1st general election 1970

ABSTRACT
My research article is 1st General Election 1970. The 1970 general elections based on adult franchise;
women were entitled to vote. The L.F.O constituted an Election Commissioner as its chairman and two
other members permanent judges of High Court. Political activities were allowed from January 1970.
Election schedule was changed due to province-wide flood in Bengal in the month of august 1970.
National assembly election re-scheduled to December 7, 1970. The objective of my study is: 1. To find out
the impacts of 1st general election 1970 on the politics of Pakistan. 2. To examine the role of landed
nobility had played in the 1 st general election 1970. Hence this study discussion will be on the key political
groups turned the 1970 elections into a polarizing political activity, despite the confidence that the global
community of observers had within them. The finding of my study is that General Yahya Khan did not ban
political parties in the 1970 general elections, in contrast to his government. During that time, there
were twenty-four (24) significant political parties, and its leaders were largely taken from the landed
elite of the nation. So, The Awami League won the election with an absolute majority, having won 160 of
the 162 general seats as well as all seven seats reserved for women in East Pakistan. Only 81 general
seats and five women's seats, all in West Pakistan, were won by the PPP. These were the decisive
elections in a way that the democratic future of Pakistan was depended on the elections. The
repercussions of the elections were so drastic.

Keywords: west Pakistan, east Pakistan, elections, political parties, impact, results, 1970 elections,
people’s consciousness.
INTRODUCTION
The second Martial Law was enforced in Pakistan on March 25, 1969. General Yahya Khan, after
assuming power, announced to hold the first general elections on the basis of adult franchise. He
promised to transfer power to the elected representatives of the people. He clearly said, “Our aim must
be to establish constructive political life in the country, so that power is transferred to the elected
representatives of the people”.

According to the international election observers, the elections were free and fair.

A controversy erupted over the formation of government, which resulted in chaos and unrest across the
country (G. W. Chaudhry, 1993).

Under LFO, an Election Commission was constituted. The Commission’s first task was to decide whether
to accept or reject the electoral rolls prepared during Ayub’s regime. On the demand of politicians, new
electoral rolls were prepared for a country with a population of about 115,000,000 (according to the
Census of 1961). Justice Abdul Sattar, a Bengali Judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan, was the
Chairman and two judges, one from the High Court of East Pakistan and other from the High Court of
West Pakistan were members of the Election Commission. There was controversy over the acceptance of
LFO among major political parties. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the President of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and
Sheikh Mujeebur Rehman, the President of Awami League (AL), had accepted the LFO. Because he was
sure about his success in the East Pakistan, and by winning the elections he could legitimize his six-point
programmed. Bhutto accepted the LFO on certain grounds. On other hand, the major army personnel
were against “one man, one vote” principle, because it can give supremacy to the Bengalis in the
National Assembly, and Provincial Assembly of the East Pakistan.

From January 1, 1970, election campaign was started. About 24 political parties participated in this
election. These political parties were divided into two main groups. First group, the rightist political
parties consisted of Pakistan Muslim League Convention (PML-Con.), Council Muslim League (CML),
Pakistan Muslim League (Qayyum) (PML-Q), Jama‘at-i-Islami (JI), Jamiat-ul-Ulema-i-Islam (JUI), and
Pakistan Democratic Party (PDP), etc. The second group, the leftist political parties consisted of Pakistan
People’s Party (PPP), Awami League (AL), National Awami Party (Wali Khan Group) (NAP-W), and
National Awami Party (Maulana Bhashani Group) (NAP-B), etc.

Pakistan is one of those countries, which have been under the influence of landed aristocracy. Landed
aristocrats especially from Sindh and the Punjab played vital role in the creation of Pakistan. Since then,
they have been able to reach the assemblies by manipulating elections and subsequent legislation and
policy making in the country. Over the years, representation of these aristocrats varied in the National
Assembly of Pakistan. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, who founded the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and was a
member of the landed aristocracy, advocated for and claimed to eradicate the aristocracy. Yet, he offered
tickets to the landed aristocrats and managed in electing them to Pakistan's National Assembly. Since
they were Pakistan's first general elections and because Bhutto, a member of the landed nobility,
advocated for the abolition of the class, the elections of 1970 have been used in study.

