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The Leopard and the Fox: A Pakistani Tragedy
The BBC commissioned Tariq Ali to write a three-part TV series on the circumstances leading to the overthrow, trial and execution of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, the first elected prime minister of Pakistan. As rehearsals were about to begin, the BBC hierarchy—under pressure from the Foreign Office—decided to cancel the project. Why? General Zia ul Haq, the dictator at the time, was leading the jihad against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. He was backed by the USA. According to expert legal opinion, there was a possibility of a whole range of defamation suits from the head of state to judges involved in the case. In consequence, it was decided not to broadcast this hard-hitting and provocative play. The Leopard and the Fox presents both the script and the story of censorship.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published December 7, 2006
6 people are currently reading
384 people want to read
About the author
Tariq Ali
137 books805 followersTariq Ali (Punjabi, Urdu: طارق علی) is a British-Pakistani historian, novelist, filmmaker, political campaigner, and commentator. He is a member of the editorial committee of the New Left Review and Sin Permiso, and regularly contributes to The Guardian, CounterPunch, and the London Review of Books.
He is the author of several books, including Can Pakistan Survive? The Death of a State (1991) , Pirates Of The Caribbean: Axis Of Hope (2006), Conversations with Edward Said (2005), Bush in Babylon (2003), and Clash of Fundamentalisms: Crusades, Jihads and Modernity (2002), A Banker for All Seasons (2007) and the recently published The Duel (2008).
He is the author of several books, including Can Pakistan Survive? The Death of a State (1991) , Pirates Of The Caribbean: Axis Of Hope (2006), Conversations with Edward Said (2005), Bush in Babylon (2003), and Clash of Fundamentalisms: Crusades, Jihads and Modernity (2002), A Banker for All Seasons (2007) and the recently published The Duel (2008).
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 27, 2010
no doubt this has to be my favourite book,, i loved it so mach not just because its about bhutto (that i love) but also because it was written so beautufully
April 29, 2012
Revisiting 70s with Tariq Ali: a brilliant talk about the Leopard (ZA Bhutto) and the Fox (General Zia). The book originally was a drama script written by TA for BBC sometime in 1985-86; at the time of Soviet-Afghan jihad. The project was abandoned because TA wrote too much of a truth: both about the cunning General Zia and the Western conspiracy to eliminate Bhutto (the first elected Prime Minister of Pakistan).
I always like exploring history, especially the South Asian, and try to learn from independent historians and intellectuals like Tariq Ali.
I always like exploring history, especially the South Asian, and try to learn from independent historians and intellectuals like Tariq Ali.
September 25, 2014
The leopard and the fox: A Pakistani tragedy is written in a script format because it was intended as a documentary for BBC. For controversial reasons BBC failed to give it a green light and hence the project was orphaned. Years later, Tariq Ali went ahead and published it as a book.
This book/script is a faction account of real events coated with drama. It is based on Z.A. Bhutto’s politically motivated trial and execution.
Tariq Ali has an extremely mesmerizing writing style. I started reading this book/script in the late hour of the night and was unable to keep it down until I was completely soaked with hatred towards Zia-ul-Haq and undying love towards Bhutto. When I woke up this morning, I had my emotional cap off and my thinking cap on. I have not suddenly become a pro-Zia or anti-Bhutto, as I still believe that Bhutto was the best thing that had ever happened to Pakistan and his achievements as a brilliant leader still glorify the history of Pakistan. Unfortunately towards the end he had made some grave errors such as declaring Ahmadis as non-Muslims, military unleash in Balochistan etc. which definitely gave military enough reasons to dethrone him.
In the explanatory preface, Tariq Ali makes two claims: 1) This book/script is a fairly accurate account of “Bhutto’s failure to transform the country” and 2) “Zia’s well-planned brutalization of Pakistan’s political culture”. Zia’s brutalization is highlighted in bold whereas Bhutto’s failure as leader is briefly mentioned in passing. A potential bias?
