the general election will be held on
5 October 1970.
• The martial law will remain in force till the power is
handed over to the people’s representatives.
 LEGAL FRAMEWORK ORDER (LFO)
• In order to give the practical transformation of his
intentions Yahya Khan promulgated a Legal
Framework Order and the Province of West
Pakistan ( Dissolution ) Order on 30 March 1970 .
• The LFO laid down the composition of the
National Assembly and the Provincial Assemblies,
principle of election, date of polling, rules of
procedures and fundamental principles of the
constitution.
 FRAMEWORK
• Pakistan shall be a Federal Republic to be
known as the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
• Islamic ideologies to be prevailed because it
was the basis for the creation of Pakistan.
• Fundamental principles of democracy shall be
ensured by providing direct and free
periodical elections to the federal and
provincial legislatures on the basis of
population and adult franchise.
 FRAMEWORK
• The Provinces shall have maximum autonomy
i.e. maximum legislative, administrative and
financial powers but Federal Government shall
also have adequate powers to discharge its
responsibilities in relation to external and
internal affairs and to preserve the
independence and territorial integrity of the
country.
 LFO
• The LFO stated that the National Assembly will consist
of 313 seats. Of it 300 members would be directly
elected and 13 seats would be reserved for women.
• The number of seats in the four provinces of West
Pakistan would vary.
• The seats of the National and Provincial Assemblies
were allocated on the basis of the 1961 Census. East
Pakistan thus received 169 seats out of 313 in the
National Assembly and the remaining 144 seats were
distributed among the four provinces and the Tribal
Land of West Pakistan.
 LFO
• The Constitution Bill shall be authenticated by the
President.
• The LFO cannot be contested in the Court.
• These two articles confirmed the power of the
armed forces. Hence these were opposed by
most of the leftist and radical forces who
demanded boycott of the election.
• However, Sk. Mujib thought that the one man
one vote principle gave opportunities for East
Pakistan securing 169 seats , and thus a victory
for his efforts.
 SK. MUJIB
• Mujib also thought that if his party secures
the majority of the seats ,’ the army which had
no legal authority to hold power would not be
able to do anything as world sympathy would
be with him.’
 ELECTION MANIFESTO
• The Election manifesto of the Awami League
was a composite and comprehensive
document comprising the six- points program,
the 11 points of All Party Students Community
of Action as well as some other issues not
covered by these two programs.
• Manifestoes – Likewise other parties have
their manifestoes
 CAMPAIGN
• Campaign – Soon the election campaign started
and the Awami League officially launched its
election on the basis of the six- point program on
7 June 1970. During the campaign , Mujib warned
the people to be ready for any eventuality in the
great struggle for their rights. In a public
meeting at the Dhaka Race Course Maidan Mujib
used the slogan Joi Bangla for the first time. It
became the battle cry in the electoral campaign
and later, in the liberation war.
CAMPAIGN
 DEVASTATING CYCLONE
• Dates of Election - Originally the date of election was fixed
for 5 October 1970. But it was postponed to 7 December
because of devastating floods in East Pakistan during the
month of August.
• Devastating Cyclone – In November 1970 there was a
devastating cyclone in the coastal areas of East Pakistan
killing thousands of people, cattle and destroying
properties and houses. There was an utter negligence on
the part of the government to come to the help of the
people and provide relief. President Yahya was very casual
about it and his government even did not respond properly
when foreign governments and agencies extended their
helping hands.
 REACTION
• On the contrary the East Pakistan political parties and
the public especially students did an exemplary work in
helping the affected people. Awami League and its
leaders won the hearts of the cyclone affected people
by touring the areas and sending volunteers to provide
relief to them. In any case the political leaders and the
general public became extremely unhappy and
discontented by the attitude of the government and
specially Yahya Khan and other military rulers.
• On 13 November 1970, Maulana Bhasani called for an
independent East Pakistan.
•
FEAR OF POSTPONMENT OF ELECTION
• It was feared that the military government
taking advantage of the natural disaster might
postpone the election for an indefinite period.
Actually the Yahya government was thinking
that but fearing that such a step would cause
unprecedented hostility , the government only
postponed the election of the cyclone affected
areas involving only nine (9) seats. These were
held on 17th January 1971.
 LANDSLIDE VICTORY FOR AWAMI
LEAGUE
• The election was held on 7 December 1970 for
the National Assembly of Pakistan in a very
peaceful and organized manner. Awami
League won a landslide victory in the election
of the National Assembly securing 167 seats
out of 169. This was a great surprise for the
politicians of West Pakistan especially the
military junta.
 ELECTION RESULTS
• Awami League secured 82 per cent of the votes cast in
East Pakistan while in West Pakistan Bhutto’s People’s
Party left others far behind. It alone secured 88 seats
out of a total of 146 seats in WP.
• Final Result – The AL in East Pakistan secured 167 seats
out of 169 in the NA and 298 seats out of 310 in the
Provincial Assembly .
• In all AL secured 38.3 per cent of the votes cast all over
Pakistan while the PPP secured only 19.5 percent.
• The AL secured a position of absolute majority in the
National Assembly of Pakistan.
 SUCCESS OF THE AWAMI LEAGUE
• Reasons for the success of the Awami League
• The Six-Points Program
• Natural Disaster of 1970 and the callous response
of the government
• President Yahya Khan did not give much
importance to the cyclone disaster. In fact the
government tried to give out the death figures as
being around 50. On his way back from China,
Yahya Khan stopped at Dhaka, flew over the
affected areas on November 14 and left on 16th.
 HANDING OVER POWER
• The Awami League and the people of East
Pakistan after the election generally expected
that the new government both in the Center and
in East Pakistan would be formed by the AL. And
that the new constitution would be framed along
with the wishes of the people and the Six- Point
Program.
• But the Military Junta and the leader of the PPP
Bhutto thought otherwise .
• Pakistan headed for uncertainties.