The Statement of problem:

The main reason behind that strategy was that Bhutto was well aware of Mujeeb’s popularity in the East
Pakistan, so his total consideration was the West Pakistan. His party did not contest seats in the East
Pakistan. In the West Pakistan, Bhutto’s major focus was in Punjab and Sindh in particular, and in NWFP
and Baluchistan in general.

General Yahya Khan did not ban political parties in the 1970 general elections, in contrast to his
government. During that time, there were twenty-four (24) significant political parties, and its leaders
were largely taken from the landed elite of the nation. These were the decisive elections in a way that
the democratic future of Pakistan was depended on the elections. The repercussions of the elections
were so drastic.
 LITERATURE REVIEW
TAHIR KAMRAN

ELECTION COMMISION OF PAKSIATN: ROLE IN POLITICS

The writer of this books is Tahir Kamran and published by South Asia partnership Pakistan. In this book,
writer has described the General Election 1970 in the chapter of General Elections: Unfolding Tragedies.
In this chapter of book, writer examine that not only explores the events in the run up to the election of
1970 but also analyses the circumstances in whose elections were held and overall fallout they had on
Pakistan. In the part of this chapter’s book, Legal Frame Work Order 1970 has discussed by writer. Yahya
khan constituted on Election Commission compromising three members to hold the election. In this part
of chapter General Election 1970, writer also discussed the two important personality one is Zulfiqar Ali
Bhutto and second is Mujeeb Ur Rehman.

The writer also put into words the important political parties competing for electoral supremacy in this
part: Awami League, Convention Muslim League, Council Muslim League, Jamaat-I-islami (JI), Jamiat ul
Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), Jamiat ul Pakistan (JUP), Khaksar tehrik, Pakistan’s people party these are all played
role in General Election 1970. In this chapter, writer express General seats won by different political
parties in the national assembly, voting percentage and result of provincial assembly in 1970 General
Elections.

M. RAFIQUE AFZAL

POLITICAL PARTIES IN PAKISTAN 1969-1970 Vol.III

The writer of this book is M. Rafique Afzal and published by National Institute of Historical and Cultural
Research, Islamabad. In this book, the writer represents the chapter about the General Election 1970.
The name of this chapter is THE ELECTIONS, which described the all strategy of election. In this chapter,
writer has told that Yahya Khan had promised to transfer power to the elected representation of the
people. Therefore, his primary task was to make arrangements for the general elections. The chapter of
parts are about the preparation for the elections, nomination, campaign, natural calamities in east
Pakistan and their impact, result of general election on Pakistan, so this chapter THE ELECTIONS of book
POLITICAL PARTIES IN PAKISTAN described the whole strategy of the general election 1970.

SYED SHAHID HUSAIN

WHAT WAS ONCE EAST PAKSITAN

The writer of this book is Syed shahid Husain and published by Ameena Saiyid, Oxford University. In this
book, the writer has discussed the General Election 1970in one chapter. The name chapter is GENERAL
ELECTION (1970). The first general election held in Pakistan on the basis of universal adult franchise and
one man and one vote was the long-awaited step for establishing a healthy tradition in democracy. The
chapter described about the massive support for the awami league and in particular for Mujeeb, writer
has discussed the report on general election 1971 the chief election commission recorded. But in this
book chapter, 1977 election and polls in 2002 has been discussed. The writer has also discussed the
hamood Ur Rehman commission report in this chapter to describe about the elections. This chapter has
put into word about the preparation of the election and election started. In this chapter table about
number and percentage of valid votes polled: national assembly drawn and briefly discussed in this
chapter. Table 2 is about the nominations and constituencies: national assembly discussed by writer.
Then in the last of this chapter the election elections discussed and were a great disappointment. Yahya
and his crew took some time to recover.

