Pakistan, March 22 -- The opposition leaders formed the Pakistan National Alliance (PNA). Its no-holds-barred offensive election campaign poisoned the political landscape of the country. Their public insinuation that Late Bhutto was the illegitimate son of Sir Shahnawaz Bhutto was the most deplorable and despicable political and moral bankruptcy on the part of certain PNA stalwarts. The PNA leaders were deluded by their successful public meetings in Karachi, Lahore and Peshawar into believing that their victory in the elections was around the corner though all the seasoned and nonpartisan analyses were predicting a clear edge for the ruling PPP.

The political leadership remained bitterly divided over the outcome of the elections of 1977 ...