The Elections 1970: From Ballot to Nowhere

Although Pakistan achieved independence through a constitutional means on the basis of 1945-46 elations, however, after getting independence it hardly followed a constitutional way leading to the electoral politics. No general elections on the basis of adult franchise could be held till 1970 due to one or the other reason. The authoritarian rule of the ruling party Pakistan Muslim League (PML) avoided going for 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. By avoiding his personal intentions to get himself re-elected as the head of state in case if no one could get clear cut majority, he got the credit to held the first ever general elections in the constitutional history of Pakistan. Present study will strive to analyse that how these elections exposed the bitter realities that ultimately ended at the disintegration of Pakistan and the separation of eastern wing from rest of the country.