MAZHAR ABBAS

LANDED ARISTOCRACY AND THE GENERAL ELCTION 1970 (RESEARCH PAPER)

In this research paper, the writer discussed about Major political parties of Pakistan remained under the
influence of elite class. Keeping in view the role and influence of landed aristocrats in the electoral
history and politics of Pakistan, major political parties decided to allocate tickets to the landed aristocrats
and influential persons, especially in the rural areas. Council Muslim League (CML), Pakistan Muslim
League (Convention) (PML-Con.), Pakistan Muslim League (Qayyum) (PML-Q), Pakistan People’s Party
(PPP), Issue of Land Ownership in the Manifestos of Major Political Parties 1. Awami League, Pakistan
People’s Party, Pakistan Muslim League (Qayyum), Council Muslim League, Pakistan Muslim League
(Convention), National Awami Party (Wali Khan), National Awami Party (Bhashani), Jama ‘at-i-Islami (JI),
Pakistan Democratic Party (PDP), Jamiat-i-ul-Ulema-i-Islam (Hazarvi Group) (JUI -H). Question of Land
Ownership during the Election Campaign also discussed by the research writer. Election Results and the
Representation of Landed Aristocrats in the National Assembly has been discussed in this research paper.
PERCENTAGE OF VOTES SECURED BY VARIOUS PARTIES IN THE ELECTIONS OF 1970 described in table in
research paper.

Raza Naeem

The Watershed Moment in 1970 Elections That Broke Pakistan (research paper)

Raza Naeem is a Pakistani social scientist, book critic and award-winning translator and dramatic reader,
currently based in Lahore, where he is also the president of the Progressive Writers Association. In his
article, he discussed about the great responsibilities befell the Peoples Party and the Awami League after
this success. They were no longer provincial parties and Mujib and Bhutto were not the leaders of a
region but the whole nation. Voting took place in 300 constituencies, of which 162 were in East Pakistan
and 138 in West Pakistan. The problems and interests of the people were the same everywhere whether
they were in Sindh or in Bengal, Punjab, then-North West Frontier Province and Baluchistan. This article
related to impacts of general election on the politics of Pakistan.

https://thewire.in/south-asia/elections-that-broke-pakistan-1970-history

https://herald.dawn.com/news/1398628

Sama Farooqi

Slogans and songs: The parties and times that made them

Perhaps the first political party to understand the importance of populist sloganeering to appeal to
public consciousness was the PPP with “Maangta hai har insaan, roti kapra aur makaan”. First used by
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto around the time the PPP’s manifesto was drafted in 1966, it helped Bhutto win the
1970 elections in West Pakistan. This purely materialist sloganeering – as opposed to the moral
sloganeering of right-wing parties (“Pakistan ka matlab kya? La ilaha illala”) – appealed to the masses
that had to struggle for these basic necessities: peasants, labourers, and the working class. It also
attracted politically engaged, leftist students and the urban youth. For many, Bhutto’s unapologetic
attitude and strongman persona also enlivened the country after the loss of East Pakistan (Bangladesh).
Noor Muhammad was just a boy living in Keamari when he witnessed Bhutto tear up the Polish
Resolution calling for a ceasefire between India and Pakistan at the United Nations Security Council. That
moment converted Muhammad into a lifelong jiyala. “Roti, kapra, makaan is what all citizens need, but
Bhutto articulated it,” says Muhammad. During the 1970 elections, he would attend every rally he could.
“There was the slogan ‘Daal roti khaiyen gey/Bhutto ko laiyen gey’ [We will eat simple fare/but we will
ensure Bhutto wins]. And also, ‘Note bhi deyen gain/vote bhi deyen gey’ [We will give our money/our
vote [to Bhutto]. Every child would shout these slogans.” Bhutto was hanged on April 4, 1979, at that
time slogans were used mentioned in his article.

Politics of Symbols/Slogans and its impact on 1970 and 1977 Elections

In this research paper, I will review just about the 1970 general elections, the use of symbols/slogans and
its impact on election 1970. In this research paper, the participation of the political parties in 1970
elections was based on some catchy slogans. First general elections provided political parties with
opportunity to drag people towards their fold. 1970 elections marked an important watershed in the
troubled history of relations between political parties, military and East Pakistan. The circumstances
leading up to Fall of Dhaka and the events following from it also show something about the
contradictions within the political setup of Pakistan.

