What was “Hyderabad conspiracy case”?

Hyderabad conspiracy case, also known for The Hyderabad tribunal (1975–1979), is the name of a former judicial tribunal used in Pakistan to prosecute opposition politicians of the National Awami Party on the charges of treason and acting against the ideology of Pakistan.

The tribunal was set up on the orders of Pakistani Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. The National Awami Party, which the government banned on 10 February 1975. The Supreme Court of Pakistan, on 30 October 1975, held that the party was working for an independent Pakhtunistan and greater Balochistan at the cost of Pakistan’s territorial integrity. It was ultimately wound up after General Zia-ul Haq overthrew Bhutto in 1977.

A total of 52 people were arrested. Those arrested from the National Awami Party leadership included Khan Abdul Wali Khan, Khan Amirzadah Khan, Syed Muhammad Kaswar Gardezi, Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo, Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri, Mir Gul Khan Nasir, Sardar Ataullah Mengal, Habib Jalib, Barrister Azizullah Shaikh, Aslam Baluch (Shaysani), Aslam Kurd, Saleem Kurd, Sher Mohammad Marri (General Sherof), Najam Sethi, Saleem Pervez, Majid Gichki, Mir Abdul Wahid Kurd (read article) and Karnel Sultan Mengal. In addition, several members of the Muslim League and even prominent critics of Bhutto within his own Pakistan Peoples Party were also arrested.

Causes

In 1974, after Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's close ally and governor of the North-West Frontier Province Hayat Sherpao was killed in a bomb blast at Peshawar university. Bhutto became convinced that Khan Abdul Wali Khan and the National Awami Party were responsible.

The 3rd amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan was passed which gave wide legal scope to the state to define anti-state activities. Amendment of Article 10 of the Constitution. In the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, hereinafter referred to as the Constitution, in Article 10,— In clause (7), in the proviso, after the word “enemy”, the commas and words “, or who is acting or attempting to act in a manner prejudicial to the integrity, security of defense of Pakistan or any part thereof or who commits or attempt to commit any act which amounts to an anti-national activity as defined in a Federal Law or is a member of any association which has for its object, or which indulges him, any such anti-national activity” shall be added.

Conspiracy theories

It is often referred to by leftists and progressives as a conspiracy by rightists elements to force a confrontation between the two leftists parties Pakistan People's Paty and National Awami Party. This event was to force the latter towards striking an alliance in the Pakistan National Alliance and increase Bhutto's reliance on the Armed forces. It is alleged that the Interior Minister (1973–1977) Abdul Qayyum Khan played a key role in triggering Bhutto's confrontation with the Baloch nationalists.