Zia-ul-Haq's Fascism, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and the Movement for Democracy - Aslam Khwaja - #TPE 277

The Pakistan Experience

Activist and Journalist Aslam Khwaja comes on the podcast to discuss his book, "People's Movement of Pakistan", that goes into the details of the torture camps during Zia-ul-Haq's dictatorship, PPP, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, the Movement for the Restoration for Democracy, Politics and the current political climate. Born in Hyderabad, Sindh on 25th December 1962, Aslam Khwaja joined Left politics in late 1970s, during General Zia Martial Law with the students wing of Communist Party of Pakistan. Aslam Khwaja has also written and translated more than two dozen books in Sindhi, Urdu and English. The Pakistan Experience is an independently produced podcast looking to tell stories about Pakistan through conversations. Please consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thepakistanexperience To support the channel: Jazzcash/Easypaisa - 0325 -2982912 Patreon.com/thepakistanexperience And Please stay in touch: https://twitter.com/ThePakistanExp1https://www.facebook.com/thepakistanexperiencehttps://instagram.com/thepakistanexpeperience The podcast is hosted by comedian and writer, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh. Shehzad is a Fulbright scholar with a Masters in Theatre from Brooklyn College. He is also one of the foremost Stand-up comedians in Pakistan and frequently writes for numerous publications. Instagram.com/shehzadghiasshaikh Facebook.com/Shehzadghias/ Twitter.com/shehzad89 Chapters: 0:00 Introduction 01:55 Khwaja’s Book, Zil e Shah, Zia’s cruelty and MRD, leaders standing with their workers 17:39 Rawalpindi Conspiracy Case, first elections, and Radio Pakistan Dhaka’s resistance 27:02 West Pakistan’s apathy, hypocrisy of PTI, and why didn’t the awam resist in 1971 35:55 Bhutto’s role in creation of Bangladesh, his anti-people actions, his role in bringing politics to the people, and Liyari 53:00 Bhutto’s legacy, abandoning leftist ideals, why there weren’t nationwide protests 1:04:59 Dictators attempting to turn politicians, Musharaf’s state funeral, Nusrat Bhutto and anti-Zia politics 1:17:44 Why PPP’s Sindh isn’t like PMLN’s Punjab, Sindh Cafe, Benazir’s return in 1986, separation of state and its people 1:26:33 Difference between now and then, alignment of movements for unified resistance, PTI’s attempt to reverse 18th amendment 1:37:39 PTI’s politics, Benazir’s rise and MRD’s role 1:46:06 How Aslam Khwaja was arrested, meeting his torturer, and seeing humanity even in distress 1:57:23 Audience Questions