Since the time of its formation Pakistan is a failed experiment. The people who dreamt of an independent Pakistan were the first to be betrayed by Pakistan. Jinnah died soon after the formation of Pakistan, but his sister, Fatima Jinnah died in mysterious circumstances. Some believe she was murdered. We will discuss this some other time. For now, we will tell you about one such personality of Pakistan, who was the President of Pakistan, but after his death the Pakistan govt refused to even accept his dead body. We are talking about Iskandar Mirza, hopelessly in love with Pakistan, but once Pakistan was established, he was not even considered worthy of being buried in this country.

 

Iskandar Mirza was great grandson of Mir Zafar, the same Mir Zafar, who had changed sides in favour of the British during the war of Plassey. Iskandar Mirza was also one of the conspirators, to plan Pakistan attack on Jammu Kashmir in 1947. In 1950, after the constitution of Pakistan changed, he was appointed the first President. His tenure as President was full of political instabilities. In a span of two years, Pakistan had four Prime Ministers. Finally, tired of this instability, Mirza, himself declared Military Rule in Pakistan. It is often said about Pakistan, that ‘If one writes the political history of Pakistan, it will appear to be history of Pakistan army, and if one will write the history of Pakistan army he will feels as if he is writing the political history of Pakistan.’ Iskandar Mirza trusted the Pakistan army and handed over this democracy to the army, ironically he became the first victim of Military rule in Pakistan. With in 20 days of Military rule, General Ayub Khan removed Mirza from the position of President and expelled him from the country!!

 

 

After being thrown out of power by the military, Mirza went to London, via Quetta. The humiliation was to such extreme that other than his personal belongings, he was not allowed to take anything with him. He had to pay Rs 10 each for his and his wife’s passport and even bought his own ticket. The financial crunch was so bad that he did not even have money to pay the porter at the airport.

 

 

 

 

In London he started his life again in a small flat, located in Prince Gate, South Kensington. He was advised by some British officers, not to utter even a word against Ayub Khan as this could create problems for his second wife Riffat Beghum and her son, who were staying in Pakistan. This problem continued even after Ayub Khan was gone. Once Yahya Khan came to power, Iskandar Mirza planned to go back to his country and wrote to Yahya Khan. But he was shocked to receive a letter from one of the officers of Yahya Khan, simply saying that ‘Your application to come to Pakistan has been rejected.’

 

It is a known fact that Pakistani leadership uses wars against India for political gains. The conversation between Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Iskandar Mirza, throws more light on this belief. In 1965 after Pakistan was defeated in war with India, Bhutto was on a visit to London and met Mirza. In the conversation Mirza asked Bhutto, ‘You know India’s power, Pakistan can never defeat India, then why did you start the war?’ Bhutto responded by saying that ‘I could not help it. To remove Ayub Khan this was necessary.’

 

In London Mirza lived in abject poverty. The then Ambassador to Iran and later the Foreign Minister, Ardeshir Zahidi helped Mirza in his days of poverty. Once, when Mirza was admitted in hospital for treatment, Zahidi went to see him. As he reached the door of Mirza’s room, he overheard the conversation between Mirza and his wife. Mirza was pleading with his wife that since they cannot afford the medical treatment, she should she should let him die. Zahidi was so upset to know this miserable condition of Mirza that he left without meeting the couple. Finally, his 70th Birthday Iskandar Mirza died in his sleep.

 

 

The man desperate to go back to Pakistan till his last breath was humiliated by the Pakistan leadership in his life and his miseries did not end even after his death. When approached Pakistan refused to accept the dead body of former President. Finally, he was buried in Iran. Mirza’s family wanted to attend the last burial ceremony, but the govt of Yahya Khan ensured that they are held up at Karachi airport long enough to miss the burial. Despite all the efforts of the foreign minister of Iran, due to the conspiracy of Yahya Khan, Mirza’s family was not able to see him for one last time.

 

It is so unfortunate that in the last journey of the former president of Pakistan, there were just three Pakistani citizens present. One was his son Humayun, the Pakistani Ambassador to Iran and Iskandar Mirza’s friend Shahnawaz and his wife Maliha. The reputation of Pakistan suffered a set back in world politics for such ill-treatment of its former president. Although, the leadership in Pakistan was least concerned, because those who do not bother about their own people, little to they bother about the world. Betrayal is basic character of Pakistan.