The entire book/script portrays Bhutto as a humorous, in-control, charismatic and a fair leader – almost saintly. It is fair to mention that the portrayal is not flawed in anyways because Bhutto did gather the largest crowds and rallies in his support. 3 decades later, he is still seen as the greatest leader Pakistan ever saw!
The book/script also exposes West’s involvement in Bhutto’s death which raises a lot of questions. Was Zia operating on his own? Or was he just a pawn? Why were the Islamic parties so much against Bhutto’s regime? What about the Nuclear programme? Who was trying to stop it? Was Zia involved in supporting Osama Bin Laden and other Jihadi guerrillas fighting the Russians?
My verdict: It is brilliant. It is a quick read. It is easy to understand. It gives a run-through of the events leading up to Bhutto’s execution. It is a must read!
This book/script is a faction account of real events coated with drama. It is based on Z.A. Bhutto’s politically motivated trial and execution.
Tariq Ali has an extremely mesmerizing writing style. I started reading this book/script in the late hour of the night and was unable to keep it down until I was completely soaked with hatred towards Zia-ul-Haq and undying love towards Bhutto. When I woke up this morning, I had my emotional cap off and my thinking cap on. I have not suddenly become a pro-Zia or anti-Bhutto, as I still believe that Bhutto was the best thing that had ever happened to Pakistan and his achievements as a brilliant leader still glorify the history of Pakistan. Unfortunately towards the end he had made some grave errors such as declaring Ahmadis as non-Muslims, military unleash in Balochistan etc. which definitely gave military enough reasons to dethrone him.
In the explanatory preface, Tariq Ali makes two claims: 1) This book/script is a fairly accurate account of “Bhutto’s failure to transform the country” and 2) “Zia’s well-planned brutalization of Pakistan’s political culture”. Zia’s brutalization is highlighted in bold whereas Bhutto’s failure as leader is briefly mentioned in passing. A potential bias?
The entire book/script portrays Bhutto as a humorous, in-control, charismatic and a fair leader – almost saintly. It is fair to mention that the portrayal is not flawed in anyways because Bhutto did gather the largest crowds and rallies in his support. 3 decades later, he is still seen as the greatest leader Pakistan ever saw!
The book/script also exposes West’s involvement in Bhutto’s death which raises a lot of questions. Was Zia operating on his own? Or was he just a pawn? Why were the Islamic parties so much against Bhutto’s regime? What about the Nuclear programme? Who was trying to stop it? Was Zia involved in supporting Osama Bin Laden and other Jihadi guerrillas fighting the Russians?
My verdict: It is brilliant. It is a quick read. It is easy to understand. It gives a run-through of the events leading up to Bhutto’s execution. It is a must read!
January 14, 2015
This short drama set in Pakistan chronicles the last years (1977-1979) of the government of Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, his overthrow in a military coup, and finally his execution at the hands of the military junta led by General Zia-ul-Haq through the connivance of a tainted judicial process.
BBC commissioned Tariq Ali to write the screenplay for the documentary they had planned on the said military coup leading up the execution of Z.A. Bhutto. They suddenly abandoned the project when everything was ready and the documentary was about to go on air. The BBC, as the screenwriter soon found out, was pressured by the British government to either censor the documentary, or failing that, abandon it altogether. The part where the author alleges that the United States gave the green light to General Zia-ul-haq to hang Bhutto became the bone of contention.
The US and UK were at good terms with the military junta in power because it was helping them fight the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. The intimate relations between the US-UK and Pakistani military junta could be at risk if the documentary had been aired with the “objectionable” content as it might have angered the general. The final say rested with Tariq Ali when BBC, bowing to the government pressure, offered a censored, watered-down version to him. Tariq Ali refused to budge and therefore the documentary was shelved for good. The official reason given by the BBC, however, was that the content of the documentary were potentially libelous. It was, of course, a red herring.
The play starts with the depiction of a politically charged atmosphere in the country in the aftermath of the national elections in which Bhutto is reelected for the second term in office. There is ample evidence of widespread ballot rigging. The opposition demands nothing less than fresh elections. As Bhutto government and the opposition enter into intense talks to hammer out a solution amid continued street unrest, the military led by General Zia-ul-haq, fearful of loosing its power and finances, is plotting a coup in order to get rid of Bhutto for good.
