HYDERABAD: Addressing a mammoth public meeting here today [Oct 23] President Ayub Khan said that political stability was key to economic progress. A good government, he added, symbolised the political wisdom of the people and a government coming into saddle though democratic means reflected the people’s aspirations and was bound to take proper care of their needs. The President thought that the members of the opposition parties were wasting their breath because the people were not fools to be trapped by their hollow slogans and false promises.

He said if the Jagtu Front comes to power, its five components would not be able to maintain unity for even a day. It was high time Miss Jinnah realised her folly of contesting the election on the Jagtu Front ticket. If she wanted to become President, she should have sought the support of patriotic people, those who followed the Quaid-i-Azam and who served the country with devotion and sincerity. The President declared amidst loud cheers that the coming polls at all stages would be absolutely free and fair. He advised the people not to remain mere spectators in the coming elections because the future shape of the country would largely depend on their choice of persons for the electoral college.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2014