2 – Yahya Khan (Pakistan 1969 – 1971)
While his reign as a dictator was short, it was also incredibly violent. It is estimated that anywhere from one million to five million people died as a result of his actions, including as many as three million during the East Pakistan conflict in 1971. As a result of his brutality, Pakistan tries its best to forget. So much so in fact that children born in the country after 1971 have sketchy ideas of him. Meanwhile, Pakistani citizens old enough to remember the atrocities understandably prefer not to speak about them.
Meanwhile, in Bangladesh, Khan is depicted as a monster who caused the deaths of millions of Bengalis in an attempt to ‘preserve Pakistan’s integrity.’ Yahya Khan became the Third President of Pakistan on March 25, 1969. His predecessor, Ayub Khan, was on the receiving end of public resentment at this stage and the country was in complete chaos. As soon as Yahya became President, he imposed martial law. He was determined to restore law and order to Pakistan and also announced his plan to form a new constitution.
Yahya started reasonably well and was able to get the support of the people. He ended the One Unit in West Pakistan by July 1970 and also promised that the country would have its first-ever general election by the end of 1970. Citizens were delighted to hear that the election would be held on a ‘one man, one vote’ basis and Yahya also promised to elect a National Assembly. For residents of both wings of the country, Yahya Khan was a symbol of hope. He was the man that could bring democracy, prosperity, and peace to the nation. Instead, Yahya became known as a demonic butcher.
The December 1970 elections outlined the sad reality of life in Pakistan. The nation was divided along regional lines and was effectively two separate states, Pakistan, and East Pakistan (modern-day Bangladesh). The Awami League won 160 of 162 seats in East Pakistan, so it was technically the majority party in the National Assembly. Its leader, Mujibur Rahman, claimed leadership of the country but instead, Yahya dissolved the civilian cabinet on February 21, 1971. On March 25, Yahya initiated Operation Searchlight, a planned military operation by the army against the Bengali nationalist movement.
The Bangladesh Genocide began the following day and by December 16, anywhere from 300,000 to 3 million people lay dead. Members of the Pakistani army raped up to 400,000 women with the support of Muslim religious leaders who described them as ‘public property.’ Bengali mobs claimed anywhere from 1,000 to 500,000 lives as Urdu-speaking Biharis were targeted. West Pakistan ultimately surrendered which led to the formation of Bangladesh as an independent country. Yahya stepped down as president on December 20, 1971, and remained under house arrest until 1979. He died in 1980, mainly as a result of his alcoholism.