The military top brass views Bhutto with extreme suspicion and contempt. The national and foreign policies of Bhutto government are increasingly angering the United States, The army, by virtue of Cold War alliances with the United States, depends heavily on US aid for its proper functioning. Wary of Bhutto’s policies, the US threatens to withdraw its aid and/or put embargos on Pakistan if Bhutto does not change his socialist policies. Even though Pakistan is US ally in the Cold War, Bhutto during his time in office attempts to cultivate cordial relations with China as well as warm up to the Soviet Russia. This also doesn’t sit well with the US officials. Furthermore, his public proclamations to develop a nuclear bomb at any cost further jeopardises the relationship between Pakistani establishment (led by military) and the United States. This, then, becomes the raison d’être of the coup. The military wants to take advantage of the country’s current unrest and oust the prime minister.
The scene is set. The drama unfolds. A couple of top generals, however a minority, do not support the idea of a coup. They are threatened with serious consequences or silenced with incentives, thereby eliminating all opposition to the coup within the military save one general who tries to warn the prime minister in subtle terms. Bhutto, being carefree and whimsical as he was, dismisses that general’s concerns with a wave of hand, naively believing that the chief has no guts to pull such a stunt. It is the same chief who Bhutto promoted to that position over five senior generals, thinking he’d be the right guy for him. However, that was not to be. The coup happens, Bhutto is put under house arrest and a sinister plot is hatched with the connivance of the Supreme Court. Bhutto is found, in a complete travesty of judicial norms, guilty of political murder during his prime ministership and therefore sentenced to death by hanging.
This play is written with much better care than the other one about the BCCI that I reviewed earlier. It depicts the historical events craftily, the characters are strong especially of Bhutto, the dialogue delivery is poignant, and the sequence of scenes with two parallel storylines keeps the reader interested throughout the play. I enjoyed it a lot.
BBC commissioned Tariq Ali to write the screenplay for the documentary they had planned on the said military coup leading up the execution of Z.A. Bhutto. They suddenly abandoned the project when everything was ready and the documentary was about to go on air. The BBC, as the screenwriter soon found out, was pressured by the British government to either censor the documentary, or failing that, abandon it altogether. The part where the author alleges that the United States gave the green light to General Zia-ul-haq to hang Bhutto became the bone of contention.
The US and UK were at good terms with the military junta in power because it was helping them fight the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. The intimate relations between the US-UK and Pakistani military junta could be at risk if the documentary had been aired with the “objectionable” content as it might have angered the general. The final say rested with Tariq Ali when BBC, bowing to the government pressure, offered a censored, watered-down version to him. Tariq Ali refused to budge and therefore the documentary was shelved for good. The official reason given by the BBC, however, was that the content of the documentary were potentially libelous. It was, of course, a red herring.
The play starts with the depiction of a politically charged atmosphere in the country in the aftermath of the national elections in which Bhutto is reelected for the second term in office. There is ample evidence of widespread ballot rigging. The opposition demands nothing less than fresh elections. As Bhutto government and the opposition enter into intense talks to hammer out a solution amid continued street unrest, the military led by General Zia-ul-haq, fearful of loosing its power and finances, is plotting a coup in order to get rid of Bhutto for good.
The military top brass views Bhutto with extreme suspicion and contempt. The national and foreign policies of Bhutto government are increasingly angering the United States, The army, by virtue of Cold War alliances with the United States, depends heavily on US aid for its proper functioning. Wary of Bhutto’s policies, the US threatens to withdraw its aid and/or put embargos on Pakistan if Bhutto does not change his socialist policies. Even though Pakistan is US ally in the Cold War, Bhutto during his time in office attempts to cultivate cordial relations with China as well as warm up to the Soviet Russia. This also doesn’t sit well with the US officials. Furthermore, his public proclamations to develop a nuclear bomb at any cost further jeopardises the relationship between Pakistani establishment (led by military) and the United States. This, then, becomes the raison d’être of the coup. The military wants to take advantage of the country’s current unrest and oust the prime minister.
