Beyond Dhaka Fall: What 1971 Teaches Pakistan Today
This session reflects on 1971 as a turning point that exposed enduring questions of representation, federalism, civil–military relations, economic inequality and the cost of silencing dissent. Rather than revisiting blame, it seeks understanding – asking what Pakistan learned, what it chose to forget and how unresolved patterns from that moment continue to shape the country today.
About the Guest Speaker:
Aitzaz Ahsan is a prominent Pakistani lawyer, politician, and constitutional expert known for his advocacy for democracy, human rights and rule of law, serving in various high-profile roles like Federal Minister (Interior, Law) and Senate Leader (House/Opposition) under the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Educated at Cambridge University and Gray’s Inn, he is a celebrated barrister, author of The Indus Saga, and a key figure in movements like the Movement for the Restoration of Democracy, often representing major political figures in landmark cases.
About the Discussant / Moderator:
Dilawar Hussain holds a PhD in Parliamentary Studies and is the author of “The Senate of Pakistan and Regional Representation: History, Role and Parliamentary Performance” (Bloomsbury Academic, USA). He is an Associate Member of the Centre for Legislative Studies at the University of Hull, UK, and works as a governance, parliamentary and constitutional development professional.
At Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, he teaches Parliamentary and Constitutional History with a special focus on comparative bicameralism, legislatures, governance, policymaking and comparative political systems. His writings on representation, federalism and parliamentary reform regularly appear in The News International, The Friday Times and Humsub Urdu.
He has served as a Research Fellow at the School of Social and Political Science, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and at the House of Lords, UK Parliament.
This session is free and open to all. Just visit the venue to attend it.
The Black Hole
Plot 5H, Street 100, G-11/3, Islamabad.
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