The Election of 1970

and
The Triumph of Awami League

Dr. Mohammad Humayun Kabir

 Background of the Election of 1970
• Pakistan achieved its independence through a constitutional means on the
basis of 1946 election, however, after getting independence it hardly
followed a constitutional way leading to the electoral politics.

• No general elections of NA on the basis of adult franchise were held till

1970 due to one or the other reasons.

• Even at the provincial level, no election had been held since 1954 in East
Pakistan, 1953 in Sindh and 1951 in the Punjab and the NWFP.

• However no provincial election held in Baluchistan till 1970, that was the
first ever provincial election in Baluchistan.
 Background of the Election of 1970
• One of the reasons why the general election of Pakistan took a long time to
be held is that the authoritarian rule of the ruling party Pakistan Muslim
League (PML) which tried to avoid general elections due to their declining
popularity against other regional and linguistic political forces of the
country.

• Although, President General Ayub Khan, in order to re-elect himself, hold

indirect elections on the basis of Basic Democracy, however, the first ever
general elections on the basis of adult franchise was held by General Yahya
Khan.
 Background of the Election of 1970
• 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.
• 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 government 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 FRAMEWORK ORDER (LFO)
• 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.
• In order to give the practical transformation of his intentions Yahya Khan
promulgated a Legal Framework Order and the Provinces of West Pakistan
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.
 LEGAL FRAMEWORK ORDER (LFO)
• 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.
• 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.
 LEGAL FRAMEWORK ORDER (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 (162+7) seats out
of 313 in the National Assembly and the remaining 144 (138+6) seats were
distributed among the four provinces and the Tribal Land of West Pakistan.
• The constitution should be framed within 120 days of the commencement of
NA and the Constitution Bill shall be authenticated by the President .
• The LFO cannot be contested in the Court.
 LEGAL FRAMEWORK ORDER (LFO)
• The 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, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman thought that the one man one vote
principle gave opportunities for East Pakistan securing 169 seats , and thus a
victory for his efforts.
• 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.’
 The Election of 1970
• Twenty-four political parties prepared to land in the election arena of 1970.
Every party had its program but two parties — the Awami League and the
Pakistan People’s Party — were being eyed by the electorate as the winners.
• For the 300 National Assembly seats, there were almost 1957 candidates.
However, after rejection and withdrawal of nomination papers, 1579
candidates were left in the field.
• Similarly, for East Pakistan’s Provincial Assembly 1850 candidates and for
West Pakistan 1385 candidates from different political parties and groups
were to take part in the elections.
• The Awami League had a fairly sound base in East Pakistan at the advent of
elections. However, the boycott of elections by Maulana Bhashani, the
National League and Progressive League in East Pakistan left the Awami
League virtually alone in the field.
The Election of 1970
The Election of 1970
 Election Manifesto and Campaign
• 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
Committee of Action as well as some other issues not covered by these two
programs.
• The main issue in the election campaign in East Pakistan was the question of
provincial autonomy. The political scene from the beginning was dominated by
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman of the Awami League. The League had organizations of
student, labourers and peasants to uphold its objectives. However, Sheikh Mujib’s
leadership contributed to its emergence as the dominant party in East Pakistan.
• Soon the election campaign started and the Awami League officially launched 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.
 Election Manifesto and Campaign
• Moreover, the traditional parties, like the Muslim League and the
Jamaat-i-Islami or the Nizam-i-Islam Party, which set up candidates in both
wings, gathered no support in East Pakistan. The Awami League’s campaign
soon turned itself into a movement of Bengali resurgence and without doubt
the most controversial issue in the campaign was the use of Six Point Program.
• Bhutto’s Pakistan Peoples Party was the second ‘winning’ party. His
personality, his socialistic ideas and his slogan of Roti, Kapra aur Makan,
meaning food, clothing and shelter, were the factors that contributed to the
popularity of Pakistan Peoples Party. During the election campaign, the PPP
restated its principles: ‘Islam is our faith; Democracy is our polity; Socialism is
our economy; all Powers to the people’.
• Bhutto, who showed no interest in East Pakistan, concentrated on the
economic exploitation of the capitalists in West Pakistan. Hence, he won
support of western wing on the basis of individual economic and social
equality.
 Election Manifesto and Campaign
• The rightist parties, propagated their views and criticized their opponents’
programs especially in regard to socialism and regional autonomy.
• The Pakistan Muslim League, and it’s all fractions, stood for common ideals: a
strong Centre with provincial autonomy consistent with national integrity,
promotion of Muslim nationalism and economic justice in line with Islamic
teachings. However, it had lost its appeal in East Pakistan after it was totally
defeated in 1954, when Bengali nationalism had pushed it in the background.
• Similarly, religious parties including Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan
and Jamaat-i-Islami denounced socialism and advocated Islamic system for
Pakistan. According to them, “Socialism was un-Islamic ideology and regional
autonomy a threat to the basis of Pakistan”. Even 113 prominent Ulema in their
ranks issued fatwas, declaring socialism as anti-Islamic. They also tried to influence
the voters with their anti-Indian statements which created a fear of Indian
aggression on Pakistan sovereignty and unity.
 Devastating Cyclone in East Pakistan
• 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.
• 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.
 Devastating Cyclone in East Pakistan
• 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.

