Adil Najam
Today, March 16th, marks the death anniversary of former Pakistan Prime Minister Mohammad Khan Junejo who died on this date in 1993. It is not a date that is likely to be marked by much ceremony or rememberance.
Yet he was the Prime Minister of this country and some of his decisions helped shape some of the momentous twists and turns of our recent history. As Gen. Zia-ul-Haq’s chosen appointee, was never a person who held much ‘real’ power in the country. Yet, one could argue that he helped shape the calculus of power that was to follow his tumultuous tenure, including his eventual falling out with Gen. Zia-ul-Haq.
There are those who would argue that Mohammad Khan Junejo was yet one more puppet in hat has been one long putli tamasha. Others, however, would insist – with some admiration – that for all his faults he was an honorable man trying to seek an honorable path out of a dishonorable situation?
Which is it? Could it be both? Or, maybe, neither? What are we to make to Muhammad Khan Junejo? How should we remember him on this day?
P.S. Do watch the video above with some care. It is fascinating to see a much younger Aitizaz Ahsan analyzing the politics of the time. I also wonder who the young man who is standing behind then Prime Minister Junejo (at min. 5:04m on the video) might be? Is it, by any chance, a much younger (and now Prime Minister) Yousuf Raza Gillani? It well could be. Mr. Gillani was, after all, a member of the the Junejo (and, therefore, Zia) Cabinet – serving first as Minister of Housing and Works and later as Minister of Railways.
Very interesting, indeed.
Whatever Junejo’s intentions were, Zia held the power, so in one sense we can’t really judge. No wonder Imran Khan did not want to be Musharraf’s PM.
I liked the old pictures. Zia. Reagan. GIK. A very different Yusuf raza Gillani.
Badalta hai rang aasman kaisey kaisey.
I have very few views on Junejo. For most part, I think he was just irrelevant to the history of what happened. A spectator at best.
I remember Junejo as an honest person. There are/were no accusations of corruption against him. I also remember tremendous outpour of grief and goodwill nationwide on his death – which is a bit ironic. People thought about his decency in politics more after he wasn’t there.
He was however lighter on curbing/solving ethnic tensions in Karachi. The descent of Karachi into chaos started a year or two before Junejo Govt but he didn’t do much to stop it.
Good video.
Fees muaf ,kitabain muft .ab tu per ly ….
panch nukati program.
Suzuki FX
Wasket
thank you for taking us in past.
This video is really interesting. Yes, I think that is Yusuf Raza Gillani. Just shows what lota politics we have and how our politics is a merry go round.