Praetorianism in A Case of Exploding Mangoes: A Critical Analysis.

Abstract

This research investigates the social and political circumstances of Pakistan during 1980s, when General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq exercised his power and controlled the government of Pakistan by military take-over till he breathed his last in an air crash near Bahawalpur. Mohammed Hanif, a journalist and newscaster of BBC London Urdu service has written an allegorical fiction named “A Case of Exploding Mangoes” in which he has narrated various instances of General Zia’s praetorianism. During the course of narration Mohammed Hanif, as an adept critic and seasoned analyst of global political scenario has employed the devices of black humour, irony and political satire in an allegorical way by making use of real and fictitious characters, well known to the Pakistani masses and International Community for their significant role in Pakistani armed forces and political government. Mohammed Hanif’s novel is a very valuable document which very aptly describes the reality of Pakistani politics, army’s role and its interference in public and civil politics. This novel also throws light on General Zia’s personality as the Chief of Army Staff and afterwards as the elected president, who remained a perfect example of a praetor throughout his reign of a third world country, named Pakistan.