• 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.
• Yahya Khan did not directly interfere in elections process but many politicians
believed that several parties and groups were helped financially by the
government, so that votes may be split and no single party or even two
parties could obtain majority and form a stable government.
• The election resulted in an overwhelming victory for Mujib’s Awami League in
East Pakistan and large majority for Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party in West
Pakistan. Awami League won a stunning victory of winning 160 seats out of
162 seats in East Pakistan.
• West Pakistan the People’s Party could not achieve a similar sweep as did
Mujib in the East. The PPP bagged 81 seats against a total of 138 seats (62
from Punjab’s 82 seats, 18 of 27 seats from Sindh).
Landslide Victory for Awami League
Landslide Victory for Awami League
Landslide Victory for Awami League
• The results showed the Awami League as the largest party without a
seat from West Pakistan. Similar was the case with the PPP which had no
seat in East Pakistan.
• Bhutto never really expected the electoral landslide defeat that he
eventually received in the western wing. The rightist parties like Muslim
League, was badly uprooted as they secured only 37 out of 300 seats of
the National Assembly.
• This created a situation whereby Yahya Khan sent congratulatory
messages to both the party leaders, but addressed Mujib as the future
prime minister.
Landslide Victory for Awami League
The Result At a Glance
 Provincial Assembly Elections
• In the provincial assembly elections the prototype of the National Assembly
was almost repeated.
• Awami League’s strength in the East Pakistan Assembly was 288 out of 300
seats but it had no representation in the provincial Assemblies in West
Pakistan.
• In West Pakistan, the Peoples Party won a majority in the Punjab (113 out of
180 seats) and Sindh (28 out of 60 seats) assemblies.
• The election results showed that no East Pakistan based party won a single
seat in West Pakistan and similarly no West Pakistan party in East Pakistan,
the situation crystallized the polarization between East and West Pakistan.
Provincial Assembly Elections
 Aftermath of the Election
• Cause of the Victory Awmi League- Manifesto – Disparity - Islam loving -
leadership of Sheikh Mujib - Bhutto’s Policy - Bangali Nationalism
• In the new circumstances created by the results of the elections, the
danger of a confrontation between the Eastern and the Western wings in
the National Assembly arose. Sheikh Mujib had won election on a platform
where the main demand was maximum provincial autonomy.

• The result was more disturbing for Yahya Khan who had in a pre-poll
assessment been told that no party could take a clear lead and there
would be a coalition government which could be easily handled by Yahya
from the top. With all pre-poll predictions gone wrong the rightists could
manage only 37 seats in a house of 300.
 Aftermath of the Election
• A tormenting situation arose for Yahya when Mujib in Dhaka started
discussing the future government’s priorities.

• On December 17, 1970 Mujib said that no one could stop the process of
provincial autonomy. Bhutto readily replied that no constitution could be
framed, no government would run at the center, without his party’s
cooperation. This political deadlock continued for next few weeks and as a
result a new wake of Non-cooperation movement arose again in Pakistani
politics.