The scene is set. The drama unfolds. A couple of top generals, however a minority, do not support the idea of a coup. They are threatened with serious consequences or silenced with incentives, thereby eliminating all opposition to the coup within the military save one general who tries to warn the prime minister in subtle terms. Bhutto, being carefree and whimsical as he was, dismisses that general’s concerns with a wave of hand, naively believing that the chief has no guts to pull such a stunt. It is the same chief who Bhutto promoted to that position over five senior generals, thinking he’d be the right guy for him. However, that was not to be. The coup happens, Bhutto is put under house arrest and a sinister plot is hatched with the connivance of the Supreme Court. Bhutto is found, in a complete travesty of judicial norms, guilty of political murder during his prime ministership and therefore sentenced to death by hanging.
This play is written with much better care than the other one about the BCCI that I reviewed earlier. It depicts the historical events craftily, the characters are strong especially of Bhutto, the dialogue delivery is poignant, and the sequence of scenes with two parallel storylines keeps the reader interested throughout the play. I enjoyed it a lot.
December 11, 2020
I thought I was through reading Tariq Ali for the time being, but then I found this in my garage. It is a screenplay about the overthrow and execution of the first elected Prime Minister of Pakistan, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, by the military dictatorship of General Zia. It was commissioned by the BBC Drama Department but as with other plays by Ali it was cancelled under political pressure. The book has the opinion of the BBC legal department as an appendix; the excuse for cancelling the project was that General Zia might sue the BBC for libel, and it would be difficult to prove that the trial of Bhutto was unfair since it was held in secret and there was no transcript. One might think. . . but remember that at the time the dictatorship of General Zia was funding the Taliban's jihad against the Soviets in Afghanistan.
The most important passage in the play, however, is not about the coup or the trial and execution, but this about Bhutto himself (omitting the stage directions):
Habib: He promised the people the moon. Food, clothes and shelter for all. I remember telling the crowds on his behalf that our People's Government would build schools and hospitals for the poor in the large mansions of the rich. People believed us, Lily. He couldn't deliver. He could have, but it needed a revolution. Your papers called him our Fidel Castro but he wasn't. So, finally, he made a pact with the very politicians we defeated and destroyed. He lifted the people to the skies, then dropped them to the ground. Confiscated their aspirations.
Lily: Saint Just. . .!
Habib: Saint Just?
Lily:: "Those who make the revolution half-way dig their own graves."
The most important passage in the play, however, is not about the coup or the trial and execution, but this about Bhutto himself (omitting the stage directions):
Habib: He promised the people the moon. Food, clothes and shelter for all. I remember telling the crowds on his behalf that our People's Government would build schools and hospitals for the poor in the large mansions of the rich. People believed us, Lily. He couldn't deliver. He could have, but it needed a revolution. Your papers called him our Fidel Castro but he wasn't. So, finally, he made a pact with the very politicians we defeated and destroyed. He lifted the people to the skies, then dropped them to the ground. Confiscated their aspirations.
Lily: Saint Just. . .!
Habib: Saint Just?
Lily:: "Those who make the revolution half-way dig their own graves."
March 11, 2019
The writer interjects at a critical moment of Pakistani history when a democratically elected Prime Minister was forcibly overthrown and subsequently assassinated. It was also a moment when Pakistan itself careened off from the path of democracy into a long lasting martial law and radical Islamism. The play traces the farcical trial that was rigged up to pronounce the death penalty on Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. The play also strongly indicts the role of America in engineering the removal of Bhutto and of the BBC which tamely surrendered to political compulsions and cancelled its making. It's a glimpse into a period of South Asian history whose impact is felt to this day. Basically an exposé of the web of lies and deceit of modern politics.
August 29, 2018
This is my second book by Tariq Ali, rather my second script by him. This book is a script written for a BBC documentary and later for another documentary, both which could not be materialized due to political pressure and financial constraints. Set in the late 1970's, this gives a glimpse into the depose of Bhutto by his own general and his trail. It lays out beautifully what went within the bhutto family, the suffering of Nusrat and BB. The various characters and their motives and ambitions are set out. The book reflects on the role of various instiutes and people in the unfair trial and finally the murder of Bhutto, a judicial murder.
