Pakistan: A Step in the Right Direction

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Mujib's campaign was based on a pledge to win purbodesh, or regional autonomy, for the 72 million Bengalis of East Pakistan. For making the same demand in 1966, he was jailed for 33 months by Ayub. But purbodesh is the overriding issue in the area−for good reason. Pakistan is an improbable wedding of the Middle East and Southeast Asia, with 1,000 miles of Hindu India in between. In the dominant but less populous West are the tall, lightskinned, Punjabis. Pathans and Sindhis who speak a different language from the slight, dark Bengalis of the East and eat wheat and meat instead of rice and fish. The Punjabis, who dominate Pakistan's civil service, have always treated the Bengalis like poor relations, controlling the central bureaucracy and keeping the bulk of the tax money and foreign aid to themselves.

Grand Coalition. Mujib's cause therefore had many believers. Yahya has already assured Mujib of "maximum autonomy" for the East. This will give the Bengalis complete control over their economic planning and budget. Yahya insists, however, that the central government, located in the West at Islamabad, retain power over taxation, defense and foreign affairs.

Bhutto's spectacular showing against 19 other parties in West Pakistan was a surprise even to himself. His background as scion of a powerful landowning family from Sind province and his former friendship with Ayub were strong handicaps. But he overcame them with compelling oratory and personal magnetism. Besides, Ayub threw Bhutto in jail for three months toward the end of his rule. Campaigning on the seemingly contradictory slogan "Islam, socialism, democracy," Bhutto promised drastic land reform and the nationalization of key industries, actions that would affect his own wealth. His left-wing People's Party swept 82 of the 138 seats so far decided and is assured of winning the six seats reserved for women.

Assuming that the constitutional convention is eventually transformed into a new Assembly, Mujib could control it with the Awami League's delegates alone. Most observers believe, however, that for the sake of unity Mujib and Bhutto will form a grand coalition, on the pattern of West Germany's Christian Democratic-Socialist combinations of past years. To be sure, basic differences would make this rough going, particularly in foreign policy. Mujib is basically pro-Western, while Bhutto flirted with China when he was Foreign Minister. Moreover, Bhutto is dead set against dealing with India, while Mujib would like to normalize relations.

Whether or not they work well together, the two are likely to be working closely. The odds are that Mujib would become Prime Minister and Bhutto Deputy Prime Minister under a largely ceremonial President. Mujib certainly thinks so. When a correspondent asked him last week whether he could be congratulated as the future Prime Minister, Mujib replied archly: "You are naughty."