A CASE OF EXPLODING MANGOES

By Muhammad Hanif

Introduction
This report deals with the summary, main points, idea of the novel A CASE OF
EXPLODING MANGOES, written by Muhammad Hanif.
The novel reimagines the conspiracies and coincidences which lead to the death of
Pakistans longest serving military dictator General Muhammad Zia ul Haq. How all the
characters in the real life of the dictator were connected and how all of them wanted to
get rid of the man who was using Islam as a veil to his rule over this country. The novel
also gives an insight into working of inter-services intelligence, Pakistans premier
intelligence agency.
Ironically all the characters in this novel arent fictitious and are real life characters with
the same names and professions.
The author also gives us an inside experience into the lives of people at the helm
armed forces of Pakistan, their way of living, talking, behaving, eating and their way of
day to day life.
This is a master piece in the Pakistani literature as it keeps the person bonded to read
the novel till end. 4 | P a g e
Summary
A first novel of the first order--provocative, exuberant, wickedly clever--that reimagines
the conspiracies and coincidences leading to the mysterious 1988 plane crash that
killed Pakistan's dictator General Zia al-Haq.
At the center is Ali Shigri: Pakistan Air Force pilot and Silent Drill Commander of Fury
Squadron. His father, one of Zia's colonels, committed suicide under suspicious
circumstances. Ali is determined to understand what or who pushed his father to such
desperation--and to avenge his death. What he quickly discovers is a snarl of events:
Americans in Pakistan, Soviets in Afghanistan, and dollars in every hand.
But Ali remains patient, determined, a touch world-weary, and unsurprised at finding
Zia at every turn. He mounts an elaborate plot for revenge with an ever-changing crew
(willing and not) that includes his silk-underwear-and-cologne-wearing roommate; a
hash-smoking American lieutenant with questionable motives; the chief of Pakistan's
secret police, who mistakenly believes he's in cahoots with the CIA; a blind woman
imprisoned for fornication; Uncle Starchy, the squadron's laundryman; and, not least of
all, a mango-besotted crow.
General Zia--devout Muslim and leering admirer of non- Muslim women--begins every
day by asking his chief of security: 'Who's trying to kill me?' and the answer lies in a
conspiracy trying its damnedest to happen...Intrigue and subterfuge combine with
misstep and luck in this darkly comic book about love, betrayal, tyranny, family--and a
world that unexpectedly resembles our own. 5 | P a g e
Report
The novel starts with the investigation being carried out from the trainee cadets at PAF
Academy due to the reason that a trainee cadet and an aircraft are missing.
The writer gives us an inside view into the life of the trainee cadets, how they live,
behave and what is the behavior of officers towards them. The chapters of this novel
intermingle between Zia and other characters that are coincidentally linked to the
death of the dictator.
Zia would get up every day for fajr prayer and would recite holy Quran before the
prayer and then would ponder over the verses he had just read discussing them with
his chief security officer and other men. Zia would use Islam to protect and prolong his
military rule. Even after the first meeting of corps commanders after the coup Zia was
using Islam in that very meeting to control his soldiers. He would later change the
motto of army to Jihad fi Sabeel ullah from Unity, faith, discipline and thus bringing
Islamic rule in the land of pure.
The story moves on with Zias security moving onto Tier 5, the five layers of security as
there are credible proofs with ISI of Zia being assassinated but by whom, it remains un
ascertained.
All the people related to Zia in his rule come under scrutiny. Different layers are joined
together to catch the culprit.
Interrogations from Ali Shigre, the trainee cadet, president of sweepers association and
Zainab bibi start and these are what are covered in the book and these all three form
the basic part in the assassination of Zia.
Ali shigree is charged with trying to steal an air force aircraft and trying/ intending it to
ram into presidents house. The interrogations move on and it is proved that he
intended doing so but nothings happens to him as being the son of colonel Shigri, the
right hand man of Zia in Afghan war he is let go free. Also this is made possible due to a
change in command in ISI and the cases opened up by the old command are just being
finished.
Later in the story it is revealed that Colonel Shigri dies due to suicide. The reason is
that during afghan war he is ordered to bring $25 million from Afghanistan and leave
his wounded and dead shoulder behind. Deeply grieved at this situation he just
suicides.
The president of sweepers association is caught, investigations move on, nothing is
proved against him but instead of letting him free he is shot and killed by interrogators
thus showing the ruthless way of ISI. But that man is in the end involved in killing of Zia
but ISI is unable to find any clue regarding his involvement.
Now the main part of the story is Zainab Bibi. The blind women charged with adultery
under the hudood ordinance. Her prayers are eye opening as she prays against Zia and
how Zia ignores all international pressure and gets her convicted. Her letter to
sweepers union president which later unfolds all the mystery about how all people
were involved in killing Zia and how all of them succeed. How all of the characters
involved in getting Zia killed succeed. 6 | P a g e
Also this novel unravels the character of the silent soldier, General Akhtar Abdul
Rehman, how he defeats soviets and just keeps a close eye on Zia ul haq even when he
is the ISI chief and just keeps watching his own boss through spy cams.
The story moves on with Zia going to Bahawalpur to watch the Abraham Tanks
demonstration and their failure in acheiving their targets. After this demonstration
there is a parade by trainee cadets of PAF and again Shigri boy is in the parade after
freeing himself from ISIs handcuffs.
He while in Parade just drops his poisoned layers sword on Zia and manages to get Zia
slightly injured and manages to just make the poison pass into Zias blood and the
poison is really a powerful one. And Zia starts to beat profusely and the poison on
sword passes into his veins. Thus Shigri boy takes his revenge of his fathers death
though a suicide but a suicide due to Zia and his orders.
Now the super fit C-130s are loaded with mangoes from Bahawalpur. The finest
mangoes are loaded and Zia calls a mango party of his top generals, American
ambassador and other important people aboard his C130. But in one of the mango
crates is a bomb planted by the same president of sweepers association on the orders
of Zainab Bibi. The letter of Zainab to Sweeper unfolds it mystery here.
Now when Zia is boarding the air craft Shigri can see signs of drowsiness on Zia and
these are the first signs of the poison giving its effects.
Thirdly the planes air conditioner is filled with a poisonous gas most probably on orders
of ISI Chief as he is upset due to his ceremonial promotion and not getting what he
wanted.
The plane flies in air and after hop diving in air for few minutes comes crashing to
ground and blasts on its impact with the ground. Thus killing Zia, his top generals,
American Ambassador and thus bringing an end to a most disastrous period in the
Pakistani history. 7 | P a g e
Conclusion
The novel reimagines the ironic coincidences into the killing of Zia ul Haq. How four to
five different characters were involved in killing Zia ul Haq and how all of them succeed
in getting him killed. The main points we get from this novel are:
Zia was a coward man and who used Islam as a veil to protect himself and his
government.

The ruthless way of working if ISI. How it works above the law, has no rules of intra-
actions and can do anything in the land of pure.

The lives of cadets at armed forces. How they are taught obedience, and made to
live their lives according to set patterns.

The corruption within the army and embezzlement of billions of funds of the Soviet
war.

Islamization of Pakistan and its army.

The judicial system of Pakistan and its sub service to the rulers.

Use of Jihadi Elements by Pakistan and America to achieve results and fight a war
against soviets.

Internal hand along with foreign hand in killing of Zia ul haq and other top generals