While the book gives you a glimpse it is however a bit one sided, though history and various people over the years have some how authenticated what the book says, the book is still a bit biased (even for a person who is anti zia). But I understand the author as well, for he suffered alot due to zia, his parents were tortured and he was on self exile.
Nonetheless this is an easy and a very quick read (I read it in about 4-5 hours, with work and everything). Also since it's written as a script you actually know where the character was and what the setting was for every scene. It feels like I have watched a documentary.
Must read for anyone interested in Pakistani politics and history.
While the book gives you a glimpse it is however a bit one sided, though history and various people over the years have some how authenticated what the book says, the book is still a bit biased (even for a person who is anti zia). But I understand the author as well, for he suffered alot due to zia, his parents were tortured and he was on self exile.
Nonetheless this is an easy and a very quick read (I read it in about 4-5 hours, with work and everything). Also since it's written as a script you actually know where the character was and what the setting was for every scene. It feels like I have watched a documentary.
Must read for anyone interested in Pakistani politics and history.
Read
June 23, 2019The book is just wow,not only 'cause it contains much of the realities but also it is being written as everyone can easily understand it. A very quick read.
The most important thing about this book is Tari Ali mentioned that bhutto assasination was not possible without the approval of washington DC and US embassy. He said Zia was the part of american structure. When he was bergadier ,he was trained in US. And when posted him to jordan he killed many muslims of the palestine. That is today remebering by black september.
So inshort Z ia was american puppet and he allowed US to perish the democracy of the pakistan. So US along Zia planned and fixed pakistan supreme court and sentenced ZA Bhutto to death.
It was the dirty politics of Zia. Because it was zia who destroyed state institutions,gives birth to taliban,drugs culture,klashinkovs culture thats all because Zia destryed democray at that time by assasinating ZABhutto and allowing US to play their dirty politics on our soil.
Note: A neutral review
The most important thing about this book is Tari Ali mentioned that bhutto assasination was not possible without the approval of washington DC and US embassy. He said Zia was the part of american structure. When he was bergadier ,he was trained in US. And when posted him to jordan he killed many muslims of the palestine. That is today remebering by black september.
So inshort Z ia was american puppet and he allowed US to perish the democracy of the pakistan. So US along Zia planned and fixed pakistan supreme court and sentenced ZA Bhutto to death.
It was the dirty politics of Zia. Because it was zia who destroyed state institutions,gives birth to taliban,drugs culture,klashinkovs culture thats all because Zia destryed democray at that time by assasinating ZABhutto and allowing US to play their dirty politics on our soil.
Note: A neutral review
March 7, 2022
Reading this book got exciting when the script began to scream where Bhutto was losing his strength as the country’s leader and the military was about to take the advantage of his jaw-dropping speech. The intensity of the story from scene 33 is unusual. The buildup of the military’s takeover and Bhutto’s first two arrests are written exceptionally well. It gives you that horror that you do not ask for while you try to say peace at night and suddenly all hell breaks down. The application of that hell was gripping.
For the complete review, read here:
https://saminaik.com/2022/03/04/book-...
For the complete review, read here:
https://saminaik.com/2022/03/04/book-...
October 7, 2012
Amazing read. Although being a work of fiction the book provides a comprehensive view of almost all the intricacies that led to Zia's power hold and the hanging of Bhutto. The book is greatly matched on all accounts; characters, ambience the power structure and the mood of the situation.
April 15, 2013
A great drama; not at all a work of fiction, but a true account of Pakistan's infamous incident of the judicial assassination of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Beautifully written in the form of a drama script; with no exaggerations of any kind.
June 3, 2011
This is one of my favorite. A remarkable masterpiece. When I read this script, I felt everything happening in front of my eyes.
Want to read
November 5, 2014i want to read this book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2015
Recreates the episode admirably but the supposed US involvement is not brought out like in "The Assassination"..
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews