Feeling quite satisfied with the pledge for talks, Bhutto addressed the National Assembly on May 13 and took up Asghar Khan’s letter addressed to the armed forces, terming it an act of high treason. He did not clearly state what action he planned to take against Asghar Khan as the letter continued to be discussed in the political circles on various forums.

It was expected that Bhutto would announce his willingness to hold talks with the PNA, but his speech in the Assembly created a very grave situation. He announced his plan to hold a referendum for the continuation of his office and said he would follow the result. He said that he was ready to be put to any test but would not sacrifice the National Assembly and believed that holding of new elections would prove disastrous. Earlier, he held a meeting with various army generals and his cabinet ministers, where the law and order situation was discussed. The meeting was attended by General Iqbal, General Arbab Jahanzeb and Chief of Army Staff General Ziaul Haq. Law Minister Abdul Hafeez Pirzada had already tabled the proposal to hold a referendum to ask the people whether they wanted Bhutto to continue, and if the result was in the affirmative, Bhutto would have the right to amend the Constitution. Maulana Kausar Niazi who had attended that meeting later recalled that General Ziaul Haq agreed to the holding of referendum and was pleased when Bhutto told him that he would think about including the army in the government.

The formal accusation on the assembly floor brought a sharp reaction from the opposition. The PNA rejected the proposal on the very next day. This angered Bhutto and once again the talks process came to a halt as after midnight all detainees at the Sihala Camp were moved. Mufti Mahmood was allowed to stay at Sihala, while Professor Ghafoor Ahmad was sent to Dadu jail, Asghar Khan to Sahiwal, Mian Tufail Mohammad to Bahawalpur, Nawbzada Nasrullah to Mianwali, Maulana Jan Mohammad Abbasi to Kot Lakhpat, Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani to Garhi Khairo and Begum Nasim Wali to Hazara.

On May 15 Pir Pagara was detained at his Rawalpindi residence for three days. This was for the first time after the restoration of his Gaddi that Pir Pagara had been detained. It brought sharp reactions from his followers and supporters in Sindh.

As far as the law and order situation was concerned, agitation continued throughout the country adding to the number of casualties. Unmoved by the reaction of the opposition and other segments, Bhutto continued his routine work as if all had been settled. On May 16, Hafeez Pirzada tabled the bill in the National Assembly amending the Constitution for holding the proposed referendum. As the Assembly passed the bill, the president signed it to convert it to an Act. The Seventh Amendment said:

“If at any time the Prime Minister considers it necessary to obtain a vote of confidence of the people of Pakistan through a referendum, he may advise the President to cause matter to be referred to a referendum in accordance with law made by Parliament. The President shall call upon the Referendum Commission to conduct a referendum amongst the persons whose names appear on the electoral rolls for the immediately preceding general elections to the National Assembly as revised up-to-date. Any dispute arising in connection with the counting of votes in the referendum shall be finally determined by the Referendum Commission or a member thereof authorised by it and, save as aforesaid, no dispute arising in connection with a referendum or the result thereof shall be raised or permitted to be raised before any court or other authority whatsoever. If, on the final count of the votes cast at the referendum, the Prime Minister fails to secure majority of the total votes cast in the matter of the confidence of the people of Pakistan, he shall be deemed to have tendered his resignation.”

During this time the Soviet ambassador Sarvar Asimov called on the prime minister and reportedly told Bhutto not to quit as prime minister even if he had thought of, and stay in his position undeterred, as the protesters had no popular support. Asimov, an Uzbek, was a very intelligent diplomat from the Russian federation who had a reputation of being too vocal in Asian affairs. He was known for his remarks such as, “Pakistan is the friend of our enemies,” forcing Pakistan to lodge protests with the Soviet government. It was on his advice that Bhutto declined to send a delegation to the Cento (Central East Treaty Organisation) ministerial meeting.

Talks had been stalled and apparently there was no hope in the near future to bring the two parties on table. On May 17, it was rumoured that an attempt had been made to arrest Maulana Maudoodi, the Jamaat-i-Islami chief. A sharp reaction in the form of a warning was sent to the government that it would be too dangerous to arrest the Maulana.

As the PNA leaders were held at various jails there was no communication among them; hence no development was expected in the near future. However, friendly countries were worried and some attempts were made to bring the two parties at the negotiating table.

Next week: Bhutto agrees to resume negotiations

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