Pakistan Impatient Bosses Oust Bhutto

Scan page 2

Bhutto The military seizure of power in Pakistan on July 5 was a response to the mounting exasperation of Pakistan's ruling class with the civil disorders unleashed by the squabbling of the right-wing politicians.

There has been a good deal of speculation as to why new military dictator Zia ul Haq seized power.

It may have been on behalf of the now imprisoned ex-Prime Minister Ali Bhutto, to save him from capitulating to the demands of the opposition Pakistan National Alliance (PNA)-or it may have been on behalf of the PNA in order to guarantee the holding of new In spite of his apparent agreement to fresh elections, Bhutto was desperately attempting to avoid it.

The answer is almost certainly that it was not on behalf of either group that the military took power -but rather because, along with Pakistan's capitalists and landlords, they saw the inability of either group of politicians to maintain control over the masses.

For a good deal of the period since the rigged elections a few months ago Bhutto himself has only been able to rule through martial law.

After consigning the leaders of the PNA and Bhutto's People's Party to an apparently comfortable protective detention, the military regime immediately introduced a large number of extremely repressive laws.

Membership trade unions not approved authorities is punishable by threa years in prison and five lashes (for students unions the penalty is seven years in prison and ten lashes):

Although the regime says it will organise "free" elections in October all political activities are now banned and punishable by five years in jail.

These sentences can all be imposed by special summary military tribunals from which there is no right of appeal.

DEATH

luch tribunals can impose the both neratu forecto at cohotage or "damage to property"

In addition most of the traditional blood thirsty Islamic legal code is introduced for other crmes-for example, cutting off the hands of thieves.

The dictatorship, following the recent example of the Gaddafi dictatorship in Libya "humanely" specifies that this barbaric punishment must be carried out "by a qualified surgeon using local anaesthetic."

BRIEF ITALY The terms of the Communist Party's treacherous policy agreement with the Christian Democratic government have been announced.

They include wide ranging measures of political repression (including the improved coordination of the police forces, the building of new prisons and increased telephone tapping), the anti-working class economic policies agreed with the International Monetary Fund, measures to "reform" education including more emphasis on vocational training. and a "reform" of the nationa television to avoid "ideological opposition" between different channeis.

ANGOLA

The Cuban supported government of Agnostino Neto reports that it has captured Nito Alves, opportunist former Interior Minister and ally of Moscow, who led a failed coup against Neto in April. Alves escaped from custody after the coup.