All the political parties used catchy slogans and manifestos to gain power. With the help of symbols and
slogans the two main symbol holder parties won the elections. In the words of Peer Mohammad,
“Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s Awami League swept the 1970 polls in the then East Pakistan, winning 160 of
a total of 162 National Assembly seats of the province. The party, thus, secured a majority in the 313-
seat house, which was to formulate a new constitution for the country. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s Pakistan
People’s Party won 81 of 138 seats of the four western provinces, qualifying as the second biggest
party”. Therefore, after analyzing the election campaigns and use of symbols/slogans, it can be said that
the 1970 elections were directly won because of the use of symbols/slogans. The symbol of nationalism
in East Pakistan had a strong appeal because of the prevailing situation in East Pakistan.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research methodology is the specific procedures or techniques used to identify, select, process, and
analyze information about a topic. In a research paper, the methodology section allows the reader to
critically evaluate a study's overall validity and reliability.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The significance of a study is its importance. It refers to the contribution(s) to and impact of the study on
a research field. The significance also signals who benefits from the research findings and how.

CONCLUSION
The election on the nine national assembly and 18 east Pakistan assembly seats in the flood affected
areas were held on schedule; the AL won all the seats. Thirteen seats (east Pakistan 7; west Pakistan 6)
had been reserved for women in the national assembly. The rightist parties suffered a massive defeat; it
was inherent in their composition and had become visit in the election campaign. Even ML leaders failed
to overcome their personal and factional tussles and kept in tact’s three separate platforms of ConML,
CML and QML till the end. The ulema led rightist parties bore similar traits. The elections campaign
brought out their simmering conflicts and tensions, more often based on peripheral issues.

Except the JIP, they could not maintain unity even in their own ranks, whether it was the JUI, JUP or the
ahl I hadith. The image of their leaders was that of religious and spiritual guide rather than politicians.
The JUI (H) performed better than the other parties; however, its success was confined to NWFP and
Baluchistan. The vilification campaign destroyed the JIPs fortunes. Its relatively long political standing
and its propaganda resources. There was a controversial issue between parties and responsibility to
resolve the controversial issue devolved on the two winning parties: the AL and the PPP. Mujeeb
overshadowed all the other Bengali leaders in style, eloquence and stamina for campaigning. The six-
point programme caught public imaginations as the panacea for all the Bengali misfortunes; its critics
were won over by promises of post-election compromises.

Moreover, it tried to neutralize the rightists by declarations that no law would be legislated which was
repugnant to Islam but it did not hesitate to use violent tactics against those among them who were its
critics. Mujib skillfully used AL’s image as the dominant law administration favorable decisions regarding
constitutional issues, legal framework and conduct of elections which contributed to the party’s success.
The disastrous cyclone eliminated whatever opposition there was against the AL candidates.

The PPP success in west Pakistan was spectacular and it had won seats in the Punjab and Sind. Its
success was the result of Bhutto’s leadership, the party programme and the divisions in the rightist
parties. Bhutto excelled all the other leaders in style, rhetoric and stamina for campaigning. The PPP
programme and the language and terminology that he used in presenting it had an appeal for the
common man. He did not hesitate to backtrack on the issue of socialism when he realized the intensity
of the opposition and used every device to prove his Islamic credentials, ranging from changing the use
of socialism to Islamic socialism and ‘masawaat I Mohammadi’ to visting the Mazars (shrines) barefoot.

The leftist parties who dominated the media played a vital role in making him and his programme
popular. In addition, rightist parties, which Bhutto tried to widen by various tactics, disillusioned and
divided the rightist voters and contribute to the success of PPP candidates. The AL and PPP on the basis
of their strength in the national assembly had to play a more active role than the other parties in framing
the constitution. The task was quite difficult; but east and west Pakistan who hardly shared any common
ideals comprised a sharply divided house and they had a frame a constitution for the country within 120
days.
References
1. Report of the general elections, Pakistan 170-71 (vol. 1), Karachi, 1972, p. 16
2. M. Rafique Afzal, political parties in Pakistan 1969-1971, Islamabad, national institute of
historical and cultural research.
3. TAHIR KAMRAN, ELECTION COMMISION OF PAKSIATN: ROLE IN POLITICS, South Asia
partnership Pakistan.
4. SYED SHAHID HUSAIN, WHAT WAS ONCE EAST PAKSITAN, Ameena Saiyid, Oxford University.

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