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Abstract Of the total 144 members of the National Assembly of Pakistan of 1972-77, 52 (36.11%) were landed aristocrats. Being members of the apex policy engineering body of the country, they were supposed to play significant role in legislation, policy formulation and its administration. This article is aimed at addressing the question: What role elected landed aristocrats did play during Bhutto's Premiership? Qualitative analysis of various sources reveals that besides, Sahibzada Ahmad Raza Khan Qasuri and Syed Abbas Hussain Gardezi, none of the others played very active role in legislation, policy formulation and its oversight. Instead of playing active role, as for as national-political administration is concerned, they passed a dormant life. However, banking on their legacy of extending support and drawing benefits, they served their vested interest.
Moreover, whatever political and administrative victories Bhutto's political administration has consolidated, the credit goes to his charismatic personality, public trust in him, and his reforms oriented agenda besides his commit to achieve the same.
Key Words: Elections, Landed Aristocrats, Reforms, Polic Formulation, Political Oversight.
1. Introduction The Political history of the Punjab shows that it has always been under the influence of landed aristocrats. Landed aristocrats always dominated the politics of the Punjab, especially the Northern parts of the province. They have played vital role in the formation of Pakistan. And after the creation of Pakistan, they always got their due share in the assemblies. In fact, they have always influenced the politics of the area even before and after the creation of Pakistan. In this research paper, an attempt is made to explore the major landlords of the Punjab, who were Members of the National Assembly from 1972 to 1977; their family background and political career; their role and performance in the legislation and policy making process. During his election campaign and in the early months of his coming to power Zulfikar Ali Bhutto raised voice against the landed aristocracy and promised to eradicate it from Pakistan.
However, Bhutto could not resist and sustain against the landed aristocrats present in the assembly and decided to join hands with them in order to protect his rule. This shift in Bhutto's policy from anti-landed aristocracy to pro-landed aristocracy is the cardinal reason to choose the time period of...