Rawalpindi, August 17,2026: Pakistan Muslim League-Zia (PML-Z) Chief and Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Muhammad Ijaz-ul-Haq has stated that the joint US-Pakistan Air Force investigation commission had officially declared the Bahawalpur tragedy an international conspiracy.
He demanded to know who made four consecutive calls to compel General Zia-ul-Haq and his companions to travel to Bahawalpur, and who subsequently prevented their post-mortems.
He expressed these views while addressing a seminar held at a local hotel in Rawalpindi on Monday, organized to mark the 38th death anniversary of former President General Zia-ul-Haq and the martyrs of the Bahawalpur plane crash.
Addressing the gathering, which he noted represented people from across Pakistan, the PML-Z chief reiterated that the joint investigation report ruled out any technical faults in the aircraft. “The questions of who sent General Zia and his companions to Bahawalpur and who stopped the post-mortems still demand answers today,” he said. He lamented that despite the formation of the Bandial, Shujaat, and Shafi commissions to investigate the tragedy, their findings were never made public.
Highlighting the former president’s legacy, Haq said General Zia-ul-Haq safeguarded the country’s ideology by making the Objectives Resolution (Article 2A) a substantive part of the Constitution, thereby establishing the sovereignty of Allah and ensuring no laws could be enacted repugnant to the Quran and Sunnah. He added that General Zia laid the foundational stones of Pakistan’s nuclear program and successfully brought it to fruition.
Stressing the need for administrative reform, he warned that if democracy is to be stabilized in the country, local government elections must be ensured and corruption eradicated. Failing to devolve power to the grassroots level through strong local bodies, he cautioned, would yield disastrous consequences for the entire system.
Recalling General Zia’s swift administrative actions, Haq shared an anecdote: “General Zia once noticed in the morning newspaper that onion prices had doubled. He immediately warned the Finance Secretary not to come to the office the next day if the prices weren’t normalized. By the time of Tahajjud [pre-dawn prayers] the next day, a message arrived confirming prices were back to normal. Is there any ruler today who takes such prompt action for public relief?”
Speaking at the occasion, PML-N MNA Shakir Bashir Awan stated that General Zia’s wisdom and strategy forced the superpower across the northwestern border to its knees, leading to its fragmentation and the emergence of independent Islamic states. He praised Zia’s “Cricket Diplomacy” for dissipating the clouds of war with India and emphasized his pivotal role in making Pakistan’s defense impregnable.
Former Provincial Minister Dr. Anwar-ul-Haq recalled the day of the Bahawalpur tragedy as incredibly difficult but noted that the massive public participation in the funeral gave the bereaved families immense courage. He praised the discipline of Pakistan’s armed forces and noted General Zia’s dual role in enforcing Islamic laws and strengthening the military.
Sajjada Nashin of Chura Sharif, Pir Sahibzada Hasnain, described General Zia as a leader of the Muslim Ummah, noting that the streets of Rawalpindi and Islamabad were choked with people during his funeral prayers.
MPA Chaudhry Ghulam Murtaza credited Zia’s governance style with elevating the country, stating that history bears witness that enemies trembled when General Zia displayed his might.
PML-N leader Sajjad Khan remarked that General Zia remains alive in the hearts of the Pakistani people even after 38 years. He credited Zia for tasking Dr. A.Q. Khan with the nuclear program, which ultimately made Pakistan a nuclear state.
Col. (Retd.) Javed Mujtaba stated that the purpose of non-party elections during the Zia era was to introduce new grassroots leadership. He urged Ijaz-ul-Haq to strive for a Pakistan where a common man can easily contest elections and where free healthcare and education are accessible to all.
